TRI and be happy

Happy Cancer-versary to me!

2012-02-14T08:33:00.002-08:00

7 years ago today, I heard the words "You have cancer" over the phone as I sat at my office desk.

6 years ago today, I was 8 months into a year of chemotherapy and so tired but also so grateful.

5 years ago today, I was drafting my CANCER to 5K program ideas into a proposal.

4 years ago today, I was working with Coach Bob and recruiting for our first CT5K Spring Team!

3 years ago today, I was running my 5th Myrtle Beach Half Marathon (literally! It was on 2/14/09!)

2 years ago today, the Ulman Cancer Fund was getting our second CT5K - Howard Country Team underway and I celebrated a huge milestone as a Melanoma survivor - 5 years cancer free!

1 year ago today, I was preparing for a move from DC to Alabama and wondering what surprises life had in store for me next...

TODAY, I am officially a 7-year Stage III Melanoma Survivor!

Today is a good day indeed!

I hope you never forget that Life is Good, LiveSTRONG!

Race Report: 2012 MS BLUE Half Marathon

2012-01-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

MS BLUES Half Marathon
January 6, 2012 - Jackson, MS
2012 Chip Time: 3:14:13
(2011 Finish: 3:04:07)

Well this race is fast becoming one of my favorite hilly half marathons and one of these days, I'll actually have an uneventful late summer/early fall and actually run the full Marathon distance on this course. Maybe...

So this time my attempt to train for the full Marathon was pushed aside by a week in the hospital due to multiple pulmonary emboli in late August. Of course, instead of considering doing nothing at all, I simply switched from the full Marathon to a Half Marathon training plan. (I've let very little get in the way of races over the years, ya know...) It helped that my friend Amanda wanted to train for her first Half Marathon in February and asked me to join her for her race. Now I had an enthusiastic training partner for long runs every weekend and an early season goal race to get the year started right.

Now there were two "unknowns" going into this race day:

1.) How fast could I run this race, considering that all my "long run" training has been about 2-minutes per mile slower than my average "long run" pace?

2.) How much of an impact is being 15 pounds heavier going to have on my pace, in general?

and I got my answers...

1.) As fast as I expected and 2.) jury is still out this but I will conceed that, of course, losing weight will make me faster, in the long term.

Race Summary:

I was high on optimism that I could run this hilly half marathon at exactly the pace that I ran it last year. (3:04:17) and I nearly did. The first 9 miles I was on pace for my goal and having absolutely no problems with my nutrition and energy. The next 5 miles, were another story all together. Heading into Mile 10, my pace was beginning to slow but my spirits were high. My left arch started aching with every stride. I walk a little bit, stopping to loosen up my left shoelace and that seem to ease the problem. I did a little "self talk" and told myself "That was my bad mile, every race has a bad mile...Keep pushing" and picked up the pace - stopping briefly for a port-o-potty break.

Things improved until midway through Mile 11 when my right hip decided, "I have had enough!" and cramped up nice and tight on me. I took an extra minute to try to walk it out on my next walk break but it seemed every attempt to begin running brought on another round of cramps. My IT band was not happy and I think it was contributing to some hip cramping. It was at this point that I let go of my "Finish Time" goal and just focused on simply getting to the Finish Line. It took me until Mile 12 to figure out that if I really slowed my pace down, I could at least "jog" a little bit for 4 minutes at a time. I wont lie, it really pissed me off that I could not catch the "walkers" who were less than 200 yards in front of me, even when I was "jogging" for 4-minutes at a time but I just kept on moving toward that finish line.

The TREAT for this race was having the pleasure to cheer on my friend Christine Rocky, whom I met through my sister Heather, as she took 2nd Place Overall for the Women's Marathon! She passed me in the last 300 yards and once again I marveled at just how FAST other people can run. Christine finished 26.2 miles in 3:13:31...13.1 miles and 1-minute ahead of me.

At the finish line with Christine!

Am I disappointed in this race result?

Actually the answer is NO. (realizing that surprised me too!) All things considered, it was a beautiful day on a hilly challenging course and up until I had some physical pain, I was running exactly the pace that I imagined myself currently capable of. It's not my best Half Marathon performance by far (my PR for the Half Distance is 2005 Myrtle Beach at 2:42) but I came away from this race knowing that I controlled what I could (my pace early on), accepted what I could not control (hip cramps) and push through to finish what I started.

Mentally, I had my "Race Face" on and never let the negative thoughts take up more than a moment's time before I put them away and got back to the task at hand. That is a far, far cry from the triathlete that I was back in January 2009. I can say without a doubt that my year of Ironman distance training and racing changed me as an athlete, for the better. I am not afraid to push and I am able to shut down the negative voices in my head, that knowledge/ability is "PR worthy" and the time will come when I can put that together with some speed and have an amazing race day.

This Finisher's Medal made the last 2 miles seem less sucky! LOL

For now, though, I am content. It is just the first week of January 2012 and I already a Half Marathon in the books!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

I don't expect to be posting much in the next few days so I want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY HANUKKAH and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Race Report: 12Ks of Christmas - Wetumpka, AL

2011-12-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

12Ks of Christmas (and 5K too) - Wetumpka, AL
Saturday, Dec 10, 2011
Overall Time: 1:47:00 - Average Pace: 15:20 min/mile
(course was short by .5 miles)

For another perspective on this race, you'll nee to go to my friend Amanda's Blog Start.Run.Finish - I promise you it is worth it to read her report too! LOL

To begin, I was really happy to know that there was a local event, close to my new home, that I could make my Holiday Run tradition since I am missing the Jingle All The Way 10K in Washington, D.C. this weekend. And this 12K event did not disappoint - it was a challenging, somewhat hilly course that ran though the downtown/main street area of Wetumpka, AL - over the Coosada River - through local neighborhoods and then back over the Coosada River again and along the river though a pretty park to the Finish Line.

My role on this day was to be the Race SHERPA for my friend Amanda and support her as she ran her longest run to date. Prior to this, her longest run was 10K (6.2 miles) a fact that I had conveniently forgotten. (making for funny moments later in the race) So my job for this race: to stay with Amanda, at her pace, for the full 12K; to be keeper of the Mile splits while she was keeper of the 2/1 Run/Walk Intervals; and to keep her moving and motivated to the very end.

The race was small, only about 100 runners and started with a run down Main Street and up a large hill (out and back) and then across the main Bridge over the Coosada River. Amanda started out a little fast, pressured internally to keep up with the group of runners. I kept my eye on the first Mile split and gently told her we covered the first mile and not to worry about the pace ahead of us. I don't think she heard me, at all, because she was busy saying "OMG, would you look at that hill?" My immediate response was "It looks worse than it is - don't you think about it - 'short and quick' at your own pace and we will get to the top." (short steps / quick turnover) I sang/chattered our way up the hill "Come on Ride the Train, Ride it - I think I can, I think I can" and we made up and over the top to the turn around and then WHHHEEEE, downhill we went.

That climb in the first 2 miles of the race took it's toll on Amanda - she was already sneaking peaks at her watch - looking to see when her "2-minute" run would be over. I wrote it off as a hard beginning effort (which it was) and just kept the chatter up, reminding her that she's not usually feeling good until about Mile 3 so just hang in there.

After crossing the Bridge with a beautiful view and telling Amanda we could do our Photo Op on the way back toward the finish line - the time had come for us to split off from the 5K runners. The 5K folks went straight and we went right. That is when we dropped the rest of the "Back of the Pack-ers" who were all doing 5K and became the official "Back of the Pack" and picked up our Golf Cart escorts for the remaining 9K of the course. I had told Amanda not to worry about the "Golf Cart" - that I had talked to the race director prior to the race to ask about a cuttoff and they said not to worry because they would keep the finish line up until everybody who started finished - and she really didn't seem pressured by the escort at all. In fact it was great! We had somebody watching out for us at every intersections and plenty of warning for every turn. (of which there were many!)

Mile 3 passed and we took in our first nutrition - some GU Chomps for me and a GU for Amanda. Amanda was eating this GU like it was some dainty little treat - while I was thinking "Um, you have to eat this and get water in a minute before our next run interval" - and out of my mouth came the following: "Hey, GU is not a SNACK! We got a run interval coming up, eat it and get some water." The startled look on Amanda's face made me giggle and made me realize I sounded like a Drill Sargent. We both got a good laugh out of that.

Mile 4 came and I was encouraging and cheerful, "Half Way Done!" but Amanda was starting to feel the miles and was not saying much nor looking like she was having much fun. Her pace while running was staying steady but she was slowing down on her walk intervals. I kept up my chatter, asking her if she wanted to me to talk more or be quiet for a while. Her response was "I don't know" so I continued to chatter away - finding songs to sing and stories to tell to make the miles pass.

Mile 5 was a hard mile for Amanda, she was pretty much silent except when I would ask her direct questions. I was trying to gauge her effort and I was getting quiet, one word answers and she mentioned she felt "a little sick." I told her that she might want to go easier on the water, that I noticed that she was taking drinks of water at every walk break. She looked up at me in a bit of a daze and said "Oh, yeah, I guess I am - that explains why my tummy feels sloshy" and from that point on, she only drank a bit at Mile 6 when I ordered her to "eat 4 GU chomps." I was hoping that this would perk her up for the final 1.5 mile effort. Amanda did as I advised and only later told me that she really didn't want to eat 4 GU Chomps, only 2 but she didn't feel like complaining and just ate all 4 as she had been told.

Mile 6, it seemed to me that Amanda really rallied back - she did have one goofy moment when mentioned she was worried that we would hold up the Christmas Parade - which I reminded her was not until 3PM (It was only 10:30AM, LOL) but her spirits lifted as we rounded a corner and saw the Bridge over the Coosada River just ahead. The Bridge meant less than 1-mile to go and the promised Photo Op - she seemed in wonderful spirits to me and I was excited that we were close to being done!

We stopped for our picture mid-way across the Bridge and then we exited the Bridge and the course turned Right down an back ally and Amanda stopped in her tracks, in complete disbelief and dismay and said:

WHAT?!?

Turns out that she had it in her head that we were headed back to the finish line via Main Street. She was thinking "Three or Four Blocks and I am Done" and that right turn away from Main Street and the Finish Line was not at all in her mind. At this point, I watched as my friend and running partner's virtual "wheels fell off" and her motivation just flew right out the window. She was tired (rightfully so) and kind of queasy and here we were taking another detour / another turn away from the Finish Line. I rallied around her as much as I could, "Amanda - you are doing great! Your OK, we have got this in the bag, You have DONE this distance before, you can do it again!

Okay, so I forgot, she had not done this distance yet, we were supposed to do it the week before but a bout of dizziness cut the long run short and I ordered her to go home and rest up. So while in my head, 7-miles had come and gone on the running schedule, I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY RUN IT. D'OH!!

Bless Amanda's heart because she never said a word about that while we were running, she just kept trying to put on foot in front of the other down the shaded park trail. (it really was a beautiful spot to run - reminded me of running along the Potomac in DC) Sadly, Amanda was seeing nothing beautiful about the park, just so much further to go - and she said the words that I do not abide...Amanda looked at me, when our Run interval started and said loudly "Holly, I Can't."

Oh my, did this get me all riled up - here we are less than 1-mile from the finish line - I can see the parking lot that leads uphill to the finish line from where we are on the trail - and my friend who has been working hard since August, slowly adding miles to her running, just told me "I Can't."

