TheyTri

Rev3 Cedar Point 2011 photos

2011-09-13T08:22:00.002-04:00

Here's a link to my Picasa album of Rev3 Cedar Point. I'll post an updated guide once I recover from the drive home! Great weekend and so proud of everyone who raced.
PS, ignore the time on that clock...still set to pro clock!

Disney Marathon 2012, take 2

2011-07-05T07:26:00.000-04:00

I'd had an official 26.2 kickoff run with Cat back in March. Then the wheels came off. I had been sick for nearly a month prior to that short 4.2 mile run and then when I got home I have had a wide array of ailments and issues I won't bore you with. Sooooooo....time to start over.
We've booked our hotel and tickets and will book our flights in the next week or so so it's clearly time to get back in the saddle and start my training. I'm wanting to do it but also, frankly, scared to do it. I am working on a personality transplant to make me less Negative Nancy about things so I'm attempting to go into this new phase of training with a positive attitude, not a cynical 'just don't die' attitude. So far only about a 20% success rate. Baby Steps.
So, I'm buckling down and using my awesome TrekDesk on the days I work at home (I am on it right now, acutally) so I can get extra exercise in during a time I'd usually be totally sedentary. I'm going to follow the Jeff Galloway plan from the Disney site and probably, at least at the beginning, use the run-walk method. I find when I 'run' I'm actually moving at a faster pace then ever before but I tire quite easily. So, using the run-walk to build up will, I think, be helpful and help me with pacing. I suck at pacing. I could go buy all the fancy bells and whistles that help you with such things but I think if I find I need it I'll just steal Mr. TheyTri's Garmin.
So, here we go. I'm putting this up publicly so I'll be shamed into keeping up with my training.

Ironman Texas

2011-06-26T09:16:00.001-04:00

This is a long-overdue post. I was so wiped out after IMTX and Rev3 Quassy that I needed a little triathlon down time. But, Herewith, the spectator guide to IMTX.

General:
The Woodlands is a very spectator-friendly venue for a race. There are shops and restaurants all around, plenty of places to rest and recharge. It's not the most spectator-friendly bike course, being on giant loop out into the Texas hinterlands, but the swim, run and finishline areas are all great for watching yoru athlete all day. Go stroll around the finishline area of Market Street before durring and after the race and patronize those great shops. LuluLemon had a great display of all the athlete names. The Cupcakery had yummy sweets. The line for Starbucks will make you want to cry. the H.E.B. also has a coffee bar...the line will also be insane. Chipolte is there for lunch. Go calm your race-day nerves at Tommy Bahama's bar.
The Woodlands is great.

Travel:
Book your hotel *early*. They pretty much all sold out. People from Houston booked rooms in The Woodlands to avoid the race-morning drive. There is a Marriott directly across from venue that is the official host hotel. If it's not already booked for next year I'd be surprised. But there are many others. Don't hesitate. Book and if you end up not needing it, cancel your booking.

Pre-race.
The expo is set up in a big parking lot across from the finish area. It's a nice expo. The check in took no time at all when we were there Thursday morning. Our athletes were in and out. The good folks at World Triathlon Corporaton have apparently taken a page out of the Disney book and the registration tent dumps you out into the merchandise tent. Exit through the Gift Shop, indeed. My fellow sherpas and I couldn't resist the IMTX cowboy hats. Why not?
My one beef here was there was no 'volunteer' tent. There was no one place you could, as a registered volunteer, go and say "here I am, where's my T-shirt and my parking pass." This caused some stress as we weren't sure what to do race morning. Coordinating with our volunteer team captain was a bit of a pain since he was so busy getting stuff set up but we eventually managed to sort it out. It seemed like if you weren't part of a 'group' of volunteers (like, ours was run by the very nice people from Team in Training) they kind of left you hanging.
There are a million places to eat and shop but we stopped at Rudy's BBQ just off of I-45 after packet pickup for a bit of a chow-down.

Race day:
We drove up from Houston so were up very, very early to make the 45-min drive. It was easy to get into the venue to do athlete drop off. There is official parking in designated parking garages. Do try and use these if you can because if you try and park in unauthorized lots you will be towed. We got a bit lucky by going in a secret side entrance and it worked out OK but there were reports that people who parked at the nearby Mall and by the ampetheater were being towed. That'd be a really crappy end to a very long day so you're better off playing by the rules.

Swim:
The swim start is about mile from transition. Plan for a crowded walk. If you want a spot on the bridge crossing the lake to see the start, get there very early and say goodbye to your athlete at transition. You can also bushwack a bit to stand on the east side of the lake to watch the start. the main Swim in side of the lake will be crowded but there is a lot of room and this is where morning clothes drop off is.
You should have plenty of time to walk back to transition/swim out before your athlete gets there.

Bike:
Bike out has a nice, long road you can stand along to get a shot of your athlete leaving. I'd advise not sitting right at the mount line because it's very crowded. Head a little bit further out and you should get a nice clean shot and they'll also be able to pick you out of the thinner crowd.
The course, as I mentioned above, is one, huge loop. You can get in your car and drive north on I-45 and connct back up with the course in the national forest. HOWEVER, I strongly advise not crossing over the course to the west side. The traffic is terrible getting back across, my inlaws sat for more than an hour to get through one intersection. Getting back into The Woodlands, the greater community, not just the downtown, is very, very difficult from that side. If you miss your athlete in the forrest, cut your losses and head back down I-45 to come back into The Woodlands from the east side.

Run:
The run is a three-loop course along the canal. Plenty of great places to watch your athlete. The finishline goes in a loop around the Market Street area. There is a park in the middle you can set up camp in.

More General:
Medical was set up in a building just past the finishline along the north side of the park.
The H.E.B. across from transition is a huge win. Having a giant grocery store right there is amazing.
There are 'real' bathrooms adjacent to transition, just be mindful of athetes who need them

We used TriBike Transport to get Mr. TheyTri's bike too and from the race. It was hugely helpful to not have to worry about bike assembly/disassembly. They *are* open in the expo area until midnight the day of the race so you can take bike out of transition and bring it over to them for transport immediately following the race. Note that if bike has a disc wheel, you'll need to take it off and replace it with a spoked wheel before you turn it over to them. (unless you're totally beside-yourself exhausted and look like you're gonna cry and then they'll take pity on you.)

Tri Sherpa Kit

2011-05-15T18:14:00.002-04:00

We're gearing up for Ironman Texas here at TheyTri HQ. We leave in three short days so the initial packing phase has begun. I tend to pack first so that I'm nearly 100% by the day we leave, minus the last minute essentials, so that I can concentrate on nagging Mr. TheyTri relentlessly about his checklist. I do it out of love. And OCD. But mostly love.
140.6 distance races are a really, really long day. It's important to plan ahead as much as you can to bring what you may need while simultaneously not overburdening yourself. If you're staying near the race venue or have a car parked nearby you can get away with schlepping a lot more on the day and just grabbing what you need when you need it. Conversely, if you won't be near a stash spot all day, pare things down. Similarly, if you're somewhere busy, like downtown Lake Placid or The Woodlands where there are shops and malls, you can fret less about forgetting something. But, if you're in the Backside of Beyond for 17 hours, go prepared!
So, what goes in my Sherpa Kit? Glad you asked.

1. The bag is essential. I highly recommend a lightweight backpack over a shoulder bag. I have a great mid-sized Le Sportsac backpack with several pockets. I love it because it's very light (though, some would argue also less sturdy) and it's roomy without being terribly bulky. It's also water resistant, which is great if you're carrying electronics like your camera and mobile phone. I also carry a little wristlet sometimes so that I don't have to carry my whole wallet. Just some money, my bank card, my credit card and my ID. I don't need my Target card or Stop and Shop bonus card for the day so leave it at home.

2. Camera. My camera is fantabulous. I love it. It's a Nikon and it's great for action shots. Do I love that it's heavy, no. But it takes amazing pics and to me it is worth it. Point and shoots are totally great, just be aware that most models don't have fast enough shutter speeds to catch a cyclist going by if they're really moving.

3. Athlete guide or similar. Whatever has the maps, the times and the contact info for the race directors. With the wonders of Evernote, I've actually been able to store the PDF of the IMTX guide electronically so I don't *need* to bring the hard copy but I feel better doing so. Just in case.

4. Chargers/extra batteries. I learned this the very hard way at IMLP in 2009. I now bring a wall charger in case I'm in a restaurant or shop or something that has plugs available to use while I'm on a break. I have a car charger in case I have a vehicle handy and lastly, I just bought a 'solar powered' extra battery. I'm unconvinced that it works but am bringing it to IMTX to give it a go. It also takes a charge via USB so worst case I can charge it before we leave and just have it as a backup battery in case of the predicted apocalypse that day. (May 21, 2011)

5. Snacks and water bottle. IMTX looks to be in a hub of civilization so food should be easy to come by for most spectators. However, I'm volunteering a mile away and want to make sure I have provisions, especially water, given how hot Texas will be. I have my Camelbak Groove, which has a built in filter so I can be ok with tap water from anywhere. I also plan for food. If I'm just watching Mr. TheyTri I can plan times to go grab something but if I have many people to cheer for it can be hard to get away to go grab something. So, I make sure I've got a few calories stashed in my bag.

