June 2007

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Friday, June 29, 2007
Popped Collars, Short Shorts, Rainbow Bikinis
Popped Collars, Short Shorts, Rainbow Bikinis
So I just went on a mini shopping spree for the weekend. Eric’s shop is doing the big KC Riverfest thing (www.kcriverfest.com) with a ski show, slider pool with George Daniels, Kenny Bartram doing freestyle motocross, and all kinds of crazy stuff. So I want to look cute. It sucks seeing all the 18 year old girls in their size 3’s strut around- especially the ones that come up to Eric. All I can do is shake my head and just go with it. At least I can honestly say girls think he’s hot! But I tell you what, none of them are sportin’ the bu-donk-a-donk and lady lumps that I am. That’s fo’ sho’.
In a daring effort to find that cuteness I so desired (and to scare away the little girls) I went to American Eagle. I know, it’s like the store for all of the 14 year old kids toting daddy’s credit card in the Dooney and Burke purse he got her (okay, so I have a Juicy Couture and countless Kathy Van Zealand bags my mom has bought me, but I digress). In that store who’s ad campaigns scream “teeny bop look at me my collar is popped and it cost more than Abercrombie and Fitch” (another taboo word in my vocab) I actually found a pair of shorts that I liked- and they FIT. Albeit, they say size 14 (strange, if I go to any “normal” store and purchase in the Ms. section, I wear a 9-10) I purchased them. What’s so amazing about this? They’re denim. So what? I haven’t bought a pair of shorts that aren’t made to surf in or sleep in in over THREE YEARS.
Why in the hell did I feel the desire to do this? I was feeling a little high after climbing out of the pool this morning and feeling the fat pad that sits under my butt, and I realized... “It’s going away! It’s actually diminishing!” YES! Also on a bittersweet note, my favorite swim suit is getting pretty baggy and it’s a poly suit, so it doesn’t really stretch. So that’s good too. Last week I posted a 3.5lbs weight drop, which was awesome. Hopefully I can keep that up. I guess I shouldn’t have ate that popcorn at lunch, huh?
When JMoore asked me to “watch her try on jeans” I knew I wouldn’t get out of a mini shopping spree. So she tried on pair after pair and went with no on them all. Walking out she said, “OOOHHH AE is having a sale.” Dammit. Sales get me every time.
So, two tank tops, a pair of shorts, one dangly belly button ring, and a set of socks for Eric later (and $70 poorer) we headed back to work. But, I have to say, my see thru white and lime and white striped racer back (it’s racer not RAZOR like the girl at AE kept saying) tanks will look damn hot over my rainbow swim suit... and my sparkly dangly belly ring will make those dark denim shorts look gooooood.

Even if there is still a little fat pad.




Thanks TXT for making me tan and keeping the bike short lines at a minimum!
posted @ 6/29/2007 1:47:52 PM (0) Comments
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
130 ...and It's the Simple Things
It's the simple things.
There are two things that made my day and it's only 8:45am. 1. The weight is finally starting to come off. =) this makes me HAPPY. 2. Fruit on the Bottom. I LOVE fruit on the bottom yogurt and last night at Nature's Pantry (haha I accidentally type PANTY and had to edit it) - its the "Hippy" natural food store I shop at- they were on sale for .40 cents! YESSS!
130
130 days to Ironman. wwhhhooo-hooo. My buddy Jared Kuntz from spin class did IMCDA last weekend and went 13 hrs. Even with a blown out tire. 'Said he had to wait for an hour and a half for the support van. Ouch. Note to self. Carry an extra tire.
Anyway, my intense workout schedule seems to be paying off in the form of weight loss. Weightloss = happy Corky. So, I'm glad about that.
OH! And Robyn get's her cast off today so that is terrific news!
posted @ 6/26/2007 6:58:05 AM (0) Comments
Monday, June 25, 2007
Quartermax Recap; Trouble in Swim for OctoMax Racer; letter to the RD

QuarterMax Race Recap: June 23, 2007 Village of Innsbrook, Mo
1056yard swim (.6miles) / 28 mile bike / 6.5 mile run


(Thank you: TriSports.com, Freeride Bike and Skate, Defined Fitness Training, Tropical Xtreme Tanz, Just Ride Sports)

Just to start, I am having mixed feelings about this race. Those will be outlined at the end of the recap, so if this doesn’t seem like my normal bouncy recap, you will later understand why.

Friday before race- Julie and I picked up our packets, and I handed out free TriSports.com stuff like brochures, stickers, tattoos, and most importantly, my cards! Just an FYI- if you buy something on TriSports.com, use this coupon code: CCrut-S it will get you great discounts. I talked to a woman from Texas quite a while and she was looking for info on how to apply for sponsorships. She recently earned herself a Kona slot and decided it was time to start looking for some help. I figured she was about 40 years old, but to my surprise I saw her the next day on the run and her calf actually said 59!! I was like, NO WAY. She looked AMAZING. Also, one thing I love about doing stuff for TriSports.com, is that people learn your name. When she (dang it! I can’t remember her name!) went past me on the run she yelled “Let’s go, Courtney!” which was pretty cool. Hey, at least I was ahead of her until the run!! I want to be like her when I grow up ;-)


Swim .6 miles (official split time not yet available, watch from start to water exit, 15:00min) Official split time, including run to TA, and T1 19:28.200
Run in start. Standing at the water talking to the other gals, I realized that about 12 of them swam in college. So much for getting out of the water up front! The gun went off and out we went. I was able to grab some faster feet right away. The first 150 yards were really good and then most of the gals started swinging outside of the buoys. No way! What’s the quickest way to get from point A to point B? Go in a straight line! UltraMax GPS’s their swims so well, that you can legally skip all the outside buoys as long as you round the corner buoys. This helped me quite a bit and I was able to get past some of the gals that wanted to swim and extra 20 yards. However, the faster gals did the same thing I did. Those girls were booking it, so I decided that I needed to just swim my own race. On the way back into the shore I could feel the water getting choppier and choppier and I was feeling that “roll” that you get when you’re on a boat. I actually thought I could get “seasick.” With about 150 yards to go me and another girl got hooked up on one another and smacked each other a couple times pretty well. At first I thought it was a DFT girl, Leslie Curley, but I think she may have actually passed me on the run up to the TA.
PS- if you don’t know who Leslie Curley is, look her up. She is like the female Chuck Norris of Age Group Triathlons!

T1 (official split time not yet available) Um, like 900 yards! :)
Speaking of the TA. It was about 750 yards out of the water, and straight up a hill. When Jules and I walked it on Friday we knew it would be gnarly. And of course the timing chip pad was way up by the TA, so my “official” time for the swim will have to include about 600 yards of vertical running. I was passed by probably seven gals between the water and the chip mat. Also, my bike was at the far far end of the TA so I had to run through that as well. I went past Leslie and yelled “Go Defined Fitness, go Leslie.” That was fun :)
Sunglasses on, helmet on, grabbed an extra GU and was gone. Also, I tried the rubber band thing again with my shoes… it was flawless. I passed two girls coming out of the TA right away because they were fumbling with getting on their bikes. (If you can see the pic at right, this was less than HALFWAY to the TA. See the water?? Then you had to run at least that distance again, still going up hill to TA! ARGH!)


