So, What am I NOT Allergic to Now?

Before I begin, yes, I did race this weekend.  I'm staying in Colorado for MP Multisport High Altitude Training Camp so I'll have my race report combined with that in about a week.  In the mean time, as promised here is a little update on the saga of my allergy and nutrition woes!

I have always had a fairly finicky stomach; it seems as though the smallest things will set it off and make me feel terrible for days.  This improved dramatically after giving up wheat three years ago but things again became progressively worse over the last year.  A dramatic change occurred then after spending several weeks sedentary while on pain meds/antibiotics/etc last fall; it was as though something latent had been set into motion.  This spring, I finally decided to go to the doctor for some blood work and to knock out a basic allergy test at the same time.  In late April, I was shocked to be told that in addition to my wheat sensitivity, I am allergic to corn, eggs, sesame, and peanuts, yikes! 

Originally, I was most concerned to be forever bidding adieu to my banana-egg concoctions and holiday themed peanut butter cups.  Outside of tahini and Asian food, I didn't consume much sesame anyway and I figured corn would be an easy one to avoid; then my research began.  Corn is in virtually everything!  Seriously, it's disgusting; I carry around a 10 pt font, two sided, double column list with me of all of the products out there made from corn.  In addition to the obvious (corn syrup, corn starch, corn oil), things like baking powder, xanthum gum, most sweeteners, most artificial sweeteners, flavor extracts, food colors, alcohols, fillers, and preservatives are made from corn.  Even fresh fruits and vegetables are usually sprayed with a corn based preservative before hitting the shelves and require extensive scrubbing.  I've had to take a close look at and make changes to most of my pantry - about half of my vitamins ended up on the "no" list as well!  It has been a trial by fire month of figuring out what I can and cannot consume.  On the plus side, I've essentially been forced to adopt an even healthier lifestyle with a diet of organic meats (no additives allowed for me) and fresh fruits and vegetables with natural seasonings primarily cooked at home.  I've been forced to give up my diet soda and energy drink vices and to put a lot of thought into everything that I consume.  I'm now an old hat at calling 800 numbers and sitting on hold to find out what their citric acid or "natural flavors" are derived from.  Unfortunately, in our nation of subsidized corn, it is hard to find information on this allergy.  For some reason, marketers are happy to advertise corn-free dog food but it's stunningly difficult to find information on corn based ingredients (wheat, nuts, eggs, and soy seem to be the primary ones listed).

 It's taken about a month but I am finally starting to feel better!  A few weeks ago I accidentally ate something that I believe was corn/sesame based and I felt crummy for two days; this served as an excellent reminder of how much healthier I am beginning to feel.  The extra weight that seemed to pile on in late fall/early winter is slowly starting to peace out, I'm training stronger, and recovering faster.  I know that I am still learning a lot and have a ways to go but it's beyond exciting to be on the road to recovery!  A huuuuge thank you to Tess of MP Multisport (Registered Dietician, MP Coach, and great friend) for tirelessly working to help me navigate this mess!

 

My weirdie "mush" breakfast now minus the eggs: sweet potato, Hammer Vegan protein powder, chia seeds, psyllium fiber, sunflower butter, almond milk, and a banana - yum!

Lunch time delight: kale, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, tuna, avocado, and mango

Zucchini "pasta" with ground turkey, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil

I think it's as good as dessert - or at least I tell myself that

Mashed beets, ground flax, raw dark cocoa powder, and stevia





Early Season Race Reports

And the comeback tour is on!  After a few "learning experiences" (ie frustrating and disappointing races), I'm finally starting to settle into 2015 and post-injury racing.  I'm now three races into my season (plus a swim meet) and yet to post a race report so here's a quick summary!

 

RageSprint Tri

I kicked things off at one of my favorite local races, Rage Tri, put on but the super rad people at BBSC Endurance.  I haven't raced a sprint in a few years and forgot just how tough it is to properly execute one of these fast and furious events!  I committed the cardinal sin of overconfidence and skated through the finish only to find out later that a rock star high schooler in a later wave edged me out by three seconds!  I was kicking myself for days after this one but still had a great time racing with all of my friends in the Las Vegas multisport community!

