Skyline Ride

     I have been strapped for good quality blog material lately, so you get the mundane stuff.  This is info. from a ride on Monday morning.  Was looking like a hot one around here, so I drug M up to Skyline Drive for a ride that was at least 10 degrees cooler.

     The roads and the views are spectacular.  There is something about seeing the world from a bike that is vastly different than in a car.  When I figure out why I will let you know.  Very similar in landscape to Blue Ridge Parkway except it requires a pass.  Maybe a bit less traffic.   The climbing is a bit more intense up there as far as length, but the grades are not too bad.  I still feel like it  is one of the best places to ride and avoid traffic and will undoubtedly make you a better rider.

     Did happen to snap this pic below on the way back to the car of a little friend that was ripe for a set of tire tracks.  He made it across the road unscathed after I stopped to snap a photo.  There is definitely a ton of wildlife to see up there.  If you ever venture over to DC Rainmaker's blog he often  talks about riding Skyline Drive and has seen some bears on the roads.

     I started listening to a new book a couple weeks ago called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  It is another book similar to the likes of Radical.  These books attempt to lay out the intentions of the Gospels of the Bible as opposed to the way they see it playing out in America today.  I prefer the audiobooks (thanks mom) so I can listen on my commute to work.  Crazy Love is also another great book that really makes you think about the way you are living your life, especially if you have any desire to end up in Heaven. God gave us very specific instructions on how to live out the salvation and grace that he offers.  These 2 books have caused me to take the time to examine how I am living.  Jesus asks us to give all of ourselves to him, yet in even the best of circumstances, we try our best to only give him what we can spare.  Something is wrong with this way of thinking.  

     No races on the horizon.  With a 5 day weekend coming up, I hope for some great time with M and the kids and to enjoy this great weather.  The workouts will have to get earlier and earlier with the heat, but at least that will free up a larger hunk of the day to get some of the summer projects planned out of the way.  Later.

     

Tire Trouble

     So here is the details from my ride Friday morning.  It is seemingly uneventful.  A lollipop route from my house with a fairly standard amount of elevation gain in and around the Charlottesville area.  I got passed by a young guy just past Monticello.  I tried to hang with him for a bit, but these old legs are no match for a wiley youngster.  He opted for the rest of Carters Mtn. Road while I slid off onto a newly paved Rolling Hill Rd., nice.




     What you can't see is the 2 miles I rode/walked up on the Blue Ridge Parkway earlier that morning.  I had dropped the kiddies off at school around 7:40a and was headed up to the parkway to do a loop from the parkway out to Reeds Gap, down to Waynesboro, then climb back up via Rt. 250 to the car. 

I was greeted by a very nice sunrise on the horizon looking east.

     I hopped on my bike and headed south on the parkway.  The first mile is a gradual climb with some flat in the beginning.  At about 0.8 miles it starts to pitch up a bit.  I had just passed the 1 mile marker when I heard a loud pop and a woosh of air ran up my leg.  Lesson learned.  make sure to check your tires before you head out.  If this had just have been a tube I could have easily continued on, but looking down I had a bout a 3/4 gash in my tire going all the way through.  I can only guess that this gash was from a previous ride.  I rode the bike for a bit in the grass so I wouldn't bend or mess up the rim, but ended up walking the rest of the mile back.  I was passed by 5-6 passenger cars and 2 maintenance trucks on my walk back, none of which stopped to see if I needed any help or a ride.  I guess thats the day and age we live in.  I must have looked like a fairly dangerous biker is all I can figure.

   Nevermind the Giro d' Italia bike race this week, check out the Tour of California as local rider Ben King rides for the Radio Shack team.

Kinetic Half Race Report

   Decided to have M be the guest blogger today after her amazing race this past weekend at the Kinetic Half.
1.2m swim/56m bike/13.1m run



Pre-Race

     The day began at 3:45 when the alarm went off.  Next, was a shower, banana, some OJ, and out the door.  My assistant (Jeff) had everything in the car.  I think he was more excited than myself.  I just kept thinking, "What am I doing?"

The car ride was in the dark to Lake Anna.  We arrived at 5:15 and not to many people were there yet.  We got in line to pick up the packet, got marked, and hung out for a while.  I then got my transition area stuff together and went for a short swim in the lake to warm up.  It was then that the nerves were gearing up.  