"Don't you dare tell me that you "CANT", because you CAN and you ARE!" and I took Amanda's hand in mine and said "Come on, Amanda, just keep walking, keep moving forward...look ahead, see we just have a little more trail and then we run passed your car through the parking lot and at the top of the hill is our Finish Line"

The beep when off, telling us to run and, still holding her hand, I said "Come On Amanda, try - I know you can do this, I wont let you quit" again, I heard "Holly...."

but this time is was followed by a soft voice "....Thank You."

Nothing more was said for about 4 minutes, Amanda just picked up her feet and did her best to run those intervals and recovered on her walk and then there we were, on last hill and she said it again, "I don't think I can, really Holly, I don't" and I roared (at least I felt like I roared) "Come ON, I can see the Finish Line, YOU CAN DO THIS, I PROMISE" and I'll be damned if she didn't just pick her head up and say "OK" and run up that hill. As we topped the hill, the Volunteers and many racers who were still around let up a rousing cheer and I grabbed Amanda's hand and we crossed that finish line!

And then she wrenched her hand out of mine and put it over her mouth - I thought she was going to cry - but she turn a full 180 degree circle and stuck her head in the nearest trash can and threw up all that extra water and the GU Chomps that had been sitting in her stomach for the last mile. TWICE.

And immediately, felt 100% better...

So many people came up to us, after she was done, congratulating her on her race - telling her how she is not alone, that they have all had races where they threw up after the finish line - congratulating her on pushing that hard at the end of her race - leaving it all out there. (literally!) I could not have been more thankful that fellow runners approached Amanda and congratulated and commiserated with her. That act alone did more to let her know that she was one of the tribe - a runner - than anything I could ever say or do.

I have no regrets that I was so hard on Amanda in what would be the last half mile - I know her long terms running goals and I know that the "Voices in our Heads" are powerful and hard to ignore. In that moment she did not need a friend who would say "OK, let's just walk", she needed a friend to say "You are stronger than you know, now MOVE!"

Of course, I have promised her that the next time she says she feels like she might have to throw up, I will believe her...but hopefully we can get her nutrition right so that won't happen again.

CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA! You ROCK!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Oh where has the time gone?

2011-12-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

Time is flying by and I have kept busy since my last few posts and am doing much better! Building new friendships and getting back into running and helping new friends get into running! My outdoor cycling will have to wait until I am off the blood thinners but Jim and I are making plans for some great rides in the coming year!

My goal for 2012: "Play Hard, Eat Smart" starts today! You can follow along here, if you want to support me. I'm going to spend some time getting back to basics and getting my body back into excellent shape for my next Ironman. This new blog will deal primarily with my ongoing struggle to lose some extra weight I have gained and find some balance in how it relates to my training so it will be a little different from TRI and BE HAPPY, which I plan to keep up with as well. I am continuing to work closely with the Ulman Cancer Fund and keep the CANCER to 5K program going strong! 2013 will be a return to Ironman Lake Placid to take my revenge (if WTC and Lake Placid are still having an Ironman, of course) otherwise I will choose another Ironman-distance event to race.

Quick Summary:

• Oct 1 - Ran the Montgomery 5K with my friend Amanda - her first 5K and part of the Montgomery Half Marathon Festival: 46:28

• Nov 1: Accepted a job as the Volunteer Coordinator for The Joy to Life Foundation! (Yahoo, I have a new job!!!)

• Nov 4 - Ran part of the Battleship Half Marathon as a BRIDESMAID! Yep, a Bridesmaid for my wonderful friend Ron and Shawn who got married at the 3-mile point on the race course! So proud and honored to be included in their special day!

• Nov 19: Turkey Burner 5K with my friend Amanda: 47:53

Looking Ahead:

• 12K of Christmas Run - Dec 12th

• MS Blues Half Marathon - Jan 7, 2012
• Mercedes - Birmingham Half Marathon - Feb 12, 2012
• Myrtle Beach Half Marathon - Feb 17, 2012
• Centerpoint Half Marathon - Mar 17, 2012
• 3 Gap Fifty (Bike Ride) - Georgia - Sept 26, 2012
• NYC Marathon (**very tentative**) - Nov 2012
• GOOFY Challenge - Disney World - Jan 2013
• Ironman 2013 - IM Lake Placid!

Have no fear, I'll am returning to my regularly schedule Race Reports and Blogging because I miss it!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Wish Upon A Star...

2011-10-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

"When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you"

We sat on the outside deck of our own personal Disney Treehouse when my 5-year old Nephew said to me "Look Aunt Holly, the Stars..." and I thought "Make a Wish..." As cool as the stars were, they were no match for the Glow Stick Swords that he and I were using to play Pirate so the "Pirate Games" resumed.

Dashing around the darkened bedroom, just the two of us, fighting crocodiles under the bed and being jedi knights on top of the bed...this is what I will remember the most about our recent trip to Disney World.

There is decades of life experience between 5-years old and 41-years old but all it takes is some imagination (Thank you Figment!) and a few advil (can't move as quickly now as I did at 5-years old) and you can be a swash-buckling pirate, a jedi knight - and if your memory is good enough - you can even play "Dudly Do-Right" and introduce your two Nephews and two younger Sisters to the reasons why "You Must Pay the Rent / I Can't Pay the Rent" with a glow in the dark mustache/hair bow. (obscure Bullwinkle reference for the other "old" kids out there...)

"If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do"

There have been some big changes in my both my Nephews and Sister's life since this trip to Disney World - changes that happened almost immediately upon returning. I am proud of my family for rallying around them, in their time of need. For all the ups and downs that come from being in a big family, my Parents instilled in us the love and compassion for one another that allows us all (Parents and Sisters alike) to do whatever it takes to help the people we love. My husband, too, showed me once again, what a compassionate, smart, amazing man I have married.

I am proud of my Sister, for having the courage to make some tough decisions under the most heart-breaking of circumstances. The timing was incredibly unfair but she put aside her own needs to protect herself and her boys and her friends have rallied, sprinkling her with love and pixie dust and support. The path she finds herself on now has a few extra twists and turns, a few more challenges to overcome, on the road to her dreams but my Sister is one tough momma! I know she will come out on top...

"Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true"

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind and it is a good reminder to me that the Family you build around you (not necessarily always biological family) needs to be strong, flexible and full of love and compassion - because we never know when we might need "a safe place to land" when life throws us a curve...and it never hurts to "Wish upon a star..." because we can all use some pixie dust to lift us up and help us remember how wonderful it feels to be able to fly.

The Happiest Place on Earth...

2011-09-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

First off, THANK YOU to everybody who has reached out to me both on-line and off-line with words of support and comfort or to share your own experiences dealing with depression to let me know that I am not alone. I appreciate it very much.

Just the act of acknowledging and writing about my feelings took away some of the pain and released some of the anxiety. I know that it is going to take some time and effort to break the cycle of comfort eating and find ways to manage my emotions and work through them. I'm feeling like it is not such an "impossible task" right now and that is a welcome feeling.

But first, I have the pleasure of being able to spend the next week with my immediate family in "the happiest place on earth" aka Walt Disney World. I get to enjoy the wonder of the Magic Kingdom through the eyes of my nephews for their first time...I get to spend time with my parents, sisters, husband and brother-in-law...I get to celebrate my Mom's 60th Birthday (belated) and one of my Nephew's 5th Birthday...and there is no place that I would rather be right now than with my family that loves me, unconditionally.

I'm going to Disney World to relax, to laugh, to get sprinkled in Pixie Dust and find a little JOY...it wont be hard to find, especially with my family by my side.

Today, Life is GOOD. LiveSTRONG!

Silence is NOT Golden...

2011-09-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

One of the first things I ever told my boyfriend (now husband) Jim was that the biggest indicator of "trouble" brewing in my life would be "Silence."

I am, by nature, an extrovert - I thrive on being around other people, I can (and will) talk until it is time to sleep and I am a loud talker, especially when happy or excited or telling you something important. I've heard "take it down a decibel" since I was 4-years old but it still doesn't really impact my enthusiasm - just the volume. My idea of recharging is being with people...listening, talking, sharing. I don't stop talking, ever. Some might think I am crazy, but I talk to myself a bit. (but not usually out loud) I think if I ever stopped talking, I'd probably run faster than I ever have in my life...LOL...but what fun would that be? I'd rather SING to my Teammates while running than have a PR, most days.

Silence is the first indicator that Depression is lurking by my side and as Depression sinks in and makes itself at home, my conversations become basics "I'm fine, everything is good, nothing much going on here...Tell me about you..." Redirect the conversation, because "Nobody wants to hear that your not doing great." at least that is what Depression whispers in my ear.

So I don't Blog and I barely Email and I only post "updates" on good days or for times when I know that I can't completely Drop Out, times when I know that I need to rise above and be present and accounted for.

It is ironic - that the people/things that will distance me from the influence of Depression - my Friends, Family, Teammates, CANCER to 5K - are exactly the people/things that I feel compelled to avoid because I don't want to burden the people I care about with my problems. So I keep Silent and Depression puts its arms around my shoulder and whispers in my ear...and tell me that I can sooth myself with my other old friend, Food.

Food and Depression, they are best friends and they will work together to lift you up with "comfort" and then drop you on your ass as you gain back the weight you worked so hard to lose - no matter how many miles you put in on the bike, on the road, in the pool. Doesn't matter that you were an Ironman just 24 months ago...your body can only do so much with the extra weight it carries. So your workouts suffer, you injure easier than before so you have to exercise less but your eating more - staying Silent by keeping your mouth Full.

I've had years of therapy for eating disorder, that I am proud of. I needed help and I asked for it, sought it out. I know the signs and signals and have been taught how to catch myself before it get's too bad - at least I thought I knew - but this time - well even I have to admit to my surprise at just how sneaky Depression can be. I have been staying Silent while keeping my mouth full for 5 months now and I need to break that silence - as much as it pains me to reach out and admit that. So here I am blogging - not to seek sympathy but to express freely, my struggles at the moment.

• We moved - an exciting time, for sure! But I was not prepared to be out of work this long and therefor not meeting new people as quickly as you normally do in a new work environment. And truthfully, Facebook and Email are no substitute for real people. I have been very slowly making friends - quality, not quantity - and I am thankful for that but I'm still trying to figure out how to mange my days during the week when Jim is at work and I am home alone. (and everybody else, here and away, are at work) I'm lonely when my husband is not home and then feel guilty that I need so much of his time and attention when he does finally get home but he is often the only person that I will "see" all day.

• I got injured (plantars fasciitis) while training for my Summer races - which changed my workout focus slightly - my volume has had to come way down from what I usually do and with that has come a hesitancy to seek out TRI people to work out with, "since they are all too fast for me anyways.."

• I'm the heaviest weight that I have been in 5 years - and I honestly never thought I would let myself get this heavy again - and while I know it is "just a number on the scale and does not define my self-worth" the extra weight has had a physical impact on my swimming, biking, running and overall health and self-esteem. I feel much better 50-pounds lighter than I am today but I get emotionally exhausted thinking about how hard it is going to be to lose this weight and I think that is Depression whispering more lies in my ear...

• By a completely unexpected series of events (birth control/hormones and a cross-country flight), I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with multiple pulmonary emboli in both lungs. I just thought I was suffering some anemia - having trouble breathing while running - and it turns out that I was in danger of losing my life if I threw a blood clot. I felt that way for 10-days before I went to a DR. I ran for 10-days with blood clots building in my lungs - so I know in my "heart" that somebody was watching over me but it scared me and Jim.