6. Medical items. I carry a J&J first aid teeny-weeny kit. It has band-aids and alcohol wipes etc...but it's about 4" square. I also carry Neosporin spray and advil. Wet wipes, eye drops, allergy meds, antacid, tampons. Yes. Go to the travel section and buy the teeny packs. I also sometimes stash tweezers but I can't find my extra pair! A tiny Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool to have tweezers, scissors and a file handy would be good, too.

7. Health/beauty: SUNBLOCK! SUNBLOCK! SUNBLOCK!! I cannot stress this enough. I have a little bag that I keep some of the above medical.health and some 'beauty' items in. Bobby pins, hair elastics, baby powder, a teeny hairbrush, safety pins, chapstick with SPF etc...i even keep a travel-sized deodorant in there. Again...a long, long day!

8. Clothing items. These vary depending on climate, but I always have a visor or hat to keep the sun off my face/out of my eyes. If I have a car nearby I try and bring a change of shoes. I bring my Crocs flip flops more often than not because they're small, light and comfy and if I had to stick them in my backpack, I could. I always wear my running shoes because you're on your feet a lot. I'm volunteering at a water stop at IMTX and so may switch out to my Crocs flops then so that my shoes don't get all wet. But, a change of shoes is nice if you can manage it. As for rain gear...I can't be bothered with umbrellas etc...if rain is forecast, I make sure to dress in clothes that dry quickly/wick.

9. Last, but in no way least: Cell phone! Essential for keeping groups together and Tweeting updates!

There are a few items that don't go in my "kit" per se but if you have a car handy consider: umbrella, chair, cooler, coffee thermos!

Hope you find this all helpful. If there's something I've missed that you simply cannot live without race day, let me know in the comments.

MacGyver Wife

2011-05-13T17:39:00.001-04:00

I tend to be a little worst-case-scenario. I also come from a long line of spit-and-gum handymen. My father's been known to drive golf tees into a wall to hold something up in lieu of nails or brackets (dirty family secret). But, I married into a family of people who actually measure things before they cut and read directions. These bits of Mrs. TheyTri trivia are really just to introduce my list of "Things You Should Put in Your Special Needs Bag So Your Spouse Doesn't Worry." These are things that, 56 miles from home with no support vehicle in sight, you'd want your athlete to have. Be a nag and make them put it in there...those bags can hold a heck of a lot so why not?!

Duct tape. Duct tape. Duct tape. It fixes nearly any problem. broken cleat? Duct tape. Loose cable? Duct tape. Hungry? Duct tape. (Kidding. but I bet it'd work!)
Rubber bands.
Zip ties
Gels/blocs/calories of some sort. Consider *actual* food, like stuff that grows in nature.
Extra tubes/C02
Electrical tape
Safety pins
Allen wrenches
Toilet paper
SuperGlue (see Duct tape)
Advil/Asprin/Tylenol

Please feel free to add to the list in comments, we'd love to know what is indespensible when you're out on your own.

The 2011 Tri season is upon us!

2011-04-09T17:25:00.001-04:00

The snow has (finally) melted here in the NE and race season is upon us. Mr. TheyTri actually has a very early season Ironman this year, IMTX, so we're on an accelerated schedule this year. Those in warmer climes are already racing. So, I think it's time for my annual "have you had the talk?" post.
Our friend @co2legs reminded me of this the other day when he sent out an email soliciting tips on balancing life, work and training for his Team Continuum news letter. The grim reality is...there is no balance. Something always gives. The questions are, what gives, for how long and what is the consequence of that.
So, that is why I'm a firm believer that you and your athlete need to have a pre-or-early-season talk. An HONEST talk. Most people are willing to sacrifice some things so that their loved one can achieve a goal. But how much and for how long is not something that should be assumed. It's vital to sit down and hash out the race schedule. Then to try and figure out how much time will be needed to train. Compare calendars: what training sessions simply cannot be missed and, conversely, whose wedding/birthday is imperative to attend despite the training schedule.
I think some athletes get tunnel vision. They focus so much on their A race or their big goal that other things slide to the side. Those of us who are supporters do understand that it takes a lot of time, energy and sacrifice to achieve. But the athlete needs to understand that it's a two-way street-- other people have needs, wants and goals, too. This is why the talk is so vital.
Sometimes athletes get "lifed." And it is in those times we supporters earn our stripes. Right now, Mr. TheyTri is slumped on the couch with his laptop, logged in to work after already putting in a 70+hour work week and only 42 days out from IMTX. It's a huge weight. He is exhausted. So, not to pat myself on the back (though, come on, I'm awesome!), but we're foregoing the date night we'd been so excited about and I mulched the garden and am taking on a bit more of the household load this weekend. After IMTX, when I need help as I'm training for the Disney Marathon in January or I need to drop some of the daily nonsense we 'adults' have to shoulder, it'll be his turn. Try and remember the Golden Rule.

WSJ article on tri widdows

2011-02-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting piece on the phenomenon of tri/endurance widows today. Worth a read. I'm surprised by the weird comments posted to it, to be honest. Maybe it's the audience, but they seem to be missing the point. Commenters seem to think it's a criticism off anyone who exercises and there's an odd number of "just run a 10k"-type bits of advice to the Ironman athletes mentioned in the piece. They seem to be completely missing that the article is essentially advocating ballance between life and training. It shouldn't surprise me but it does!
Not gonna lie. Being a tri wife can be frustrating at times. I can understand the issues the spouses in the article raise and relate to many of them. But not all of them. This is why it's vital to have "the talk" before every season so that you can make clear what you are and are not willing to deal with. Support is a two-way street.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703439504576116083514534672.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_4

Disney Marathon Weekend Tips

2011-01-27T10:17:00.001-05:00

Part II of our Disney adventure!

We took some notes and compiled some helpful tips for spectators and racers alike. Generally we focus on the non-racer but since I participated in this event there's a smattering of both kinds of tips.

Planning Ahead:

Book your hotel rooms the day you/your racer registers for the race. Rooms fill up quickly for marathon weekend. You can change the reservation without penalty until 5 days before your check in if you find a better deal. Take advantage of this. Better to have something booked than be scrambling.
All Disney hotels will provide busses to the Expo, to the start race morning and back from the finish to your hotel. But, Polyneisan, Grand Floridian and Contemporary are all on the race route if that's a consideration for spectators. Port Orleans French Quarter abuts the start line corrals, though we're sure Disney discourages people from walking over. (you didn't hear it from us). More on busses later.
Park tickets aren't cheap. Really think about how many days you'll want to be walking around parks vs the need to keep your feet up. Having said that, adding days is simple once on property and once over 3-day pass it's inexpensive to add days. (e.g., we added a 6th day to our park hoppers for about $5 a piece)
Disney dining plan is a fine option if you'd like to have everything in one package. We got a bit confused by it (our first time using) and, frankly, had to go off the plan a few times for appetizers we wanted and our drinks. I'm not sure how much it saved us. Like the park tickets, it's a numbers game.
Good idea to book dining reservations ahead of time for sit-down meals. If you don't, expect a long wait or being told they're not taking walk ups. Better to have them and not use them than searching around for a table.
If you book via Disney Travel, you have to CALL them to OK your booking and to have the ballance charged to a card about 30 days before arrival. They do NOT automatically bill the ballance to the card you used for your deposit. They will NOT call to remind you until after the 30 day mark and at this point they are entitled to cancel your reservation if they can't reach you. Pay attention.
Orlando International Airport is about a 35-min drive from the Disney property. Magical Express is a good option for people staying at Disney hotels. Recommend it for inbound trip, especially if you'll be arriving early in the day before your room is ready. Book a month out and you'll receive yellow bag tags. Once you have these, ME will pick up your luggage and bring it directly to your room while you can go and enjoy your first day at WDW. However you're on their schedule. This means on your return trip, you will be scheduled for a bus to the airport 3 hours before your flight. ME is good because on some airlines you can check in and check bags at your hotel and receive your boarding passes and then just cruise to the airport without a care, bypassing check in counters entirely. But, if you want to spend more time on property before your flight, a cab is an OK option and costs around $50. The front desk at your hotel can connect you to the cab company to arrange a pickup.
WEATHER: Could be anything. January weather is highly varriable. In 2010 they had snow marathon morning. in 2011 we had great running weather. Was cool but not freezing at start. Spectators not moving around may find it chilly. Most days were jeans and t-shirts durring the day with a jacket at night but we had one day wearing shorts! Makes packing a pain but plan for anything. If you do forget something, there is a Nike outlet just off property at the Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Ave (between I-4 and International Drive). This area also has a ton of chain restaurants and shops.

