Fresh Food On the Go - Like on the Bike!

Looking to eat “clean” and carry fresh food on your next bike ride? The Feed Zone Cookbook: Fast and Flavorful Food for Athletes, offers many fresh food ideas for the bike but here is one I use and love from my great friend Sherry. These granola bars are a great option! Sometimes I eat these for breakfast and sometimes after a workout. I use this as a dessert when I’m seeking something sweet too! And I can handle the cooking part of this! It’s mostly just mixing! You could really cut this recipe in half and have plenty!

Shown here without heating the ingredients and
without chocolate - one of the options in making this

No-Fuss, No-Bake Granola Bars

Ingredients:

½ cup Tahini – (paste made from ground sesame seeds) - you can buy this fresh in a refrigerated case or in a jar (you can buy a smaller portion refrigerated and it will cost less)

½ cup sunflower seed butter (or almond butter or natural peanut butter)

2 tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup honey (wild flower)

¾ bar of 85% Green and Black Organic Dark Chocolate (sometimes I make it without this so it is not necessary – I still think it tastes GREAT without the chocolate believe it or not!); or chocolate chips

1 cup currants

¼ teaspoon salt

4 cups puffed rice or whole wheat puffed cereal

1 cup toasted or untoasted pumpkin seeds (tastes fine if you don’t toast them)

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Grocery stores like Krogers have most of these ingredients. You can also visit a whole foods store like the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op where you will find the currants and pumpkin seeds in the bulk foods section.

While this seems like an overwhelming number of ingredients, what you buy should be enough to use several times.

Use a 9 x 13 glass dish or several smaller glass dishes (round or square) and swipe with butter.

In a saucepan over low heat:

Combine the tahini, butter, vanilla, honey, chocolate (separate the pieces of the bar), salt, and currants. Heat until the chocolate melts.

Wet Ingredients to be heated 

In a separate large mixing bowl:

Stir together the cereal, pumpkin seeds, and 2/3 cup of coconut.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. 

Mix of dry and wet ingredients

Spread in your dish(es) and sprinkle with coconut.

And, yes, I admit it. I have tried this without heating up the ingredients (when I do not add chocolate) and it tasted fine and stuck together! So, hey, if it is a time saver - I am all for it! I'm betting you could stir in some chocolate chips without heating the ingredients and it would stick and be fine! Below I have the "microwave recipe" which is even quicker!!

Place in the refrigerator for one hour. Voila! Cut them and wrap them for on the go! No baking involved! Happy Biking and Eating!
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Time strapped and not anti-microwave?? Put the wet ingredient mix into a microwavable bowl and heat for about a minute.

Wet Ingredients - Shown here with the chocolate

Heated up SUPER QUICK in the microwave!

Mix your wet ingredients with the dry ones.

Showing the wet and dry mixed together - with chocolate

Pour into a bowl and cool in the refrigerator for one hour.

VOILA! 

A bit of early morning Triathlon Humor

It was actually a beautiful full moon this morning! I should have taken a picture!
This is a picture I took from the morning of  a race I did in South Carolina where I took an overall win!

I got up early like usual this morning so I could get my run and swim in. It takes me about thirty minutes to get to the gym where I swim. About five minutes from the gym at a quarter until six I had a flat tire! Luckily I saw a parking lot on the left and pulled over. 5:45 AM. It was dark. My husband and kids were in bed. My husband is so supportive that he will drop the kids off at the gym to me at 7:30 AM and we switch cars so he can go to work. I really thought it was much too early to call him and get the kids out of bed. And it was ridiculous to just sit in the car for the next hour and forty five minutes. There were quite a few trucks parked in the parking lot with more trucks pulling in. So I approached a guy in his truck to tell him I had a flat and if there was any way he could give me a ride. He said he had to be at work in 20 minutes and wanted to know how far it was. I said it was just down the road. He and the other guys in the parking lot were all construction workers about to start work on a building across the street. Another guy who had just pulled in said he was a nice guy and their boss was nice so it should be fine if he didn’t get back in time. So, this very nice construction worker and stranger gave me a ride to the gym this morning! Very thoughtful of him! He said he could tell I was on a mission!! But, yes, I REALLY needed to get that run and swim in!! However, I am not saying go up to any stranger and bum a ride to the gym to get a workout in. I was lucky I got a flat where I did early this morning.