Bike 28 miles (official split time not yet available) overall watch time including swim and TA, 2:00 hr even
Official split time including T2: 1:43.20 (16.3 mph)
I was on the bike and off I went! However, I could feel something dragging in my wheel then I was hearing this ba-bang ba-bang ba-bang.. WTF!? My dang bike sensor had flipped around into the spokes. While riding I reached down, grabbed it, and pulled it up, which got it stuck in my brake pad. So now instead of the bang noise, it was whistling. Like crazy- Like my rim was about to explode. DAMN! Off the bike I went. I grabbed the zip ties and got them as tight as I possible could, then got back on. The sensor wouldn’t pick up at all- and it may now be broken! What I don’t get is when I warmed up on my bike, why was it okay then? I think someone may have bumped it in the TA and it slid down, because I warmed up about 10 minutes on the bike and everything was smooth. Who knows!?
After the computer sensor problem I decided I would just have to go off of my HRM and let that help me decide my pace, etc. Also, UltraMax (the event promotion company) is so great, the road was so well marked and there were mile markers everywhere. I was just fine without my bike computer, and it was actually nice not to be stressing about my speed, etc. This was another case of “race your own race” and I let a few gals go that were hammering because my HR was in the right spot at the right time and I didn’t want to mess with it. But right after that, I hit a speedbump and my sponge for my aero bottle went flying. I turned around to see where it went (leaving things on the course is a big no-no), but I think it actually may have rolled off the road because I didn’t see it and the girl behind me yelled “Not there, just go!” So I went!
The first 6-8 miles or so are pretty dang hilly, so that was gnarly, but I was ready. I actually passed quite a few gals on the hills- yes, even me, the heavy slow girl! :) Once you get out of the park you are on really nice rolling county roads. Yet again UltraMax did an excellent job coordinating the volunteers and police officers at all intersections. Then you gradually start to descend your way back to the resort. The last four miles again are quite hilly, and there’s no messing around, they are out for business!
At the end of the bike I was really beginning to wonder what happened to all the men. They had given the women an 8 minute handicap (hey this is “Who Tri’s Harder”), but I knew there’s no way I could be that much ahead of the leading men still at this point. I began to wonder what was going on back there. Every time I would hear a woman come up on me, I would think to myself This has to be the men’s leader! Where are these guys?? I got back up to the TA and still hadn’t seen a single QuarterMax guy, although I had passed plenty from the OctoMax. Later I learned they had a 54 minute delay. That sure explains a lot!
All together, I felt really smooth on the bike. My bike, named GoldMember, went fast like he was supposed to! I have only one gripe about the bike portion- there needs to be more bike marshals. At about mile 10 I am sitting about 10 meters (outside of the draft zone) off of a girl that I was working up the bones to pass, when zoom-zoom-zoom goes a total PACK of about 6 women. The back two girls weren’t even pedaling. At all. They were completely getting pulled. They got up just ahead of the gal in front of me then dropped into a perfect pace line. The leader sat up, the other moved forward and she re-joined on the back. NOT FAIR. That is down right cheating. When I passed the girl in front of me I looked over at her and she looked at me. She said “Did you see that!?” of course I saw it, there were still in sight but pulling away FAST. “I thought ITU was last weekend,” I replied. I looked forward. The most recent leader was sitting up and the next girl was moving in to take over the work. How ridiculous. The thing that pissed me the most off, was the non-peddlers in their little peloton were in my AG. I remember one of their numbers, but telling the RD would be pointless, they didn’t see it, no marshal saw it, what would they be able to do? Nothing. So saying something was no good.
Also, the skies clouded up and the wind really started in, but it wasn’t NEARLY as bad as loop two at HalfMax last year.

T2 (official split time not yet available) –Time included in bike split
Perfect execution of the jump-off bike and go. I love it. It makes me feel cool. I know, it’s the small things. Bike racked, socks and shoes on, helmet off, grab visor and race belt. AKA Get the hell on!

Run 1:18.53 (12:43 min/mile)
The run was an “easier” version of that of HalfMax, and it was a two loop out and back with a circle- image running the outline of a sucker. This was just okay. Nothing spectacular. It took the first two miles to get the burning out of my legs. They were producing lactic acid way faster than my body could move it away and it hurt. I do NOT like that feeling, but I went with it. :) When I was headed back into the hills/woods for the second loop I saw Julie coming out to start hers. I was only about a half mile or so a head of her and she was closing fast. She looked SO good. Those Runners Edge training sessions are really paying off! I really thought she would catch me. I had this feeling that we would be racing to the chute. :) Luckily, I narrowly avoided that by about 3 minutes.

I would like to take another moment here and say what a terrific job Mark and Amy Livesay and the entire UltraMax crew did. I go to UltraMax events expecting the best races, the best volunteers, the best awards, food, everything. And they DELIVER. Please, when deciding where to spend your money, choose UltraMax events. Too often we talk about the bad race directors, but don’t credit the really terrific ones. I had a brief moment to speak with Mark after the race and I made sure to tell him that his crew does an amazing job and they should be proud of the product they put out and that I would be at every race of theirs I could. Their shirts say 71.3, I know, 71.3?? What’s that? It’s because they go the extra mile! It’s such a perfect fit to their program.

Unofficial finish time 3:20 Results and photos aren’t yet available. I will edit this blog once they are.
Official Finish Time 3:21.42 Julie’s Finish 3:24.56 DANG. Just at 3 min.

Julie finished only a mere 3 minutes behind me and right afterwards we got to the massage tent where we were talking with Leslie (whom by the way finished THIRD OVERALL!!!) and her husband. Julie asked if I had seen the helicopter come it, and that it was a life flight. I hadn’t seen it but Leslie’s hubby (sorry, I don’t know his name!) said that they pulled some guy out of the water! Scary! Also the reason the men where so far behind was because the athletes went out in the water to help find the drowning man before the start of their own wave. What great people triathletes are. I love how everyone cares about each other even though it’s someone they have never met. It’s a close knit community!

Sadly, the young gentleman pulled from the water did pass away upon arriving at the hospital. Below is a news snippet on what happened.





High Ridge Man Dies During Triathlon
Created: 6/24/2007 5:06:08 PM
Last updated: 6/24/2007 10:20:20 PM
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=122783

KSDK) - Services will be held later this week for a High Ridge, Mo., man who died Saturday near the end of a triathlon being held for a charity.
Kevin Hunt, 28, was just finishing up the 500-yard swim of the Ultramax triathlon. He was less than 50 feet from shore when he went under at Aspen Lake at Innsbrook (Mo.) Resort."They said he looked like he took a breast stroke and just went under water," said Mark Livesay, racing director for Ultramax Events.Soon after, dozens of other triathletes jumped into the water, including Martin Goebel."Someone was organizing everyone into a big line and once we were in a big line we found him within 30 to 40 seconds," said Goebel.Goebel said people were performing CPR on Hunt prior to getting him to shore, where an ambulance and doctors were waiting.Hunt was taken to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Washington, Mo., where he was pronounced dead.Goebel said the Ultramax is the safest and most thought out triathlon in which he's participated."If I was the person drowning, that's how I would want them to react. I don't think that anyone could've done anymore for (Hunt)," said Goebel.But Hunt's family disagrees. His father said he heard his son call for help just before he went under. That's why they feel there should have been more supervision in the water.But Livesay said Ultramax actually exceeds the guidelines of having one lifeguard for every 50 swimmers.Livesay said other witnesses he spoke with, including an athlete who swam next to Hunt during the race, did not see signs of distress."He said, 'Not once did I ever think he was in trouble or having difficulty of that magnitude.' So it just doesn't add up to me," said Livesay, who is also associate director of the Missouri Lion's Eye Research Foundation. Funds raised at the triathalons go to the foundation's community programs.Hunt's family said he was "as strong as a horse" and didn't have any medical conditions. An autopsy will be performed but results won't be available for several weeks.Visitation for Hunt will be held Wednedsay from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois Road in Affton, Mo. A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Concord Baptist Church, 13775 Tesson Ferry Road in Sappington, Mo.In lieu of flowers, Hunt's family suggests memorial contributions be made be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.


