First race of the season: Oakdale Duathlon

The Oakdale du (3 mi run, 13 mi bike, 3 mi run) was a chillier (45 degrees) then desired start. I wore knickers, jersey and wished that light cloth gloves would have been in the gear bag. No rain but a NW wind that was going to be noticed. E and I were there at the opening of transition to catch the early buzz of excitement. A last minute decision pulled E from participant to Sherpa and king photog. He was happiest in this role today. I did Oakdale last year for the first time, so the course was not new to me. It does attract a lot of first timers and some speedsters, making for a fun atmosphere. It is a beautiful, low-key, fun, not thick high-profile, competitive event that Randy and crew have fine tuned over the years to make it a successful and safe day for everyone.

From the second the gun goes off, the lead men turn into specs and we ladies remain close. After mile 1 Sarah Viamonte becomes more of a spec and Angie Schmidt and I remain close. I knew Angie’s strong running ability, so wanted to keep her within footsteps to stay in the game. I haven't worked as much on speed this yr as I have on distance, prepping for challenging halves in June, July and august. I had my work cut out for me. Came in to T1 in 3rd, 1 min off the leader. Erik was there with cheers, but didn’t disclose our gap on the leader. By mile 2.5 of the bike I was passing Sarah for first. Being competitive and a math girl I was calculating times while maintaining pace. I didn’t know Sarah’s biking ability as she is new to the metro area racing scene, but figured out that she is a great runner and that I would need some distance into T2 to pull off a win. Bike went well, no train crossing the RR tracks and no frozen appendages. As I exited T2 I see the next 3 ladies (including Diane Hankee)all coming in within seconds of each other. I figured I had about 1 to 1.5 min on them – not thick pressure but no room to slack. Legs didn’t feel that great until mile 1-1.25 when there was a little down hill and I could finally stride things out and find a rhythm. I see Erik as I exit the woods and have about a third of a mile to go. I ask him if there is a female in sight and was happy to hear “nope, not a one”. WHEW! I relaxed, maintained pace and had a nice finish.

Next up: The classic and competitive GW du, where conditions are looking to be about ideal!

Trout Opener 2009...with a whimper~~~

Two weeks ago, I was excited as a lower-middle-aged man can get.

Why, you ask?  Well, I was packing my car with the essentials.  You know...sleeping bag, lantern, campfire-chairs, hip-waders and yes, my trusty fly-rod.  I was heading out for a reunion of the Hull boys and Trout opener at Hay Creek Campground.  In this case, the Hull boys were Uncle Patrick and Cousins Bill, David and Tim.

 

Hay Creek is a tiny blip on the map, just outside of Red Wing, MN.  Redwing is the home of "the shoe" better known as Redwing Shoe...some of the finest footwear in the world.  It is also the home of cousin David and his wonderful family.  Last year was the first time we had not gone down to Elba, MN and camped at the Lazy-D Campground.  Last year was also the first year that we missed trout opener...not because we didn't go, but instead, because we jumped the gun by a week.  None of us decided to check the trout calendar.  Oh well, it was still a nice weekend.  This year we checked the calendar and hit the right weekend.  

We all arrived on Friday and got settled in.  By settled, I mean that I had a beer in my hand within 5 minutes of arriving.  In this family, beer doesn't simply mean Miller Lite or Bud.  There's usually a diverse mixture of acquired tastes.  For example, Spotted Cow (thank you New Glarus, WI), Mississippi Mud, Moose Drool, Grolsch, St. Pauli Girl, etc.  This year, Pat even brought some Schlitz...yes they are making it again.  Unlike most years, there was also some Captain Morgan, Scotch and even some Rumplemintz (courtesy of our "interesting" neighbors).  What happens at Hay Creek, stays at Hay Creek.  It was fun to hear some of the same stories that have been told since I was a...glimmer;)

Saturday morning came much too early.  I was reminded that drinking at near-college levels does not work when you have the tolerance of a two-bottle-limit triathlete.  Ugh!!!  Pounding head and tender tummy were the order for the day, not just for me, but for the rest of the crew too.  For breakfast, Tim and Pat had the best ideas for hangover food.  Tim thought that we could make egg muffin sandwiches by frying eggs in a muffin pan, slicing some Widmers brick cheese and placing it all between a Thomas' english muffin...it worked like a charm...even over the campfire.

