Shortest Swim Meet and Last LONG ride

 The kids had their first swim meet this Thursday....and well it lasted a mere 30 minutes.  We got the 2 lengths warm up in and then the evening thunder rolled in and bam...we sat in the car for the better part of an hour waiting for them to call the meet.  We will try again on Tuesday.

Yesterday I had my last LONG LONG ride (I think) and it was HOT.  I met a new friend Yasi from NJ and  we set off to ride 100 hilly miles.  Riding with a companion makes the time go by SO much faster.  We headed up to the lake to circle a couple of times.  Here is the view from the Nock

The climb up to the ridge is fun and this is a great reward.  We made great time and rolled into our first stop to grab cold water and hit the bathrooms.  As we headed out...I realized I had a flat...DOH...we stopped and changed it...I used both of my CO2 to get it inflated...so I was hopeful we were going to make it back..we were a good 30 miles from the house.  We made our way around the lake again and low and behold my tire was flat AGAIN.

So we stopped at a auto repair center to see if they could inflate it and that was a loss..I used Yasi's CO2 and inflated it for the last time and then we headed back towards home.  I was thinking that the sitter might have to pick us up and haul us all home if it went flat again.   Luckily it stayed inflated and we headed to Peace Valley,

At this point, we were wishing we could jump in the lake...we rode Peace Valley Park,

there is some awesome climbing on the back side of the lake...it was not so awesome at mile 80 of our ride but we managed to get it done.  The killer was the ice cream truck passing at mile 90 and we had been talking about popsicles for quite some time.  All in all it was good, we rolled into our house with 100 miles in the books!  

The Slurpee Movement

You run the risk when you head away for the weekend to Lake Placid to train....that there is going to be a disaster upon your arrival home.   Thankfully most was left intact and manageable...thank you very much Ryan. 

I do believe though.....there were an abundance of Slurpees that were had over the weekend...in fact, I was talking to Jackson on the phone on Saturday and he was not telling me to come home.  He was not telling me how much he missed his momma...he was telling me about the Slurpee that he was getting tomorrow at the Slurpee mecca Target.

Ryan has always been the financial guru in our marriage and that is what happens when you marry an actuary...but last night he broke this news...this is what he thinks our next investment might be:

 

Apparently Aly initiated the conversation this weekend...while they were at Costco drinking Slurpees...and now the seed has been planted.

Little bit of Placid!

I had the chance to go to Lake Placid this weekend to get a little training in...and it was awesome.  Everytime I am there....I am amazed at the beauty of the course and the surrounding area.  This was a great weekend as I was able to help out with a camp that we assisting with and I was able to get in 3 SOLID days of training with some great recovery and no interruptions!

We swam, rode and ran....everyday in some fashion.  The lake was so nice and quite warm for this time of year.  We rode the course in full on Sat and there were tons of camps going on...so aid stations were plentiful and we had an awesome sag vehicle that got us what we needed every time.   The run on Sun was HOT and humid which was great practice for race day.  It was a great trip and confidence booster for the big day.

Coming up for air

Where has June gone?  It seems like it just started.  Today is the last day of school and we are ready for summer vacation.  So ready to be a little looser with the bedtimes and have a little fun.

 

 

We spent the week writing thank yous to all the special people who have helped us this year...and there were a LOT of them

 

summer swimming and being outside all day...is just plain exhausting!

 

Everyone is great and I cannot believe how fast the month has gone.  I cannot believe that I will have a second grader in a few hours.  We are swimming our little fins off at the pool and getting ready to enjoy a little fun. 

a little race...

This weekend Aly was able to participate in her first triathlon.  It was so cute!

The school district puts on this as an annual event for the end of the school year.  980 kids participated this year - it was awesome.  They had waves going until 3pm!

She did great!  We were allowed to go with her for the majority of the course and in transition.  The favorite part of course was the MEDAL!

Tales from First grade

 

 

So Aly came home from school this week with this note...

 

 

so I asked her about her little friend...and she replied.  I gave him your email and cell phone number.  We are going to schedule a play date this summer.

 

So CUTE!

 

 

Quassy Race Report!

1. This weekend we traveled to CT so that I could race the Rev 3 Quassy 70.3.  I had heard this course is hard and it did not disappoint at all.  I have never raced a Rev 3 event but I will be back for sure.  This location was great for families and the course was indeed challenging and beautiful.