So, here is my early morning humor. You know you are a triathlete when:

1. You bum a ride from a stranger in a pick-up truck at 5:45 AM so you can get your 

     workout in;

2.  You get to scrape the frost off your windows before everyone else gets out of bed;

3.  You get to see how bright and beautiful the moon and stars are on your run;

4.  You get to see the mist coming up off the ponds you pass by early in the morning;

      AND

5.  You get to see your breathe with every stride in the cold and darkness!

Have fun training and remember to thank the construction workers in life who are happy to help out a desperate triathlete! 

Finding Local Bike Routes

It’s off season now so every Sunday I have been going on a long group bike ride with a different route every weekend that we have organized ourselves. What’s even more fun is we have been ending our ride with beer at a local restaurant that just opened called the Wasena City Tap Room.  It’s in an ideal location right off of our Roanoke Valley Greenway, which is our no traffic route for biking, walking, running, or skating.  And, boy is that some good beer with a great selection after a long ride! The only problem is then biking up hill to get home after such great beer! My favorite beer on tap from there is the Foothills Hoppyum IPA.  A really smooth session Indian Pale Ale and oh so good after many miles on the road!

Wasena City Tap Room

Foothills Session IPA

We have found routes through friends and just by exploring but here are a few of many places you can find some routes:

1. www.mapmyride.com

2. http://www.traillink.com/ - for biking on trails

3. http://bike.meetup.com/ - groups with routes all over the world

4. http://www.active.com/cycling - lists all sorts of group rides and races

5. Your local bike shop might organize group rides. Here is a list of bike rides and sources listed from our local bike shop, East Coasters, website: http://eastcoasters.com/tips/cycling-links-pg20.htm

6. Your local bike group(s) such as The Blue Ridge Bike Club in Roanoke, VA which has a ride calendar and maps and The Roanoke Cycling Organization. 

The Blue Ridge Bike Club has an amazing list of resources and bike routes! Definitely my go-to if I’m searching for a local ride!

7. Your local triathlon club – such as the Roanoke Valley Triathlon Club in Roanoke, VA.

I am lucky in that I have some pretty amazing training grounds close by. I can bike 4 miles on country roads to get to our Greenway or I can bike half a mile and jump on the Parkway. Some of my favorite local rides are below. Many of these are well known, established routes. This is just a sampler of some of my favorites! Some of the routes listed are from one place to the next without the return mileage.

1. Climbing the Mill Mountain back road followed by the Roanoke Mountain Loop – http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155910331 - From Walnut Avenue in Roanoke which you can access from the Greenway, take a right onto Sylvan Road and keep climbing to the top of Mill Mountain. A pretty easy climb up and there is no vehicular traffic except for one residence so this is great! Once you leave Mill Mountain, take a right on the Parkway and a left at the next stop sign where you will see the Roanoke Mountain loop on your right. A fun steep climb with some breaks in steepness in-between. 

My friend Natalie and I at the Roanoke Star Overlook

Me, husband Rob, Uncle David
at the Roanoke Star Overlook after the first climb

Uncle David, Friend Natalie, me, husband Rob at the Roanoke Star 

My friend Natalie and I at the top of the Roanoke Mountain Loop (second climb)

2. Three Peaks - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1652156  - WOW – looking for a challenge? Try going up the Salem side of Twelve O’Clock Knob road on a tri-bike! This is a fun route with lots of climbing and quite a challenging and long climb on the Salem side of Twelve O’Clock knob road!

Me and friends Natalie and Beth

My husband Rob and I

3. Slings Gap – http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155912551 - You can jump on the Parkway anywhere in Roanoke, including from the Greenway and head south on the Parkway and if you keep riding you will end up at Slings Gap. It’s an easy climb to get there and beautiful views!

Slings Gap

4. The James River to the Peaks of Otter – http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155919849 - Park at the James River Visitor Center and head up towards the Peaks of Otter. This is one beautiful and easy climb. The views and peace on the road are totally worth it!

View on the way up to the Peaks of Otter from the James River Visitor Center

5. The Peaks of Otter over the Parkway from around Explore Park-

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155918177 - This has some steeper but shorter climbs and some rolling hills to land you at the Peaks of Otter. Sadly the restaurant just closed but they have a nice Parkway Visitor Center and you could always take a hike around the lake once you arrive if you haven’t had enough on the bike yet!

