INSPIRATIONal words

Flipping through a Chicago sport magazine, I came across a Cannondale advertisement (kinda' partial to this brand). The ad: "Test Ride Reason #40: It Has Heart, Ready To Attack." I tend to be a sucker for inspiring words, mantras & quotes.

A few years ago, watching a Navy Seal documentary, one man interviewed said "mind before matter - if you don't mind it doesn't matter." This quote inspired us through several long marathon seasons.

Back in high school, our swim coach used a visualizing technique combined with a self selected buzz word. His intent - to power us through our race. Kirstin's buzz word: "SNICKERS." Yes, the candy bar! But don't laugh, she qualified for state & maintains a huge sweet tooth. Curious about her ironman word/quote? Ideas are welcomed!

Anyway, we're in need of buzz words & suggestions to power us through the next several weeks of our training.

joining the club

This morning we completed our second 56 mile ride on the Racine 1/2 Ironman course. While we didn't master the course, we definitely improved from our first ride. We didn't end our ride with an empty parking lot. We're speeding up! We were part of the fast bunch of the slow group. VICTORY! Maybe not, but we're feeling much better about our cycling progress. And now that we're feeling more comfortable, it's time for aerobars. We're going to look more tri-spiffy, and that's what is important to us :)

Highlights:
-During our Saturday morning ride, we passed a large group of Harley riders. The most bad a*& looking riders of the bunch waved at us (in their cool way). Love of the open rode, fresh air...I guess we have something in common with them. And of course, we're "cool," too.
- Walking 4 miles on Saturday with our mom & younger sister.

Learnings:
-Our cheap (functioning) bike rack doesn't remain attached over bumpy train tracks. We almost endured a major catastrophe - thank goodness the bikes didn't drag on the ground & there wasn't a driver following us!
-Red vines are power fuel candy
-Warm Accelerade isn't the most enjoyable drink

i can't...i have to workout

WOW...an intense week! Following an impressive Sat. & Sun., we turned up the heat. Pay close attention to Wednesday - 3 hour 40 minutes.

RECAP
Monday - a.m. bike (1 h 25 m)
Tuesday - a.m. swim (1 h) & p.m. run (1 h 10m)
Wednesday - a.m. bike (1 h 40 m) p.m. run (1 h) swim (1 h)
Thursday - run (1 h 45 m)
Friday -with full intentions to swim - we changed our plans due to pool over crowding. Plan B - relax outside over a cup of coffee. It was worth it.

Tonight we're off to Wisconsin to celebrate our father's 61st birthday. We'll see the nutritional effects of a true Friday night fish fry. Tomorrow (Saturday) - BRICK - bike...run...swim. Then, on Sunday, riding the Racine 1/2 ironman course - 56 miles.

GO 140.6isters!

"it's not easy"

time: 3:10:23 total distance: 31.9815 miles

Bigfoot was our triathlon season's kickoff. We shaved 23 (LONG) minutes off our last year's time! We should have since we've been training for an ironman & have road bikes (versus mountain bikes). Not as strong as we would have liked, but coming off a 3 hour 50 minute ride...not bad.

Today's quote: "it's not easy."

max speed 33.7

Today's accomplishment: completing our LONG RIDE! We were worried with this morning's rain, clouds & thunder as well as weather.com's report of continous t-showers. However, once the sky cleared up - we began pedaling.


RESULTS
Time: 3:49:46
Distance: 49.95 miles
Average Speed: 13mph
Max Speed: 33.7 mph (faster than posted speed limit signs)

As for the dog walker who yelled & the grandpa-like driver who beeped - (because we're uncertain about your frustration) we'll view this as signs of support & encouragement...thank you!

what's up?

After hours of frustration, online research, negotiations, and contacting our local multisport store (who were also out of our desired wetsuits - not surprisingly); our expensive purchase was finally & officially accomplished. PHEW! On Wednesday (6.18.08) we purchased a Blue Seventy 2008 Reaction wetsuit from an online retailer for $269.10 (10% discount, no tax, shipping and/or handling). The cutest part they created our own personal promotional code - "Brittany08." Now, we anxiously await the arrival of our wetsuits; unfortunately, not in time for this weekend's Bigfoot Triathlon. Therefore, we won't be sporting wetsuits making us look (hence feel) unprepared & inadequate for the swim portion. All we know - it's gonna be CHILLY!

