What a weekend!

It's a bit cloudy this morning, as I sit in the Westchester Airport waiting for my flight to O'Hare. But the last few days the weather has been perfect.

Friday morning I managed a nice easy 2hr ride through SUNY, New Paltz and out to Rosendale. I stopped in the local bike shop in New Paltz, The Bicycle Depot, and they helped me figure out why the bike was shifting so badly: the rear derailleur hanger wan totally bent! A couple quick turns of the wrenches and it was running smoothly again. Flying with bikes is hard on them, that is certain. Got back to the Shack, had a shower, ate and loafed on the couch, watching movies and sports on the giant tv.

Saturday was a total loafing day. We watched college football (Texas vs. Oklahoma), then started watching the Kona coverage on the laptop. That men's race was unbelievably exciting, but the women's only had one interesting part: where Chrisse Wellington got a flat and appeared to not be able to change her tire. Lots of bitching on ST (me included) about how many women can't perform even the most basic maintenance on their bikes. It turned out that Chrisse had run out of CO2. After she regained the lead on the bike, it was pretty dull to watch, although she did break the run course record for Kona!



A bunch more STers showed up, some staying with us, some not:






John (tetsuoni), Dawn (DawnT), Kat (lurker?), Tamela (DirtGirl), oh man two guys whose names I can't remember right now - I suck - Fred (fred_h), me, Chad (cdw).

Tried to crash early but I had trouble getting to sleep before midnight almost every night. Got up at 5am, far too early, race day. Cold, clear, crisp - perfect! But what the hell to wear??? Just wing it I think. Yeah LOL.


Get to the park (above), and start setting up. Look at that view!!! It is amazing out there! Met a few other STers, like Murphy's Law, tyler_durden, tri_yoda, parkito my man was there too, and some guy from a bikeshop in Buffalo, NY where AndyPants is apparently quasi famous... hunh?

Watch the long course folks start at 7:30, then wait around and try to warm up before our start at 8:30. I decided to go with knickers, a tanktop and a long sleeve shirt overtop of the tank. Gloves, visor and toe wamers were the accessories for the day. Good choices it seemed, it was cool in the shade and warm in the sun. The run was nothing but up and down up and down up and down. I decided before I started to walk every uphill, period. I was aiming for a slow 1h for the 5miles. I came in at 1:00:34, bang on. Passed a few people in transition, headed out on the bike, and immediately hit the first big climb.

Man oh man, that first climb seemed a lot harder than when I rode it on Thursday. I could barely turn the cranks over. Ugh. And when I got up out of the saddle, my calves wewre pretty grumpy. Being my first Du, I have to admit I thought it was going to be worse - Chad kept talking about "butt lock" that you get on the bike right after the run. Well, I didn't get butt lock, more like calf lock. They were close to seriously cramping the entire ride. Well except for my ~30min break in the middle of the ride.

Oh, yeah, a 30-40min break. Seriously. I flatted once, around mile 15, just after finishing a large climb. I heard my front pop, heard the hiss, and decided to roll downhill as long as I could before it was totally flat. Well, I'd advise no one to do that. Wow, did that bike ever become hard to manouever. Pretty freaky. Changed the tube, barely got it inflated with my new CO2 cartidge & valve and carried on. Not 2min later, the rear went. However I had no tube and no air. Fantastic. Karma was biting me square in the camping calves. I decided to walk. I mean I was ~14-15miles away from transition, away from anything really, but what else to do? I must have walked about 2miles, downhill at least. One fellow stopped and asked what I needed, and I said (stupidly): "A tube". So he gave me one and rode away. Wait! I need air too! Doh! So I changed the tire anyways, and then kept walking. Eventually another good samaritan asked what I needed, and this time I answered correctly: "A cartridge!". Got the tire pumped up, and got back on the bike.

The irony of the situation had not been lost on me, and while I wasn't going to win anything (I was DFL at this point), I was going to finish dammit. Finished my ride, racked the bike, and headed out on the second 5mi run. I was going to use the exacgt same strategy of walking up all hills, and I ended up with a run time about 10min slower, I can live with that. I used flat cola and a few gels on the bike, and had a gel on the run, which seemed to work OK, but I drank too much coffee in the morning, my gut felt bloated and I had to pee on both runs (not right). I think I need to drink less coffee, and likely switch back to decaf for when I do drink it. See if that helps alleviate that "gut bomb" feeling.