   At 7AM the first wave of racers were off.  (In HIM races, usually the waves are by age, etc.)  I was in the Novice wave and it was the last wave to leave at 7:18.  While waiting, Jeff was kind enough to put his arms around me and begin my day with a prayer of why we race and who we do it for.  I tried to keep this focus throughout the race.  Hoping someone would see my jersey and think about God or hopefully notice my kindness and support and want to know more about this man.

Early morning swim course

Pre-swim

Getting Ready

Swim

   They blew the horn and I was off.  On Jeff's advice, I hung back and let some racers go.  I did not want to get kicked etc.  I went off to the left and found my place in the pack and put my head down and off I went.  I just kept telling myself that I was in the pool and it was just another workout.  The water was clear and that was a good thing.  I couldn't see the markers, but kept checking to see if there were racers near me so I knew I was in the right place.  One arm in front of another, kick a little, and breathe, breathe.  I started to just count.  One stroke, two stroke, breath and so one.  Then it became, make it to the first marker and turn.  Then make it to the second marker and turn.  Third marker, home free.  

   The mind games you play on yourself are endless.  We all play different ones.  I usually just keep counting.  Made it to the beach and off to transition.  Swim time on my watch was 44 minutes. Feeling pretty good because that was better than I expected.  Many were in transition chatting, sitting down etc.  It was pretty relaxed.  I just kept thinking I did not want to miss the cut offs.  So I tried to be fast, off with the wetsuit, on with the bike helmet, gloves and then start riding.

T1

Off on the bike

Bike

      I went up the hill and the bike began.  In my head, I decided to drink every 5 miles and goo every 15 miles.  There were mile markers every 5 miles.  Jeff had put aero bars on my bike and they did the trick.  I used them most of the race except on the hills.  The miles ticked on.  I rode past a church that had on its message board "Pray for our military"  When I saw this I spent probably 15-20 minutes doing just that.   I also spent many times praying and thinking this pain is nothing to what the military do for us or what Jesus did for us.  "I can do this", I said.  It gave me peace.  And soon the miles got larger.  There was one point, about 30 miles, that I started to write a story in my head about what I was seeing.  This family lives here, they have this many kids, etc.  My mom later told my Dad did this all the time in the car on long trips to keep us entertained.  

    OK, I was doing good on the bike and was thinking I may make it under 6 hours 30 minutes.  Originally, I thought I may not make the 8 hr cut off.  There was one point that guys on triathlon bikes with their aero helmets zoomed by me.  I thought, are they that slow of swimmers that they were behind me?  After about the 20th one passed me, I realized they were lapping  me.  This bike course was a lollipop.  Out, then make a circle once, then make the circle twice, then head back.  Therefore, they were on their second lap.  I did end up passing back and forth with one racer and that made the time pass.  

     The last mile on the bike and I began to think about the run.  Could I do it?  I made it back on the bike in 3 hours and 15 minutes.  I was at a total of 4 hours 10 minutes. Feeling good and thinking that 6 hr 30 minute goal might be attainable.  I would soon lose that dream.

Out to run, almost done

Run

      The run begins up a not so steep but long hill.  It is like they are trying to beat you when you are down, tired and exhausted.  I felt good and was naive to the pain because this was my first race. I settled in to a little more than a 10 minute pace.  OK, this is good.  I was getting bored, no electronics allowed at this race and they are serious!!.  I made it up the 1 mile hill and out a flat area for about 1.5 miles and then a turn around back up a hill for another 1.5 miles.  Then, a down hill for a little and yes, past the finish line you have to remember you need to do this loop 2 more times.  

OK, now your mind is racing.  Those hills aren't bad on a  normal day but today is a different story.  I pass the crowds, wave to Jeff and head up that first hill AGAIN!!!   I am getting slower.  There is really no one at my pace, remember we are all at different parts of our laps.  I keep going.  I see the mile markers for 5 miles then see the mile markers for 10 for my next loop.  It is demoralizing.  Seriously, can this not be my mile 10?  I never thought the run would be this hard.  I run.  That second hill in that second loop about killed me.  I prayed, I thought of songs in my head.  The legs got heavy, heavier and well I was nearly walking but not yet.  I looked ahead at the runners.  Some had R's on their legs.  (Most of us have our age on our leg, the R means they are part of a relay team.  Someone swam, someone else biked and this person was running.)   I saw 2 of these individuals and they were walkng.  How could they be walking, they only have to run, right???  I talked to one of them and they stated what I was thinking, these hills are KILLER.  So, I gave in and  walked.  Once you walk  for what you tell yourself will be a minute, becomes two and so on.  When you begin to run again, it is so hard to get your pace back.  It just wasn't working.  Going on the downhill towards my third loop I heard a man say come on FCA (Fellowhip of Christian Athletes).  We began to talk and run slowly together discussing why where here. He said read the back of my leg, and on it in permanent marker read, "what was I thinking, why am I here today?"  Funny.  We continue on.  He went ahead.   The whole time in the run, I told people good job way to go etc.  Everyone was dying.  I would say the people I saw left on the course about 70% were walking at some point.  OK, pass the finish line AGAIN.  This would be the last time before I would actually finish.  Jeff was there and ran along with me.  He knew I was struggling.  I walked through the water station, got some oranges and began slowly running up that hill.  

