I am one and a half weeks away from the Stoaked Standard Triathlon and I have been busting my butt with training. Some days I feel like I am not giving it my all, like on my rest days, and then there are days like today where I know I am giving it my all. I spent 30 minutes on the recumbent bike and was cooking on a hill program, with the RPM never dropping below 100 and even hitting 150 at times. It was hot and sweaty and I immediately hopped on the treadmill for another 5 minutes. Five minutes isn' that long, but it was the first time I had a chance to go from a bike ride to a run that quickly. It was a challenge, but doable.
Tonight was the weekly fun run at the Three Stallion Inn and I tackled two miles, running 1.5 miles without stopping and then switching to a walk/run to finish the last half mile. This was done in only 25m34s which made me extremely happy.
I am feeling better and better about my goal of finishing the triathlon in one piece!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I Heart Camping
Our 4th camping trip of the summer happened last weekend and it was so much fun.
We went back to Silver Lake again, this time with Mom and Lynda and Baxter. This was Baxter's first time camping and he did such an awesome job. It was also his first time in the canoe and wore his little doggy vest without any hassle.
The food was excellent, including my Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers. Despite the outrageous heat in the 90's we were able to keep cool and relax without being too sticky and uncomfortable.
I swam from the park beach over to the Barnard General Store, without goggles as they were broken, and it was so challenging! I couldn't put my face in the water or I wouldn't go straight, so I used the breast stroke instead. It was so much more challenging than doing the crawl with the occasional breast stroke for a breather.
I am hoping to get 1-2 more trips in this summer, but we shall see how it goes!
Do you like camping? What is your favorite thing about camping?
We went back to Silver Lake again, this time with Mom and Lynda and Baxter. This was Baxter's first time camping and he did such an awesome job. It was also his first time in the canoe and wore his little doggy vest without any hassle.
The food was excellent, including my Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers. Despite the outrageous heat in the 90's we were able to keep cool and relax without being too sticky and uncomfortable.
I swam from the park beach over to the Barnard General Store, without goggles as they were broken, and it was so challenging! I couldn't put my face in the water or I wouldn't go straight, so I used the breast stroke instead. It was so much more challenging than doing the crawl with the occasional breast stroke for a breather.
I am hoping to get 1-2 more trips in this summer, but we shall see how it goes!
Do you like camping? What is your favorite thing about camping?
Monday, July 18, 2011
Vermont Endurance 100
What a weekend!
Saturday was spent tubing down the White River, so much fun! I didn't get burned, which was nice, and the company was spectacular! What made the weekend really spectacular was volunteering at an aid station for the Vermont Endurance 100, a 100mile and 100k race through the hills of Windsor, VT. The Keating Aid Station was set at mile 92 and is open from 4pm Saturday afternoon until 7:45am Sunday morning.
Since I had worked it last year, I knew what I needed to bring and what needed to happen. I packed in my crockpot, Keurig machine, tupperware containers, screen house, and x-mas lights, chairs, and I am not sure exactly what else! The screen house was set up and strung with lights, I forgot my radio, but Pandora worked on my phone, so we had Paul Simon radio playing all night long. Of course, we did have power, or none of these things would have been possible. We kept the water jug full and the Hammer Heed mixed. We had cups full of ice ready to add to water bottles and hydration packs, cups full of Coke, Mt Dew, and Ginger Ale. The PB&J and turkey and cheese sandwiches were made in multiple batches and cut into quarters for easy consumption and to keep the waste down. Oranges were quartered, bananas halved and "zippered" with a slit for easy pealing, the cantelope was wedged. Gummy bears was the surprising leader in energy, while potatoes and salt were the least touched. I had multiple runners tell me that my crockpot broth (a few packs of ramen noodles, and a whole bunch of bouillon cubes) was the best on the course.
Not a single runner came through without some major cheering from the entire station, often from the moment we could see them, some 100+ yards up the road. They were checked in on the clock and every runner and pacer were offered the same assistance of filling bottles, getting them food, telling them what we had. It was full service. We even had a stone wall and chairs to offer the runners if they wanted/needed the break.
The runners were amazing, having come 92 miles, with 8 miles to go. They were all my heroes. Even the pacers were incredible, as they were running longer than a marathon (30 miles) with no official credit (they already had completed 22 miles when they hit our station)! When we tried to tell them they were also doing great and were awesome, they brushed it off, the common phrase of "I am just a pacer," uttered by all of them.
The event is incredible, the runners even more so. I cannot wait to do this next year!
Saturday was spent tubing down the White River, so much fun! I didn't get burned, which was nice, and the company was spectacular! What made the weekend really spectacular was volunteering at an aid station for the Vermont Endurance 100, a 100mile and 100k race through the hills of Windsor, VT. The Keating Aid Station was set at mile 92 and is open from 4pm Saturday afternoon until 7:45am Sunday morning.
