tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27312043344184807252024-03-06T03:19:17.150-06:00Mom, athlete, etc.Lessons learned on the road (or trail)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-8400606251831885452016-01-19T16:09:00.001-06:002016-01-20T12:13:08.615-06:00Stryd - updatedQuite a bit has happened since the last Stryd post. Ultimately the Pioneer is getting better and better every day, and the team of brilliant minds behind the product keeps impressing us.<br />
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Since my last post the mobile app has advanced quite a bit. There's now the ability to use the app as a standalone head unit for the stryd - indoors or out. (Parents I'm looking at you now.) Stryd figured out how to make the device work for the treadmill. They built functionality into the app so that you can change the speed/incline as you do the treadmill. What does this mean?<br />
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It means you can run whenever, wherever you want. (Dear stormy weather - YOU'RE FIRED). I'm no longer forced to rearrange my training in order to be able to use the stryd. Treadmill training has taken on a new dimension - one I'm sure it always belonged in, but we could never use it with the tools possible. Cyclists and triathletes will be most familiar with training by power for race day simulation, but now, for the first time, we can do it on a treadmill. The only thing missing right now is a lap button, options for auto lap, and a workout mode.</div>
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Racing is a new experience all together. In running the Houston Marathon a few days ago, I was able to put to use some things I learned while training with the Pioneer over the winter - better form for speed. I learned how to lean to drop my force production while actually <i>increasing my speed</i> without increasing heart rate. Result? A perfect race day. I'm not sure it gets better than that. I paced by power - numbers I trained with and expected to see, and had near perfect mile splits. Heart rate drift was minimized, and as a result, I <i>never hit the wall</i>. </div>
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Recording data is a bit frustrating though. I'm a Garmin girl, have been for years. I'm not looking to switch. But without the ability to record power data in run mode, I'm left looking at other options for race day. For Houston, I used a samsung s5 active - a phone that couldn't keep up with phone demands, but served my purposes quite nicely as a head unit for the Pioneer. Between loading four hours of mood boosting, high tempo music onto it, and using the Stryd app to record data, it worked pretty well. Some kinks to work out - the data file from stryd came in as four separate files. (Dear Stryd - can we have a gps watch that records data from the pioneer, stores music for listening and has bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones and syncing data to the web via smartphone?) </div>
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In addition to the app improvements, we're getting more data (OOOOH DATA!!!!). The run dynamics that garmin introduced some time back is available by using the phone app or one of the suunto compatible watches. Since I'm not leaving my garmin, I'm stuck using the phone app until (rumor has it that garmin will be updating the connect iq sdk to allow apps to be fully compatible with the stryd pioneer) something changes.<br />
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I do have a few more questions though. As triathlon season fades into the winter running season, my weight goes up. When I updated the stryd to reflect increased weight, I noticed my average power go up as well. Now, I can't tell for sure if this is something that resulted from the weight increase or that I have more available force production than before. We'll have to wait and see what happens when spring comes and my weight goes back down. As far as consistency in training, I could forsee a few problems if power shifts with weight. Using watts/kg (also the standard in cycling) can help avoid issues like this.<br />
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I do want to revisit the issue of running surface force absorption. My thoughts are that this is still a valid issue - and does need revisiting. It's possible that profiling running surfaces needs to be in the hands of the individual athletes. Similar to the way heat maps are developed in strava, athletes should be familiar with the their favorite running haunts, and know which surfaces are softer (i.e. sand, grass, possibly tracks). Comparing individual runs would be more effective than indivually profiling running surfaces.<br />
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What would make the stryd pioneer perfect? An accompanying wearable that is gps capable, bluetooth enabled, and can store enough music via amazon or itunes to last an entire marathon. The device itself is pretty much already perfect.</div>
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Bottom line? The Stryd Pioneer is the training and racing device of the future.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-52315326724400961722015-11-11T13:24:00.001-06:002015-11-11T13:39:07.104-06:00Gender specific athletic groups?I was recently tagged in a conversation that started with a display of frustration/disgust over the creation of a women-only facebook group that centered around a cycling game we all play. I was asked what I thought.<br />
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I typically remain quiet on gender issues. My experience has taught me that speaking out isn't generally a great idea. However, the whole issue comes down to harassment.<br />
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I think the creation of a group for women to chat is an excellent idea. It isn't so much about the exclusion of men (while that can prove to be a benefit on some occasions) but rather the inclusion of more women. And don't think for a second that I don't believe men and women have some similar issues when it comes to sport, but there are some situations that need a different audience - an audience that isn't critical because they really can't understand/can't see it/<b>don't believe it</b>.<br />
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For example - if I post about my period or and IUD, or tampons, pads, or the diva cup, in a gender neutral group, I'm likely to take some flaming and get told to take that down because it's inappropriate for that group. Yet, we're still cyclists. And we're still faced with issues relating to that time of the month. So when something comes up and we (the women) are looking for some advice on something related to being a girl, a post leads to some serious criticism. "But that's wrong, and the people criticizing the women should be told it's wrong," you say. True. But who is going to do that? In the meantime, women are shamed for having the guts to post in an open forum. And no one shames the arsehole that shames us. Forcing women to leave the cycling community. It's embarrassing to be told that your conversation is gross, inappropriate, or otherwise shamed,<br />
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So let's talk about the time I had to change bike shops because a very well respected mechanic was hitting on me. I mean REALLY hitting on me... Rather than burn bridges, I started frequenting somewhere else. "You should have done something about it! Told the manager!" you say? Right. Have you ever read the news? See what happens to the woman involved? She gets torn to pieces... "She asked for it." "She should know that kind of thing happens in cycling." And then it gets worse. See, taking a stand creates more issues and harassment than it solves. There's this victim shaming attitude that pervades any harassment issue that goes public.<br />
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How about the time I wanted to ask someone about some pretty specific saddle sores in a pretty specific location? I'm not describing my junk or the location of the saddle sore in an open forum. Especially at the risk of posting such a description in front of a perv who will take it as an invitation to start a private conversation that is unwanted.<br />
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How about when your body fat has dropped so low that 1) people tell you to eat more and you can't possibly be healthy, 2) you can feel every single bump, lump and knot in your breast tissue, 3) you have to start bone scans because your doctor worries if you're healthy enough for strong bones, 4) you don't know anymore if you're healthy or not?<br />
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How about the time that I was having problems with my period and wanted to talk to other women about it? I'm not posting that in an open forum where people can offer advice without ever having had the equipment to really understand.<br />
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How about the time I went to ride in a group ride as a beginner and couldn't keep up.<br />
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Shall we chat about the lack of women's jerseys in the game we were discussing, the fact that there really isn't a well developed pro women's cycling circuit (or a women's Tour de France), or that some coaches still don't see much of a difference between female cyclists and "long legged sluts?" (Seriously - google that one)<br />
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If I want to really vent about how some dude was a real jerk to me, I want to hear other like minds' opinions on the matter. Not "that's how cycling is, get used to it!"<br />
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Shall we discuss the number of pros (men vs women) at the Ironman World Champs? "Oh but look at the demographics!" You say. "They don't support equal numbers of men vs women..." Let's talk about creating the atmosphere to encourage equality, rather than keeping a certain gender limited... (Why the hell would women need to vote??? They must be crazy.)<br />
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Understand, I'm not trying to change a culture. I simply want to connect with people who have similar issues - physically AND socially. I don't want to hear "get used to it" with no real solution. I want a plan to handle it, or some empathy when nothing should/can be done.... I want to know how OTHER women have handled the situation - not given advice by people who really don't understand the true social/professional cost to the woman of handling said situation. And most of those who can understand just happen to be female.<br />
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See, speaking out about harassment or perceived inequalities garners a serious negative response. And frequently the whistle blower faces consequences. Don't believe me? Google it. Or just wait for the comments to start coming in on this post. One of the other things is that this post is based on my experiences. Which brings up the most crucial point of this post. You might be surprised how rapidly people will disqualify your <i>actual</i> experiences based on their opinion. But you can't change the past, so your experience simply doesn't matter and doesn't count toward the actual issue being discussed.<br />