Rage Podium



 

USMasters Swimming Spring Nationals

Coach Vic of Las Vegas Masters can officially talk me into anything.  After realizing I could hit USMS Nats in San Antonio in the same trip as Ironman 70.3 Texas, it was on!  This was my second swim meet as a masters swimmer and first time racing the three events in which I competed (200, 1000, and 1650).  I especially enjoyed my first event of the meet, the 1650, and was able to surprise myself with the result.  The best part of the meet was the company, however.  I absolutely adore my LVM family so it was great to spend some time out of the water with them!  Additionally, I was able to stay with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days which is always a blessing. 

 

  

Texas meet entertainment

 

 

 

  

Distance ladies heading out

 

Our gorgeous competition pool

 

 

Ironman70.3 Texas

As soon as my last event was complete Friday afternoon at USMS Nats, I got behind the wheel and scurried myself down to Galveston, TX for IM 70.3 Texas.  Arriving to my homestay much later than anticipated, I quickly put my bike together, strapped on some bike lights, and got out for a quick ride.  Saturday was then spent completing the pre-race checklist while dodging rain and thunderstorms.  My homestay host, Dean, got me where I needed to be throughout the day while prepping for his own race (a relay with his friend Mark) the next day.  Finally, the rained cleared out and the three of us went to a gorgeous sunset dinner of fresh seafood right on the bay.  It should be noted that I had no hesitation in selfishly monopolizing the bed that night while Mark slept on the couch and Dean on the hardwood floor.  #sorrynotsorry  In the morning, I introduced the boys to my two pre-race traditions: a bowl of unidentifiable mush and a dance party! 

Couldn't complain about the dinner view

I was concerned for a bit that we may just be doing the swim in the street





Both the men's and women's fields were stacked and there were some fantastic results out on the course.  I, however, did not have such a fantastic day.  I let my guard down and fell off the pack in the water, lost focus (and consequently speed/power) on the bike, got myself dehydrated, and epically bonked on the run.  Obviously, this is not a combination for a fantastic race result!  That said, it was a great learning day for me and another step towards better days and bigger goals. 

You can practically see the humidity

Relaxing post-race with Dean and Mark



Ironman70.3 Raleigh

Following Texas, my coach and I really got to work and put in five weeks of quality training.  Additionally, I took on a huge transformation in my nutrition.  For the past year (especially the past 4-6 months) I have had fairly perpetual and, at times, debilitating stomach trouble.  I finally got myself to  a doctor and was diagnosed with a slew of food allergies (I intend to have a much more detailed post up about this sometime in the next week or so) and have had to make some major alterations to my diet.  While this is never fun or easy, I'm finally starting to feel better, woohoo!  I'm still experimenting but my new race nutrition plan of whole/natural foods coupled with Hammer Endurolytes is starting to  get dialed in.  Heading to Raleigh, I felt much more race ready than in the previous month.  Originally, I hadn't planned on making it to Raleigh, but with generous Southwest points donations from Bob Wojak (Pro Motorsports of Fond Du Lac) and my dear Megan Peterson, I was on my way!  While in North Carolina, I was hosted by super-rad elite runner Stephen Furst who slowed his pace to run with me on a local trail, helped me get my Blueseventy training tan on at the pool, drove me all over Tibmucktoo, and fed my now-neurotic tummy (I now know how to steam an artichoke - worth the trip right there).  Unfortunately, I mysteriously strained a muscle in my glute on Friday and spent the 36 hours leading up to the gun hobbling about.  Fortunately, the massage therapist at expo was a miracle worker and got me loosened up to a point that I was able to compete. 

As the race had a point to point bike course, we had an extra early morning in order to catch a shuttle out to the race start.  While my gas station coffee was nothing short of disappointing, I was fortunate to find myself riding the 45 minutes next to Jackie Hering (badass pro triathlete AND fellow Wisconsin girl - who could ask for more?).  Knowing that my run would likely be at least somewhat altered by my glute, I made a decision, supported by Coach Mace, to go all in on the first two legs of the course and hope for the best on the third.  Mentally, I typically save something for the run so this would be a new approach for me.



