A Day of Firsts!

Today was the first day Max and I have been jogging together. It was such a beautiful morning and I kept looking outside thinking it would be awesome to get out for a run! So I got Max all dressed and into the stroller with his hat and glasses. He wasn't too keen on the glasses and they kept shifting when he was moving his head trying to get comfortable for a nap. He soon fell asleep, we had a great run and ended at The Lady Bug Cafe (go there if you like good coffee and you're not in a hurray...there is nothing speedy about that place)!

The second "first" of the day was we had to make a Costco trip...something I haven't done since my husband left, but you can't find cheaper diapers or contact solution anywhere! So we used the baby bjorn, and it worked great! Max loved the trip...so many people to look and smile at!

Then after a nap and swim at Westside Rec, Max had his third "first" of the day...he ate blueberries! It was time to try something new and I had a whole wack of blueberries of the Costco trip, so we blended them up...not sure what he thought of them! But he was sure cute eating them!! Blueberries everywhere!

Boy Did I Get Lucky!

Yesterday the weatherman said it was going to be windy, but when you have one day to do a long run you just have to get out there! So I rode out to Cochrane...beautiful ride...no wind! And after meeting up with my coach we rode up to Highway 1A to meet up with our friend (the 67 year old machine who inspires me every time I ride with him) and from there we rode back down to Cochrane where we saw the once dormant flag blowing in the wind like there was no tomorrow. By the time we got to Cochrane it was basically time for me to start heading back home and lucky for me I was going to get some company. The ride home was so easy except for a couple of spots because the wind was blowing so hard that we barely had to peddle.

I got dropped back off home, and my riding buddies came in for a couple of minutes to grab some water (Coach's Infinit was a bit old and not smelling very good) and Max was loving the company! Max loves to giggle and smile at people but I have never seen him this excited in my life...he was smiling and laughing and giggling as he was entertained with singing and dancing! It was so sweet!

And here's where I get lucky...they had to head back to Cochrane with a strong strong head wind the whole way...they are tough because I think I would have been accepting the ride home!

So I managed to get a ride in with no wind or a tail wind...how great is that! And then I got to come home to the happiest baby on the planet!

The Saggy Baggy Elephant

Not only one of my favorite children's stories that I read to Max but also the theme of my swim yesterday. Last friday after Max's swim lesson I was so anxious to get him rinsed off, changed and then fed for a nap that I didn't rinse my own bathing suit off...nor did I take it out my bag for a day (or two). I put on said bathing suit last night to go for a swim, and it was so baggy and so worn that I was sooooo embarrassed to go the pool. But what do you do...I couldn't go home and get another bathing suit...I had to get a workout in! So I swam, and prayed that nobody really noticed that you could kind of see through my bathing suit and that I looked ridiculus!

If I would have come home to get a new bathing suit I would have found Grandpa trying to calm Max down and get him to sleep...the little dude usually goes to bed like a champ...5:45 without a peep! But not last night, he cried so much and so hard that he was still sobbing in his sleep when I got home. It almost broke my heart. Thank goodness Grandpa's the best with babies...he even said he would come back next week :-)

On the plus side, Greg suggested I get a new bathing suit...so I did...blue and cute!

Chinook Half Ironman Race Report

Yesterday was my first tri after having Max. I have been so nervous the last couple of days...it's even been a bit hard to sleep the last couple of nights. Fortunately, I was so exhausted that I slept awesome the night before. And Max cooperated, and only got up once...yeah!! We stayed at my parent's house so that saturday morning I could get up and Max could eat and then stay in his usual routine (eat, play, sleep) and then meet me at the finish line!

So I got to transition and got everything set up and ready to go...chatted with some friends, and met some ladies to chat with in the bathroom line up! I forgot how darn hard it is to put my wetsuit on, but as one of the ladies I met said...at least I can get it on! I went and got in the lake to do a couple of strokes and get the feel for being in a lake. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any open water swims in and not being a swimmer that may not have been a good way to start my race season. So the race started, I jumped in the water and started swimming...the water was warm and there weren't that many people which was great, but I couldn't seem to get my breathing rate under control, so I had to flip on my back...unfortunately it's a little tough to site from my back, so needless to say I went of course and the nice canoe guy had to give me a little nudge and tell me to get back on course! But after about a third of the swim I started to feel relaxed and was swimming relatively well (for me). I felt strong and the water felt good...next time I might try to get a couple of open waters in before hand. But the swim portion ended and I was off to my bike.