After all was said and done, I apparently won 1st in AG - solely due to the fact that I was the only one in the AG! My trophy below:



















There were a lot of DNFs, Chad and tyler_durden included unfortunately, but Tamlea and Kat did really well, as did Brian, Fred; Dawn and Parke both rocked as well. Murphy's Law was like 5th overall I think.


Post-race: chili and beer, how awesome is that?















Look at that spread? Three kinds of beer, three kinds of chili, cornbread, lots of coke, etc. Wicked awesome. After the last folks came in, we headed into New Paltz for Stumpkin beer (stout & pumpkin ale) at the Gilded Otter - after waiting in traffic for half an hour - apparently all the "leaf peepers" were driving back into the city after a day/weekend of looking at leaves. Crazy. Got to the Otter, it was packed, the Stumpkin was great, and so was the cheeseburger. Headed back to the Shack, showered, had a few more beers in my trophy, packed the bike and hit the hay.

So here I am waiting. I thought my flight was at 10am, apparently it's at noon. I suck. I guess I had told myself "gotta be there at 10... gotta be there at 10..." so many times, it became "the flight's at 10... the flight's at 10...". So I hauled my butt out of bed at 5am and drove the 90minutes from Highland to White Plains. As soon as I had returned the POS Saturn VUE, I realized my error. Doh! Two extra hours at the airport - no vehicle! Oh well, serves me right dammit.

What have I learned from this experience?
1: Less coffee in the morning period. Decaf or not.
2: Two CO2 cartidges, not one. Just in case I have problems with the first one. It wouldn't have solved my problems but it would have made it easier.
3: My running is terrible. Really terrible.
4: Considering #3 above, my strategy worked really well (for me).
5: I am a pretty descent climber. Not amazing but I get it done.

Did I meet my goals? I think so, the only exception being that I wanted to get in more exercise, particularly running, during my time. Well, that didn't happen - I mean I rode enough, but I ran squat except race day. And I wonder why my running sucks so much. I really have no choice any more, I need to just start running more, not harder, just more often. I really don't like running at lunch every day (2-3 times a week is enough), so I may have to try the early am sessions. Something to figure out.

In the meantime, my legs are pretty stuff - quads mostly - and my biceps - from climbing out of the saddle I think. And my lower back too, a bit. My first duathlon was a hard one. But I loved this race, and would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I think I'd like to do it again next year. I know P would really like this race: hills everywhere, beer everywhere, lots of great riding. How can you go wrong? ;-)

AP

Day 1 in Highland NY

Wow it sure is beautiful here. I can't believe how beautiful. I mean every colour of fall, winding, climbing roads, azure skies and warm sun. It is amazing. I must come here again.

Dawn, Chad and I did the race loop today. What a great ride. Not easy, oh no. If the LC was a 2-looper, I'd be tempted. But I can't imagine doing THREE of those loops. Man am I glad I put on a 12-25!!! However, I loved this ride. 25degC, sunscreen required, hot hot hot on the climbs but cool cool cool in the shade of the descents. The climbs actually are OK, and challenging without being stupid (a la Whistler -> Lillooet). Some you have to get out of the saddle, but most are OK to just spin up. Very nice course.

Stopped into the local bike shop, Bicycle Depot, on Main street. Got a local team jersey ( my souvie) and a co2 and crackpipe, and a duraAce 53t ring - likley $20 -$40 cheaper than at home. Bah. Good shop, will ride in tomorrow, get some help with my rear der (indexing a bit off since the new cassette installed - not surprised). Yeah, will ride into town, boot a bit past then head back for a short transition run. Then we will pick apples in the owner's orchard - hah!

Dawn made ministrone (awesome BTW!), then wine and baseball/hockey and then bed. Ugh. Slow day. Tomorrow should be busier. Going to check out the run course tomorrow methinks. See what it's like. However I do miss P and our new mattress (P more than the mattress of course).

