« NYC Triathlon Race Report - My Calves Will Never Be The Same | Main | Almost Forgot »
July 22, 2008
Stuff
Well the recovery process continues. Some easy riding and running today. Yesterday some easy swimming. We are on our way. Calves are still sore but feet are feeling better. I've properly addressed all blisters. Real training to resume soon! Although "real" training is really just leading into my next taper which makes me very happy. Steelhead is but a short 2 weeks away! :)
Now for some random stuff about this past weekend that I forgot to mention yesterday:
1) I lost yet another pair of sunglasses. Can you believe this insanity? In the past 12 months I've gone through 5 pairs of sunglasses. This is not a good trend. We will soon have to sell Roxy to support this crazy sunglass habit. I don't even like sunglasses!! I never wear them except when I'm riding and then only for the fact that bad things get in your eyes if you don't have something covering them.
In my defense I didn't really lose them in so much as they just came up "missing". To tell you the truth, I think someone swiped them in transition! As I said I wear them on the bike but take them off for the run. So when I went to fetch all my gear after the race everything was there except my sunglasses. And I looked everywhere. Because I knew O would be mad at me. But they were MIA. I'm giving my rack-mates some slack though and assuming someone "accidentally" picked them up. But I'm suspicious.
The end result was a trip to the bike shop today to pick up a new pair. I just can't have bugs flying into my eyeballs when I'm riding!
2) I've decided that NYC has the best food ever. And it's everywhere. And there is just about everything you can imagine! After the race we were strolling through lower Manhattan when I decided some pizza was in order for lunch. And POOF! Right across from where we were parked - a pizza place. And BOY was it good. Although I don't think I could ever live in NYC I might be swayed if I really thought about all the good eating options. I bet New Yorkers are severely disappointed when they come to places like Pittsburgh. :)
3) Triathlon has left me with a lot of scars. I was a runner for 15 years before I did triathlon and I have about 1 scar from that sport. Now, after 2.5 years of triathlon, I'm one big ball of scar. Yes, a few scars from my cycling accident last year. But mostly my scars arise from one of two things - timing chips and/or bike numbers. Bike numbers are brutal. My seat is never high enough to put the number on the seat post like most people do so I always have to put it on the top tube of my bike. The number, of course, then proceeds to rub into one or both of my inner thighs for the entire 25 miles. With each and every pedal stroke. And I'm left with some nasty scars. Philly was the worst. Let's just say there was a twisty tie involved.
Now sometimes the bike numbers are small and don't have sharp edges and all is well. Such was the case in NYC. However in NYC the chip strap just disinegrated the skin around my ankle. Seriously. I have got to be doing something wrong here! There is a very clear outline where the chip strap was all the way around my leg and without sounding like a complete baby, I've got to admit - it REALLY hurts! :) When the very kind volunteer was trying to remove my chip on Sunday and it wouldn't come and she was really yanking I gave out a little yelp of pain as more of my skin was rubbed raw. That will be another scar for sure.
Battle wounds I suppose.
4) One really neat thing happened this weekend that we weren't planning on at all. Right before we left the city on Sunday afternoon O and I drove past Ground Zero in the lower part of Manhattan. We just wanted to see what it looked like. Pretty amazing. When you see it up close it brings a whole new meaning to Sept 11.
After that we started our long trek home. When we were nearing Breezewood on the PA Turnpike we saw a huge sign board warning that further up the turnpike was closed both east and west bound due to an accident. HUGE bummer. We would have to get off the turnpike and take Route 30, all the way into Greensburg to pick up Roxy at O's parents' house. That would add a significant amount of time to our already long trip because, let's just say, Route 30 is no expressway!
But the neat part is, Route 30 goes right through Shanksville, PA, the Somerset County town where Flight 93 crashed. As we got close we realized how unique to earlier in the day be at the sight of the first attack and later in the same day to be at the sight of the 2nd.
5) I've got to give a shout out to O for his amazing equipment management/navigation this weekend. This event truly tested his skills as it was a lot more logistically challenging than any race we've been to. I think he will breathe a sigh of relief in Michigan 2 weeks from now when we can park right next to transition! He truly puts up with so much on race weekends though. Most notably, the nervous ball of energy that I am. Let's just say, I don't think anybody could EVER replace him!
So there we have it. I hope everyone is having a wonderful evening! Happy training!
Posted by beth at July 22, 2008 6:20 PM
Comments
I don't put my number on my bike seat either, but that's because that's where my spare tire and stuff is - where do these people keep their spares when they put their number there? I know if I get a flat in a race, it's essentially over, but I also don't want to get stuck 10miles away from transition and have to walk my bike in! Do you put your number near your steam or near your seat on the top tube? One time I put it near my seat and NEVER AGAIN! It cut me up very badly. Now when I put it near my stem my legs never hit it. Also, do you have your own chip strap? Those are way comfy. I made sure I got my own after wearing what equates to a hospital bracelet around my ankle at a race (and it also cut me badly). It sounded like a fun race, but a logistical pain in the butt!
Posted by: Bri at July 22, 2008 8:17 PM
Beth I think you need a chip strap. They sell them at most bike stores where they have a tri section. They're made out of neoprene so they are very comfortable. Also, I would recommend using some tape on the bike number to hold it in so it doesn't hit your legs.
Anyway I cannot wait to hear how you do in Steelhead, you are going to be awesome!!! I am sure a lot of your readers are wondering about your pro card status also. It seems like you must be getting close.
Posted by: barb at July 23, 2008 10:27 AM
I think my biggest challenge of the whole weekend was balancing the needs of my wife who was competing and my mother who was being *very* helpful wanting to be involved. Three people in a hotel room before a race in New York with all logistics can be trying. Very delicate juggling act to keep everybody happy and involved.
Posted by: O at July 23, 2008 2:33 PM