What Happened.

First, let me thank everyone who emailed and FBed before the race wishing me well. I appreciate it more than you know. I don't have much by way of explanation as I am still collecting my thoughts on the matter but i can say a few things.

It became very obvious to me late in the day on Saturday that despite good physical preparation, my mind was struggling with the idea of going through the pain of doing another Ironman race. I had moments of mild panic and a fear of destroying myself mentally in such a way that I may not be able to race again, at least anytime soon. This is about all I can say right now, i simply couldn't put myself through it again yesterday and I need some time to recover if i want to have a good season in 2010.

My only regret is that I didn't realize sooner.

Time for some offseason, unstructured fun!
S.

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Arrival in the desert

Click Here for a preview of the women's race here in Arizona:
http://tinyurl.com/yjmgl3q

Check out our humble accommodations...


Its 4pm and I am horizontal, with a bowl of corn chips and guac, and sun streaming in through the window. I am definitely in Arizona.

Our journey here was definitely not without hiccups. When we boarded in Victoria, they promptly told us the plane was broken and we had to offload. Not only that, but we had to reclaim our luggage and check in again. Crappy. Thankfully, we were armed with a laptop and 2 seasons of the Xfiles. Plus, the nice lady upgraded us to first class for our troubles and we had a very comfortable flight once we got going.

Clint and I are staying at an amazing homestay, we are in the guesthouse (yes, an entire house just for guests!). And, being that its a small world, Tara Norton and husband Bruce are staying here as well, Yay! They are great people, so that was a stroke of luck. I hear Chris and Marilyn Mc and Mac Donald are arriving today, also fun people to have around.

This morning I went to the University pool for a little swim. Love love love outdoor pools and miss them very much from when I used to live down here. Really felt amazing in the water which is great for my confidence and unusual for a taper week! Though i have tapered pretty hard core this time, how could I not be fresh?

On the way here and earlier in the week, I felt really unsure about racing again. Its been a long season, I have raced a lot... But now that i am here I feel ready to go body and mind.

So that's about it for now. After the race, I will be eating lots of cheesecake and ice cream... but also, Clinton and I are heading to Calgary for the swim/run technique camp. Really looking forward to spending time with the Mercury team.

Adios for now.
S.
P.S. Tuesday before I left, Troy at Pro City Cycles waved his magic wand and a new bottle cage appeared on my bike. Backrack be gone. Hello fast.

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my favorite blog

As a coach, many of my athletes become friends, and some even like family to me as we embark on our journeys to find out just how far we can push and how fast we can become. In various ways, i admire each of my pupils. Today, I want to share my favorite blog. The writer is so full of enthusiasm for her sport and life, its hard not to learn something. Here is my favorite entry from this summer:



The very nature of triathlon leads one to live an organized, compartmentalized, regimented sort of existence. Training is a priority -- we will get up at ungodly hours and shuffle errands and obligations around to get our workouts in. When we travel, we suss out the local pool, running paths, and local bike routes. Vacations, weddings, family outings, etc, are all planned around our race season and our training schedules.



Thus, triathlon very quickly eases one into a routine. Everyone develops his/her own unique routine, based on countless hours of experimentation and careful strategic planning. Some of us sleep in our workout clothes in order to capitalize on early-morning training time. Some of us buy multiple soap/shampoo/lotion products and leave a set at work, at the pool, and at the gym. Gradually, one becomes quite adept at packing swimming-to-work-to-running gear; stuffing sufficient tubes, C02 cartridges and nutrition in jersey pockets and bento boxes; and yes, even toting almonds, chopped up veggies and other snacks in various ziplock baggies to ward off the ever present nibblies. Whatever we do, we do it because it works for us.



Like mice finding the quickest path to the cheese, we follow our own habitual paths over and over again, until our routines harden into a substance very much like concrete. To the uninitiated (and to our loved ones), these routines can seem like border-line (or even full-blown) neuroses. For example, I treat my schedule like a writ from God. Let's call it "The Book of Sara." Whatever is on my schedule, I do. Religiously. Without excuses.



When a run is scheduled for 8:00am, I run at 8:00am. Through rain, snow, shine, doctor's appointments, life, whatever. My schedule says "do it" and I obey. If I have a bike ride scheduled for 3 hours, I will ride for exactly 3 hours. If I misjudge and go over the 3 hour mark, that's OK. But, if I am under, I circle the block, so to speak, until I reach the required time. I've prefaced so many of my conversations with, "I have to swim/bike/run today..." that my friends and family now ask ME what I have on schedule before they ask me for coffee or dinner! Terrible of me, I know! Hahahaha!



There are times when this blind, unthinking addiction to routine backfires though. I know I'm not alone in arriving at the pool only to realize that I forgot to pack my swimsuit. Or towel as was the case last week. The towel was no big deal -- my pool has a paper towel dispenser by the bathroom sinks. There I stood, butt-naked, pressing the paper-towel lever again and again and again and again. I'd grab a few rough brown paper sheets, dry off a random body part, and then start pumping the lever again.



Two girls who usually always swim when I do were just getting into the showers...I laughed and explained I forgot my towel. Instant friends. Isn't it strange how quickly you can make friends with people when you're naked? Hahahaha!