AP

On my way to AmZof!

I'm sitting here at YVR Gate 77, waiting for my flight to Westchester NY for American Zofingen, and I'm pretty stoked. I've never done a duathlon before, so this will be a new experience. I've never been to New York state either. My goals of this trip are as follows:

1: have fun and meet new STers.
2: have a solid race day, take the first leg easy, ride solid, then see what's left in the tank for the second run - really try to loosen those calves earlier than I did at Black Diamond.
3: no soy.
4: get in as much riding and running as I can during this trip.
5: nap every day.
6: drink a lot of beer.


I think, while it's a lot, it's do-able.

I decided to take the Soloist for this trip, and I may regret that decision, but I put on a new cassette (12-25 vs the 11-23 that was on) and if there's a half decent bike shop in the area, I will see about a 53t or 52t crankring to replace the 55t.


I have been riding a descent amount to and from work these days, and am feeling pretty good in the legs. Only managing two runs a week but they are starting to feel better, I think largely in part because I am not trying to push so hard in my runs - I am trying to stick to a descent effort level i.e.: RPE ~11 not ~15+. I want to feel like I could keep running, and even more important, that I could run the next day too. I think it will take a long time, and lot of shorter easy/steady pace sessions to get to the point where I can train every day. I am getting there, but the pace of improvement is frustrating.


I have an ultrasound scheduled for after my return. Hopefully this eliminates any possibility of DVTs. Then I meet with the neurologist a week later. I suspect he will have nothing useful to contribute either. I will try to go back to the endo and have her do a more detailed thyroid blood panel, that may be of more use.


Now I just need to get to the pool at least 1 day a week until spring. I will just have to suck it up and start forcing myself to go. Problem is I hate training in the evening after work. So it will have to be before work, which means a late morning (i.e.: getting to work late). Once OWC has moved to Burnaby, I will be able to go to Canada Games for the 6:30 opening (long course too!), then ride back to work (10min ride). That would work just fine. And if we're kid free we can drive if nec, or both ride in. Would be about a 45min ride to CGP from home I think. I might have to test it out one weekend.


Well, I'm going to sign off now, and I will post some pics of upstate NY as I get them. Looking forward to seeing Dawn again, and meeting some new folks!


TTYL,
AP

Signing up for IMC 09/Black Diamond OLY/I am an idiot.

Well, it's done. I have given away $550 USD to NAS sports and signed up for IMC 2009, as did P. Jeebus we must be crazy folks. I honestly have no idea how we'll get all the training in but we will. My biggest problem will be the swim - the time for swimming seems the first thing to get cut when time gets short. My options include signing up for the Dolphins again (which will motivate me to get up early again), swim cords, sucking it up on my own, or some combination. I am pretty close to signing up for the Dolphins. I actually really miss those 5:30am swims. I figure I could swim 2-3 times a week, even if only for 1hr each session before having to cut out early and head home for kid detail/getting to work (LOL).

My second biggest problem will be my running. It sucks right now. I was back at my GP (again) for yet another round of tests. My legs hurt a lot, they swell very easily, as do my hands and lower arms. My neck always hurts, but I think that's my matress haha. This time she wants to rule out MS, ALS, and she is also sending me to a neurologist. I told her I was more concerned about my circulation than my nerves. I think it is time for a new GP. Can't hurt to get a second opinion, right? But if I can at least get in enough miles to have some run form, I'll manage. I'll manage.

The secret weapon for me - this time around - will actually be my bike. Seriously. I have always been an OK rider, but this race season I have had some really decent bike splits, like FOP in my AG. Yeah, crazy eh? I have picked up a set of compact cranks, will get a new cassette with girlier gearing, I'l be a MACHINE hahahaha. I will take my trainer to work as well, so I can ride long there if I want to (it's virtually impossible to ride at 4am at home on the trainer and not wake someone up). I know I can be a better rider than I was for IMWA, and the Soloist will make a huge difference. And to top it off IMC bike course suits me, I actually like to climb and I am an aggressive descender. Should be good. I see no reason why I can't log a 6:30 or better on that course.

