How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I got a new bike!

I made it to a second year of triathlons and decided to upgrade my bike to celebrate my now established hobby. See, the first year I went to the bike store proclaiming I had no idea how I'd like triathlons and that I didn't want to spend a lot of money, just in case. Bike stores are used to this, and a good store will steer you towards something that will get the job done, not set you back and arm and a leg, and won't be so hard to ride you never want to come back for an upgrade. 

I got my first bike from Spokes Etc. They were great, listened to me and my needs and gave me a few suggestions.  I bought a Trek FX 7.5 WSD (here's a more recent model for you visual folks). In plain English that means a Trek fitness hybrid with a women's specific design.  A fitness hybrid is more rugged then a road bike, with a bigger frame, slightly bigger tires and a more upright posture.  I was coming off months of physical therapy from a pinched nerve in my neck and it made sense to sit upright. The bike was wonderful for a first triathlon bike. I felt safe riding down steep hills with it, I didn't worry that I'd break it being a little larger then the average biker, and if I crashed it I wasn't upset (and I did crash it thanks to my clipless pedals).

This year, however, I was ready to get what I keep calling my "grown up bike".  My FX worked for me, but really it might as well have had a basket on the handlebars for all it's performance capabilities.  I did some research, returning to Spokes Etc, to tell them my needs and find out about what I should expect to spend.  At my current skill level, which is uber-recreational, there reaches a point where bikes cost significantly more but won't make a huge difference in comfort or race times. Let's face it: a 2 minute improvement on the bike doesn't do much when you are in the middle of the pack, and as long as my hiney isn't hurting I'm feeling pretty good. I knew I wanted a carbon frame for it's lightness, and 105 components, which were explained to me as bottom of the top tier. I looked at quite a few brands, and at quite a few shops and settled on another Trek.  Why? Well it was light and speedy, had great handling and shifting and was at the bottom of my price range. That meant I could get all the accessories I wanted up front without having to save up more money. Oh did I mention I saved up for this bike for the better part of a year so I could pay cash? Yep, no credit cards in my house! In any case, here's a picture of the new baby:

It's a 2010 Trek Madone 4.5 WSD, so you probably won't see it in stores now that they are releasing the 2011's, but if you do and you are in the market, snatch it up! It's price point is really good for a carbon frame and it's probably on sale now :). I do have to admit I got this bike from Revolution Cycles, not Spokes Etc. There's not good reason for the switch other then I found the right bike at the right time there. Spokes Etc would've had it too, I'm sure! Both are great stores with great staff who take time to answer questions and make sure you are happy. I will say I never got a professional bike fit with Spokes Etc. I sort of stumbled into one when I upgraded my seat and pedals on the FX.  At Revolution Cycles a professional bike fit came with the bike, which was also another chance to get questions answered. In any case, I love my bike!!

Riding With Strangers

Hi all, well I just got back from vacation in Florida. I am still in training for my half iron-man so I arranged to travel down with my bike so I could get in a long ride. I found a local riding group that met up about 30 minutes from where I was staying. Apparently, in these groups there are 3 levels called A, B, and C groups.  The A group is the fastest at close to 30 mph on average and they get slower from there. Although none of them are slow LOL. I had no idea what the group abilities would be when I showed up. Turns out, way faster then I imagined. The C group goes an average of 20 mph!!! I've never gone that fast without the help of a downhill :). One C group member there was convinced I could do it anyways, even offered to stay with me if I needed it.  Gosh bike culture is something else!  In any case as I talked to other folks there it came out that there was a new group started, a D group, that goes an average of 18 mph.  I was really nervous about that, too, but then I found out that group had a "no drop" policy, which means they won't take off and leave you. There must be a big bike culture there, because out of the 100 (!!) or so people that showed up there were only 10 of us in the D group. 

We set off on the ride with twists and turns through the neighborhoods. I was very relieved there was a no drop policy because I was lost before the first 5 minutes were up.   We rode along some major roads, which happened to be where I dropped one of my two water bottles.  Oops!  It rolled out into traffic and I knew there was no way I was getting it back, although one of the other riders offered to retrieve it--bike culture is so supportive.  Luckily I had another bottle, and the D group (along with the C group) has a policy of taking a break half way through their ride so I knew I could at least top off my other bottle. We stopped at a 7-11 after about 20 miles, everyone was eating a snack. Did I find the right group or what?? The funny thing is no one was eating those sugar gels, they all had substantial snacks of these giant oat bars and what not.  I felt right at home eating my yam cakes :). 

