lynntri2

Ash Leaf marathon

2007-01-01T22:14:12Z

No, it's not nearly so impressive as those of you running 16 miles getting ready for the Marathon. But it sure reminded me of an endurance race. Twenty-five years ago it seemed like a good idea to plant Arizona Ash trees in our new barren Milwood front yard. Now they're very tall and broad and give lovely shade through the hot summers. But come fall they drop a butt-load of leaves all over our front yard and our next-door neighbors. (Our trees, so we rake his yard, too. He did loan us a bigger rake today!)

So we just raked and bagged 17 paper leaf bags full! And since I've basically been sick since Christmas, it felt like a major workout! LOL. But alas, I survived and I guess am a better person for it!

Now I don't have to do anything else today. Maybe I'll watch the Rose Bowl, but certainly not with as much interest as last year.
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T16:06:06Z

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year filled with great fun and good health!

Racing? How did that happen?

2006-11-06T22:37:06Z

Here is my race report. Sorry to all those who are subjected to it twice! It's long.
Race For the Cure 2006

Sunday was the race. I’d planned on going because of our work sponsorship and the fact that it’s our biggest community service project of the year and it’s my job. I hadn’t decided if I was actually going to participate this year due to pretty much missing any training for the last two months. I’d been consumed with moving my folks then vacation and a pesky heel injury. But I had gone ahead and entered in the timed division (one of the sponsor perks.)
And then an odd thing happened. Sunday morning I woke fifteen minutes before my alarm. And, in spite of my brain chatter, some part of me got all enthused about dressing in race clothes and going to a race! Where in the world did that come from!? By the time race time arrived I had decided to try the 1 mile course and see how my foot was feeling.

I got stuck on the wrong side of the fences to get to the timed race start and wandered around a bit until I finally went under the bridge and got on the correct side of First street. Almost all of the timed racers had cleared the chute by the time I got to the start line. They did let us in the fence and start the race, crossing the timing mat with a satisfying beep!
The 1 mile course wasn’t marked, so I kept going. I’m still not sure what was controlling me at this point, but I do know one of the internal conversations was “you did River Cities only 2 months ago…this is only a 5K.” I didn’t push at all, just relaxed and walked.

And then the Capitol was up ahead, then getting closer, then I was around it. What on earth was going on here? I thanked the musicians and cheering volunteers as I passed. Even assured the first water stop folks that, no, I wasn’t the end…there were about 10,000 people to come. The untimed race hadn’t started yet. And come they did. There’s a really cool dynamic of having hundreds of people jog past you. It brings you along somehow. And the snatches of conversation you catch are great…from “I don’t understand why they say Cranberry juice is good for that,” to “where are you spending Thanksgiving,” to “I’m sweating, all up around my bra straps.” I guess we tend to think no one can hear our comments to our friends when we’re running. It’s a good way to pass the time, because I usually only hear one or two sentences as they pass!

I had time for the internal conversations to play out as well. “My heel injury is so trivial compared to what many of the survivors out here have endured. How dare I let that be an excuse. I am an athlete. I’m a lifestyler. My brain chatter doesn’t always win. The sense of accomplishment will come with the effort. I’ll be let down if I’d talked myself out of trying. Taking care of me is a good thing.” These are just a few of the messages I got along the way. And the emotions came, which is why I tend to want to avoid this race. So, I spent some time remembering my aunt and friends who’ve passed away and waved to the rowers as I crossed the bridge.

I just kept going, until much to my surprise, I’d completed the Race for the Cure! My chip time was a surprisingly fast 1:08:12. My best ever 5K time is 54:47 from last year and included running. The joy of accomplishment was sweet. Sweeter than probably my last tri. Perhaps because of the fight it took to do it, more than the actual doing of it.

I iced my heel when I got home, and it’s protesting the race today, but again, it’s trivial in comparison.
Tracy found me afterwards and said she’d waited so we could walk together, but never found me. I’m sorry we didn’t have that opportunity. But then if we had, we’d have been chatting and I could have avoided my own internal conversations. Probably best that I had that hour alone.

lynntri2 @ 2006-08-25T08:23:00

2006-08-25T13:28:16Z

I've been noticing a recurring thread in our journals. I thought it was just me...but I really had to fight mentally to get to, then do the Tuesday night run workout. I just really didn't want to run in the heat. And I haven't been keeping up with everyone in being so good with training! I think perhaps we all need a break. I'm done with racing for the season and am focusing on my nutrition plans. But I don't dare stop going to team stuff or I know I'll stop completely.
Perhaps a rain dance is in order?