I had a pretty good transition, waved to my mom and I was off to one of my favorite parts! I felt really good on the bike. There was a slight head wind, but it was a beautiful day...blue sky, not too hot, and really great scenery. My goal for the race was to ride hard (but within myself), and I felt good the whole ride. I had set up my profile bottle the day before and hadn't noticed that the short stray was way too short so I was having trouble getting some fluid, but it wasn't a huge deal....until at the half way part I noticed that the other half of my straw was in the bottle....along with the elastics and some other things...ooops I wasn't playing close enough attention when I set it up. So I decided to stop and try to get the straw set up properly...I did but then it fell off and I was back trying to a drink looking like a dork! We had a nice tail win back to transition and the ride seemed to be flying by!

In transition, some guy hung his wet suit up where I was suppose to put my bike so I had to take some time to move his stuff. And then I ran the wrong way. But when I got going the right way I felt strong. The run was beautiful...on pathways through Fishcreek Park. It was a 2 loop run with one big hill. The first loop felt longer because I didn't know where I was going, but I was running with a guy about the same pace and he kept me wanting to push. Shortly into the second lap the guy had to slow down (stomach issues) but it motivated me to try and catch the people in front. The second lap went fairly fast because I knew what to expect. The run had gotten hotter than was originally projected, but it was great to IMC training! And truthfully, I just kept thinking of Max's smiling face knowing that he was waiting for me at the finish line! The finish line was great...my family was there...and Max was there with big smiles!! As soon as I felt good I got big hugs and kisses from him!

We hung out at the finish line for a while...taking some post race pics with the Grandma's and Grandpa! Before we headed to the car I had to feed Max because he was starving! And when we got home, before I had a chance to shower and change my clothes Max had some cereal and sweet potatoes...his favorite! After Max was down for a nap I inched my way into an ice bath...it felt really good in a bizarre way! The shower after the ice bath was quite painful as I forgot to lube up! Thank goodness for polysporin!

All in all it was a great race...a beautiful course, great weather, and pretty good race!

Harder on Mom!

A couple of weeks ago I decided that one or twice a week Max should go the gym daycare while I get a swim in...my thinking is that it's good for him to be looked after by other people, be exposed to other children, and even build up his immunity.

But it took me about 2 weeks to really commit to doing it, and because this week is a taper week with short workouts there couldn't have been a better day! So I saved him a spot this morning and then gathered my nerve all day! We got there early so I could get him all signed in and give a couple of instructions and then kiss my sleeping boy goodbye. Well what a great way to get a really focused workout in! I swam my butt off so I could get back there to pick him up!

And of course he was playing in the exersaucer, smiling at the nice lady, and not even blinking that I wasn't there! So the first tester went good! We'll probably try it once a week if I can keep my nerve :-)

Family Fun

My whole family (minus my husband who is back in China working and Max who would rather nap than run right now which leaves my mom, dad, brother and sister) ran the Footstock 10Km Race on saturday! It was so fun. Those Cochrane Folks really know how to put on a great race...they had the weather man cooperate, some great trails to run on, and a whole host of volunteers and spectators with big smiles!

My brother and I ran the whole way together and it was so fun to run with him! My mom wasn't far behind us, and then my dad and sister were not too far behind her. Max stayed with my coach's daughter for the race...he was really good and slept the whole time (he looked especially cute in his sunglasses)!!

Then after the race and some pictures we headed the Bakery for an early lunch which we were all excited about! Can't think of a better way to spend the day than hanging with my family and getting to run!

Now's it's recovery time for the Chinook Half Ironman...looking forward to the rest!

Riding Long

Yesterday was the perfect day to ride. It was clear blue skies and not too windy! I had planned to do 140km. I rode out to Cochrane to meet my coach, her husband and another triathlete friend. We then took airport road (think downhill into farmland...so pretty) and continued onto Bragg Creek. We did have a little visit from a nice RCMP officer making sure that we weren't riding side by side (which, truthfully we had been doing quite a bit...but we were talking). Then in Bragg we did a quick loop up to the Texas Gate (it's good practice because I hate riding over them, although every time it gets a little easier).

And then we hit Bragg again. We stopped to have a date square which I wolfed down in 10 seconds flat because lately I can't seem to eat enough...I'm always hungry...always thinking about my next meal. And then we started to cruise home.