   
   

   

   Ryan and the kids stayed at the hotel and my friend Kelly picked me up and we got to transition as it was opening.  I had a ton of friends racing for either the first time or as prep for IMLP...so the morning of the race was a like a little reunion.  I got to see my friend Caroline who is a rockstar and several others while setting up our stuff.  R My goals for Quassy were  simple...to nail my nutrition for IMLP and have a steady day given the heat.  

   
   

   The Swim:

   
   

   AHH my favorite part and shortest of course.  The lake was beautiful and not super cold but refreshing.  We were the second to last wave so that meant lots of people to swim through.  We swam into the sun so sighting was hard but I managed to get out just under 30 min.   As I was in transition my friend Caroline came through...I knew she would blow by me on the bike as she is a machine and sure enough she did!

   
   

   The bike:  

   
   

   Holy Climbing....this course is way harder in my opinion than IMLP....there are long slow climbs, short steep climbs, and it seems that all you do is sit up and spin.  I was glad I rode it the week before so I knew what to expect.  There are some fast descents but most come to a screeching halt so your speed does as well

   
   

   

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   I burned through 6 bottles on the bike and a various assortment of gels and powerbars.  It was heating up and I was trying not to melt, we have not had any weather yet for heat acclimation.  I rolled into transition in a little under 3:30

   
   

   The Run:

   
   

   The run starts out rather nice....slow gradual downhill.  My hamstrings and lower back were really tight, which later I was told was because all the climbing prevents you from being in aero very long.  I have not done a ton of climbing like that so it certainly was a different feeling.  After mile 3...in true Quassy fashion the hills start coming...up, up and up some more.  I plugged along and and the miles ticked off.  Kelly met me at mile 9 or 10 and gave me some encouragement..it was hot and I was ready to be done.    The best part of Rev 3 was the let the kids go with you...and mine of course LOVED that...they are just at fun ages to think it was cool.  The had spent the better part of the morning at the water park.  

   
   

   

   
   

   Overall, it was my slowest HIM that I have ever done.  The course was more challenging and my goals were really to nail the nutrition and not melt in the heat and that happened.  I was happy with the result and I think it build some confidence for IMLP!  I would love to do this again as I thought REv 3 did a fantastic job!

   
   

   Thanks to Ryan...who hauled the kids all over for the weekend.  He did a great job and single parenting is not easy we both know.  Jen and Kelly for your coaching and race day support...I am lucky to have you both!  Heather you have made getting to the start line pain free an option!  

   
   

   IMLP....here we go!

Another Step

Today Brianna graduated from preschool....it was a fun day for her!

She was so excited about the carnival and her day...because when you are the middle you often don't get these huge celebrations!  She was not shy...she waved the ENTIRE ceremony...and made sure everyone knew she was graduating.  I am so thankful for this program..the teachers are awesome and the kids love the  high school students.  

Congrats Brianna!!!

Riding, playing and lots of travels!

We made a quick trip to NH this weekend to see the family...we helped my sister move on Sat morning and the kids got to play with cousins

Friday, I rode and it was disgustingly dirty....NH has not a had a real spring yet and it was rainy...I showered off outside before to get at least one layer off.

But I came home to this...people ask where the creativity comes from...HELLO...my kids never want to leave this place.  Aly was crying on the way home.

Ryan and I headed to CT on Sat to work on the apartments and so that I could catch up with some friends and ride the Quassy course.  Hello hills and goodbye any sort of time goal...that course is HARD for sure.  It was beautiful but painfully slow and lots of climbing.

We ended up leaving late Sunday night to make the trip back to PA so that we did not hit all of the crazy traffic through New York...next up Briannas preschool graduation tomorrow!

Spring...

Lasted a mere few days and we are in the upper 80s here today...which of course called for only two things..

ICE CREAM - you will notice Aly does not have one...she finished it in record time..approximately 2 seconds.

and WATER PLAY...  our neighbors broke out this fun vacation toy and we had a blast!

Weekend Fun!

Our weekend FLEW by but it was tons of fun.  I got out for a long ride most of the day on Friday and then a bunch of girls came over from Aly's school for a little transition clinic.  They have a little triathlon at the end of the school year here and Aly really wanted to do it.

