And Now I’m Off!

Posted on September 7, 2007 by 21cm

My flight for Madison, WI leaves at 6 AM tomorrow – ugh. Good thing I know how to sleep on airplanes! When I get there I’ll be sleeping with 3 men I’ve never met before. That’s right – I’m putting the ‘racey’ back in ‘race’.

If you are watching the developments then you already know that there are several places you can go for updates. Here and Here for instance. My blog will not be updated until I get back.

Meanwhile – I’m getting stronger! I’m very excited about that. Yesterday I rode my bike faster than I have ever gone before. I was cruising on flat land at 16 and 17 mph. Yeah me!

When I get back I will tell you all about my upcoming A race and how it got more A thanks to my race club.

Ciao!

Posted in community, Fun in a tub | Leave a comment

And Now I’m Off!

Posted on September 7, 2007 by 21cm

My flight for Madison, WI leaves at 6 AM tomorrow – ugh. Good thing I know how to sleep on airplanes! When I get there I’ll be sleeping with 3 men I’ve never met before. That’s right – I’m putting the ‘racey’ back in ‘race’.

If you are watching the developments then you already know that there are several places you can go for updates. Here and Here for instance. My blog will not be updated until I get back.

Meanwhile – I’m getting stronger! I’m very excited about that. Yesterday I rode my bike faster than I have ever gone before. I was cruising on flat land at 16 and 17 mph. Yeah me!

When I get back I will tell you all about my upcoming A race and how it got more A thanks to my race club.

Ciao!

Posted in community, Fun in a tub | 3 Comments

Name your Bionic Part

Posted on September 5, 2007 by 21cm

I like to think triathletes and runners would answer this differently – at least the guys.

Thanks for the link to Feministing

Posted in say what? | 9 Comments

Life Is Glorious

Posted on September 2, 2007 by 21cm

Today I went on a ladies only bike ride with 5 ladies and another lady with cajones. I believe his presence was a case of new love that could not withstand a Sunday morning apart. His lady wanted to go so he went, too. The leader had said any men who joined had to wear a wig and some pink but relented in the end. He went in red teamkit.

I decided to ride to the start in spite of having done that last time and not made it by the appointed hour. I missed the group ride and ended up going out alone and then flatting. This time I left earlier and rode harder. I was passed every so often by men riding at something around 20mph but I”m used to that. At one point I noticed that I was fast approaching a man up ahead of me and I was ecstatic. I was going to pass a man! As I rode by him I looked back only to see that he was at least 90 years old. Be that as it may, I PASSED A MAN ON A BIKE AND YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME!

I got the rendez-vous point in plenty of time and we all took off to ascend Mt. Diablo, at least to what is known as ‘the junction’. It isn’t all the way to the top but it does require climbing for about 5 miles so that was good enough for me. I was consumed with gut wrenching fear that half way up I would grind to halt and fall over but I smiled and pushed on. I was riding with our fearless leader (photo to the right) who happens to be a very competitive triathlete and a very good cyclist so I figured I could get some good coaching. I figured right. You may find this humorous in a woman who has been riding some pretty tough hills for the last 2 summers but there was a chink in my hill climbing strategy. I didn’t know how to get out of the saddle and stand on the pedals – until today. She taught me how to do it so I could get some good momentum when the going got tough. I got quite good at it after just a few tries.

I made it to the junction with a huge smile on my face. The view from up there and really all along the route was spectacular. (not my photo but it does the job)
The skies were clear and you could see far and wide. There was also the view of this young Adonis in white cycling shorts that started below his navel and ended high on his beautiful thighs. It was blinding. But I digress.

We flew back down the mountain (well – I managed to get up as high 29 mph woo hoo!) and I returned home. I looked down at my Garmin and realized that it had recorded only the time – no distance, no map, no altitude. I was bummed. I really wanted that elevation map. But then I thought, “the heck with the elevation map – I got the ride!” and I was once again happy as a pig in mud. It was a glorious day and I ended that ride feeling vital and strong and that’s what it’s all about. The rest of the day was filled with eat, nap, shower, shop, have coffee with a friend, watch trash TV with daughter. Does life get any better than that?

Tons of people do that ride and upload the results to Motionbased so here it is. My start and end were a little different and my ride was longer but the hill part is the same:

Posted in Cycling | 9 Comments

My New Magic Bullet

Posted on September 1, 2007 by 21cm

Magic Bullet may be too strong a phrase but when Chris Lieto came to speak to our race club he brought one of his sponsors (maybe his biggest since he wears their team kit all the time) AstaVita. Astavita sells a number of products including something called Astavita Sport. They gave out bottles to each participant. I wish I’d snagged a couple more.