A quick recap from 2007 Bigfoot Triathlon. We participated in the Olympic distance - 1.5K swim, 40K cycle, 10K run. The 10K run was a hilly trail run which we considered difficult & long, 10K run = 6.21 mile run. It wasn't until March 2008 we learned the course was incorrectly marked - actually the run was over 8 miles. Hopefully, this year they get the mileage right...go GPS systems! Last year we finished in 3:33.05 (we're not time focused; however with running fewer miles - time is on our side).

Kudos to Kirstin for a hard training week! Unlike Britt (who began her 10 1/2 summer break) - Kirstin continues to work full time, crazily train, & remain motivated (with a gigantic SMILE :) I'm impressed!

For this weekend's crosstown classic: GO CUBBIES...make us northsiders proud!

ok...we're swimming naked

After contacting 2 more online companies, I GIVE UP! I know your asking, "Why not purchase a 2008 wetsuit which fit perfectly & be done?" Because that's not our style, we're bargain shoppers, deal finders, obsessive researchers (at least that describes Kirstin) & we typically get our way.

My advice to future wetsuit purchasers: order clearance wetsuit in the fall (off season)!

The Never-Ending Wetsuit Purchase

We attempted to negotiate a better discount with online company #2. There offer was a $30 discount, no sales tax, and free shipping & handling. Our counter-offer was $50 off (no tax, free shipping & handling) off each wetsuit. They would not accept this offer. Because I'm easily offended...we'll search elsewhere or buy locally. I guess not everything's negotiable!

Frustrated, I placed our 3rd online wetsuit order. If this isn't successful, our plan - swim naked!

wetsuit - take 3

Well, we're in the same "out of stock" wetsuit predicament as yesterday. My advice to online companies, "if you don't got it, don't list it!" However, online company #2 will give us a $30 discount on 2008 wetsuits because of their mistake. Does everybody have issues like us? Maybe we won't blog it until it's official!

Lake Michigan - you must wait!

wetsuit - round 2

The (1st) online triathlon company informed us the wetsuits we ordered weren't in stock & they forgot to take them off their website. Fortunately, we found another online triathlon company to purchase the 2007 wetsuit. However, we had difficulty deciding on the wetsuit size. This dilemma led Britt to a near melt down. For now, we are committed to lose some weight in order to breathe. Cross your fingers that the online company doesn't contact us tomorrow to inform us our wetsuits aren't in stock.

wetsuit round 2 - savings $10.50 (made this minor hassle worth it!)

2007 Blue Seventy Reaction Wetsuit

Tonight (finally) we tried on wetsuits. A less traumatic experience than expected because we prepared ourselves to look & feel like sausages. After leaving the store, we searched online for the best deal. We each purchased a 2007 model for a $128 saving...GO TEAM CURVES.

2008 wetsuit at store $299 (without 9.5% tax)
vs.
2007 wetsuit online $200.50 (tax, shipping & handling included)

Lake Michigan here we come!

Bike Shoes Aren't Waterproof

Saturday
bike: 45 minutes
run: 1 hour 50 minutes (in EXTREME heat & humidity)
swim: 45 minutes

Sunday
run: 40 minutes
bike: 2 hours 5 minute

On Sunday, we road our bikes around our parent's town. The roads are less traveled and hillier than Chicago's lakefront. Unfortunately, a severe thunderstorm prevented us from completing the last 45 minutes of our ride.

As the thunder began to roll, we pedaled quickly back to our parents' home (for future rides, Britt should handle each ride as though she's caught in a thunderstorm:). Our phones rang and vibrated. How sweet - our family was concerned about us being caught in the thunderstorms. Maybe they were calling to pick us up. NOPE. They called because our Dad backed his borrowed van into Britt's car. Why would she park her car behind the van? Pure stupidity. Our perspective...he shouldn't have backed out of the driveway like bat out of hell. The damage: a destroyed bumper, busted light, and hurt feelings (they weren't worried about us riding in lightening and rain).

Nonetheless, we had solid work outs this weekend.

Our learnings:
- Start long runs no later than 6am during Chicago summer.
- If it looks like a storm and sounds like a storm...it is. Don't push your luck.
- Water bottle cages are meant for bike-specific water bottles not store-bought water.
- Bike computers are waterproof...bike shoes aren't.