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Bottom line? Harassment toward women exists in the sports culture no matter how long it's been since Suffrage, Title IX or since the first woman snuck into the Boston Marathon. If you want to see more women in the ranks, you need a place where the more experienced female cyclists can help mentor newer women, and give them tips on how to maneuver a tricky social situation. You need them to have "refuge" in a way that they can respect the opinions of those who have been there before, not given the opinions of those that don't want to believe problems still exist. Want more women in the sport? Give them a place they can blossom rather than a place they remain silent. Give them the start of confidence, and courage, and enable them to further develop those traits in a atmosphere where they can thrive. Give them the best of both worlds.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-42251244118158947862015-10-10T17:59:00.000-05:002015-10-10T18:22:07.137-05:00Stryd Pioneer - Further ReviewSo I've been using the Stryd Pioneer for about three weeks now. For the most part, my impression was simple:<br />
"OHMYFREAKINGGOODNESSTHISISAMAZING!!!"<br />
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The device is simple. It's essentially built into a heart rate monitor. The Pioneer fits on the garmin premium soft strap, and... done. Set your weight in the app (which has come out since my last post) and go run.<br />
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I'm not going to get into the workings, mostly because dammit I'm a firefighter, Jim, not a computer programmer.<br />
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So far the device works VERY well on pavement. And the potential is huge. But as I get more used to the device, there are some things that need development to really access the potential the device has.<br />
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I've been told the device stores data, and also has the potential to measure run metrics like the new garmin run heart rate monitor does. Right now, accessing that data is pretty limited, and unfortunately if you have to choose between the garmin hrm run and the stryd, you're missing out on a dataset that the other doesn't provide. The Stryd has also not been set up to be used on a treadmill. Which is somewhat frustrating, as the device was originally supposed to clip on and be used separate from the heart rate monitor that WOULD provide that data. Add that to the data recording side where you can record in run mode without power, or cycling mode without run metrics.... But I'm getting ahead of myself here.<br />
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Let's talk about run zones. Can you tell me how to set them? No? Me either. Basically, no one knows anything about how to set run zones. As with cycling, when power came to the sport, it took a long time to figure out just how to apply it. That's were we're at. BUT... Here's the thing.... Using the protocol developed by Stryd, I was able to set my threshold at 240 watts. Taking it out and playing with it resulted in an endurance pace between 190 and 210, and a tempo pace of 210-230. Recovery falls below 190. So there are <i>clearly</i> some defined zones. After three weeks with the Stryd, I've tweaked the zones for the following:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Z1 (recovery) < 82%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Z2 (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">endurance) 82% - 88%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Z3 (tempo) 89 - 95%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Z4 (threshold) 96% - 104%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Z5 (anaerobic) >104%</span><br />
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Definitely not the same as in cycling. Which, when you think about it, makes a ton of sense because in cycling, you're using a mechanical advantage with a fixed method of reading power (torque on a chain or a pedal). In running, you're using the data from an accelerometer. You're having to read data as it is interpreted from <i>movement</i> rather than as torque. Problem? Not really. As long as you always run on the same surface.<br />
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Wait, what?<br />
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So when discussing power, you're talking about the force used to push a body through space. Force production rather than force absorption. Which - for where I want to go with this post, I will have to come back to. In the meantime, when you run on sand, on soft surfaces, where the absorption of force is higher, your power tends to read a bit lower. Which tends to mess with consistency a bit. So while it may take you 280 watts to push your feet out of sand, the fancy accelerometer that you've attached to your chest may interpret the data as 220 watts.<br />
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See the problem?<br />
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Since I'm a pavement runner (not a fan of cactus lined trails) this really doesn't affect me<i> much</i> but it is something that will need to be addressed in the future. Personally, I suspect you could do the critical power protocol from Stryd to figure out profiles for different surfaces, then apply that offset to the power later. For now, you might have to figure that out manually, and set different profiles in Training Peaks.<br />
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What's that you say? Different profiles in Training Peaks? Yep!<br />
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Training Peaks has the ability to set different power profiles in the software that you can apply to different activities. I've set power zones on my own account for running, and it appears that once the data is safely nestled in the arms of training peaks software, the training stress score is calculated based on power... The way it is in cycling. HOWEVER.... This is when we get to the really frustrating part. Garmin hasn't seen fit to enable power recording in run mode using their watches. So you have to run in cycling mode, then update the run after you've uploaded to whatever software you're using. This is infinitely frustrating because it requires a great deal of babysitting the data. So if anyone at Garmin is reading this, this is something that needs to be addressed. Immediately. In respect to other methods of recording data - I've paired the device with Maximum Trainer, and attempted to pair it with Zwift - both had differing levels of success. It all comes down to that little ability to predict distance on a treadmill. (Which I'm told the ability to predict distance is coming).<br />
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Trust me, I totally get it. I'm using first of it's kind technology and getting frustrated when it isn't supported by companies that stand to make a profit in conjunction with it... But when something this potentially ground breaking comes out, you better believe that if someone wants to use a power meter when they run, then you better have that channel open to recording. ASAP.... (To be honest, if I were someone of any importance at Garmin, I'd be hanging over Stryd's shoulders, waiting for it to be released... "Is it ready yet, is it ready yet, is it ready yet? It is? RELEASE THE FIRMWARE UPDATE!!!")<br />
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To be completely honest, I'm not entirely sure why Garmin has to only have a single mode that uses multiple sports for that mode. If you could record on all channels during a single workout, those of us with high maintenance tendencies could create the laps later based on gps and data recorded. A true "Multisport" mode that records all the data, all the time, based on what data to expect, I can set up laps later and determine what is a swim, bike, run, or transition after the fact. Meaning, I can record power in that mode during any segment I want.... Problem solved.<br />
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As a runner that crossed over to triathlon, statistically, my bike has predicted a slower run, or my run predicts a faster bike... (Either way I need to spend more time on the bike...) Now, for the first time, we can see the links between power on the bike and power on the run - something we have previously had no real way of measuring against each other. "What about heart rate" you ask? Well, about that... There is at least one small study that indicates that when pure cyclists run, their max heart rates are identical to what they can produce on the bike. Ask any triathlete what their heart rate max is, and they'll ask if you want to know bike or run. While the study I just mentioned suggested that the ability to push heart rate to insane levels comes down to muscle fiber recruitment, obviously, we're looking at different scales here. Ever try getting your heart rate to match on a treadmill vs outdoors for the same pace? Not happening. So, for the very first time we have a metric that is uninfluenced by outside (pun intended, lol) factors where we can really get into the brass tacks on how bike power and run power are linked. Forget power - we can start to see how run ability/potential and bike ability/potential are linked. For the very first time. And did I mention - we can finally see the links for the first time? So if I follow the data, the difference between my bike threshold and my run threshold is about 20%... I came over from running and can definitely speed up on the bike. If a pure cyclist has a difference of 0%, then I suspect the well balanced, fast triathletes are at a difference of 5-15%. It seems that to propel a body forward on a bicycle through space would take less power than to propel a body upward and forward with no mechanical advantage. The study linking heart rate and muscle fiber recruitment might be the key to finding balance - are cyclists only able to recruit muscle fibers for running that they use while cycling, or are runners not able to recruit their entire leg when they get on the bike? I suspect the answer lies in the middle somewhere. Say around 5-15%?<br />
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So let's go back to force produced vs force absorbed. I'd heard someone say that if power came down at the same pace under similar conditions, that meant form had improved. The more I ran, the more I thought about that - and the more I'm convinced that may not be the case. I get the impression that producing less force at the same pace might actually mean better muscle efficiency - but not necessarily form. I think a better measure might be force absorbed.<br />
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See - as coaches, we tell our runners to quicken their cadence with the idea that with faster cadence comes shorter strides and less force absorbed - with the endpoint being minimizing force absorbed by the runner, because all that shock absorbed just wears those poor little runner legs out. With better form, we assume that people get faster. And as you get stronger at a faster cadence, your strides lengthen again because you can hurl your body through space faster.<br />
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<i>But no one is measuring how much force is absorbed by the body.</i><br />
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Now that we have a device that measures force produced, it seems that the other side of the equal sign would be force absorbed. If you can measure that with some degree of accuracy in runners across the spectrum, you'd probably get a better picture of runners across all terrains, all surface types. Obviously force absorption increases when running downhill if you lean back into the run, but lean forward, and force absorption decreases...<br />
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Meaning - you can use force absorbed in combination with force produced to determine how hard a runner is working to move through space. The bottom line is now that we can measure power with some degree of accuracy, I think we're missing a significant part of the picture.<br />