At this point, I talked a little with a man having trouble like myself.  We ran together for a while and then he began walking.  I kept telling myself that this is the last loop and my new goal was under 6 hrs 45 minutes.  Could I do it?  That last 3 miles were slow, long and hilly.  I just kept looking at my watch as each minute ticked on and on.  Just put one foot in front of another is what I kept thinking.  Finally, I saw the last downhill and off I went to the finish.  Wow, it was over.  That run seemed endless.  

Why did I think that would be easy?  

Finish Line (No pics of actual finish, batteries dead)

Post-Race

     I saw Jeff and then went to get my pizza and a soda.  I stretched a little and enjoyed every bite.  We then decided to go check the official results and then retrieve my stuff from transition and head home.  As we did, they were still announcing winners.  They announced, "next the novice division" and announced the men.  Jeff stated, there were some really fast first timers.  They went on to the women, " In third place......, in second from Charlottesville, Va--I looked at Jeff and said who was here from Cville??  Then they announced my name.  How crazy was that?  But let us be real.  There were first timers that were faster than me, they just did not register as a novice.  You pick what you want to register as when you sign up for the race.  Let's call this one lucky for me.  I got the title, but reality is, I was just happy to be there and finish.  

    Overall, a great day.  The weather was perfection.  Many thought the bike course was really hilly.  I, not so much, but I am from Chville where there are hills everywhere I turn when I train.  The run was harder than I ever expected and those hills seemed like mountains.  Most everyone I spoke to during the race agreed about those hills. 

   I was so happy that Jeff was there and he was so supportive and encouraging.  I could not have done this without him or my kids or even without my parents (they came to watch the kiddos for me to do the race.)  I cannot thank them all enough.  

    To anyone out there thinking this is impossible, it isn't.  Everyday, you go out and do something and everyday it gets easier.  I have decided some of it is all in your head.  My suggestion is to try it and have fun with it.  If you can find a friend to train with, it makes it even better.  I had my husband which made it awesome. The day goes to the glory of God and his strength that got me through.  

   On a funny note, my grandmother (82) came to visit with my parents.  When she arrived on Friday, she said, " Your Dad told me all that you are doing.  That is a little much don't you think?"  I agreed but that I enjoyed it.  She then added, "I don't think this is true, but your Dad told me you actually have to pay to do this?, That cannot be true."  Yes, grandma, it is true!!!  All of us paid to do it.  She still thinks I am crazy.  

    As fathers day approaches. I thank my dad and all of his inspiration in running or walking, pretty much everyday of his life.  Take time to thank your dad.  Those moms need not be forgotten either.  My mom gets out there even when it hurts and does all she can.  To have parents that enjoy exercising together and being able to see that passion throughout my life, is what led me to do what I do.  

    The race was great, but it is the other things in my life that make it worth while.  I try and remember that I must put as much effort in to those areas as I do anything else.  I attempt to put God first, then my husband, kids, family, then my interests in that order.  Sometimes, it is a struggle.  I just keep thinking for something to be an accomplishment you have to work on it, just as I worked to prepare for this race.  

   Hope you each keep working to reach your finish line.  Whatever it is, God will help you see it through if you let him.  He gave us the training manual, we just need to take the time to read it and actually follow it.

Do You Think About Dying?