Race Weekend:

Get to the Expo as early as you can both in terms of days and hours. If you're in on Thursday, go Thursday morning. Expo opens at 9...try and be there as close to 9 as you can. We were there early and got through the pickup process fairly quickly. Those who arrived after noon waited in long lines, especially on Friday when people were picking up for both 13.1 and 26.2.
Race brings in a ton more people than would be there otherwise in January. January is also summer vacation for South America/Southern Hemisphere folks so don't be surprised by giant tour groups. If you can live without a bag at parks, it'll save you having to wait in long bag-check lines.

Race Morning:

Busses. So. Frustrating. A five minute trip to start line at Epcot took an hour and 1:15. Give yourself ample time to get there if you need to check clothing, use the portaloos, have a warm up. Pee before you get on the bus.
You didn't hear it from us, but you can walk to the start corrals from Port Orleans French Quarter. The corrals are a good 20 minute walk from the Epcot parking lot in any event. Whichever way you walk, be cautious and visible.
Spectators tips:

It will be dark until 7 a.m. If you line up along the startline road and want your racer to see you either pick a pre-determined point for them to see you or consider wearing glow necklaces or bring flashlights or somesuch. There are 27,000 runners and you can be hard to pick out.
Epcot busses and Monorails will be very crowded. Give yourself ample time to get where you're going.
Bring clothing layers. And snacks. And your cell phone.
Good observation points:

Ticket and Transportation Center
Parking lot of the Contemporary
Main Street USA (not sure who they let in here or when. Park ticket may be required) check out the Spectator Resources on the Marathon site.
Road along the Grand Floridian and Polynesian
Epcot parking lot, close to bus depot

Set up a pre-determined meeting point following race. Finish line is chaos.

After race, there's a booth that will engrave your medals with your chip time!

I may update this as more things occur to me but please feel free to add your tips in the comments!

So, I did it! (and had fun...don't tell anyone)

2011-01-14T09:40:00.002-05:00

So, that's me. Up there ^. With the ears. Crossing the finish line of the 2011 Walt Disney World Half Marathon. I generally don't go in for tooting my own horn but...TOOT! I'm damn proud of myself for it. If you'd told me three years ago that I'd do that I'd have laughed in your face. It's really kind of amazing what you can do when you stop whining and saying "no" to yourself.
I'm going to divide this up into two posts, one a race report and a separate one on general WDW Marathon Weekend tips.
But, before I go any further, I have to give a HUGE thank you to Mr. TheyTri for all of his support in this. I know he was worried, but he stayed positive and supportive the whole time. Thank you, honey. And I have to give another huge thank you to Cat Webb and Sam Dickey for running with me and making my first half experience fun! I'd not have done nearly as well without them making me smile the whole way! And, last but not least, a big thanks to Jeremy Webb and Dave Dickey for making the trip so much fun with so many laughs! And congrats to Jeremy on his half PR!
So, Thursday we wake up before the crack of dawn to catch our flight to ORL from Westchester County Airport. I love Westchester Airport. It's tiny, efficient and, most importantly, 20 minutes from the house. No problem with flight at all. Our other two traveling parties weren't so lucky out of Houston and Chicago.
We arrived in Orlando, collected bags and then hopped on the Magical Express to Port Orleans Riverside. We took advantage of the online check in to skip the long line and fortunately, a room was ready for us. dropped off our bags and then headed to Hollywood Studios for some lunch and to wait for everyone else to arrive. Good meal then we decided we were too exhausted from the 4 a.m. wake up so we went back to room to crash. After a snooze we met Jeremy and Cat at Epcot for a celebratory drink at the Rose and Crown. Then onward to meet Sam and Dave for dinner at Shula's at the Dolphin. Aside from Mr. TheyTri putting his foot in his mouth within 10 min. of meeting Dave, laughs abound. Drinks abound, too.
Friday is packet pick up at Wide World of Sports. We bus it over, the Mears busses were so efficient (at this point)...way better than the Disney busses which were *painfully* slow from Port Orleans. Our lines weren't very long so we managed to cruise through getting numbers and collecting our goodie bags. We poked around the expo a bit but I wasn't, to be honest, all that impressed by it. It was crowded and nothing we haven't seen a thousand times before. (Though, we all did laugh at the "will run for wine" shirts).
Magic Kingdom for a bit then back to the hotel early for race prep and early bedtime. I had nervous energy but had a glass of wine (ok, 2) with dinner to calm my nerves and then crashed out.

Woke up before alarm at 2:55 a.m. Coffee on. Clothes on. Ready to go. I wasn't sure what to eat, I get nauseous if I eat too early, so I just had 2 bites of a Luna bar and two bites of a Lara bar and then decided I couldn't stomach it. Brought a packet of Justin's Honey Almond Nut Butter for the bus ride instead. (Thank God...hit the spot). Coffee. Let's GO!
Chilly morning, but not bad. Board the bus quickly and we're off. But...not off far...the traffic getting to the Epcot parking lot was *horrible*. It took us an hour and 15 minutes to take what should have been a 5 minute ride. I was so anxious we were going to miss the start. Disney really needs to sort that out...institute a bus only route to Epcot or something. It was all the more frustrating later when I saw that we could have walked to the corrals from Port Orleans French Quarter in about 5 minutes. I'm sure Disney frowns on that but I can assure you people will do that next year if they don't sort out the busses.
Anyway, we get there and we finally link up with the rest of the team. Quick smooch from Mr. TheyTri and then we head to our corrals. Cat and Sam hung back with me in my lame-o F corral so we could all run together.
After all the pre-race stuff, Al Roker, Anthem etc...the fireworks go off and the first corral goes! Go honey and Jeremy! We hang around for another half hour or so until they get to our wave and then...we're off!
I oddly didn't feel that nervous. I was nervous before we left the hotel but the bus situation made me so annoyed that I just wanted to get going!

The course is flat, flat, flat, with only a few 'hills' caused by overpasses. Love it. My kind of course! We shuffle along to the 5k mark and then take a little walk break while Cat and I take our jackets off...was a bit overdressed and was overheating once I was moving. Then, back to the run. Just about mile 5.5, just when I'd ordinarily start to be crabby and wanting a walk break, we enter the Magic Kingdom. How can you be crabby running up Main Street USA with crowds cheering you? You can't, I tell you! We smiled and kept running through Tomorrowland, with a bit of a potty break, then through Fantasyland and through Cinderella's Castle. Again, impossible not to smile. We, of course, had to stop and take a picture. The whole point of running the damn thing!
On through Frontierland and then through the backstage area and out onto the road again. By this time we're getting tired and the road at this point in the race is narrow and crowded. We took a few walk breaks simply because it was pointless to run...too many bodies in too small a space. We pretty much did a run walk the last four miles or so. With me earning the nickname Captain because I made the girls run the downhills! I felt surprisingly good, though my right side started to crap out on me...hip, knee, pinky toe. I was also surprisingly cheerful. Running with friends is so key!
Finally we spy the Epcot entrance. We agree (or, I command) that we're gonna run the whole last stretch once we enter the Epcot park. It seems like the longest mile on Earth, but we get there and we, all three, cross the finish line smiling. I hear Mr. TheyTri cheering from the stands and I see him smiling with Jeremy and my in-laws, supporters extraordinare!
We joke and smile and make a bee-line for our medals. Then grab some food and meet back up with Mr. TheyTri and Jeremy.
I felt great. I knew I was going to be sore, but I didn't feel dead. I was happy and proud and it was a really remarkable feeling. I tell myself "no" a lot. "Can't." I guess I proved myself wrong.

Almost Time!

2011-01-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

Down near the end if my last post I mention in passing that I wasn't feeling well. That was the first link in a month-long chain of health anomalies. I was sick with a terrible cold for about 10 days. Then, just after Christmas, managed to pinch something in my back/neck that turned me into Frankenstein and then I somehow managed to burst a blood vessel in my right eye making it all red. Fortunately all my tribulations are clearing up and I'm healthy got Disney trip!
What I am, however, is under-trained. I lost valuable training time, time I couldn't afford to lose. But, and here's the weird thing, I'm not worried. I know it's going to be harder than it would have been if I'd not gotten sick and if I'd buckled down sooner to up mileage. But, for me anything past the start line is a PR. It may not be the most pleasant morning of my life, but I'll be there with friends and a very supportive Mr. TheyTri and I'll just buck up and do it!
I'm very much looking forward to the trip, despite the race apprehension hanging over me. It is, frankly, why I choose the Disney races. For me, they are events, more than a start and finish line. Because I'm not "competing," it's about the entire experience. We'll be Tweeting from WDW from Thursday on. Stay tuned!

