Almost time.....

[update: June 17, 2008]

to race!

First of all it is my mom’s birthday today….Happy Birthday Ma Ficker!! I am looking forward to a birthday celebration dinner out in CDA.

Things have gone well in Boulder. Despite some wiiiindy days my first week here, things seem to have died down now and it is very beautiful outside. Even though I really miss my dog, friends and house in Austin, I often check the daily temps just to remind myself why I am not there training right now. Yikes!

Speaking of hot, or not hot, the water and air temps in CDA are looking quite the opposite. The high on race day is only going to get up to 68 and the water…brr…is hanging out in the mid 50’s. It should be an interesting day.

I am attending a C Different dinner up there on Thursday night, they have quite a few racers and supporters going up for this race. I am hoping to guide a gal through a marathon this winter, I think that would be really special. Even though it is a huge responsibility as I have a hard enough time running in a straight line during these races myself when things get tough. I have a huge respect for the athletes and guides involved in this program.

I am off to some final workouts and then onto packing, I am hoping to ol noodle arms have gained some strength with a lot of swimming over the last few weeks…hopefully the airport won’t seem so treacherous this time.

Lucky for me I have a job with some flexiblity and I got to watch Tiger and Rocco duke in out in the second half of the US Open playoff tournament yesterday. It was interesting to observe the difference in personality between the two. Rocco seemed to be having so much more fun! As much as I admire Tiger…I am wondering if he has enough fun. Hopefully he is having his fill of it right now…who knows. I would like to think you are able to have a good time WHILE winning…just like Rocco…even though he lost…so maybe he isn’t the best example after all. Anyhow you get my point! Get out there and just have some fun…and hope that the winning does come. I believe it will.

:)Des

J and A's

[update: June 14, 2008]

Check out the latest newsletter from the best bike shop in the world…..

Jack and Adam’s June newsletter

Boise 70.3

[update: June 05, 2008]

Every trip away from home to a race or extended training trip begins the same way. Usually it begins with a final trip to the best bike shop in the world, Jack and Adams. This time I was picking up my Guru complete with its spanking new SRAM Red groupo …awesome! Then I was onto some final workouts ending with the sound of the clips on the bike box closing signaling my first sigh of relief all day. My forever will be a puppy Pandora always tries to plant herself in the middle of the bike case as I am packing my bike which initiates the first of the very sad feelings to leave her and to leave my home. Her tail goes down between her legs and I am convinced that she is in absolute hate with that bike box (as am I!). This trip would be a long one as I was getting ready to leave for Colorado Springs then on to Boise for the 70.3, to Boulder for training and lastly to Coeur d’alene (meaning “heart of the neighborhood” as informed by Elli Kennedy) for the Ironman on June 22…..then back to Pdog! Needless to say I was armed with a massive amount of luggage…..my bike box, wheel bag, duffel bag and back pack. I was carrying so much stuff in fact that a woman in the airport actually asked me if I had a piano in my bike box. Practically lady, practically!

The cab showed up at my house and Pandora ran along the fence as we left looking devastated. Ug. The cab driver then went on to say how great the pot was in Boulder….what?! and very kindly helped me lug all my stuff to the ticket line. I could breathe a sigh of relief once I said goodbye to the monster piano at TSA. My visit in Colorado Springs went really well. I had my first VO2 max test in 7 years and was finger pricked a ridiculous number of times in my poor little finger during a lactate test. Chris Carmichael and my new coach Lindsay were all screaming their heads off at me during the VO2 test and all I could try to think about was that I was going up a mountain in Boulder rather than sitting on a metal bike with a tube shoved up my mouth. We accomplished many other in a short few days and I am really looking forward to working with these guys….they are treating me right and their knowledge will be invaluable in my build up to Kona.

I was then on my way to Boise and back to the good old airport with another go from the noodle arms in an attempt to carry too much luggage. I arrived late Friday night and was so happy to have Paul meet me in Denver to help me out over the weekend. Race morning began with an epic 800m climb up a dirt path to transition area and the balmy reservoir ..not! I watched the men take off to the first start buoy. The wind was blowing and I was shaking in my wetsuit and adorable warm cap…my feet were already numb standing in the water just watching them take off! Oh this swim was going to be a blast. The men bravely took off from their start buoy and I swallowed all negative thoughts as I dove into the water, the sting of the cold was a shock. They did not have us bobbing in the water for long and the canon went off. I felt great the first 100m until my noodle arms lost their fire along with the lead pack. I saw all the little pink caps moving ahead into the distance. I was alone in the cold choppy water, trying to breathe as the water was taking my breath away. 31 long and cold minutes later I exited the water somehow passing two pro men who had started three minutes before we did (and I thought I had a lousy swim). I saw Lindsay Corbin just ahead and shoving my numb feet out of my wetsuit I was suddenly on my bike and trying to catch her. My dad (who has now acquired his own Fuzzy Duds sponsorship- www.fuzzyduds.com) yelled that I was three minutes behind the leaders.

Onto the bike course, had I been feeling my usual bike shape it would have been a blast. There were fun climbs, lots of flat stretches and rolling hills….I just was not in my usual bike like an animal with rabies mode. Off the bike in 6th place my friend and Guru rep Adam happened to call a great deal of attention to me as I made my way from my transition spot straight to the porta potty. Pretty funny actually. Coming off in sixth place I had some catching up to do. I thought about all the hard tempos I had done during my trials training and just tried to run like a mad woman. I managed to move into second place with 5k to go and at that point I was just ready to sit down. I held off new pro Heather for the last 5k and was happy to finish 2nd, waaay behind a very strong and very sweet girl Kate Major.

I was happy with the effort and know that I have some work to do for my upcoming races. Next up is IM CDA (I am not going to write that one out again) and I am really looking forward to my first attempt there.

Thank you to my supporters: my awesome new coaches at CTS: my new SRAM Red components runin’ like butter: Jack and Adams bike shop in Austin for bending over backwards for me always; to Zipp for sending my super fast new wheels super fast; Accelerade for it’s new yummy Hydro product; Badger Ford for my pimp ride; Oakley for my pimpest shades; Asics for making the best shoes on the market; TYR for my very comfy race uniforms and goggles:; Guru for my fiiiaane Crono daisy bike: to Carri Bennet who works day and night for me; to my mom, dad, brothers, Paul and the amazing friends I have in my life. You guys all come together to make my job seem easy! You guys ROCK.

I am in Boulder now staying with a lovely Canadian family who love hockey so I am actually watching the potential final of Stanley Cup for the first time and really enjoying it!