A few minutes into the swim, I started to get excited; I had made one of the main swim packs for the first time in my professional career!  It was such a great feeling to get out of the water relaxed and confident as opposed to feeling like I'm already behind.  As Raleigh is a hilly course with a net elevation gain, I was expecting pure misery.  However, I ended up having a BLAST!  In addition to the gorgeous scenery and constant change of elevation/direction, I was able to ride most of the 56 miles near two other girls which kept the course fun and my effort focused (resulting in a new bike PR).  As with the bike course, the two loop run course through town was far from flat.  I'd be lying to deny misery but it was well supported and I was able run negative split for a mid-pack 11th place finish - a definite improvement from just a few weeks ago!  Also, despite the tough course and humid conditions, I managed to make a pretty big PR and get a little closer to my season's goal. 

 

I still have a long way to go this season and in this sport but am pleased by the progress I have made this spring.  After a rough start, comeback time is officially on - next up, Ironman 70.3 Boulder on the 13th!!

 

Thank you for the continued support to Coach Mace (MP Multisport), Hammer Nutrition, Blueseventy, HIE Cycling, Pro Cyclery, Pro Motorsports, Duro Tires, It's YourChoice Training, Las Vegas Multisport, and Anthem Fitness. 

 

2015 Detox Final Report

Well, I made it!  On February 18^th I completed my little six week detox and boy do I feel better for having done it!  It never ceases to amaze me just how much what I eat can affect my physical, mental, and emotional well being.  While I’m still not quite down to racing body composition (nor should I be at this time of year), I certainly made progress in the right direction!  My head feels clearer without the spikes and subsequent crashes of refined sugar.  While this can be partially attributed to simply gaining back some of my lost fitness, I feel as though I am bethter able to train hard and recover quickly.  Also, I feel more in control of what I’m consuming, as opposed to it being in control of me which is a great feeling.  When on a strict diet regiment, I find it significantly easier to just cook for myself; eating out becomes a headache of hunting down ingredients and requesting specialized orders.  That said, I lead a very busy life and don’t necessarily have time to prep/cook quality meals and snacks every day.  Over the past six weeks, I have become a wizard of advanced preparation though!  I shared several of my recipes/experiments in my halfway update post (which a friend endearingly refers to as the “unidentifiable mush” I eat); here are a few more!

Tuna, pears, avocado, mustard, and vinegar - also great on top of kale and/or with sweet potato

Greek yogurt with a boatload of cinnamon 

Cabbage, jalapeno, red onion, vinegar, stevia, and cilantro - my Superbowl side

Seafood stew: shrimp, salmon, tilapia, squah, onion, and tomato

Almost chocolate cake: egg whites, mashed avocado, cocoa powder, and stevia

Hammer Nutrition always keeping me fueled!

Pineapple "Cake": Pineapple chunks, Hammer vegan protein powder, and an egg white.  Yum!

Despite the success of my sugar detox, however, I continue to struggle with aspects of my diet.  I frequently experience sudden insatiable hunger, get headaches, or have energy crashes; I also would still like to shed a bit of excess body fat.  Last week, I began working with MP Multisport's nutritionist (and good friend) Tess Mattern.  Tess has me doing a few things that I know are for the best but are still a little scary: eating more (healthy) fats and worrying less about my caloric intake.  As someone who was once rather overweight and who has obsessively tracked her diet for years, this is more than a little nerve wracking!  I am now working to boost my Omega-3s through the deliciousness that is olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and avocados: yum!  Additionally, Tess has me cutting down a bit on my fruit intake (fruit is awesome, of course, but I have actually been eating way more than is beneficial) while adding in a few healthy grains (quinoa, steel cut oats, brown rice, etc).  Finally, we are cutting down (not out) on my overwhelming coffee habit in favor of green tea.  On Friday, the first day I followed some of my new rules, I was pleasantly shocked at how long I was able to last without becoming ravenously hungry – it was great!  While I’m, of course, trepidatious about some of these changes (especially the coffee thing), I’m excited to see what positive changes are in store for me!  