Max was with Grandma, and he's so good I knew they were just playing and having fun, and most likely sleeping...which both Max and Grandma like to do. But I was getting anxious to see the Little Dude...his big smile just melts my heart so I had to hammer home. I pushed pretty hard...it's crazy how being a mom can make you a better rider! So after a great long ride which ended up being a 155km I did a quick 10 min transition run...had to cut it short because I didn't feel like being away any longer! Not to mention the little dude wasn't very interested in giving me any smiles, so I had to put my mom face on to get a smile/giggle out of him! Feeding him sweet potatoes also helps...they're his favorite!! He eats 2 ounces and shows no interest in quiting! He grabs the spoon from my hand and chomps on it trying to get more sweet potatoes!! So after the snack I got lots of smiles!!

1 day to the family 10km race!! My whole family (mom, dad, brother and sister) and me are doing the Footstock 10km race out in Cochrane. About 5 years ago we did a half marathon together and it was so fun! So tomorrow should be a great day! Because my brother is in town tonight I bribed him with pizza to come over and look after Max (he'll be sleeping) while I go for a run tonight!!

This is my last week of big volume before a huge taper week which I'm looking forward to...I do love to rest!!

Life without Greg is a little lonely. We get to talk everyday and we email regularly but it'll be really great when we're all in Kamloops! And thank goodness for friends...Jen brought Vietnamese over last night and we chatted and ate...it was so great!!

Isn't it Suppose to Be Hot!

Early in the week my friend asked me if I wanted to ride up Highway 40. And I told him that I would love to but me and the Little Dude were hanging and that I didn't have a babysitter...well he had skipped the nicest part...his wife had offered to babysit while we rode.

So this was going to be Max's first really long time without me or his dad...I wasn't nervous, although I was a touch sad when I sad goodbye. I got everything ready the night before...food for a week, 2 outfits, and all my bike stuff. We got there at 6 in the morning and were on the road a little later.

Well when I said I packed all my bike stuff I lied. I forgot to pack anything warm and when we got there it was freezing...like below 0 because I could see my breathe. Thank gawd Mark had extra warm armers that I could put on my legs. We started riding and things just got colder from there...feet and hands were so cold that at one point I thought it was almost dangerous because I couldn't break. We made the group decision to turn around sooner rather than later because the way the mountains are positioned it is only going to get colder. So we stopped. It was so great and actually felt quite nice...so nice that neither of us wanted to get going again...but I was started to shiver so off we went...the next 15km were the coldest km's of my life...my hands were so cold that I really couldn't hold onto my handle bars very well, breaking was tough and my feet were so cold they were aching. It's June...I'm not suppose to need hats, gloves and extra jackets and pants to ride...what's up!!

We got back to the car and headed to Canmore for some coffee and food because it was so cold we didn't eat or drink (I did try to eat a granola bar but it had frozen so it was too hard to eat).

When we got back to the house Max was sleeping...he had been a good baby and everything had went well!

I hoped on the trainer at night while Max was sleeping to finish up my workout...way more boring but way warmer :-)

I Love Racing!

The stress fracture in my foot has kept me from running the last 6 weeks and I was signed up to do a half marathon this weekend, and against my better judgement I traded my half mary chip for my friends 10km chip...I just wanted to get out and race...feel the energy of everyone out there and have some fun...and I totally did!!

The thing about not having great expectations is there's not pressure, so I was just going out for a run! I saw some friends before it started, and hung out with my sister! Then the Gun Went Off, and what can I saw...I couldn't control myself I just wanted to run as hard as could that morning! And it was so fun...before I knew it the first mile had gone by! I was keeping a pretty solid pace for me (it helped that the course was totally flat, the weather was great, and there were amazing people out there cheering)! So I finished pretty fast and it would have been even faster if I didn't have to take a pit stop at the 7km mark!!

And the best part was my family was waiting for me at the finish line...so I got to hang out with my husband and son...cheer on my sister and mom...and chat with my friends! It was a great day!

Then we headed home for some lunch before a short walk around the river!

Greg got on a plane to China this morning. Max and I are sad he had to leave, but it's only 6 weeks and we will be meeting up with him in Kamloops where the team is training for 6 weeks! So today's been a little sad, but the time will fly...Max and I just have to stay super busy because time flies when you're having fun!!