Views on the way to the Peaks of Otter from Explore Park

Views on the way to the Peaks of Otter

Peaks of Otter

6. The Yellow Mountain, Bandy Road Loop –

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/155916219 - this is a scenic low-traffic ride in town which you can access right off of the Greenway. From Jefferson Street which you can jump on from the Greenway, take a left onto Yellow Mountain Road. Follow Yellow Mountain Road all the way to Bandy Road where you will take a left. Bandy will end at Garden City Boulevard where you will take a right. Once you get to the stoplight you can easily jump back on the Greenway from the adjacent IGA Supermarket parking lot.

Post Ride Stop at the Wasena City Tap Room with friends Liz and Beth

7. Following the Greenway – You can follow the newest section of the Greenway next to the sewage treatment plant, come back, jump on at the sewage treatment plant, and follow the Roanoke side of the Greenway as far as it goes. Then you will need to ride on a busy traffic road for about four miles before you can connect with the Salem side of the Greenway. Once the Roanoke side ends, take a left onto Bridge Street, a right onto Mountain View Terrance, right onto Memorial, bear left onto Edgewood, right onto Brandon (high traffic road), and once you cross the River past the 419 intersection you can get onto the Salem Greenway. You would be surprised that this ride turned into a 42 mile bike ride! This we had not expected! It was fun to go out and explore this route!

Stop off at the Wasena City Tap Room after our Greenway Exploration
with husband Rob, friend Bruce, and Uncle David

Husband Rob and I after a long bike ride this last Sunday
 which took us from around Explore Park to a well known local
route on Harborwood and Wildwood in Salem (not listed
above but can be found on the Blue Ridge Bike Club website)

So while it is offseason – or even in-season, get out there and explore some local routes and think about stopping at a fun eatery or tap room like the Wasena City Tap Room where you can enjoy the comfort of a good ride, good friends, and a good beer – or just a cup of soup or hot cocoa if beer isn’t your thing.  Happy Riding!

Thank you Tri-Clips

I'm pretty excited to have Tri-Clips sponsor me! I love their clips! They also make transition mats in some really cool colors, water resistant bike seat covers, and some cute T-shirts! I love the size of the transition mat - NOT TOO BIG. It drives me crazy when people show up with almost everything except for the kitchen sink in the transition area! I'm a minimalist in the transition area and with the help of the Tri-Clips I have gotten some speedy T1's! The transition mat is a perfect size and for me in a cool color - pink/purple! They have other cool colors like: lime green/bright purple, lemon yellow/lime green, lime green/royal blue, hot pink/bright purple, neon orange/light blue, bright yellow/dark green, and maroon/grey.

Thank you Neil and Mandy from Tri-Clips! 

What do you love about Triathlon?

When I first started doing triathlons, everybody I was swimming with seemed to be doing them. Someone said “You need a coach”. This was in 2010 when I had just made it across the pool lane in May and was so green on the bike I barely knew how to stop it. I had no idea why I needed a coach, but ok, I asked our swim instructor if he would coach me because he was coaching other triathletes and just happened to be a 1987 Kona Ironman winner. At this time I had no idea what that meant but he was also my swim coach and I loved his class!

Pat Bateman - One Awesome Guy and Amazing Coach!

The guy who got me from bobbing to swimming!

I had my first meeting with this coach, Pat Bateman, of Roanoke, VA in 2010. He wanted to know what my goals were and explained to me his costs and the costs of online coaching services. I still had no idea why I needed a coach and he asked me “Well, what do you like about triathlon?”. I couldn’t really answer that. I guess I liked the energy of the crowd and race. I had only done all women triathlons at that point in 2010 including the Ramblin’ Rose in Raleigh, NC in May (super sprint), the Ramblin’ Rose in Rock Hill, SC in July (super sprint), Pink Power presented by 3Sports in Richmond, VA in August (sprint), and the Trek Women Triathlon Series at Walt Disney World, FL in September (open water sprint).  It was really all a haphazard start with no goals.