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Ultimately - here's my view on the Stryd Pioneer. The device is a bad ass little piece of technology that is going to reshape run coaching as we know it. It's going to reshape everything. We're going to get a better picture of how run power is linked to cycling power - whether you come from running or cycling - and we're going to be able to use that to tune our athletes and ourselves better with regard to which sport needs more work. We're going to be able to look at run form in a new light. We are going to train differently, look at the data differently, and we are going to be able to achieve because we can apply the same principle to different data with better results. I'm very excited that the Stryd Pioneer is out, and I'm even more excited to see where the industry goes with it. I believe that run power is going to reshape the industry the way cycling power did. So when Garmin enables power in run mode, and Stryd enables the device to do run metrics and to measure distance on a treadmill, I think the device is going to be a game changer.<br />
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For myself - I'm excited to be using the device. As my power profile fills out, it's telling a very interesting picture. Now we just need the software/firmware support on the end user side to support it as thoroughly as bike power is supported.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-9305391552654674122015-09-18T23:23:00.000-05:002015-09-20T14:10:47.995-05:00Stryd PioneerI could go on forever. I came up with more questions and thoughts about the new Stryd run power gadget than a 5 year old on halloween.<br />
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My stryd device came in the mail today and I immediately connected it, laced up and went out for a stupid hot and uncomfortable 4 mile run.<br />
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So, let's start with the basics. My power was INSANELY high compared to what I was expecting to see. Come to find out there's a preset weight. Basically, there's an average weight built in to the device that allows it to calculate expected power from a couple of complicated algorithms. You can't change the preset weight without the app, and the app isn't in the app store yet. <br />
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So, is the offset linear, curved or exponential? No clue. But rather than making the device useless, it just means you have to view the data a bit differently. Remember when virtual power first came out and everyone was all cranky about how virtual power was wrong, it didn't match, it was useless because it was wrong.....<br />
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Here's the bottom line - it doesn't matter what the numbers say - you just need the right decoder ring.<br />
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When I finally went after an actual power meter, I found out that virtual power was 30 watts higher that actual power. No biggie. Did the training change? Nope. Did my effort level change? Not a bit. What did change was the scale. Same situation (I believe) here. Data is still valid and can be used for training. Just don't say that you can push 500 watts for a 15 mile run if you're 120 lbs dripping wet unless you've qualified for the olympics.<br />
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Now that we've gotten the negative out of the way, let's move on with the positive.<br />
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Power is going to overhaul running. It's going to revolutionize coaching runners. (And coaches, you better get one and get familiar with it, because it's more affordable than power meters for cycling - and will easily be within financial reach of those willing to hire a coach to get to the next level.)<br />
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We can now look at a run and instead of seeing heart rate climb and pace drop off and wonder "Is it over training, fatigue, or a strong south wind?" exactly the same way that we can see the effect of a headwind when on the bike. Finally we have a method that is "absolute." That is, power doesn't change because you had 3 monsters before you went out for a run (I really hope that's a short run...) Power doesn't change because you didn't sleep well last night. Your ability to produce power will, but not the actual numbers themselves. Heart rate lag and the associated susceptibility to countless factors (caffeine, hydration, nap status...) makes pacing by heart rate frustrating when you live and train in <strike>Mordor </strike>Texas. Pace itself is also challenging... How do you know how fast to climb a hill so you don't burn too many matches? Heart rate has previously been the best indicator, but becomes useless under many circumstances - especially when lag is involved. <br />
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And to be completely honest, I'm looking forward most to the power profiling. The same way we profile cyclists according to their bike power. One study I read recently posited that pure cyclists do not have a different max heart rate on the bike vs the run, and related this to the ability for a cyclist to recruit more muscle fibers when on the bike than runners can. As most of the triathlon industry isn't made up of pure cyclists, we've been writing zones differently for cycling and running for years. Now we really get to see the differences.<br />
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NOW we get to really start seeing potential vs ability - especially when looking at power across both sports. <br />
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My n+1 is that I'm a runner who crossed to <strike>the dark side</strike> triathlon. My bike ability has never matched my run ability when plugged into the post race data compiled from all the competitors. I'm not only excited to see power profiling develop on the run, but <i>sport profiling</i> as well.<br />
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Run form anyone? Maybe this will finally make the foot strike/form debate subside when power data starts getting compiled from all the heel strikers, pose runners, barefoot (not-in-scorpion-country-thankyouverymuch), and countless others.<br />
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The device is slightly larger than the garmin hrm. And fortunately, it fits the new garmin strap. This is important because garmin used to use the type of strap that came with the stryd - the same strap that left me with the post-long-run-shower-scream. You know - the OMFGTHATCHAFINGHURTSIMNEVERRUNNINGAGAINIHAVENOSKINLEFTTHEREFROMMYHRM scream? So, major plus that I can use my premium hrm strap with the device.<br />
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To tell the truth - I'm really wanting to wait for a full review until the weight issue gets resolved (I'm told I should be able to at some point this weekend) and I plan to try and pair the stryd device with my favorite indoor cycling programs - to make the unavoidable dreadmill run a bit more interesting.<br />
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I am incredibly excited about this - I honestly believe that this is going to be one of the most informative times for runners and coaches since 220-your age was developed in the 1930's and 40's by someone with no sports physiology background at all based on olympic athletes. (Leaving out the majority of the demographics represented in the sport in 2015, much less 1950's onward...)<br />
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So... Stryd on... And I'll be back with more next week.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-64395678392879634892015-08-13T15:33:00.000-05:002015-08-13T15:38:32.229-05:00Quest for Sufferlandrian Knighthood (Damehood)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5oTqUFr5p1LRiGS4_fjbeKpRH2qlMSYTqbr2WmDKW2ButIuqZOeouBSmwZFHVsHY0pa_BvALA9CGMTM4_WSnHGtps2b8_AIqEwwunVPb4egSXyfMP_VMn0-rURlKBn5peDQsxjT39Lo/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl16ts4bg3rA1DWL_aus_Cm3Ub2p3MoH1VfTfwP20LfDtWb73WVYzcalvdmQwYK5oGnqJUWOI7IGIye0Noq-TvCeDOgpoGWNboG-cY2CtgHDdYaZeezxlI5oq3-OjojCfyq1kIzQvP0k/s1600/2015-08-11_1801015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl16ts4bg3rA1DWL_aus_Cm3Ub2p3MoH1VfTfwP20LfDtWb73WVYzcalvdmQwYK5oGnqJUWOI7IGIye0Noq-TvCeDOgpoGWNboG-cY2CtgHDdYaZeezxlI5oq3-OjojCfyq1kIzQvP0k/s640/2015-08-11_1801015.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not really sure where to begin. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IWBMATTKYT - if you don't know.....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several years ago I started incorporating <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/" target="_blank">Sufferfest</a> videos into my training regimen. At some point I noticed early on that there was a challenge. Complete 10 videos, back to back, and achieve <a href="http://www.thesufferfest.com/sufferlandrian-community/knights-of-sufferlandria/" target="_blank">Knighthood</a>. If anyone reading this has ever done a Sufferfest video, coupled with the <a href="http://www.trainerroad.com/" target="_blank">Trainerroad</a> workout, you'll know that this idea lies squarely between insane, stupid, inspiring and determined. Maybe a little bit of all four...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Either way, the idea rested on my bucket list between "maybe someday" and "man, I'd really like to accomplish that."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About a week ago, in a conversation on facebook, another cyclist posted that he was going to make an attempt to century on <a href="http://www.zwift.com/" target="_blank">Zwift</a> - an online game and gaming community for cyclists forced indoors for one reason or another (okay, cyclists that are addicted to the game). The conversation that ensued convinced him to make a bid for Knighthood. I decided that it was time for me to cross it off the bucket list as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two days ago, I got up at stupid o'clock in the morning, and got on my bike...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I'm skipping ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Ironman Texas this year, I wasn't really happy with my performance. In looking over my records, I realized that if I wanted to play the part of a fast athlete, I was going to have to start acting the part. I needed to give myself the foundation to be what I want to be and see where things go from there. So, after conversations with two coaches that I highly respect, I increased my training hours. I changed the structure. I started getting up crazy early and knocking out workouts so I would stop procrastinating/skipping workouts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I decided to make a bid for Knighthood, it didn't really scare me. You know that "Ah hell, I have a race in a week, what the f$^& was I thinking?" It wasn't there. I kind of felt like "okay - just a really long training day..." I planned to start as early as possible (yaaayyyyy 4 am wake up... NOT) and just hammer out what I could before the minions woke up. Fortunately, one minion spent the night with our amazing friends and their son, and the other minion is old enough to do summer homework while mommy does crazy stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I got up, got changed, got some <strike>red bull over ice</strike> hydration and nutrition, and got started. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> First up, Revolver. This video is my absolute favorite. Less than an hour, short insane intervals, and great video with snarky comments to go with it. I started at about 80-90% of the recommended normal intensity. Doable. I used Zwift for scenery (and dammit man, I wanted that imperial century jersey) and Maximum Trainer rather than Trainerroad to track the ride - there's a rather nice integrated heads up display that I really like (BOTH are very excellent programs, but they seem to occupy slightly different niches for the end users. I'll review both programs at a later date).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Video done. YAYYYY ME! Still felt good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I realized that I *might* need some moral support for when I hit those dark places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I posted in the Zwift Rider's group on facebook:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And holy hell did the community respond.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still feeling good</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up, Angels. Another great workout. During this one, I figured that I'd use the effort level x 25 watts to keep myself honestly suffering but able to continue the workout. That put me at roughly 80% of recommended intensity for the workout. After two hours on the bike, I was tired, but still moving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And an incredible amount of support was still pouring in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to update my list of videos - when I started, I didn't know what order or which videos I was going to do... I guessed I should probably figure that out sometime soon. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running Sufferfest, Zwift and <br />