PS, this was thumbed in on my iPhone so hopefully there is nothing www.damnyouautocorrect.com worthy!

Slacker

2010-12-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

Ok. So, I could proffer many excuses as to my slacking on the posting but I won't bore you with them. Suffice it to say, I've been having a little triathlon off-season myself. We all need breaks!
I've been doing moderately well with my running. Disney is less than a month away. It's going to be...not easy. But, I knew that when I registered and I registered anyway. Mr. TheyTri has been very supportive and pushing me (in the good way) to get out and train. I've been running every weekend and try to get in at least one or two sessions during the week. Rough stuff now that it's dark so early and the weather has been so rough. But, I bought some cold weather gear on Friday and went out for an hour yesterday. Nike stuff kept me toasty. And I'm a little in love with the Nike headband I bought...only thing I've found that keeps my hair outta my face during this in-between length phase.
Going to try and keep at it for the final push. I should be downstairs on the treadmill as I type but I gotta be honest, I'm feeling kinda lousy today. We'll see if I can rally later. if not, will try for tomorrow. Gotta keep at it so I can finish and, more importantly, not be in such pain following the race that I can't enjoy being at the parks!

Texas Tips!

2010-11-13T12:09:00.000-05:00

Our good friend, Jeremy, sent us a list of some of his best tips for Texas tris! We've added it to the main TheyTri.com Texas page. That'd be on our sloooooooooooooooowly expanding web site. I really gotta figure out this wiki thing. :)
Thanks, Worm!
https://sites.google.com/site/theytri/races-1/texas/texas-triathlons

Blurg with a side of Yay.

2010-11-12T16:57:00.000-05:00

So, I've been a little 'lifed' lately and kind of a Slacky Slacksalot on the blogging. Work has been very busy and life has been very busy. Isn't it for everyone? But, Mr. TheyTri and I have also been sharing a nasty cold back and forth for going on a month that has really knocked us both down for the count. We're both finally on the mend, I think.
But, for the good news! Mr. TheyTri and I are now the proud Aunt/Uncle/Godparents of handsome baby William Ryan. My brother and sister-in-law welcomed the newest member of our family 3 weeks ago and he's just a peach. I could eat him whole. So, that's good.
Also, I managed to get in my longest run yet on Sunday of 8.5 miles. I didn't intend to. I intended to match my previous long-run of 6 miles because I'd been essentially off for nearly two weeks with that wretched cold and I didn't feel up for adding distance. In fact, I was suspect that I'd even get through the 6. But, Mr. TheyTri said he'd wait at the parking area that was one further down from the last one, thinking I'd get in a little bit more distance without having to double back like I did on previous long run. We didn't realize it was so much further away!
The negatives: I'm still having to do run/walk. I need little breaks. I'm not sure this is entirely in the negative column because it frankly keeps my over-all time/pace better. But, I'd like to be able to run further before needing a break and longer between them. Working on that.
The second negative was my hips really started to bother me. And once they hurt, I was compensating elsewhere so then my knee hurt. Again with the reminder that I need to do better with stretching! I really have no one to blame for that but me.
The positives: I didn't die.
I got through 8.5 miles, angrily and slowly, but I got through them and realized that I could have gone another 4.6 miles if I'd had to. It would have been ugly and slow and there probably would have been tears but I could have done it and not expired. I was really, really unhappy from mile six onward but it was more vital than I would have admitted at the time to know that I could do it.
Learned that I hate the fuel belt. So need to come up with a better hydration plan. I can't make that thing stay in one place in a comfortable position. Was very frustrating!
But, we're chugging along toward Disney. I'm really looking forward to the trip. And now I'm even, kinda, sorta, maybe, looking forward to the event. I'm not calling it a 'race' because 'race' implies that I give a crap how fast I go. I assure you I do not!

Ironman Access hubbub

2010-10-27T19:41:00.000-04:00

So. $1000. I've been thinking about this since I heard the news of Ironman's new Ironman Access program this afternoon. I thought I'd attempt to articulate my thoughts on it from the person NOT registering for the race. I'm trying to temper my comments because I don't want to give the impression that I begrudge Mr. TheyTri what he needs to be a successful athlete. BUT. BUT. BUT. I'm annoyed. Triathlon is goddamn expensive enough without an extra $1000 to assure a spot in a race.
I'm so irritated by this and I'm not even the one racing. I realize no one is putting a gun to our heads and forcing us to participate in this "program." But it tilts the table in a terrible way. I'm especially irritated that it allows people with deep pockets to jump the line ahead of volunteers.
We, the family and friends of triathletes, already pay a lot. We pay in loads of laundry. We pay in over-priced crappy hotel rooms. We pay in portajohns. We pay in $10 bumper stickers. We pay in massages and applications of BioFreeze. We pay in the delightful pre-taper week of cranky, crabby and overtrained. We pay in the "together" time lost while our tireless, dedicated athletes go on 6-hour training rides and 2-hour runs on our weekends.
And now, this. This obnoxious money grab. It's a slap and it's very, very disappointing.

Progress

2010-10-10T13:59:00.000-04:00

So, today was the six miler. I was DREADING it. Justly, I think. I barely got through the five last Sunday and woke up this a.m. with a very sore lower-back and I also, maybe, kinda, sorta burnt the crap out of my left hand last night making dinner. I did not have high hopes.
But, we must do what we must do. So I had Mr. TheyTri drive me up to the trail head near our house so that I could run more downhill than uphill and was off. First mile felt like total hell. I was tight and tired and stressing myself out and kept making bargains with myself like "when you get to mile 2 you can take a walk break."
But, i settled down a bit and got into a rhythm. A fairly (for me) speedy one. I got to mile 3 before I took a little 30 second walk break to have a little water. Set off again and was still maintaining an OK pace. Got to the end of the trail and saw Mr. TheyTri and TheyTri doggie waiting for me. Smiled at them and told them I still had 1.75 miles to go so they'd have to meet me further down the trail. I kept plodding along. I had to take a few more 15/20 second walk breaks but am overall pleased that I got through so much of the run actually...well...running!
The best news is that I didn't have any troubles with my calves or feet falling asleep. That's great.
I'm now very tired and need a nap!

Ouchie

2010-10-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

So, Mr. TheyTri had enough of my crap complaining about my 13.1 training so very helpfully downloaded me a 12-week training plan. It's a good plan. Having a plan is good. I'm terrible at sticking to them. We'll see how it goes.
Last week I did my first-ever track workout and found it surprisingly enjoyable. Well, that's probably not the exact right word. It was...fine? challenging-but-doable? I don't know. I just know I didn't hate it. Which, really, isn't the same thing as liking it. But, I did it and that's the important bit.
Then, over the weekend, I had a 3 miler on Saturday and a 5 miler on Sunday. The 3 miler went OK. The five miler...didn't. I really really really really need to do something about stretching out my calves better. They turn rock-hard when I run uphill at all and then that, consequently, pulls on my Achilles which, consequently, makes my foot/feet go numb. Hard to run on numb feet. I try to stretch before hand and then again when I'm done but I'm clearly not doing it enough/properly. It makes for a bit of frustration.
Having said that, and admitting that I had to take a few walk breaks on my 5er, I'm pretty damn proud of myself. Five is the longest I've ever gone outside of the two 10 ks I've 'run'. Progress. I'll take it.

First Annual Rev3 Cedar Point Report

2010-09-21T10:11:00.003-04:00

Yes, I do realize that the "first annual" bit up there in the headline does imply there will be others. Consensus among those who traveled out as part of the CREW was that it was such a great event that they (and consequently I) will be back to Sandusky. And I have to agree. Rev3 Cedar Point was fantastic as a venue for everyone, racers and fans alike.

General Thoughts!

We arrived in Sandusky on Wednesday after a long, long drive from New York. Pennsylvania? Hi, would you mind putting something, anything, along I-80 to make it even a little bit interesting? Thanks. We arrived on the late side and it was a bit creepy driving into a closed amusement park. Sorta "National Lampoon's Vacation" (Moose out front shoulda told ya) meets "Scooby Doo."
We stayed at the Hotel Breakers. They bill it as a "historical" hotel. It's 100+ years old, with the exception of a recent tower addition. We checked in as one of something like four guests on property on Wednesday. The wide hallway leading from the entrance to the lobby was very "Shining"-esque but had nice Edwardian details and old photos. I'd done some reading on Trip Advisor about Hotel Breakers. I was, I thought, mentally prepared for staying in the "old" part of this "historical" hotel. I was not.

The room was tiny. The room was shabby (think, frayed carpet and wallpaper straight out of 1972...see pic at right.). There were holes in the bathroom wall. It was musty smelling. The towels were terrible. BUT, it was clean and the a/c worked and I'd packed some provisions and I eventually made peace with it. I do need to say, for the record, that we were at a steeply discounted rate as part of the race and the hotel was spitting distance to the swim start and very convenient for both transition and finish line. It is not the Four Seasons. If you prepare for it, it's fine. Having said that, the posted rate of the room durring the regular season was $235. That is highway robbery as far as I can tell.