In the late summer Pat Bateman taught me simple things with my bike like how to break, how to put up one foot on the turns, how to shift my gears, how to bike out of the saddle, and how to ride on the road with cars. He didn’t give me any training plans. He knew I had a baby, a two year old, and a four year old. But he took the time to meet with me and SHOW me simple things on the bike and run.

So, I still ask the question, “What is it that I love about triathlon?”.  I am still unable to sum up WHAT it is that I really love. Is it the energy of the race? Is it the travel to the site? Is it loving that feeling of challenging yourself and pushing yourself? Is it that competitiveness that lies deep inside that unleashes during a race? Is it the beer glass or medal you win at the end? Or is it the LIFESTYLE?

Race Wreath with Race Bling                        Beer Glass Win

The answer might just lie in the lifestyle because it doesn’t all boil down to race day. It is the day in and day out it takes to prepare for that moment on race day. It’s getting up early most mornings while others sleep so you can get in a swim, bike, or run. It’s that balance training gives to your life and feeling you get every day from training. It’s that part of the day I look forward to when I get time with myself. It’s the balance I needed and found. What is it that you love? Happy Training!

Sports Injuries

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and I’m gearing up for a run. Some of you are still spending time with family or recovering after your Turkey Run.

Thanksgiving dinner

(From left to right: Husband Rob, daughter Eva, mother Lucy, 

Grandmother Nadine, Aunt Emily, Uncle David, son Thijs, me, son Arie)

I recently went to a presentation on run injuries by Shenandoah Podiatry. It was so eye opening I was almost too scared to run the next day! I had no idea just how easy it is to get injured and how important it is to be consistent with running and build up slow. The topic was “Become a Better, Faster, Stronger Runner”, however, it was a very interesting presentation on run injuries including:

1. Shin Splints – a symptom of pain over the front of the tibia bone

2. Plantar Fasciitis – heel pain due to the inflammation of the ligament at the base of the foot

3. Stress Fractures – small crack in the bone

4. Iliotibial Band Syndrome – inflammation of the iliotibial band that runs on the outside of the leg beginning at the hip to the outer side of the tibia just below the knee

5. Achilles Tendonitis – the inflammation of the Achilles tendon that attaches the calf to the back of the heel

There are many more run related injuries and tons of information can be found online. The doctor’s opinion is that road running is her favorite although trail running is easier on your body, you have a greater risk of injury, and track running makes you susceptible to injury. She also said by cross training and adding weights to your routine you reduce your risk of injury. Cross training can include swimming and biking for example.  If you are feeling like you may have an injury she suggested RICE: Rest & Ice. If your problem does not subside then it would be time to come see a doctor like a podiatrist who can assess your situation.

This office offers a free book: “Got Feet? A User’s Guide to Foot and Ankle Health”. You can get your copy here: http://www.shenandoahpodiatry.com/resources/request-got-feet-a-users-guide-to-foot-and-ankle-health/ .

The doctor also gave her opinion on shoes. She sees many injuries associated with the natural toe-shoes. She said if you plan on wearing them, then you need to wear them ALL the time including when you are NOT running. She mostly sees these injuries in younger individuals in their 20’s. Others at risk of injuries are “weekend warriors” – folks who go out and run only on the weekend and do not have consistent running during the week.

I have not had any sports injuries yet. Knock on wood. I have had kid related injuries that have slowed down my run though! It’s amazing how your day to day life can sometimes slow down your progress.

What I have learned recently:

1. Wear shoes at all times in the house. Stepping on toys hurts and messes you up for running for a couple of days thanks to bruising on the bottom of your feet!

2. Don’t let the kids trample on your legs. My shin is still healing from where my five year old pounced on me last week. I am now on guard all the time anytime I think it might be safe to lay down. You  never know when a little person is going to pounce on you in your safe haven!

So - watch out for the around the house injuries too. It’s a bit of a zoo around here with three little ones running around. Build slow, run consistent, and wear shoes that make sense. Happy Running!

Your Finish Line Feeling

As some of you gear up for Thanksgiving you might be doing some type of Turkey Run. How do you feel at the finish line?