50in50in50 Run for Hope

2006-08-12T14:00:18Z

I saw a piece on CNN last night about Sam Thompson. He's running 50 marathon courses in 50 consecutive days in 50 states to raise awareness about Katrina rebuilding. Take a look at his website for his times and schedule. www.50in50in50.com. I can't even imagine how someone does this! Pretty amazing.

lynntri2 @ 2006-08-04T09:34:00

2006-08-04T14:36:43Z

Off to Louisiana for the River Cities Triathlon on Sunday. I've had so much going on in life that I haven't really had time to get worried about this yet. Maybe that's a good thing! I'm looking forward to the trip and I really do like this race, so it should be fun.

Aquarena!

2006-07-23T18:13:37Z

We went down to San Marcos to cheer our Trizone buddies in their quest for the silver challis...oh, completion of a Triathlon this morning. First, let me apologize to anyone I missed who wasn't wearing a Go Fast outfit. It's very hard to tell people apart! Cowbell for you, too! Congratulations to everyone!

I'm very happy that I chose to serve as a cowbeller for this race, instead of actually doing it because of River Cities. That thought crossed my mind several times as it got hotter and stickier this morning. But the team did great!!!

As we were watching the unique one-at-a time swim start, I had someone come up and ask what the bell meant. Apparently at the back of the line, people were surmising it meant something. So I answered, it is cheering and until Amber finished the race and got her cowbell out, I was the only cowbell on the course! I am aware that having a cowbell ringing constantly can annoy spectators, so I kept it quiet between Trizoners!

Everyone was awesome today. Ed had to get back to go to work, so we couldn't stay too long after the photo. They should have had "I survived the water plants" awards at the end. And, I think I'll stick with races where you get a medal at the end. That's why I go through all of it! Oh, and I discovered that being at the front of a race like this can be as lonely as the back. The first guy came in and the announcer didn't see him, the photographer dove in front of him to get the shot and missed. Guess he surprised everyone. I did cowbell him! :)Congratulations on a great race everyone!

lynntri2 @ 2006-07-22T13:42:00

2006-07-22T18:45:53Z

Somehow I managed to put my brain aside this morning and get my ride/run workout done. I did 30 min in the neighborhood followed by 30 minutes on the trainer. Then transistioned to a 20 min walk/run.

It's been a struggle to keep my brain from talking me out of workouts, but with River Cities only 2 weeks away some part of me is putting one foot in front of the other! Must be the heat!

Blue Sky

2006-07-16T18:31:59Z

This morning's run at Williamson Co. Park was great! I circled the park on the gravel path, discovered there is a complete disk golf course I'd never seen and a group playing Cricket. I'd only done about 50 minutes of my hour but decided I was toasted and needed the facilities, so I thought I was done. After the restroom break, for some unknown reason, I headed out around the track. Unknown, because I'd pretty much given myself the okay to be done! While walking around I realized that unlike the Murchison track that is in a bowl, this one is up on a rise. There was a really nice breeze and you can see from horizon to horizon. Ed and I have discovered in our lives that when things seem to get too crazy at work or pressures get to you, that going somewhere that has sky from horizon to horizon somehow lightens everything. My moment of a-ha was here I was, under an incredible blue July sky near the end of a good walk/run and everything seemed very right. Maybe I'm finally getting it!
Ed arrived from riding his bike from home to the park and we packed up and headed back home. Now, whatever we do for the rest of today has that sense of satisfaction already behind it! I think a power nap is calling.

Garage Salers

2006-07-15T16:16:15Z

I headed out for a bike ride this morning, about the same time the group ride was scheduled. Just having my cleats re-adjusted, I wanted to stay close to home in case they weren't working with my knees. So I rode my trusty neighborhood. I live in Old Milwood, south of Cool River. I ride here fairly often, not venturing out on Parmer cause I don't like cars screaming past me!
Anyway I discovered a Saturday morning phenomenon. Garage Sale-rs. Apparently normal rules of the road don't apply to anyone in search of other peoples stuff at bargain prices. They park however and wherever they want in the streets, often in the middle of the street and upon sighting other parked cars, decide there must be good stuff and hurry to join the frey. And upon finishing their hunt, they can never go forward on the street they are on, they must execute a 3 point turn-around...often with more than three tries. This makes riding on our normally quiet streets a bit of a challenge. And, once they do get moving, more often than not, you'll see them again two or three blocks away!
Anyway I successfully navigated the ride, had a fairly good time and have much happier knees. I guess the garage sale-rs really weren't as confounding as the commuters I experienced yesterday. The lady in front of me was applying mascara while driving 65mph on Mopac...and not to be outdone, the guy behind me was shaving! Does anyone just drive any more?

First time!

2006-07-12T20:53:34Z

I've come out of the shadows and have joined the livejournal community. Now if I can figure it all out, I'll be able to be an active member!