TRAVEL/HOTEL TIPS:
Tips for Breakers:

If staying in old building and are driving out, bring your own pillows
Bring a cooler. Ice machine works. Stock up on drinks etc...
Consider bringing your own towels
We bought, at Target, both a coffee maker and a 2-slice toaster for a grand total of $14. They worked fine and will come with us when we travel by car going forward. Was a huge deal race morning.
Mr. TheyTri had the genius idea of bringing along a Brita pitcher rather than paying to buy bottled water. We'll definitely do this next trip
WiFi only available in the lobby.
Perkins was fine for breakfasts. TGI Fridays did us right for post-race chow-down.
There is NO elevator in the old portion of the hotel. If you are on 3rd floor this could be troublesome with bike boxes/gear and for getting up and down stairs after a long day of racing.
There is both a pool and a hot tub and you are steps from the beach. Great as a break for the kids, especially when the park is not open.
There is a game room for kids (big and small), too.

Tips for Sandusky

Cedar Point will have, at least durring the weekend, Perkins and TGI Fridays and a few other restaurants open.
There is a little convenience store in the lobby of Hotel Breakers if you need something quickly.
Route 250, which takes you from I-80 directly to Cedar Point, is strip-mall heaven. Name a national chain restaurant or store and you can likely find it on 250. Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot etc...
On 250, we ate at: Outback (overcooked my steak but our waitress was super sweet); Cracker Barrel (how can you not?), Buffalo Wild Wings (post race!), Appleby's and our favorite, Samurai Steak House, a hibachi-style Japanese restaurant that fed, well, 11 people the night before the race. It was a very good meal for a reasonable price. We didn't do the hibachi table show routine. Just ate at a regular table. They were cool with spliting checks and respected dietary issues.
A little exploring off 250 took us to a Mexican restaurant, El Potrillo Taqueria, right on Rt. 6 near the main gate of Cedar Point. Good stuff. Good for a group.
Friday night, we ventured into downtown Sandusky. It was late, past 9 p.m., and there was a car cruise going on so most of the restaurants had switched from "grill" to "bar" mode but we found a table for 9 at The Water Street Bar and Grill. Everyone had a great meal and we all said we would definitely go back there again. But, WSBG folks, please, please turn down the a/c. It was arctic in there.

Tips for Cedar Point

Absolutely, positively take advantage of the Friday night park opening for Rev3 participants. It is open exclusively to racers and volunteers and for $15 you have three hours of riding coasters and playing games. Go Karts and cotton candy. This is truly what makes this venue so special. Go ride until you just can't take it anymore. Not to be missed.
Park is open on Saturday and Sunday as well. Racers will likely not take advantage of this, wanting to stay off their feet and the like, but guests should as more of the park is open. Racers get 2 free passes for Saturday and Sunday and discounted tickets are available if you're staying on property should you need more. Even if you only use the tickets as a break on race day to get some food and have a change of scenery, it's totally worth it.

Racing Weekend!

Thursday, we putzed around, not doing much and waited for more of the CREW to arrive in the afternoon. We got Anna and Grant settled in and then met up with John and Christine and John's Dad for dinner at a local mexican joint (see above tips). Everyone was pretty tired so we hit the hay early.

Friday a.m. we had breakfast at Perkins in the hotel (fine) and those racing did a practice swim and then we went out and did a bike course recon. The bike is two laps (for the full), but it's a bit of a baloon shape. The second loop only does the baloon itself, not the string that leads back to the park, so if you want to see your racer on course you'll have to leave the Point. There are several places you can catch them, see tips below. The course is lovely, for the most part, and zig-zags around a bit. We made a pit stop in the cute town square of Milan, grabbed some (terrible) coffee and a quick snack. After driving the rest of the course we made the second of three weekend stops at Target to stock up on supplies. Some necessary, some not, depending on your position on skull stickers and seltzer water. We met up with Bobby and Katie, the last CREW memberst to arrive in Sandusky and grabbed some lunch.
We went to athlete and volunteer check in back at the park and then prepared for the weekend's main event. The race? No, the Friday night Rev3 only event in the park. Cedar Point opened up 7 or so rides exclusively for Rev3 racers, volunteers and their families. It was so fun. I'm a bit of a baby about rollercoasters with huge drops. But, I went on the Magnum with everyone and then watched, from the stands, as John, Christine, Grant, Anna and Bobby did the Top Thrill Dragster, which shoots you up 400 ft in like 3 seconds or some craziness. No freakin' way. We did a few other rides, some several times. We then hit a late dinner at Water Street Bar and Grill and then called it a night.
Saturday those racing did a short bike and a short run and we did bike check-in and all that pre-race stuff and generally took it as easy as we could. Phil wasn't feeling well so I made the final Target run to stock up on cold supplies. We all met for dinner at the Samurai Steakhouse and had the pre-race dinner and then all went home to go to bed!
Race morning!
Woke up insanely early as usual. We got the coffee maker going and got dressed. Grant and Anna smelled the coffee wafting across the hall so came in and had a cup. We rallied the troops and drove over to transition. Athletes checked in and got ready to start their long day. I dashed back to hotel to replace a contact that had spontaneously developed a hole and then met everyone at the swim start. The swim begins on the beach and then heads out in an M shape, two-box swim (for the full). Great for snapping pics of your racers going in and out of the water.

After the pro's started surfacing and running to transition it was time to head to my volunteer shift in transition with Katie. I CANNOT say enough good things about Volunteering for Rev3. The coordinators and staff are amazing. I love volunteering in transition. You get to see your racers (though, I totally missed Phil. I saw him go into the change tent but never saw him come out...oops.), cheer on those you know and those you don't and you get to be a part of the day. That's a big deal with such a long race. It makes the whole event a family day. Love it. Sign up!
I did, though, decide to stay a little later than my shift becase Katie and I were put by run-out and they were a little understaffed there and, by the time our shift was over, getting out on to course to watch the racers on the bike would have been a challenge. That was a bit of a bummer. We saw Phil come in on the bike and then I took a brief trip back to hotel to shower and change. A bird crapped on my head while I was watching the swim. Parents, please explain to your children that running through a flock of 400 seagulls on a crowded beach is, perhaps, not a great idea.
Then it was a bit of a waiting game durring the marathon. I stayed in the park, not wanting to fight the traffic to get out on the run course or miss him because of the road closures. I don't love when I can't get out on to course to watch. I'll have to rethink my timing. My In-laws, Katie and I went into the park and took a break eating at Johnny Rockets. Did the needful. Then on to the finish to await our troops!

Phil finished in an amazing 10:27:48, a 1:20 pr from his IMLP time. I'm so incredibly proud of him. He worked so very, very hard this year and gets stronger every day. And big thanks to the med-tent staff and volunteers who helped him out after crossing the line.

Congrats to Christine for her PR in the half, to Grant for finishing his first full-distance race, to Bobby for a huge PR in his full and to Anna for her fantastic half time. And thanks to John for all of his help with Phil, despite a disappointing day for himself. True Grace. A special thanks to the my in-laws who drove so far to come watch not only their son have an amazing day but to cheer everyone else on as well!
A fantastic day!

Race Day Tips

Drive over to transition early. Spots near transition fill up quickly. Even if you are staying at Breakers Hotel, having your car handy with a cell-phone charger, extra clothes, water, food will be handy. The only way to get to the hotel before the park opens is via the beach and that can be a pain when race is on and athletes exiting swim.
Bike watching: The bike course goes through the town of Milan twice (for the full, once for half). There is a delighful town square with benches, shops and public bathrooms that is easily accessible from route 250 via route 113 without having to cross the course at all. It's a good spot to park it to catch your athlete at mile 22(ish) and mile 60(ish). Bike course map.
You can also catch them at mile 95ish. Stay on the WEST side of Mason Road or the WEST side of Huron Avery road and you won't have to cross the bike traffic and have easy trip back to 250 to speed back to Cedar Point to watch the run.
The run course is also two loops (again, for the full) and goes out across the main causeway bridge. Leaving the park once the runners have gone out is tricky and perhaps not worth the struggle. The traffic pattern is rough...you still have people coming in off the bike through one entrance and runners going out the other. If you do go, be courteous of volunteers directing traffic and concientious of very tired runners.
If you DO go out on to run course, there's a nice park the runners loop through several times at Meigs and Washington streets but we'd higly suggest parking SOUTH of Washington st and walking in to avoid having to navigate your vehicle around runners.
If your racer will finish before 8 p.m., when the park closes, you will need a park ticket to access the finish line. The chute enters the park and finishes in the park. There may be access, without a ticket, via the beach entrance but I'm honestly unsure. Better to have one handy.
Med tent is just past finish line.
Unlike IM events, you ARE allowed to have your kids run down the chute with their finishing parent. AWESOME.