Since I had worked it last year, I knew what I needed to bring and what needed to happen. I packed in my crockpot, Keurig machine, tupperware containers, screen house, and x-mas lights, chairs, and I am not sure exactly what else! The screen house was set up and strung with lights, I forgot my radio, but Pandora worked on my phone, so we had Paul Simon radio playing all night long. Of course, we did have power, or none of these things would have been possible. We kept the water jug full and the Hammer Heed mixed. We had cups full of ice ready to add to water bottles and hydration packs, cups full of Coke, Mt Dew, and Ginger Ale. The PB&J and turkey and cheese sandwiches were made in multiple batches and cut into quarters for easy consumption and to keep the waste down. Oranges were quartered, bananas halved and "zippered" with a slit for easy pealing, the cantelope was wedged. Gummy bears was the surprising leader in energy, while potatoes and salt were the least touched. I had multiple runners tell me that my crockpot broth (a few packs of ramen noodles, and a whole bunch of bouillon cubes) was the best on the course.
Not a single runner came through without some major cheering from the entire station, often from the moment we could see them, some 100+ yards up the road. They were checked in on the clock and every runner and pacer were offered the same assistance of filling bottles, getting them food, telling them what we had. It was full service. We even had a stone wall and chairs to offer the runners if they wanted/needed the break.
The runners were amazing, having come 92 miles, with 8 miles to go. They were all my heroes. Even the pacers were incredible, as they were running longer than a marathon (30 miles) with no official credit (they already had completed 22 miles when they hit our station)! When we tried to tell them they were also doing great and were awesome, they brushed it off, the common phrase of "I am just a pacer," uttered by all of them.
The event is incredible, the runners even more so. I cannot wait to do this next year!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Stoaked Standard
So most of my friends already know I am a tad crazy, but they didn't know just how crazy until last week! What did I do? I signed up for my very first triathlon.
I had set a goal for myself that by the end of summer of 2012 I would complete a triathlon. I realize that is next summer and was perfectly content to work on my swimming, biking, and most importantly my running in preperation for next summer. Then I volunteered to work a triathlon on a Sunday that was double the distance of one offered on Saturday. When I volunteered, I was offered to do the shorter triathlon on Saturday for FREE! This was a $50 savings. I couldn't say no.
The triathlon is called the Stoaked Standard, and the one on Sunday is the Stoaked Exterra. The Standard is a 1/2 mile swim, a 10k mountain bike, and a 4k trail run. I am ok with breastroke and side stroke along with crawl for the swim, and I am ok if I have to walk some of the bike portions and some of the running trail. If I am last in on every single event, I am ok with that too. With only 4 weeks total to train for this, my goal is to finish. I do have a stretch goal and that is to finish the swim in under 30 minutes, the bike in about an hour, and the run in under 50 minutes.
I had set a goal for myself that by the end of summer of 2012 I would complete a triathlon. I realize that is next summer and was perfectly content to work on my swimming, biking, and most importantly my running in preperation for next summer. Then I volunteered to work a triathlon on a Sunday that was double the distance of one offered on Saturday. When I volunteered, I was offered to do the shorter triathlon on Saturday for FREE! This was a $50 savings. I couldn't say no.
The triathlon is called the Stoaked Standard, and the one on Sunday is the Stoaked Exterra. The Standard is a 1/2 mile swim, a 10k mountain bike, and a 4k trail run. I am ok with breastroke and side stroke along with crawl for the swim, and I am ok if I have to walk some of the bike portions and some of the running trail. If I am last in on every single event, I am ok with that too. With only 4 weeks total to train for this, my goal is to finish. I do have a stretch goal and that is to finish the swim in under 30 minutes, the bike in about an hour, and the run in under 50 minutes.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Review: Lake of Sorrows
Lake of Sorrows by Erin HartMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lake of Sorrows is the second Nora Gavin novel. This story also follows the mystery of a bog body. The relationship between Nora and Cormac is growing.
All in all, this story sucked me in just like Haunted Ground. Wonderful read.
View all my reviews
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Vermont Endurance 100
On July 16 at 3:30pm to July 17 at 7:45am, I am working the Keating Aid station for the Vermont Endurance 100, in Windsor!
This is an ultra-marathon with runners electing from the 100k and the 100mile. The aid station I work is located at approximately mile 93. They are on the home stretch. I am looking for at least one more person to man the aid station with me and two others.
Are you up for the fun? It is a lot of fun, can be a bit intense, and so satisfying. I hope you can help!
The Vermont 100 Endurance Race is one of the original 100 mile runs in the USA and a part of the Grand Slam Series of Ultrarunning. Each year, 300 runners attempt to finish this hilly race over beautiful Vermont back roads and trails under the 30 hour cutoff point, and a well-trained few finish in under 24 hours. The current course record is 14:53:09.