Maximum Trainer</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I fired up Downward Spiral. Considering this is where I started really feeling the fatigue, it's appropriate. This is where I stopped taking notes of how things were going. Fortunately, the Zwift community on facebook kept an eye on me virtually (you can see other riders in the game, their distance, their power... Think of it as virtual cycle stalking). Two great friends - one in Houston, the other on the east coast - kept messaging me to make sure I was still alive. Even when I started growling through messenger at them. So to Tami and Julynn - thank you - you guys kept distracting me. At some point Julynn message me to let me know that I had blown up facebook, and everyone was pulling for me - I responded "I can't give up now - too many people supporting me."</span><br />
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At some point in the next video I updated the list again:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nutrition - Infinit Custom Mix<br />
And Base Salt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next video was A Very Dark Place. Also very appropriate. By this time I was hurting and miserable. My butt hurt, I was getting queasy and felt weak, and just wanted to get off the bike. I always use liquid nutrition, and an <a href="http://www.infinitnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Infinit</a> Custom formula is my nutrition of choice. After this video, I used my break to locate my <a href="http://www.baseperformance.com/" target="_blank">Base</a> Salts (no, not bath salts) to see if it would help with how queasy I was getting. Fortunately, during There is No Try my stomach settled down (okay, this was also well timed... Yoda kept telling me "Do or do not," and I really hope that's in the soundtrack to the video, because otherwise I was hallucinating.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halfway through. And the entire Zwift community was pulling for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nine Hammers. Nine painful intervals. By this time, I had adjusted my power downward again - 20 watts x effort level. Considering that 10 is right at ftp for me, I was still working hard, and staying around 75% of recommended effort level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone says this is where you make or break it. Once you get past six and seven, it's all downhill (not really )from there. I don't know that I've ever, in my entire life, looked at 3 hours remaining on a bike and thought "Yeah, only 3 hours left - I'm most of the way there!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First time for everything I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up was Violator - as far as placement, this was wonderful - lots of short hard intervals, and for the most part, lots of recovery intervals. This is when I posted in the Sufferlandrian Quest Planning Committee group on facebook - and they responded with quite a bit of support and advice as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then came </span><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Fight Club. At this point, I didn't have much for the many sprint attacks. I focused on not dropping my power and keeping that effort up. My legs were burning, my back was hurting, my, uh, saddle contact points were screaming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two. More. Left. I wanted to quit. I grabbed another <strike>red bull</strike> from the fridge and just put my head down. The caffeine kicked in and I felt stronger - more able to push through the tough intervals in The Rookie. By this time I realized it wasn't going to be a full ten hours and I panicked:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tami and Julynn both checked for me - that the list of videos was acceptable according to the rules. Then I started The Wretched. While not a great choice to finish with - I thought the irony to be quite funny.... Or maybe that was my hypoxic, hypoglycemic state. I'll admit that maybe I was in tears from pain or from joy, who knows. My power was failing in my legs and it was all I could do to keep spinning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My oldest minion came back with a big cup of ice water (she'd been my water girl for the last four videos), and told me we were out of ice. The entire damn ice box was empty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Finally.... That moment. I'll never figure out why the last 10 minutes of ANY race or event feels like it lasts longer than the entire event up to that point, but it does. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was done. And leave it to the amazing support on facebook to chamois dance for me when my legs hurt so much that standing wasn't easy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The link to the garmin data can be found below</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/862572191">https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/862572191</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-63062934711701884542015-02-17T15:43:00.001-06:002015-02-17T15:43:50.261-06:00101 Thoughts I had while on my bike trainer <p dir="ltr">1. Hey this feels good to get the legs spinning.<br>
2. Getting. Bored. (Turns on Planes: Fire and Rescue)<br>
3. Cute movie<br>
4. Probably a bad idea to call a firefighter "Mayday." You don't want your entire fire team evacuating every time you try to get his attention.<br>
5. This workout sucks.<br>
6. This REALLY sucks. May have to dial it down a bit.<br>
7. No. I want to see how much I can do. How much my athletes can do. Better leave it alone.<br>
8. Omg. I hate my coach.<br>
9. Crap. I wrote this workout. I hate me.<br>
10. Ugh. My athletes are going to hate me.<br>
11. Finally. A rest interval. <br>
12. I want waffles.<br>
13. (Rewinds the movie) ugh I missed ALL of the movie so far.<br>
14. This workout is NEVER going to end.<br>
15. This really sucks.<br>
16. I would rather be feet up watching blacklist.<br>
17. I wonder what my coach would say if I did this next threshold interval as a zone 2 interval.<br>
(Rewinds movie again)<br>
18. Oh okay. Fine. FINE.  I'LL DO IT.<br>
19. THIS FREAKING SUCKS.<br>
20. (2 hours in) Why the hell am I doing this?<br>
21. I want ice cream.<br>
22. I hate this.<br>
Omg I love this rest between intervals <br>
23. These shorts suck. Forty something years of triathlon and the seams on the chamois are still in the most undamncomfortable places.<br>
24. I'm 2:15 in.  That last hour isn't really *that* important.<br>
Ugh I can smell my shoes.<br>
25. I can finish this later. Can't I?<br>
(Rewinds movie again)<br>
26. Okay. 55 minutes.  Less than an hour.<br>
27. I may actually make it.<br>
28a. Ugh. 52 minutes left. I want to quit.<br>
29. I don't really need that last 45 minutes.<br>
(Forgets the movie and just starts some music on pandora)<br>
30. Sooooooo cloooooosssse....<br>
31. This. Is. Never. Going. To. End.<br>
32. OMG 19 minutes!<br>
33. Omg. 14. Minutes.<br>
34. What the hell is wrong with me? <br>
35. Yay! 10 minutes! <br>
33.  Oh f@$#! This workout is longer than I thought it was!!!<br>
D. I'm going to cry.<br>
Ff. This interval is never going to end.<br>
FFS  WHEN IS THIS INTERVAL GOING TO END!<br>
Z. I suck at this.<br>
Whatever. I'm never doing this shit again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That spot on the floor looks really nice to lay down on.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I want froot loops.</p>
<p dir="ltr">OMG I'M FREEEEEEEE!!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">This floor feels amazing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Someone is going to have to find a mop to get me out of this puddle off the floor.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My athletes are really going to hate me.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Want pizza.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Think I'll play a few levels of candy crush until I can feel my legs again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">AAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH CRAAAAAAAMMMMPPPPPP!!!!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am so glad I didn't give up. Maybe my coach isn't so evil after all.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I programmed that workout. Yeah. I'm still evil.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Soooo.... Next week, I guess. Same bat time, same bat channel.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-82402537336457534632014-09-13T11:56:00.001-05:002014-09-13T13:17:32.081-05:00Body Image<div dir="ltr">
Just a thought -</div>
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<br />
I love Meghan Trainor's song All About That Bass. But it highlights something that something skinny women aren't allowed to talk about.</div>
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I have experienced more body shaming as a size 4 athlete than as a 200+ pound woman. Yes. During 2007 I weighed more than 200 pounds. I had taken pregnancy as an excuse to eat my kitchen. Then go out and eat more. There were other factors contributing, but after the baby came, I discovered that childbirth doesn't come with an immediate 90 pound weight loss.</div>
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damn</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So I started running again. At first was because I just loved to eat. Then, as the weight started coming off, I found my joints didn't hurt, I wasn't as exhausted all the time, and I didn't avoid the mirror as much.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
As a fat woman, I'd gotten called a bowling ball at one point. There were people who didn't recognize me as a super size version of the person I had been and said so. But the insults didn't come that often. The only steady stream of "you might want to consider being a smaller size" came from the media.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