Pat brought some granola, yogurt and cooked some steel-cut oats.  All of this food helped to fill the void and get us on our way.  

Please note, this was trout opener and I haven't mentioned fishing yet.

We finally hit the creek at about noon.  It's still cool enough in the morning where a hatch doesn'treally occur until between 1 and 3PM, so we were right on schedule...more lucky than good for us.  Hay Creek, or at least the section we fished might not be the spot for season opener from now on.  

These pictures don't really show it, but fishing was pretty tough with downed trees, steep rocky banks and lots of overhead snags.  After an hour and a half, we were kind of pooped and decided to regroup.  I did manage to catch a beautiful little Brownie, but that was it. 

 Everyone else was skunked.  It was about this time that Cousin Amy called that she was on the way to the campground with her two boys.  We decided to go back and grab some lunch and enjoy their company.  Once we got back to the campground, David called his wife Shelley and had her bring their three kid out to play too.  Pat's daughter (Cousin Kate) drove down from St. Paul to say hi as well.  All of a sudden we went from a party of five to a bakers dozen.  It was great seeing everyone, but it was clear that the fishing was done.  

After some lunch (brats and sausage), catching up and kids fishing, the ladies and kids left us to our quiet campsite.  Tim napped, I nursed my slight headache.  The other guys checked their blackberries and played some cribbage.

Dinner was up next and Patrick shined.  He brought about 7 pounds of Atlantic King Salmon.  The fillets had that super-fresh orange/pink tint and were thicker than my hand.  To prepare them, Pat made an aluminum foil tray, sprayed the fillets with a coating of canola oil, covered them with brown sugar and then topped them off with some crushed cashews.  I have never had salmon prepared that way before, but it was delish!!  We literally stood around the fire, each with a fork in hand and picked at the salmon until it was about 2/3 gone.  Oh so good!!  After dinner, some of the others were able to crack a beer or Captain/7up, but I stuck to diet Pepsi and water...what a wuss.  The evening ended on a pretty tame note...helped along by some light rain, so we all hit the sack.

Sunday morning came with the rain still falling and man the temp had really dropped.  What to do, what to do?  Canadian!!!  Basically we crowded around a camper table (inside) and played 21/blackjack until the guys had to leave.  I think that I ended up about 6 or 7 bucks, but as long as the money stays in the family, it's all good.

I'm not sure what we'll do next year for opener, but as long as we're all healthy and actually decide to fish, it will be fun again.

Thanks guys for a fun weekend!!

-E

Well, you haven't heard from me in a while, so here's a quick update.

The last few days have really gotten me in the mood for Spring. I know it's not the official start yet, but after a really long, cold, snowy winter, we just had a string of three terrific days. Two of them were spent in Sioux Falls, SD helping Julie's Dad move. Today, well, I worked from home and was able to kick Payton (Pug) out of the house (on the deck) for a few hours. Sure, I was chained to my laptop, but she was free to sit on her dog pillow on the sunny, 63 degree deck. She wouldn't leave the deck to sniff the shrinking snow piles even with my prodding...goofy dog. If I could have, I would have.

Julie took off from work a few hours early to do some errands and then meet me at home for...yes!!...our first outdoor bike in 4 or so months. I am officially sick of my bike trainer. Our ride was an out and back totally only about 28 miles, but they were glorious!! Some Spring winds 10-15, some recently thawed manure at the couple of barns we pass, but we saw other bikers, some runners, our 3rd or 4th Robin and our first Redwing Blackbird. We had such a nice time that we decided to turn it into a mini-brick, running for about 20 minutes.

Dinner consisted of some microwave stir-fry (what a concept) and some microwaved Mukimame (fancy term for shelled soybeans). Now we're going to watch 24 and I'm going to munch on a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Does it get any better than this?

-E

New Coach

This is a short but sweet update. E and I have always been great dream builders and goal setters. We don't really have the classic New Year's resolutions, but instead we lay them out as goals: personal, landscaping/household, financial, etc. Areas vary based on what's flowing in our lives. This yr I struggled with it. I found myself mimicking much of what I had last yr. Why??? I think/feel I've lost touch with the soul of my drive.

Well I have a very special and unique opportunity to be working with a Personal/Business Coach. It was offered up last July and I just couldn't add a big commitment while IM training. So post IM, I pondered many things and made the commitment at the tail end of the yr. I want my engine back. What's a type A with a flat tire?