So last weekend, P and I did our last tri of the season, the Black Diamond Olympic in Enumclaw, WA. We went down early to watch the 1/2IM race on Saturday, which was great to watch, it made me very nostalgic, jealous even that I wasn't racing! Watching T1 was very fun, we saw one woman spend almost 10min dicking around with a shirt and armwarmers and a jacket and toque and aerohelmet and putting on shades and taking off shades and putting on shades and dropping the lenses out of the shades and putting them back in and putting the shades on and taking them off and putting them on and taking them off and taking off the aerohelmet (while her bike was unracked I noted) and taking off the toque and putting on the aerohelmet and putting on the shades and taking them off and putting them on... It was so painful to watch we nearly cried. Lucky for her she was an awesome rider.

Later that day, we linked up with a friend who was doing the sprint, headed into town for some dinner, and tried to call it an early evening. Lunch was a sammy and some supplies (for breakfast) from Safeway. I drank an Odwalla soy protein drink, it was supposed to be close to chocolate milk. Well, Soy and Andy do not mix. The next morning I must have evacuated on the back side about 4 times before the race even started. I felt pretty bloated and gassy and not happy in the GI region at all. Started the race, swam was tough, it took me a good 400m or so to get into a rhythm where I could bilateral breathe. But then I felt ok, wasn't super fast or anything but wasn't trying for anything special on the swim. Finished about 2min faster than Apple - that was ALL wetsuit lol but I'll take it. Pretty descent T1, then went out and had a solid ride, felt really good, although the taint was a bit tender by the end, it is definitely time for a new saddle. Got off the bike, had a good transition and started trying to run. My calves were SO tight. Holy cow they took until mile 3 to loosen up, I had to walk all up hills. I gotta start running off the bike again, and check the fit on the Soloist again, might need to tweak it.

Before my calves could loosen up tho, my bowels had. I hit the portaloo twice on the course, the bushes at one point, and as I finished the race I ran right past P and straight to the loo. Man, that was nasty. I totally blame the soy drink, I don't normally eat or drink soy of any kind, I prefer cow's milk/dairy. What a miserable run. I should have been 5 minutes or so faster than Kelowna, but instead ended up 5 min slower oh well.

OA finish position: 156/216
OA finish time: 3:07:24  
AG finish position: 8/13 
Swim:   34:08   165/216  5/13
T1:      2:51
Bike: 1:20:47   133/216  3/13
T2:      1:39   142      3/13
Run:  1:07:59   193     10/13

So a pretty good bike overall, 3rd fastest in my AG. In fact I was in 3rd for my AG at the start of the run. Finishers in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th all passed me on the run. Ugh. Funny thing is that once my calves loosened up, and I wasn't clenching my butt to stop it from exploding, I actually felt ok running, the physical motion of the legs, arms, breathing, focus, etc. It started to feel like it used to feel.

Lessons learned:
1) NO SOY EVER before a race. This is so obvious it kills me.
2) Gotta work on getting those calves looser off the bike.
3) It is time for a new saddle.

Lessons relearned:
1) Nothing new before a race/on race day. I am such an idiot.

I have one du left - American Zofingen Sprint Du - in upstate NY, should be a lot of fun, then the Haney to Harrison, then it's 2009. I was chatting with F, my amigo who coached me through IMWA, about IMC, and he said he'd help me out a bit again, which is great.

The key will be the LSD workouts every week. After that one interval/VO2Max type session in each, after that we start getting into technical or dual sport sessions, more sport specific stuff. I admit, I am ready for it, and kinda looking forward to developing a bit of a routine... plus it is a great excuse for not staying out too late/drinking too much/etc... and I will fit into my skinny pants again! Ha!

The goal for the remainder of the year is to get the health stuff in order, as much as possible, do pretty much whatever training I want, but focusing on swimming and running, and try to get the bike set-up and gearing fine tuned.

Oh yeah: P got a new bike! A super sweet Cervelo P2SL, anodized colour, it's awesome. It's SO light, I'm never going to catch him now. Dammit, time for sabotage? ;-) Nahhh...

