Biking

[Guest guest]

Have you checked out Trek Tri Island? We did it 3 years ago, and it was the

most awesome experience. It was a bit more than 25-30 a day, I think the

longest day was 55. It was 130 miles in 3 days or something like that. Our

course got altered a bit because it was the weekend after 9/11 so we weren't

able to go into Canada as planned. It was our first weekend away without the

kids. It was one of those things that I emailed Tom the link, and he said

" sounds interesting. I'll support you in anyway I can " . So, I signed both of

us up! He uses that expression very carefully now! The and trail

ride sounds fun- is it an organized ride or one you do on your own?

G.

Re: Tory's Triathlon Report

> > >

> > >

> > > Tory, I don't think ANY type of participation in an

> athletic event

> > > can EVER be " pathetic " . Why pathetic? Because Lance Armstrong

> > > you're

> > > not? I came

> > > in last of my age group, in a master's swimming meet a few years

> > > ago. But even coming in last is NOT pathetic. Because it's not

> > > really last in the country, it's just last among those

> who competed

> > > and FAR AHEAD of the millions who did not compete.

> > >

> > > The results of my meet are still up on the net: look in women,

> > > 50-54: Sue Widemark

> > >

> > > http://www.usms.org/longdist/ldnats99/1hrresultswomen.shtml

> > >

> > > Anyone who can do any type of athletic event should be

> totally proud

> > > of themselves. There IS NO NEGATIVE about this. JMO.

> > >

> > > Sue

> > >

> > > PS: I can swim and I can bike but I surely cannot run

> unless it's on

> > > the elliptical cross trainer - hanging around with my

> male companion

> > > too much... you know Arthur Itis? *LOL*

> > >

> > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > > From: Tory Klementsen

> > > > Well...it was 2/3 great and 1/3 sucky, horrible,

> pathetic. But I

> > > > choose

> > > to

> > > > concentrate on the great.

> > > >

> > > > The weekend started out as a comedy of errors. First we

> > > had to work on

> > > > Saturday. Whoever thought a great day to make up a strike

> > > day would be a

> > > > Saturday in July needs to be boiled in butter. So we

> left about

> > > > 4 p.m. I

> > > had

> > > > made reservations at a campsite near Wenatchee, which is near

> > > > Chelan.

> > > Okay,

> > > > I *thought* I had made reservations in a campsite near

> > > > Wenatchee. Well

> > > it

> > > > turned out to be about an hour NORTH of Wenatchee,

> which is 45

> > > > minutes

> > > South

> > > > of Chelan, which does not make the campsite closer

> > > because there is

> > > > only

> > > one

> > > > way into Chelan and that's to go through Wenatchee

> and come back

> > > > around.

> > > So

> > > > we're looking at the dierctions and realizing " Okay, this

> > > isn't going to

> > > > work. " No hotels, of course, it's a resort area. We

> decided to

> > > > go ahead

> > > and

> > > > go out to the site and register, pick up my number,

> and check it

> > > > out. I

> > > was

> > > > hoping that I'd have time to do a short run, short bike,

> > > and swim. In

> > > > retrospect I should have just done the swim, bad move.

> > > >

> > > > We headed back towards Wenatchee and fortunately found a

> > > > campsite along

> > > the

> > > > Entiat River, that was gorgeous. Roy set up the tent. I

> > > did a short

> > > > ride

> > > and

> > > > then a short run just to get some exercise in, make sure

> > > the bike was

> > > > being-haved (aka behaving), and unwind. Slept pretty

> well last

> > > > night.

> > > >

> > > > Got up early this morning and headed to Chelan. We found a

> > > > restaurant

> > > that

> > > > was open early and served oatmeal so I downed about

> half a bowl

> > > > of

> > > oatmeal,

> > > > some mint tea, and part of a buttermilk biscuit. Had

> to feed the

> > > > bats in

> > > my

> > > > stomach! I'm sure our waitress thought we were insane

> as we ate

> > > > in

> > > literally

> > > > 10 minutes. I was just really anxious.

> > > >

> > > > Got to the Lakeside Park in Chelan and racked my bike in

> > > the transition

> > > > area. I set out my gear in two piles; one for the bike,

> > > one for the

> > > > run.

> > > I

> > > > included one special item in my run pile, a medal I had

> > > for Roy. I

> > > > went

> > > and

> > > > got body-marked, number 515. Again, I had plenty of time

> > > to get in

> > > > the

> > > water

> > > > and I should have, but I didn't. I had swam 3x the

> tri length on

> > > Thursday

> > > > and had done two open water swims with my wetsuit

> this week, so

> > > > I was

> > > pretty

> > > > confident.

> > > >

> > > > I wasn't planning on swimming in the wetsuit but someone

> > > told me the

> > > water

> > > > was cold, so I figured I'd better do it. Bad move. I

> pulled on

> > > > my

> > > wetsuit,

> > > > got into the starting area, and waited towards the back.

