#Pitted 2 Months of Fun Times and Big News

A few weeks ago I came across this video during one of the heaviest training blocks of my life.  Since then I've adopted #pitted to how I felt over those 2 weeks training 1 on 1 with my coach.  Getting pitted has seriously become a dual term for how I live each day.  At times getting pitted means I'm totally turning myself inside out; descending at 50mph, about to puke/die/pass-out on some hill repeats.  Other times it's a way of life, living with the exact California goober mindset this dude has...just seriously getting amped by what I love.  How the heck did I make so many deep mental connections with this ridiculous video and it's hilarious antics? I suppose when you're mentally stretched to new areas...any little mantra will get you going and prevent you from tossing your bike off the side of Palomar Mountain.  So there it is folks....get #pitted in your own way and never forget this badass surfer who is probably high, totally stoked and loves barrels WAPAHHH.

A Butt Load Info You NEED to Read

First off...let's recap the past 2 months of no blogging....

AUGUST - Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver and Challenge Epenticton -

Let me start off first by saying how annoyed I am that spell check on my computer and iPhone doesn't recognize Penticton as a word.  This means EVERY TIME I tried to type it out I would get corrected 3 or 4 times, until the device realized "oh snap, they probably are misspelling this shit on purpose".  I have had to re-correct "auto correct" about a google times from Epenticton (how is that a word) to actual "Penticton".  You can also imagine that while writing all this out, I've had to deal with rising frustration as AGAIN my computer auto corrects my spelling.  Go ahead and try it....type out Penticton 3 times and see how long it takes to not have it changed....I dare you!

​Oh so anyway, back to the real deal.  Karen and I LOVE Vancouver and used SeaWheeze 1/2 marathon as an excuse to get there.  Because let's be honest, why else would we travel anywhere?  We need to be incentivized by a freaking race!  We also were hosted by the best Canadian Ambassador we've ever met!  Thank you Jordan....I'm coming to crash your home in the future for some awesome Vancouver Training.  

As far as the 1/2 marathon goes, it was spectacular!  If you aren't familiar, it's hosted by lulu lemon...so it's like Estrogen-fest.  I can't lie though, I have done my best to replace 90% of my wardrobe with lulu lemon...it's so damn comfortable!  This was a no pressure race for me, just wanted to see how I could perform on a hilly 1/2.  Unfortunately I started in the wrong corral, missing the 1st because the dividers weren't anywhere to be found.  Either way, I still ran a 1:22, perfectly balanced and finished 5th overall.  I could have used some "Rabbits"  though as I was alone when I bridge from 1st to second corral group...either way it was a beautiful weather and location! After the race, I rode my bike from Vancouver to Whistler...a beautiful 80 mile ride! Karen was kind enough to drive up there and meet me so I didn't have to ride back.  (Reason 1099 why we are now engaged).

-Challenge Epenticton 70.3-

So this race is the same day as 70.3 Worlds....the field shouldn't be too stacked right? It's also super far from any convenient airport and in another country too.  I mean we flew into Spokane and drove 4.5 hours because it was so expensive to fly direct!  All of these thoughts were gone when I saw the start list....70.3 champions galore!  I suppose the previous IM Canada course brings in a lot of able bodied Pro's looking for some $$.  This didn't really change anything from normal races though.  When you're stuck to a lot of U.S based races, the fields are often pretty packed and they are getting deeper each year.  All of that aside, this place would be awesome for a training block too.  Each morning I woke up and swam in the pristine lake that had a 900 meter white buoy line all the way down the coast.  The water temp was PERFECT...hovering right below 70 degrees.  Personally, I like it colder!  It feels like anti-freeze cooling me off as I give max effort! 

So anyway...again, I was pleased to have my Vancouver host (Jordan) here announcing for the race.  We were able to meet up for some training shenanigans too, where he tried to kill me on my pre-race run....how nice!  The town is perfectly designed for a huge event but this year, #'s were super low!  I swear there were no more than 1000 athletes racing.  Hopefully in a few years it becomes another huge race!  The course was very tough too, with a ferocious 20mph head wind, bumpy roads and some steep climbs!  The run course wasn't too challenging but for me...it was mentally tough since I was rapidly deteriorating.  The good news was I swam a PR and feel I can even swim faster in the future!  The only down side for this race was the smoke caused by surrounding wild fires.  In the days before the race it was really heavy, however on race day the gail force winds blew it all away....perfect if you ask me!

Latest and Greatest!

Karen and I are getting married!  After months and months of steady, low dose drugs....I was able to keep her at a such a low buzz...she said YES to my proposal!  My plan worked!!!  But seriously, we are getting married and it's probably the most exiting time of our lives.  We've always hated the wedding cliches but it's very easy to get caught up in!  I think the main goal for both of is to celebrate with loves ones!  Besides the holidays, it's rare we would ever be able to get so many of our best friends and family together for an occasion!  Bring on the months of planning, invitations, more planning and then PARTY!

With this week being monumental on many levels, I had planned 70.3 as a victory lap.  The previous world championship course is every athletes biggest challenge.  This course contains every challenge you could think of.  The water was VERY choppy due to high winds...slowing us all down and making it near impossible to swim straight.  Being a few minutes off the first pack is huge, considering I'm still only 5 years into any sort of swimming!  After kicking a few large rock running out of the water, I couldn't wait to get on my bike.  Having ridden some of the course over the past few days, I was really looking forward to the challenge...but didn't expect the winds to be so high.  In retrospect, I may have ridden a 404 front and rear instead of a disc rear/404 front.  I found I was really able to make up time on the fast descents but going UP was a bit more challenging with a very strong head/cross wind.  When you're fighting to go downhill, it's pretty freaking windy.  Right before the turn around point, energy levels started to trend downward and my body was feeling very tight.  There is a list of reasons I'm looking into for this, but I know I'm a stronger rider and can handle this intensity....something was not right.  This puzzle always seems to be complete but is then totally destroyed!!  Either way around 40 miles I was over it....despite reminding myself of how awesome the week had been.  I new I felt good enough to run and rode conservative, only averaging 273 NP and riding the exact 2:26 I had planned using Best Bike Split.  The first was like my run at Penticton...no energy, super high HR.  No matter how many times I said "Fudge it" and tried to GO, it was the same answer every time!  At that point I had really been counting my cards.  Knowing I was going to be passed by pretty much everyone if I "Finished"....leaving me with another race complete...but still feeling frustrated at the same time, it made sense to just sit it out.  I gave the best 5 miles and after I packed it in, it was apparent I needed to.  I found some uncontrollable coughing each time I took a deep breath and felt totally lethargic...I still think the bike nutrition needs work.  Each race is an experiment for me, especially being so young in the sport.  I have to accept these races will unfold like this from time to time, no matter how frustrating....I can't think of anything else I want to succeed so badly with....I will grind my way to the top, that's a promise.

Now it's back to the drawing board...more testing and training hours ahead!