• I am now on blood thinners (Coumadin) for the next 9-months, seem to be suffering the rare side effect of "hair loss" and am subsequently "banned" from riding my bike outside for the next 9-months. (The risk of falling is too high) - It's OK, I can run, I can swim, I can do other activities - I can even buy a wig if the hair thinning doesn't stop (as the DR seems convinced it will) but I'm still wrapping my head around this latest medical drama. I am so done with Medical Drama in general, in case any higher powers are listening...

So, this is where I am at...and this is why many of you have not heard much from me. I am not proud of the lack of communication but I know that before I can shake Depression off my back, before I can quiet its voice in my ear, in order to stop the cycle of comfort eating...I have to start TALKING and let my own voice, thoughts, feelings and emotions fill my head, my heart and my mouth and slowly, one day at a time...Life will be GOOD everyday.

Now to hit PUBLISH before I chicken out...

RR: 2011 Vineman 70.3 Half Ironman

2011-07-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

July 17, 2011
Vineman 70.3 Half Ironman
S:1.2 m - B: 56m - R:13.1m

OVERALL: DNF
Swim: 58:16
T1: 8:08
Bike: 4:49:91
T2/Run: DNF due to injury

DNF: Acronym used in racing terms to indicate "Did Not Finish" sometimes also defined as "Do Nothing Foolish" by athletes dependent on the situation/opinion of those invoking the phrase/acronym at hand.

On the anniversary of my most personally devastating DNF (IM USA - July 2009), I find it ironic that I am writing another race report for a race where I willinging started the Race Day knowing that I would DNF "on purpose." You can ask my BFF on TFF (Team Fishy Fish), Keri H. and she'll tell you, I went back and forth about 15 times in less than 1-week debating the merits of "DNFing Vineman after the Bike" or "Going ahead and trying the Run" and in the end, on race morning I decided that I would stick to my original decision and "DNF after the Bike."

What would make anybody choose to "QUIT" on Race Day? Oh there is any number of things, it can be physical, emotional, mechanical...for me it was a injury 4 weeks ago, Plantars Fascitis in my right foot. Instead of training for the last 3 weeks leading up to Vineman, I was in an air boot to keep pressure off my right foot and taking NSAIDS and Rx steroids to counter swelling and encourage healing. One week after my injury - at 80% healed, my DR gave me a shot of cortisone in my right foot and told me that if the healing continued, I was cleared to train and race with running to be done "as pain allowed." Two weeks post-injury, I was able to stop wearing the air cast and switch to a night splint (to wear while sleeping) and cleared to start swimming and stationary biking. Three weeks post-injury, we were on our way to California for the race and two easy walk/run workouts earlier in the week had told me all I needed to know...while I could walk with very little pain, running was still too much and running 13.1 miles might leave me on the injured list again. For me, DNF would mean "Do Nothing Foolish" and be I should be thankful that I could even start the Race.

So Jim and I packed up and headed out on our first trip to the West Coast to spend 10 days on a TRI-vacation. The first 7 days we would spend in Guerneville, CA with good friends (from VA) Keri and Greg - vacationing and Vineman-ing and the last 3 days we would spend in Encondido, CA with my college roommate Sandy and her husband Steve. We arrived in Sonoma Valley on Wednesday and spent Thursday and Friday sightseeing and wine tasting with Keri & Greg. Keri and I got in a quick 30-minute swim at Johnson's Beach on Friday morning, put our bike together and on Saturday morning took a long drive to scout the Bike Course on our way to Vineman packet pick-up. We all agreed, husbands and wives alike, that the Vineman 70.3 Bike Course was "character building" (aka. HILLY). Since Vineman 70.3 is a "point-to-point" race with two separate Transition areas - on Saturday we were required to drop off any transition items for T2 at Windsor High School (location of the Bike End / Run / Finish Line). I dropped off my most comfortable pair of running shoes - certain that I would not be running on race day but that I would want a change of shoes post-bike. (because NOBODY chooses to walk around in Bike Shoe off the bike...) I also put my visor, and 3 GUs in my shoes - "just in case I had the most incredible day ever" and decided at the last minute that I wanted to try and run. afterall..."

Pre-Race: Saturday Quick Brick - 10-20-10
Saturday morning, Keri and I got in our final mini-brick workout - a chance to make sure that everything was OK with our bikes and to get the butterflies under control. We did a 10-minute wetsuit swim, which helped me determine that I would not wear a wetsuit on race morning. We followed that up with a lovely 20-minute bike ride from Johnson's Beach on Armstrong Rd and back and then a short 10-minute run. This was the "final test" for me. If there was "No Pain" in my right foot on the short Run brick (1/1- Run/Walk Intervals) than I promised myself I would try to start the run on Race Day. Sadly it only took about 6 minutes for the subtle pain to start in my heel. It was manageable pain and went away almost immediately within an hour of the workout but I tried to imagine that pain times 13.1 miles, after a hilly 56-mile bike, and realized that I wanted to be able to "walk" on my right foot for the remainder of our vacation (another week after race day...) more than I wanted a Finisher Medal.

Keri & Holly - Johnson's Beach Pre-Race BRICK

Sunday Morning came quickly and Keri and I rode our bike the quick 2-miles to Johnson's Beach at 7AM. Since the race director kept transition open during all waves, we didn't have to be at the beach at O'Dark-Thrity so we were happy to sleep in but sad to miss the PRO start but as luck would have it, the PROs were just getting on their bikes at 7AM so we were able cheer them on as we rode to transition. We got to Transition, got marked, set up our bikes - gave each other hugs - I made Keri promise me she would say "Hi!" to me when she passed me on the bike (Keri's wave would start 24-minutes after mine) and we waited for my Wave Start. As we stood watching the Wave starts, I turned around to notice a short handsome guy behind us in a yellow "MGD 64" shirt and realized - "That's Gabe from TRI-DRS!" and immediately walked up to Gabe, introduced myself, gave him a hug and wished him luck on his race day! It was time to start the day!

Vineman SWIM: 1.2m - 58:16

I chose to do the Vineman swim without a wetsuit, despite the fact that wetsuits were allowed. This was my first 1.2m swim without a wetsuit and my time reflects that. The truth is that because I have gained about 40 pounds, since 2009, my wetsuit didn't fit properly and was too tight, limiting my stroke considerably. Since Keri and I had done a non-wetsuit swim in the Russian River on Friday, I knew that the water temperature (74F) was fine for non-wetsuit swim - not too cold - and I figured what I lost in time I could make up for in overall energy. It was the right call for me.

I started in Wave 9 - Women 40-45 and at the start I got caught up in the classic "wave start washing machine" of hands and feet. It took about 200 yards to get clear of all the extra hands and feet and then I found some clear water and was able to settle into my slow but steady pace.

My swim felt effortless all the way up the to turn buoy, which is a first in a half ironman swim. The course follows the Russian River so you could never "see" the turn buoy - it was always just around the next corner. I knew I was getting close when I looked up to sight and saw other athletes around me WALKING in the water to the turn buoy. The Russian River got pretty shallow in some places (and was never any deeper than 6 ft according to the race information) and soon enough I was scraping my hands and knees on the pebbley bottom of the river when I would look up to sight. Resigned, I stood up and walked around the turn buoy with the masses (mostly the white cap men's wave that started 8 minute after me) and went back to swimming as soon as I the water was knee deep even though there were still a few people walking around me.

The second half of the swim didn't seem to take any more energy but I was restless and bored with being in the water and I was sighting more often than I had before. I guess that extra 8 minutes was enough to make me feel like I had been in the water too long "and where the heck was the exit?" Just past the two bridges, I looked up to sight and there was the swim exit...YAY! I was nearly done for the swim, next up - T1 and the BIKE.

T1: 08:08
It took a ridiculous amount of time for me to put on my beautiful "Team Fishy Fish" jersey while being wet from the swim - I had to try it twice before I got it on right... and then I had to make sure that everything that I brought with me to T1 was either on my person or in my transition bag. Even my IRONMAN transitions were not this long - for IM USA or B2B - but since I was not worried about the clock - I guess I was lolly-gagging a bit more than usual!

Holly - Starting the Bike

Keri - Starting the Bike

Vineman 70.3 Bike: 56m - 4:49:91

Now here is the irony of a "Pre-planned DNF" for a long-distance triathlon. It will worm it's way into your head and suck away every last little bit of excitement and motivation that you have! It seeps deep into your head and starts in before you even start the day...

"Wow this Bike course looks hard, why not just go for a little swim and be done with it?"

"You pass the rental house at Mile 2 of the Bike, you could just roll right back to the house and spend the day cheering on Keri."

The truth is that as I got onto my bike I was already thinking that I should just QUIT and call it a day. It took every trick that I had in my "mental toolbox" along with some extra nutrition to keep myself on the bike. I spent the first 5 miles just focusing on getting to the first "challenging climb" figuring that if I focused on that, I could make it past the rental house and my husband and that would give me the encouragement I needed to "Get Going" - HA!

So just past Mile 5, after a short "S" curve descent, we turned right and headed up a quick steep climb. I put my bike in it's lowest gear and stand up to power over the climb and WHAM - my bike stops short. I recover enough to get out of my pedals and put my feet down - dumbfounded that I didn't have the power to climb up this hill. I walk the bike up - resigned and humiliated - thinking "I know I am a big girl right now but I can't believe I couldn't even handle this climb..." - just at this moment, among what feels like the "masses of triathletes" passing by me on this hill - come my BFF and Teammate Keri, who looks at me and says "Hi, Are you OK? Did you drop your chain?' I said nothing, just shook my head at her and waved her on. It was at that moment, in shame and frustration that I looked down at my Bike, thinking "Why Me?" and realized that I could not even move my rear wheel, at all.

"OMG, it's not ME, it's a mechanical..." I quickly release the brake and still the rear wheel seems stuck so I reach down to release the quick release on the tire and that is when I realized that my wheel had slipped out of it's rear stays when I stood up out of the saddle. It took me about 2 minutes to remove the wheel and reset in correctly, close the brake, spin the tire to make sure nothing was rubbing, get on the bike and be on my way. The sense of relief that I was able to fix my problem and get back on the bike was like hitting the REFRESH button. Maybe I should do this ride after all...

Truthfully, even after that incident, it still took me until Mile 20 to really get motivated on the Bike. It was a challenging and BEAUTIFUL course of rolling hills through the Sonoma Valley vineyards. Even though I had some small victory in fixing my back wheel - I'm not ashamed to admit that I spent miles 5-20 debating pulling over to the side of the road and having my husband come and pick me up. So what changed at Mile 20? Two things: 1.) I realized that I was 1/3 finished and 2.) I took an GU earlier than planned. I honestly think that most of my lack of motivation was "nutritionally related' and once I got enough calories in to "catch up" - my mood improved - which can change EVERYTHING!

The next 36 miles were FUN, BEAUTIFUL and CHALLENGING. I decided that even though I was not going to do the Run, I still needed to finish the Bike Course within the official cutoff time. I wanted the personal satisfaction of know that had I been 100% with my foot, I would have had time to run the half marathon and officially finish and that would only happen by finishing the Bike under the 2PM course closure. So I broke the rest of the Bike course into the remaing challenges that I could remember from driving the course.