2015 Detox: Halfway Report

I’ve successfully made it to the halfway point of my 2015 nutritional cleanse.  While I was a bit cranky the first few days, these first few weeks have gone fairly quickly and haven’t given me too much grief (other than missing oatmeal a little).  I have three “mess ups” in my first half and will therefore be extending the whole process by a day (I had a nibble of my peanut butter-honey flourless cookies I made to ensure they tasted alright – I know, so selfless of me, a bite of a bacon dish that I didn’t realize was caramelized in maple something, and a burger with some cheese on it – I had otherwise been avoiding lactose as well). 

So what have I been feeding my inner fat kid with?  Between training, running my business, and tying up loose ends from the accident, my January has been pretty darn busy; it is not rare for me to leave the house at 5 am and not return until 8 pm.  With a schedule like this, it is absolutely vital to plan ahead when it comes to what I’ll be eating.  For lunch, I typically eat shredded chicken (which I just get from the deli), fruit, and veggies; I have a big old lunch box that I pick from as I go about the day.  Here are a few other things I’ve been munching on:

Breakfast

I love breakfast food and tend to eat between 1 and 3 breakfasts a day so this category is significantly larger than the others.



Yes, this looks weird but it's delicious!  I'll make this on weekends or days when I have a little more time and don't need something pre-made. Mashed banana, eggs or egg whites, flax seed, raisins, turkey sausage, coconut extract, and a little salt all mashed up together and microwaved for about 5 minutes (or in a pan if you have time).  I then top it off with a little coconut milk - yum!

On Sundays, I make breakfast smoothies (more of a puree actually, they're pretty thick) for the week.  Depending on how I'm feeling, I usually eat part of it before I swim and the rest right after.  These suckers are packed with fiber and nutrients with a combination of: HAMMER Vegan Protein Powder (chocolate flavor), 1 cup almond milk, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, beets, carrots, celery, ginger root, and either an apple or some berries. 

I also make this dish up on Sunday evening and divide it into 6 portions: 12 eggs or egg whites, tomatoes, broccoli, onion, and red pepper all mixed up and put in the oven for about a half hour.

 Yummy pumpkin breakfast bake, another recent go-to for my busy days: Can of pumpkin puree, mashed banana, 3 egg whites, ground flax, raisins, baking powder/soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg all mixed together and in the oven for 20-30 minutes.

Dinner

I am the crockpot queen!  Prepare on Sunday, start on Monday, and eat all week.

 Ground turkey, pureed tomato, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and mushrooms all cooked together and then put over spiralized/sautéed zucchini (ie zucchini pasta)

 



Pork with onion, a little lime juice, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder all cooked together and then put in a cabbage leaf shell.

Training Fuel

I’ve done a crummy job of taking pictures for this.  My go to has been baking bars with nut butter, dates (put through the food processor), coconut shreds, an egg white, and baking powder/soda.

 Looks like a brick, tastes ridic: cashew butter, dates that have gone through the food processor, 1 egg white, cocoa powder, vanilla, baking powder/soda mixed up, put in a pan, and cooked for about 10 minutes.

 

Post-workout yumminess: Greek yogurt, mashed banana, vanilla Hammer Vegan Protein Powder, and blueberries.  Sometimes I add an egg white and throw it in a pan to make a giant "pancake."

Having cleaned up my nutrition a bit, I’m feeling pretty darn good.  I do, however, have a vice that needs to be addressed.  I’ve noticed that I consume far too many sugar substitutes; I avoid aspartame but take in way to much sucralose ( ie Splenda) and it makes me feel terrible every time.  Going forward in the next few weeks I think it is necessary for my health to cut out these products and keep sugar substitutes to a small amount of stevia or monk fruit (natural sources of sweetness).  I have also deduced that I don’t include enough fat in my diet and will be integrating more olive oil, avocados, and nuts to balance things a bit.  I’ll let you know how it goes!   