** I just learned that Mr. Hunt COULD NOT swim. He had previously attempted the course twice on a training day and failed both times. He did not exercise discretion and attempted the race anyway. Further proof that it was not a fault of UltraMax. Further more, Mr. Hunt wore a nose clip. This is an ABSOLUTE NO NO. You CANNOT inhale or exhale if you nose is plugged. If you swallow water and have to choke it out, you can’t breath thru your nostrils like you are biologically made to do if you have your nose clipped. Please, racers, from a coach/swimmer/life guard’s point of view- nose clips are a TERRIBLE idea.**

My open letter to race director Mark Livesay:
Courtney Crutcher
Courtney.crutcher@southlaw.com / triswimcoach@yahoo.com
2808 SE 3rd St. Blue Springs, MO, 64014
816.674.9460
June 25, 2007
Ultramax Eventsc/o Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation404 Portland St.Columbia, MO 65201
Mark Livesay and the entire UltraMax/ Missouri Lions Eye Staff:
I wish I could congratulate you and your staff for a perfect event, although it is known that the race did have a terrible debacle. The tragedy that took place in the swim Saturday with Mr. Hunt will undoubtedly overshadow the majority of the racing season for your crew. However, I want you all to know that myself, along with hundreds of other racers and spectators fully believe that you did everything in your power to be as safe as possible in this, and all of your events. This is the second of many to come UltraMax races that I have participated in and I was again astounded with how well everything was organized, how polite and friendly all of the staff and volunteers were, and what an amazing venue you had.
I raced HalfMax last year and was at the back of the pack, yet all the volunteers still yelled for me, even at mile 12 of the run when they had been there for over 6 hrs! The aid stations were completely stocked with everything you could possibly need (I love the wet towels and sponges idea), and there was dinner and a cold beverage waiting for me at the finish.
This again was the case this weekend at QuarterMax. By pairing up with Innsbrook Resort, I fully believe that these events could become premier races not just regionally, but nationally as well. UltraMax with USAT and Innsbrook Resorts offers the best races with the best venues that I have ever been to. I very much appreciate all of your efforts to put on such terrific races. I will be a lifelong customer to UltraMax.
Mark, I would like you to know that there are a lot of USA Triathlon members, as well as other triathletes, volunteers, and spectators that believe in your ability as a great race director with a terrific staff. I have never felt more secure in my safety at a triathlon than I do at UltraMax events. I am sure that your team did everything in their power to help Mr. Hunt. After everything I heard and saw, I think that the rescue team as well as the other athletes responded very quickly and every effort was used. If I had been in Mr. Hunt’s position, I would only hope that I would have so many caring people come to my aide. It is an absolute heartbreak the Mr. Hunt was not able to pull through, and my deepest sympathies go to his family, as well as to you and the UltraMax family.
As triathletes we all understand the inherent risks of the sport. There are hazards on each leg of a race. The run is no more dangerous than the bike than it is to the swim. We all sign our names on the dotted line and agree that we, ourselves, and only ourselves are responsible for what happens at anytime on the course or at the venue. However, I will never think that I need to be concerned for my safety at any UltraMax event.
If there is anything that you take away from this misfortune, please tell your staff to be proud and sure that they did everything that could possibly be done to make this and all of your events as protected as possible. I hope that your season continues to march on as planned. I did not know Mr. Hunt, however I do know that he was a triathlete, and as I am sure all triathletes that have been to your competitions will agree, UltraMax puts on the absolute best races, and no hardship should take that steam away.
I look forward to racing at HalfMax (USAT Half Distance Champs) and Club Champs in September.
Sincerely,

Courtney L. Crutcher
QuarterMax Event Participant


cc: Shandra Chapman, Assistant Race Director, UltraMax Events
Sanctioning, USA Triathlon
Terri Walters, Nick DeVreese, USAT Sanctioned Event Coordinators
Ron James, VP Marketing, Innsbrook Resort
Kelsey Richardson, Activities and Events, Innsbrook Resort







posted @ 6/25/2007 7:37:26 AM (0) Comments
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Upcoming: Quartermax, T-Bird's Wedding
Okay so Jules and I leave for QuarterMax in the morning. yippeee! I love traveling to races with Jules because we can co-exist without driving each other bonkers. Usually, actually, she drives, I sleep. :)
Also, after the race on Saturday I'm having a family reunion of sorts while still in STL- ie: Catholic family wedding. T-Bird (my cousin Teresea) is marrying this guy named Stanely. I haven't met him so he better be good to her or I'll throw down.
~~~~
My friend sent me this email about her husband this morning. I am editing the names to protect the innocent (but he knows who he is)... and its pretty dang funny. poor guy...
So, last night "Dave" decided that he was going to ride his bike (my old one) down to (bar) in Olate with "Bud" for some guy's going away happy hour. "dave" has ridden the bike once since I got my new one, for maybe 5 miles. And prior to that, he's ridden a bike MAYBE 5 times since he was a kid. It's about a 20 mile round trip down there from our house. But I knew better than to say "I think thats a little far for you to be riding since you havent ridden AT ALL". I had to go to a work meeting, so he said he'd plan on being back by 8 so we could go eat. I knew that wasnt going to happen. My meeting ran long, so I called him at 8:30 when I was leaving the meeting and he was only a mile from the bar, so they had pretty much just left. So I went ahead and ate on my own, and about 9:40, I got a call from him asking me to come pick him up at 103rd because he couldnt go anymore. I drive down to where he was, and he was laying in some person's driveway, and could barely move. I chewed him out pretty good, which I feel kind of bad about now, but it made me mad because he thought he could just hop on a bike and ride 20 miles when he hasnt ridden at all. Um, no, thats not how it works. Hopefully he learned his lesson, and realizes a little more now why I HAVE to do all this training.
I had to post this for all the spouses that just don't know what it's like. If you have a tough time (and let me say, this "Dave" guy is in pretty darn good shape!) riding 20 miles with a rest in between, imagine what it will be like when we race for 140.6 miles!!!! THAT is why we do the training that we do. :)
Also, it was too funny not to share. Thanks "Dave" and "Friend" that allowed me (well i didnt ask, i just did it anyway, hehehe) to post this!


posted @ 6/21/2007 12:52:08 PM (0) Comments
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
You know you’re a Triathlete when…
You know you’re a Triathlete when…

The trunk of your car smells like chlorine
Your kitchen has more cans of pre, during, post workout and protein powder than cans of coffee
You know what WIN detergent is
You buy WIN detergent and use it more than the regular stuff
You know which antiperspirant leave little white snow balls under your arms
You’ve taken a crap in the woods
One entire rack in the dishwasher is devoted to your water bottles
Your spouse finally stopped asking “What’s that smell?”
You have only been a member of SlowTwitch for 6 months but have made 1328 posts
There’s a sign in your office at work that has a countdown to your big race
Your hair stops turning green but the pool has started to go blonde
You keep a tub of Vaseline on your night stand, but for a different purpose
The smell of BioFreeze turns you on
Your garage has an overpowering aroma of cycling shoes
Chamois Butter makes your elbows soft and you know it
You can tell if someone is a swimmer and not an active floater by their body language
Imodium AD is your best friend on Sunday morning
Instead of saying “I’m not available,” your voicemail says you’re “on a 6 hr ride and are using your phone as an MP3 player so the caller will need to leave a message”
You have a cabinet dedicated to your water bottles, camelpaks, tablet bottles, Gu dispensers, fuel belts, and bar packs
You don’t set your bike trainer up to ride and take it down when you’re done- it has a permanent spot in the living room
You brand yourself with a trademarked symbol and don’t get paid for it- in fact you pay to have someone do it to you
You know that HRM, Vo2, PR, PB, RPE, TA, SBR, T2, IM, and GU are not variable letters in a math equation
You have a Heart Rate Monitor tan line
You are okay with having a cameltoe or trisuit butt floss
If you traded in your car or bike you would get more money out of the bike
There’s at least 5 stickers on your car screaming that you love to swim –bike - run, plus the license plate holders
You start signing every email, forum post, letter with “(Bike Brand) Mafia member since (insert year here)”
You’re excited about “only” spending $90 on a race fee
You have changed your tire by yourself during a race or ride
You have puked on yourself during or immediately following a hard workout
You like puking on yourself
A toenail has fallen off from the 45 miles you ran the week before, but you painted the skin anyway
Your kids have PJ’s that look like a trisuit/wetsuit
You have or have had a crush on somebody of the same sex just because they are ridiculously fast (Ok, Desiree, you can drop that restraining order now)
You have a picture of said athlete taped to your refrigerator, your gauge screen in your car, and the computer in your cubicle at work
You truly love the taste of Powerbars
You would kill to get a job a CliffBar
You cut your hair so it’s easier to put in a swim cap/helmet/visor
All of the t-shirts in your closest say “Finisher” or “This race, such-and-such date”
Your training partner has filled for separation and you’re not even married
You get up at 4:25am so you can “enjoy” an 8 mile run in the dark at 38 degrees before work
One quarter plus of your yearly income is delegated to something triathlon related
You take power naps at lunch
Juice Plus+, G3, and Pharmonix are kept in production because you give them all your business
Killer quads mean more to you than some crazy guys on fourwheelers
You have actually yelled at the guy who almost ran you off the road. He is Bubba, the 280 lb. man driving the beat up lifted Chevy truck with the plastic balls hanging off the read hitch while you hold onto 18lbs or carbon fiber between your knees whiles wearing bright yellow and pink spandex from knee to elbow


Since I have only begun my 20 week Ironman plan, look for an updated version of “You Know You’re Training for an Ironman When” in about 9 to 12 weeks.

-Courtney

posted @ 6/20/2007 6:33:09 AM (0) Comments
Monday, June 18, 2007
Training and Racing Etiquette

138 Days until Ironman Glory!
I am guilty of a few of these. After seeing so many people swerve around the road at a race, or people running 5 wide down busy roads, I thought maybe this could be reviewed. I pulled this article off of www.USATriathlon.org
Etiquette

Then next time someone blows by you on their $6000 aero carbon fiber rocket ship bike or swims over the top of you like they are wrestling an alligator, smile and say, “Thank you. Have a great day!”
While that may be a difficult thing to do in reality, there are some things you can do in terms of etiquette and sportsmanship to ensure that you and your fellow competitors have a great race or training day.
Below are a few suggestions on multisport manners. I’m sure many of you have a long list of etiquette violations you would have liked to offer to some athletes but the best thing you can do as a coach and athlete is to be a mentor and example. Actions will speak louder than words in training and racing!
During training:- Be on time for the group ride, runs and swims. No one wants to wait around.- Don’t ask your running partner to carry the gels or water just because they have pockets. - Don’t make workouts races. Why bike or run with someone if you continually pull ahead?- Do ask permission to swim in a lane before getting in at the pool.- If there are two swimmers in a lane there is no need to circle swim but more than two you will need to circle swim in a counterclockwise direction.- No hand paddles when swimming in a lane with others.- To pass another swimmer in the lane, tap their toes and the quickly accelerate around them. - No spitting or snobbers when pack riding! Pull away from the group when spitting or snobbering.- Always ride as straight a line as possible when group riding or racing. - I strongly discourage aero bar use during group rides.- When braking on turns and descents be sure to yell out “braking” so others know you are slowing down.- Ask your running and cycling partners to select the route and don’t take pleasure in pushing them during aerobic sessions. ~ We are all guilty of this!- If you are pacelining during a training ride, be sure you understand the rotation so that you keep the pack moving in a smooth order.- Never use headsets when riding unless you are indoors.- Set the example for the other athletes during training. Be a mentor not a monster training partner. - Do point out road hazards and signal your intentions on group rides. This includes commenting when cars are up and back (when two abreast) and when you are stopping at a traffic light.- Do smile a lot and make positive fun conversation. No one likes a whiner/ complainer.- If you are training on the local running track stick to the outside lanes if you are a slower runner or recovering. Let the speedsters have the inside lane.- When walking always stick to the outer lanes.- If you are trail running or riding let the person on the way up have the right away. - Dogs are great companions on the trails but keep them away from other runners and riders. I’ve seen some terrible falls occur because a dog got tangled up in someone’s feet running. At the race:- Don’t monopolize someone’s time race morning with chit chat. They and you should be focusing your energy on the race, your equipment and the course.- Observe all race rules at all times. - Don’t use a radio headset during the bike or run. - Don’t place your bike and equipment on top of someone else’s in the transition area. Respect the athlete’s space and equipment. - If you are a slower rider stay on the right side except when passing. Keep a straight line when riding. Only discard your water bottles and trash at an aid station. If you have to discard a bottle, make sure you throw it away from the other athletes.- There is no littering on the race course. - If you have mechanical problems, pull off the course on the right. Always let the rider ahead know you are passing on the left. And above all obey all safety rules on the course.- Keep your pets at home if you are racing. Do you really need another distraction?- The swim is always tough, but I’ve seen athletes actually push and crowd others away from their start positions. Don’t grab, push or pull others during the swim. It’s not combat swimming!- During the run keep to the right except to pass. When you do pass someone or see them at the turnaround offer a word of encouragement. - Be careful at the aid stations. This is usually the area where most of the items like gel packs and bottles are dropped and the pavement can be extremely slick. There is plenty to drink for everyone. Give each other room to drink and go. After the race:- When you cross the finish line, don’t be dramatic. You did a good job by finishing, now remove your chip or number, get a drink and move away from the finish chute without a lot of drama!- Treat the finish line workers with respect. Your day is over they still have a lot to do.- After you recover a bit, cheer on the other competitors and talk with the athletes. Pat all the youth on the back and offer words of encouragement when they finish!- If you stick around for the awards then wait until all the awards are given out. I know it is tough at times but support the other competitors till the end. - Good or bad race - “Be your own HERO!” after the race. Smile, hold your head high and take pride inside. You stepped up to the start line and you did it, you put yourself in the heat of competition and you finished even if the only person you were competing with was yourself!
Volunteers and Race Directors:- Thank them! Never ever yell at the race volunteers.- Make an extra effort to thank the race director. Without them there would be no race!
Authored by:
Alan LeyUSA TriathlonCoaching EducationAlan@usatriathlon.org

posted @ 6/18/2007 11:16:30 AM (0) Comments
Friday, June 15, 2007
Sacrifices
Sacrifices

I’ve been having a bit of a freak out about starting the 20-week countdown to IMFL. It’s getting damn hard to get shot into reality. Reality being that from here until November 3, my life really will be swim-bike-run(-eat-sleep-repeat). I knew what my training would be and the commitment that I would be making. But thinking of commitments I didn’t realize that meant true sacrifices. Right now I’m having a hard time focusing on the big picture- what I’m going to accomplish and all that jazz. Currently I can only think of the sleep time, home time, down time, family time, Court and Eric time that I have to surrender. To my surprise, training for an Ironman requires a lot of TIME. Duh.

Julie and I talked about it a lot this week. We both feel like we will be excluded from our friends and family. In actuality, it’s us doing the excluding. We are, in essence removing ourselves from society for the next 136 days(I know it’s 139 right now, but I am clinging to the last few days). We both were invited to float trips. I so badly want to go with Alyson, I’ve hardly been able to hang out with her this spring and it makes me sad. She has begged me to go, but it’s so hard to explain that I can’t. I am afraid that every time I turn down an invite to do something with someone, float trips, cruising the mall, grocery shopping, sitting on the coach with Eric, it’s like I’m saying I have something more important that you that I need to do right now. I don’t want my friends and family to think that. They are the only people that can support me thru the months to come. Some may have thought that over the last 7 and 1/2 months that I’ve been a bit on the loony side. We haven’t even touched the surface.

To touch back on the sacrifices, I realized something I may be forgetting. My sanity. I am sacrificing my sanity to do this. I am a total nut job right now and it will likely get worse. For the past few weeks since the decline in training after Lincoln, I have been averaging about 4-6hrs a week of training. Honestly, that might be on the high side. Next week my training hrs will be 7.9, not including prep time. My highest hour week? 18hrs which will come right around HalfMax. Luckily I will back off some before the race so I can get in a mini-taper. Not only is my sanity going to the wayside, but so will Eric’s, Julie’s, Dan’s and our families. Our significant others- Eric and Dan will want to strangle us. They will hear nothing but our constant Ironman banter.

To my friends, I am sorry, but I-cannot-will-not-but-not-because-I-don’t-want-to go to Happy Hour, the Movies, the lake, floating, mountain biking, the mall, out to eat, your house for drinks, Taco Tuesday, clinics, Moto night at Justin’s… because, I am dumping every ounce of my energy into this thing they call Ironman. By the numbers, I will swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, bike 112 miles through the humidity of Florida, and run a full 26.2 mile marathon on trashed legs- under 17 hours. And that is the EASY part. That’s where you get to ENJOY all of the hours of training, icing, hurting, crying, sleeping, sacrificing. Between Monday, June 18th, and Saturday, November 3rd I will spend about 234 hours on training.

I better start charging the iPod now, huh?

I hope that everyone that sees me dismiss all of their fun ideas for my “something better” understands that this is just something I HAVE to do. I have to be scared about my training. I have to be scared about how I’m going to tackle laundry, the budget, house chores, dog baths, cooking, gardening and the like. I have to be scared that I may fail. These sacrifices and things that frighten me are the only things that can get me to the waters edge at 7:00am on November 3rd. It’s also these things that will put me across the finish before 11:59pm.



posted @ 6/15/2007 12:38:47 PM (0) Comments
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Commencing Countdown… 10.. 9.. 8.. 7...

Ground Control to Major Tom, Ground Control to Major Tom:
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground Control to Major Tom: Commencing Countdown Engine’s on
Check ignition and may God’s love be with you…

Julie and I started training for the marathon at 22 weeks before the race, I believe. Our Ironman training plans start at 20 weeks. Guess where we are right now? 20 1/2 weeks. Yes, folks, that’s right, just slightly over 20 weeks to being an Ironman participant, an Ironman Competitor, and Ironman Finisher, and an Ironman for a Lifetime.

Thru email yesterday Julie and I pinged back and forth discussing our nerves, emotions, etc., upon realizing that we will be rolling our bikes down the trailer park highway in no time flat. I used to have nerves of steel, but something Jules said in an email actually made me feel sick, like really, I had to go potty... Here’s part of the to me email:
I was just looking at (our training plans) and wishing I had my Runners Edge schedule to put into it. I just about pooped myself when I really thought about the fact that it starts NEXT WEEK. Seriously, my social life is going to die. No more happy hours, no more just deciding to skip a workout for no good reason, it's going to be hard assed, by the book training. Ugh. I am kind of looking forward to it, but I'm also kind of dreading it. Like, I have a 90 minute ride scheduled for the day after QuarterMax. I sure as hell am not going to feel like doing that, but I'll have to just suck it up and do it.
Up until this point if I just haven’t had that drive to go do a workout, I’d skip it, or change it to meet what I wanted to do instead. Eric and I or our friends would go out and get a beer (or two or five) on Fridays and the occasional mid-week trip to the bar. I could eat a few Taco’s and a couple Corona’s at Taco Tuesday and be okay with it. I could go into a race with only one run, one ride, and no swim that week and call it good. NO MORE. No longer do I get to drink like a fish on any given Thursday, no longer do I get to make a run to Sheridan’s to indulge into an Oreo concrete, no longer shall I come home from work sit on the couch eat cheese and drink wine instead of going for a run even if it is 89 degrees with a humidity level 85%, no longer do I get to sit on the couch (it’s a recurring theme) with Eric at 10:40 pm just for the sake of sitting with him.

I am going to turn into an Iron Machine. And I may hate it. I may thoroughly hate the 5:00am swims, the twilight runs, despise the Friday night tempo rides on the trainer while my friends are upstairs barbecuing.
-BUT-
I will LOVE dropping an hour off of my HalfIron PR. I will love to feel the waves and salt sting my hands and face as a round the last buoy with the lead pack back to the shore, I will enjoy the sounds of people cheering, screaming my name because it’s on my bib when I head out in the mild morning of fall in Florida, the sounds of my bike shifting, clicking into my big ring, I’m gonna thrive on the sound my feet gently slapping the pavement as I run on through the night, and I will relish in the sound of Mr. Ironman Announcer Guy (Mike Rielly) telling me, yes, me “COURTNEY CRUTCHER, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”

This is ground control to Major Tom, you’ve really made the grade!
And the papers want to know shoes shirts you wear,
Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare…

Now here I am, 143 days from Ironman, 20 1/2 weeks. It won’t be much longer until I tell about how amazing I did at HalfMax, how tired I am of training, and what a life changing experience it is to be an Ironman.


posted @ 6/13/2007 10:12:31 AM (0) Comments
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
It's Not That Bad
It’s Not That Bad

Throughout the day today I have been commiserating with some gal pals about how terrible life is. Here are a few of my gripes:
I'm so broke. I mean broke. I don't have any extra money to pay for my extra things that I "have" to pay for to do tris, especially everything for IMFL, so that puts a strains on things that I really "have" to pay for.. Like ya know, food, gas bills...I am 144 days away from IM and I'm kind of hitting a mid season slump. It's not mid tri season, but since I have been training pretty hard since January, I’m having a hard time getting motivated. Not good since I’m only 21 weeks from IM…I dread coming into work everyday…My grandpa has cancer and it's God awful. It makes me so sad to see him…My friend just died and I'm torn up about it…The weight just WONT come off. I don’t know what to do. I hate feeling fat…

As I was telling my friend about all of these terrible things, I realized, ya know, life could be so much worse. Whenever Eric gets his woe-is-me the world is out to get me” attitude I always tell him to just stop and that his life is so good in comparison to others. So is mine and I can’t sit around and bitch all day. This may be a deranged way to cheer yourself up, but I felt better after counting these up (pick and chose what applies to you, this is what I went with):
I am young…I am fairly attractive…I have a loving boyfriend that looks like Travis Barker from Blink 182 (or the Aquabats, BoxCar Racer, Transplants, Expensive Taste, +44)…I have a beautiful home, a car that runs, a boat, a truck, amazing bicycles (thanks Freeride Bike and Skate!)…I still have my grandpa and I am lucky to have his spirit and qualities…I have a steady job that helps to pay the bills. It has good benefits…I get to coach swimmers in masters and do personal training which I love… I am involved in the great sport of triathlon…I have a really great group of friends. Not so long ago I used to tell Eric that I didn’t have any friends. Now I have a couple that are VERY close to me, and even more that I can call and talk to about anything. Thank you to all of you…I have my family…My great dogs… I don’t live in Darfur or Ethiopia or Cuba or anywhere like that… There are people my age in West Asia and Eastern Europe dying while fighting to protect me… I will live to see the sun rise another day…


All in all, Life really is Good. So, it is my goal, that when people say to me “How are you” or “what’s going on” my response will be
I have nothing worth complaining about.


posted @ 6/12/2007 8:49:45 AM (0) Comments
Monday, June 11, 2007
145 Days to go, Weekend Review
Work is busy so this will be the short run down. :)

Friday evening after the visitation for Dustin I talked with Stephanie’s family for a bit. When I headed home I called JMoore to see what she was up to. She won tickets from our boss at work in a drawing for the Royals vs. Phillies game, so she and I got out there in the bottom of the 5th inning. Amazingly, the stadium was really full (well, for a Royals game. Their record is probably like 6-832). We had great seats, drank some margaritas, saw the Royals actually WIN a game, and got to see very cool fireworks.

Saturday morning I coached then went to Stephanie and Stefan’s Couple shower. Fun stuff. Saturday afternoon, evening, night was spent preparing for the race on Sunday.

Sunday morning Eric and I got up about 4:40 an left for the tri. We got all the way out to Shawnee Mission Park, pulled in, and met a stream of cars going the other way. The race was cancelled from lightning/ storms. WTF!? Ever hear of a rain delay? I didn’t get it. I was rather irritated because just a couple hours later Julie called and said she was out there riding and it was nice out. Grrr. I hate that. Once Eric and I got back to Blue Springs we ate at First Watch (yum!) and went back to the house. I tried to sleep, but Eric was so hoped up on coffee that every time I’d doze off he’d wake me up (punk!). I gave up and just pulled out all the house décor I had planed on doing and hadn’t made it around to yet. I crafted all that and put it up while Eric washed the dogs.

Eric went and rode with Scott Gebken and Dennis Jonon later in the day at Grain Valley- the track had been prepped for a race but it rained out, to. I have pictures so I need to get those posted. The boys were muddy but the sun was out so it wasn’t bad. JMoore came and met me out there too. After the boys rode we cooked them grilled lemon pepper chicken breast and long grain rice with potato salad, dinner salad, etc. We then went and saw the movie Knocked Up. Funny, but not all that I had hoped for, but I laughed out loud a lot so I was happy.

So here I am tired on a Monday morning- the usual. I actually overslept this morning and was late getting to practice. I hate that. But, everyone except Randy was also late, so it worked out okay.

This week will be another long hectic one. Nick Weinacker and Sonja Scheffler will be in town along with some of the LF girls, so we’ll have a full house. Weeks like this make me wish I still worked full time at the shop. Oh well, I take what I can get.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

Courtney
posted @ 6/11/2007 7:56:36 AM (0) Comments
Friday, June 08, 2007
Weekend Preview
What's happening this weekend:

Dustin's Visitation and Memorial Services
Coaching
Stephanie and Stefan's Couple's Shower
KC Corporate Challenge Tri- wish me luck!
House Cleaning!- Preparing for a house full of pro wakeboarders! Eek! (www.justridesports.com)
Race at Grain Valley Motocross Park
posted @ 6/8/2007 11:12:48 AM (0) Comments
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The Day the Music Died

The Day the Music Died


When I was a kid I had this little music box, it had a plastic ballerina that would pop up and pirouette in circles while the songs played. It was one of my most prized possessions.

Today after master’s practice I was thinking about the differences of people. I notice this at work, at master’s practice, at spin, even on the run trails seeing random people.

You those that you know work hard. You observe those that seem to put in the work only when someone is watching. You see those that just don’t care.

Back in the day (yeah, in swimming), I was the former. Everyday I clocked in, clocked out and busted my ass. Everyday. Everyday for over 10 years. I followed that damn black line. Up. Down. Up. Down. Even over 12,000 yards a day for some periods. Do you know how many laps you have to do to swim 12,000 yards in a 25 yard pool? 480. Four-hundred-eighty laps- every day.

It’s no wonder I eventually fell out of love with the black line, the squares on the bottom of the pool, the floating lane lines. The sound of each arm stroke slapping the water irritated me. The whistles, the smell of the chlorine, the wet hair for the first classes of the day, the constant dry skin, hairy legs, the water bottle collection on the floorboard of my car- I started to hate it all.

If my swimming career was that music box, it needed a lot of winding; the ballerina just wasn’t whirling anymore.

I quit. I just let it die. I just stopped going to practices, I got a job. I was over it. I came to a local college in the KC area and worked on my studies, not my strokes. I was spending more time with my family, with Eric and I was happy not to get up every morning at 4:30 am to swim, sit thru class, and do it again. The bliss of the swimming absence didn’t last too long, I got bored, became “normal,” was no longer somebody special.

The music box was wound and fresh batteries were installed. The dancer was spinning perfectly to the rhythm.

I eventually came back to it here with a local swim club late summer of 2004. It happened to be with one of the greatest swim clubs in the country- the Kansas City Blazers (www.kcblazers.com). Happening in August of 2004 was Olympic Games in Athens- and a former competitor of mine from Wichita, Caroline Bruce, was competing. I saw all that I gave up and decided to go back to the concrete pond.

The coaches were hard nosed and tough. I loved it. They got in your face. I loved it. They told you to GO! Swim! Move! What are you doing? You’re not even trying! KICK! It was amazing. I was in a place where I wanted to be. I had requalified for nationals after so much time away. I could have walked on to any collegiate team if I had chosen. I had an amazing short course season after the initial difficulties of getting back in the water. I even set a lifetime best in my worst stroke. Things were coming together.

Just before short course season ended I started to have some trouble in my shoulder. It was minor, just irritating, not a big deal. I swam thru it. Eventually I started to ice it after each practice. The dryland hurt. The pulling hurt. Then it hurt during fly, then to every stroke in free. It was getting progressively worse.

I mentioned it to my chiropractor. We x-rayed and cracked on it, but nothing seemed to help. I wasn’t telling my coach. I wasn’t telling my parents. I only barely mentioned it to Eric. I was afraid that if I spoke the words out loud, I was some how making it more true. My shoulder was slipping and I knew I wouldn’t have it for long.

I wasn’t about to give up on the long course season. I was a Blazer, swimming under one of the greatest coaches in the country. I was swimming almost as fast as my peak, something I hadn’t done in years. I was the child prodigy that everyone knew was coming, I was going to be a star, the star- but I just never made it. This was my redemption. I was going to say to the swimming world I AM BACK- DON’T WRITE ME OFF.

It was a mid May early morning workout. The main set included 4x 400 reverse IMs. I was on number 3, starting the second 50 of the freestyle portion. I was about half way down the pool and doing everything I possibly could to distract my mind from the down right pain in my shoulder. For the last couple weeks each workout was excruciating. But I felt if I just sucked it up, I could make it through this season. Just one last hoorah, a final close to this chapter in my life. I had finally decided to tell my coach about a week before, but I told him I would be fine and it was probably just sore, he advised me to take it easy, something I rarely did. I didn’t tell him that it had probably “just been sore” for the last 3 months.

I remember taking a stroke and my mind imploding on itself. I stopped in the middle of the pool, grabbed the rope with my good arm and reached across to grab my right shoulder, I dropped my head on the lane line. My right arm just dangled in the water. I was sobbing. The thoughts were rushing thru my mind so quickly- You’re fine, just get going. I’m not fine, my shoulder is destroyed, I’m done, no nationals, no comeback. You just need rest. You’ll always be a has been, a shoulda been. Quit crying. Cry! Scream! Wail! It hurts. It’s okay. It hurts bad. You’ll be alright. It fucking hurts really bad. It’s not going to be alright.

The water was crystal clear, sky blue. The lines were made of the most beautiful navy tiles. The flags were the teams dazzling colors: Royal Blue and Gold, colors of kings and champions. I heard the water gurgle in the gutter, the other swimmers with their functioning arms gently slapping the water, the sweet smell of the chlorine, the whistles. The vivid florescent lights around the pool deck seemed to dim, as if to say Well, kid, we had a good run, didn’t we? My world shifted to black and white.

The music box halted; the ballerina departed.

…No angel born in hellCould break that satan’s spell.And as the flames climbed high into the nightTo light the sacrificial rite,I saw satan laughing with delightThe day the music died…
-Don McLeon



***
150 Days to Ironman Florida
posted @ 6/6/2007 8:43:43 AM (1) Comments
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Drive SAFELY!!!
BE SAFE!!

Yesterday I left work and headed to Clinton, MO to meet with Eric and his folks for dinner. I took 71hwy South since I left from OP, KS. About a half mile before the Peculiar, MO exit EVERYONE slammed on their brakes. I was driving the Yukon and just praying that nobody hit it (Hey, I can’t pay to fix that monster!) and that I didn’t die. I saw a white SUV in the northbound lane go spinning across the grass median to the southbound lanes, about 800 yards a head of me. Well, the semi behind me did stop and I didn’t die. Sadly, someone did:

Woman Killed In Highway 71 Collision
Officials: Female Driver Crossed Into Oncoming Traffic
POSTED: 8:59 pm CDT June 4, 2007
UPDATED: 9:51 am CDT June 5, 2007
PECULIAR, Mo. -- A rush-hour crash Monday evening killed one woman on Highway 71, officials said.
Cass County authorities said three vehicles collided on the highway just north of Peculiar when the female driver of a Ford Explorer swerved around a slower mowing vehicle and lost control.
The Explorer crossed the grass median and struck a Dodge Durango southbound on the highway, sheriff's deputies said. The Explorer was then struck by a southbound pickup truck.
The driver of the Explorer was killed. Authorities identified her as Christine W. Muhia, 21. The sheriff's office said Muhia is from Kenya and had been living in Belton.
Two women and two children in the Durango were injured and taken to a local hospital, officials said. The driver of the pickup was also injured.
The wreck caused traffic to back up for several miles.
(www.kansascitychannel.com)


Although my convenience was the last thing on my mind, I was able to off road the Yukon to the outer road and only had to wait about 30 minutes in traffic. 71 Hwy South was shut down for about 2 1/2 hours.
posted @ 6/5/2007 11:33:50 AM (0) Comments
Monday, June 04, 2007
Early-to-bed-Friday, Mega Workout/ Date Night Saturday, Lake Sunday, YES!
The weekend run down…

To start off, Friday afternoon I made myself into a total jackass to a friend of mine. I responded to an email in a manner in which I shouldn’t have responded- for I had never intended to actually send it. But, like a moron, I hit send and didn’t know it until I got a response back. WHOOPS. So we ended up getting into via email, which by the way, is similar to taking two mildly retarded people, tying one arm behind their backs and handing them pool noodles and saying “Fight.” We both apologized and I think we’re fine, but I had that chip on my shoulder most of the weekend.
Right after work I met up with Julie to have a couple drinks at the local Paddy O’s. Her hubby Dan joined us a bit later with his friends and I left shortly there after. I got home and tidied up a bit waiting for Eric. We were both laying on the bed talking about what we wanted to do for dinner, and of course we fell asleep… at 8:15pm on a Friday. I woke up about midnight, confused on why we were asleep, put the dogs to bed and went back to sleep myself.
Saturday morning came way too early. I climbed out of bed trying to convince myself that it would be much easier to just drive to the pool, but I knew I had to run. I headed out the door late to run and make it there on time. I was about eight minutes late, so that wasn’t too bad. We also had a new guy, LaDrue, join our masters team, so that was great to have a fresh face. We did a lot of drill work and then I did some personal coaching, and swam myself. I ran back home. I figured it would pour on me for sure from the clouds that were forming on my way in. Nope. It was sunny and very humid. After I got back to the house I did some errands, took Eric lunch, and got ready to ride with Jules.
Julie got to the house just before 1:00 pm and we finished getting ready and headed out for a beautiful ride around Lake Lotawana. We did the full lake and got to see a sail boat race in the process.
-While I’m thinking about it, I want to say that Julie is straight up kicking ass. It wasn’t very long ago that I could out ride her, but I would say that we are about dead even altogether on the bike. I think I’m a little balls-ier in technical down hills and corners, but she is out climbing me and she’s starting to kick it up in the flats too. What’s crazy is I know that I have gotten faster on the bike, so she has exploded on it. Also, the Runner’s Edge training has really given her some great skills and I think she will be super impressed with her season this year! I’m stoked it see how she does. -
Once we got out of the lake section we cruised down Colbern Rd., stopped and got more water- we were both completely out. It got hot fast and was really soupy. We then road on down to this long rolling subdivision with these massive houses and rode thru there and back out. We made a “pit stop” at Stonehaus Farms Winery and ended up getting a bottle each. We just wanted to each get a glass, but they only sell bottles! GREAT. So we each had about 3 glasses- and then they wouldn’t let me take it home in my water bottle to put in a bottle there. SO, we had to leave the rest of our bottles. Let me tell you, that was some expensive couple glasses of wine. BUT it was so worth it because they were getting ready for a wedding and we got to sit there and poke fun at the bridesmaid dresses (OMG) and the 387 flower girls. Seriously, I think we counted 6 flower girls. How ridiculous! We then rode the last 6 miles or so home… no, we were not (that) tipsy!
Saturday evening I took Eric out on a date. We went to TomFooleries on the plaza. I love that place. We ate and drank for less than $30! We walked around a bit and stopped at the local bar. The worst karaoke singers in the country congregate there. We couldn’t take much of it so we called it a night and went home.
Yesterday morning I cooked breakfast. Justin came over so I made food and swatted him away from the bacon platter. The boys went to the shop and got the boat ready to go out and I took the Yukon to go get the cooler filled up and met them at the lake. By the end of the afternoon we had Justin, Ashley (Head Artist / Piercer and Owner of Gypsy Rose tattoo in Grain Valley, MO- she’s done quite a bit of work for Eric, Justin, myself and a lot of our friends. She is the best, so check her out!), Thomas, Auburn, Eric and myself. We got Ash out in the water for her first ever wakeboarding attempt. She got up on the board a couple times so that was cool. I surfed and I didn’t realize how much I missed being on the lake. Eric used to give me a hard time for being a girl wakeboarder- the stigma was it’s a guys sport- but on Friday he asked me why I didn’t ever ride anymore (after the 2005 Cable Tour I was ranked 4th in the US and 47th in the world for Women’s Open Outlaw. I also had a wakeskate ranking, but it wasn’t that great. The majority of wakeskaters are guys, so I was competing against them). It’s for various reasons that I stopped riding, mostly because I found tris, but he said he wished I still did… WTF!!?? Silly boy. I had actually considered riding on Sunday, but the water was a freaking bathtub so I had no interest in going out and getting repeatedly worked. I’m sore from surfing, even!
