Athlete's Yoga

Last night I went to "athlete's yoga". My thought was that this class was designed with the muscles-too-tight, inflexible, perhaps-not-graceful athlete in mind. (Hmmm, ME.) I envisioned stretching. And peaceful music. The class was also only 1 hour. My life fits around this. Most yoga classes are 1.5 - 2 hours. In my mind that is perfect for a long run. Much too long for stretching and ohmmmmming.

I quickly realized this was not going to be stretchy feel-good class when our drill instructor started by saying child's pose did not exist in this class. "If you are tired you go back to push-up position." Awesome!

I have never held the plank position 1 inch of the ground for as long as I did last night. As soon as I would find reprieve from downward dog our drill sergeant had us switch to plank, then every five seconds we lowered ourselves closer to the floor - NEVER touching the floor mind you - in a tricep-aching-I-may-not-be-able-to-swim-next-week pose. I may have cried for my mommy at one point.

Just when I thought we might get relief from this pose, instructions to lift one leg and put our knee on our elbow were given. Serious. I of course could not reach my knee to my elbow so was left somewhat of a folded pretzel mess on my yoga mat. With shaking arms.

In case you are unsure of what this pose looks like (as I was until yoga master hopped right into it to demonstrate), I drew a sketch for you. It was a bad hair day. And my face is blue on purpose.

It is probably a good thing the off-season only takes place once a year.

Cedric Bike Commutes

Safety first!!

Since my bike is not a Tandem, we had to find a place for Cedric to hang out while I pedal him around town.

It's that time of year again when I have to make myself brighter than the Lampoons' Christmas Vacation lighted house to keep cars from hitting me. Cedric fits between the headlights nicely.

Cedric the Gnome

Yesterday at track my friend Meg gave me my very own traveling gnome! His name is Cedric and he has his own passport. Did you know gnomes are mainly vegetarians?! We are going to be great friends!

I took Cedric to the pool with me today. He didn't really want to swim masters (smart gnome!!) so hung out on deck with coach while I flailed around for an hour.

I'm quite sure he's going to LOVE bike commuting!

Off Season

The moment I crossed the IM Kona finish line my off season began. I have about six weeks to do whatever I want. No plan. No alarm clock. If I wake up and feel like running, I run to work. If swimming sounds fun, I go swim. No crazy colored spreadsheets with power and heart rate all over them.

I decided it's time for Vincenzo and I to try "fixie" rather than free wheel on the commuter bike. Don't worry, I have brakes and plan to USE THEM! Should this produce any exciting or embarrassing circumstances I will be sure to post pictures.

I am excited about my plans for next year and triathlon racing. But before I dive into the future I'm going to enjoy the rest of the off-season!

Land and Sea

The weekend started on land - a bike ride with some boys. The kind of ride where you take it easy and end up at a breakfast place. Awesome weather, and who says California doesn't have seasons? You just have to know where to go to find the fall colors.

The weekend ended at the Sea - with a couple of girls on kayaks.

You might not be able to tell from this photo - but between the two of us, Lisa is actually the one with kayaking experience! But sometimes when kayaking and it's hot, you just have to jump in!

Family Oldies

This is my mom being distracted by the beauty of the farmland while I'm entertaining myself on quite possibly the world's most rusty swingset. There is an elephant on my outfit, which is pretty sweet! I imagine high pitched "wheeeeeeeeees" were coming from my little lungs as well.

This was last year. Not much has changed really, except my mom was not pushing me here.

This is another family picture I found. My parents are holding me on the left. My grandparents are on the right with my cousins. My Dad's sweater makes him look like he's part of the crew club at Harvard. Or just won a race with a medal hanging around his neck. Either way I think it looks good. My Mom has mastered the perfect hair flip. What I really love though is my Grandpa's pants! Holy stylish Grandfather I had!! I don't think just anyone could get away with wearing those!

Green Animals

When you work with microscopes on a daily basis, finding random bugs around the office can be fun. The tiniest of spiders look absolutely terrifying under a microscope! Yesterday we found this praying mantis. Except he can't pray like his fellow mantis friends do because he is missing a hand. I chased him around the office like a crazy tourist with a camera. Then we set him free to the great outdoors.


Today was the first day I got up before the sun since my 4am wake up for that race a few weeks ago. I went for a run and the sunrise was beautiful. No watch, no heartrate, just my legs taking me where I felt like going. For the first time it felt like fall to me. My hands got cold when I ran through a valley by the golf course.

These are my final gecko photos from Hawaii. Actually I have a few more photos I'm saving for T-odd in January when he's whining about snow and ice and slushy fun while running.

Top of the World

The day after I raced Kona at the last minute in the afternoon Steven and I decided to drive to the top of Mauna Kea. We figured it would be close for catching the sunset, but we'd at least try.

We actually made it to see the sun sink into the clouds/ocean.

14,000 some feet is COLD!!!! You would think as an athlete I'd do great with little oxygen up there, but notsomuch. At one point I ran over to use the outhouse and got so dizzy I thought I might fall in. Good times!

Under the Sea

Today I rode my bike to work. I'm running home after work. It is actually easier to fit my bike/run commuting around work when I'm not doing training-specific workouts.

I shreeked under water through my snorkel when I saw this long yellow fish. He is so cool! I have no idea what he is called, but he looks like a Dr. Seuss fish to me.

I was poking around in some tide pools when I found this sea snake. I hopped out of the tide pool faster than you could count to two! Later someone told me they think it's an eel. I'm sticking with sea snake - it makes my freakout-to-get-to-dry-land much more acceptable.

And this was my post-race flop!

Stretchy Paradise

This picture cracks me up - I look like Medusa.

Hawaii was a blast - the race, the post-race fun, the beach time, friends. It was great. I'm back on the mainland now, but my feet haven't come back down to earth. Therefore, my posts for the next few days are still going to revolve around the Big Island.

I went to stretchy class (yoga) today to try to undo some of the tightness I inflicted on myself all year. It may take more than one class to fix this. I'll try to stick with it and continue doing my best not to laugh at the ashanta-yamasnte-chatirungas that are chanted during my class. I completely respect the seriousness of yoga chanting, I think I just don't really understand how it fits in with my desire to stretch out my tight leg muscles...

Post Ironman Play

After Ironman there was a lot of swimming (floating) in the ocean.

Sun Safety Barbie and I realized we are not underwater portrait experts.
AT ALL.