Stay tuned. AmZof is next! ;-)

AP

I am a bad blogger: Diva's only sprint/Whistler->Lillooet Drive/Apple OLY/IMC

OK it's only been sheesh a month or so since I last posted... and believe it or not, I have to wait til I am on vacation to catch up. How utterly sad is that?

July 27th, I did the Diva's only sprint tri, pretty much on the North Shore tri course (slightly different run). I had never done a women's only tri before and in fact have pretty much shied away from them - I don't particularly like the concept of excluding anyone - but it was a sprint and on a weekend that was a good date for me so I signed up. I recall waking up at 6am or so to a huge downpour, and was ready to DNS to thing, when I thought "oh suck it up - you'll feel better that you did the race than not", so I did.

The rain stopped just after I set up my rack in Transition - I did that set-up in about 2min flat, I was so late for the pre-race briefing. After the briefing I realized I hadn't had breakfast - so a gel it was. Blech, not my idea of breakfast but I needed some calories. It seemed to work ok. I was honestly just out there to get some confidence, particularly on the run - and by that I mean just feeling better than I did the last few races. I felt pretty good.

My age group results:

AG: 12/24
OA: 37/146
Swim: 13/24 15:40  2:07
Bike: 7/24  39:46  27.2
Run: 19/24  29:52  5:59
Finish: 12/24 1:25:17 

So not bad at all, and that was with a nasty chain debacle on the bike split that cost me about 3min or so. Man, I could have really rocked that bike split otherwise ;-). Pretty much as soon as the race ended, the rain started again, and really poured so I was pretty happy to be done. Even though my run time was slow, the run felt OK, I was able to run off the bike, starting slow and then picking up steam, and finishing strong. That's the MAIN thing. While slower than North Shore, I was also kinda dogging it on the swim, and well, let's face it, I didn't have to worry about trying to beat Phil LOL.

The following weekend, after a drunk night in Kelowna, Phil and I joined up with Khai and Alexia in Whistler to ride with a fellow SlowTwitcher, Tina, from Corpus Christi TX. We rode from Whistler to Lillooet, about 135km, on one of the hottest days this summer.

Check out this profile:

We are truly idiots. It was not that warm when we left Whistler, around 9:30am, we had two flats in the first hour i.e.: before we got to Pemberton. The road between those two is not bad, it's mostly downhill to Pemberton. Then flat flat flat through towards Mount Currie on Hwy 99. OK, let me try to describe the hell that is the climb out of Pemberton: The first 13k or so are grades often in the double digits, followed by another 8k or so of 5-8% grades. It sucked ass. I had to stop so many times, I lost count. Good thing we had SAG that day or we would have all been cooked, ok all of us except Alexia, damn smart woman for riding compact cranks (plus she climbs like a demon anyways). Once we made it to the top of the main climbs, there were a bunch of nice descents, but man the road was in horrible shape. Huge potholes, one section at the bottom of a nice hill was a gravel hairpin (yeah really - wtf was Highways thinking? "Hey let's kill some cyclists? Sure sounds like fun" - jackasses). Phil and Tina got launched over the drop onto the gravel section and barely missed having huge wipeouts. It probably didn't hurt that they have ridden MTB so they at least have an idea of what riding on gravel feels like. There were some amazing views though:

I was so absolutely baked, I had to stop and chug some cans of Coke and rest for about ten minutes before I could even get back on the bike to finish. I haven't bonked that badly in a long time. When we arrived in Lillooet it was 42degC and we were all completely hosed. One of our SAG drivers bough a bunch of cold cans of Coke and we chugged those in about 30sec flat. Then we drove back to Whistler, where we could see the absolute idiocy we had just completed, and ate an unusually large burrito. Mmmmm. Burrito.

We were pretty wrecked the entire next week, I think I rode twice and ran once. Ugh. But that's OK. It certainly makes almost any other ride profile look ridiculously easy. Example: Richter Pass (IMC) - looks likes a joke now. Haha.