OK, back to when routines backfire...



Sometimes, I am so used to the timeless nature of my routine that I fool myself into thinking no time has passed --- not so good when your swimsuit needs to be replaced. Right Susi? Hee-hee!!!



But, what makes a triathlon routine so different from other routines? Ahhhh!!! Here is the sweet part:



It is true that a triathlon routine on the surface can appear to be rigid, unmovable, unforgiving. But appearances are deceiving. Triathlon teaches you to prepare for the unexpected, to deal with life's unexpected challenges. Hence, while sticking to my schedule, I've had to bike in hurricane-force winds, snow, sleet, rain, and sometimes even sun. I've had to deal with two flats, no C02 cartridges, and a long bumpy 50km bike ride back to my car.



In essence, I've learned how to get things done. To deal with life as it happens and not stress and worry when life throws me a curve ball: To change a flat tire, to get my hands dirty, to inhale a lot of water so I can learn how to flip-turn, to LIVE.



This is the innate paradox of triathlon....and I love paradox. Embedded into triathlon's seemingly strict tenets is a hardy resourcefulness; a penchant for dealing with the unexpected --- and thriving.



Last Thursday, I gauged the weather to be too hot for my dog of 11.5 years to join me for my run. She's older, I'm faster, and I worry about her cooling down enough in the various watering holes which I include in my route. Toby was rolling around in ecstasy in the shade in the backyard, when I made my move, and left to go for my run. The few times I've left her at home, she guilts me with an incredibly depressed look -- big, liquid dark brown eyes, gazing up at me with the saddest expression you will ever see. Tail down, body posture shrunken in, like she has been kicked and abandoned. GAD!



Nonetheless, it was HOT, and I told her to "Watch the house," like I always do, and off I went. Ipod cranked, I ran about 2.5km when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I was running up the highway, when to my immediate left, a little black shape cruised up beside me. TOBY! Hahahahahaha!



I couldn't get mad -- she was quite pleased with herself -- you could see that in her grinning smile. Somehow, she sneaked out of the yard and ran DOWN THE HIGHWAY behind me so she could join me. Hahahahaha -- I can just imagine how it looked to traffic. Hahahahahaahahaah!! Toby has ran with me all over the Crowsnest Pass -- she knows where she is going. She doesn't own a collar -- I usually carry a leash (just in case I come across another dog) and loop it upon itself to make a collar/leash thing. I hadn't brought her leash on Thursday, since I wasn't bringing Toby, but she is so good, we didn't need it. We never do. :)



Toby's great escape taught me it is through the apparent faults and unpredictable nature of life that we flourish: love and grow. It is when things don't go according to plan, when our routine is challenged, that we rise up and become more than what we are.

In 2009, Julie took an hour and a half off her Ironman time through hard work, and more importantly, a good attitude. I think the secrets to her success are written in her blog. She has a refreshing honesty than I admire greatly. Here's a link:

http://runningwithdoggies.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

S.

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butternut squash and other unsolicited thoughts about curry

2 weeks and 2 days until Ironman Arizona and the taper is on! Our approach to training has been different this time, focusing on key sessions that will give me the confidence that i can put together a good Ironman. I feel really good.

Since I am training less, I have had more time for other things I enjoy, so one afternoon I spent a couple hours making a chicken and butternut squash curry. Having spent my highschool years in the middle east, I have a lot of experience with curries; Indian curry, Thai curry, Arabic curry, I love it all.

As a triathlete, I don't really have time to make a proper curry (anyone who knows anything about curry will tell you that it takes days, not hours, to make a good curry). So here is a recipe for an easy curry that i learned along the way;

1. Partially fry 2-4 large chicken breasts in a big frying pan with onions.
2. At the same time, put a whole butternut squash in the oven for 45mins.
3. Add curry powder, cumin and cinnamon to the chicken. (Now, dont ask me how much because i dont know. At a guess; 5tbsp curry powder, 2tbsp cumin, 1tbsp cinnamon?). If your curry power is not hot (most arent) and you like it hot, then add some chilli sauce (or not, in the case of Loopy-Lou!).
4. Keep frying the chicken and spices until its fully cooked, then put it all in a big pot.
5. Add as many vegetables as you can fit in your pot!
6. Add something juicy. I suggest the following: a can of chickpeas or beans with the juices, a can of pineapple with the juices, or a can of chopped tomatoes. Your sauce needs some juice!
7. Add some honey. (Again, amounts, not sure!)
8. Keep the whole concoction simmering on low for 1-2hours. Curry vegetables need to be mushy, not crispy like stirfry.
9. Add more honey if its not sweet enough.
10. Take the butternut squash out of the oven, chop it into little square chunks, add it to the mixture and stir.
11. Now, you're pretty much done.

A few other tips:
1. Leave it overnight, it will taste better!
2. Add a jar of pre-made Tikka Masala, or Rogan Josh. Its kinda cheating, but it tastes good! (Still cook the chicken with the spices, the flavor will be very rich!)
3. Have mango chutney and plain yogurt with it.
4. Use the leftovers to make a wrap the next day OR, my favorite thing, add a big scoop to a bowl of vegetable soup. It adds flavor, protein and a lot of goodness!

Enjoy! And happy Autumn!
S.

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