I Came Back from Ohio...

2010-09-14T12:22:00.000-04:00

Some pics are up on Picassa for you to peruse. I'll get around to a race report with tips sometime this week once car unpacked and laundry done! Great Weekend! Great Race!

Round on the Ends and Hi in the Middle...

2010-09-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

We're off to Ohio today for Rev3 Cedar Point on Sunday. Mr. TheyTri's big race of the season. Car is (mostly) packed and we're (mostly) ready to roll out.
I both cannot believe it's actually time to do this and happy it's finally here. I'm excited for the race and I'm sure Mr. TheyTri and all of our friends will do well. We have a ton of friends racing and they'll surely motivate and support each other to have a good race. But I'm also, selfishly, excited that the season is nearing it's end. This year hasn't been that race-heavy for us but we've traveled for so many other reasons and been so busy it will be nice to have a bit of downtime. Well, downtime for Mr. TheyTri. I still have that damn 13.1 to train for for January. I did 2 3 milers this week and felt pretty good. I plan to get some more in while we're out in Sandusky. I've signed up with RunKeeper to track my mileage, pace etc... It'll be great for me to see progress. I was actually surprised by my pacing and distance already. That's pretty good.
So, anyway, back to Ohio. We'll be posting on our Twitter throughout the weekend. Thoughts, tips, race updates etc... and once the weekend is over we'll do a recap of the race and offer tips for those of you who hope to go to Sandusky next year!

Rocky Mountain High

2010-08-27T11:33:00.001-04:00

The TheyTris were in Aspen last weekend for a wedding. It is making me sad that we're not there NOW. God, I fell in love. Were it not for the minor details of home, work, family and funding I'd pull up stakes and move there. Ah, well. A dream.
We got in late on Friday night after a long day of travel and a pit stop at the Bride's childhood home in Glennwood (also lovely). We checked in at the Limelight Lodge (very nice) and hadn't been there three minutes when Mr. TheyTri was spotted by a fellow triathlete...Michael, a four-time Kona finisher. He'd spotted Mr. TheyTri's M-dot tattoo. Naturally.
Michael and Mr. TheyTri chatted for a bit and he gave us the scoop about where to run (Rio Grande Trail) and bike (Trail or up over Independence Pass) and directions to the local rec center so he could swim. Mr. TheyTri was in his very last week of hard training before Rev3 Cedar Point, his main race of the year. I called it "bonus altitude training." But, he handled the interruption of his last week with grace and for that I thank him. And, I can think of worse places to do a final push!

As it happened, before bed Friday night we saw @lancearmstrong tweet that he was going to be participating in the Aspen Uphill run the following morning to raise money for the Aspen High School track team. How many times in your life can you say you got to race with Lance? So, bright and early Saturday a.m. Mr. TheyTri and our friend, Lauren, hustled up to the Silver Queen Gondola and registered for the race. A little 4.6 mile trot with something like 3,400 feet of climbing. No thank you, Lance or no Lance.
While Mr. TheyTri and Lauren did that, I actually strapped on my sneakers and went for a run on the Rio Grande Trail. I was nervous that the altitude was going to make running a misery. But, much to my surprise, I felt...good! I was comfortable with my breathing and legs felt fine. Well, fine for me. The scenery on the Trail is simply spectacular. Waterfalls and streams and mountain vistas and gorgeous homes and ... have I mentioned I want to move there? Sigh....
Anyway, I got my dinky half-hour run in and then went to join up with my girlfriends for pedicures pre-wedding while Mr. TheyTri went off for his swim. You have your fun, I'll have mine.

The Wedding was in an old ghost town up in the mountains above Aspen in Ashcroft (also a HUGE cross country ski destination in the winter) at the last functioning building up there, Pine Creek Cookhouse. It was the most spectacular spot. It was a beautiful day, the bride was beaming and it was just a hell of a lot of fun. I miss having those girls around more often. I've know them for almost literally my whole life and I love 'em.
Mr. TheyTri turned in early as he had a long run and a long bike scheduled for the following day. I stayed on as long as I could stay awake and had a blast. Despite a small incident slipping on the dance floor and landing on an unfortunately-placed glass of wine. I'm so graceful.
So, Next morning, very early, Mr. TheyTri hopped on his bike that he rented from the nice folks at Aspen Velo and went for a 2 hour ride back out to Ashcroft. While beautiful, he had to pack it in after the first loop because it was SO COLD coming down the mountain before the sun was up. We'd not thought to pack warm bike gear. A word or two on biking in Aspen. EVERYONE bikes in Aspen; road bikes, mountain bikes, fixie bikes, cruiser bikes, they are everywhere. We had great service picking out the bike at Aspen Velo and, frankly, even better service at Hub of Aspen where we, unfortunately, couldn't rent Mr. TheyTri a bike because the only ones they had in his size were out--turns out there was an MS 150 that weekend and rentals were pretty cleared out. To their credit, they didn't try and put him on some POS alternate bike, they sent us down to Aspen Velo, instead. Go visit Hub of Aspen if you ever need to rent there. Please.
After ride it was time for brunch at Sky Aspen for the wedding party. A quick bite and then some good-bye's as friends started heading back to their respective homes. Mr. TheyTri headed out the the Rio Grande Trail for his long run. I toddled around the town and snapped some pics.

After late checkout at the Limelight, we packed up and began the drive back to Denver. But, we had some time since we were staying overnight in Denver to catch an early morning flight back east, so we decided to take the scenic route. We headed out of Aspen and over Independence Pass. Holy Moly is that beautiful (if a bit white-knuckle-y for the driver). The scenery was just gorgeous. Huge groves of Aspens standing sentinel and amazing peaks and valleys. Even still a bit of snow!
We continued over to Leadville, America's highest incorporated city. It's an old mining town and has a bunch of old Victorian buildings. It's a bit run-down but it's still interesting to drive through. As it happens, the end of the Leadville 100 running race was that day. We didn't see any of the runners, though we saw some support vans earlier in the trip. And I thought Mr. TheyTri was nuts. I stand corrected.
All in all, an amazing trip. I have to admit to being very saddened and annoyed when we landed at JFK by all the noise and rudeness that is New York sometimes. We will definitely be going back to Colorado for more vacations. It was bliss, however short a trip.

Lacking Motivation

2010-08-13T07:47:00.002-04:00

I've been a bit under the weather with a head cold and it's really sapped me of all energy and motivation to do my runs. Add to that that it's been a million degrees and the run training has been going really poorly. I really, really, really need to do it as this 13.1 isn't going to run itself. I need to buck up and start applying my WWAD credo (what would Anna do).
I have a sneaking suspicion that running would actually make me feel better and give me more energy but I've been lacking the oompf to get off the couch. In fact, I'm sitting here in my running clothes dressed to go out and decided to procrastinate by writing this up rather than heading out the door. Delicious coffee.
This is one of those times where the differences between Mr. TheyTri and myself are very clear. He'll go and get his workouts in regardless of how he's feeling or weather or general level of tiredness. I, on the other hand, am a big old wuss when it comes to being sick and hot or tired.
Ok. I have to go run. Well, I have to go let the neighbor's dog out and then run. Well, I have to let dog out make my shopping list and then run. Well...oh crap. I'm goin' I'm goin'....

You Know You Live with a Triathlete When...

2010-08-01T10:41:00.002-04:00

Our friend @OTSam suggested we put up a funny post about all the signs that your life has been infiltrated by someone from the SBR crowd. We thought that was a fine idea! I'll start but add your funny bits to the comments or email them to me at mrstheytri [at] gmail [dot] com!

You have a running shoe budget
You have a bike rack, but the bike rides in the car
It's 5 a.m. You've been up for an hour.
You have made peace with the concept of portapotties
You've had to research a place to rent road bikes for while you're away on 'vacation.'
There is a shelf in your pantry dedicated to powders and potions
You are always running out of shaving cream
$1500 for a wheel DOES sound reasonable now that you mention it. (wait, what?!)

OTSam's great list!

