Racing what?

Jumped back into the world of racing last weekend. March TCSD club race was the perfect venue for my return. Low Key.

Kyle and I were dog sitting for the She-Devil who was out racing at Lake Havasu. We woke up early to get the dog out for a walk and we were off to our respective races. He headed up to Camp Pendelton for the Bulldog Bike Race and I went to the shop to load up the mothership for the big race on Fiesta Island. It was new mechanic Christopher's first race.

Fun times with MCS crew! Cory, JT, me, & Christopher

Solid warmup of dog walking and jogging to the porta pottie. Got the wetsuit on and headed out to the water with Erin and did a couple of strokes. Horn went off and I was with the front pack for a while. I really need to remember to get new goggles before races. Sighting in scratched up sweeds ain't easy. Ended up hanging out with new friend Frank for most of the swim and got out feeling like I should have raced harder.

Took forever in transition - again I just didn't feel like going hard. It's a club race, right? Hopped on my bike and had a feeling I'd never had before. One that I'm almost ashamed to share. One that I hope Kermit will never hear about. You see, it was cold, windy and my heart rate was elevated. I was hating life. I turned that first corner and felt like absolute crap. I told myself that this was it, after the race I'm selling my bike and quitting forever. I had approx 4.5 minutes of Negative Nancy thoughts and then a tail wind came around. Okay, this isn't so bad. Each lap got easier and easier. Really? I was averaging what I usually can manage from what I remember back from my days of glory [kidding]. By the end my thoughts drifted dramatically from quitting to I want a disc wheel! Finished the bike with cold feet but a smile on my face.

Slow transition, Frank and I debated not running [slacker] and I was off. My left foot never got warm. I was jogging along. At a slow pace. I got towards the end of the 1st lap and seriously left foot, what's up?! I look down - omg. Blood pooling above my timing chip strap. Immediately I rip it off and my skin is down to my bone. Ouch. Thoughts of quitting, but that wasn't going to happen. FML - passing the food after that 1st lap is just not cool! Get going on the 2nd lap thanks to a very motivated "TriChick" who was starting her first lap. I just tucked in and followed her short leg cadence. How fast Vickie? 8:12 she mumbles. Okay, I can do that, maybe. I follow her for 1/2 the lap and then the leaping gazelle passes us. Seriously? I make the move and try to follow her. Wow, biggest, longest, bounciest stride I've ever seen. I followed for 1/4 mile but I couldn't manage any longer, I slowed up a little, but kept the pressure on myself.

Finished. Flashed the bling bling at the camera. [First race wearing the wedding ring!] I felt like I ran those 2nd two miles 3 min faster - and looking at the splits yesterday - yep. Okay, I really need to work on running, and running off the bike. Really I just need to run. Still can't find that spark or motivation. Racing [and slowly at that] put a little spring into my step but here I am this week with 1 swim and 1 bike in the bank. :)

I've been dealing a little bit with my Crohn's lately. I am not a happy camper when I wake up, or towards the end of my day at work. Stomach/colon hasn't been agreeing with me at all. Deciding what to do diet wise to get it back on track. Nothing has really worked in the past - so I've been researching gluten free - yes I may die since most of what I eat has it - call me the gluten-ator. Instant gratification hasn't been working out in the end, so I may have to suck it up.

So 40 days - tomorrow. And big news - I may not even race. If they cancel the swim due to the ridiculous amounts of crappy weather [rain] we've had lately, and turn the race into a duathlon I'll be the first to not show up in the morning. Come on- 2 runs? Why not bike run bike? I'd like to see a sprint finish at the end with triathletes involved.

Getting ready for my sis' weding next weekend!! Super excited about the bachelorette party and yes even being the matron of honor. yikes. Must start speech writing.

keeping up

I haven't been doing my best to keep up on the training front. Work has been super stressful lately. [I know I work at a bike shop, how bad can it be?]

Cory, Chris and I had to move the entire shop into two different [smaller] locations.  Merchandise stuff on day one, and service/storage/junk/boxes/junk in the next day. We had to get the store up and running to be open the next day and move the rest of the junk [did I mention we have a lot of unnecessary stuff!] the following day, so the contractors could start on the new space. 

Quite a bit of overtime was worked last week.  Did a couple bike fits and sold a sweet Felt B10 with Di2. This week the new Felt DA arrived - what an amazing bike - so if you have 12k to drop, let me know. 

Kyle and I went to J-Tree 2 weekends ago. He got back from a long-ish [for us] work up at sea, so it was great to be able to have 2 consecutive days off together - a rarity for me. We had a blast camping and climbing. We brought our bikes and tried to go for a ride, but it was a bit windy...and I crashed. Yep - I'll admit it - I crashed going 0mph while clipped in. Couldn't get my leg out and tipped over. Aero drink full of cold water was pouring onto me. Bloody knee. Really Rachel? When did you learn to ride your bike? Way to make spandex wearing nerds look even nerdier. I made up for it by climbing a 10.b jtree slab and showing the boys how it's done.

Last weekend my dad came to town! We went to Five Guys on Saturday when he got here and hung out at Stone all day on Sunday. Delicious beer, yummy food, fun tour and a great time with my dad and hubby. He's here all week, and Kyle is out to sea again. Looking forward to The Fish Market tonight and Old Town mexican on Thursday. Really, I'm looking forward to more dad time.

dad, loving the Stone experience

Our stand up comedian tour guide

don't touch a damn thing!

hubby with his new ruination ipa shirt

Need to find motivation to ride on this beautiful sunny morning. Maybe I'll be thinking of all my MN friends who are still stuck on their trainers. Club race this weekend and Seal Sprint next! Not sure if I'm looking forward to these events or dreading them all together - I haven't been this unprepared since my first triathlon - maybe racing [crappy] will be the much needed kick in the butt.

As if I needed another addition to my plate, Vavi Triathlon starts tonight. I'm the new coach on board, primarily leading the swim sessions but will help out at a couple Sunday bike sessions. Looking forward to it, as it's primarily first time triathletes looking to finish Encinitas Sprint in May. Bay swim clinic tonight!  I've been coaching quite a few private swim lessons each week on top of the usual volunteer TCSD JCC swim sessions. 

In random other news, we bought an iMac with our tax refund!! The screen on Kyle's macbook is about to crack off and mine is pretty old and outdated [read: slow] and I can't even watch youtube videos on it much less a movie. Love the wireless keyboard and trackpad! And the built in camera - I already have iChatted with my college roommate who is getting induced today! Can't wait for the news of baby Schell - we don't know the sex yet!

So best wishes to Missy and Gabe and little gabermiss until he/she has a name. Time to get the wheels rolling.