We continued on and I was still keeping up with the group. Flat Florida makes for a great biking situation!  I only fell behind twice, once when we hit a big overpass, and I promptly caught up, and another time on a big straight away when the group decided to sprint for fun.  I sped up to 22 mph, but sprinting?? Not if you expect me to finish 40 miles LOL.  I learned a lot of new things on this ride about riding in groups. There's all sorts of hand signals about slowing down and stopping, as well as pointing out glass or potholes for riders behind you to see.  These things are important because you travel very packed in and you can't see ahead, so you really have to bond as a group and trust the people in the front to give you information. I'm betting this is part of what makes bike culture so special. I saw all sorts of things on my ride, armodillo, snakes, buzzards, beautiful neighborhoods, and almost all the drivers were really nice. It helps to travel in packs, the cars seem to leave bikers alone more.  Overall, riding with strangers--these strangers--was really great!

When I finished my ride I went right to my extra water I keep handy post ride.  I was really glad to have it because it was 11am when we finished and that one water bottle didn't make it the whole trip.  Had more yam cakes and headed home for a post workout meal (scrambled eggs, brown rice cereal, coconut water, and plantains--hey, when in Rome/Florida....LOL).

First Ride of the Season. Clipless pedals 1: Heather: 0

Or as I like to call it: I didn't know my skin could turn that color.

Saturday I took my bike out for the first ride of the season. It was a gorgeous clear day with warm weather, and I knew there would be a lot of people out on the bike trails so I got up and on the road at 7:30am.  In retrospect I probably should have spent some time getting used to clipless pedals again. 

I got my first set of shoes and clipless pedals last season, maybe a month before my last race of the season.  Everyone told me I'd fall, and I didn't believe them. I practiced in a trainer at the bike shop for like an hour.  I told my foot exactly what it would need to do, and I felt confident that I would not be like everyone else. Oh humility, how bitter you taste!  I fell less then a mile from my house in the middle of a busy intersection.  I had to stop suddenly and couldn't remember how to unclip and I tipped right over. I couldn't even look at the cars around me, I knew they would be laughing. If I was in their place I would be laughing. I only fell one other time after that, when I was making a U-turn and removed the wrong food from the clip.  I hit my head that time and was reassured by my trusty helmet. Yep, always going to wear one!

So flash forward to Saturday, gorgeous day, finally have a spring triathlon on my calendar and motivation to get out.  I felt great, was cruising along at a pace that was pretty good for me.  I got to my 40 minute turn around spot, unclipped the inside foot this time and turned around. Right when I was about to go forward and back towards home I suddenly started to tip to the outside. Once you start tipping over the only thing to do is to twist your body so something soft and fleshy hits, and I succeeded in landed in my ample hip/behind.  The worst part about falling like that are the witnesses.  Cars were stopping, a runner going by was trying to commiserate with "we've all been there" and all I wanted to do was crawl into the shadows and lick my mental wounds.  I made good use of the stop, had some water, checked myself over for injuries and then headed home, deflated. 

I think the second worst part of falling is that it takes the joy out of the ride.  The rest of the way back I'm thinking about how my hip hurts, and how I hope I don't fall again.  I'm nervous about getting back on my bike. I even went to the bike shop to see if an upgrade in pedals would make a difference (answer: no).  The only way to keep from falling again is to practice.  I don't have a trainer at home but I do have a husband who can hold my bike. In fact, he offered first, which is why I adore him.  I won't have a chance to get back on my bike until Bike to Work Day in April.  I'm quite nervous about riding in a group and not being used to the pedals, so I'll need to squeeze some time in before then.  Wish me luck!

Army 10 Miler Report

Well yesterday I ran my favorite race for the 7th time in 8 years. It is the Army 10 Miler and it is a wonderful race. Festivities start by the Pentagon with paratroopers coming down from airplanes so high you didn't see them pass by. Suddenly a group of parachuters start showing up in the sky with red colored smoke ribboning behind them. They have expert control, twirling and whirling and landing in the middle of a four laned road beautifully. Later a group of Black Hawk helicopters fly close over our heads with amazing formation, so close I was afraid their blades would hit one another, but that is what they are trained for. Then the National Anthem is sung sans music, by a man with a voice like an angel. The whole crowd gets dead silent, stands with their hands over their heart looking at the flags right next to the 9/11 memorial, facing the side of the Pentagon the plane hit on that awful day. You can tell the whole crowd is thinking about it. The anthem ends and the energy picks up.