Honestly I’m still in race mode by the time I hit the finish. Some people grin from ear to ear, some are clenched with a seriousness, and some people are dragging themselves to that beautiful sign that says “FINISH”.  I am still thinking about seconds as I hit the finish and am within myself not taking the time to smile. This doesn’t mean that I’m not having the time of my life! Before I race I prepare myself mentally. This usually begins the night before the race. I envision what type of race I’m going to have and think “happy” thoughts on a very positive outcome. I’ve even had written statements that I read and re-read to help prepare me for the upcoming day.

I love to race and it brings out part of me I did not know was there. Somewhere deep inside lays a beast inside of me waiting to conquer the thrill of speed in a triathlon and that beast unleashes as soon as I hit the water! I get extremely nervous before I go out because I know how hard I am about to push my body. This takes a degree of mental toughness and preparedness. I would like to think that nervous feeling before a race is my adrenaline pumping up ready to go out and conquer the water and road.

I also had a tough time off of the bike this year. I just did not have the aerobic base I needed to be “comfortable”. I “survived” the run by saying a mantra through my head and much of my racing this year came down to obtaining enough points for me to nab a spot in the top three in my age group in the Virginia Triathlon Series. When I felt depleted I would keep thinking “the faster I run, the more points I will get”, “push hard”, and “dig deep”.  In racing I dig deep within myself and find that mental toughness to help me push myself as hard as I can. I know as I run towards the finish line that every second counts, so I am focused on running as hard as I can to get there, and when I hit that line I slow down and turn into a walk. But while my body has stopped working as hard, my mind needs time to shift from race mode to people mode. I am so deep within myself while racing that it isn’t a light that I can just shut off when I come through the chute.

There was one race this year, however, where I grinned from ear to ear the entire race and that was at the Age Group Sprint Nationals in Burlingon, Vermont. I had trained hard the entire year and waited for that moment an entire season and there I was – FINALLY – at the most important race for me of the year. I was having so much fun that I did not want that finish line to be there. I wanted to keep running and running and had the most euphoric happy feeling with the sun beating down on my face.

Age Group Sprint National Championship

Burlington, VT

Every race is fun for me but we all express this fun in a different way. You don’t have to smile to be having a good time. That person with the serious expression at the finish line might just still be in “race mode” and need to return to earth. Remember to have fun, push hard, and that pain is temporary, and it’s ok not to smile at the finish line! It doesn’t mean you aren’t having a GREAT time! Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

How to get a fast T1 with little effort: Tri-Clips

If nothing else this year in 2012, I had a fast T1 time. I can thank my Tri-Clips for this time save. Tri-Clips are a way to attach your bike shoes to the bike in the transition area without using rubber bands. Talking about saving time and money! They are great for practicing your mounting and dismounting because you don’t have to put rubber bands back on every time and it makes setting your bike up in the transition area a breeze.

Tri-Clips are clips that attach to your frame using Velcro straps. You can then attach the clip to the back of your shoes. This will hold your shoes in place and when you leave T1 to mount they will unclip as you start to pedal.

A friend had told me if there is anything you can easily do to save on time, it’s to save time on your transitions. I first met my friend Kate from Richmond at the Three Sports Sprint in the Virginia Triathlon Series in 2011. I was waiting to go out on the swim and in the meantime I was watching everyone in the transition area. All of the guys coming out were fumbling through T1 and taking their time. No offense to guys but these were the only other people in the transition area when I was watching! Then there came this beautiful woman running through T1 flawlessly passing everyone and mounting with ease and perfection. It was really beautiful. I thought: “I have to meet this girl!”. At the end of the race I met her and told her how beautiful her T1 was and she was the one who had told me “The easiest way to lose time is on your transitions”.

So in 2012 I decided I would try the flying mount and dismount to save time and attach my shoes to my bike. When reading online about how to attach my shoes to my bike I came across Tri-Clips. They were super easy to attach and I was slipping my feet in my shoes with ease while they were still attached to the bike! I love doing this so much that I would rather slip my feet in my shoes than try to clip in with my own feet! It just takes too much time to clip your bike shoes in even when you are out on a joy ride!

So boy did I have some fast T1 times this year! I can thank Tri-Clips for that! You don’t have to do a flying mount or dismount either! You can just walk or run your bike out of T1, place one of your feet in a shoe calmly, and then place your other foot in when you get on. It’s really easy and saves SO much time! Love them! I also love that they don’t cost much! A pair costs $22.99. You can find out more about them and order a pair at www.tri-clips.com. 