• Challenge #1 - Canyon Rd - a long (but gentle) uphill and a fun descent

• Challenge #2 - Rte 128 - Long Stretch of rolling Vineyards with some rough pavement that I remembered thinking "This is a good place to be aero and push the pace"

• Challenge #3 - Chalk Hill Rd. - Beast of a Climb

Challenges #1 & 2 came and went without incident and it was nice to be able to stay focused on the "here and now" and not let Chalk Hill Rd get into my head too much. The last rest stop came at the start of Chalk Hill Rd at Mile 41 and I skipped it - having stopped at the previous Aid Station at Mile 28. I just wanted to get this BAD BOY over with and it was just 12:15 PM. I had just under hours to go 15 miles and I just wanted to get up that last climb - however I could and then get into T2. I was sure that I was going to do just fine - but I wanted TIME on my side.

Chalk Hill Rd leading up to the final climb at Mile 45 was a series of rolling hills. We had one short quick climb that I just eased up "one pedal stroke at a time" - during this time - I was playing leap frog with the same two triathletes - a thin brown-haired woman and Brad. Brad and I exchanged encouragement on the first little climb - and he came flying passed me on the downhills. I caught up with him at the bottom of the climb at Mile 45 - as he was cramping up - and we leap frogged each other the entire climb. I am proud to say that I *almost* made it all the way up Chalk Hill Rd - I had to walk the last 200 feet and Brad, who was in the throws of another round of cramps, walked those 200 feet with me. It was nice to have company - Brad was doing his first Half Ironman - and I enjoyed his enthusiasm and it reminded me instantly how lucky I was to be out on the course - even if I was not going to cross the finish line - and how much I loved riding my bike, even when a hill was steep enough to force me to walk it. Once we got to the top, Brad *flew* into the descent - too fast for me so I enjoyed the downhill at my own pace and caught Brad again at the bottom of the last "tiny climb" - fighting off more cramps -just before the 6-mile rolling downhill push into the town of Widsor.

I called out to Brad "Are you OK? And he yelled back "Cramps - Drinking - OK" so I continued on. I remembered thinking: "Time is of the essence...we have to MOVE if we are going to make the Bike cuttoff and looked back a few times to see if I could see Brad - he wasn't far behind - so I put my head down, got into my aerobars and focused on getting myself into T2 with "time to spare."

It was 1:50PM when I pulled my bike in to T2 and stepped over the transition mat. I walked over to my transition spot, racked my bike, put on my running shoes and turned in my timing chip. My reward for my "Short Day/DNF" was a kiss and hug from my husband, reassurance that "this DNF was the right decision for this day" and the pleasure of being able to cheer my friend and teammate Keri into an 8-minute PR for her Half Ironman finish. A finish that I would have missed, had I been out on the course myself.

Keri coming into T2

Holly coming into T2

Keri finishing strong with an 8-minute PR!

Team Fishy Fish

Vineman 70.3 in the books!

The upsides of a DNF on this day? A full week later, I can tell you that the rest of our vacation was full of FUN and very little Plantar's Fascitis related pain in my right foot. Tomorrow I am going to start Running again - nice low easy milage as though I am a beginner - with the intention of minding my Plantar Fascia. I think choosing not to Race in favor of Recovery is the smartest thing I have done in a LONG LONG TIME. They'll be other Races once my foot is 100%.

Life is Good!

On the Injured List...

2011-06-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

So just two-days after the Dragonfly TRI, The plantar fascia in my right foot declared "ENOUGH!" And I didn't even get any real warning signs...

Let that be a lesson to ME and to YOU, Please make sure you are getting in your stretching post-workouts. I'm pretty sure that my tight calves and my increase in volume this last week are the major contributors to this injury along with some weight gain over the season (which takes longer to take off than it takes you to put on - but that is topic for a separate post...)

The GOOD NEWS is that it's not a tear of the Plantar Fascia nor a Stress Fracture - just good old Plantars Fasciitis - which most fellow runners will tell you take a long time to heal properly.

So I'm in a lovely BOOT, finishing up a 6-day round of Steroids and going back to the Podiatrist on Wednesday morning to see how the first week of healing has gone.

As for my "A" Race at Vineman 70.3 - If I am *lucky* and I do as I am told in terms of recovery the next 2 weeks, the Podiatrist has said I *may* be able to do lovely "Swim and Bike" on race day but there will be no running (nor likely even walking) 13.1 miles.

(Oh the BLING, I am ashamed to admit how much I will miss earning some Finsher BLING...)

I won't pretend I wasn't upset last week - I won't even pretend that I didn't have my moments this weekend when I wanted to lay on the floor like a 5-year old yelling "It's Not FAIR!" but when it all comes down to it - it's just a race. In my triathlon race experience, I have been lucky enough to race over 5 Half Ironmans in the last 10 years, not to mention every distance intbetween (Sprint to Ironman and back again). I have been very blessed to be able to afford to train and race as much as I have.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I can still enjoy what I "can" do, cheer my friend and "tri partner in crime" Keri H. into a 70.3 PR (we hope) in her own home town back yard (HOW COOL IS THAT?) and enjoy a fantastic 2-week vacation in California - regardless of whether or not I go 70.3 miles on Sunday, July 17.

I'm on the mend...Life is (as it always is...) GOOD!

RR: Dragonfly Triathlon - Sardis, MS

2011-06-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Dragonfly Triathlon
Sardis. MS - June 18, 2011
0.5m SWIM - 18m BIKE - 4m RUN
Overall: 2:43:10 - 7/8 Athena Division

Executive Summary: This race was a whole lot of FUN with a challenging RUN course that I was not very well prepared for. But when I look at the week as a whole, I feel like I did pretty well considering I had a root canal 2 days prior and was racing on sore/tired muscles. I still feel like I WON (see Prelude to a Race post)

The Rest of the Story: It was a easy (longish) drive from Millbrook, AL to Sardis, MS on Friday afternoon. I got into town around 4PM, picked up my race packet and headed to the Super 8 Sardis to check in for the night. Dinner at Crackerbarrel (Breakfast for Dinner, my GO-TO race meal - 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, glass of milk) and then I spent the night watching TV and relaxing.

Up at 515AM and at the Sardis Damn/National Park by 6:10AM, Transition was "self-selection" so I got a spot second row from BIKE OUT on the end. Set up my transition space, got my numbers marked (#33) and put on a lot of extra sunscreen. That took me about 30 minutes and then I still had about 2 hours until my race start so I found a shaded spot and sat and people watched until about 7:30AM. Then I headed down to the SWIM start and got a nice 10-minute swim warm-up. The water was perfect - not wetsuit legal - but cooler than the outdoor pool at Maxwell AFB has been lately. I was looking forward to a nice open-water swim. Spend some time talking to another woman who asked me some questions about the water and the swim course (bouys on your right - Green Triangles are Turn Bouys) and then admitted that this was her First Triathlon. I wished her Good Luck and told her to "Just have Fun" and she left to check her bike one more time and I sat on the grass, watching folks getting worked up and excited as the race start grew nearer. No nervousness for me, these are distances I can handle, just ready to start the day and see how it all pans out!

SWIM: .5 miles - 22:58 Swim started in Waves and, as usual, I was in the last Wave. The race started at 8:00AM and my wave started at 8:14AM - I was prepared to not see many people and feel "last" for most of the race already. Even with that in mind, I was pretty confident about what to expect from myself on this swim, around 23:00 is what it has been taking me to do 800yd in the pool and I was hoping, with cooler water and descent siting skills, I would come out in around 20:00. I had a new experience in this open water swim and that was that it took me a good 400yds to find some "clear water" to swim in. I spent the entire swim to the first turn bouy in the masses, getting kicked and slapped and generally pushed around - I guess that means that I am hanging with the main group longer than ever but it was pretty annoying. At one point, just past the first turn bouy, I swam right over a woman - who had stopped to sight (I presume) - I immediately stopped and we both apologized and from that point, I think I slowed down a bit and looked for clear water. I was less concerned with 20 minutes and more concerned with not getting pummeled and swimming on people at that point.

T1: 2:15 Happy with transition, I didn't waste much time, just ran up the beach and across the grass to Transition and then quickly rinsed my feet, put on my sock and shoes, helmet and bib number and grabbed Sunshine and we were off on the BIKE course.

BIKE: 18 miles - 1:14:47 Holy Headwind BATMAN! We started the bike heading into a serious head wind/cross wind and I just got into gear, tucked into my aerobars and focused on spinning. I was hoping that when we got back, we'd have a nice tail wind all the way back to the park but it was too soon to tell. The course was nice - FLAT for the first 5.5 miles and then about 1.5 of gradual uphill that included a half mile stair step climb and then about 2 miles of rolling to the turn around. I knew from reading about the course that after the turn around, we would be riding mostly downhill back to the final 5.5 mile turn so I really focused on spinning effortlessly on the stairstep climbs up - telling myself that I could push hard the entire trip back if I "saved something now."

I passed about 3 people on the way to the turn-around - including one women who stopped at the top of the first half of the stair-step climb, exclaiming, "Oh God, there's another climb!" which made me giggle a little and yell out "But what goes up, MUST COME DOWN!" I don't think she appreciated my hill humor much! Then we got to the turn around and I just put my "hammer" down. I knew what was coming, I just climbed it and as far as descents go, there was nothing technical or dangerous so I just put the bike in a big gear and kept my promise to myself to PUSH. I passed 4 people on the return trip and when we turned at Mile 12.5 there is was....TAIL WIND! It was the perfect gift for all the nasty headwinds on the way out - and I just dropped into my aerobars and hammered my way home - seeing 20mph on the speedometer for most of the last 5 miles...

T2: 2:09 Got back into Transition and there were plenty of people milling around already done with there race but I also knew there were still plenty of people out of the run - so I racked my bike, changed my shoes, grabbed my hat and got going. This T2 should have been faster, considering how little I had to do...

RUN: 4 miles 1:01:01 Truthfully, if it were not for the fact that I passed people on the bike, so I *knew* that I was not going to be the absolutely last person on the course, I might have really not been able to enjoy this run. I always prefer races where I get to start in a middle wave because then, at least on the RUN, I still feel like there are people around racing with me. But today I *knew* that nearly everybody that I passed on the bike would - eventually - pass me on the run.

With that in mind, I did everything that I could to find a nice pace and get my heart rate and breathing settled, early in that first mile. It was hard, because that first mile is also the last mile, so I had to watch a lot of athletes coming the other direction, who were walking. Not to mention the woman just ahead of me (about 100 yds) who left transition just in front of me, who was also walking. Nothing sucks my motivation away more in Triathlons than seeing other people walk because I often think "Well if they are walking, I can walk for a bit, what will it hurt?"

But I fought the urge because I knew this RUN course was different from anything I had done before. Only 2 miles were on regular paved roads. The middle two miles were actually a running trail through the woods - with some considerable climbs and descents - so I didn't want to walk in that first mile and loose time. The Woods were AWESOME FUN and VERY CHALLENGING.

Here is the RUN COURSE description as borrowed from "Can't Stop Endurance" BLOG:

When you exit T2 you follow the same one mile stretch of Cypress Point Drive that you used on the bike. The first aid station is near the one mile mark just before Hwy 35.

Cross Hwy 35 and veer to the left you will be in the grass headed for the woods.

One of the unique features of DragonFly is that half of the run is on trails. After a few hundred yards on the grass you reach the trail head for Sandstone Trail. It is a beautiful, well-maintained trail... but it is not flat. Not even close.