> > > I am not a

> > > > confident swimmer, although I am much better than I

> used to be.

> > > > I knew

> > > that

> > > > the start would be crazy and I'd be best to stay at

> the back. So

> > > > I

> > > entered

> > > > the water with the rest of the back of the packers, dove

> > > in, swam about

> > > > three strokse, and went into full out panic attack

> mode! It was

> > > horrible! I

> > > > couldn't breathe. I felt like my wetsuit was strangling me. I

> > > > was scared

> > > to

> > > > put my face in the water (what a weenie). I decided to

> > > roll over on

> > > > my

> > > back

> > > > and try to relax, but it just never happened. I ended up

> > > doing the side

> > > > stroke and back stroke the entire time, with a few

> stabs at the

> > > > crawl.

> > > The

> > > > backstroke kept taking me so far off course, I

> probably ended up

> > > > doing

> > > at

> > > > least twice as much as I needed to. I had to have

> help from the

> > > > kayaker

> > > and

> > > > was so embarassed. I kept telling him, " I know how to

> do this. I

> > > > just

> > > can't.

> > > > I don't know why. I really can swim. I'm so sorry. "

> It was all I

> > > > could

> > > do

> > > > not to cry, but I knew that it wouldn't help anything at

> > > all, and it

> > > also

> > > > would fog up my goggles. I finally decided to just

> back stroke

> > > > it and

> > > the

> > > > kayaker was telling me which way to go. He'd say " Go

> left " and I

> > > > would

> > > go

> > > > right. He'd say " Go right " and I would go left. I have

> > > never been so

> > > > disoriented in my life!

> > > >

> > > > I was the very last one out of the water. The very

> last one. I

> > > > stumbled

> > > out

> > > > like a drunken sailor and nearly fell over. Lots of

> people were

> > > > cheering

> > > and

> > > > at first I thought, " Yeah, pity cheer. " and then I

> realized that

> > > > they

> > > were

> > > > cheering me to help me through this, not make me feel

> > > bad. I tried

> > > > so

> > > hard

> > > > not to cry. Roy ran up to me and helped me out of the

> water and

> > > > helped

> > > peel

> > > > off the wetsuit. I made it over to the transition area

> > > and Roy kept

> > > saying

> > > > " It's okay! You'll make it up on the bike and run. You

> > > like the next

> > > part.

> > > > You're good at it. Don't worry! "

> > > >

> > > > I changed into my bike shorts, threw on my shoes, and

> > > helmet, walked the

> > > > bike out of the T1 and hopped on my bike. First leg was a

> > > > hill...yeah,

> > > cool.

> > > > But I said, " Tory, you're good on hills. Just do it. It

> > > is what it

> > > > is. "

> > > (I

> > > > say that to myself a lot during races when I see

> > > something that's a

> > > > challenge...it is what it is...i.e. you can't change it,

> > > you're not

> > > > quitting, so suck it up and go.) I came around the first

> > > corner and

> > > passed

> > > > two bikers. Yay! I wasn't going to be complete last! I

> > > passed two more

> > > > people. The first mile I spent talking myself off the

> > > ledge that the

> > > swim

> > > > had sent me to. I realized a few very important things:

> > > >

> > > > A) I don't have to be good at everything (not that I'm

> > > overly " good "

> > > > at

> > > the

> > > > bike or run, but I'm good for me) and if swimming

> isn't my bag,

> > > > that's

> > > okay.

> > > >

> > > > I am so blessed to be spending my Sunday morning with

> > > a gorgeous

> > > > lake

> > > to

> > > > my right, a winery to my left, and the sun on my shoulders.

> > > >

> > > > C) A panic attack during a swim is nothing compared

> to what some

> > > > people

> > > are

> > > > dealing with. I have a dear friend with breast

> cancer. She can't

> > > > quit

> > > that,

> > > > can she? I thought about my mom, another friend who recently

> > > > lost her

> > > mother

> > > > and is going through bankruptcy, all the people in my

> > > life who were

> > > dealing

> > > > with WAY more than what I was dealing with this morning.

> > > >

> > > > By mile two I was good. I was feeling great, going at a

> > > relatively

> > > > good

> > > clip

> > > > for a girl who just about lost all lung function on the swim,

> > > > and was

> > > riding

> > > > a cheap Schwinn. Passed a few more people. Got off at the

> > > turnaround and

> > > > drank some water, hopped back on. Passed a teenager

> > > wearing a Lance

> > > > Armstrong bracelet and cheered her on. Passed a

> darling little

> > > > 12 (or

> > > so)

> > > > year old girl who was just going going going and cheered

> > > her on. Passed

> > > > someone I'd met in the transition area and asked her how

> > > it was going,

> > > > cheered her on. I decided even if I wasn't the best, I

> > > was going to be

> > > > encouraging to others.