Of course, there is not class or club and the kids are kind of left on their own.  900 kids signed up for this event...WOWZA and it is so awesome that they are doing things like this for kids.   Our girls are little still, even if they want to be big and I want them to have fun fun fun.  So we set up the hose, their  bikes and we rode and ran around our little neighborhood.

Tons of fun and some good little lessons!   We had popsicles for the finish and we are hoping to do this a few more times so that the day is not intimidating for them.

We had huge events at Fleet Feet all weekend and it was so much fun to organize and be a part of everything but I am SUPER glad that this was the culmination.  We had a tri training group for the first time this year and they did awsome.  They had a little sprint race this morning and the weather was really yucky...but these guys stuck it out and it was a blast.  It was so fun to help them with swimming and all things triathlon.  

and while I am sad that it is over...I am ready for the focus to be Placid for the next few months.  

Mini tri training!

In a month, Aly is going to try her first triathlon.  We have been having so much fun running and riding around the neighborhood.  She loves to ride her bike and has a little competitive spirit...she does not like Brianna to ride in front of her.

We have been enjoying the spring weather and trying to get out as much as possible.  Aly is still insistent on wearing a dress to ride and run....it cracks me up!  Tomorrow all the little girls she knows are coming over for some practice.  There is no organized group for this, the school just puts on a kids triathlon at the end of the year.  

She has asked a couple of times to go and pick out an outfit to wear for this...so I am guessing that will be an interesting shopping trip.  I did convince her that sneakers are the only option for this event.  

Happy Training!

Why I run.....

 

This morning...Jackson was up before the crack of dawn...and ready to roll.  So eventually he asked for breakfast and promptly wanted and entire box of fruit snacks.  I told him he needed a real breakfast and left him pondering his cereal choices while I went to feed the dogs.

 

He locked me out of the house...opened all the fruit snacks and ate the entire box, all while I was pounding on the door demanding to be let back in.

 

Jackson = 1 and Mommy = 0

 

It is going to be a LONG summer.

A treasure filled birthday

 

Another birthday in the books!  Jackson turned 3 this weekend and we spent the weekend in party mode.  A great little party complete with a treasure hunt kicked off our weekend on Friday night.

 

 



 

Mr. Mike made the party...which made Jackson day!

 

 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday Jackson!

Spring is here

It seems like all of the sudden everything is green and the warm weather is here to stay.

 

I think that might be because the ice cream truck has already made an appearance....I politely told him he could come back after Labor Day.

 

We have been enjoying lots of grilling out on the deck and the fire pit.  Roasting marshmallows and soaking up the sun.

 



 

We had a minor mishap when Jackson pulled out his bottom tooth...no joke he never even cried.

 

He was jumping on a mattress and got it caught and yanked it right out.  A quick visit to the dentist confirmed that indeed he had pulled the whole tooth out root and all.  Sadly it has not slowed him down ONE bit,

Racing and weekend visitors!

Our weekend was JAMMED...so easier in bullet points..

• My superstar friend Caroline visited us on Saturday and I am convinced we have scared her from ever having children.... might be the numerous times Jackson took his clothes off, the 9 kids that were present for our "prerace dinner" and the choas that created, or Jackson climbing into bed with her at 3 am.

 

• Aly dressed up for our dinner and then read Princess Pigeralla...I am pretty sure she was in heaven with friends to entertain.

• It was awesome to catch up and connect again since I had not seen her since the Poconos race last fall.  I missed camp this year, we were in Aruba,..so I was excited to hang out for a little while and she was GREAT about meeting our crew and seeing Jackson in action.

• Sunday we were both up and out the door early since we were heading to different races.  I headed up to run a local half marathon.  The weather was WARM...for May..not that I am complaining that much but I wished I wore shorts.  The course was different..downhill for the first 5 miles and then back and another loop that was a bunch of rollers...and now I know I need to work on hills!  I eekkked out a PR so that was nice and it is good to know where I am this spring.  Post race fun with friends!

• Upon my arrival home...the crew was ready to hit Seseme Place..this was really not my idea of recovery but I am trying to work on the balance piece.  The weather was beautiful and the kids were so EXCITED to go.  It was opening weekend and not too crowded but we had a good time..I hobbled around for the better part of the afternoon and went on the least amount of rides as possible.
• Finally, I called it quits about 45 min before the park closed....I am pretty sure Ryan would have stayed until they kicked us out..but I was done done done.

 

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