TriSupporter

KC TRI: Longview Lake Loop is LONNGGG

In just a few hours Rianman and I will be setting out to Longview Lake about 30 minutes southeast of us for the first annual KC Triathlon organized by a committed crew of local triathletes including Coach Ken and KC's own tri pro Ben Schloegel. As has been our habit for the last 4 seasons, we went off to the race site the day before the race so Rianman could check out the area. We've been there before and Rianman raced Jackson County Tri last year which is held at Longview Lake later in the summer.

Rianman was supposed to have a short swim, bike, and run workout today and I decided to bring Horny to get a little ride in. The bike course loop is about 12 miles so I thought it would be a good workout for me. Once we got there, set up was in full-swing and we saw Coach Ken, Ben, Trish, and a number of others practicing and setting up. Rianman dipped his toes in and decided it was too cold without his wetsuit, which he didn't bring, so he didn't swim. Tomorrow will definitely be wetsuit legal and people will wear them even for an Olympic.

After Rianman picked up his super snazzy MTC Headsweats visor from Coach Ken, we set up our bikes and got ready to ride the course. This would be my first time ever riding it and only my second ride of 12 miles. I have to say I was a bit nervous because 1) I didn't know the course and 2) my elbows have been killing me for 2 weeks and I was worried what an hour would be like on them. But I figured Rianman was there and he had to go slow so I wouldn't hold him back too much and if my elbows really hurt, I'd just turn back.

Now, I'm not going to turn this into a blog about my riding so I'll just cut to the chase. Rianman didn't know the course as well as he thought (surprise!) and we got a little lost once we got ahead of Coach Ken and Ben marking the course. (Lesson learned there.) We added about 3 miles to the short 12 mile loop and let me just say that the couple of hills in the last third of the course weren't easy for me and Rianman and I somehow survived a major threat to our marriage.

When things were there worst at about mile 12, I walked up one last hill--I'm not ashamed to say--and there were vultures looming over head. I just knew if I stopped they would attack me as they could tell their prey was weakening! The crest of the hill approached and I rode the rest of the way in. Our 15.3 mile ride took 1 hour 25 minutes and we averaged 10.5 mph or something...I'd say not bad. Coach Ken might say Rianman shouldn't have been out there that long but Rianman didn't really have a choice. He did skip the run though.

So I can at least say this, I did the KC Tri Bike Course!!! But have no fear, I will always be a TriSupporter and NOT a triathlete.

Good luck to all athletes tomorrow!!

Ding Ding

I got Horny

It's been a couple weeks but I thought I should put it out there that on May 9th I entered a world that my husband has been enjoying for years. I resisted but it was time for me to get Horny.

Meet Horny.

 

Horny is my Gary Fisher ARC Super and it's a road bike--with SPD pedals and all! I finally gave up on my old and heavy Specialized Hard Rock I bought from Village Cycle Center in Chicago in 1992.

I checked out a few bikes, the Specialized Dolce Elite and the Trek 2.1 but I chose the GF partly because, well, the color. I love the color! And it was in stock in my size and it had a bit more carbon in the rear...that should help my...rear...right?

So what does a new road bike mean? New pedals, new shoes, new gloves, new sunglasses, new gear plain and simple. I'm turning into my husband!

How do I ride this thing?

When we went to pick up the bike and test it around the parking lot, the very helpful Trek dude passed the bike over to me and said, "Here you go." I looked at him, and said, "Um, I don't know how to use these pedals." So began the humiliating process of having him straddle the front wheel and hold me up while I learned to clip in and out without falling over. Rianman simply held onto my purse while watching (and probably laughing) from at least 10 feet away. I didn't fall and it was fairly easy. After some adjustments to loosen the pedals to make it easier for me, I tested it around the parking lot and did not crash...though they did have to 'catch' me when I couldn't quite get out of my clips after the first loop.

I spent the next couple days just practicing going up and down my street and getting used to shifting and getting in and out of the pedals.

In the 10 days since, I've been out with friends, alone on the streets, and in my first official group ride with the Spin Pizza Monday night group. That was a hellish first group ride because the first half was very hilly and I'm not in great shape. My legs can get me up those hills but my heart was like, "You have got to be freakin' kidding me?!" It's a great ride but I won't be back till I get my cardio in check and try out some flatter beginner friendly rides.

I've ridden the last two nights and I was going to join the Ride of Silence tonight but I've got Golfer's elbow and think I should take it easy and get Horny fitted.

Why Horny?

I almost forgot...it's really not a great story...just driving home with the bike and needing a name. I was thinking, It is green...toads are green...Horny. Now when I say, "I gotta get Horny" you'll know what I mean.

Here I am getting Horny for the first time.

 

 See you out there!

 

Got a Sharpie?

Last Monday Rianman and I nervously watched our computer clocks as 12 noon approached. Repeatedly we refreshed the web page waiting for the exact moment we would be able to register as volunteers for the 2009 Ironman Wisconsin. We spent the night before analyzing all the volunteer opportunities and settled on body marking as our first choice. Body marking would mean an early rise but we'd be done by 7 am leaving us able to watch the entire race. Not to be unprepared, we had a 2nd choice and if we failed to gain a slot for our 2nd choice, we each had a 3rd and final choice.

The computer clock read 12:00 PM and I refreshed one last time. Nothing. The page wouldn't load. I tried again. Nothing. Microsoft wanted to diagnose the problem. I knew the problem--too many people were hitting the server...all trying to gain their favored volunteer opportunity. Hundreds? Thousands of people hitting the server at the same time crashing it. We refreshed and nothing. Rianman and I were experiencing the same problems just in different parts of the house. Our friend, Jodie, also trying for Body Marking with us was not having any better luck and she was in Wisconsin.

Finally at 12:22 pm, I got in! Every step of the process was nerve-wracking, what would happen when I hit Submit? Would my registration get lost in the ether? Well at one point in the process that is just what happened. While sorting the volunteer opportunities, the page went blank. Nothing. I looked at the URL and didn't know what to do. So I took a shot and hit the back button. My work was not lost and I submitted again and this time the gods were smiling down on me and the Sunday AM Transition slots appeared--oh the relief! I continued without problems and got my confirmation...I would be body marking on September 13th from 4:45 am to 7 am. Not long after, Rianman got his confirmation! And after a quick phone call to walk her through it, Jodie got hers!!

I felt like I did when I registered Rianman for the 2008 IMOO...the tension of beating out all the other people and beating the clock. When you're confirmed...you feel like you've won a race! You're exhilarated and exhausted..it's a little rush and on Monday at noon, the start of work week, it was the perfect jolt.

In just 4 months we'll be using our big Sharpies to write numbers on peoples' arms and legs...for most, these are numbers they'll never forgot. The numbers will be hanging in garages, basements, and captured in photos displayed online and on fridges...not permanent like a tatoo yet enduring. It'll be an honor and great fun!!