Swimming Progression and Drills to Improve Your Swim: There is HOPE!

In 2010 after having my third child I went from bobbing my head in the water in March to finally making it across the lane by May. Learning to swim as an adult has been a struggle. What I’ve learned is that it is about “feeling” the water and learning technique over the amount of hours you spend in the pool. However, finding someone who can teach an adult swimmer is quite difficult. I am really lucky in that recently I found a swim coach in Roanoke at the Carter Athletic Center named Eva Steib who really knows how to communicate to an adult swimmer. She is able to identify your weaknesses and knows how to fix them.

I’ve been swimming with her 9 weeks. The first thing she corrected was my kick. I never realized your feet are supposed to be so close to the surface with a small and fast kick. Just by getting my feet up I lost a lot of time on the swim in my first couple of classes with her. I found by relaxing my hips I move much quicker through the water as well.

The second thing she was able to correct was my head position in the water. She gave me tons of drills and I am finally turning my head so my body stays in alignment.  Thirdly, she has been teaching me to stretch out my arms VERY far while still kicking. In the past I would stop kicking every time I took a breath but now I have learned to reach out really far, turn my head to breath, and kick while slightly rotated on my side.

I also learned that I am very stiff on my left side and when I reach out my right arm I have a tendency to sink but finally today after weeks and weeks of drills I did not sink while extending my right arm!

Here are two drills that have helped me improve my swim form and have therefore made me much more streamlined and faster in the water. These drills specifically improve your head position, rotation, and body alignment.

1.  Hold your arms on your sides and swim on one side breathing with your head out of the water and looking up with your chin in line with your shoulder for six kicks and then turn your head down looking towards the bottom of the pool with your chin in line with your shoulder and kick for six on your. Repeat and alternate sides per 25 yards/meters.

2.  Reach one arm out with the other arm relaxed on your side. And by reach out, I mean REACH forward so you can feel a stretch in your armpit and without a bend in your elbow. Swim flat for six kicks, rotate to your side and turn your head to breathe for six kicks. Make sure your chin is line with your shoulder when you breathe and you are rotated on your side. Don’t forget to kick when you are rotated on your side and breathing. Repeat and alternate sides per 25 yards/meters. This drill will really let you know if you have a weak side such that you might find that you sink doing this drill on one side versus the other.

And finally, if you are one of those adult swimmers – there is HOPE. I am full of it. I feel with the right instruction I will get there and I am on that path now! So don’t give up! Keep plugging along and find the right swim coach who can communicate with you on how to improve your swim.  It is possible and we are doing it!

Products I LOVE – Qride Inc. – Brilliant Idea!

I recently came across a product produced by Qride Inc.: An emergency ID that uses a QR code in order to access your emergency information. It can be placed on your helmet or bike or anywhere for all types of situations like cycling or snow sports. As described by the company,

“QRide advanced emergency IDs utilize QR codes to link to your very own Online Emergency ID Record. If you are ever in a situation where you are unconscious or disoriented and can’t tell your medical story, anyone with a smartphone can scan your QRide and get the important medical information that you want them to know!”

If you are new to QR codes, they are popping up everywhere from magazine pages to product boxes. You simply download a free QR reader app on your smartphone and your phone scans the QR code to access your emergency information.

What a great idea! I would never remember to wear an ID bracelet but with this it would already be attached to my helmet when I’m out cycling. You can order one at http://www.myqride.com. 

The creator, Warren Schimizzi of Roanoke, VA, came up with this great idea! He realized his wive would forget her ID bracelet when biking alone and thought she needed some type of emergency information but not one that plastered your name for everyone to see. This was a perfect solution! The little code holds all the information in case of an emergency and your name won't be visible for EVERYONE to see. Nice idea and very affordable. Thanks for this great product! 

A Philosophical Discussion on Sports

Yesterday I met the father of a friend for the very first time. He is a physicist from California and it’s one of the deepest conversations I have had with any one in a LONG time. 

I didn’t do sports in high school or college. I did archaeology and science. That was my thing. I was a thinker and really not a follower. I was an idealist and really thought I was going to help “save” the world. I searched for the right path in college on how to save the world but at the end of the day I decided the best place to start is in your own world and I personally could only touch one life at a time. I had daydreamed of traversing exotic lands (and still do) saving lives as a medical doctor and collecting plants around the world that could save lives.