By then I got really active and started racing and found my passion. And when I came to the dark side (triathlon) and added cycling and swimming to my regular workout routine, I dropped all the weight I had gained since I had left my teenage years. </div>
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<div dir="ltr">
Not everyone was supportive. Even family was "concerned that I was losing too much weight."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I heard things like the comments listed below from everyone - friends and strangers alike.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
"You really need to eat a cheeseburger."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"Real women have curves."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"I hate the way athletic women look because their boobs always suffer."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"Are you okay? You've look like you've had cancer."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"You can gain more weight if you put some more protein in your diet."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
"You really need to stop worrying about your weight. If you get too skinny, it's unhealthy."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Then social media started in with memes. Some said things like "Bones are for dogs, meat is for men." </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
How is this acceptable? If someone fired back with something against heavier woman, someone would have gotten offended, facebook would have removed the photo and possibly banned the person who posted it. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Seriously? </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
First of all, my body is NONE OF ANYONE'S BUSINESS except mine and my husband's. And he has loved me at all my different weights and compositions.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Second, a good, positive, self body image is not dependent on putting anyone else down. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Third - the second a "skinny bitch" does say something about the body shaming she receives, someone tells her to eat more and gain a few pounds. That others are just jealous. So that makes all the snide comments about not being a "real woman" okay. The message we're sending is that it's okay to target thin women for cruelty and body shaming while society and social media fights to protect women who aren't thin.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Here's the deal: we don't know each other's stories. We don't know their defeats or their victories.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So do what my mama said "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Besides - the things you say to others say more about you than it does them.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-74284667757323498462014-07-01T12:28:00.001-05:002014-07-01T12:29:24.707-05:00Triathlete Candy Hearts<p dir="ltr">I came across this in my daughter's leftover candy hearts from valentine's, and had a good laugh. What would your favorite candy heart say? </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSMRAsIvbdTgOoZCMkimgqAbQjNozX0WEMXjPsQ0KcnW0v_qztR7XE8oQ4WstQyqlFJ5ym32U75rmhyM96NV8hLRh7OFPgRPD1xOe94zpdvmCwgk9YpjTHzBcGdQv8ah39FB3TcM4eTc/s1600/2014-07-01%25252012.24.50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSMRAsIvbdTgOoZCMkimgqAbQjNozX0WEMXjPsQ0KcnW0v_qztR7XE8oQ4WstQyqlFJ5ym32U75rmhyM96NV8hLRh7OFPgRPD1xOe94zpdvmCwgk9YpjTHzBcGdQv8ah39FB3TcM4eTc/s640/2014-07-01%25252012.24.50.png"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-8681714051859506602014-06-27T12:47:00.000-05:002014-06-27T12:47:00.980-05:00Playlist ThursdayThere are two songs on my playlist from Katy Perry that when they come on, I feel inspired all over again. The first is "Part of Me"<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uuwfgXD8qV8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Running is a part of me. It is healing when I feel broken, inspiring when I need a lift, and time when I need a break. This song coins those emotions perfectly.<br />
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The second is "Roar"<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CevxZvSJLk8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Another song of growth. Most adult athletes start somewhere they don't want to be. This song reminds me of how far I've come.<br />
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Want to add them to your playlist? Check here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EH49FRE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00EH49FRE&linkCode=as2&tag=coarae-20&linkId=VHJUA6IXBZ5G5T2I">Roar</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=coarae-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00EH49FRE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JOMBJ8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007JOMBJ8&linkCode=as2&tag=coarae-20&linkId=OQNVTMOQ3NGYR7MY">Part Of Me</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=coarae-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007JOMBJ8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-87040429873530933562014-06-21T22:59:00.001-05:002014-06-21T22:59:38.271-05:00The story of the benchSharing a story<br />
<br />
<a href="http://coachrae.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-story-of-bench.html" target="_blank">The story of the bench</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-18077349971721586072014-05-16T18:59:00.001-05:002014-05-16T18:59:49.485-05:00Ironman Texas 2014<p dir="ltr">Now I lay me down to rest<br>
Tomorrow I will try my best<br>
To beat the heat and enjoy the race<br>
And to set down a smoking pace<br>
And if I die before I wake<br>
That's one less gel I'll have to take. <br><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Good luck to all the amazing athletes tackling Ironman Texas tomorrow! </p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com1The Woodlands, The Woodlands30.165821 -95.461266tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-81363406517325735332014-01-26T10:53:00.001-06:002014-01-26T10:53:37.939-06:00One day at a time<p dir="ltr">Last year was a pretty rough year. It was amazing, inspiring, filled with people who were supportive and fun and encouraging. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But it was rough. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I got sick three separate times within two weeks before races. In April, I broke a finger, which got me stuck on the trainer for five weeks... During the build for Ironman Texas. After five hours on a trainer, I wanted to chuck it out the window. After Ironman Texas, I wound up with an abcess in my armpit. I had hit my race weight in March, but was unable to stop losing weight. In November I had a medical issue that keep me from the sport for six weeks. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Which means I've been back at it now for just a few weeks. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Oh my. The last few weeks have been more demoralizing than anything ever in my athletic career. My running speed has fallen so much I can't even begin to approach what I was doing in October. My weight has climbed, and as a former fat girl, the terror and depression that this invites is horrifying. It was only in the last few days that I found some groove in the water again. After that swim, I was so exhausted that I pushed back a long run so I could get a rest day. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So why am I posting this? I've spent the last year focusing on the positive in my life and refusing to dwell on how hard things get sometimes. So if the positive is the only thing that I try to give focus in my life, why am I even putting this in writing? <br>
Because I've learned that this kind of thing happens to everyone. Statistics indicate that roughly 10% of athletes are injured in any one year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I'm kind of hoping that someone will read this and know that he/she isn't alone. I'm hoping that someone will read this and realize that even at rock bottom, you can choose to only let the positive gain traction in your mind. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As for me, I'm working hard. I feel like I've lost a lot, but I refuse to let it be for long. I'm going back to dealing with the negative but emphasizing the positive changes and events. One day at a time, one workout at a time. I will not dwell in despair, but focus on each small accomplishment, one at a time, until they pave the way to larger goals. </p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-74682349750652331662013-09-02T13:30:00.001-05:002013-09-02T17:16:25.410-05:00Superhero<p dir="ltr">Dear Marvel,  DC,  and all the other comic book makers, </p>
<p dir="ltr">And mostly to all the movie producers - </p>
<p dir="ltr">Today I was blessed to be able to see Diana Nyad complete her what-will-become-legendary swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As far as I know, one news channel carried the finish live. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Why? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Is it because female superheroes are supposed to be stacked?  Is it because a woman who is strong enough to complete something so rigorous should not be hailed?  Rather,  instead, we teach our sons and daughters to fear what isn't beautiful,  and ignore the truly amazing and inspiring people that should represent what Truly Is Possible? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Or is it because we've conditioned a society to pay money to see what 'perfect' and even 'ideal'  is? </p>
<p dir="ltr">I have an idea. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Let's base a new generation of superheroes on the men and women in America whose superpowers involve selfless acts of courage, feats off incredible emotional strength, and the rarely found magic of creativity. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It is an act worthy of superheroes when someone does something amazing for someone else, then stands on the sidelines. </p>
<p dir="ltr">There are no newspaper articles.  There is no news coverage or paparazzi. There is no makeup, CGI,  or plastic surgery.  Years down the road,  someone might ask "Hey didn't you..."  </p>
<p dir="ltr">The tragedy of all this is that there is no recognition, no accolades... </p>
<p dir="ltr">No honor conferred to a task worth remembering. </p>
<p dir="ltr">You (the movie producers and graphic novel writers) don't put these amazing men and women THAT ACTUALLY EXISTED in front of our sons and daughters to aspire to true greatness. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead,  the news focuses on the bombers and what latest Hollywood movie we can expect. </p>
<p dir="ltr">No truth in inspiring things. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So,  in closing,  Hollywood I challenge you. Bring me a heroine that I can point to a on the screen and tell my daughter "See her,  baby? She was a real superhero. Let me tell you about the amazing things she did. She.  Was.  Strong.  In every way a woman should be.  She was inspiration."  </p>
<p dir="ltr">Hollywood,  give me a superhero that I can show my son and tell him "See that?  Powerful does not mean rich or politically allied.  It means that you always treat others with respect, and live to lift others up when they fall. But that most of all,  you are a gentleman." </p>