2015 Kickoff Cleanse

It’s that time of year again!  While it’s always bittersweet to wrap up the festivities and look towards the long winter, I, for one, am a bit relieved now that the holidays and off-season have finally draw to a close.  After this year’s non-traditional fall and a month of visitors/holiday happenings it is definitely time jump back into my routine.  In order to kick things off right, I decided to begin 2015 as I did 2014 in terms of diet.  As of January 6^th, I am amid 35 days of no grains, alcohol, or added sugars.  Just in case you’re curious, here are a few reasons why.

Reason number one why I need to radically clean up my diet

1.       Why January 6^th?  Plain and simple, this was the most convenient starting date for me.  I had company through the 5^th and didn’t want to be worried about reading salad dressing labels the whole time.  Also, starting new ventures on a Monday or on the 1^st of something always gives me a little anxiety and I wind up acting like a dummy in the weekend leading up to this date.  Tuesday the 6^th just sounded like a noninvasive date to re-find old habits.

2.       Why 35 days?  The answer is silly, really.  First, I wanted to incorporate the year 2015 somehow so I added the 20 and the 15, making 35.  35 days ads up to 5 weeks which is a good round number and just about 10% of the New Year.  Also, this ends my “cleanse” on a Wednesday.  I am way less likely to say, “Oh hey, it’s the weekend, let’s go get ice cream and margaritas” on a Wednesday. 

3.       Why no grains?  This is something that is probably unnecessary for most people, especially most athletes.  In addition to having a wheat allergy, I have found that my body is just very sensitive to grains in general and I have much better energy and recovery when I find my sources of carbohydrate in produce (primarily sweet potatoes and fruit).

4.       Why no sugar?  I have a nasty sweet tooth and am definitely a bit of a sugar addict.  However, last year, I found that I was able to break this vice after my sugarless month and maintain the habit for months following.  I’ve definitely fallen off the wagon the past month or so and need to jolt my system back where it belongs before I find myself at the bottom of a very slippery slope.

5.       What does this no sugar thing entail?  No sugar means reading a LOT of labels and not doing a lot of eating out.  It’s shocking how many foods have sugar added into them (most sauces, salad dressings, energy bars, jerky, etc) so one has to be pretty careful.  I also do not add sweetness from most natural sources (honey, molasses, juice, syrup) that are generally seen as ok to eat.  This is only a month so I can manage!  Last year I ended up using a lot of spices for flavor and whole or purred fruit for sweetness.  Doing this takes some trial and error, some recipe hunting, and experimentation but the simple knowledge gained by cooking/eating this way are pretty priceless! 

6.       No drinking, what???  Yes, it’s sugar and empty calories.  Also, for me at least, a few cocktails can lead to poor food decisions so it’s best avoided. 

The final “rule” of my kickoff is that I don’t track any outward physical progress for my 35 days.  On the 6^th, I weighed myself and took measurements and pictures but the scale has now been put away until February 9^th.  The ultimate goal is to be healthier and to train smarter, not to see an arbitrary number on the scale or utilize a new slot on my belt buckle. 

I feel so blessed to have my nutritional endeavors supported by Hammer Nutrition.  They offer a variety of electrolyte, fueling, and recovery options with NO added sugars!

Just doing some supermans with my super-fuel

Please feel free to join me on my little venture but by no means feel obligated!  Everyone finds health their own way; this just happens to be what I’ve found has worked for me in the past.  More than anything, I’m posting this as a means of keeping myself honest.  I’ll be sharing recipes, insights, struggles, and progress throughout the month.  Happy 2015 everyone, it’s comeback time! 

Bring it on 2015!