> > > >

> > > > Finished the bike in about 50 minutes, not positive the

> > > exact time. Not

> > > > stellar, but for me not too bad at all. My $200 Schwinn

> > > Mt. Bike isn't

> > > > exactly going to win the Tour! Roy was watching me come in

> > > > taking

> > > pictures.

> > > > He wasn't allowed in the transition area this time, so I

> > > went in alone.

> > > > Racked my bike, switched out my biking shorts for running

> > > > shorts,

> > > grabbed my

> > > > gift for Roy, and took off. He was snapping photos

> and gave me a

> > > > high

> > > five

> > > > on my way out into the run.

> > > >

> > > > My legs felt like lead, but I knew that would pass. My

> > > breathing was

> > > REALLY

> > > > ragged because I'd really had breathing problems on my

> > > swim. I had

> > > > ended

> > > up

> > > > with some congestions, but heck...it is what it is,

> > > right, so I just

> > > > kep

> > > t

> > > > going. I passed up a number of people on the run, calling

> > > out " Woo

> > > > hoo! "

> > > to

> > > > the runners coming back in. Lots of them cheered us

> > > slowbees on. As we

> > > > passed one house, the owner had a sprinkler going for us

> > > to run through.

> > > > Another house a man was standing out front with a hose saying

> > > > " Do you

> > > want

> > > > water " and if you said yes, he'd hose you down. As it was

> > > in the low

> > > 80s,

> > > > that was awesome. LOTS of people were cheering us from their

> > > > front

> > > yards,

> > > > from cars on the road, as they were out for their own morning

> > > runs/bikes. I

> > > > ran out, checked my watch at the 1 mile mark...I had run

> > > the first

> > > > mile

> > > in 8

> > > > minutes, which is AMAZING for me at that point. I had

> expected a

> > > > good

> > > run

> > > > would be a 10 min mile, and I could expect more like an

> > > 11 average

> > > > over

> > > the

> > > > entire race. I sure FELT a lot slower than I was

> running! Turned

> > > > around

> > > and

> > > > headed back for the last 1.5 miles. I passed a few of the

> > > people I'd

> > > passed

> > > > on the bike and cheered them on. Gave high fives to

> two kids I

> > > > passed

> > > (and,

> > > > I am not kidding, I nearly turned around and ran with

> the little

> > > > girl

> > > who

> > > > looked SO tired but was just still going...but then I

> > > thought she might

> > > > think I was strange and I didn't want to freak her out).

> > > She got a HUGE

> > > > smile when I said " High five " and she slapped my hand

> hard and I

> > > > knew

> > > she'd

> > > > make it. A kid doing a triathlon! How cool is that?

> > > >

> > > > At the finish I ran through the chute and was amazed to

> > > see a time

> > > > of

> > > 1:42.

> > > > I'm sure that's slow, but I felt like it was good for me!

> > > A lady put

> > > > a

> > > medal

> > > > around my neck (and yes, I am still wearing it) and

> removed my

> > > > timing

> > > chip.

> > > > Roy was snapping pictures, then came over and gave me a

> > > huge hug and

> > > told me

> > > > he was proud of me. I started crying because I did

> it...I was a

> > > triathlete!

> > > > I handed Roy his medal and he looked confused. I told him

> > > to open it and

> > > > look at the back. It says, " To the best husband, training

> > > partner, and

> > > > coach. Thank you and I love you. "

> > > >

> > > > So that was it! The rest was just stretching out,

> putting stuff

> > > > away,

> > > eating

> > > > lunch in Wenatchee, and trying to figure out if I can

> actually

> > > > do

> > > Danskin.

> > > > I'm so nervous about the swim. I am supposed to do

> the Danskin

> > > > in just

> > > over

> > > > a month and I'm honestly asking myself if I should. If I

> > > could find

> > > someone

> > > > to do the swim and just do the bike/run I'd be thrilled.

> > > But I'm not

> > > going

> > > > ot make the decision yet. I'm going to swim every day

> > > this week. Roy is

> > > > going to get a raft or something and go out with me. If I

> > > can't do it, I

> > > > can't do it. But I won't give up until I've given it

> the college

> > > > try.

> > > >

> > > > So that's that! I'm VERY tired tonight, but I'm proud of a few

> > > > things:

> > > >

> > > > 1. I did not quit on the swim. I wanted to. I could have

> > > walked (it was

> > > > allowed in this race) in the water. I could have had the

> > > kayak take

> > > > me

> > > back

> > > > in, but I kept going. No, it wasn't a good swim, but it

> > > was a good and

> > > > humbling experience.

> > > >

> > > > 2. I was able to regain my good humor really quickly.

> I think my

> > > experiences

> > > > over the last three years have made me, overall, a much

> > > more positive

> > > > person.

> > > >

> > > > 3. I did not stop in the bike or in the run, except when

> > > I had to put my

> > > > chain back on the bike and get water.

> > > >

> > > > 4. I did it!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >