May 2007

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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Mortgage Gods Hate Me & Liz's "INTRODUCING 40.0"
The Mortgage Banking Gods Hate Me…


In February Eric and I decided that we were going to re-finance our home loan to get a better interest rate and to be able to apply much more to principal. We both decided that we could afford our payments to go up at $150 a month, as long as that extra money was going to principal. A friend of his that helped us get our first mortgage, so we went back to him for his. Now just to start, let me say that this guy has bent over backwards to help us out, especially as he was doing all of this at now cost to us.

That was in February. This has been dragged out and dragged out. The first time that I had understood was we would be closing on March 21. Wrong. That’s when the Fed was supposed to be lowering rates. I follow mortgage banking. I work at a foreclosure and bankruptcy law firm that was one of the first firms in the mortgage banking industry. I knew the Fed wasn’t lowering rates. I wanted to close then. Surprise! The Fed didn’t lower rates. So we decided to forge ahead at the already decided rates. It then took my wonderful boyfriend about 45 days to turn in all of his appropriate paperwork. I was told that we would close on such and such day in April and that we wouldn’t be making a house payment in May. So I spent some of that money on much needed work clothes (for those of you that have never had to buy nice business apparel, newsflash, pants and a jacket will cost you well over a hundred dollars just for those two). We ended up not closing and I had to use a good portion of the money I got for selling my bike to cover my ass on the mortgage. So, I’m down quite a bit of extra cash. Now since then I have been told over and over and over that we would be closing on 5/31 (TODAY). I talked to the loan guy and he said some stuff would be delayed but we would be closing no later than tomorrow, June 1st. SO I asked twice saying “Can you guarantee we will close by this day and I do not need to send in may June payment?” Yes, I was told, do not pay it. You will not be making a payment until August. Perfect. We were supposed to be going 2 months without a payment (equating to around $2000). With the money saved I was supposed to be paying off my bike (which I wouldn’t be doing since I had used some of the money from selling the first bike already) because I only have 6 months allowed to pay for it, and would be buying plane tickets for Florida . And the rest of the money would go to house stuff like fixing the bathroom that is still effed up from AUGUST.

Here it is, May 31, and we were finally supposed to close on the loan by tomorrow. Guess what? Loan Guy calls and says he miscalculated our payoff figures and that including the closing costs in the loan as we had planned would make our loan higher, with high payments still and no more money going to principal. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I called Eric. He said he told Loan Guy to call me because I would have the answer. I told Eric I wasn’t about to go pulling the trigger on something that we would potentially be paying for for the next 30 years with out talking to him. When he told me the way he understood things we both decided that we will just stay in the Godforsaken loan we are in now. Not that it’s bad, but I feel like I should be on our mortgage, not just with the house deeded to me, and that we should be applying more money towards principal. So now we can stay in the same loan, take that extra $150 and month and just pay it forward, and we’d be better of than if we were doing the new deal that we have been dicking around with for over four months. That’s all fine and dandy, except I was repeatedly told that we wouldn’t be making a house payment for two months. So now I have to scramble to come up with the extra money to pay off my bike, etc. What a heart ache and pain in the ass. I know, it’s no body’s fault but my own, and Loan Guy did the right thing (obviously) by calling me and telling me before we went into sign that the loan was all screwy.

But I mean, SERIOUSLY!! DO THE MORTGAGE GODS REALLY HATE ME THAT MUCH?

So, yeah, if any of you out in blogger land decide you want to “donate” some money to the “Help-Courtney-Pay-For-All-Of-Her-Ridiculously-Expensive-Triathlon-Related-Crap-Fund” please, let me know.

***
On a bit of a peppier note, Julie found the blog entitled “Introducing 40.0” on Liz’s site. I read it and it at least gives some comic relief. For all of you with the man trying to keep you down, here it is, reposted with permission from Elizabeth Fedofsky (Blog date 12/13/06) http://elizabethfedofsky.blogspot.com/

Announcing......40.0
Surfing the triathlon-related sites the other day, a press release caught my eye. 101.06? This couldn’t be. Yet another distance and series of races? That’s right, a new 2007 series cleverly called one-o-one with 4 races covering true long course distances; 4K swim, 120K bike, 30K run.With the release of this new race series, it seems an appropriate time to for me to jump on the bandwagon and introduce a new, number-related race that has been stirring around in my head for some time.Introducing………40.0.As in, 40.0 work hours in a week. As in the number of hours you need to work to be considered full-time, as in the numerical value of selling your soul to some company in exchange for what they consider generous and what you consider embarrassing as a yearly exempt salary. Exempt as in exempt from over-time, double-time, freetime, or any good time that you could be having if only you didn’t have to work 40.0 damn hours each week.As such, this race will showcase the finest training that a full-time, 8 am – 5 pm, work schedule has to offer including swimming at peak pool usage times, biking along rush hour busy roads, and running in complete darkness.The only qualifying factor for entry into this race is proof of full-time employment. Full-time employment denotes that you show up at a desk – not within your own home – by a certain time each day or someone in a position above you will question your absence and discipline your disappearing ass if you don’t show.To verify employment status, all athletes must present a copy of last years W-2 form on race day. Just for an added kick, we will pin your W-2 to your back so when you get passed by some maniac athlete they will not only have the option to shout on yer left! but may also opt to ostracize you for the meager size of your salary. Chances are if they are passing you, they make twice as much money to buy twice as fancy equipment at retail cost to kick the ass of people like you two times over.Now, stay-at-home moms and work-at-home employees, we at 40.0 believe you work just as hard as the rest of us. In fact, you probably work harder. However, this is not the competition for you. You just don’t qualify. To be fair, we will have a lottery and for a small fee you can get a chance at a slot to compete in this highly awaited and highly coveted event. We accept all forms of bribery, pity stories, and pleas as entry into the race. And we will automatically enroll anyone with celebrity status.The race will start after work at 5 pm. Here at 40.0 we completely reject the standard 7 am race start time knowing that most of you are either up at 4:30 am training before work or out until 8 pm training after work. The only people ready to race at 7 am are the unemployed, graduate students, and professionals athletes. The rest of us have barely choked down 5 ounces of our 21 ounce cup of coffee and are still wondering if we left the house fully dressed.The race will begin at a local gym with a 1000 yard swim directly after work on a weekday. Note that this tends to be a time of heavy usage in the pool. Unfortunately, participants will not have special pool privileges. In fact, expect to sit and watch time tick by for 10, maybe 15 minutes while waiting for half of a lane to open up because all of the lanes will be double stacked with people doing some semblance of swimming but unsure if they are drowning or just waving. By chance that you actually do get into a lane, the swim portion will consist of snaking your way up and down over 4 lanes filled with other pool users. Consider it a version of pool steeple chase, if you will.In Lane 1, you will find a woman walking laps back and forth while you take the other half of the lane against the wall. Since this woman is swinging foam weights in each arm as she walks, you can expect to swallow approximately ½ of the water in the pool including ½ of the stuff that seeps off of all those band-aids that keeping sinking to the bottom and some gum. Also, being pinned against the wall, you can expect to swallow another ½ of the pool water after it hits the wall and then bounces back in tsunami force at you. Because of this woman’s girth, space will be very limited and you can expect to scrape your entire body against the wall at least once every lap adding blood and skin to the other specks of suspicious items floating around the pool at any given time.Lane 2 will contain a man doing breakstroke back and forth while overkicking the black line making a swift kick to the ribs or stomach punch a likely inevitability. When he finally does an entertaining version freestyle swimming, his flailing arms will make contact with you at least every 50 yards and you will lose your goggles at least one. After each lap, he will stop at the wall and stretch his hamstring over and over again, hogging half of the wall in the process, making any turn impossible.Lane 3 will consist of the group we shall refer to as the two noodles and a kickboard club. We’re not sure what they’re doing in the pool or why they need to do it in water, but one thing is certain – they are not getting out anytime soon because they have a strange affinity for floating in chlorinated water and freakish endurance for mind boggling boredom and inanity as they coast up and down the lane with these inflatable toys.Finally, in lane 4, participants will be faced with the biggest obstacles of all – a water aerobics class designed specifically for pregnant women. As these mommy’s-to-be move up and down in the water, kick their legs side to side, their collective weight alone causes all of the water in the pool to move in the fashion of a swirling vortex ready to suck in any unassuming swimmer as they go by. Their chattiness is deafening, their penchant for bad eighties music set to techno beats is nauseating. Even worse, the instructor insists on talking to all 6 of them in a screeching, high-pitched voice while she jumps around like a monkey on the deck completely oblivious to the fact that no one in the class is even watching her. But the hot tub finds it highly entertaining. After a few laps you will feel grateful you spend most of the time submerged underwater.Upon completing the swim, you will jump in your car and drive to the bike course at approximately 5:20 pm (because commuting from work wasn’t enough, because you just couldn’t wait to commute for your work out as well). Since it is after 5 pm, you will not have time to drive the 30 – 40 minutes to any decent roads. Instead, you will ride right from home. The bike course will be 20 miles of out-and-back along a very busy, four lane road again at the peak of rush hour. Just to be sure your average speed doesn’t get too high, there will be a stoplight planted cleverly every ½ mile.Participants will bike along the shoulder of the road. At times, this shoulder may be 4 feet wide, at other times about 4 inches. And sometimes, for no reason, there may be no shoulder at all. Expect to flat 2 – 3 flat tires as you ride through debris most commonly found along a shoulder, including, but not limited to, glass, random pieces of metal, remnants of headlights, paper, plastic bottles, hubcaps, large clumps of grass or dirt, cigarette butts, old shoes, a bumper, and other assorted items that you have no clue how people lose from their car going 50 miles per hour.50 miles per hour is also the speed limit along this road. And so you best pack an extra pair of shorts because at some point along the course you will get scared shitless and soil yourself after a far-too-close encounter with a semi-truck or a suburban housewife driving a Lexus SUV shouting senseless and rude cuss words at you while either driving her kids home from soccer practice or driving to Target to buy juice for the fourth time that week.Part of the bike course will also take you through a neighborhood. This will showcase some of the finest and safest cycling available to those that ride after 5 pm. In the neighborhood, you will complete 10 loops of the same 1 mile circuit. If the sheer monotony alone does not cause you to drop out after 10 loops or throw up from going in circles, you will go back and do the same 10 loops in reverse.Along the bike course, there is also the slight risk that you will be verbally assaulted by a genius. Yes, a rare genius that has somehow mastered how to drive a car and talk at the same time while informing you with window rolled down as they come squealing around a corner that bikes belong on the sidewalk, not on the road because the road is for cars. Who knew.And as for other wildlife, beware the wild turkeys along the side of the road that get scared silly when you ride by and start gobbling which will send you in a panicked frenzy swerving into oncoming traffic. Do not approach the angry geese that do not look both ways before crossing the road. As for the squirrels, they are fuckin’ fearless so watch out.When you hit the turnaround point, you will make your way back to experience all of the joy, love, and fun of riding down a busy road during rush hour in tight black shorts, a colorful jersey, and matching socks but this time you get to do it in reverse. Before reaching the end of the bike course, you will go under what is referred as the bridge of death – a tricky descent down a 45 mph road on which you on a bicycle can reach 35 mph right before going under the bridge with no shoulder to save your sorry two-wheeled ass so you must keep turning your head back while simultaneously praying to god that no car drives under the bridge at the same time. If perchance you make it through the bridge alive, as you sit at the stoplight catching your breath a car will pull up to you, roll down their window, and say “Oh you think you’re fast, do you?” provoking you to sprint out of the light to catch up with them, tap on their window, and flip them the bird – also another type of wildlife you will need to watch out for.If by some miracle you survive the bike course unscathed, you will then transition to a 5 mile run. You will run through neighborhoods in complete darkness because by this time night has arrived. To avoid traffic, you will run most of the course in the gutter. You’ve been treated like crap the entire course of the race so it is most appropriate for you to finish it in the gutter like the rest of the street trash. By the way, running in the gutter is great for your IT Band and balancing out your hips.Along the run course expect to be chased by at least one small dog that thinka it is 10 times it’s size. Mostly like this will be a pug that the owner has leashed but still has not learned – after 2 years of runners running by it – that the pug tends to lunge at runners when they approach in the dark, yanking the owners arm and leash far enough to run into the runner and attack them in a vicious frenzy of barking and small sharp teeth.Part of the run course will take place on a path through a local forest preserve. You will maneuver your way along the path in total darkness while avoiding large branches, nocturnal wildlife, and large piles of horse crap. It is best to attach bells to your shoes for this portion of the run so those enforcing the forest preserve’s deer management program don’t confuse you for a deer or else you risk getting a few rounds of buckshot in your ass.At some point along the run course, your stomach will drop. At that point, you will have two choices – hold it and risk the massive bowel movement being reabsorbed by your body or sneak into some dense shrubbery to drop the anchor that is sitting in your ass. Whatever your choice, choose wisely – you could pay for it either way.The participant who completes the course first will be crowned the 40.0 champion. Other than the intrinsic gratification of calling yourself a champion, there will be no other accolades, awards, or prizes. Of course, next year we will either completely change the series or eliminate it all together so your championship title will become obsolete.The 2007 date won't be announced for another few months. But, registration will be open soon and we will gladly take your $600 entry fee any time.Cheers!

posted @ 5/31/2007 9:13:23 AM (0) Comments
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
It's a RollerCoaster- follow me here, people!

This one is a multi-header… stay with me, folks…


Blazeman
Yesterday I happened to be, um, “working” when I came across the website for Jon Blais, or Blazeman, an ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) patient, who in 2005 was the last finisher across the line at Kona. This past November when Kona aired on NBC Jules and I sat sniffling (okay I was straight up bawling) because he was then in a wheel chair, barely functioning, but watching his dreams live on in contributors and racers such as Brian Breen. I clicked on the Blazeman’s site, only to read RIP Jonathan Blais. He passed away on Sunday, the 27th, from his ALS. Yes, of course I cried sitting in my cubical. But after I cried I donated a little money to his foundation, you should do the same. www.alswarriorpoet.com


I am woman, hear me cry, bitch, moan, freak out, complain about the heat/cold, and in general turn into a spazoid for a week
You’ve seen the commercial. The new one for the BC pills that claim to help with, well, all of the aforementioned. It lists the symptoms, my particular favorite “the deep sadness and emotional instability associated with PMS symptoms, which may cause the overwhelming feeling to cry, weep, blubber, sob at any and everything” (Okay so that’s not verbatim but that’s pretty much how it went). Of course there’s me: Seat for one with room for my emotional baggage, please. I happened to see this ad during that blessed time o’ the month and guess what happened? I started crying! As I’m using my long sleeved PowerBar shirt for a tissue, it continues. “These symptoms may be more than PMS. They could be related to PMDD- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.” Of course they are. Of course they are…

So last night when I was having of my many mini-meltdowns (cute, I know) over misplacing a $20 bill I almost sat down on hardwood floor to kick and scream and bang my arms against the floor like one of those brats from Nanny 911. Then I went into a rant (read: blubbering disaster rivaled only by Chernobyl) to Eric about my job, my weight, IronMan, training, Dustin, masters swimming, bloating, dirt on the carpet, the dogs, Eric yelling at the dogs… and just after I calmed myself from that storm I found my $20 bill. For that sparkling moment I found it and I was happy. THEN I realized that I had just had a freakout about misplacing (I knew it wasn’t lost or stolen) a $20 bill. So I started crying about that… which was the time Eric said “Are you pregnant?” Attention Guys: Here’s what a woman thinks if you ask her that- she LOOKS pregnant, not that she could be the most depressed and angry lead singer of Hawthorne Heights or any other screaming Emo band. I’m just going to let this thought trail away into oblivion because I cannot type the thoughts I had. … … .. .
Moral of this story: Call OB/GYN ask about new BC. Use in heavy doses.



IronMan and Training
I am having a hard time getting motivated. Here we are, at the start of the race season, 157 days from IronMan and I can’t get out the door. Aside from the Thursday night sessions with the DFT ladies, I am having a very hard time swimming/ biking/ running. Especially running. I feel as though I am almost self sabotaging and I am afraid to put it all out there, then fail. I rode 18 miles in the pouring down rain on Sunday and was proud of myself for it. However, when I got home and took a shower, I came out to see blue skies and a double rainbow. Almost as if the sky was giving me the bird and laughing. Last night I got home early enough to get an hour run. I could tell it was going to storm so I thought I would hold off. I did and it did. So while it was raining I again sabotaged myself by stuff handful after handful of barbeque potato chips in my mouth, so that I knew I wouldn’t be able to run with all that crap in my body. Which brings me to what I a feeding myself. I still don’t have the perfect (I would say it’s “close to mediocre”) handle on my nutrition, as shown by Example A. The time is ticking and there is only 22 1/2 weeks until Florida. That will make you freak out. I am trying to find something that will get my ass into highgear, but I haven’t found it yet. A new blog I have been reading (Liz Fedofsky’s http://elizabethfedofsky.blogspot.com/ ) makes me want to work out, and I am hoping that a new edition to team DFT of Leslie Curley will give me the desire to train. Or just help…

Then there are girls with so much burning desire to train that can’t- yes Robyn, I am talking about you! Robo fractured her ankle before Memphis in May, raced anyway, but now has a cute (but sucky) pink cast on her ankle. She asked the Dr. if she could where the boot instead. His response? “I don’t trust you.” Classy. Very nice.



So now I sit here at my desk, fighting off the afternoon nap that wants to grab me by a choke hold. Oh, and speaking of choking, my throat is swollen, red and icky. My nose won’t stop dripping, and my eyes won’t quit watering and itching. It makes me want to cry and hope that the ceiling tile falls on me when I’m sitting at my desk. That would be the icing on the cake. This has been the month from hell and there’s still a few days to be over with…
posted @ 5/30/2007 11:22:16 AM (0) Comments
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Memories of Dustin Francis
Memories of Dustin Francis

On Saturday, Amy Parks (Dustin’s former girlfriend of a few years), and I went to the Francis’s. I had planned to go by myself, but I was almost to Belton and I was thinking about what I would say to Kim and Allot and I almost turned around. I called Amy and asked if she could go- she said yes as she couldn’t see going by herself either.

We pulled up to their driveway about 4:15pm. I couldn’t quite turn the steering wheel onto the gravel. Just seeing the driveway brought back so many memories. I looked at Amy and we both took a deep breath as I pulled in. There were a lot of cars in the driveway, most I didn’t recognize. As we pulled into park my uncle, Gary who was in from Chicago, was in the driveway talking to Allot. The two of them have been close friends for ages, and it surprised and relieved me to see him there.

When I got out of the car I realized I hadn’t spoke with Allot in a very long time. It had been over a year since Eric and I moved away and it was probably better than a year since that when I talked with him last. I felt so bad. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t just come over to say “hi” or “how are you” in that time. I hugged him but no tears came, and I turned to Amy to let her do the same. Allot told us to head on in, he wanted to talk with Gary some more.

We started up to the front door- neither of us wanting to be the first one through. I reached down just to give her hand a squeeze but I found we were gripping each other tightly. We each needed something- someone to hold onto.

I opened the screen door and it slammed shut with a bang. Kim was sitting on the ottoman of their over stuffed chair. She was looking right at us, but it was almost like she didn’t see us. She was seeing through us. I ran to her and dropped on my knees grabbing her. She let out a sob and then just a quite sniffle. I knew that I needed to be strong. She had cried so much for so long, she needn’t do it again on my account. I backed away and let Amy hold her as well.

I don’t know how long we sat there in silence. There were others there- friends, family none did I recognize. Eventually someone made some small talk to avoid the silence. Every time it would quite somebody would interject to break it up.

Amidst the conversations I found myself sitting in the living room of a home I had been in hundreds of times. It seemed strange. Have you ever gone back to an elementary or middle school you used to go to? You know the feeling- everything is so small compared to what your mind says it should be. This was the opposite. I felt so small, so miniscule looking at the walls and the ceiling. I should have felt like the house had shrank, but instead it felt as if I had diminished.

There were dozens of photos scattered on the coffee table. Most of Dustin and Ryan as kids. This was how I generally thought of him. I picked up one photo and chuckled to myself. They both had the whitest, bushiest blonde hair- my little brother had the exact same. I saw a photo across the table that I dared not to pick up. It was of Dustin and I playing in my sandbox at about age 7 or 8. I probably wouldn’t have recognized myself except for the bright purple swimsuit I demanded that my mother let me wear everyday through the summer. I felt a deep pang in my heart. I looked away, searching for something, anything, to focus on, to keep the burning of the tears in my eyes away.

My center of attention landed on the refrigerator which had a recent photo of the Francis family pinned to it. Absolutely nothing abnormal about a family photo on a fridge, except this family should be on a cover for a magazine. Such a beautiful family, I thought. And they were- Kim, thin, tan, impeccably high check bones and a beautiful smile (She is, after all a dental hygienist, and if nothing else, every six months since I was old enough to hold a tooth brush she and I would visit-most recently just 3 weeks ago). Allot, handsome in his own right and the source of the boy’s white hair whose own turned a beautiful silver over time, stood next to his wife both crouched over the boys. Ryan, 2 1/2 years our senior and Dustin both were caught laughing- big, open mouthed laughs with bright sparkling eyes.

Amy and I sat and visited for a while, but decided it was out time to go. With hugs for all we headed out the door. As we pulled out of the drive, I mentioned some things to Amy that I had just begun to remember after being there. The memories came flooding back for the rest of the weekend…

The bathtub pond in front of their house. It held lilies and fish.

Their dogs. In succession, Aspen, Sierra, Dakota. Dakota was friendly and loving while we were there.

Dustin getting caught on fire when I was in 6th grade! Accidentally, of course, by a friend. Seeing him at Children’s Mercy Hospital was so scary.

Joint Easter Egg hunts.

The games. Dustin and I frequently entertained ourselves with wild games of Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and baseball games. One of Dustin’s childhood passions was baseball. We would “play” ball and he always got to be George Brett. I had to be Mrs. Brett. I never wanted to be Mrs. Brett, I wanted to be George Brett.

Hopscotch in the driveway.

Dustin using a four letter word while playing in the sand box and me tattling on him.

At about age 7 we thought that we should learn how to kiss in case the time ever came that we would need to know how. I don’t remember how it went but somebody got licked by somebody and we were both traumatized.

My older brother, Travis, pulling Ryan out of the pond when he fell in.

The boys and I playing in the pond off of a makeshift dock my grandpa had fashioned for us during summer.

Dustin crashing his Blazer after first getting his license. I saw him a few days later and told him he was an idiot to be driving on the roads that we grew up on like that. I told him not to scare his family or kill someone or even himself.

Jumping out of the old barn on their land into piles of hay.

Walking thru the woods where our property lines met. This was usually during a case of cowboys and Indians.

Drawing big smiley faces on the construction cones in the back of the Francis property. I remember Allot calling my mom about it. We both adamantly denied it.

My mom made me dump out our little plastic pool and move it. I told Dustin I would “pay” him to help me. I think I gave him a nickel and some pennies. He accepted. Later, Kim sent him back to the house to give me back the money and apologize for being “paid” to help a friend. I remember being mad that he told my mom because I got in trouble for asking for help. I through the money in the trash can.

I got in trouble for something and couldn’t come out to play. I wanted to play and so did he. I sat inside the window and cried while he sat outside the window and cried.

Dustin and Amy at prom. He had switched to a private school, so I rarely saw him as we grew older. We sat and talked for a while and he looked miserable in a tux. He had pulled the bow tie half out.

Riding my horse up and down the fence of my grandparent’s land while he drove their four-wheeler on their side of the fence while we talked.


…I’m sure more will come but these are some of the things I thought of in the last few days.

It’s amazing the feelings memories give. From utter joy to the darkest depths of sorrow.



The underwater search for his body was called off late last week. There were hopes someone would find him over the long boating weekend, but alas, nothing. The hardest part isn’t that he’s gone, but that his parents don’t have him. They have nothing to say good bye to. It hurts them. It hurts us all.



posted @ 5/29/2007 9:54:44 AM (0) Comments
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Sheer Stupidity killed this friend. WHY WHY WHY?
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22dustin+francis%22&ie=UTF-8&scoring=n
I lived next to Dustin Francis for almost 20 years...
Boat hits wake, man disappears
By Joyce L. Miller/Lake Sun


LAKE OF THE OZARKS ' Recovery efforts near the 3-mile marker continue for a 21-year-old Belton, Mo., man who fell off an open-bow boat early Tuesday morning.Dustin Francis was last seen about 1 a.m., lying across the bow near the light of the 20-foot boat he was a passenger in when it hit a small wake that threw him overboard. Francis is believed to have held onto the boat for a short period of time.Two passengers sitting in the open bow with Francis said he lost his balance when the boat hit the wake. Several other passengers were on the boat but were sitting in the back near the driver.According to the Missouri Water Patrol, the driver thought Francis had fallen in. When the driver made a hard left to turn around and go back for the victim, Francis lost his grip.Francis was apparently hit by the propeller.The group of friends had been out for the evening and were returning from a lakefront bar at the 7-mile marker. (Ed. Note. THEY WERE VERY INTOXICATED) They were headed to the 2-mile marker when Francis went under near Atlantis Island.The passengers used a cell phone to call for help. The call went to Morgan and Miller county dispatching centers.The driver, Justin Johnson, 21, of Manhattan, Kan., was arrested for boating while intoxicated.


Francis is the second drowning on Lake of the Ozarks in less than five days.Last weekend, a 20-year-old man drowned in a swimming accident at the 6-mile marker.Although divers were using the side scan sonar in the search for the body, Water Patrol Capt. Matt Walz said the area where Francis is believed to have gone overboard varies in depth from 40 to 90 feet and much of the lake bottom is covered in heavy brush, which makes it difficult to get a clear location on the body.If the body is not recovered by this weekend when tens of thousands of boaters arrive for the Memorial Day holiday, the Water Patrol will have to scale back the search. Instead of using the sonar, they will conduct visual checks of the area.The water temperature is still cool enough to slow the decomposition process and keep the body under water for a longer period of time, he said. http://www.lakesunleader.com/articles/2007/05/23/news/01.txt

Belton man dies in boating accident on Lake Ozark
The Associated Press
LAKE OZARK, Mo. A Belton man died early today when he fell off a boat in the Lake of the Ozarks, authorities said.
Dustin Francis, 21, was riding in the bow of a boat with two other passengers when the 20-foot craft hit a small wake. Francis lost his balance, fell in the water and was struck by the boat’s propeller, the Missouri State Water Patrol said.
The accident was reported about 1 a.m., the patrol said.
*****On this up-coming Memorial Day Weekend, please use EXTRA caution. I can't have more friends dying from stupidity. Dustin's mom is at home, bawling, a complete wreck- and of course she is! Just two weeks ago she was telling me about how worried she was about Dustin and his friends having this lake house and small runabout boat on such a dangerous lake. Why do we, young people especially, have to act without thinking!?
PLEASE everyone, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE, DO NOT DRINK AND BOAT. Both are crimes and BOTH kill people! Use your heads, please stay alive, and please don't be a murderer.

Courtney
posted @ 5/23/2007 1:28:52 PM (0) Comments
Monday, May 21, 2007
Heritage Park Race Recap
Heritage Park Triathlon
May 20, 2007

587 Yard Swim/ 11.5 Mile Bike/ 3.1 Mile Run

Warmup
I arrived about an hour before the race start (and my start, I was in the Open Heat) set up my TA, got body marked and chit chatted with the girls. I then took my bike out for quick spin to get the HR up and clip my shoes in. Pulled back in, checked out the run and bike in/outs, banded my shoes down, and pulled on my wetsuit. I had only about 45 seconds to warmup in the water before I had to check in at the dock. I was supposed to have about 5 minutes, but they started us almost 5 minutes early. But hey, whatcha gonna do about it?



587 yard Swim 9:09
I was in the open heat so there were only 3 or 4 gals and like 30 guys. It’s a really small area for that many in a heat so I decided to be patient and sit back a bit instead of starting right in the front. I knew that most of the guys would be swimming 7:30’s, so I decided not to get drowned in the front line. Once the guys hammered into each other after the gun I was able to find what I thought was a clean line just off to someone’s feet. Apparently that someone decided to pause and then BAM kick me in the head. It rung my bell pretty good but I just kept on keepin’ on. It is a rectangular course and when we rounded the first corner buoy the sun was in my eyes to spot, so I had to keep hoping that the feet I was following were going the right way. After the second corner buoy my goggles were totally fogged up, so looking forward to spot was and exercise in futility and breathing to my right blinded me. So again, I just kept hoping I was going in the right direction. In the last 200 yards I just couldn’t get my arms to turn over. I don’t know if it was being in a good wetsuit for my first race, or whatever, but I couldn’t get my elbows up and my arms to pick up. I was relieved to get to the beach because I just didn’t feel like myself in the water. Watch time was 9:01, chip time 9:09. I was the 5th fastest split of the day.

Transition 1 1:41
This was pretty slow for me. My right arm didn’t have any strength from the swim so I pretty much stripped my wetsuit off with just my left side, and it got caught on my heels. It felt strange not needing to get into shoes. All I had to grab was my helmet which had my sunglass already attached. I also had to run with my bike quite a ways. I was able to run and jump on my bike and my pre-attached bands executed perfectly. However, I didn’t get my feet in them so well.

Bike 39:35
I had a lot of problems trying to get my feet in my shoes, I actually jammed both feet above the tongues, which pulled out the straps so I had to reach down, untuck the tongues and then reattach the Velcro. Ugh. So I was all kinds of worked up. Going up the first big hill I kept trying to get into a ring smaller than what I have so of course, the derailleur dropped the chain to the inside and I had to get off my bike to get it back on. GGRRRR! I then had to chug along the rest of the big hill because I had lost all of my momentum. The second two loops were uneventful. On the second loop DFT Julie came up to me (she was starting her first loop, she was a few heats behind me) and we chatted for a minute. She looked really good and it was nice to see her out going strong. On each loop I kept hearing Nancy Strickland (somewhat of my mentor) and I wanted to look over at her, but I was trying to just be focused. I really tried to push hard, and my HR was pretty good, but with all the traffic it was difficult. By the 3rd lap, most of the 500 some participants were on the 3.8 mile loop. To do the math, that’s 131 people per mile. Of course there were the people that were riding on the left when I was trying to pass them, and when you call on your left, that’s the direction they swerve (and inevitably it is on the sweeping 38mph downhill corner). That got frustrating.

T2 1:10
I was able to pull my feet out of my straps quickly coming into T2 and switched my leg to side saddle. Of course this girl doing a team tri swerves in front of me right by the dismount line, then unclipped one foot at a time, put both feet down, and then swung her leg over. I just kept saying “Go go go go go!” She was blocking the entire dismount line and there was going to be a huge crash if she didn’t get moving. Luckily I was able to get around her, but I heard a couple guys that were behind me say some things that I can’t really type. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were penalized for it. I was able to run my bike quickly to my TA, and when I was rushing thru I heard them announcing my name on the PA. Very Cool!
When I got to TA, I put my feet into my socks (they had blisters that weren’t healed before race day and I didn’t want to make them bigger) put on my shoes and grabbed my TriSports.com visor and race belt. Off I went.

Run 29:12
I was slow going the first mile. I wasn’t wobbly from bike legs, but I was just trying to get my legs to go. on the out and back part I saw Cheryl from DFT and then a bit later Melanie from DFT came up behind me. They were both doing the Duathlon. I tried to run with Mel for a bit, but she’s a strong runner and I didn’t have the legs. I just kept on going and after the climb at 1.25 miles I felt good. Pretty much everything from there is either downhill or flat and I was able to get my legs about me. At the 2 mile run mark I looked down and saw I was at 1:12 on my watch. I had set a major goal for the season to run a 28min 5k at this race back in November. I wasn’t sure what my split was before the run, but I knew that if I could run an 8-something mile (and negative split the run) then I had a chance of coming in at 1:20. Last year, at my first tri at this same race, my time 1:32.46.

Overall 1:20.46
Well, I came in under 1:21. While I didn’t make my goal of a 28 min run, I was still really happy with the 29.12. That’s my fastest ever (even as a non-split), so I was pleased. I am really happy with my time and my major disappointment was my retardedness on the bike. BUT, my new bike is SO fast!!
The bummer thing was after I crossed the finish I reached up to grab my medal and sharp pain went thru my right shoulder. This was the shoulder that I tore the labrum in which I never had surgically repaired and caused me to end my swimming career. I haven’t had any problems with it in 2 years, but I spent all of yesterday afternoon icing and rubbing it out. I drove to work this morning with ice on it, and after I finish typing this, I’m re-icing it. My next race is in two weeks, I would really like to swim, but I think I know better on this one. I’ll see how it’s feeling Thursday and maybe I can get in some drill work Friday morning.
I’d like to thank TriSports.com for the race gear- especially my wetsuit and trisuit, Freeride Bike and Skate for my great Specialized Transition Expert bike, Defined Fitness Training for all the support, and Tropical Xtreme Tanz for giving me the best color of all the ladies at the race!


RESULTS:
5th in AG
31st OA
5th fastest swim split


Here are some photos right after the finish (Sweaty, greasy dirty! Yum!) in my TriSports.com Orca trisuit, and with the Defined Fitness Training club team gals.


In the DFT photo, from left to right:

Erin, Monica, Courtney, Michele, Cheryl, Dawn, Julie, Melanie
Oh and a comparison from last year and this year. Also, This year was FAST! both men's and women's classes went much faster!
31 124 Courtney Crutcher F2024 Blue Springs MO 5 9:09 14 1:41 34 39:35 15.2 26 1:10 46 29:12 9:44 1:20:46

43 246 Courtney Crutcher F2024 Blue Springs MO 12 10:55 8 1:00 46 46:34 14.8 8 0:44 53 33:35 11:12 1:32:47
posted @ 5/21/2007 8:05:05 AM (0) Comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Heritage Park coming up, Lake Lotawana Ride
3 days until Heritage!!

I am so excited. Three days until Heritage Park. Last year Heritage was my first ever tri. I can’t believe it’s already time for it again. It feels like I have been in multisport forever. I know that really, I am quite new, but I have made friends with a few seasoned vets (Thanks Melissa Kelly, Leslie Curly, Nancy Strickland, Peggy Donovan, Greg Goodman, Glen Bohanon…) that have helped me learn the ropes pretty quickly. I still have so much to learn but I think I’m getting experience quickly.

Last year I got in 5 sprint tris, an Oly, and even a Half Ironman. This year I’m doing a full IronMan. I talked to Leslie Curly about a month ago at a seminar and she was so excited for me to be doing a full. She said she has never done one and just so looks up to the people that are doing them and how amazing they are, and she wanted to hear EVERYTHING about my training. She was so genuine. It’s people like this that I look up to myself- and the people that make doing triathlons so great. I am so excited to become a top dog veteran like her.

Last night my swim client and I didn’t meet, so I too my new bike, GoldMember out for a spin. I just got my Orca trisuit from TriSports.com and I had to try that out. Note on that: It fits so well. It’s probably one size too big, but I don’t mind. I really like the chamois, the zipper racer back, and the highneck coverage. I tried calling Sheryl, Cheryl, Sarah, Amy, Melissa… NO ONE could ride with me… or answer their phones. SO I set off on my own. I planned to do about 45 minutes.

I headed out of town and jumped on Cook rd. I followed that down past Colbern to Lake Lotawana. Amy showed me a different loop thru there earlier this week so I went that way. It’s a little shorter and there really aren’t any demanding climbs, but, technically it is difficult. High speed S curves make for fun and to see how big your balls are. Mine, sadly, are just starting to drop. After I completed that out and back I decided that it was so nice out and I was having so much fun to just keep cruising. I turned right and headed over towards the dam. These are also challenging sections but there are big ascents that curve and crazy fast descents after. The link below is my route and it is so much fun. Definitely check it out. I didn’t map everything because I think I took a side road or two, and I went my Sheryls house to see if she was home to ride. My total ride was about 28 miles and it took me 1:58 I think. I should have wrote it down so that may be off by a bit.

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=129482

This was the longest solo ride I have ever done, but I loved it. I thought that I would be bored but the “course” was so challenging and I was loving being out on my bike.

It was a great way to spend an evening by myself.


Tonight I am going out to SMP for our “team” training session. I’m afraid that the team will be me and me and me. Julie has a work meeting, Michele said she might come out but has to be at a movie at 7:00…. maybe one of the girls from work will go out be she only runs… so I might make another solo ride myself. I feel like I should run, but I really don’t want to. I am learning so much on my bike right now, I never want to get off of it. My knee is a little sore too, so I’m not feeling the run.

I am so pumped for this weekend. I get to pick up my packet tomorrow and Erin from Vegas is coming in town to race. I can’t wait to meet her. We are also having a team photo and brunch afterwards. So exciting.

It’s also Monica’s first race. I hope she does well!

Robo- Hey, I just want to give you a public GOOD LUCK at MEMPHIS IN MAY. You’re going to do awesome.

Okay, well that’s it for now! Have a nice evening. Go out and RUN!
posted @ 5/17/2007 11:45:15 AM (0) Comments
Friday, May 11, 2007
Running Shoes? Check. iPod? Check. Map? Ah, we’re good. Phone? We’re just staying in the park…
Running Shoes? Check. iPod? Check. Map? Ah, we’re good. Phone? We’re just staying in the park…

My friend from work, Jennifer (JMoore), and I drove out to SMP to meet up with Cheryl S., Melanie, and Julie. I told Jennifer that she needs to join the team and she wasn’t so into the idea.

Anyway, we had discussed going about 8 miles, but we decided we would just to do long course tri run section which is 4.5. I was still a little sore from Lincoln, and JMoore’s long run was about 5 miles. So, we got out of the car with out the course map, and decided that since we’d just be in park, we wouldn’t need cells phones.

We talked to Melanie and Sheryl for a bit and then headed out for our run. I TOTALLY forgot to wait for Julie. I knew she wasn’t running, but I had planned to talk to her for a bit, so yeah, I’m a jackrod, sorry Jules! The first 2 or 3 miles went pretty smoothly, but it got HOT FAST. I wasn’t used to running in the heat. All while training for Lincoln I had been running in freezing cold, so this was a switch. I ended up with my tank top rolled up within 20 minutes. I was so not accustomed to the heat and humidity. Even though I had water, I was already suffering.

The whole run should have taken about 52minutes at most, for a mere 4.5miles. I kept looking down at my watch trying to figure out where we were. There was a little off trail that we had briefly gone down and the decided it wasn’t correct and turned back to keep going straight. I kept second guessing that decision.

We were moving along just fine until I felt my arms- totally dry. I had been running in front of or next to JMoore until about minute 34. I thought she had kicked it up another gear, but I think I had actually just slowed significantly. She was gone. I had to start walking the hills and at some point I got chills. I was shivering, not sweating, and it was 85 degrees out. Oh, AND WE ARE LOST.

We stuck it out on the route we were on until we came up to a sign. The Midland Drive trailhead. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?! We missed out turn off by 2 miles? While I was running I kept thinking, I wonder why Julie hasn’t called me yet? Well, when I grabbed my pocket I knew why. I left my phone in the car because we knew where we were going and we were staying on the immediate tri course. GREAT. GREAT. GREAT. No phone, 6:45pm, and we’re lost. A-freaking-mazing. And, of course, those extra two miles wee some of the hilliest ever!

I just stood there, staring at the map shaking my head. I think Jennifer was slightly ticked. J We turned around and headed back. Turns out we should have turned just after the little off shot road. Whoops. And, we ran out of water, so I started filling up my bottles out of the streams. Hope it doesn’t make us sick, but we were hot and thirsty and it was cold and liquid!

I forced myself to walk a while which helped me gain control back of my body temp and stop the chills. We made it back to the car in 1:48.21. Total distance 8.5 miles. Jennifer did awesome for her first “long” run. On the way home she said to me “I think I’m going to join your team.” Good idea!

Lessons learned:

Take a map.
Bring your phone no matter what.
Don’t leave for your run before your friend gets there.
posted @ 5/11/2007 7:50:46 AM (0) Comments
Monday, May 07, 2007
Lincoln Half Recap
Courtney Crutcher
30th National Guard Lincoln Marathon
Half Marathon
Time 2:28.47
Pace 11:17


Julie, Dan and I headed up to Lincoln early Saturday afternoon for packet pickup and the Carbo dinner. After we got our packets we drove the course for the half and full marathons. Dan and I were doing the half, Julie the full. This was Julie’s first full. I had previously done a 13.1 but that was in the Half Ironman, so technically this was my first attempt at it on fresh legs. My split time in the HIM was 3:20.22.
The course winds through downtown and just outside of it- mostly flat and the “hills” are kind of a joke. Now, there are a few, but really, none of them are Adams Dairy Parkway hills, so we all felt pretty prepared. It had been raining quite a bit that morning so when we drove through the park area that Julie would run through, we saw that a bunch of the benches were half under water. Yikes! After we drove the course and checked in at the hotel we went to the pasta dinner on campus. It was good, whatever it was- some kind of noodle and marinara sauce. I wanted to eat 2 plates, but my stomach told me that wasn’t a good idea. The sky had been threatening rain since we left for the dinner, but when we came out it was a downpour. It was unreal the amount of rain coming down! When we headed back to the hotel we had to pull into the median because of the water of the road- a car was even stranded in the river that was once the road! Then the hotel parking lot was more of the same. It was ridiculous!
We got into our room and turned on the TV to watch a movie, thinking that the rain would HAVE to let up. I kind of thought that maybe the rain would be psyching Julie out- I was kind of nervous but not bad, but I had gone that distance before and she was doing the full! However, she stayed pretty calm. I think her being focused and relaxed helped me not fret over it, usually I feel like I am the calm one with my friends when it comes to racing, but I was SO IMPRESSED with how relaxed Julie stayed. We turned off the lights about 9:30 and feel asleep listening to the rain fall. I guess at some point in the night Dan got up to go check if the car was underwater- the rain had never stopped. Funny, because I had a dream that we got to the start and they were handing out swim caps and goggles because we had to swim instead of run.
The alarm went off at 5:00am and I pulled open the curtain just to have a look outside Please let it be clear, Please! I thought to myself. Instead it was the exact opposite. It was coming down like it had after dinner. I just started laughing. Julie asked me what was up and I told her that the only thing I could do was laugh. Luckily, Jules had enough sense the night before to stop and get clear trash bags for us to wear to keep up warm and dry. Good call!
We all went down for breakfast and Dan went outside to see how bad it was. He came back and made some comment about it blowing sideways. I thought he was joking so I went to see for myself. When the doors opened I could swear I was in the middle of a typhoon. I came back laughing again. After a few minutes Julie had to see for herself- the look on her face was priceless. I think we all had the same dread about us but no one wanted to really say it- THIS IS GOING TO SUCK.
Amazingly, after we got parked and to the start line it had let up a little, but by no means had stopped. We got organized and I decided to start back with Julie. I knew she’d run at a slightly slower pace (she’s running the full!), but I really wanted to get to run with her. She and I went through the chip mat about 8 minutes after the start and that was the official beginning of our race. We ran side by side for the first mile. We saw a guy running up a head with an M-dot (Ironman) tattoo on the back of his leg. We both wanted to catch him but decided not to push the pace. Julie had been training with this “Run a mile walk a minute” routine that was working really really well for her, but I wanted to run so when she started walking we split up. The first mile split was 12:40. It turned out that it was great for me to start out slower because I didn’t rush and was able to settle into a good pace. I actually caught up with the M-Dot guy and his wife and discussed Ironman racing with them for the next two miles. They were running 10:10 miles and I wanted to hear everything they were saying so I kept running with them. Then the wife wanted to walk, so I kept on trucking. For the next few miles I ran mostly by myself or here and there with various groups and people. I was holding pretty consistently about 11:00 minutes a mile. I finally took off my trash bag about mile 5. It hadn’t stopped raining, but I was way to hot to keep that thing on. At about mile 9 or 10 I came across an older gentleman (that was ahead of me!) running along he said his name was Brown and I ran with him for about a mile and a half. Another gal name Krista joined in with us. We listened to him tell stories about how he was 78 years old and this was his 50th something marathon. So amazing. When he stopped to walk I realized that we had slowed down to his pace which was 12- something and I felt like I could get up and go so Krista and I took off. The last time I hit a split on my watch was at mile 11, so I didn’t get my 12 mile or 13 mile split times. However, after the finish the last split I had on my watch was 22:20, so for the last 2.1 miles we ran about 10:40 pace. It was helpful to have Krista with me because she knew the campus well and knew exactly where the finish was. Nearing the end the wind picked up and I had her drop behind me, she was really short and petite and I knew I could block the wind for her because she was starting to struggle. I really pushed as hard as I could and I actually dropped her just before mile 13. My actual finish time was 2:28.47, I don’t remember the clock time.
Dan had finished about 15 minutes before me (at 2:13.58) so we went and waited for Julie to come thru the Half point and cheered her on. Her 13.1 split was 2:48.29 and she looked really strong. She actually surprised both Dan and I (I was in the middle of switching into a dry shirt when she was coming up the street so I was trying to dress myself and cheer her on at the same time) with how quick she came up. He and I then went and took showers and met back up to drive out to see her by the turnaround. When we saw her then she wasn’t quite looking all that happy, and she was walking, but she was walking fast. You could tell she was hurting, but she wasn’t stopping, for damn sure. Dan and I found Julie’s parents at the finish and we waited for her to come through the line. She did (running at that!), and her time was 6:08.07. She did great and I am SO PROUD!! She never gave up and I am really jealous I couldn’t do it with her.
After the race we ate lunch with Julie’s folks, and then Dan drove us back in the monsoon to KC.
All in all, a great race weekend (besides the tsunami).
Results are available at OnlineRaceResults.com
180 days until IronMan!!!
posted @ 5/7/2007 7:49:53 AM (0) Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007
HOT AIR
HOT AIR

I ate lunch at my desk today with the intentions for taking a 20 min break and going to the bank and going to the gas station to put air in my tires. At 12:00pm I leave and go straight to the nearest QT.
When I pull in, I can see that the 3 closest spots to the air hose are full. I get as close as I can, and then try reach the hose to my car. Someone sitting inside their car in one of the spots pulls out. Great, I just whip right in. Now I’m in the middle parking space, one space over from the air machine. There are people standing at the back of the “3rd spot car” just starring at me: I’m in 3.5 inch stiletto work heels, black sateen pants, and a pressed button up shirt. IT’S RAINING. Stop looking at me!
I am struggling to get the air hose to the front wheel of my car (all four tires are extremely low- I can’t believe I waited so long to fill them) and it just barely reaches. I’m crouched down trying to put air- 26lbs actually needed- into my tire. I get the feeling some one is starring at me- the guy whose truck was in the actual air up spot was standing there eyeballing me. I just turned around and looked at him. “Oh, I’m sorry, I am parked in your way.” me: “Yeah that’s fine.” He’s still just standing there. me: “Are you going to move?” So he gets in and pulls out. Right then this lady in a truck in a business suit pulls up into the spot about 1/2 way and jumps out. She grabs the hose and was like, “That guy was creepy, here, I’ll help.” Phenomenal. There have been 3 men gawk at me and not one offer to help, but another woman dressed in business attire is the only one that will. Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect for anyone to help me. HOWEVER, nobody should just be starring at me! So I get to my last tire with that woman’s help (I wish I had gotten her name), and am finishing it up… some random guy walks over and says “How many pounds?” I was like WHAT? He then started to explain to me that pounds were the amount of air you’re supposed to put in your tire. I wanted to be like, YEAH I GOT THAT. IT’S 51 I’M AT 38, I CAN READ AN AIR GAUGE, WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME HOW MANY POUNDS!!?? Instead, I just said “It needs 51, I’m at about 40.” The response: “Oh, okay” and then just stands there… What is with people starring!! Seriously, offer to help or MOVE.
Then I did the lady’s tire- she only needed one- and a guy from inside QT comes out “You need anything?” The lady and I just looked at each other and shook our heads.
I never expected help, but I didn’t expect to be hassled either. Why must people be so dang rude!!??
It took so long I never even made it to the bank. Drats. I’ll try again tomorrow.
posted @ 5/3/2007 11:28:13 AM (0) Comments
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Larry the bike: Being Tougher: Master's Swim
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Overhead while volunteering at the Trolley Run. An older lady to a younger guy next to here- both running "I thought you said this was all down hill!!... YOU LIED, CHIP!"
Last night I met up with Rick so I could deliver to him my old bike. He’s the nice guy that bought my Multi-Sport, Larry. I think they will do well together and I told Rick I expect the bike to be out front. J I got to chatting with him and realized how nice it is that there are so many people learning and trying to get into the sport. I still am new myself (at least I think I am) but it’s great to get to offer up some advice to the people that are just starting to think about their first race… hopefully it’s not wrong or bad advice though! J But, I know that I so love hearing from other people involved in the sport- especially the veterans. Locally I have really looked up to Glen Bohanan (the KC Godfather of Tri), Nancy Strickland, Melissa Kelly, Jeff Dorris, Greg Goodman, Kelly Dippold and Peggy Donovan. There are a lot of others that when I see them at the races- even during the races- I get starry eyed and just get that “WOW feeling.”
That feeling really registered with me at the MO State Games last year. After a brutally hilly bike I took off on the flat run, but couldn’t get my legs going. It was a sprint and I think a 4 mile out-and-back run. I was less than a mile out of the transition when the lead pack of women (and I do mean pack, there were like 4 of them!) passed me headed the opposite direction. I was so amazed. They were straight up hauling ass. And you could just read the pain on their faces. Some were grimaced, one I know had snot running down her face (yeah, Meg H.- like you!) but they were battling. There was just less than a mile and none wanted to drop off. When they were gone I just kept plugging along, but I kept thinking about how hard they were pushing. And I was sure that they had swam and rode against each other the entire way (oddly enough, I checked the results later, and I had actually come out of the water ahead of two of them- but barely. Dammit, why couldn’t I be faster on the bike/run!?).
So, I have decided to really understand what it’s like to hurt. Yes, my focus this year is IM distance, so that’s more a completion vs. competition there, but, I want to really be a contender mentally. Yeah, I’ve always been tuff, but not like that. I may not be as physically honed for the short distances, but I want to be there in my head. You can accomplish a lot by just willing yourself to do it. So come Heritage Park, I may blow up in a sprint race, but I can guarantee I will push myself harder than I ever had. I think I need that mental break through. I read in a book not so long ago (I think it was in Going Long) that the difference between pros and amateurs is their ability to hurt. There a lot of very well trained am’s (albeit, they may not have 40 hrs a week to devote to training) that could physically out race an elite but they can’t. And for one reason- mental toughness. The elites can take their bodies to beyond because their minds will them to do it. I want to establish that ability in myself. I also have a friend or two that could really benefit from extreme mental focus.

