Oops, I did it again!

Kidding, there is no oops here.

I am pregnant again. I am due April 1st. So Liv and her sibling will be about 16 months apart.

Needless to say I am not training. I feel way more pregnant this time around. I guess because I am taking care of a babe and working and creating a new life all at the same time.

I am staying active with the hopes that I will get back to running about 3 months post-partum. I am not planning to race this coming tri season.

I am back to work (almost full time) at Meadow Park Sports Centre. Liv is in daycare 3 full days a week. She loves it! She is such a social little girl!

Spectator at Tri's, but not at Motherhood!

Here we are in Penticton, home of Ironman Canada 2009, spectating and cheering and eating. As you all know spectating

Tri & Tri Again: Squamish & Vancouver

Phew! I managed to pull off two races in a row without getting a flat, getting DQ'd, a penalty or crashing!

July 5th Squamish Triathlon (memorial to Bob McIntosh) 1st 35-39 ys & 4th out of the women.
July 12th Vancouver Suburu West Coast Tri Series Sprint 2nd 30-39 yrs & 4th out of the women.

More details to come as soon as I can get to typing and mothering in one day :)
Cheers for now

Oliver Half Iron June 7, 2009

In 7 years of doing triathlon I have never had a flat tire during a race!

So there is a first time for everything and well…it is kind of embarrassing…don’t laugh…I was not sure how to change it. I have tubular tires and have practised changing a flat on them ONCE in 5 years and was not confident that I could change it and have it be secure so I pedaled along with a slow leak, refilled it a few times and then TECH support found me on course and helped me out. (Thanks Bike Barn!) So I figure I lost 30-40 minutes on the bike. I felt pretty silly. I struggled mentally with whether or not I was going to continue at all but basically forced myself to keep going. When I got to the transition, I took my time, went to the bathroom, tied my shoes carefully and grabbed my gel and swallowed some Vitamin I. As I left the transition area I was cheered on by friends and that kept me going. I had a good cry but I kept going. I was not looking forward to a half marathon. I was not looking forward to a 6 hr finish time…Oh my sorry little, big ego. I always learn something while racing! This time: the importance of being prepared. I told a few people along the way to this race that I was testing the “How little can you train” theory, ha ha. One thing you cannot skimp is being prepared in the knowledge and familiarity of your equipment and race day preparations and routine. My bike was not exactly well tuned or maintained and I as not as comfortable on my bike this year as in past years because I just have not been riding much. My morning race routine was not followed as usual and for that matter I did not really focus hard on having a set schedule for the pre-race prep. It makes me appreciate how prepared I have been in the past. I am proud I finished. I had visions of telling people I had not finished and did not like that scenario! It may seem silly but I wanted to make Bob & Liv proud too. There you have it.

We, Bob, Liv and I camped at the race site. We had a great time. We were with a large group of friends who were racing and also spectating. It was a great experience to be with them and share the time with them. I am very lucky to have such a talented and fun-loving group of friends to race and train with. Not to mention my good friend Alex who was Liv's care-giver while Bob and I slugged it out on the race course.

I am still happily supporting TYR, SMITH Optics, North Shore Athletics, New Balance, Snow Covers. I have been sporting the gear they gave me last year since I did not race last year. I am chalking up the race season so far as experience an character building.

To make a difference for future races I will need to find a greater focus for my training sessions. My ability to balance my focus between being MOM and being a focused while training is still being challenged. It is all good. I am LOVING being MOM. I also love racing and training it is apparent now how much energy and attention it took for me to be successful in previous years.

My success is being measured on a different scale this year.

North Shore Spring Triathlon

May 18, 2009 North Shore Spring Triathlon: A lesson in Drafting

I completed my first triathlon since August 2007!

I came in 2nd in my age group with a time of 1:09:50 which includes a 2 minute penalty for drafting no the bike course. That put me 10th of 158 women.

I received a 2 minute penalty for drafting on the bike. I did not even realise I was drafting. I did not do it on purpose: that would be cheating. I found out about the penalty during the awards ceremony. For those that do not know drafting is when you are immediately behind another cyclist (7 meters) and in that way you benefit from their draft. It is easier to bike behind someone. Tri BC rules do not allow drafting for that reason and also because it is not safe to be that close to another cyclist on course. Age group triathlete are not deemed skilled enough on the bike to draft. Elite races, like what you would see during the Olympics, are draft legal. Draft legal races are VERY different races. There is a whole different strategy. Athletes will team up to set up 1 of their athletes to win rather then each individual racer going for the gold on their own.