At some point you grow up, you have children, and for me I realized I couldn’t bear to be away from my children. Other people are happy following their career and conquering the world but after a Masters in Chemistry and Biology and almost a doctorate in Pharmacognosy, I decided I was really happy being a mom. On top of that I ended up becoming a homeschool mom and I’m with my children ALL the time but they are so young and I hate missing out in their lives and I feel like I have so much to teach them.

So the deep philosophical conversation with my friend’s father came down to his opinion that anybody can do sports but not everyone can be a great thinker, leader, and discover something that will help mankind. He really felt his daughter and I should get together and come out with that great discovery –whatever that might be.

Now, this has got to be coming from a guy who did not raise three children and was not with three small children ALL day long trying to nurture and teach them as much as possible. I can’t remember the last time I even went to the bathroom alone much less find that time to make the great discovery that is going to change the world.

What I did do was find MUCH happiness in sports. Go figure after thousands and thousands of dollars on enlightening education and travelling the world, I found comfort, stability, and happiness in exercise. It is quite the balancing aspect of my life. It makes me a better parent and a better person for the world. For now I can only start with me and the people in my world. Saving the world will have to come later – after I’m done preparing and serving ten trillion meals a day, teaching my kids how to read, and empowering their minds with the truth lying within science and history. While anybody can do sports, I sure did find a place for it in my life and in my path towards happiness. 

How it all began - Part II Biking

It seems like everyone in swim class was preparing for a triathlon. I couldn’t swim, bike, or run. I never did any sports. I had horses and rode but never did any sports in school. Right before I realized I was pregnant with our third child I had bought a comfort bike. I took it from the store to the Greenway and almost threw up. I was so sick I took it back to the car and didn’t even get on it! So that comfort bike sat there, never ridden.

After I had our third child there was a woman named Nancy in our swim class who said “You should do a triathlon”. Ok, I have never run, I couldn’t make it across the pool, and I had no idea how to stop a bike. Good idea. So she took me to the Greenway on my comfort bike. I was quite frightened and reasonably unstable on this thick wheeled machine. I definitely could not keep up with Nancy. I was far back on the Greenway on my knobby yet pretty bike.

I went biking with Nancy about ten times and one day my husband said “Try my road bike”. So I went biking with Nancy on the road bike. Nancy had a great idea to cross over a bridge on the street. It was high above the water with a very large stoop down to the street. As we crossed I panicked, tried to jump off the bike that was WAY too large for me, ran into the concrete bridge and rolled off the thick stoop into the middle of the street. Thank goodness no cars were coming at that moment! Blood was all over the bridge and running down my arm. Nancy was already back at the parking lot and I walked back up with my husband’s road bike with blood dripping down from my limb. I still wear that scar today as a reminder of my newness to this thing called biking.

Somehow I was talked into doing a triathlon. Our youngest was four months old. I really was still recovering from my third C-Section because when they did this surgery they accidentally cut my bladder and I had to have a catheter for some time. My body will really never be the same after so many surgeries.  But I did my first triathlon in May of 2010 in North Carolina at an all female super sprint called the Rambling Rose. This is a series of races and this one was located in Raleigh. A week before the super sprint I finally made it across the pool! I took my husband’s road bike. I had only ridden in two times before I showed up.

Packet Pick up with the Fam

                                                       

I was going out very late due to my swim time. The race started. Folks started. I waited and waited. Then a big storm blew in. They halted the swim and again we waited and waited. It poured down rain. Finally they decided to make it a duathlon. They said if you still want to race you can start the bike and do the run. After all that work in the pool the swim was cancelled!

So the very inexperienced me jumped on her husband’s very over sized road bike in the pouring down rain when most of the girls decided to go home! Visibility was VERY low and there were many steep and sharp turns. I finished the bike and came back to the flooded transition area. Everything I had laid out was covered in a flood of water. I started the run which was part on pavement and part off road. It was very muddy. I took my time talking to everyone on the way (what was I thinking??) and encouraged the walkers along the way. I was just there to have a good time. I finished. I felt good. I had sort-of done my first triathlon – or I had done my first and only duathlon. 

Husbands Road Bike