When Eric and Justin were pulling the boat out of the water, Justin handed his boy, Ryder- he’ll be a year old at the end of this month- to me… I was like, “Um, what do I do with this?” Justin’s response: “Hold him and don’t drop him.” GREAT. I ended up doing the baby on the hip thing… uh yeah. Picture this:
ME- rainbow string bikini, tattooed, sun burnt, beer in hand, kid on hip at the boat dock of Blue Springs lake, hollering at the boys about how they were pulling the boat out. … well at least I fit in with all the other Whiskey Tango people out there- there was even a chick there standing on shore in front of all these families in a leopard print thong. She didn’t have much of a butt, and what she did have was flat and saggy. Eeek! Thank goodness I’m a triathlete- so if people were thinking I had popped out a kid, they would have been thinking I was in good shape! J It was classic.
But Ryder did great and didn’t cry or anything- good thing because I probably would have just stood there.
After we left the lake we went back to our place and cooked out. Nice way to end the weekend. EXCEPT one of my neighbors told us stories about another neighbor- and he’s crazier than we all thought, so now Eric is all worried about my safety. I don’t think I’m too worried about it, but homeboy is very strange and I would like to see the guy go away and get out of our neighborhood.
Lessons learned from the weekend: Don’t argue in email; Stonehaus only sells by the bottle; I am definitely not ready for a kid and in no way look the part of mom; and my neighbor is crazier than we thought.
posted @ 6/4/2007 8:05:09 AM (0) Comments
Friday, June 01, 2007
Things That Annoy, Irritate, and Bug the Eff Out of Me
Things That Annoy, Irritate, and Bug the Eff Out of Me

Since I am so incredibly cranky this week, I thought I would compile a list of things that have been bothering me lately. It’s very likely that if you are reading this, there could be a thing (or two) that you do on here. This doesn’t mean you annoy me, just something that you do. I might be over it in a week, but don’t get offended. It’s all in good fun, mine, mostly.

In no particular order:

People that aren’t sick (or aren’t that sick) and try to make themselves sound sick for attention. Along those lines people that are sick- or faking- that talk about being sick. When you’re truly sick you want to be left the eff alone.
Runners going 2 or 3 wide down a street with no shoulder
Cars that don’t move over for runners or cyclists
Cars that yell, cuss, throw things at said runners and cyclists
People that ride bikes- with or with motors- with out a helmet. However, this could aid in self de-selection. They simply remove themselves from the gene pool
People that act like they know what they’re talking about
Name droppers
Butch women, swishy men (for either gay or straight- if you’re a girl it’s okay to be a girl and like girls… you don’t have to be a man to be a lesbian and vise versa)
Unnecessary ignorance. I’ll even own up to this one, I wasn’t going to but I can’t be a hypocrite. Last night I was taking my front wheel off my bike when it donned on me- you don’t have to take the skewer completely out to take the wheel off. D’oh. For over a year when I’ve been taking the fronts off my bikes, I’ve pulled the skewer all the way out. Dit dah dah.
When Eric doesn’t make the bed. Nevermind that I can’t seem to do laundry more than one day a week, or even put away the laundry or hang up clothes that were worn once and not dirtied… it’s him not making the bed that’s the worst. J …however, if he made a list I’m sure there are 100 things that annoy him that I do!
Cyclists, women especially, that don’t wear their helmets on TOP of their heads but instead off to the back slightly so it doesn’t mess up their bangs
When people run with their iPods up so loud they can’t hear the person next to them
People that get stuck on one subject. If you want to talk to them be ready to talk about that subject because for three weeks that’s all they will have to say
Commitment breakers. If you say you will do something, by God you better do it
When someone’s consistently late (yes, Moto, this is you, but you are not alone)
When coaching, I tell someone to do something and they blatantly ignore me
Fake, false people; backstabbing
T-Bone on the Johnny Dare Morning Show here in KC. I love the show but that guy screeches and stutters so bad that I have to change the channel
People, usually men, who see my Mustang and say “Is that your car?” or “So you drive a Mustang?” This happens most often at gas stations
Why someone doesn’t even try, including people that say they can’t when they haven’t tried
Men that don’t open doors for women, the elderly. In this group there’s also the guys that get out of the car and are 10 steps ahead of the wife/ girlfriend instead of waiting for her (Yes, Sweetie, you do this a lot and it drives me bananas)
Rap music that is so ghetto. Same thing for country that’s so twangy whiny. Get over it
People that try to look like gang bangers. Usually the 19 year old kid in the old grand am leaning off to the side with his over sized white T shirt, ball cap with sticker still on, “Jesus piece” around the neck, listening to Little Jon, err, excuse me, Lil’ Jon, while his trunk rattles because he couldn’t afford $20 of dynamat. Ever see the video of OffSpring’s Pretty Fly for a White Guy? Yeah, that’s the kid I’m talking about…
Road construction
Traffic that slows down for no reason. Or better yet, traffic that slows down to read the KC SCOUT sign that says “One Lane at I-35 North and I-70” and you’re only at I-470 and View High Drive- KC people, you know exactly what I mean
Kids that drink under age
People that drive, boat under the influence of drugs/ alcohol
People that do drugs. Even better, the ones that openly talk about using drugs
Smokers
Bars, restaurants that still allow indoor smoking
Girls with their ta-tas hanging out at the grocery store or some family eatery at 8:45 am on a Sunday morning
90% of the people that live in JoCo J
Fat chicks that call ME skinny. Um hello, I’m like a size 10-12
When said fat chicks talk about the weight they want to lose while their riding the elevator to the second floor with a foot long chili cheese dog in one hand and a 55 gallon drum of coke in the other
Crack whores. Pronounced: Who-u-er-s
Trashy people
My brother wasting his talent
Robyn’s Fractured ankle, my knee and shoulder, Julie’s foot
When in a race on the bike you yell “ON THE LEFT” when overtaking a rider, and they turn look to the left and swerve in that direction
People that draft in a tri
When someone commits to something and doesn’t follow thru, join in, participate, or just simply pretends that it doesn’t exist
The person at work that makes it obvious she’s not working and is broadcasting the news that she’s reading off the internet to everyone at work. Usually celebrity gossip
When my uterus bleeds
Hugs from people I don’t know. Please, Don’t touch me
When someone tries to make small talk with me before a race. Race morning there’s one thing I’m thinking about. The RACE. Please, don’t talk to me unless it’s race related. And even then…
People driving around with sub woofers turned up in their cars before 11am on any given day
There’s no such thing as motorcross. It’s MotoCross
Just because you have done a tri, a cross race, a 5k, wakeboarded, skated, sky dived, whatever- you are not a triathlete, a X racer, a runner, a wakeboarder, a skater, a sky diver. Do it at least three times, maybe twice, even to say that’s what you are. Don’t undermine the work, time, practice that people put into a sport by saying you “do” something when you’ve actually “tried” or “done” it
Getting a cold the first week of June
People that drive too slow in the fast lane
People that drive way to fast in the slow lane
Whoever hit my car and dented the fender, and whoever scratched my rear bumper. Probably same person that asks “So you drive a Mustang” or the 90% of JoCo drivers
Pimples
People that think they are cooler than they really are
People that think I am cooler than I really am
Suck ups, brown nosers and the like
My paycheck
Mortgage payments, utility bills
My mailman. I never get my mail and I get everyone else’s
Squadra. Their quality is amazing. Customer service, and sizing, not so much
Paying taxes
My long body and stubby legs. Seriously, who do you know that’s 5’10 with a 31 inch inseam? I got dunked in the gene pool
This woman that works for a client with the initials of KG
Paperwise
Children. From ages 0-13. Very few are excluded here.
People that bring little kids to movies- especially the retards that brought a 3 year old to the movie 300 and then let her cry and bawl the entire time
Crying kids in restaurants, and the parents that don’t take them outside
Work


Okay, so I’m running low on things that irritate me, and I feel much better. Thanks!


Oh, and don’t forget, it's a new month, so if you're trying to find my previous blogs, you’ll have to go to the month of May or before. There’s some good ones on there, and yesterday’s will make you laugh.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend. I’m gonna put in a hard bike tomorrow and a decent run Sunday if the weather holds up.

155 days to IronMan. Holy Shit.

Court
posted @ 6/1/2007 8:36:28 AM (1) Comments