Unbreakable

The world can change in an instant.  Good or bad, everyone has been there: a letter of acceptance, an unexpected phone call, a diagnosis, a second blue line, a natural disaster, a question … an accident.  On October 5^th, I was riding along in the second portion of the ChallengeRancho Cordova 70.3 triathlon when my “instant” came.  With hundreds of miles in my training log, I was primed and ready for the “A” race of my inaugural pro season.  Though I missed the first swim pack, I had still swum a PR and at mile 41 was riding a solid negative split towards a bike PR as well.  My calculations had me in the top ten (money slot baby!) and my best leg was still to come.  I had just calculated that I was riding at about 25 mph when it happened.

Pre race day swim with Erin, Jill, and Abby

Just riding along innocently (Photo Cred: Freeplay Magazine)

 In compliance with USAT pro rules, I was riding near the center of my lane of traffic in order to avoid being directly behind a rider up the road; not surprisingly, this made more than a few drivers upset on what was a fairly narrow two lane highway.  One driver must have been in a particular hurry and felt the need to zip around me on a double yellow.  Cutting back into the lane, the truck clipped a large traffic cone placed on the center line sending it unmercifully in my direction.  I heard it happen but there was no time to react; the cone hit my front wheel sending me over my handle bars and landing me on the pavement.

Thought one: I have to get back on my bike.

Thought two: $*!# there’s a car coming.

Pulling myself to the side of the road, I had one of those movie moments where I heard the screaming before I realized it was coming from me and then couldn’t make myself stop.  But then the little miracles started.  In less than a minute, two or three other racers stopped, one who I couldn’t convince to get back on his bike and race (in my convoluted head I was still concerned about race rules regarding taking outside assistance).  In a completely selfless act, pro triathlete JasonWatson abandoned his own race to stay with me.  He was there as I began to sob with the realization that my day/season was over, he was there to take my bike from the scene and gather my things from transition, he tracked down my phone and made the necessary calls for me, and later stopped by the ER with fellow athlete (and my roommate for the weekend) JillianPeterson.  Three other vehicles stopped immediately as well.  The first person on the scene was a woman, who turned out to be runner extraordinaire Shawn Skillman, who had been driving the course cheering on athletes; she called 911, stayed with me until I was taken away, and has been checking in ever since.  Another driver, a man who had just finished his shift as a paramedic, stopped; I do not know his name or how to thank him but his quick spinal/cognitive checks helped to calm my fears before the ambulance arrived.  The final car that stopped was a pair of women.  They seemed to appear by my side out of nowhere saying, “We are Christians, is it ok if we pray for you?”  The women placed their hands gently on me, said a prayer and disappeared just as quickly as they had arrived. 

When the ambulance arrived, I was checked and loaded up by the exceptionally attractive Sacramento fire department and sent on a ride to UC Davis.  In hind sight, I was still in shock as I refused any pain medication, stating that I still had to drive home to Las Vegas that afternoon (ha).  Soon after I arrived in the ER, my friends Justin Hillman and Katy Fryer (who live in Sacramento and I had spent Thursday night with) arrived to be with me; they were my saviors over the next several days, getting my car and belongings from the race/hotel, bringing me some of my things (since all I had was a ripped up tri-suit), non-hospital food, and much needed support.  They also fed/housed my dad for the better part of a week after he arrived to be with me.  

Heading in to surgery

Some stupidly painful x-rays determined that I had a broken clavicle and elbow (the elbow had gone unnoticed for hours as I didn’t even start feeling it until I had been lying in the ER for a bit) and would be admitted into the hospital to await surgery.  For the record, waiting for surgery after a race is the worst; they don’t let you eat or drink anything – not fun when you started the whole thing off in a dehydrated state.  Because I was in a trauma center and some people have it wayyyy worse than me, I ended up not having my surgery until two days later; a six hour process that has left me with neat hardware in my shoulder/elbow and some sexy scars.