The claims they make for this stuff are absurd. The doctor they have representing them in my area sounded like a total quack. He was an OB/GYN who now pimps Astavita and his talk was rambling, boring and full of hoo-ha. The “official” medical professional of the group is the very fake Dr. Perricone of Cosmeseutical fame. You can read about Perricone and his BS credentials here.

The special ingredient in Astavita Sport is something called Astaxanthin which is a carotenoid extracted from algea. The sports sites claim that it is what gives Salmon that nice pink color, a claim backed up elsewhere. This link says it is what makes lobsters and crab turn red when you boil them. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxident and we all know that antioxidents aid in recovery. Pomegranate juice and blueberries are favored antioxidents of athletes the world over.

Regardless of sketchy docs and crazy claims – the stuff seems to work. I have been putting in more hours in every discipline and yet my muscles are not so badly fatigued. My recovery seems much faster. I can get more antioxident with fewer calories and whole lot less mess in the kitchen by popping a couple of pills so that is what I’ve been doing. Astavita is not the only source for astaxanthin but it’s the only one I have used.

If you buy the product direct from their site it costs $18/bottle. If you buy it here without the word ‘sport’ on the bottle and minus a little zinc and fish oil it costs $9.24. I know what I’m going to do. (I know – how rude after they gave me free product. Oh well).

If you try it and you feel that it is working for you please let me know. I could be laboring under the placebo effect.

Posted in training | 2 Comments

A View From The Other Side

Posted on August 30, 2007 by 21cm

A couple of weeks ago I was a volunteer at a local Tri for Fun. This is the same event where I manned the water station in mid June and that I competed in in mid-July. This time, the mid-August event, I hit the volunteer job jack pot – transition area monitor. I even got the bullhorn so I could call out – ‘Please walk your bikes in transition!” “You must fasten your chin strap before leaving transition!” “Runners over here! to get to the course!” It was way fun.

What amazed me was the variety of participants and gear. There was everything from the guy on a super duper Cervelo carbon dream machine with deep dish carbon wheels wearing an aero helmet, to the guy who clearly grabbed his child’s helmet on the way out of his garage and nearly choked himself to death while putting it on. There was a 10 speed bike that had a big plastic milk carton attached on the rear fender with bungee cords. There were people in tri suits, regular bathing suits, and surfing jammers.

I was especially pleased to see these 2 women who in the June event were the last 2 in by quite a big margin but who this time left at least 20 people behind them as they exited T2 . They struggled so hard their first time and this time it was obvious that they are making significant progress on their journey to wherever they are going with triathlon. They both looked really happy heading out for the run, knowing they were no longer last.
If you are skimming tri blogs just thinking about doing one for the first time in the future, keep nurturing that thought. If you are intimidated because you don’t have a nice bike or you aren’t a strong swimmer feggedaboutdit – just do it. Find a local Tri for Fun and see how it goes. You will be in great company and you may well surprise yourself. Most of all we may soon be able to give you our wry triathlete smile as we welcome you to the crack house.

Posted in triathlon | 8 Comments

Good Thing I Got One of These

Posted on August 29, 2007 by 21cm

At the SF Marathon Saturn was passing out cowbells. Shiney red cowbells. Of course I took one and I’m glad I did because in the crazy ebb and flow of my life I have just decided to go to IM Wisconsin, afterall. I won’t get there until Saturday afternoon but that’s plenty of time to show up on the course Sunday morning and spend the day cheering and watching and drinking in the Ironman zeitgeist. I can hardly wait!

I will have to have Laurie give me some good spectating tips – she is the master.

This will be a bloggerpalooza. In addition to a bunch of racers there are a whole ton of spectator/sherpa types. I hope I have a chance to meet all of you! Just look for me near the finish line starting at about 6:30 PM. I’ll be there – glued to the action.

Posted in community, triathlon | 8 Comments

Public Eavesdropping

Posted on August 27, 2007 by 21cm

Public Eavesdropping is a regular feature in the San Francisco Chronicle. It’s always funny and sometimes hits very close to home.

From 7/31
I know it’s an accomplishment, but right now I feel like crap.”
Man to his family, overheard at the finish line of Sunday’s San Francisco marathon by Dan Tintor

From 8/24 (not available on-line)
“Now I understand why my dad was into bowling”
Overheard while standing waist-deep in water waiting for the start of a triathlon in Pleasanton, by Jonathan Lance

Other great examples of this very funny feature:

“Personally, I’ve had it with Downward-Facing Dog.”
— Woman yoga semi-enthusiast, overheard on line at Tartine Bakery

(blog editors note: if you are ever in San Francisco and want a delicious, calorie packed gastronomic delight visit Tartine. Yum, Yum, Yum)

“Think thong.”
Trainer to female client, overheard at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center by Peter Schumacher

And then there is this all purpose, always timely quote:

“Stop telling everyone the world’s ending in 2012. It makes me feel hurried.”
– Woman to man, overheard at a sushi bar in the Sunset by Tosha Silver

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Because I Need to Say Something

Posted on August 26, 2007 by 21cm

First of all I completely forgot to mention that I met Bex a couple weeks ago. We had drinks and the most delicious Brie and pear quesedilla in the world. Oh how i love living in California with all this great food and how I love meeting my internet friends, not necessarily in that order but both at once is a real bonus.