Fast forward two weeks to the Apple Olympic in Kelowna (Aug 17th). Not like either of us had done a lot more training since that crazy ride, but we were feeling OK. All I wanted to do was 1) finish; 2) have fun and 3) run the entire run. I managed all three. Yippee!! On Sat, the day before the race, the weather was brutally hot, like 35degC+. The lake temp was 23degC - non-wetsuit legal for the swim - particularly as this was a national championship (who knew? no wonder it was so busy with so many super stud racers). So no wetsuits. I don't mind, even though you get some free speed - I'd rather be a bit slower than overheat. But you could see a bunch of people kinda freak out about it. Funny thing was I had just (week before) bought my new wetsuit, this super sweet nineteen frequency that fits like a glove. Oh well, I guess I'd have to wait to use it...

Race morning, the clouds managed to hang around long enough to keep it below 30degC, thank god. But I managed. Even though I've been having trouble in the heat (getting sausage hands and feeling like total crap after 25min of running) I managed OK by constantly dumping water on my head, visor and my rashguard. I know I will still have problems in the heat but I will just have to learn to manage it. Either that or find tris in Norway LOL.



My Apple results:

AG:               42/50
Swim:          40 34:22  2:18
T1:            19  1:52
End of T1:     36 36:13
Bike:        31 1:21:37  29.4
End of bike: 33 1:57:50
T2:            33  1:47
End of T2:   33 1:59:37
Run:         44 1:04:21  6:27
Total:       42 3:03:57       

Funny thing is that this is only about 5min slower than the last time I did the Apple, in 2002, when I was in much better shape. Must be the bike. Bought speed and all. Haha. See that silly smirk on the bike? ;-)



Phil on the other hand did really really well for his first OLY race, with a 2:53:

AG: 42/50
Swim:         30 30:07  2:01
T1:           39  2:42
After T1:     32 32:49
Bike:       39 1:15:42  31.7
After Bike: 35 1:48:31
T2:           39  1:44
After T2:   35 1:50:14
Run:        47 1:03:10  6:19
Total:     42 2:53:24       

I mean look at that! ;-) Way to kick butt. But it looks like both of us need to work on our runs.

More to come later... Including IMC, vacation and signing up for IMC 2009.

AP

Recovery week/New car/Gearing

For a recovery week, I wanted to take it easy but not too easy. Heck I felt fine Monday which says to me that I didn't work hard enough in the race.
Wait a minute, don't you remember what happened during that run?
Oh yeah, hmm... but my legs feel like they didn't even race!
Yeah well, it's not about how your quads feel, ok? Let's keep that in mind...

So I managed two short rides, and two short runs during the work week. Got in a nice ride (~40k) with P yesterday, just home to the North Shore via Lions Gate Bridge, then to Deep Cove and back home via Ironworkers'. Then we bought a car. How silly eh? We've been pretty happy with our one-car month, so we traded in both of our cars for a new Audi A4 wagon. It's soooo pretty... we pick it up tomorrow - yippee! The best part is that we can easily fit the two adults, the two kids and two bikes. Exactly what we need. We'll get to break it in on our road trip with the kids soon... and we will save on all that gas and insurance $ while not always cursing the small interior size of the A3. I will miss Spanky and Cammie, but Moby Dick will be great.

What this also means is that we commit to commuter riding more. Which is just fine with both of us. My Olmo will do just fine through the winter, with some fenders on it. Ditto P's Cannondale. Plus by the end of the year, we'll both be working back in the same areas of Burnaby.

So the long weekend of August, it seems a group of us will be doing a ride from Whistler to Lillooet. 130km. There is a climb out of Pemberton up Mount Curry that is ridiculous though. Something like 11k with sections of 13% grade. I may have to walk some of that section... or... I might swap my rings. Maybe pull the 55 and 39 off and put on a 53 and a 34. I may need a new chain for that though, but then the gearing of the Soloist might be a lot better for this kind of ride. I figure I better check out my options for gearing on that bike before the Apple. That race has one short steep part - you ride the base of the Knox Mt climb - but has nothing else too steep or long. I could probably use the 39 instead of the 34 for that race, so trying the 53 instead of the 55 is probably a good idea. Some experimenting to be done, results to follow.