<p dir="ltr">True power is not a magical gift.  It is victory over incredible odds,  then taking that victory and helping others in their own struggles to achieve their own victories. Without seeking accolades. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So,  in your anticipated silent response,  Hollywood,  I will continue to find the people who are everyday extraordinary and teach my children that's what it means to be a superhero. Not some pretty boy with a team of support that turns stories into reality,  or some stuffed shirt version of the perfect woman, who doesn't do anything without screaming or crying. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I will teach my children that the real superheroes are the ones who turn reality into a story to be told to our children and our children's children. The legends in my own time,  whose faces are rarely known. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Mommy (struggling superhero to two amazing children) </p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-82611803527246991562013-08-17T15:52:00.000-05:002013-08-17T15:52:07.545-05:00Pre Race ThoughtsAt the risk of my post coming out wrong... Just some thought processes going into tomorrow.<br /><br />I've been worried about tomorrow's race for some time. It's the race that I usually qualify at. Qualification really hasn't been a priority to me, until they announced Chicago for nationals 2014 and worlds 2015. I really want to go to worlds and be part of Team USA. It isn't likely that I'll be able to travel to China or wherever they do worlds after Chicago, so this is really my best chance.<br /><br />The first year I did the race, I placed 1st in my age group, 4th female, 17th overall, and did a 1:32 time. Last year I placed 1st in my age group, 2nd female, and 10th overall.<br /><br />So I kind of feel like I have something to defend and something to prove, even if it's only to myself.<br /><br />I've definitely learned that it's more who shows up to the race at this point.<br /><br />I almost didn't sign up. I'm still trying to recover from my bout with strep this week - I'm completely exhausted.<br /><br />BUT - I'm going out tomorrow with one specific goal in mind - do better than last year - even if it's only by a few minutes. That would be a great race. It's such a technical course (garmin reports 4000 feet of gain over 16 miles on the bike, and 400 over less than 4 miles on the run.<br /><br />A perfect race would mean faster splits (all 5) and defending my podium without any technical issues.<br />
<br />
Last year's race report is <a href="http://ironultrared.blogspot.com/2012/08/bastrop-lost-pines-sprint-triathlon.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-39662122665287994742013-08-04T06:29:00.001-05:002013-08-04T06:31:14.677-05:00Triathlete Moment #53759462<p dir="ltr">That moment when you catch sight of your face in a mirror after a swim.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Holy goggle rings, Batman!!!</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-29782121203126878742013-07-25T22:08:00.001-05:002013-07-25T22:08:01.346-05:00Playlist Thursday 7/25<p dir="ltr">I found myself watching one of the Barbie movies recently while on was on my trainer. Mostly because the kids had been put to bed an hour before, but hadn't stayed there. And mostly because I wanted to finished my workout.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What I came across was a pretty good song that I've since added to my playlist for my indoor rides and my runs.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n37C5oWkfls&feature=youtube_gdata_player">On Top of the World</a></p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-42660068412620860392013-07-11T10:03:00.001-05:002013-07-11T10:54:29.716-05:00Playlist Thursday<div dir="ltr">
This is one of my favorite songs from my playlist. I find that training gives me time to think, recover from the hard times, and helps me to find the best version of myself. This song has a good beat and a great message that I can feel - running makes me come alive.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfb6bY1ApyQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_blank">Alive by Avalon</a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-79192188560469365192013-07-02T12:46:00.002-05:002013-07-02T12:56:25.727-05:00I'm a little bit jealous...<div>
<i>I've been thinking a lot about this lately. I'm finding myself in a position where people look up to me. I don't mind, but I'm not always the successful, confident person that people have sometimes taken me for. I have my moments of bravery and success, and the rest of the time usually revolves around epic failures, laughable screwups (no really - I do some of the dumbest things sometimes), and hard work that sometimes results in ohmygodicantdothis tears before I actually finish.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
I'm a little bit jealous. I saw this woman the other day with a beautiful manicure. My nails are broken and chipped. They are cut short and usually unpolished, and I frequently have grease under them. I paint them in colors that look like they belong as traffic vests or paint stripes on the road when I do paint them (usually having something to do with my daughter).<br />
<br />
I'm a little bit jealous. I saw this woman with beautiful skin the other day. I have crazy tan lines, scars from falls, chafing, wrecks, and I'm almost always breaking out. Looking at my tan lines might remind you of the maze from the movie Labyrinth. You could play connect the dots with my scars (I'm sure it'd form a giraffe or something similar). I even have one scar now that looks like an epic tramp stamp fail.<br />
<br />
I'm a little bit jealous. I saw this woman the other day with skinny legs. My legs will never fit into skinny jeans, and some outfits are entirely out of the question. I feel like I'm trying to stuff sausage into its casing when I put some of my clothes on. I SWEAR the dryer shrinks my jeans! And skirts? No, I'm still sporting the giraffe on my leg where my kids connected the scar-dots.<br />
<br />
I'm a little bit jealous. I saw this woman the other day with long beautiful hair. I keep mine short and in a pony tail. And it's almost always a mess from working out. There's just no reason to style it because I'm going to be in the pool or pulling it under a helmet in a few hours anyway. It looks GREAT when I get out of the pool! Then it dries and I'm back to a pony tail. Any other time, I resemble a tribble, a porcupine or like I stuck my finger in a light socket. <i>What - you mean frizzy ISN'T in style?</i><br />
<br />
I'm a little bit jealous. I saw this woman the other day in some cute running clothes, and they were very flattering. I wear things that keep me from chafing, show every bulge, and rarely show me in my best light. And my post race high is usually ruined by that e-mail telling me that my pictures are available. <i>Oh YAY! I can order pictures of me grimacing in pain while the parts that aren't stuffed into revealeverythingspandex jiggles around visibly for the camera!</i> <br />
<br />
I'm a LOT jealous. That woman over there is a LOT perkier than me - and it isn't the coffee. The most I can hope for now is a good sports bra during training, and something when I'm not training that gives me a shape somewhat resembling normal female anatomy. I'd be flattering myself if I said my training bikini had much to support. At least I have a place for ice to keep my core temperature cool for the longer, hotter races. <i>I admit it, I stuff my bra on race day!</i><br />
<br />
The list goes on. Sadly. I haven't even gotten into the fact that I managed to trip over my bike <i>while it was on the trainer</i> and bash my head on a shelf. I'm a pretty creative klutz like that.<br />
<br />
But my priority is to set a good example for my children. Which means that the things above - <i>just aren't that important</i> - in the scheme of things.<br />
<br />
True beauty isn't genetic. It is learned.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-50433634777932264612013-06-27T21:30:00.000-05:002013-06-27T21:59:24.412-05:00Bad Ass WomenI started my blog to be able to talk about triathlon and the road to the ironman. Somewhere along the way I learned that it wasn't the goal but the journey. And the best part of the journey was the people I met.<br />
<br />
So recently I convinced a few others to do a 30 day challenge with me. Sit ups, crunches, leg raises, calf raises, push ups, planks and squats. And the women who did the challenge with me saw a variety of changes.<br />
<br />
But it was near the end of the challenge that the magic happened.<br />
<br />
Some time ago, I'd seen a photograph of a woman holding onto a heavy bag with her legs, doing a sit up. <i>I wanted to do that. </i>So I told the others that I wanted to do it, and found that one of the other girls wanted to as well. So we worked hard. And without further comment, I present to you the magic:<br />
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So these women did several sit ups (all tried to find heavy bags, not all had access) from the equipment they were hanging from. Pretty amazing feat if you ask me.</div>
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Every woman on here has a full time job, responsibilities, and commitments. Their lives don't revolve around fitness.</div>
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Every woman on here managed to do something difficult and amazing.</div>
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Every woman on here is on a fitness journey all their own. They are at different points, but each displays the same dedication and drive to achieve difficult goals. </div>
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Every woman here is a bad ass.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-46592653074101963552013-05-30T14:13:00.001-05:002013-05-30T14:15:39.201-05:00Nutrition and Hydration at Ironman TexasI've been working specifically on nutrition for 18 months now. After a nutrition disaster at Ironman Austin in October of 2011, where I had to abandon my plan and rely on flat coke and water to finish the race, I needed a change.<br />
<br />
So, I turned to Infinit. I'd heard about them, and at this point, was up for anything. Eighteen months later, it's been successful. But it did take some work.<br />
<br />
At Ironman Galveston in April of 2012, I nearly bonked on the bike. We discovered that my heart rate runs too high for me to make use of the protein that was in my bike mix. We switched the mix to higher carbs/lower protein, and raised the calories a bit.<br />
<br />
When Ironman Texas came in May of 2012, it went like a dream. After that, I kept the calories the same, and made tweaks to my hydration system.<br />
<br />
At first, I was using multiple water bottles, which I really didn't like. Some time last summer, however, I found FlexrSports, and their remote water bottle kit. Basically? A water bottle with a really long straw. I went through several variations of the remote kit setup on my bike. Finally this year, I settled on this:<br />
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There are two 28 oz bottles behind the seat, and one long flexible straw that connects the two then comes up along the top tube to the aero bars. I recently overhauled my bike, and when I put it back together, I wasn't really happy with the way the bottle cages sit - so I changed that too and wound up with this:<br />
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<br />
You'll notice the bottle cages sit upright, and there's a water bottle on the aerobars. Right now I use a bungee cord to hold that bottle on, because that bungee is pretty damn useful for lots of things - including keeping the straw in place.<br />
<br />
So, my nutrition plan (trained, tested and proved) goes something like this:<br />