The host and beneficiary of the Vermont 100 - Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Not only do Vermont Adaptive volunteers put on the Vermont 100 race, they also teach sports, adapted for people with disabilities, rent adaptive sports equipment, and promote adaptive sports throughout New England.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Garlic Scape Pesto
After sniping all of the scapes off the garlic in the garden, we had about a hundred scapes!
Mom put about a quarter of them into a vase on the table. They are beautiful! I wish I had taken a picture.
I took some home, mom kept some, and we made some garlic scape pesto.
Garlic Scape Pesto
8 average sized scapes - trimmed of flowers and rough chopped
1/3 cup walnuts
1/4+ cup cheese, (asiago, romano, parmesean)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
few grinds pepper
optional - lemon and/or red pepper flakes
Start with pulsing the scapes, then add the walnuts and pulse again. Finally, add the cheese, salt and pepper, optional ingredients, and stream in the olive oil till everything is as smooth or rough as you like.
Enjoy!
Mom put about a quarter of them into a vase on the table. They are beautiful! I wish I had taken a picture.
I took some home, mom kept some, and we made some garlic scape pesto.
Garlic Scape Pesto
8 average sized scapes - trimmed of flowers and rough chopped
1/3 cup walnuts
1/4+ cup cheese, (asiago, romano, parmesean)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
few grinds pepper
optional - lemon and/or red pepper flakes
Start with pulsing the scapes, then add the walnuts and pulse again. Finally, add the cheese, salt and pepper, optional ingredients, and stream in the olive oil till everything is as smooth or rough as you like.
Enjoy!
What a Weekend!
This was the weekend I didn't want to end! It could have kept going and I would have been on cloud nine. Although I guess the reality check and getting back to earth isn't so bad either, as I am feeling so fantastic right now.
It all started Friday night with a bit of relaxation and a good movie at home. No plans and no where to be! It rarely happens.
Saturday was spent lazily on the river, tubing with 30 of my friends and family. It was quite the sight! I couldn't have asked for a better day. I was smart and drank lots of water before hitting the river, since I knew I would be enjoying a few Twisted Teas on the journey. I was also smart and remembered to apply and reapply my 30SPF throughout the day, resulting in sun but no burn. There has never been a time till then that I had gone tubing and had it not result in a burn. That alone made it amazing. That night was a relaxing night of horseshoes and dinner well into the night at the woodfield with the same friends and family.
Sunday was a lazy morning, I slept in until 11:30! It was absolutely glorious. The rest of the afternoon I was in the garden, snipping the garlic scapes, weeding the much neglected gardens, planting more chard and lettuce, and making garlic scape pesto with Mom. I can still feel the tightness in my legs from all the bending over. It felt so good to get back into the garden.
Then came Monday, the 4th of July! Since I am not always supper excited to watch the parade, I jumped at the opportunity to be in the parade with my work this year. It was HOT. I walked from my apartment to the start, just about 1 mile, and the walked and ran in the parade, clocking in at just under 2 and a half miles. It was SO much fun. I got to see people I haven't seen in forever, visit briefly with friends and family, and enjoy the festivities all while moving and rockin' out. We had a small BBQ at my dad's, lots of cards, and some great conversation on the porch.
Do you see why I didn't want it to end? It was a truly perfect weekend!
It all started Friday night with a bit of relaxation and a good movie at home. No plans and no where to be! It rarely happens.
Saturday was spent lazily on the river, tubing with 30 of my friends and family. It was quite the sight! I couldn't have asked for a better day. I was smart and drank lots of water before hitting the river, since I knew I would be enjoying a few Twisted Teas on the journey. I was also smart and remembered to apply and reapply my 30SPF throughout the day, resulting in sun but no burn. There has never been a time till then that I had gone tubing and had it not result in a burn. That alone made it amazing. That night was a relaxing night of horseshoes and dinner well into the night at the woodfield with the same friends and family.
Sunday was a lazy morning, I slept in until 11:30! It was absolutely glorious. The rest of the afternoon I was in the garden, snipping the garlic scapes, weeding the much neglected gardens, planting more chard and lettuce, and making garlic scape pesto with Mom. I can still feel the tightness in my legs from all the bending over. It felt so good to get back into the garden.
Then came Monday, the 4th of July! Since I am not always supper excited to watch the parade, I jumped at the opportunity to be in the parade with my work this year. It was HOT. I walked from my apartment to the start, just about 1 mile, and the walked and ran in the parade, clocking in at just under 2 and a half miles. It was SO much fun. I got to see people I haven't seen in forever, visit briefly with friends and family, and enjoy the festivities all while moving and rockin' out. We had a small BBQ at my dad's, lots of cards, and some great conversation on the porch.
Do you see why I didn't want it to end? It was a truly perfect weekend!
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