I interviewed 3 and chose her on Monday. She's a woman with drive, strong sales experience, 5+ yrs of P coaching and also peace and with-it-ness. Yesterday I was emailed a 10 page questionnaire that is quite frankly going to take many days to fill out/ possibly weeks to complete. Very thought provoking questions of ..... me. I love it - Its new.

I've found that just planning to be coached has brought back my "motivation", for lack of better words, to complete tasks, do the little things, to plan, and to not be "overwhelmed" with the big picture. I love it - it's me.

Now as I navigate thru the questionnaire, I'm forced to slow down and think (not an ingrained instinct) and dig deep with those thoughts. Sort of a sole searching, redirecting and introduction to some new lights. I'm so embracing the opportunity. I'm open for this change.

Cheers to a new and unknown 2009!

Jules

Off Season - ready or not... here I am.

Was it really a month since IMFL? Where does the time go? You know you're old when you say that line. To back up just a tad I was really ready for IMFL, so ready that I didn't want to stop training. Did I really peak? Yes, I guess. But all of my other IM's I've been nursing a niggle or wanting it to be the day after so I could just hang with E or to not HAVE to workout. But not FL. Our fall was SO gorgeous I LOVED weeks of training (very refreshing after a gazillion races) and I didn't want that to come to an end. This made the following days/weeks post IM extra hard. Thanks to the recovery tent with chicken broth, IV, etc... I recovered nicely and wanted to get back in the saddle. MENTAL TALK - take YOUR down time, you physically (even tho i did't feel like it) and mentally need to take this. Accept the common lows/depression that often follows an IM. My head was all over. I wanted our MN fall back. I wanted to find a marathon to run. I feel good and need something on the radar.

To follow up on Kona (thansk RR for reminding me) top 4 qualified and it rolled to 5th. So me being 6th, just 2 min back, missed it. (sniff sniff) As much as I told myself before hand " been there, the box is checked" and it's ok if it doesn't happen, I really relized that I wanted this to happen. One reason could be that the decision is made for Goal Race 2009... but no Q, so now what? After dear friend Merilee rocked out a super solid IMAZ performance and hit a Q, I know i wanted to try again...make Kona a group trip... Let's work hard and do this. So what are the options to Q? IMCDA - lottery? IMKY? Buff springs 70.3? Tons of pros and cons to mapping out 2009, but I'm going for Buffalo springs. CY is in too and another dear friend is strongly considering it. BS, TX... here we come :)

Erik is signed up for IMWI and was accepted to race on the Penn Team in 2009. Our energies feed off eacheother. We're having fun doing workouts together and trying new challenges. Cheers to an eventful 2008!

Live, laugh, love ~ julie

IMFL - A mixed bag of emotions

What a beautiful day it was. AM preparations went as planned and pretty soon E and I were down at the beach ready for the cannon. This yr there was a sandbar about 20 feet from shore so it made the swim start rather interesting. I stayed to the inside until the corners (totally legal). Corners were typical mayhem. elbow thrashing, wild kicks, etc. Winds were about 10mph for the start so it made for some waves and chop as you got inland. For the 2 loop swim I got toward shore and was able to maneuver right to see Erik. But soon after me.... E noticed a guy slyly (word??) take off FLIPPERS and let them float to about where he would be re-entering the swim. For those who don't know... THIS IS NOT LEGAL. So E snapps pictures of the wave runner totally catching him in the act, pleading his case and they let him continue his swim. HAHA!!! (click on photo and check out his left hand... those are big flippers!)