<br />
Breakfast is coffee and oatmeal about two hours before the race starts<br />
<br />
About an 30-60 minutes before both half iron and iron distance races I start sipping 12 ounces of water mixed with a 1 hour serving of my bike mix - I finish this about ten minutes before race start.<br />
<br />
I start drinking my Infinit bike mix right out of T1. For half iron distance races I mix an hour and a half in each bottle, and for iron distance races, I mix three hours in each bottle. I know exactly how much to sip every 15 minutes to get exactly the right amount of calories for however long I'm on the bike course. I take water bottles from the aid stations and rest them on the aerobars with the help of that bungee cord. Depending on how hot the day is, I'll drink a minimum of 20 oz per hour. Ironman Texas 2013 was a whopping 40 oz per hour!<br />
<br />
Once I get back to T2, I have a flask set up with Infinit's Napalm. I drink one ounce every 20 minutes. This year at Ironman Texas, I had an empty plastic water bottle that I reused for my special needs bag. I put six extra ounces of Napalm in that bottle. I take water and ice from all the aid stations if it's pretty hot, otherwise, I drink to thirst.<br />
<br />
One other thing that I do - I carry an extra hour of my bike mix on me in a plastic baggie, and I pick up a bag of gu chomps from an aid station and put them in my pocket - just in case.<br />
<br />
As far as nutrition goes - after breakfast - I don't have anything solid until after the race is over. And I don't notice getting hungry at all.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-91065681161736234992013-05-25T14:07:00.000-05:002013-05-25T14:07:11.459-05:00Ironman Texas 2013Wow, what a difference.<br />
<br />
Another year of experience behind me. Another year of training. What to expect no longer a mystery.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8UHGLiDVpz9b7t9c_iE_jjc2uYU_Bz4U2HI3-ecFxchRvulVQk9jcCe5MbFDEwMcf47DzO8KjoH5bU5-lXoSfF9vQyAR0MvmsucgBlRt29iO4tUUiyZGLDPGHNp29nEM2opUuzSE3eU/s1600/20130517_103704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8UHGLiDVpz9b7t9c_iE_jjc2uYU_Bz4U2HI3-ecFxchRvulVQk9jcCe5MbFDEwMcf47DzO8KjoH5bU5-lXoSfF9vQyAR0MvmsucgBlRt29iO4tUUiyZGLDPGHNp29nEM2opUuzSE3eU/s320/20130517_103704.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few last minute fixes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A week or two out I had<i> that feeling.</i> It happens less and less now. The "what did I get myself into?" feeling. Where I'm not sure that I really want to do the race I've signed up for. The feeling didn't last very long, but race nerves started a few days early. By the time I left town on Thursday, my race nerves had peaked.<br />
<br />
Thursday evening after athlete check in I put in a short swim - after that, the race nerves were gone. I'd put in the training, logged the hours, the miles and the meters. There didn't seem much of a reason to worry.<br />
<br />
The race comes without permission, and happens - with or without me. The weather would be what it would. We were expecting high eighties, high humidity and about half cloud cover.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9cctCB5NI25xBUiFXdOzjxJqpG79hY3di2gcyCh4xh_8RuubTdhCbmcKfkTvGa1MY615PEPE0bmovB4SVaOYnbMIWRRwPS8Sjk4Rjpu2wJe41-QvkvWoTQmzMypFF_yYtVuROVkq5pE/s1600/20130517_134529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9cctCB5NI25xBUiFXdOzjxJqpG79hY3di2gcyCh4xh_8RuubTdhCbmcKfkTvGa1MY615PEPE0bmovB4SVaOYnbMIWRRwPS8Sjk4Rjpu2wJe41-QvkvWoTQmzMypFF_yYtVuROVkq5pE/s320/20130517_134529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike check in. Hot. Few clouds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Race day came.<br />
<br />
I was more forgetful this race than for any of my others. I had the essentials, but also had to arrange things differently than planned. Everything set up, then off to the swim start.<br />
<br />
Age groupers piled into the water - where the pros were getting ready to start. The pros started, then time for age groupers to line up. We tread water for about ten minutes, and it got crowded. Very crowded. We were bumping into each other, getting kicked, elbowed, grabbed. Finally, it was time to go, and.....<br />
HAND TO FOOT COMBAT!!!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4YdAkHW6I9vucHNyOfJ6wc5p4t4a46_8lC-5JrT0BY3tVZMoSFHZSCqbZO14tP3ymyOps_INEnlcy1QWqubUCQXrf11vqMbKWDTdW20Ahz4PZQV5X6zVwCqlclJRI7pWmJWXFuUUSGs/s1600/966028_409131332534434_568757238_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4YdAkHW6I9vucHNyOfJ6wc5p4t4a46_8lC-5JrT0BY3tVZMoSFHZSCqbZO14tP3ymyOps_INEnlcy1QWqubUCQXrf11vqMbKWDTdW20Ahz4PZQV5X6zVwCqlclJRI7pWmJWXFuUUSGs/s400/966028_409131332534434_568757238_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The washing machine</td></tr>
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The swim felt like it went on forever. And I felt like I wasn't going anywhere. At first, everyone was packed tightly in and it was hard to get in a groove. But in comparison to last year, I had a stronger pull with a slower cadence, and better endurance. The overall swim was faster for me.<br />
<br />
Into transition - that went better too. Better planning and more experience lent itself to getting out faster.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4LjTmDZUSobmcm1bLqulSjMQOgfaULgHTE6XJ9JxuldHQEdJKqV1q6fZ25sOBCqITaO343Z3ZAXZps-w95oq-P5hVxElh3RlStmOKO3xyex6psOVeS9f837gnDm77N2_-Gq83lHesIU/s1600/20130517_133441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4LjTmDZUSobmcm1bLqulSjMQOgfaULgHTE6XJ9JxuldHQEdJKqV1q6fZ25sOBCqITaO343Z3ZAXZps-w95oq-P5hVxElh3RlStmOKO3xyex6psOVeS9f837gnDm77N2_-Gq83lHesIU/s320/20130517_133441.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Onto the bike. I remember last year, it felt like I was flying and I had to hold myself back. This year, no such feeling. My body felt worn out going into the bike. But still, I had a good pace, and consistent power. In reviewing the files later, I can see that the power and cadence remained consistent throughout the ride. But that's where the good news stopped.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aerobar slipped</td></tr>
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As soon as I got on the bike, my aerobar started slipping. By the time I reached the first aid station, I had slipped enough that it would no longer support a water bottle. I tried anyway, but dropped it. So I couldn't start hydrating until I reached the second aid station, when I started putting the bottles in my kit pocket. Long before then, my stomach started cramping. But I did the best I could to get nutrition and water in. Fortunately, I'm completely liquid with my nutrition, so there isn't anything solid in my GI system to draw fluids away from the rest of my body. The cramps got progressively worse, and by the time I got to 70-80 miles, they were so excruciating that I could not remain aero for more than a few minutes at a time. AND, starting as soon as I could, I was drinking about 40 ounces of water an hour, keeping my kit wet, and dumping water through the vents in my helmet. As with last year, around 80 miles is where it just got purely miserable. And it was hot.<br />
<br />
I was so glad to see the chute leading to transition.<br />
<br />
This transition is where is started to become clear just how hot race day was. I remember sitting in the tent and thinking "Where is everyone?" I stayed in the tent long enough to get more water on and in, cool off and make a bathroom trip. But it still took a while.<br />
<br />
Then onto the run. Once on the run, the stomach cramps eased up, and in reviewing the run file, cadence and pace stayed about the same for the entire run. On the flip side...<br />
<br />
It. Was. So. Hot.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h61aulFKZ61YphlFo3ydg8yZdjub56pW3VPGTmgyqOdfxokyccuG2Sz70dHgKJ13V-HcsWUZ0c0wOeCLK4IfMri2r5DnLCimH4tv9b4jQ3IIKtwdMi-yToIowbCK0krElHoomfzrL2Q/s1600/20130518_155704.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h61aulFKZ61YphlFo3ydg8yZdjub56pW3VPGTmgyqOdfxokyccuG2Sz70dHgKJ13V-HcsWUZ0c0wOeCLK4IfMri2r5DnLCimH4tv9b4jQ3IIKtwdMi-yToIowbCK0krElHoomfzrL2Q/s400/20130518_155704.jpeg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
I'm really not sure how I kept going. By the time I was nearly done with the bike, I was dizzy. Later, I found out I hadn't had enough calories before I got to the run. I hit the run dizzy, cramping, hot, and much more miserable than I expected. My calves started hurting at some point, and I got to the point where I was afraid to eat or drink anything that I didn't have to. I didn't want a spectator to catch a picture of me urping up my toenails.<br />
<br />
But I focused on what training had taught me: cadence - keep it mid to high eighties, pace - keep it steady, get the nutrition in, drink water, get ice in my kit, and try to figure out how to cool off. Focus on one foot in front of the other. One at a time. And again. I knew sometime during the second lap that I was likely to need more after the race than several bottles of water.<br />
<br />
I remember thinking "It must have been this hard last year." I remember <i>wanting</i> to quit.<br />
<br />
But I didn't. Something in my nutrition plan helped me stay functional until the race was over, and some part of me - one of my defining characteristics - kept me going. I don't quit - that's just who I am.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBJiCt0off9rRSjGceGDKpIwH4IjseF92IhbM1zFuAEZmx_luZCJ11kgQYWBXEf_1bcqeIXKK4yeC4x1l05StOrwwTxhWDzkFCl9ptwpdgfD1okceeSsZWdoptNbbhIMYAsIsmMFRDJM/s1600/20130518_165910.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBJiCt0off9rRSjGceGDKpIwH4IjseF92IhbM1zFuAEZmx_luZCJ11kgQYWBXEf_1bcqeIXKK4yeC4x1l05StOrwwTxhWDzkFCl9ptwpdgfD1okceeSsZWdoptNbbhIMYAsIsmMFRDJM/s320/20130518_165910.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before my hugs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Race day turned out to be 95 degrees according to several, and mostly sunny. It takes it's place as the hardest race I've ever done - mentally and physically. I wound up in the medical tent becaust I was dizzy and nauseated. They gave me a bunch of fluids, massaged my lower legs so that I could walk, and let me go.<br />
<br />
But I will be signing up next year.<br />
<br />
The best part of my race was seeing my kids. It always is. My family is my best support crew and my motivation. They braved the heat to come see me and to cheer me on. And six miles into the marathon when I was miserable, I came around a corner and got the best hugs in the world from the two best kids in the world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally, the finish</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-32900598171731706662013-05-02T12:14:00.001-05:002013-05-02T12:16:00.736-05:00Harassment at a Half Marathon?I recently read <a href="http://www.collectiveactiondc.org/2013/05/01/sugarcoated-corporate-sponsored-street-harassment-at-dcs-nike-womens-half-marathon/" target="_blank">this</a> post after being asked my opinion of it.<br />
<br />
I'm appalled.<br />
<br />
Not at the signs, or at the fact that random men were paid by a corporation to hold them out there. To me, that seems like it's actually a pretty brilliant marketing scheme by a makeup company.<br />
<br />
I'm shocked by the fact that a spectator (also someone that a quick search on athlinks reveals has not ever run a race) would believe that they have the perspective to complain about such a thing. The author of that post called it "sugarcoated and corporate sponsored street harassment."<br />
<br />
She complains about the signs and states that they objectify women, and asks if we we see these signs at a men's marathon. Her answer is no. (I giggled about that one.)<br />