And also along those lines, Michele sent me this (with some great IM pictures- thanks Moto), and I thought I’d share:

“Okay so the basis behind this article is a sales pitch, but he's got some good points. Instead of actually being productive, I downloaded some IMFL pictures from the racer's perspective so you can visualize kicking ass at IMFL.

Enjoy,
Michele” …


High Velocity E-Zine
Visualizing is the Key to Realizing
What is it that separates the highly successful individual from the average or even successful individual? Why is it that one person seems to achieve extraordinary results on a consistent basis and another, with nearly the same training, hits and misses their accomplishments?
The success technique to which I am referring is visualization. I guarantee that "visualizing your results is the key to realizing your results." Visualizing is one of the most important techniques you will ever learn and one that is utilized by all high performers.
Visualizing is your key to success for two reasons: Your mind thinks in pictures and images; Your unconscious mind drives your behavior.
Your unconscious mind doesn't know the difference between something that is real and something vividly imagined. Whatever picture (goal) you consistently think about will drive your actions to create that exact picture. When you continually see yourself in possession of your goal, your unconscious mind will move you into actions that align with the mental image you hold.
Here's a quick visualization overview to assure your goal achievement:
Create a clear mental picture. You must associate a picture to your goal. You should picture yourself in your vision, rather than watching yourself achieve your goal. This "fine point" separates the masters from the masses. You must create a picture that is so real you believe you already have achieved your success.
You must "experience" your vision. You must be in your picture, looking through your own eyes... seeing, hearing and feeling everything as if you have already achieved your goal. You must create the emotion of the moment in your own body.
Visualize your goal at every opportunity. Bring up your mental picture while waiting at a stop light, when you're on a break, before your next meeting. The more frequently you plant your picture into your unconscious mind, the more rapidly you will begin to realize increased results in your life.
Visualize first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The best time to visualize is in the morning right after you wake up and just before you go to sleep. These are the times when your unconscious mind is most open to influence. When your conscious mind relaxes, your unconscious becomes very receptive to your thoughts, dreams and ideas--particularly ideas with high emotion.
So make a commitment right now to create your picture of achieving your goal. All great masters have taught that we become what we constantly think about. Think about your goals to the exclusion of all else and watch your personal and professional results skyrocket!

***

Master’s Practice today went quite well, I believe. I was a little disappointed with the numbers (5 showed), but when I got in the office today I had 4 emails from people saying they would be joining sometime this month.
The members are:
Moto-Michele: Seems to be a frequent partner in crime. However, as a swim client she really took direction and I’m looking forward to her putting that to good use and really taking her swimming to the next level. She’s recovering from a broken hip, so there’s going to be lots of dryland mods for her.
Amy: Amy is returning to swimming after some time off (and a hubby and kids it sounds like). She told me she would be the very bottom of the group, but I think she is going to surprise herself as the practices go on.
Jules: My IM training partner. Her weakness in Tri’s is swimming, and I think her getting in some group workouts with a coach on deck or in the water will really be helpful to her. She is another one that will see some drastic improvements just by having scheduled workouts and time in the water.
Justin: Talks too much. J Last one in the water. He’s is probably the most technically sound as far a strokes go, but he’s got some bad habits in stroke mechanics that will need working on. Having structured workouts will be beneficial to him. He asked when the “real workouts” would start. When they start he might ask me when they’ll stop. J But seriously, he’s done Silverman (it’s an IM distance race in Vegas) so I know he’s a hard worker.
Randy: Couldda Shoudda been collegiate swimmer. He’s looking for a master’s team to be more competitive and workout in a structured environment. I look forward to really seeing his skills progress. Probably has the most raw talent, but with a lot of room for improvement.


posted @ 5/2/2007 10:20:57 AM (0) Comments
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
There is no cure.
It's so scary to think that things can be moving along fine and then your world be completely rocked. My grandpa who has once fought cancer and lived to tell about it is now fighting again. I just lost one grandfather to cancer in June last year, and a great uncle less than two.
Right now there is no cure for cancer. Sure, there are some things you can do to lessen your chances, but I really doubt anyone reading this has made it through their lives with out battling the disease themselves or being touched by someone who has.
If at all possible, volunteer, donate, voice your thoughts, prayers- ANYTHING you can do to help those whom fight the hardest battle anyone can endure.
I had someone tell me not so long ago that "Those LiveStrong bracelets aren't really fashionable anymore." The idea that someone would wear a bracelet that means so much to so many just to look cool apalled me. I wear my bracelet for my grandfathers, uncles, best friend's mother, mom's best friend, friend's friends, and for total strangers. Do what you can to support those that need your support.
Please tell those that you love that you love them and spend as much time with them as you can. You'll be thankful that you did.

Courtney
posted @ 5/1/2007 11:58:18 AM (0) Comments