Second of all thanks for the well wishes on my neck. It started feeling better Saturday so I rode on Sunday (even though I spent 1 hour in the trainer on Saturday). This is elevation map of the ride. It looks so completely crazy!

I let the hill win for a little bit on the way back. It’s hard to see from that elevation map but there is a sharp hill with a summit that falls along a general incline. I gave it up about 60 feet from the top and at the time it seemed like a total defeat but overall it was but a blip in a pretty tough ride. The coolest part about this ride is that I went with a woman from my race club who just needed to find a riding partner for a 5 hour training ride for her next HIM. It was a huge win/win for both of us to find each other because I just needed to get out there. I went 3 hours to her 5 but we both had a great time. All hail terra firma race clubs and email lists!

Third of all I spent hours yesterday glued to IronmanLive watching people cross the finish. A great race was had by some and a race that resulted in a painful but successful finish was had by others but even that is a great race. Congratulations to everyone who got out there and toed the line.

I’ll try to get back to being interesting soon.

Posted in Cycling | 5 Comments

Number Crunching 101

Posted on August 25, 2007 by 21cm

I woke up this morning ready to fill the tires on my bike to capacity, fill up the water bottles and head out for a group ride with my race club. I had to overcome a lot of fear and lack of confidence to even think of doing the ride because I am, without question, the slowest person out there. Having me along would put a crimp in someone’s day but I was going for it, anyhow under the assumption that some supportive, nice person wouldn’t mind getting in an easy ride day. The route for today’s ride was one of my favorites – the wild Turkey ride.

Then I woke up with ‘the neck thing’. ‘The neck thing’ is a soreness in my left trapezoid that keeps me from turning my head. The first time it happened I pushed it and ended up in so much pain I fully understood how people in chronic pain commit suicide. It hurt that much. I don’t push it anymore. No head turning = no ride *sniff sniff*. I have to use my damned trainer on a perfectly nice day.

So – use trainer = procrastinate. My personal post wasn’t going well so I read blogs including a post by Sweet Baboo that ended with some pondering on the now canceled Woodlands 101 event for which he was registered. It was just a hop, skip and a jump to noodling around on the 101 site (which you can do since they haven’t taken down any of the pages behind the home page), to do a little number crunching in search of a reason (I am an excellent procrastinator). So here you go:

The Bradenton event had about 109 registered athletes. At approximately $200/entry (the fees started at $150 and went up to $300) that’s $21,800 in registration fees. They promised $50,000 in prize money payout. They also gave everyone a technical T, visor, water bottle, pre-race dinner, post race party and the 90 finishers got another t-shirt, a medal and a beach towel. That had to be about $50/participant in merchandise and then there is the cost of permits, set up, timing systems, publicity, etc. Enormous sea of red ink and only 9 sponsors including the photographers and the charity. Not a good thing and surely not enough to make up for the shortfall in registration fees. Even if they had 50 vendors at an expo at $500/booth (i have no idea – I just made that up) that’s only an additional $25,000 in revenue and it costs money to set the thing up.

Clearlake looks much the same with ~150 entrants, 99 finishers, $50,000 in prized money – yada yada..

Woodlands had a whopping 420 entrants at probably an average of $250@. So that’s $105,000 in registration fees but they promised a purse of $150,000. Halifax had only 120 registered racers. The math just gets really ugly.

The really baffling part about all this is that the producers were not rookies. This was a combination of the executive director of HFP Racing, producers of some really big and well known events, and a ‘wealth management’ guy. The advisory board included the founder of Quintana Roo and the president of Infinit Nutrition. Smart men – sort of. I see them sitting slumped around a table with dream bubbles turned rain clouds over their heads and a lot of egg on their faces.

It’s really too bad because it was a great idea. Of course Bold had a much better idea – the 140.7 series with the tagline “‘everything you always wanted in an Ironman, plus”® *snort* love that.

“A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.” – — Joyce A. Myers

“When you are dreaming big, don’t forget to first run the numbers and account for the worst case scenario” – 21stCenturyMom

And on that note… my trainer awaits.

Posted in say what? | 4 Comments