Good times on pain pills driving home from CA with my dad

While crashing was not fun, it has been a blessing in more ways than one.  First and foremost, I saw just how many people care about me as I have been surrounded by love and support by friends, family, and perfect strangers.  My father landed in Sacramento within 12 hours of getting the news so I wouldn’t be alone and he and my mother have been living with me ever since (it takes a lot of love to wash someone’s hair and paint their toes even when said person cries and takes their frustration out on you every day).  I have received cards and care packages from family, friends, the race director, and even customers both near and far.  My sponsor Hammer Nutrition checks in regularly and sent me a legit care package of recovery aids.  Even if Mom and Dad weren’t here, I know I’d be well taken care of as I have received countless offers to provide meals, rides, hair washings, and whatever else I may need; I think I was most touched when my friends Max and Michelle kidnapped me one night knowing I needed to get out of the house but was having trouble actually asking for help.  My race saviors as well as several other triathletes check in on me regularly and encourage me through the process.  My coach, MP Multisport, has of course been nothing but encouraging and supportive.  I’ve even had neighbors grab my mail and take out my trash!  The overwhelming amount of prayers and well wishes I have received both from friends and strangers through texts, calls, and social media has deeply moved me and helped to keep me in a positive mindset. 

Just a few of my lovely care packages

Hospital gifts

People think I'm a little nuts

... and they're right

I can’t pretend things have been all sunshine and daisies since the crash; I have hurt, I have been frustrated, I have had anger, I have felt hopeless, and I have cried (a lot).  But stronger than the pain or fear is a hunger.  Sometimes in heavy training, I used to picture how “nice” it might be to have an injury and sit on my bum for a few weeks.  Yet, within days of discharge, I was out on long walks/hikes (albeit slowly) because moving forward is part of who I am.  In the months leading up to my crash, I had begun to feel despondent, to treat training like a chore and racing as an event to be feared.  I regretfully admit that I had once again started falling into patterns of nitpicking my own imperfections and self-body-shaming.  In hindsight, I wonder if God knew I needed something big, something that couldn’t be ignored to snap me out of it. 

Be it fate, divine intervention, or simply coincidence, this experience has lit a fire in my belly.  I want to run like a mountaineer wants oxygen.  I want to feel the burning of my lungs and the protestation of every muscle that comes with training.  I appreciate now, more than ever, what my body has become capable of as well as the absolute gift that is the ability to be active.  So yes, I will continue to cry from time to time and I will undoubtedly be met with frustration as the rehab process truly begins but I will persevere.  I shall come back not only stronger but happier because my will is unbreakable. #getreadyforthecomeback

Recovery/ROM pics (10 days, 20 days, 30 days)

Never Quit.

#getreadyforthecomeback

A Tale of Two Distances: Utah Half & Vegas Super Sprint

Eek!  First off, I must apologize for just how overdue this post is.  September seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye.  Two races, one bailed race, and a whole boat load of training later, here is a little update (the benefit of procrastination is you will be spared the boring details).

UTAH HALF

In late August, I ventured to Utah for my first half of the season, the Utah Half.  With the memory of disappointment and severe bonkage from last year’s Rev3 Williamsburg (passed in the last quarter mile and a 103 degree body temp at the finish) still in my mind, I was a little nervous as to how my body would hold up for a distance longer than my typical Oly.  However, Coach Mace is no dummy and I could tell his training had prepared both my mind and body far beyond where it was a year ago. 

Lucky for me, I was pampered while in Utah as I was able to stay with the amazing Schwanz family (Michelle was my elementary GT teacher, they were Wisconsin country neighbors, I babysat for a while, and went to high school with Lauren) who drove me around and fed me fresh/delicious meals.  Everything seemed to be perfect … until late afternoon before the race.  A nasty storm rolled in and brought with it lower temperatures and hours of torrential downpour.  I woke race morning to temps in the low 50s (arctic for my desert bones), thunder, lightning, and sheets of rain.  Once at the race site, we were instructed to stay in our cars and wait for the bat signal; weather had impeded transition/buoys from even being set out.  Fortunately, I’m a nerd who listens to audio books in the car so I passed the time with a little Janet Evonovich (which doubled in keeping my panic regarding the temperature at bay).  When the storm finally passed, we all herded to transition, ready to start the day. 