     Have you ever sat in your car, on your couch, or just alone by yourself and thought about when you were going to die.  If you say no, you are lying.  We all think about death, but oddly enough most of us don’t think it is going to happen soon.  We contribute to our 401k’s at work.  We plan out our retirement.  We live inside of a intricate net of insurance policy’s that are woven together to build a safety net for ourselves (and I am certainly not excluding myself).  The fact of the matter is any one of us could die at any time.  I could die while you are reading this.  What then?  I have gone to church and tried to be a good person.  Is this enough for the big man upstairs?  Will he accept me for who I have been and what I have done here on earth?  Did I follow the commands that he laid out for me in the Bible?  Sure I was baptized as a kid.  I went through confirmation classes as an adolescent.  Will any of this matter?  The hard cold truth is that being a good person, or doing nice things for people will not gain you entry into heaven.  Going to church on Sundays and having coffee with the preacher is not going to help you climb the ladder to heaven.

     Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one will come to the father except through me.  

It is imperative that we begin to confess Jesus to others so that when we stand in heaven he will confess us to God.  If we cannot do that, then it is all for not and death becomes the end.
     These are loose thoughts that I tried to piece together, but hopefully you get where I was heading.  I love the world of endurance racing, but I try to keep myself grounded in God and the way he commands that I live my life.  In that spirit, it is the eve of the Kinetic Half Triathlon.  700 people will take off in the morning starting at 7am to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles.  I told M she will have to be the guest blogger next week with her race report.  She said that would be fine IF she finishes.  Its a tough race and she has worked very hard.  We are very proud of her and God-willing she will glorify his name on her way to a race finish.  

Smith Mountain Lake Sprint Triathlon Race Report

Pre-Race:  This was a crazy weekend for me to do this race.  The wife and kids left for West Virginia Thursday and I had to work late Friday night, so I tried to take advantage of the time.  I awoke at 4:30a with Scooby at my side.  He had been my bunkmate for the past couple nights while the family was away visiting family.  I had arrived home from work the night before at a bout 11p, so was on a short sleep cycle, but no worries the race day adrenaline would get me through.  One quick walk around the block to evacuate the body of all remnants (Scooby that is) and we were off into the darkness.  Smith Mountain Lake is 2 hours away to the south.  Fortunately for me most of the road is highway which Scooby favors, however his long history of car vomiting reared its ugly head about 15 minutes from the lake.  No problem, he was fine after that.  My triathlete sister and my dad were kind enough to meet me at the lake to watch the dog and view the race.  This would also allow me to spend a great weekend with them afterwards.  Thanks guys!  Nutrition was fine: a banana, granola bar, coffee, and water about 2 hours prior to race.  No nausea.  Feeling good.  Saw my other FCA teammates (Joe and Jeff), met some members of the southwest Virginia huddle (a great group) and headed into the water for a short pre-race swim. Water was cold when you put your head in, but not terrible (or so I thought).  About 10 of us gathered on the beach for a pre-race prayer and then the 1^st wave went off.

Swim:  I was in wave 2 (age 30-49).  I hadn’t thought much about where I was going to position myself nor was I too worried.  I had been swimming well this year and had done this before.  I chatted with a first timer before they blew the gun, reassuring him to take it easy and it would be over before he knew it and on to the bike.  I should have heeded my own advice.  This was a beach start, so we had to run into the water from the beach, not too crazy but different from my previous deep water start.  I ended up about smack in the middle of the pack, not good.  I ran into the water and began to fight for space.  There were guys poking, prodding, slapping, and grabbing.  Not on purpose (I suspect) but looking for an opening to swim.  Its hard to put your head in the water and swim with feet in your face and a fist in your back.  Things spiraled downward quickly and I was searching for a clearing.  This was only half of my problems.  I guess there is this reflex called a diving reflex, which happens when you put your face in cold water.  It takes your breath away.  I went out too hard and now my breathing was out of whack. I ended up sidestroking for a while.  God had chosen this moment to humble me.  It took me most of the race to get my breathing back and be able to put my head back down in the water a freestyle.  I had read about these types of problems, but felt my swimming was good enough to overcome them.  I was wrong.  I got out of the water at 16:16, which brings to light a great teaching point in triathlons for new athletes.  This swim was the worst I could imagine for me at the 750 meter distance.  It was still only 2:45 slower than what I would call a pretty good swim at this distance.  So for all you non-swimmers who want to enter the sport of triathlons, don’t worry.  Get through the swim however you can and learn as you go.  It’s not that bad.  There was about a 100 yd run up the hill to transition, then another 50 yds to my spot.  I was still winded at the rack. 