You know the differences between a sprint, olympic, half and full
You know what gu, nuun, hammer gels, clif blocks….. are and what his/her preference to those items
You have an entire shelf in one of your kitchen cabinets designated for water bottles
He owns a speedo, various lengths of running shorts, and a lot of spandex
You know what the following items are: race belt, fuel belt, roadID, trainer, aerobars, clip-in pedals, camelback, etc.
His/her workout drawer is completely overflowing
It seems like calf sleeves have become a regular part of their wardrobe (worn during a workout, after a workout, or overnight sleeping)
You’ve gotten scared walking by your bathroom seeing a long black shadow and then realize its their wetsuit hanging over the shower railing to dry
You have given them their own triathlon room because all of the triathlon paraphernalia was starting to take over the entire apartment/house.
He/she owns at least two bikes and has their eye on another
You know the difference between a mountain bike, a road bike, and a tri bike (and the price differences, yikes!)
You share your google calendars together so she/he can plan long workouts on days you have other activities planned (i.e. bridal showers, mall trips, work, etc.)
During triathlon season, his legs are smoother than yours
It seems like they are always eating, but getting thinner/more tone each day
You are familiar with the names: Crowie, Boom Boom, Diebens, Mirinda, the Lovato’s and Chrissy Wellington
You never run out of ideas for presents… there is always something new to purchase in the tri world
Hawaii, would be pretty awesome.
Pre-race day you scout out all the best places to get pictures
Seeing them cross the finish line, and knowing all the hard work they put in… is pretty awesome :)

Keep adding to the comments! These are great!

REV3 Quassy, 2010

2010-07-29T15:30:00.003-04:00

Since I've been so good about posting up my IMLP stuff, I figured it was high time I got around to doing the same for Rev3 Quassy, which happened back in June. June and July have been insanity around HFWT so apologies for the delay.
Anywho, we live near-ish the Quassy venue, about 40 minutes, so our personal experience with hotels is pretty useless...please feel free to add yours to the comments section. But, we have some good tips about other things! This is year 2 of the TheyTris participating at Quassy. Mr. TheyTri raced the half both years and I volunteered this year in transition. I can't say enough nice things about the volunteering bit...so much fun and great people to work with you should strongly consider signing up...makes for a fun day. Ok. on to tips:

General:

Quassy is a great family venue. The amusement park will open during the morning so the kids will have a great time and you'll hear far fewer 'I'm boreds' at this race than nearly any other.
The park is open and therefore so are the food stands and bathrooms. This is great as you'll spend the bulk of your day on the Quassy property.
While there is food, you can also consider bringing a cooler with food/drinks as the parking is very good right at the race venue and even if you have to make use of the satellite lot it's very nearby.
The bike and run courses are very windy and hilly. In 2009 it was not easy to get out on to course to watch people race as the bike in came down the huge hill in front of the park. In 2010 the course changed a bit allowing for exit by car from the top exit of the parking area without impediment to racers. If you have any intention of going out on to course and are unfamiliar with the Middlebury, CT are we strongly advise driving the course at least once before race morning. CT roads are not in any sort of systematic grid pattern!
New England weather is ever-changing. Be prepared! In 2010 I got rained on, a sunburn and then nearly blown to Oz by crazy winds post-race (well, post race for Mr. TheyTri, some folks were still out on run). SUNBLOCK.
Quassy is very conveniently located near I-84 which will speed you rapidly East to the larger town of Waterbury or West to the smaller, yet still very convenient, town of Southbury. In both places you can find most essentials. Additionally, at the junction of Rt. 64 and Rt. 6 (west of the venue), there is the small Middle Quarter Mall. Keep in mind, though, that this road is both bike and run course so getting down it will be a trick race day.
Just in case: Waterbury Hospital is the largest hospital nearby. It is on Route 8 North off of I-84 EAST of the venue.

Race Day:

For on-site parking get there very early. Athletes and spectators can park in Quassy lot but it's first-come-first-served and I can assure you the athletes will get there darn early. If you cannot park in the Quassy lot, the satellite lot is under a mile away and there are shuttles. Don't fuss with the volunteers if they say the lot is full. No one wants an argument at 5 a.m.
Not all the food options will be open before swim start. Plan on eating before hand or bringing food. If you're coming from I-84 or the Crown Plaza hotel, there is a Mobile station where coffee can be had. There are not a ton of 24-hour options available near the race site so plan ahead.
The beach where swim goes off can get a bit crowded so stake out a good spot early. We'd suggest somewhere close to the chute to get a good pic of your athlete coming out of the water. Swim-start photos are fun but not very personal.
For bike and run, if you choose to remain on site, a good spot is along the main road (rt. 64) to the right of the Quassy parking entrance. Both bike and run go this way and it's shaded. Stake out a spot and set up a chair. Just be mindful that you're not blocking the ambulance exit. If you choose to try and head out on course, please observe all posted signs and listen to officials and volunteers. (PS, speaking of signs, is that Body Marking sign not the most awesome sign ever? Stare at it a while. It'll come to you.)
Enjoy the expo! They have a lot of nice booths set up
Enjoy the park! Go ride a tilt-a-whirl!
After the race hang out for a bit and enjoy the cookout. Rev3's great attraction is that it feels like a big family cookout that just happens to have a triathlon going on. More than one friend of theytri.com has gone giddy because they were in line for the portaloo with Crowie or stood behind Matty Reed to get a hot dog.
Having said that, be respectful of the pros; they're there to race for a huge purse and race amazingly hard so they may not want to pose for snaps straight away after crossing line. In all fairness, in the 2 years we've been there we've never seen any of the pros being anything by amazingly gracious but courtesy is key!
Enjoy and have a fun time! We'll certainly be there in 2011 and we'll be at Cedar Point in Sept. 2010 and will file a report from there!

IMLP 2010, part II

2010-07-29T13:21:00.001-04:00

I lost my brain, as one loses luggage, somewhere along last weekend's epic journey. It was finally returned to me about 8 a.m. this morning so I'm finally ready to jot down a few thoughts about IMLP.

First off, I'm so proud of all our friends who raced and who did so well! From pro friends to first-timers, everyone fought through their personal barriers and crossed the line with a kind of joy that was heart-filling to witness and share. Great job, everyone!

Secondly, I'm equally proud of all the friends we had cheering on those racing. It's a long day and having so many great people around made it such a fun day for everyone. The community of people that have come into my life as a result of Mr. TheyTri's crazy foray into triathlon are a very special group. I'm grateful for them, no matter which side of the fence they're on.

Last general thought is that this is the first race I've ever cheered at where Mr. TheyTri was not racing himself. It was a strange new experience to watch him watch others race. He looked like a kid. Giant grin on his face all day, his excitement both palpable and contagious. Nearly makes up for those 7-hour weekend bike rides. Nearly.

More specifically, a few more tips:

Cell phone coverage in Lake Placid is complete and total crap. On AT&T I was on Edge network the entire time, making sending updates via text or tweet absolutely infuriating. BUT you can, from time to time, pick up wi-fi from outside some businesses (and homes, but you didn't hear that from us...be polite!). Other friends reported spotty service on both T-Mobile (though that was better than AT&T) and Verizon.
Downhill Grill that we mentioned last week is apparently not open at lunchtime on Sundays. However, Lisa G's, a few doors down IS open and IS great! Excellent place to grab a bite and still be near to course to watch for your athlete. Their back deck doesn't overlook racecourse but instead looks out to a really lovely waterfall. A little respite.
Dancing Bears on the west end of Main Street, just before the road bends toward Saranac Lake, is also good for a quick bite.
The distance around Mirror Lake is 2.7 miles. If you're game for a jog or walk, it's a lovely route.
The brunch buffet at the Northwoods Inn (official Ironman hotel) is overpriced and understocked. Breakfast the Monday after the race is a bit of a chore. Long lines abound. Be prepared.
If you're a Starbucks addict, be prepared to stand in line morning, noon and night. There are a jillion other (good!) coffee places right on Main Street, however.

IMLP 2010, part 1

2010-07-27T06:45:00.004-04:00

I didn't race (of course). Mr. TheyTri and I spectated. I don't say 'just' because spectating is an endurance event in and of itself! I'll write something up when brain is functional but until then, some photos:
http://gallery.me.com/katelavoie#100086

On the Road Again.

2010-07-22T10:47:00.000-04:00

The time has arrived for my very own endurance weekend. We're heading north to Albany to then fly to Ohio for a family wedding on Saturday then flying back to Albany very, very early Sunday, to make the drive up to Lake Placid to cheer on our great friends who are racing.
It seems a little insane to be doing so much traveling in so short a period of time but that's what you do. We had so many people celebrate our wedding, we'd hate to miss celebrating with our family. We had so many people support Mr. TheyTri in his first full-distance race at IMLP last year, we couldn't miss being there to cheer on Holistic Guru and John and everyone else who'll be working so hard on Sunday.
I'm actually very much looking foward to returning to Lake Placid and I know Mr. TheyTri is psyched to be on the other side of the fence cheering everyone on. I know that everyone is going to have a great weekend.
It may not be SBR, but I'd bet I'll cry at the finish, too!

Ironman Lake Placid Guide

2010-07-18T12:44:00.009-04:00

IMLP is one week away! Exciting stuff. Herewith some important tips to make your IMLP weekend experience fun.