I always learn something at races. It is the pressure of racing and focus that is required to race that creates an evironment that forces to learn QUICKLY and move on. The challenge is daunting and fun at the same time!

Vancouver 1/2 Marathon, Honest!

My timing chip did not work so I do not have an official time but I did complete the Vancouver 1/2 Marathon on May 3, 2009.

I came in a about a minute before a friend who finished in 1:39. My watch said 1:40 but I stopped it only after I realised my chip did not scan.

I am really pleased with my run. My goal was to hold 5 min/km or less. To reach that goal I planned to run 5:15/km the first half and 4:30-4:45/km for the second half. Yes, a negative split. I did it thanks to having a watch that measuring pace! I definitely start to fast! The watch kept me on track.

I had a great run. The weather was perfect and I felt quite strong. This event served as preparation for the Half Iron I will be doing in early June. It is a great confidence booster to know that the race went well, was relatively easy and that I still like racing! Of course if you saw me the day before you would never know. I was pretty nervous. None the less the butterflies disapeared the minute the gun went off and I was able to focus my attention to the task at hand.

I was able to share the day with Bob, my husband, and Liv my 5 month old daughter. It was such a treat to see them on course and at the finish. I received so much support from Bob to get ready for this race. I would not have been able to train without his keen interest in not only my training and well being but his flexible work schedule that allowed for his child care time with Liv during buisness hours.

He had great bonding sessions with Liv while I ran and swam my way to preparing for this race. I know that new Dads say it is emotionally a tough go for them the first 6-8 months while Mom is the prime care giver and babe only has eyes for Mom. Bob has been confident in the knowledge that Liv loves him just as much as me. Liv lets him know every day with that giggle and smile she gives to him. He knows that being an infant means needing Mom a bit more just because he cannot breast feed. I have expressed milk so A) I can get out but B) the second hand benefit being that Bob can provide the ever important source of care and love that only feeding can really result in. The bond that occurs during just the simple tasks of care giving, such as feeding, diapering and snuggling is so important to BOTH parents. Mom needs to be able to let go and Dad needs to be available. We seem to have figured this part out so far. Liv has benefited from having both of us as the care givers and loving parents.

Needless to say my focus on training is not the same now that I am a mom. I must say that my training schedule is sparser then in previous years but my sessions are focused and effective. I have been able to get back to a few training sessions with friends . It is such a bonus to train with friends! They are motivating and well just plain fun to be with! I am looking forward to witnessing my ability in the upcoming races:

May 18th North Shore Sprint Triathlon

June 7th Oliver 1/2 Iron

I am keeping busy being mom but have managed to fill the spare time with volunteering at the food bank every two weeks, coaching 4 athletes, teaching 1 fitness class per week, volunteering with the Whistler Tri Club as race director and assisting wth the Kids Tri Camp every Wednesday.

Not quite there yet, but almost

I completed the Whistler 19 km Loppett on Feb 22nd and came in 2nd in my age group! That is Jen Tabbernor who came in 1st. She is a great athlete. I am honoured to come in 2nd to her! It was a great event. I felt pretty good and had fun getting nervous before the race. I always get nervous. I think that is part of the fun of competing. Bill and Julie, my parents in law, took care of Liv while skied. I looked forward to seeing Liv at the finish line about half way through the last lap. It was so cool to have her to look forward to!

I did not get to participate in the UBC Tri on March 8th because I was sick. I had a nasty cough! I was sick for about 10 days. I was so bummed. The day before the race I tested out my lungs with an easy classic ski with Liv strapped to me and it hurt to breath. So I made the decision to back out of the race. It was -2 degrees Celsius the morning of the race in Vancouver. I know I made the right and only decision to not race.

I am finally over my cold and am back to training. My goal now is to get the workouts in! No excuses. The tough ones to fit in are the spins. For some reason I just cannot fit those in. I am swimming about twice a week 2000-2500m, running about 45-60 minutes 2 X and doing my home weights/strength program 2 X. I know I need to get the spins in! The 90 km bike ride will not happen by itself!

I am preparing for the Vancouver half marathon May 3rd and the Oliver 1/2 iron on June 7th

I am full time mom, which I LOVE! I am doing my best fitting it all in. Hanging with babe, training, playing house, coaching 3 athletes who do not need their hand held let me tell you, helping prepare the Whistler Triathlon Club's Kids of Steel and Try-A-Tri for May 23rd.

Life is good. Liv is awesome. Bob is a rock of support. My family and friends surround me. What more can I ask for. The rest is up to me to achieve.

FIVE WEEKS TILL VANCOUVER 1/2

and

NINE WEEKS TILL OLIVER!