Curiosity...

Some say that Curiosity killed the cat.

~I think the cat is stronger in the 

end because of it.~

Curiosity can often be considered 

an annoyance, a type of "nosy."

~I think this is how you stay on 

top of your game.~

~~~If you stop being Curious...

learning would come to a standstill.~~~

The Curious (much to other's dismay;)

often seem to get ahead in life.

And in most situations that isn't such 

a bad thing at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”

Albert Einstein

Race Report

The Olympic Triathlon

 1.5km Swim / 40km Bike / 10km Run 

~~~

It seems as though I can be full of a lot of hot air here on this blog.

It WAS all in my head. 

It was.

But....it took a lot of effort in the legs, arms, and lungs department too....

~~~~

Sunday morning was beautiful.

And the lake was calm...a good thing.

It was full of weeds which they supposedly "mowed" before our race, but I still ended up with a few covering my cap and goggles as I swam. I just kept thinking about groceries I needed when I got back home.

Really. That's what I thought of.

Oh....

and I also had to watch out for the (rather large) guy who didn't know how to sight while swimming. 

He zigzagged back and forth in front of me....swimming over top of me and hitting and kicking to find his way to the turnaround buoy. 

For some reason I couldn't shake him. 

He crossed me at least 6 times over a 500m distance.

Other than that- I really did enjoy the swim.

(Swim Time: 36:41)

Transition went okay.

I did have to sit down to take off that ridiculous wet suit.

It was either that or fall on top of the guy's bike next to me.

I'm sure that thing was worth more than my vehicle. 

And no- I'm not jealous;)

It was a 3 Loop bike course.....a bit disheartening every time you rode past the volunteer yelling:

"Lap here" or "Finish here"....and I knew I still had to turn right for 2 more laps.

But bike seems to be the easiest leg of the race for me, so I  didn't mind the pedal by canola fields with the mountains off in the distance....3 times in a row.

(Really...I wasn't sightseeing on the bike.

But it sure was a darn pretty ride:)

(Bike Time: 1:10:31)

Last and my least favorite,

was the run.

It wasn't bad to swim 2 laps of the lake course.

And even the 3 loops on the bike was manageable.

But I now know how a hamster feels running on a wheel.

FOUR laps of a running loop was not a good thing for my mental state after all I had already done.

Each time we did a loop on the run we had to actually run BY the Finish Line. 

(Note the signs behind me.

I didn't like them until the 4th lap.)

3 TIMES I ran by that finish...listening to names being called out by the announcer. 

Names of people who had already run the 4 loops.

It was quite the mental challenge (for me).

So... being

the "optimistic blogger/runner/pretender" I had to yell out at every other person I saw on the run...

"It's All In Our Heads!!!"

(pffft!)

I don't think any one believed me.

At that point- I didn't believe it myself.

And neither did my legs or lungs.

But yes. 

I did eventually get to the 4th round.

~Run Time: 1:02~

(not happy with that time at all...but I wasn't going to do it over;)

It's funny....

I'm glad that race has come and gone. 

But I'm left sitting here wondering what I do now.

It seems all those hours of training

for 2 hours and 49 minutes of race time was quite an ordeal.

I can't quit thinking....

*Maybe I should use up all that training for a few more races.

*It wasn't all that bad.

*The run could eventually be my friend.

*I felt actually pretty good after I caught my breath.

*I think I could do a few more over the next month or so.

Then again, 

maybe it's just all in my head...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(A HUGE thanks to all of you who encouraged me and believed I could do this thing. I actually thought of you as I ran and didn't want to quit because I didn't want to do a blog post on quitting;)

And another thank you to all the other Blogger/Triathletes out there who are such an inspiration for me. 

You HIM and IM people are Amazing to go those distances!!!)

Coming up...

My oldest is off to the city for a

Summer Games Selection Rowing Camp.

And I am off to the city for my first 

Olympic Distance Triathlon.

One words: nerves.

(And NOT of steel...or that would be 3 words.)

I'd like to think we are both going to tackle this weekend with

the same determination we've been training with.

But it's funny how scheduled events tend to bring out the insecurities in one's head. 

At least in mine.

~~~

Remembering this over the next few days:

"it's all in my head!".

And this:

"Once you're beat mentally,
you might was well not even go to the starting line."

-Todd Williams

~~~

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Things (not) To do

It seems there must be many unwritten rules to camping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like.... 

never go kayaking with your big brother unless you plan on getting wet.

Or....

NEVER go to sleep in your tent with a brother who likes art and has access to an ink pen.

( I guess another rule could be...ALWAYS look in the mirror upon waking ;)

Make sure you always tell at least ONE good story around this before zipping up your sleeping bag.

Send the kids to do the dishes.....

I'm SURE they have more fun than we do at this chore anyway.

Always use your head.

Never forget to take the time 

to stop at the beautiful moments.

And if all else fails,

you can always go 

~~~Jump in the Lake.~~

Getting There

~A 4am start~

~ A 9 hour drive through scenes like these. ~

~All to get to a destination like this.~

~Worth every minute.~

all angles~~

If it doesn't look quite right from one angle...

...try another.