GENERAL

Prepare for any and all types of weather. Seriously...jackets, umbrellas, shorts, hats etc... In 2009 it pissed rain the entire swim and by the time the run came around it was baking hot. Be prepared!
Scout a bit before race day. If you want to watch your athlete out on course on race day, drive the course first. The Lake Placid region can be tricky to navigate once roads are shut down so keep that in mind.
Consider bringing one of those white pop-up shelters. Loads of people do it. Will give you shade/shelter and a place to store your stuff assuming you're in a group and someone can keep watch. Be prepared to set it up early if you do, unlikely to find space race day.
How far are you staying from venue? Do you have to schlep all your stuff with you all day or are you close enough to run back to house/room if you need something? If the former, keep it simple. It's a long day and you don't want to be dragging a 60 lb bag around with you all day.
There is a huge PriceChopper grocery store West of downtown on Rt. 86. It is a bit of a drive, maybe 5 miles, but the only real 'super' market. You'll also pass other essentials like drugstores, gas stations and banks on this drive out of town.
Local Bike Shop: Placid Planet on the corner of 86 and Lakeview Street.
The village of Lake Placid has a lot of nice shops and restaurants and you could happily spend a few days just there. But, if you have the time/inclination to explore a bit, drive around the bike course. The cute village of Keene Valley has some nice shops. Or hike at High Falls Gorge. Or check out summer activities at Whiteface Mountain. The Lake Placid/Ausabel region is also a mecca for fishing, should that be your thing.
Just in case: Adirondack Medical Center is located on Church Street, which is just East of town and off rt. 26A (which, in turn, is between 73 and country highway 35/Old Military Road).

RACE DAY:

Eat breakfast. It's gonna be a long day.
You packed your umbrella, right? Camera? Batteries? Water? Cash? SUNBLOCK? Something to sit on? Cell phone? Cell phone charger? Good.
Find basecamp. Sticking around Mirror Lake isn't a bad idea but you can also see 2 laps of bike and at least the first of the run if you head to the junction of Rt. 86 and Northwood Road. This is only recommended for mobile people (bike or swift walker) and we'd head back into town as soon as you see your athlete at the first run turn to assure also seeing them finish.
SUNBLOCK and WATER (Seriously. I cannot stress this enough)
Stewart's Shoppe, a convenience store, on Mirror Lake Drive/86, just a bit down the hill from transition, will be open before swim and has coffee. Blessed Coffee. They also have other sundries. Coffee can also be had in Expo area at their little cafe but be prepared for a line.
Crossing streets anywhere near transtition/finish area is a giant headache. Plan ahead, listen to and obey volunteers and officials. Ignoring volunteers and officials is a HUGE pet peeve of Mrs. TheyTri. You may want to dash across the street to snap a pic of your athlete on their bike but doing so impedes and endangers other athletes. The volunteers and officials are there to protect ALL the athletes. Don't be an ass.
TAKE A BREAK. Find a tree to rest under. Find a restaurant (Downhill Cafe a good spot...on both bike out route and run route). Go to hotel/house and take a short nap.
Find a nice spot on the hill infront of the school to wait for the Finish. If you're in a group, put the fastest person at the corner of 86 and Lake Placid Club Drive (the road along Mirror Lake) as a spotter. When your athlete heads out on to the 1 mile out and back you'll have plenty of time to make it to chute. And please use good chute etiquitte when you get there! Courtesy goes a long way.
Have a GREAT day best of luck to your athlete!

Please feel free to have a looksie at the google map I created to mark places of interest. And please make comments about your favorite IMLP viewing spots or Lake Placid area Restaurants, Hotels or Attractions!

New Manifesto on Running

2010-07-17T09:02:00.000-04:00

I've signed up for the Disney Half Marathon in January along with a bunch of friends. Why did I do this? Glad you asked. I wish I had a reasonable answer. The fact is I really, really hate running. I do get some sense of accomplishment when I'm done, yes, but I pretty much loathe every second before crossing a finish line.
So, why then. If I know one thing about myself it's that I tend to opt for the path of least resistance. If I can find an excuse to not do something I don't want to do I'll gladly take it. This unfortunate personality trait has snapped into pretty sharp focus being married to an Ironman triathlete and being surrounded by other triathletes so often. I see what they all do to train and what goals they have. Being psyched for a "Charmed" marathon on TNT just isn't the same thing. I'd call it peer pressure but that's not quite accurate, no one has ever pressured me to do a race, least of all Mr. TheyTri. So, what is it? Inspiration? Perhaps. Envy? I would like to be as fit as the rest of them and holding out for the miracle pill seems to be a fool's bet.
So, I sign up for these races to set a goal for myself. Fear, as Mr. TheyTri says, is a huge motivator. I don't want to fail myself or the people I've signed up with. And by "Fail" I don't mean that if I don't finish in under 2 hours I'm going to be devastated. By "Fail" I mean "give up." I, frankly, couldn't give a flying you-know-what how long it takes me to cross the finish line. Crossing the start line is a win for me. Having a goal and working for it is a win for ME. That may not be a win for others but that's not my business.
So, my new manifesto, one I've put on my RoadID*, is "QUIT WHINING." This race isn't going to run itself. I have to go do the work. I have to push the "I don't want to" "The couch is so comfy" "I'm tired" "It's hot" out of my brain and just go. 10 minutes or an hour. Run straight through or Run-walk. Doesn't matter...just go.

*If you don't already have a RoadID, seriously, what the hell is the matter with you? Go. Now.

Scared You-know-what-less

2010-07-16T13:03:00.002-04:00

We just bought a wireless electronic fence here at HFWT for TheyTri doggie. We were all excited because heretofore we'd hooked her to a really long lead when she wanted to go out and while she loved running all over the backyard, I didn't love having to untangle her from around the trees six times a day and we have lost quite enough skin to rope burns, thank you. Rather than spending a gazillion dollars on an in-ground fence we decided to try the PetSafe wireless system.
The system is very cool. And it works. Perhaps too well.
The little booklet tells you that if you have an 'excitable' dog you should set the zapper collar to 6. TheyTri doggie is certainly 'excitable' so we followed this suggestion. OOPS. First forray out to learn about the warning beeps and the thing ZAPPED the bejezus out of her. The poor thing yelped and jumped a mile (TheyTri doggie has a vertical jump that LeBron would kill for). Then she came running to me for protection. I felt like such an ass.
Now she is afraid to go into the yard. Mr. TheyTri and I are dragging her around trying to get her used where the boundaries are. She's getting a little braver each time. But this morning she clearly had to have her morning poop but was literally scared...well, you know. I had to remove the collar and walk her on the street around the neighborhood before she relaxed enough to go!
I'm sure she'll get used to it but it's stressing me out! (what doesn't?)

2010-07-15T15:01:00.000-04:00

Trainer has emerged from the Tricave. No Versus on TV in the basement!

My life needs a taper week

2010-07-10T08:22:00.000-04:00

So, up and at 'em this morning. Well, up anyway. Here's where I warn you that I'm about to complain. A lot.

Life has been so hectic for the past month with work and travel I hardly know which end is up. This morning Mr. TheyTri is out on his long run then off for a swim. We then have to coordinate picking up one car at the shop and dropping the car we borrowed from my in-laws back off. I have to shop for my goddaughter's birthday party, which is this afternoon 2-hours away and then drive to said party. I need to arrange for MIL to come let TheyTri doggie out for a nature break at some point. Add to that tidying up the pig sty of a house I'm sitting in, home repairs that have been mostly ignored since May and the mountain of laundry that needs to be put away and more sitting in piles to be washed and I'm a bit overwhelmed. Oh yeah and there's that constant barrage from work. And I need to go for a run because of that Disney 13.1 I convinced six other people to register for but cannot seem to motivate to get off my rump to train for.
When I have 'free' time all I feel like doing is staring vacantly at the TV. Sigh. I know this is one big, long whine but it needs to go somewhere so here it is. Why is life so damn hectic? Is it such a crime to want to relax?

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream....

2010-07-09T08:33:00.002-04:00

Now, whacked-out anxiety dreams are fairly common for me. I actually find them kind of humorous sometimes but last night's takes the Tri-cake (see photo).
The HFWT and tri-twitter regulars had all rented a house in Lake Placid. It was race morning, which, for some reason, didn't start until noon. It was 11:48 and I was frantically trying to get everyone out the door to get down to transition because none of them had checked in their bikes or left their gear bags. But they were all just chit-chatting without a care in the world and I was the only one having a heart attack. And then my camera broke.
Then I woke up...laughing at myself.
How's that for bonkers?!

Moving Day

2010-07-09T08:08:00.001-04:00

Hi All! I've moved my blog from here to, well, here because it's easier to manage. The theytri.com site isn't dead, i just need to buckle down and sort out how to make that a real, functional wiki site that isn't needlessly complicated for people to contribute to.
I'll make an honest effort to post more regularly. But if my high school journals are anything to go by, I may lose steam after a month or so!
Hope you enjoy.