<br />
Now I've been at countless mixed gender races, and I can tell you that a sign saying "Hello Gorgeous" would be pretty damn cool at mile 24 of a marathon when I'm digging deep for every last bit of what I've got. I can also tell you that the signs get better. They are one of the best parts of racing. Years down the road, we laugh about what some of the signs say. My favorite (I forget the race now, but it was during the run of a mixed gender half iron distance triathlon) said "You have stamina, Call me." At whatever point of the race I was at, I laughed. And at that point, I needed it.<br />
<br />
The author of the linked post has no perspective on what those signs out there mean to endurance athletes - and yes, you would find something VERY similar at a men's half marathon. You'd probably find signs that you'd consider worse.<br />
<br />
If you continue this rabbit trail, you might endanger one of the best parts of our races. The signs from our kids, our husbands, our wives, our parents. The ones that say "Hello Gorgeous," "You're beautiful when you sweat," or "Cute Running Shoes." The ones that keep us motivated because <i>someone is watching</i>. It gives us the strength to dig deeper in ourselves. To find strength when we thought we had none. Guess what? Our families that are out there to cheer us on are all random people to all but one person.<br />
<br />
And you, you may think you've done something wonderful. Stood up for women that you think are being harassed. But thousands of racers will resent that their families can't put signs up for them because one spectator once, with no perspective on what a 24 inch by 36 inch piece of cardboard meant, took offense to something that is part of a culture they couldn't possibly understand.<br />
<br />
And don't even try to school me on feminism, sister. I've been entrenched in a patriarchal career for almost as long as you've been alive. This is one female keeping your assumptions in check.<br />
<br />
Those signs? They were brilliant. Women are gorgeous at every point in their athletic path. They are beautiful when they sweat. And running shoes - well - the good ones are getting cuter. So dig your panties out of their twist and lighten up. Go for a run. And at 13 miles - see if you wouldn't like some random stranger encouraging you. Because <b>that</b> is what that sign is.<br />
<br />
If <i>anything </i>got objectified out there that day, it was the guys holding those signs. Thanks, Bare Escentuals - and also thank you to the guys that held those signs for all those beautiful women. A half marathon is hard. You probably made it just a bit easier for them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-83223756395384934572013-04-21T23:11:00.001-05:002013-04-21T23:23:24.354-05:00Boston and Texas<p dir=ltr>The events of the last week are heartbreaking - first Boston, then West - both equally terrifying and personal.  Personal because after the titles of mother and wife, I also carry the label of firefighter... athlete... paramedic...  </p>
<p dir=ltr>At first I had something to do: make sure my entire team and their loved ones were all right.  In the chaos that ensued after the explosions in Boston, it took some time. So we waited...  And we talked...  And we started the healing process.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Then, before we could begin to really understand what had happened in Boston, another tragedy, this one much closer to home for me. </p>
<p dir=ltr>When I first read that email "explosion,  firefighters were onscene when it happened" my heart went cold. Over the next several hours, we began to find out the staggering enormity of the event, and how hard the first responder community had been hit.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Texas is a big state,  but as a firefighter, it's a very small world.  Everyone knows everyone or one of their friends in the fire service. We feel each loss personally.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I spent the next day getting involved in small ways from a distance.</p>
<p dir=ltr>It wasn't until Saturday that I found out that the Westboro Baptist Church had announced on twitter that they were planning on being at the funerals here in Texas.  All I could think was " Oh no you don't.  Not my family!"</p>
<p dir=ltr>That's probably when all the emotions, all the stress, all the activity, and the grief of the past week overflowed. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, to wax spiritual...  <br>
I firmly believe that when I stand before my maker, I will be left with two things: the intent of my actions while during my life, and the results of my actions. Not results as in I did well in a race.  Results as in how I affected people, how I made them feel.<br>
I pray that on the day the people who picket funerals meet their maker, they feel the anguish - the horror, hurt and helplessness -that they have caused in other. That is Hell.  An eternity of perfect knowledge of the pain caused to others.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Today I saw a picture of Bostonians blocking the roads to anyone that would cause more pain to those who have lost, and I applaud you, Boston. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Texas - we just finished one awful, traumatic week. But I think we will find strength in our brotherhood to shelter those who have lost from even more pain.</p>
<p dir=ltr>A few observations from this week...<br>
The bombings in Boston were aimed at spectators and runners.  But runners and their families, especially marathoners, and most especially those at Boston  know how to rise from the dark places.</p>
<p dir=ltr>We saw some absolutely amazing people rise above the call of being human: several people leapt into action to save a another's life, a police officer brought a family in Boston milk when the city was on lockdown, a city banded together to protect their own.  </p>
<p dir=ltr>And while there were still people making dumb statements on social media, or insulting police or first responders, many people got a glimpse via social media into a world that isn't all glory. </p>
<p dir=ltr>But there will always be a need for fire and police, just as there will always be a need for communities to come together in times of tragedy.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And there's one more label I should add to the ones I listed at the beginning of this post- American. This week has brought out the best in Americans in reacting to immeasurable challenges.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-41269073407025845782013-02-06T16:30:00.001-06:002013-02-06T16:30:26.883-06:00Meanest Mommy EVAR 2013<div>
I'm proud to announce that I've been nominated for the Meanest Mommy *sniffle* EVAR Award for 2013.<br />
<br />
The whole family is suffering the effects of a cold and the preceding grocery store trip did little to improve our moods.<br />
<br />
I'd seen the pictures on the internet of the kids in their "We <u>Will</u> Get Along" Shirts. Unfortunately my kids are pretty different in height, so even my husband's biggest shirt didn't work out safely.<br />
<br />
So... I improvised. I let them know that they had to get along for five minutes before I'd set them free, and if they argued or if I heard anyone crying, I'd restart the clock.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the belt around them?</td></tr>
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I'm honored to be nominated by BOTH my children. I believe it means that I'm getting this parenting thing right. I mean, without the parenting manual and all. I'll make sure and remember to mention my mother when I write my acceptance speech - she did wish that I would have one just like me someday. Maybe I'll pass that along to my kids too.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2731204334418480725.post-42730151986429439452013-01-17T18:01:00.001-06:002013-01-17T18:01:26.813-06:00That woman at the gym...With the weather getting colder, I tend to do more of my workouts in the gym, or at the house on my trainer. I'm not a fan of being cold.<br />
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But I'm also a parent AND an athlete. Which means that some of my workouts happen on a treadmill or a trainer out of necessity. But if you're a parent, you know that bathroom time is more valuable than all water in Texas right now.<br />
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So, basically, I'm that woman at the gym that takes twenty or thirty minutes in the shower <i>because I can.</i> Because I know that the daycare people (who are a gift from god in her infinite wisdom) <strike>can't find me</strike> won't look for me there, and there's no fighting outside the door, no coloring books and crayons being handed to you under the door, no kids raiding the pantry for snacks while you pee, and nothing getting broken the <i>second</i> you turn that lock.<br />
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You could call it hiding from the destroyer of worlds who is walking this earth as the damn cutest little boy I've ever seen. And you could call it avoiding the independent little girl that is going to ignore what I tell her and do it her own way (which, I imagine is a product of my own "There isn't anything you can't do if you set your mind to it). You could.<br />
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I call it maintaining my sanity. It's the only way I get to wash my hair <i>and</i> my armpits without slipping on the floor out of the shower to breakup the "MOMMY (S)HE STOLE MY TOY/SNACK/UNDERWEAR!" that comes about 3.2 nanoseconds after I step into that glorious hot water.<br />
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I honestly can't figure out how a 45 minute run on a treadmill turns into a two hour visit to the gym, but I come out of there with a good workout and my ability to smile while the three year old throws a tantrum because the six year old has her fingers in her ears and isn't listening to him but is yelling because he is crying. Seriously, I laugh at that crap because <i>it's damn funny</i> even if it frustrates the living hell out of me when it happens. There isn't a whole lot you can do in public nowadays to discipline them except lean over and whisper in their ears about what's going to happen to them when they get home. <br />
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But going to the gym and taking my time gives me that ability to maintain my calm. <br />
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I've just signed my youngest up for preschool, so in the fall, I'll have a half dozen hours a couple times a week without the hellspawn. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with myself, but I imagine I'll be able to get outside more to workout, and use my own shower more, rather than take all my nice shower products to the gym. I imagine I'll get to shave my legs more than once a week. I imagine that I'll get to see some of my friends again, go running or riding with my friends again, and I won't have to figure out what to do with the kids so I can do it. And then, I'll be able to shower or pee without world war three starting outside the bathroom door.<br />
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Hmmm...<br />
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Ya know? The three year old is almost always doing something that has me laughing, and the six year old is so curious about everything in the world that it's fun to learn with her.<br />
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I sure will miss them.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344482295377831080noreply@blogger.com0