T1:  Transition 1 went smooth, but slow.  I was winded and a bit disconcerted from my swim, but knew I could make up time on the bike and run. Time 2:09

Bike: We had to run our bikes up about a 15 yard hill to the mount line.  I hit the flying mount perfect like I had done so many times as a kid and passed about 4 guys standing there trying to get on there bikes and clip in there pedals.  I did not swim as a kid, but I sure did ride my bike a lot.  The rest of the bike was fairly uneventful.  Its somewhat uphill to the first right hand turn which is an out and back, then its on to the main road with a big downhill and a lot of rollers.  We hit the turnaround and that big downhill turns into a big uphill.  I like the climbing, because we do so much of it in Charlottesville .  It is usually to my benefit in a race.  We make the left back into the park then its about 1.5 miles back to transition.  I decided on the way in to try slipping my feet out of my shoes before back to transition to avoid having to take my shoes off in transition.  It works good and much easier to run down that hill back in to transition with no bike shoes on. Time 39:32

T2:  Transition is quick.  All it requires is popping off the helmet, sliding into my greased running shoes and running out with my visor and race belt.  The only mishap here is I popped off one of the snaps that holds my race number onto my racebelt.  Never to be found, I will probably have to buy a new one. Time 0:50

Run: The first 1.5 miles of the run is a gradual uphill.  I passed a few folks and a few folks passed me.  All in all the run was good.  My legs felt OK.  In retrospect I might have been able to push a bit more in the middle of the run, but this was not a race that I deemed worth it to risk injury.  The way back in has a nice little gut check hill about 300 yds to the finish line.  I was not happy when some guy flew by me with about 100 yds to go, but if you have gas left at the end, use it.  I was on empty. Time 23:21

Final race time 1:22.06

Mystery Solved

     If you read my last post, I was mesmerized by these purple boxes hanging from the trees on the outskirts of Charlottesville.  We did a ride up on the Blue Ridge Parkway the other day and lo and behold there they were hanging in th trees, more purple boxes.  So my very good friend and bike coach had the answer to this mystery.  These purple boxes are traps for Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species.  That's all I know.  On to the bike ride.

We started here, which is just off of interstate 64 as you cross the infamous Afton Mountain.  If you have never visited the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive I highly recommend it.  Not just for it fabulous biking, but the trails and attractions all along these roads are great for family outings.

During the week, the biking does not get any better up here.  The car traffic is at a minimum and the peace and calm are all around.  The picture above and below are pretty accurate depictions of the roads up there.  If you want to become a better biker, I cannot think of a quicker way to do it.    

The route we did turns around here and heads back to the car.  It is only about 22 miles out and back, but the  2000 ft of climbing makes it all worth it.  M got off her bike and ran a bit while I finished up my 30 miles.

Here is a view west over to the Shenandoah Valley from one of the overlooks.  If you look closely through the haze you can see West Virginia.

     So the rundown from today is eventful.  The original plan was to head back to Lake Anna and ride the Kinetic Half bike course and maybe get some open water swimming in, but the pouring rain this morning made us head to plan B.  Dropped the kids off and headed to the gym.  Hopped on the trainer with some intervals for about an hour with M.  The weather had cleared up by then (of course) and we went outside to get in a short 3 mile run up Observatory Hill and back to complete the bike-run brick.  Since we were already at the pool, we decided to suit up since they had the long course setup and put in a quick 1000m.  I was exhausted after that.  When we got home I got a second wind and felt guilty pinning the dog up all morning so I let him loose on the trails for a slow 3 miler.  In retrospect, it may have been too much 2 days before a race, but I guess that remains to be seen.  

     Hope nobody forgets Mothers day this weekend.  Being a parent for the past 10 years, I have a new appreciation for what my parents did for me when I was (and still am) growing up.  Mothers (at least in the households I have participated in) are the cornerstone of the family.  They are the glue that keeps everything together and sacrifice much for the good of the others in the family.  So for my mother and the one that I am married to, Happy Mothers Day!  You are loved and appreciated for your hard work and selfless nature.  God bless you.

       A few members from my FCA Endurance group will be racing this weekend with me at the Smith Mountain Lake Sprint Triathlon.  Our goal is to glorify God in the races that we take part in.  He gives us the strength to participate and compete, so clearly the glory is His.  We hope that others will see this and make a decision for Christ in their lives.  I am anxious to see if my body has recovered from the race 4 weeks ago, nonetheless it will be a great day.