Valley Girl Triathlon

Yesterday I raced my first sprint triathlon EVER....and I have to tell you it was fun.  Really.

So much stinkin' F.U.N.

Maybe it's because I didn't drown in the swim portion of the race, maybe it's because I had the world's best supporters cheering for me or maybe it was the awesome team that I am lucky enough to be a part of.  Probably a combination of all three with a little bit of friendly competition thrown in.

The weather for the race was perfect so I opted to leave my wetsuit at home.  A decision I regretted when I got there although the water actually turned out to be really warm and I didn't need it in the end.  Matt dropped me off at a friends place who lived really close to the start line of the race and as she was racing too we just rode our bikes down to the start together.  We checked in, got our race chips and body marking  and set up our transitions.  I picked up my new Team Blaze race kit from Coach Tristin and had enough time to change into it before the start of the race.  Here is a pic of the Team Blaze girls at the swim start (photo courtesy of Coach Scott)

The Swim...well what can I say.  I survived it.   My swimming technique stinks so I think it's time to call in expert help and I'll be getting some coaching guidance from Coach Scott to get this whole swim thing under control. So I swam.  I didn't drown and in the tradition of Forrest Gump...that's all I have to say about that!

My transition to the bike went fairly smoothly although the lady whose bike was racked next to mine took a really nasty spill coming out of the water and I called the medic over for her as she had a nasty gash from her knee all the way down her calf...OUCH. Out on the bike I had a constant grin on my face.  I was just loving it.  I didn't want to blow up on the run so I took it easy on the bike and just enjoyed myself.  My av on the bike was 18.3 mph so next time I'll know to push a little harder. 

Onto the run and my legs felt fine but I had trouble finding my rhythm. I didn't really hit my stride until inside the last mile and then I was joined by my entourage.  I had the only all male escort across the line.  Seeing it was a womens only race I felt pretty special.

Stats for the race:

Swim:         1/3 mile        13m 13sec

T1:                                  2m 33sec

Bike:           12 miles       39m 17sec

T2:                                   1m 55sec

Run:           3 miles          27m 21sec

Total Time: 1:24:19

F40-49: 12/80

Overall 83/439

Special thanks to my wonderful husband and children who managed to be everywhere on the course cheering me on.  My lovely friend Michelle who also came with her children ( they made me such a cute little poster and stuck it to my front door when I got home). And to my team mates from Team Blaze who came to race and support us....especially Coach Scott and Tobin who took all these great pictures.

Race the River Tri...here I come!

IMCDA

Out volunteering today at the CDA Ironman.  Matt and I were in the swim to bike transition area and were lucky enough to be able to see all the awesome atheletes...AND their bikes. Something like 2700 athletes.  The atmosphere was really energizing and the weather was just perfect.  I took these pics with my camera phone so the quality is kinda lousy but good enough for you to get the idea...a sea of bikes.

Another Good Very Bad Day

This was not the post I had intended to make. 
After getting back from a week's field trip in Tacoma with our homeschool group, I was planning to tell you all about the wonderful places we visited and what we did.
But I'm not.
That will have to wait.
Instead I get home to find a very sick dog I had to rush to the vet.  They think he may have a fractured neck and will have to do exploratory surgey on him tomorrow. In the meantime the vet have pumped him full of painkillers to help him get through the night.

And then I discover that I left $1500 of cameras and equipment...yes I said cameras with an "S" back at the hotel in Tacoma.  When I rang the hotel they said they can't find it.  It has apparently grown legs and walked away by itself.

And then I realise that it is my daughters 13th birthday in one day and as is my bent to procrastination I have not done a scrap of birthday shopping for her .  In true optomistic style I decide that one day (tomorrow) is plenty of time for me to do all the birthday shopping I need until I check up on my business and find that I have so many orders its going to take me at least 3 days to fill them all.

Now I'm not telling you this because I'm fishing for some sympathy.  Everyone has days where life just plain stinks.  And I guess that's the point.  Life isn't always a bunch of pretty pictures and cute stories.  Sometimes it just has hair all over it...(for non-Aussies that's a reference to life just being plain ugly).  And so to be honest I can't just always blog about the fun things we do and the great places we go.

BUT there is always a bright spark to even the darkest day. Sometimes you really have to look for it but it's always there.  So after all this, Matt leaves work early and meets me at the vet, and while the dog is getting x-rayed he silently listens to me unload about all the drama of the day.  He doesn't say a word...just nods.  We finally get home and he starts making dinner for the kids and he turns to me, hands me a margarita that he has just made and tells me that life can always be worse, that he missed us while we were away and that a camera can always be replaced.
"It's just a thing, Donna.  It doesn't really mean anything important."
And I smile...he is right...as usual.
And today is another good day.

History Comes to Life

You don't see this everyday....well let me rephrase...WE'VE never seen anything like this before.

The Civil War...LIVE.

 Remember we are Aussies....we grew up in a country that has never had a civil war ....or a War of Independence....or any other war, for that matter on its home soil . So it is intriguing to me the idea that this country was once at war with itself.  To have that conflict as part of the national heritage and to see how important it is to Americans national identity even today.



So when we heard that there was going to be a re-enactment of a Civil War battle right here in town we just couldn't pass it up. 

The Battle itself was awesome.  The children were absolutely mesmerized with all the action, noise and activity.

After some initial attempts at detente, negotiations came to an impasse. 



Hostilities formally began



The Cavalry were there.



And the heavy artillery.



There was SO much attention to detail it was amazing. The "actors" for want of a better word, set up camp over the weekend and stay at the encampment all weekend. They dress in period clothing and everything is completely authentic...right down to what they cook with and sleep in.



Oh...and this beast ( forgive the poor picture) is 220lbs of Irish Wolf hound. Gentle as a lamb so the owner told me....hmmmmm. Whatever you say!