As soon as you hit the trail it begins a half mile climb that will get the attention of your heart rate. Aid station #2 awaits at the top where the trail splits. Take the right split at the aid station and begin a long gradual downhill counter-clockwise loop.

When the trail takes a sharp left over this wooden bridge you will be headed back towards the finish.

The trail flattens for a half mile and crosses a series of wooden bridges. (Caution: If the bridges are damp they can be slick!)

The end of the loop leads you up another steep climb back to the aid station at the trail split. Turn right at the aid station and now, depending on your heart-rate and aggressiveness, you can bomb back down to the trail head.

(Caution: there will be two-way traffic on this narrow stretch of trail. Do your best to yield enough room for others to pass in both directions.)

Once you reach the trail parking lot you run back across the grass, cross Hwy 35, pass aid station #4 and begin the one mile stretch of Cypress Point Rd that you have already seen three times.

If it is sunny this will be the hottest stretch of the race due to the lack of shade.

AND here are my RUN COURSE splits, this was by and far the LONGEST I have ever taken to "run" 4-miles in any race so far.

Mile 1: 13:24
Mile 2: 16:15 (there was inevitably some walking on the steeper parts of this trail)
Mile 3: 14:48 (more running than walking, than gosh)
Mile 4: 14:16 (this last mile I did run/walk intervals for the last 1/2 mile, I was HOT and TIRED)

On this particular course, once you pass the 4-mile flag, its about a 500yd run around transition and to the Finish Line and I refused to walk any of that, no matter how beat down I was from the heat and the "little mountain goat climb" on the run. So I put my head down and got it done - running the last 500 yards at a 13:00 pace (according to Garmin) and there was the Finish Line!

Final Finish Time: 2:43:10 was about 13 minutes slower than I was hoping to do for this course (I was hoping for 2:30 or so) but honestly, I had so much FUN that I really didn't care and in looking at the finish times, overall, while I was very much in the Back of the Pack, there were plenty of other athletes that finished in my time range.

Bottom Line: It was a great race, lots of FUN and while I didn't come anywhere near my goal of finishing Top 3 Athena (Top Place Finished in 2:02 ...I couldn't have come close at this race no matter how hard I tried...LMAO) it was still a WIN in my book!

Take THAT Melanoma! It might have taken me 6 years but damnit, I DID come back and race Dragonfly Triathlon!

Life is Good! Live STRONG!

Prelude to a Race

2011-06-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in Sardis, MS. Tomorrow morning around 8:05AM, I'll be heading into the water to start the Dragonfly SPRINT Triathlon. It's not a long race - 0.5 mile SWIM - 18 mile BIKE - 4 mile RUN - just a SPRINT triathlon but it is an important race, if only to me.

You see, I signed up for this race once before...in June 2005. This was just another in a long list of races that made up my "two years to Ironman plan" and it was a race in Mississippi so it could be included in a vacation that Jim and I had planned...

and then along came Melanoma...and all my plans changed...

So this time, in June 2005, Jim and I made the trip to Sardis, MS by way of Memphis, TN and Oxford, MS. I got to see Jim's Alma-mater (Ole Miss) and picked up my race packet. But on Saturday morning, Jim and I stood by the sidelines and cheered everybody on. There would be no 2005 Dragonfly SPRINT Triathlon for me. I had just finished 4-weeks of high-dose Interferon Chemotherapy just a week before and I was not just on Vacation with my bouyfriend but on a "CHEMO vacation" as well - getting ready to start 48-weeks of low-dose Interferon shots 3x a week when we came back home, post-vacation.

So here I am, 6 years later, and I am finally doing the Dragonfly SPRINT Triathlon and I realized something on my drive over from my new home in Alabama...

Before I have even crossed the finish line of this particular race, no matter what kind of race day I end up having...I HAVE ALREADY WON!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Race Report: Maxwell AFB Triathlon 2011

2011-06-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Maxwell Airforce Base Triathlon - Montgomery, AL - 8AM

400yd SWIM - 6.5m BIKE - 4m RUN

OVERALL TIME: 1:38

Executive Summary: For a "First Time event" Maxwell AFB did an excellent job! A pool Swim, really short Bike course and a long Run (in proportion for a Sprint Distance TRI) but a great time and everybody was awesome about encouraging and cheering people on - especially *all* the athletes that inevitably passed me on the RUN course. LOL It was a great way to start my very short TRI racing season this year.

The Rest of the Story: Due in large part to our recent move to Alabama, this SPRINT TRI was the first race of my triathlon season, so I was very much looking forward to it as a chance to guage where I am at before I race the Dragon Fly Triathlon next week in Sardis, MS and follow-up with Vineman 70.3 in Windsor, CA in July.

When you add that this low-key triathlon is just a 15-minute drive from our house and FREE - well that was just *icing on the cupcake*! I expected, based on my recent training, that the race would take me about 1:30 to complete, including Transitions and I was pretty close to that time but I will never truly know my splits because my Garmin 310XT chose today - mid-race - to FREEZE so I spent the Bike and Run racing "blind to pace." I'll bring a back up (my timex) next week to Dragon Fly Tri.

PRE-RACE: The transition area for this race was very LOW KEY. Everbody just picked a spot in Airforce Park to put their bikes, as there were no bike racks. I chose to bring a milk crate to carry my gear and use that as an impromp-to Bike Stand. Worked out pretty well and since I got to Maxwell around 6:40am, I got a nice spot near the entrance/exit of transition.

After setting up transition, I headed to the Cadet Pool to get body marked and wait for the race start. I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me as we walked to the pool and it turned out that he was a fellow Team Z teammate, Jon, whom my friend Keri has been telling me about for a few weeks now. She knew that we were both moving down to Maxwell AFB and had been telling me that I should look Jon up - and there he was! We probably would not have met as quickly if I had not worn my Team Z race kit (all green - all Z!) so it worked out great to finally meet Jon and to have another person to cheer on and look for out on the course.

SWIM: 400yds - 10:02 (garmin) The swim was 400 yds / 8 laps of the 50 yd outdoor pool. The water temp was already over 90 and they had the athletes in two heats. I was in heat #1 and Lane 4 and there were 3 athletes per lane. The guys I shared the lane with were doing their first TRI and had no idea what their swim time would be so they had me start first. I worried that I would be in the way, but as it turned out - I was the first one out of the pool, in our lane (though not the first one of the pool by any stretch of the imagination! LOL) The swim went exactly as I expected - 10 minutes was what the last four "test" 400s had been in this pool the two days before - and that is exactly what I did.

T1: .25 miles (no time) There was a pretty long run from the deck of the pool, across the street and to the bikes on the other side of Airforce Park - so it was a GREAT SURPRISE - when I got out of the pool and there was my husband Jim, taking a quick office break, to cheer me on. He jogged with me over to transition - noting that this was a "long run to T1" and it was awesome to have him there to see me off on the Bike. Got to transition, grabbed socks, shoes and helmet and I was on my way to the Bike - felt like I made good use of the time and was not yet aware that my Garmin had stopped doing it's job.

BIKE: 6.5 miles (estimate 18 minutes): Got on my bike and knew that it was going to be quick and easy. The course was flat and really 6.5 miles isn't even enough time to warm-up on a bike so I just went for broke and pushed the pace the entire time. I passed quite a few people leading up to the turn-around and then held them off, knowing already that I was going to get passed on the run but enjoying a little "lead" time anyways. If they could run this TRI again and extend the bike course to two loops of 6.5 miles (13 mile) or even 3 loops - this would be a great competitive Bike course for a sprint-distance event.

About 1 mile into the Bike is when I realized that my Garmin was stuck at 10:02, I tried pushing the lap button a few times and even tried stopping the timer all together but it was FROZEN in time. I was a little frustrated because I was banking on my GARMIN to help keep me steady and strong on the RUN but with no choice, I just turned the Garmin off and monitored my effort by how I felt and my breathing.

T2: No Time / 8:35AM: Quickly back from the bike, I know I had a strong bike because I did know that it was 8:35AM, just 30 minutes after the race start when I left T2. Wasted some time in T2 trying to get my Garmin to start up in regular mode so I could at least time my run - nothing doing - the damn thing wouldn't even come on now - so I had no choice but to do this 4 mile RUN "by feel" only and hope that I could motivate myself to stick to 50 minutes max.

RUN: 4 miles (estimate 55 minutes): "OMG, why does it have to be so HOT in Alabama?" The run started off SLOW with me working hard to get my heart rate down to something manageable. I already new that the RUN was going to be disproportionately LONG in terms of time for me, I just have not been jogging very fast these days but I resolved last night, pre-race, that no matter how long it took me - I was running the entire 4-miles, even if the pace was damn slow. The only walk breaks would be at water stops and limited to 30-60 seconds. AND I STUCK TO MY PLAN! It took me through the Mile 1 to get my heart rate down to a good place and feel like I have a solid steady pace that I could hold onto for the full 4 miles. At about Mile 1.5, I saw Jon (Team Z) looking strong and on a solid steady pace and we gave each other a "Go Z" cheer! Mile 2 was the turn around and I high-fived the Volunteers and drank some water and splashed the rest on my head to cool off (and my heart rate shot back up for a second!) and then I settled into knocking out the last two miles - very slowly.

Honestly, the heat, even at 9AM (90F) really just wipes me out on these runs and the run course was open and exposed with only a little shade. The saving grace on this race course were all the fellow athletes! Everybody was cheering each other on and encouraging each other - EVERYBODY! And I gave as much as I got - getting lots of "Way to go Ma'am's" and "Nice Work - Keep it Steady" which really help me a lot and I did my best to cheer every athlete that passed me - and it was pretty much almost everybody! LOL Mile 3 came and went and I found myself wishing that this was a 5K run course because I would have been done already but I just told myself "You can do anything for 13 more minutes" and put one foot in front of the other. Soon enough I was turning the corner and joining the "Team" athletes who only had to run 1-mile for their RUN leg and the finish line was in sight.

FINISH: Quick Look at the Race Clock as I passed through the finish line: 1:38 - about 8 minutes slower than my goal (1:30) but in light of the longish RUN portion of this race and running in the heat of the morning, I have no complaints and I have plenty of room for improvement over the next 5 weeks with Vineman 70.3 on the horizon.

All in all, it was the BEST WAY to spend a Friday Morning! A Free TRI in my new home town followed by a great Base-Wide Picnic Lunch that Jim was able to come and join me for AND I got a chance to meet fellow Team Z teammate Jon and we have plans to stay in touch to do some bike riding/tri training together this summer.

Next Race: Dragon Fly Triathlon - Sardis, MS - Saturday, June 18 - Goal is TOP 3 ATHENA FINISH

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

RR: Capital Crescent 5K: SPRING 2011 CANCER to 5K Event!

2011-06-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Capital Crescent 5K - Bethesda, MD
Sunday, June 5, 2011 - 7AM

Up and on the road at 5:45AM, I was excited and "Ready to GO!" for the Capital Crescent 5K. This was going to be my first time actually getting to "RUN" this race as a Race Day SHERPA for my CANCER to 5K team Erica. In the last 4 years and 8 seasons of the CANCER to 5K Training Program, I have only had the opportunity to actually "RUN" the Races twice before. Coach Bob and I learned early on that the logistics of race day required somebody to "man" the finish line - to watch gear, to cheer people on and to be there for friends and family coming out to support the runners.

