Thursday, September 19, 2013

Enter/Return.

The other day I noticed a certain key on my laptop- you know the one- on the right hand side, middle of the keyboard...the "return" key.




The one on my Mac laptop happens to say "enter" and "return" on the same key.  And I found how my recent trip to San Diego, a time that was originally planned to be spent up at Lake Tahoe acclimating, was a beautiful representation of that key.  Here I was, returning to a city that I loved, yet also entering a new space filled with new friends and experiences that I never got around to doing while I resided there for 5 years...



Kayaking at La Jolla Caves. Sea lions, seasickness, the whole shebang.
Tried out candlelight hot yoga for the first time at Core Power Yoga.
Lunchtime longcourse with UCSD Masters swimming.
Had to see what all the rage was about...and yes, it was delicious!
We definitely need Beaming up north!
And, on the opposite side of the healthfood spectrum...
This was my first time here.  I know, I know.  Sad, but true.

I went from a completely regimented schedule of train/work/train to now waking up, asking myself what I wanted to do, trying to remember what day it was, and then jumping from adventure to adventure.  In a nutshell, it was awesome.


The views were pretty awesome too.
Sunset at Pacific Beach.
Digested my oysters from Crab Catcher while witnessing the seagulls and sunset.
I didn't start riding my bike until after college, so I had no cycling connections in San Diego, nor was I familiar with any of the routes.  Thanks to Instagram, I was able to connect with some really amazing people who I already knew I would like, even without meeting them.  I already knew their cool riding spots, what they liked to eat, and the things they found important in their life, all via pictures.  It's neat to see how social media can connect individuals in the most non-creepy way.  To me, it blows Facebook out of the water.  Yes, your baby is cute and adorable, and with daily updates, I will be able to witness him growing up all the way up to high school!  So yes, Instagram rocks in my opinion.

Thanks to beauty of the hashtag "IMLT," it was an absolute pleasure to meet two fellow IMLT athletes and share a coast ride with them on their last bike ride before Ironman.  The journey we shared as athletes in such a long span of training months was quite similar, and it was a true blessing to meet and hug Heather and Shawn in person.  I'll be cheering for you both on Sunday as you rock Ironman Lake Tahoe!!  


Morning miles along the coast. (thanks, Heather!)
Thank you, James G. for hooking me up with Jim Bean (www.bikecrave.com) whose wheel I followed to the infamous VeloHangar bike shop and back around the Artesian road through some winding backroads of Rancho Santa Fe.  He kindly dedicated his lunch hour(s) just to show me the sights of San Diego on two wheels.  I loved hearing his stories of racing (before they had aerobars and tri kits) and was so humbled to share some saddletime with such an amazing athlete.


What a fun wheel to follow...
The infamous VeloHangar van where all the bike pics are taken...
Looking back, the 'old' me would have been too scared to step out of my comfort zone and bike with people who I knew were more experienced/faster in fear that I would be judged.  But I've learned that sometimes just showing up and giving it what you've got and having a positive attitude makes a huge difference.  When you reach out in faith, people are really kind and generous and take care of you.  And this just makes you want to return the favor to someone else.

Lake Tahoe this weekend for me will represent the duality symbolized in the computer key.   On one hand, I will be returning to Lake Tahoe.  But this time, I'll be entering the city not as an athlete, but as a spectator/cheerleader.  Yes, it does make me sad.  But as Felipe from Breakaway Training told me over the phone in San Diego, "There's always next season." (and next time I'm down in SD, I can't wait to join you for a workout!) Yes, very true.  My eyes are definitely set for next racing season, but for now, I'm really enjoying this current (more relaxed) season of exploring new things in life, love and sport.  Mountain biking, anyone?




Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Staying Balanced.

"Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving." 
-Albert Einstein

Yesterday was my first time doing this...

The adventures begin when the sun sets.  Chasing shadows and making memories...
And now I am fantasizing about my 29er, the dirt, the danger, and the dark...

Riding dirrty. Stoked to log some trailtime on two wheels...

The thing I love most about sport is how you can continue to recreate yourself, building on your strengths, challenging yourself still, and expanding your horizons in every sense of the word.

Looking ahead with lots of excitement in these bright and hopeful eyes...

Monday, September 2, 2013

Making Lemonade.

So it's been exactly one week since my appointment with the BadNewsBear.  A few things I've learned from wearing the boot:
-Sadly, I was actually able to walk faster in my boot than some people and found myself saying, "On your left..." (yes, like a true cyclist).
-Homeless people even felt sorry for me.  A lady said, "Oh, honey, I'm sooo sorry.  I know how it is!!" (Really??)
-It's easier to walk up the stairs in a boot than down the stairs (kind of like post-marathon).
-The outfits still sucked.
-It helped a lot with minimizing my foot pain. (Duh, but the last time I took Advil was Saturday.  Winning!!)

Speaking of winning, this helped get my spirits up. (Thanks, Hulk!)
It's a strange thing- when you know you can't do something, it makes you want to do it even more.  I see pictures of my friends' trail runs and it makes me crave the moment when I can actually hit the dirt again and be surrounded by the Redwood trees.  I just want to run! (Remind me of this later, please...)

But I am thankful that I can still enjoy nature on two wheels.  And you better believe that I took advantage of this weekend to breathe in the fresh air, spin the legs, and surround myself with as many trees and mountains that I could pedal towards.

Redwoods, sun, and the breeze on my face... #loveontwowheels
There's always something special about those sunset spins...
On Saturday I ran across this...

They had Gatorade too! Smart girls...
It was reminder that yes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!  The two girls reminded me of my sister and me when we were young and had lemonade and cookie sales on our cul-de-sac.  Maybe it was meant to be that I only had a $20 bill- big tips are always a good thing when you're a kid.  

Oh, and remember Mr. Celery? 

Mr. Celery.  Yes, I name my plants.
Instead of allowing him to die a slow death in my apartment, I handed him off to my friend PK who has an incredible green thumb.  

Look what she helped him become!

No, he's not taking 'roids.  PK just knows how to make him grow!
And this weekend I was able to enjoy the fruit of her labor...

It's like the Celery Circle of Life!
It was a tangible reminder that we must position ourselves in places that will positively support our development.  With the right people around us, we can turn potentially devastating situations and circumstances into opportunities for new change and growth.  The right people, sunshine, and water have always seemed to be the perfect combo for me...

 And not only in sport, but in love too.  Sometimes it helps to have friends who have got your back, have a glass of wine sitting and waiting for you on the table when you need to vent, and who help get you started on your way to new adventures... 

Cheers to that!