If it still doesn't look right

maybe all that is needed...

~ is to look inside.~

~~~

(My kiddos and I are headed for the sunny hills and valleys this week. 

Not sure if I'll be able to tune in to Blogville while away....

but hoping to catch up with everyone when I return.

Have a wonderful week!)

A few reasons....

~just a few reasons why I love this land~

Canada Day~

~Happy Canada Day~

July 1, 2011

Triathlon Weekend- (and the longest post I've ever written)

Sitting down to catch my breath....and going try to get caught  up on here tonight.....

So....first Triathlon of the season has come and gone!

Saturday.....my youngest participated in the Kids Of Steel Triathlon....and did an awesome job!

He came in 11th place out of 36 kids...and has hardly trained.

(I have to brag- right?;)

   Age Group: M8-9        #465 Ben R                  

Swim Time(200m): 3:18   Bike Time(5km): 18:38  Run Time(1km)6:14   

Total Time: 28:09.2

Super Proud of you Buddy!

~~~

The next day my alarm went off at 4am- but I was already up.

I'm not a sleeper~inner....especially on race days.

It was grey, rainy, windy, and looked a dismal day for racing.

Regardless of the weather....it was on.

My oldest and I ate a quick breakfast, loaded the bikes and gear into the truck,

and took off at the scheduled time of 5am.

Within mere minutes I could hear a strange sound coming from the back of the truck.

"Sounds like a flat"....my 16 year old calmly stated.

Calm wasn't my reaction.

I have never had a flat tire in all my days of driving.

21 years to be exact.

So of course all driver's education and training has long since dissipated.

Changing a tire, or even what to do when you're already miles from home ...isn't even 

on my driver-common-sense radar.

I whipped a U-Turn in the middle of the (dead at 5am) highway and drove 100km/hr (normal speed limit) back home.

Needless to say, (NOW I know...)  that wasn't the right thing to do. 

I guess your tire rim can be damaged driving with a flat.

Who knew?

(Kind of like not knowing lily pads grew flowers......

Pffft;)

Try stuffing two race bikes in the back of a mini-van.

When you're in panic mode.

And your bike is the most important of all things you own.

And you don't want it even scratched let alone bent up.

It was like a puzzle....and a puzzle that I wasn't up to at that particular moment.

I just have to say I'm very grateful for the Calm Persons of this world....

~~~

After all that chaos, we ended up at the transition set up only 15 minutes later than scheduled, and we found perfect spots on the rack for our bikes.

(I DO have to say that some people on race day can be quite.....what's the word? 

Oh yes.

Rude.)

I was just setting my bike into position, when a guy from a local Tri club threw a small purple hand towel right under my wheel, along with a bag containing a half rotten banana.

He was tyring to save MY SPOT for a friend.

Really people?

I got up before 4am, dealt with a flat, was drenched from pouring rain, only to be bumped out of a spot by a purple towel and a bagged banana?

Nu-uh.

I left my bike where it was, thinking I may have a confrontation on my hands in a bit....but fortunately keeping your mouth shut and leaving your bike hanging in its spot is the best method. 

He moved his "gear" about 45 minutes later.

I guess his friend found his own spot.....

Transition set up, chips on ankles, body markings done....

now we waited for our Swim Heats.

My son was in Heat 7- being that he was in the Junior Division.

I was in Heat 51.

He was finished his entire race before I even started mine.

Almost 3 hours of wait time beside the pool.

3 hours to wonder just why I decided to do this in the first place.

(Have I ever mentioned I'm a worrier? 

And that I think far too much?)

Making a long story a bit shorter now....

the race went well, and aside from 30km/hr winds on the bike, it went quite smoothly.

Oh.

Except for the part when I ran my bike back into transition area to begin my run, and I (still don't know how)....flipped over my handlebars in some sort of semi-sommersalt position.

All I can remember is hearing the GASP from the spectators as I slowly (ever notice how falls tend to happen in slow-mo?)

dropped to the pavement.

(Currently my elbow is swollen, gashed, bruised,

and I only have a few 3inch bruises on my leg.

I'm fine!

{Guess it's about time I quit typing and get on with race pics.}

My joke before it all was that I was out to beat my 16 year old son....

We were only 2 minutes apart in final time.

And he doesn't even train.

I on the other hand... have been getting up at 4am to fit enough miles on to my training schedule.

~it figures~

Division: M-JR        #986 Adam R                 

Swim (750m): 17:20    Bike (20km):49:34   Run(5km): 27:15 

Total Time: 1:34:08.3

~~

 

#283 Dawn R         

Swim (750m):14:44   Bike (20km):49:12   Run(5km): 28:27 

Total Time:  1:32:21.8

Place Overall:27/108    Placed in Age Division:8/36
~~~

Thanks Ad!

I had an awesome day with you....even though we didn't race "together".

And although I feel wiped that I train 6 days a week at 4am, 

and you just "have it without even trying"...

I'm SUPER proud of you.

(and a bit envious:)

But remember...I still beat you by 2 minutes;)

Maybe next year?

:)

~~~~

Next up: 

my Olympic~distance Triathlon

in less than 3 weeks.

Here's to more 4 in the morning training sessions....