But this year was different! After having moved to Alabama, and pretty much missing more than half the training season, I wanted to be in town for RACE DAY for the majority of the team. So at 5:45am, Keri and I were out of the house and on the road to Bethesda, MD.

Usually, I am the "Queen of the Weather Report," but for some reason, I never once looked at the weather....assumed "Sunny & Hot" - so I was dumbfounded when the giant rain drops began to hit the windshield of the car. Keri and I both looked at each other and laughed that neither of us thought to check the weather. Looks like we might be in for a rainy 5K...after 4 years of crazy weather for races and training, NOTHING SURPRISES ME MUCH ANY MORE!

We arrived just in time for brief rain shower #2, picked up our bibs and met up with the group. Erika seemed in good spirits to me, despite the rain drops and everybody else was doing OK. Lots of nervous energy around - which made me SMILE - because in my heart, based on weeks of emails and reports from Coach Bob, Andrea, Colleen and Jennifer - I *KNEW* Carmen, Phyllis, Jennifer, Erika, Cyndi, and Esther were READY! But I also knew that no amount of words would have them believe - that is how your first 5K always is...

We have done this race several years in a row, the Montgomery Country Road Runners do a great job with this event and this year they went over and above! They had two groups running to support CANCER causes and the race director acknowledged and welcomed both groups ("Bladder Cancer Pisses Us Off" and CANCER to 5K) and gave us each our own wave starts! It was a wonderful surprise and a nice way to make the race day even more special for our runners who worked so hard this season! We waited about 1 minute from the last wave and then we were OFF!

Running with Erika and Jess Datta, is always a fun time for me. When Coach Bob told Jess and I that Erika's goal was a new PR at the 5K distance of 43:00 - I was super gung-ho and motivated to help her make that happen. We settled into the "1:00 Run / 1:00 Walk " interval plan that Coach Bob recommended and quickly picked off a few walkers in the first mile. Near Mile 1, Erika was initially "discouraged" to start to see the Front Runners coming back to the finish already - but Jess and I were quick to remind her that we were racing "HER RACE PLAN" - I'm not sure that made her feel any better but she seem to let go of some frustration at that point but it was uniquely timed with the first of 2 climbs up and over a bridge, so it might have been the bridges that distracted. We rolled over the bridge and down the to the turn around - getting a chance to see the rest of the CT5K team looking fantastic, full of smiles and high-fived them!

Just past the turn-around, the pace really started to settle in and Erika admitted that the time for "distraction" on the RUN intervals had come. We were READY! First we worked on tackeling the hill and getting to the water stop. We were on a RUN leg for the water stop and Erika left Jess and I in the dust by running through the water stop while drinking her water! I barely had time to get a drink and it was awesome to realize that Erika might have been tired but she was determined and focused and not wasting any time. RUN INTERVAL was time for RUNNING - it was a great reminder to me on how to effectively PLAN YOUR RACE and RACE YOUR PLAN!

We got through Mile 2 - Jess encouraging Erika to share her Las Vegas birthday plans and found ourselves going strong, into the 3rd and final mile - for Erika to meet her PR goal - now we needed her to stay steady and consistent while running - even if her walk breaks were a little slower to recover - the time to push a little harder had arrived.

After 2 years of friendship and running, I've gotten pretty good at gauging how to distract Erika and/or encourage her when she is struggling with a workout. I had my "Theme Song" list ready to go! For ONE MINUTE, I did my best to sing whatever lyrics I could remember to many songs - Lavern & Shirley - Happy Days - Paul McCartney's "Love Song" (we had been talking "GLEE" episodes) and then Erika through me a loop...She requested DANCE MUSIC/HIP HOP.

"Now what the heck am I going to do?" I thought to myself - desperately trying to think of something - looking down at the Garmin...30 seconds to remember a DANCE/HIP HOP SONG....I ran though my internal "iPOD" playlist and there it was....

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations!

So when that interval started - I launced into it - "Whooohhhh" "Whooohoooo" "Vibratations Good Like Sunkist, make me wanna know who done this? I'm Holly G and I'm here to Groove with you...we Gonna PR and I'm gonna Prove to you..."

OMG, it was hysterical and off the cuff and personalize as much as I could to Erika and her PR and even her nephews breakin' it down with "Wii / Dance Dance" at the end. It was the most creative 1- minute RUN JAM, I have ever come up with! And it got us through that interval and onto the next - counting down intervals - knowing we were soooo close to being done and that Erika was ON TARGET for her PR.

Pretty quickly we crossed the last intersection, just as the Garmin indicated to me that we were in our last interval and Jess and I both looked at Erika and said - this is your last walk break - your done - Look ahead - see all the Yellow? Finish Line ahead - ONLY RUNNING! And away she went!

FINISH: 41.59.99

Now *that* is how you LiveSTRONG

Sweet Home Alabama

2011-05-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Rather than try to follow-up on what has been an insane last 6-weeks, let's just call this a "fresh new start" to TRI and Be Happy...So what has cause me to completely lose sight of blogging, even on a irregular basis?

We've MOVED from Northern VA to Montgomery, Alabama (AL)

While I have not gotten much done, in terms of triathlon - you can't say that I have not been busy and working hard. In the last three weeks I have:

• taken a leave of absence from my job

• packed up our entire household
(with help from Jim and a Moving Company of course...)

• managed to get in 3 great workouts with Team Z's Belle Haven Babes and CANCER to 5K friends while prepping the move (Week One)

• went to 3 different and wonderful dinner parties given by local friends and teammates - One a COMPLETE surprise! (Thank you again CANCER to 5K NOVA Teammates!)

• sacrificed 1 pair of running shoes, 1 pair of leather gloves & 1 baseball cap
(to an angry confused female bengal cat who decided to pee on said items to convey her displeasure at the strangers who kept coming into our house and touching stuff aka packing)

• taken a two-day road trip with 2 cars, 1 motorcycle, 2 bengal cats and my husband

• been amazed at how well the 2 bengal cats behaved on a 2-day road trip
(relaxed into a travel routine, used the litter at rest stops, used the litter in the hotel room and thankfully never pee'd anyplace else!)

• arrived safely to our new home just outside Montgomery, AL

• applied for a new job at Maxwell AFB that just happens to be in my career field AND already made the list for said job (hoping on a phone interview! - Fingers Crossed)

• heard my first TORNADO Sirens and a survived a devastating storm that has been declared a "Category 1 Natural Disaster" for the entire state of Alabama - on my first night in my new home.

• accepted delivery of our house hold goods - all 300+ boxes and furniture accounted for...

• unpacked about 100 boxes (so far...)

• found a great deal on a Washer/Dryer set on Craigslist and installed them both!
(only 9 months old and two for the price we would have spent on just a new washer alone!)

• eaten out for 3 weeks straight
(Refrigerator being delivered today, thanks goodness!)

• managed to get in 2 workouts so far this week (Week Three)

The list above is just general highlights but it seems like the bulk of my days are spent emptying boxes. I have not even had the chance to get on my bike, even though Jim put both our bikes together the day after they were delivered last Thursday.

Tomorrow morning, very early, I am leaving Jim and the bengal cats to make a 9-hour road trip to Myrtle Beach, SC to meet up with my family and celebrate my sister Heather's Graduation from Coastal Carolina University! I'm packing my sunscreen, my bathingsuit, my bike and my camera and looking forward to my mini-vacation from all the boxes! Jim has to work (first full week at the new job) so I am going to have to give my nephews twice as many hugs and kisses. My life is so hard! NOT!

Not lost on me, is the fact that I will drive 500 miles away from my new home to get a bike ride on my bike. But Sunshine and Ferdinand need to get to know one another and I know that my sister Heather could use a low-key bike ride to get her "tri-confidence" soaring again and I am just the girl who can provide that. Again, my life is so hard! NOT!

So, to wrap up - we moved 900 miles to the deep South - I'm up to my eyeballs in boxes of stuff (that we still can believe is really all ours...) - my sister is Graduating from College this Weekend (GO HEATHER!) - Vineman Half Ironman (70.3) is just 10 weeks away! (GULP!!)

Life is GOOD!
LiveSTRONG!

RR: Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge: Part 2: Anthem Half Marathon

2011-03-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge
March 19-20, 2011 - Virginia Beach, VA

Saturday: Towne Bank 8K - 1:04:54
Sunday: Anthem Half Marathon: 03:08:03

Race Summary: Ran "nearly naked" all weekend long (no watch to keep track of race pace) and had a fantastic time enjoying the Race, my Friends, the Beach and, of course, the Beer!

Also picked up my HALF FANATICS membership by finishing 3 Half Marathons within 72 days! I am already looking at the list, trying to figure out how to move up to the next level of membership since "3 Half Marathons in 90 days" is only Level One.

THE LONG VERSION - PART 2: (grab some coffee or a pint...this was a long weekend!)

Sunday: Anthem Half Marathon

I woke up Sunday morning, earlier, in an attempt to get Breakfast in early enough to feel like it made a difference. Up at 5AM (race start at 7AM) and had my Bagel and Peanut butter and a large bottle of water and then puttered around, feeling anxious and nervous. I had not brought enough "cold weather" running clothes with me and was very concerned that the high winds (15-20 mph) and the cooler temps ( 45F at start, high of 50F for the day) were going to make for a pretty miserable race experience. I was much moodier than my typical "race-morning self" but the Ladies (Leanne, Judy, Alexis and Keri) just rolled with it. Good Friends on Race Mornings are a Blessing!

By 615am we were out the door and headed to the Half Marathon Start, a little 10 very windy blocks up from the hotel. Did I mention it was COLD & WINDY? That didn't help my nerves much but I tried to relax and enjoy walking to the start - since everybody was starting in the same COLD & WIND b*tching about it wasn't going to make much difference - so I did my best to let it go.

After a fun Pre-Race photo op, we all split up to head to our Start Waves and I went to Wave 5 and stood with the huddle masses - there were lots of smiles and pretty quickly after the National Anthem, we were off and on our way.

At the start: Judy, Keri, Holly (me) & Leanne

AND RUNNING felt GREAT!?!

I really didn't see this coming - after having a rough day out on the 8K course - I honestly expected to have nothing for the Half Marathon and was really just planning to "move forward with purpose and try to have as much fun on the course as I could - no matter what my pace." For this race, I ran "Half-Naked" - I had my Timex watch set for Run/Walk intervals of 3/1 - "to be started only if I ran out of motivation to keep running continuously" but I was not allowed to start the stop watch function that would tell me overall time elapsed, nor was I allowed to check on the actual time of day.

So here I am, feeling good, settling into a nice easy pace (at least it felt nice and easy - don't know, no watch to check!) and having fun, watching the people around me, checking out the neighborhoods and looking forward to the next 12 miles.

Miles 1-3 went by effortlessly - just moving along, settling in the pace. Just before Mile 3 we passed the local HASH HARRIERS Rest Stop and while I didn't stop and indulge in a little bit of beer - I did yell "ON ON" nice and loud and got "ON ON" and a few toasts from the folks on the side of the road!

I did break one "Golden Rule" of running that says "Do Nothing NEW on Race Day" but I was curious to try the nutrition plan that my own sister Heather has been using on her long runs since I have always been hit or miss on my stomach behaving on long runs. Lately Heather has been using the "Running Buffet Method", as she likes to jokingly refer to it. She eats one honey stinger chew per mile and keeps her hydration at regular intervals - as she needs it. So I thought I'd give it a try.