The wounded soldiers and wheel chair competitors start first, then the wave of fast runners, and lastly the wave of the recreational runners, which is where I am. I run past the pentagon across the Potomac river, and right by the Lincoln Memorial. We run into Georgetown and by the Kennedy Center. I pass a lot of people, one of which is one of the wounded soldiers, running with a prosthetic leg. I love this race so much. My time is fabulous, 9:10 splits, I feel great, but do feel a new discomfort on the arch of my left foot. It is not something I've dealt with before and I do not worry about it, figuring it will work itself out as I get warmed up and my form improves. We run past the Washington Monument, along the mall. I hit the 10K mark and start to feel a little tired. I realize at the same time my pelvis isn't level, so I concentrate on that, but it is hard as the scenery is amazing... not to mention I spend the entire race weaving through the crowd LOL. We pass the Capitol building, down the other side of the street and back towards the river again. I feel that burn on my arch again, darn. It reminds me to concentrate on form, I feel that legless running again. There is music in various places along the race, played by Army bands. The best one was the group playing the Eye of the Tiger, I pass them twice the way the course goes and it gives me new energy. If only they could run next to me and play the rest of the way! I start on the last two miles back, it is the hardest part of the race with rolling hills due to multiple bridges and practically no shade. Suddenly my arch starts complaining again and this time it is BAD. I immediately get to the side and stop. I take off my sock and dang, I had a blister there, that popped itself, and lost the top layer of skin. I am mad at myself for not taking it seriously sooner. I have a mile and a half left of the race, and am in the middle of a very long bridge. I consider dropping out, but help is only ahead. I take my orthodic out, which is what was rubbing the spot, and get instant relief. I run forward thinking I can quit the race sooner and just go to the meeting spot where my husband is picking me up, but that spot is literally 100 yards from the finish line, and the foot is much better now that I am carrying the orthodic so I work on my form, relax my shoulders, level my pelvis, foot strike beneath me, and finish the race with a surprise sprint (I had thought I was tired!). My overall time works out to 9:45 min miles. It is my second best time ever. Even with stopping and tending to the blister LOL. In fact it is my fastest time in 6 years, when I was in my 20's and way thinner. Take that traditional running, chi running works!

I swam in the Potomac and lived to tell about it

That's right, I successfully finished the Nation's Triathlon on Sunday! I couldn't be more proud of myself for finishing. Not only that, I finished way ahead of my anticipated times. So much, in fact, that my friends who came to watch me missed me completely LOL. Doubled edged there, but I still got to see them after the race for a picnic by the water, which was lovely. I want to post a longer report on the race, but I'm waiting for more pictures to illustrate. In the meantime, here are a few my hubby took on his iPhone:I'm down there...somewhere. Next year I'm buying a wetsuit and having a big pink star put on my butt so hubby can see me from the bridge.


Along the run. No pics of me on the bike, hubby said I went by too fast, now that's what I like to hear!


Post race picnic with friends. I had whole grained bread and a vegan egg salad sandwich (then went home, took a nap, and had a second lunch, ha!).



I finished!! Proudly wearing my medal, I wore it all day :).


On the way back to our car, stopped for a little tourist moment. I mean, how cool is that????

Getting the right gear--lady gear that is

Let me start by apologizing to my dad and brother should they be reading this, because I sent them my blog link not long ago before I anticipated everything I might write. Today I want to talk about triathlon gear, specifically bras. I have been noticing over the year how much running and exercise gear has grown to embrace women of all sizes. Of course they were late in catching up, but they caught up none the less! Well it seems that triathlon gear has some work to do.

It seems that triathlon gear typically just has little shelf bras in them for support, and that won't work for this 34 F (also known as 34 DDD). I have long known Champion to have bras that fit the more well endowed women. These bras have led me through 2 marathons, a half marathon, countless 10 milers and even more 10 K races. The problem is that they are heavy on the cotton. Not as big of a deal if you are on land, but they definitely pose a problem if you are in water transitioning to land.

I recently did a search of all my usual online retailers, even calling the customer service number of a few to ask for assistance. I was told to wear two bras, given suggestions that I know were just to sell things no one else wants, and basically told I was out of luck by one. I went in-person to stores. The poor sales people never know what to make of me when I state my problem and it is very amusing to watch them try to avoid staring at my chest when I tell them the size I need. They suggested competitive swim tops underneath a tri suit. Hah, likely story, that might work for a B cup, maybe even a C... but not when you get to DDD.

I had started asking everyone I knew who did athletics, even people who weren't close to my size. They had to know someone else with this issue, right? Well as it turns out they did! And they all just wear a normal sports bra. I had begun to resign myself to the fact that I would just be sloshy when I got out of the water, that moisture wicking and fast drying fabrics were that of only skinny athletes--you know, the ones that actually might place in their races. Imagine my surprise when I go into Nordstrom one day and figured I might as well ask. Luckily the sales people there are used to any and every request and nary a twitchy eye trying not to look downward occurred before the sales lady ran off to the back room and came back with the perfect bra. It is a Freya, and goes up to 38H. Yes H. It's moisture wicking, and after trying it out under my tri suit on my open water swims, a practice triathlon, and a sprint triathlon I can say it will fit the bill for the Nation's Triathlon in two weeks.