Soon I'm out of the water in just over 1:10:?? 26th (?) in my AG. PR swim over Kona's 1:17 and right on goal. A quick change of clothing and I'm getting on my weapon. I love the bike. We are like one. This was beautiful. First 50 miles were pretty much into the wind, but still holding 20mph or so. Around mile 30 I had a little distraction... dropped my bottle of salt tabs while trying to get out my clif bar. I was pretty solo at that point so slammed on the breaks, turned around and walked back to get it... on route dropped the clif bar too. Oh goodness... then while trying to mount the bike my right toe warmer came off. "Come on Julie" So I'm about ready to mount when this 20+grouping was coming up.... I know from time trials I can go from 0-20 fast when I need to. I tried to get out ahead and got sucked up. Oh goodness, I don't want this. I signal to try to break out and feel i did when only seconds later was caught by the pack - all men - interesting. Well this then goes on thru to about mile 50 where the special needs bags were. some of the hills dropped a few people out, but it was crazy. I dropped back some, but have to admit it kept coming back together. I had a couple guys say nice comments on my riding after they realized I was just as strong as they are and are not on for just suckin somebody's wheel. The real (finally!) breaking point was mile 75ish where there was a u-turn - finally we got the tail wind and it broke up the pack. It was a NE wind and we were going E for miles. Some pushed it some probably lightened up. Thanks to the Ynde-disk (Sweet sub-9) I was flying with a sail with mild effort... after all there is a marathon to do. well about mile 100 I start to cramp in my left aductor - not easy to stretch while biking. I tried, but continued to loose speed and get passed one by one... no packs, but recognized all of them. Tracking my progress along the way I hollared to E at 78 that I was right on track, for around a 5:05ish bike. I continued to do the math... and was elated to be coming in sub 5:15... final in time 5:09, 2nd fastest AG time. A quick change, biffy stop (I had to pee... no gut issues at all) and I was running.

Coach Jared's advice for the start of the run was 10 min at a very conservative pace - slower then planned for race pace. GPS said right around 8's and I was hoping to hold a 7:45 pace. I thought I was ok; this is what I trained to be holding. Well as those who have done an IM know, you're leg reality hits and for me it was only after a couple miles. You feel things, Pain no, discomfort YES. GREAT! No cramps but I was running what i could and would check GPS and see 8:30's. Walking the aid stations for nutrition was a must and I would watch my min/mi avg drop. E said to me at mile 3.5 that he thought I was 5th in my AG so far (had just gotten passed by some speed demon that ran a 3:20 - hhhmm drafting perhaps???) Well as it turns out I held 5th for the majority of the time. Around 22-23 I saw a gal pass from my AG and was hoping that she was on her first lap.... well no she wasn't and I ended 6th out of 141 that started.

I'll go to the Kona roll down and see if any of the top 4-5 declined their spot. Cross your fingers.

Overall, happy with the swim, ecstatic about the bike and dissappointed in the run. But I did give it all I could and even gutted out a finish line cartwheel (my signature) with no cramping, but no adreneline rush either.

I crossed the line and was immediately carried to medical as I was so out of it. I was only down 5 lbs, but had a temp of 92 and was very cold. At some points I had the attention of 5 people getting vitals, charting, etc all the details - very organized. In my 11 yrs of triathlons and 5 previous IM's I've never set foot in the medical tent. no crashes or anything. I had nothing left in me, it was all spread out over that course. That, I am proud of. BUT could I have saved 2 min somewhere to hang onto 5th??? maybe, but it is what it is and I finished in 10:32, an hour and 1 min PR over my qualifying 2005 IMWI. PR swim, bike and run - probably transitions too.

A HUGE thank you to E, for being the best most supportive hubby. He took some 400 pictures, capturing the day - thanks to getting a media pass, he was right in the thick of it all! Super fun to see him. Also THANK YOU to all of you who were thinking of me throughout the training and on race day. You mean so much to me.

Oh the doc just called.... precsciption today is pool side R&R!!!

Thanks again huge hugs to all!!! julie :)

We're ready to roll - 12 hours to cannon time!

Halloween and Erik and i are in sunny Panama city beach. We've just loved the time down here. Everything is going smooth. Oh and get this, I went to get my toes done and calluses removed on wed and found the OPI color of choice.... i look at the name (as OPI has fun themes to their colors) - ROCK ON RED! Can you believe that? too funny and great toes with to go with the ink!

All bags are checked in, bike is cleaned and tires are pumped. This is the first race that my possie (HA!) are not here - mom, dad ,sis. and mom-in law. We so miss you. Then there are my tri homies that at least a few of us are going somewhere togheter.... but here.... slim pickens of people we know. But we've been surrounded by the buzz of some first timers. Our roomie is Erin Schindler - just the sweetest gal - great conversation and fun energy!! E's got his camera git-up ready to roll. Trigger finger is tapered and well fueled. I'll post pics sunday... I reserve the right to be veggie head...

A huge thank you to all of you family and friends for the well wishes and positive vibes.

Hugs - julie