My Result? STEADY ENERGY and NO STOMACH ISSUES the ENTIRE RACE! (Also NO STOMACH ISSUES AFTER THE RACE - which has been a problem sometimes too!) I ate one Margarita Cliff Block every mile and drank water only when I felt like I wanted a little (which for me was Miles 3, 6, 8 & 11) and it worked out perfectly. I am SOLD on the "Running Buffet Method" for any run longer than 6 miles from this point forward!

Miles 4-6 were spent on River Road - enjoying the bad Shamrock Jokes signs as well as some other Funny/Silly signs. The one that I remember?

"I used to keep an open mind but it kept falling out of my head on my long runs; so I don't keep an open mind anymore"

Just before Mile 5, I stopped for my only Port-o-Potty break and while waiting in a long line, had a cool chat with a fellow in front of me who was running his first Half Marathon. As I left the Port-o-Potty, along came Priscilla & Debbie! It was awesome to run with some Team Z teammates for a little bit but I honestly felt like the pace was a little faster than I wanted to go - so I backed off after about a mile of running with Debbie - reminding myself that "Today is for FUN, don't worry about TIME."

Just about half a mile from separating, I passed Debbie again - as she stopped at a Port-o-Potty and I waved "Hi!" and continued on. Mile 7 came and went and I found myself thinking "I'm bored, this is getting harder, where is that darn lighthouse Ron told me about?"

The time had clearly come to "shake things up a bit" so I turned on my Interval Timer and started it. I decided that from this point on, I would run 3:00 / walk 1:00 until the final turn onto the boardwalk and then run to the Finish Line. It helped to have something "new" to focus on and I actually felt like my pace picked up ever so slightly, overall.

Miles 8-9 were fine - just working my way through Fort Storey - finally saw the Lighthouse and some beautiful Oceanviews, just in time to head straight into the WIND! UGH! But in perfect timing, right about Mile 9 - Debbie finally caught up to me and after discovering my Interval Plan - suggested that we stay together. I was game and ready for the company so we divived the Intervals - My job was to keep us moving steady for the 3:00 Run and Debbie's job was to keep us "Walking quickly with purpse" for the 1:00 Walk.

We talked and ran and walked and talked. It was really wonderful to spend some time with Debbie - hearing about her season plans, sharing my season plans - talking about swimming and running and everything in between. Debbie made the miles fly by and really I don't remember the headwinds - although I know we ran through them.

While I was not at all concerned with time, Debbie was focused on her time. She had done this race in 2010 as her first Half Marathon and she was steady and focused on a strong finish and setting a new PR (Personal Record). We talked "Half Marathon Finish Times" in general, as I told her about my two Half Fanatic's races from this season (MS Blues & Myrtle Beach) and she shared with me that if we finished in/around my average pace for this season: 3:05-3:10 - She would come away with a nearly 20 minute PR. This got my attention, because while I was not trying to race for time, I understood how much focus and effort Debbie was putting into her Race day and I was honored to be running with her and helping her make her personal time goal.

Before I knew it, we were looking at Mile 12 and just two more Run/Walk interval left. We agreed that "We only got two more Run/Walk Intervals and then we'd RUN it into the Finish Line - no matter how far we might be from the actual last turn onto the Boardwalk." As it turns out our timing was perfect - our last 1:00 Walk was about 2 blocks before the final turn.

As we ran down the Boardwalk, Debbie asked me how I was going to finish - was I going to speed up? And I said "No, Sorry - this is all I have" and she responded "That is OK, this is all I have too but I am still going to have a big PR!" And with big smiles on our face, we ran together in to the Finish Line!

The rest of the day was spent enjoying Beer, Cheering on Team Z teammates and friends Ron and Shawn to their Marathon Finishes and a large tasty Philly Cheesesteak and Cheesecake at the Jewish Mother's Deli in Norfolk, VA with Shawn, Ron and Keri on our way home.

Ron, Shawn, Holly (me) & Keri - FINISHERS!

I couldn't have PLANNED a better Half Marathon Race Day if I tried - and maybe that is because this time, I didn't try. I just went out and took what my body had to give and focused on having fun and enjoying every mile.

I would recommend running at least "One Race Naked Every Year" to those of you who run and for those of you who are not running - What are you waiting for? Come on along - the finisher's BLING is worth every mile!

Just a little bit of the Race Swag & Bling - Half Marathon Medal, Finisher's Hat, Finishers Shirt (not in photo) and the 8K Finisher Medal plus an 8K Long Sleeve Tshirt and Half Marathon Tech Shirt - just for picking up your race packet!

Life is GOOD! Live STRONG!

RR: Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge: Part 1: Towne Bank 8K

2011-03-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge
March 19-20, 2011 - Virginia Beach, VA

Saturday: Towne Bank 8K - 1:04:54
Sunday: Shamrock Half Marathon: 03:08:03

Race Summary: Ran "nearly naked" all weekend long (no watch to keep track of race pace) and had a fantastic time enjoying the Race, my Friends, the Beach and, of course, the Beer!

Also picked up my HALF FANATICS membership by finishing 3 Half Marathons within 72 days! I am already looking at the list, trying to figure out how to move up to the next level of membership since "3 Half Marathons in 90 days" is only Level One.

THE LONG VERSION: (grab some coffee or a pint...this was a long weekend!)

Friday: Race Expo Fun

Headed down to Virginia Beach with my wonderful friends and Team Z teammates, Leanne and Judy and we timed it perfectly! 3.5 hours from my front door to the Race Expo in Virginia Beach. We had fun picking up our race packet and shopping the Expo. It always nice to be at a Race Expo with friends who like to check out every vendor. I bought an official Shamrock Race pint glass for Jim and a commemorative race pin for me and managed to leave the expo with only the two race shirts that were part of my registration! That is a real accomplishment for me! LOL

We headed to our hotel. Judy reserved a room in the Hampton Inn Oceanside - PERFECT LOCATION! It was right on the Finish Line chute for all the races for the weekend as well as the START for the 8K race and the 12-mile point of the Marathon. We were within walking distance of the Finish Line and Beer Tent! It doesn't get much better than that.

We headed out to dinner at "Rudee's on the Inlet" and had a great meal and then went back to the Hampton Inn to chill, get ready to race the 8K and wait for the arrival of our friend/teammate Keri - who rolled in about 10PM. Let the MEGA SLEEPOVER / RACE WEEKEND Begin!

Saturday: Dolphin Challenge - Race #1: Towne Bank 8K (4.9 miles)

Got up at 6:30am for an 8am race start, got dressed and headed down to Continental Breakfast at the hotel. Bagel with Peanut butter (standard training/racing breakfast) and glass of Skim Milk and I was ready to go. In retrospect, I realized that I did not eat my breakfast early enough, compared to normal training days - I really felt that during the race.

We walked out the front door of the hotel and were immediately standing in front of Corral 3. We walked over to Corral 4 as a group and Leanne, Judy and I eased into the crowd to wait for the start.
The weather was descent; breezy but temps in the low 50s already - perfect for a nice "almost 5-mile run."

Wave Starts had us crossing the start line about 5 minutes after the Elite Wave and we headed South towards 2nd Ave (start line was 31st Ave) with the wind at our back. I decided that this weekend I was running "Naked" - No Watch or Garmin to keep track of my time or pace - This entire weekend would be about Running for Fun and having a wonderful time with my Friends and Teammates. This would be my last big Team Z Race Weekend, as Jim and I are getting ready to move in the end of April. FUN was the ONLY GOAL!

First 2 miles were OK - I was having some odd lower shin pain and felt really low on energy. It frustrated me a little, since this was the "short run of the weekend." I really had no clue how long we had been on the course because I never saw the Mile 1 marker but we passed a water stop at 1.5 miles (which I know from looking at the race map the day before). Skipped that water stop and just enjoyed being well in the middle of the pack and really tried to let go of how frustrated I was at feeling "kinda empty of energy". With 9,000 people racing the 8K, even my slower pace is still the middle of the pack - no chance to feel like you were alone on this race course.

We hit 2nd Ave and turned onto the Boardwalk and INTO THE WIND for the next mile. The wind gusts were 15-20mph and all around, people were joking and/or moaning about the wind. My shins had finally stopped bugging me, so I was just happy to feel like I finally warmed up a bit. Took a cup of water at Mile 3 / water stop and enjoyed all the "Go Holly!" from fellow Team Z peeps as they passed me. No worries on being passed, I was out to have FUN!

We turned left of the boardwalk sometime around 25th or 27th Ave and back onto Atlantic Ave and ran past the hotel and got a bit of a break from the wind - thanks to all the big hotels for the last mile. Passed the Hampton Inn, passed the Start location for the Half Marathon on Sunday and turned Right for the last quarter mile down the boardwalk to the Finish Line. Treated to a TAIL WIND all the way into the Finish Line and had the pleasure of running with Teammates AJ & Nicolas for a "Three Z Finish."

I expected that I would finish right around 1:00:00 and did not actually look at the Race Clock at the Finish Line because I was busy having fun finishing with my Teammates. Crossed the Finish, got a nice Finisher Medal, met up with Leanne and Judy and we headed straight to the Beer Tent for a Yuengling - By 9:15am - after running 8K - I was standing on the Beach enjoying a beer with good friends!

CHIP TIME: 1:04:54 - This definitely reflects that I was low on energy and could have done a better job of eating breakfast earlier.

Rest of Saturday: Race Expo, Cake Adventures & Team Z Dinner:

Met up with Keri after the 8K, rinsed off and changed and then went back out to the Race Expo so that Keri could pick up her packet for the Half Marathon too. Then Keri and I went on a little COSTCO adventure. Since this would be my last TEAM Z Race Weekend before our move to Alabama, I wanted to do something to say "Goodbye" to my Teammates, so Keri helped me coordinate with Coach Ed and Coach Alexis to bring "dessert" to the Team Z Pasta Dinner on Saturday night.

Keri and I bought 3 huge sheet cakes for the 130+ folks that were going to be at the Team Z Pasta Dinner and then we headed back to the Hamton Inn to chill out with Leanne, Judy and Alexis until it was time to go to Dinner.

Had a wonderful time at the Team Z Pasta Dinner and Coach Alexis helped me tell the Team "Goodbye" and we all enjoyed some tasty cake - then we headed back to the hotel for an early night before the Half Marathon in the AM.

That's it for PART 1....

Yuengling Half Marathon to follow in Part II (Damn this is long! LOL)

Stuck in T1

2011-03-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

So there are big things afoot in our household, we are looking at a Big Move in our immediate future but we are waiting on the final paperwork...

Big Life Changes like this always remind me of being in Transition; waiting for your teammate to finish the swim so you can get on the bike.

I'm excited, nervous, worried, pumped up, full of adrenaline - but I am just waiting...doing my best tp "patiently wait" (which, if you know me at all, you understand that PATIENCE is my least successful virtue.)...just WAITING.

In the mean time, life is moving forward, as usual, around me:

• CANCER to 5K is getting ready to start another Spring season in VA and MD! (GO TEAM!)

• Team Z is heading to Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend:
- I'm running the Dolphin Challenge - 8K on Saturday and 13.1 on Sunday

• Team FIGHT has an amazing season of races ahead!
- Survivor Harbor 7
- IronGirl Columbia Triathlon
- Half Full TRI
- REV 3 TRI Series

• If paperwork goes smoothly (fingered and toes crossed), I will be racing the Gulf Coast Half Marathon on April 10th which means;

• I will complete the requirements to be a HALF FANATIC "Saturn Status" by finishing 4 Half Marathons in 4 consecutive months.

