Smokin Fast!

I wanted every possible advantage in riding my fastest for my upcoming triathlons, so this season, I invested in a tri bike.  I looked at several, but when it came right down to it ... I just wanted another TREK because my Trek Madone Road Bike has never failed me!



I found my dream:  The TREK SPEED CONCEPT 7.0 WSD (and it's pink!)  I went down to my local bike shop and ordered it.  Sight unseen and without even test riding it.  It was THE ONE! I knew it.  How could it not be, afterall, it was a TREK and it was PINK!  (plus, it looks fast!)

Here's how it looked when it first arrived:



Of course, I had to take it for a test ride.  But, I knew I would love it! Even with the reflector's and tester pedals.  It rode like a dream!

I bought Shimano clipless pedals and brought my dream bike home.  It is too good to just sit in the garage.



It's part of the family now! She needs a name.  The search was on.  I asked all my friends for name suggestions for my bike.  The winning name was : TRIXIE.  (personally, I think it sounds like a stripper name, and it makes me chuckle.  The true name means: BRINGER OF JOY! ... Yes, pun intended) ;)

After a couple hundred miles, it was time for a new seat! Two reasons.  One, the stock seat was very uncomfortable in the aero position and for long rides lasting more than 2+ hours, the girl parts were not so happy with me.  Two, this saddle is one my coach recommended.  I chose the ISM Adamo Road Saddle.  I debated between the road and the race saddles, but after reading many reviews, I picked this one.  I LOVE IT and couldn't be happier!





One last thing this great bike needs ... RACE WHEELS!!!



Zipp 404's 650c clinchers.  They are wicked FAST!

Favorite Friends Friday

   

My friends are my happy place! 

Here's a shout out to a few of my favs who have stuck by me through thick and thin ... rain and shine ... wind gusts ... steep climbs ... downhills ... listening to me talk about swimming, biking, running, family, work, etc ... laughing with me or at me as I get the lyrics wrong to every song I sing ... saying YES when I ask you to do a race with me ... sharing a glass of wine and lots of laughs (lol) ... believing in me ... encouraging me ... and, last but not least, putting up with my crazy high energy! LOVE you! xoxo

Andrea, Anna, and Me at Oliver 70.3 in 2010

Cami, Jen, & Laura

Lora, Me & Pat - After the New York Marathon 2009

Jana, Me, and Donna (these girls don't exercise, but they love me jut the same!)

Me and Rebekah in Colorado

Claudia (bottom left)... amazing support friend! Has been to two races with me! :)

Polly, Pat, Me, Robin, Laura (Heather & Jen on TV!)

A brick anyone?

What exactly is BRICK?

Here's what I found:

Brick

Commonly, a combination workout that includes a bike and run back to back. Comedically, "Bike/Run It Can Kill" or "Bike/Run Ick". It can be any combination of triathlon sports with less than 10 minutes between sports.

For me, my BRICKs have been long bike rides of over 2 +hours, followed by at least a 30 minute run.  There are a lot of philosophies out there on how long you should run following a long bike ride, but to tell you the truth, I'm just following Coach Daryl's plan! ;)

Oliver 70.3 in 2010

I've been doing BRICK's consistently since the beginning of November in preparation for Ironman Canada.

Finish Line at Oliver 70.3 in 2010

If you're reading this and have never tried a BRICK before, give it a try!  The first time is the hardest and you might even feel like your legs don't want to move, but they will!  Shortening your stride, quick turnover (stride rate) and focusing on good posture is key!

Happy Brick to YOU! ;)

You Have Man Thighs

My friend Lora tells it like it is.  She looked at me the other day and exclaimed, "you have man thighs!"  I looked down and frowned ... sure enough, I have man thighs.  I looked back at her and gazed at her long and lean legs, then looked back down at my legs.  Yep - my thighs are twice the size of hers.

Even as a child, I have never had those cute petite girly girl type legs.  My legs have always been muscular (although as  teenager, I'm pretty sure I called them FAT).  I have never really felt comfortable wearing skirts and I always prayed God would make me grow one more inch in my thighs and calves so everything was proportioned just right.  It didn't happen.

I have to admit, Lora calling my thighs "man thighs" kinda stung.  I don't want MAN THIGHS! ... I want thighs that are strong and lean and look great in a skirt and high heels.  I don't know one girl who would want man thighs, but, as she went on to explain, she meant it as a compliment (or, so she says .. ha ha).  For her, she sees my thighs as the catalyst propelling me up the hills on our long bike rides, or pulling away from her as we start our intervals in a bigger ring.  She covets my man thighs!

Me and Lora before running the New York Marathon 2009

I have always dreamed of having model-like legs, long and lean, (just like Lora's) BUT, I am happy with the two strong ones that God gave me.  Maybe it's my age now, but at any rate, I will use my man thighs to their fullest potential.

Go man thighs!

Motivation to TRI when the weather is nasty

As I sit at my dining room table and write this, I can hear the wind whipping around our homestead in NW Washington.  It is a frigid 21 degrees and the streets are a sheet of ice.

I was planning on swimming tonight, but after taking nearly 40 minutes to get home, it was going to be another 40 minutes to get back to town to swim at the aquatic center.  Should I be depressed I'm not following my plan?  Am I not motivated?  I AM MOTIVATED ... to do two workouts tomorrow!  Run for an hour, then swim.  Doable.

But, what about the bike?  Looks like another week, at least, of riding on the trainer and running on the dreadmill.  How to stay motivated, you ask?

I have several suggestions:

1.  First, don't let one missed workout get you down.  I will do two in one day (aka...tomorrow! ;)

2.  Find the silver lining ... as I get to ride my trainer, I can catch up on those really important shows I DVR'd last week, such as Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

3.  Think of getting fat.  This always does it for me in a pinch.

4.  My coach will be disappointed I'm not with the program.  While I don't mind missing a workout or two, ultimately, I want to follow coaches plan to a T.

5.  My motivation might just make someone else motivated.  Has anyone ever told you, "Thanks!  If it wasn't for you meeting me to run at 4 am, I would have never gotten out of bed!"  That always make me smile!

No wind, no ice, no snow is going to keep this tri girl from staying motivated!

...gotta go... my show's back on ...