View from my accommodations wasn't too shabby

The morning was still chilly and the storm had cooled the water a good deal.  When the water had been checked a few days prior, it was determined that the amateur field could wear wetsuits but the pro field could not.  Bummer!  That water was COLD and the morning pretty frigid too.  Hopping on my bike I couldn’t see straight my head was so frozen and it took a good ten miles to stop shaking; I recall noting that I was finally of a comfortable body temperature just after the turnaround (28 miles in).  Despite the frosty start, the skies had cleared over a fast/flat course.  The race crew did an excellent job of cleaning gravel/debris from the course, I really don’t know how they did it so quickly! 

Coming out of the water, I had been told I was in the lead but didn’t really believe it until confirmed at the turnaround.  Second place was not far back though and I have been passed way too many times on the bike to feel confident in my lead.  I was pleasantly surprised to enter T2 still in front; not knowing if (or by how much) the gap had been closed, I took off running.  I held my lead through the run, bolstered by the encouragement of spectators and other racers, crossing the line with my first elite win, woohoo!  While I had come to the race alone, I ran into a lot of familiar faces (Kirstin McCay, Zara Guinard, fellow Hammer athletes Elliot Bassett and Andrew Drobeck, and the welcoming members of the SL Tri Club) who helped me celebrate the moment.  Back at the Schwanz house my excited super fans fed me and let me relive the fun!  After a much needed shower, I headed back towards Nevada for the next day’s visit from my big brother.  What a fun life I lead!

A few race photos: Top left, post-race with Kirstin (won her age group); with Andrew and Elliot (2nd and 3rd overall men); with Zara (who came to cheer on her teammates); on the overall women's podium. 

LAS VEGAS SUPER SPRINT

Somehow, my coach talked me into applying to race the Las Vegas Super Sprint, a Super Sprint Grand Prix event which just so happened to serve as the USAT Elite Sprint National Championship.  This race was a short, fast, multi-lap, draft legal event stacked with some of the fastest women in the world (of 21 women on the start line, 5 were Olympians).  The race was on a Thursday, so I showed up for the pre-race meeting the day before fresh off of my work day and was completely star struck; out testing the course was a hoard of my tri heroes, women/athletes I have followed and looked up to for years.  Holy intimidation and feelings of inadequacy Batman!  Fortunately, there were a few familiar faces (from sources other than magazines/TV) in the mix and the seasoned elite sprint diva Zara Guinard calmed my fears a bit.  Even better, after the meeting, I came home to a perfect home cooked meal and some pampering from my visiting mother.  The awesome crew over at Pro Cyclery let me borrow one of their fancy carbon Giant bikes (road bikes, not TT bikes, must be ridden in draft-legal races) so I was as ready as I was going to be!

This is how they put a pool in the middle of a parking lot in Las Vegas: too cool!

My race itself was far from excellent; I was lapped out and did not make the finals.  However, I wouldn’t trade the experience itself for anything!  On the start line, world champion Sarah Groff was directly to my left and I chatted/shared rubber bands with some other big wigs.  MP Multisport was in town so I had the support of Coach Mace and Coach Frosty along with visiting friend (Hammer athlete I met in Utah, also a really legit coach) Elliot Bassett and local friends Bree Thorpe (son Dash in tow) and Max Jones.  Even cooler was the evening’s final event; what athleticism and how amazing to watch! 

Checking out the course with Coach Mace (in my fancy Las Vegas Masters cap)

And we're off!

Out on the course

Women's Final

The next day, I was back to training, showing off the loop to Frosty and Coach Mace.  Since then , it’s been a solid block of training, highly supported by friends/training buddies/unwitting sounding boards Bree and Max.  I decided to skip out on the LA Tri (sorry Susan) in favor of a solid training weekend when it was changed to a draft legal sprint with a gender-neutral prize purse (not exactly my favor, as noted above).  With three weeks off the race circuit, I’m itching to don my kit again and am super jazzed to be racingChallenge Rancho Cordova (70.3) next weekend.  California, here I come!

Just another training day in gorgeous Red Rock Canyon! 

THANK YOU Blueseventy, Hammer Nutrition, and MP Multisport for supporting me through the highs and lows of training and racing!