And on the note of experiments, I am trying aloe vera juice in an effort to calm my stomach (which seems to be grumpy due to the daily meds). It was a suggestion from a neighbour - she swears by it. It tastes terrible - quite bitter - so you have to put a bit (2oz or so) in some juice. But the two times I had it in the morning, my stomach did feel better. Placebo effect? Possibly. I'll keep at it and see how it goes.

AP

Subaru Vancouver Intl Sprint

It was an interesting day, that's for sure. Because of my last 6+ weeks of post-pericarditis and FEAR of being really messed, I honestly was aiming for a 1:45-1:50 race.

We got there nice and early, did a partial set-up of transition before being booted out as the 1/2IM swimmers came through. We were going to Rock the Hoff and wear our Team Baywatch jackets but it was too warm already. Next time. ;-)

Swim: the water was very warm, 18degC, so I opted for my 2mm SpeedTube and my tri top - yep - no neoprene on the upper body. It was comfy enough that's for sure, probably could have used the 5mm SpeedTube with equal success but might have been warmer than I like. That was also my first open water swim since, oh, that time Khai and I swam at Sasamat about 2 yrs ago? Yeah, seriously, how bad is that eh? ;-) It felt comfy enough, the old habits came back pretty quickly, sighting was easy but lots of drunken mules out there - no one to follow only folks to kick and push off you as they swim in zigzags around you. Super fast transition due to tube only, then onto bike.

While happy that the gazillion potholes on the Spanish Banks road were filled, I cannot wait for the city to repave that stretch. Tres bumpy. Did the climb up to UBC OK, felt pretty good actually. Passed a bunch, got passed by some more, back and forth, you know how it goes. My biggest pet peeve was the lack of riding etiquette out there. Lots of blocking, drafting, attempts ot pass on the right, but the one that cheesed me the most was the chick doing the 1/2IM (I know your # BTW in case you are reading) who had her obviously kick-ass roadie BF who was not racing out riding with her almost the entire time. WTF?!? Even worse was the fact that he would help block other riders (like me) in the narrow sections, so I couldn't even pass his GF. Moral dilemma too: trying NOT to draft off this guy, who was clearly blocking, was difficult. I still believe it's not right to draft - even if that person is not a competitor. It took until the descent on NW Marine to get past them. Very frustrating.

Finished the ride, feeling pretty good, quick T2, then started the run relatively easy. After North Shore where I felt terrible during the run, I just wanted to feel comfortable. Started feeling pretty decent actually, so I picked up the pace a bit. Turned to make the hill up 4th Avenue, and just past the aid station, I suddenly got that spaced out feeling, like when you get lightheaded and think you might faint. At the same time, my entire left upper body went numb. I stopped dead in my tracks, noticeable enough to get quite a few "are you OK?"s as people ran past me. I didn't know what to say to them, but I appreciate their concern. Good to know that if I had passed out, someone would have done something. I just started walking, tried shaking out my arm, and tried not to panic. I tried to start running again, still felt funny with my LH side chest area all numb, but hoped it would go away. Figured I'd have to get to the finish area anyways, so I might as well just keep going. It eased, particularly on the next downhill, so I kept on, but definitely didn't push it, even walking the next hill.

By the time I hit the flats with about 1k to go, I felt OK actually, enough to finish with a decent enough 1:39. What strikes me as ironic is that my AG's #2, 3, and 4 all passed me on that run. Bah. Next time. But guess it's back to the doctors - that numbness was pretty odd. I have had a lot of stomach cramping lately - which I think is due to my synthroid dosage being upped - but funny enough my stomach didn't give me any grief at all today during the race. Seems the bod is trying to tell me something.... but what, I dunno - yet.

The last few weeks I have been trying to get in a lot of runs and short rides, and I think it helped a lot. At least for confidence if nothing else. I will try to swim twice this week (on the days I have to drive, try and go to New Brighton at lunch), to give my legs a break. I'll ride in Thurs and Fri as I don't have to drive those days. I'd like to get in two runs if possible next week, as the following week I fly to Houston, Tx for work (Tues thru late Fri). Not really looking forward to Houston, but I will try to get in some treadmill runs while there, maybe even find an outdoor pool. Will be hot and disgusting if nothing else. Ugh.

AP