So as you can see, even while I am waiting, I find a way to keep myself occupied...

After all, a girl has gotta do something while she is waiting in T1.

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG! (y'all)

Race Report: 14th Annual Myrtle Beach Half Marathon

2011-02-24T17:32:00.000-08:00

Myrtle Beach Half Marathon
Chip Time: 3:08:59
Myrtle Beach, SC - February 19, 2011

Michalob Ultra/Conway Bike Ride
14-miles: 60:00
Conway, SC - February 20, 2011

Executive Summary: 7th Consecutive Myrtle Beach Race Weekend - LOVE THIS WEEKEND!

Well another Myrtle Beach weekend has come and gone and it was WONDERFUL! Perfect Weather, lots of time spent with both family and friends. This is one of my favorite times of the year, regardless of how my race day goes.

And this time, that is a good thing, because my Half Marathon was kind of *BLAH* from a race perspective. I'm pretty sure I know why the day went badly. It has everything to do with my current weight. You can't expect to run 13.1 miles easily carrying an extra 25 pounds - and I didn't expect a PR.

BUT

Based on recent training and the MS BLUES Half Marathon last month, I was expecting that a sub 3:00 finish was a given. And I was wrong. Oh well, at least I finished and have a fun day!

The race started out with the traditional early morning wake-up call (4:40AM) and obligatory "Goofy Pre-Race" photo with my sister Heather. Then we made one last bathroom break, dropped out gear off at the Grand Strand Running Club tent near the finish line and then headed towards the START.

I got a chance to say Hi to several of Heather's friends, including Christine, and then we parted ways, since they were running the full Marathon and I was running the Half. While waiting for the start, I was happy to stand with my good friend Shawn and we talked about the upcoming VA Beach/Shamrock Weekend and her upcoming nuptials at the Las Vegas Marathon in December. I love waiting for race starts with Shawn and was so happy to know that I would at least see her ahead of me out on the course somewhere before the finish!

The race started at 6:30 and away we went. I started out slow and easy and I felt just fine for the first 5 miles - I even ended up running the first 5K a little faster than I had planned (Sub 36) and maybe that is where the problem really lies. By the time I was on my way to Mile 6 - got a rousing "Yahoo" from Shawn passing Mile 7 going the other direction - I just felt like I was dragging.

I just told myself "It's just a phase, it will pass" and continued to tell myself that for the NEXT 7 Miles!

Only, sadly, it wasn't just a "phase" and no amount of water or GU would fix my slow pace. So I did what I knew how to do, just kept on running. And as my pace got slower and slower, I kept on making silly challenges in my head to keep myself from walking more than running. "Run 4 Light Poles - Walk 1 Light Pole" and "Catch the TNT Walker and then you can walk 1-minute recovery."

Finally, I was at the 12 mile marker and I just wanted to be DONE for the day. So I told myself that there was no choice but to suck it up and "Run/Walk One Minute Intervals until the Finish Line was in sight" because I simply *had* to finish within a few minutes of Christine", who was running the Marathon and who I knew expected to finish between 2:45 & 3:00.

I had joked with Christine, before the race start, that if she saw me, she needed to "Pat me on the shoulder and tell me to Get Moving!" Little did I know that Christine had a bit of a rough day herself and was a few minutes behind her Finishing Goal. As I ran into the last 1/10th of a mile to the Half Marathon Finisher Chute - along came Christine in the Marathon Finisher Chute running parallel to mine and true to her word, she yelled "Come On Holly, Let's Finish STRONG!" so I did my best to pick up the pace so that I could Congratulate her on the other side of the Finish Lines.

Coming into the finish of Myrtle Beach Half Marathon 2011

Ron S., Shawn N., running friend of Heather,
Holly S. (me), Christine R. and Heather G. - Post Race

Nothing so humbling as meeting a friend at the Finish Line and knowing that in the time it took you to run 13.1 miles, she ran 26.2 miles, on a recently smashed big toe! I was honored to share the Finish Line with Christine and she was as kind to ask about my race as she was humble about her own day.

I met Jim and Ron and Shawn at the Finish Line, grabbed my bag from the Grand Strand Runners Club tent and got a little snack from the Finish Line Expo and then we headed back to the other side of the chute to cheer in my sister Heather, who had chosen to run the full Marathon this year.

After 6 years of running the Half Marathon distance together, she decided to do the Marathon distance and was going for a solid PR effort. It was an honor and a thrill to yell and scream as loud as I could as I watch Heather cross the Marathon Finish line with a solid 11-minute PR. (Read her Race Report HERE)

With Heather, showing off another year of Finisher Medal Bling!

Sunday's original plan was to ride the 33-mile Bike ride with Ron S. and Jim. However my quads and IT band were having none of it, so I left the longer bike ride to the guys and did a nice easy 14-mile bike ride. It was the right choice and the guys had a great ride themselves!

Finishing up 14-miles - Zone 2: 60:00

Ron S. and Jim - looking fresh after a quick 33-miles at the front of the pack!

Watching Heather finish strong, knowing that just 7 years ago, in 2005 the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon was her first road race ever! I was inspired. I have decided that every 10th Anniversary of our Myrtle Beach Race Weekends, I will go ahead and run the Marathon distance. (2015)

However, for now, keep those Myrtle Beach Half Marathons and Bike Rides coming! There is no better way to celebrate my "LiveSTRONG - Cancer-anniversaries" than this race!

Bring it on 2012 - I'll be coming for you, minus 25 pounds (or more!) - There's got to be a PR on this course for me someday! I'll just keep running until it comes!

Next UP: VA Beach/Shamrock Dolphin Challenge: 8K & Half Marathon with Team Z - Bring it ON!

MS BLUE HALF MARATHON: Race Report - 01/08/2011

2011-02-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

Authors Note: I know I am way behind on posting this but better late than never! I wanted to get this race report on the record before Myrtle Beach Half Marathon this coming weekend! Enjoy!

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon
Jackson, MS - January 8, 2011
Chip Time: 3:04:07

Summary: Who knew they had hills in Jackson, MS? Even a 2% change in elevation from sea level is UP my friends!

Race Report:

I signed up for the MS BLUES Marathon back in August 2010. It was my "excuse to keep consistently training through the winter." Sadly about 2 weeks after registering for the Marathon, I spent about 4 weeks going through some issues with undiagnosed pain in my back and abdomen (still undiagnosed but now gone!) and I missed the first 6 week of what would have been "early Marathon training".

I had two choice:
1.) Downgrade to Half Marathon distance or
2.) Not Race at All.

Of course, the choice was easy. There was still plenty of time to get in the quality milage necessary for a Half Marathon and the goal to "keep consistently training through the winter" still very much applied. So I wrote the race director and had them change my race registration from MARATHON to HALF MARATHON and spent Oct/Nov/Dec working on my milage.

This was to be my first race, of any kind, in Jackson, MS and I was looking forward to running in my husband's home town. The race expo was very well done and the race swag (free stuff) was simply excellent. There was a t-shirt, sling pack, "Elvis" gold sunglasses (complete with sideburns), a CD of classic MS BLUES music and a genuine harmonica.

The awesome race swag!

Genuine Harmonica and "Elvis" Gold Sunglasses with Sideburns!

This was no "toy" harmonica that made sounds like an "angry cat"!! With barely any experience at all, I was able to make pleasant, on-pitch music with this harmonica - something my parent can verify has never happened with the toy models I have had through the years. As my husband is my witness, I spend nearly the entire 20-minute car ride home from the expo saying "Look honey, I am making nice sounds - just like music" and wheezing in and out, happy as could be. LOL

Race morning started out early (6AM) for a 7AM start and the weather was great for an early january race - mid 40s at start with Sun and a high of 55 for the day. Jim (my husband) and I joked about the people around us talking about how "hilly" this course was. "Hilly? Jackson, MS? - yeah right - How Hilly could 2% about sea level really be?" The walk up a very steep hill to the race start should have been an "warning" but we simply thought it was the anomaly - the one "Hill" in Jackson.

We were WRONG!

After some quick photos of me channeling Elvis (it was his 75th Birthday after all) with gold sunglasses and sideburns at the Start Line, I ducked into the Port-o-Potty for a quick stop and joined the crowd for the race start. 7AM and we were off, after the National Anthem.

Channeling "Elvis" with my Gold Sunglasses with Sideburns!

Ready for a nice 13.1 miles through Jackson, MS!

In general, Jackson did a great job with the Marathon/Half Marathon course. There were plenty of aid stations and both courses were well marked! I had nothing to complain about and even the HILLS - that I really didn't anticipate - were not enough to make my race day a bad one. I just took them, one at a time and really had a fabulous time, in general.

Honestly, I am not lying, for the FIRST TIME that I can remember, the hills really didn't upset me or piss me off, as they usually do. I just accepted them for what they were, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Now while the "hills" didn't seem to give me any problems, I just about had a "Hissy Fit" when I saw Jim at Mile 8 and realized that "Not only am I passing within 2/10th of a mile from the the finish line (up a hill that I was very, VERY happy we did not have to run up) but I was passing my car!!! WHAAAA!!! No Fair, Race Directors, No Fair!"

I got over it quickly enough and settled into my own for the last 5.1 miles.

Mile 8 - where we passed by both the finish line and the car - HOW RUDE!

My overall goal for this race, since it was the first race of my 2011 season, was simply to start race morning well prepared for the distance (which I was) and have a strong solid day. I was not looking for any PRs (personal records) - I simply wanted to start and finish feeling strong and fit. And that is exactly what I did. My pace slowed as the miles increase but I never felt like I had to give up and walk for any length of time - nor did I ever feel like I couldn't keep going.

The biggest treat for me, was actually the last mile of the race. The last mile went down State Street in Downtown Jackson, past the "Old Governor's Residence" which was the location for my Wedding Photos in April 2009. To be able to run past the intersection of State Street and see the finish line at the top of the hill, was simply wonderful! I smiled nearly the entire way up and simply focused on what a beautiful run I had and how I was nearly done!

Finishing - Up Hill - Fun and Done!

Of course the race had an excellent Finisher Medal, which always adds to my personal joy along with a lovely "Congratulatory Finisher Kiss" from my husband, Jim! With those two things waiting for you at the end of 13.1 miles, how can any race be bad?

Finisher Photo with the great Finisher Medal!

Close-up of the MS Blues Half Marathon Finishers Medal

It may not have been my fastest Half Marathon to-date (that's 2:43:19 at Myrtle Beach in 2005) but it was definitely up there as of my favorite races for sure!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Three Little Words...

2011-02-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

On Valentine's Day, we are told via Hallmark, Kay Jewelers and FTD and many, many other retailer that the Three Little Words of the day are "I Love You."

But Valentine's Day has a completely different meaning to me since 2005 because on that day as I sat at my office desk, the phone rang, and I heard the Three Little Words that nobody ever expects nor wants to hear:

"You Have Cancer."

Not quite the same ring to it, huh?

So every year on Valentine's Day, since 2005, I celebrate my personal "LiveSTRONG Anniversary."

Six years ago today, I was diagnosed with Nodular Melanoma. It would be another 4 weeks and Surgery #1 before I would learn that I was actually Stage III, Metastatic Melanoma and looking at a second surgery and a year of chemotherapy.

My life changed, on that day. I understood, suddenly, in a way that I never could before, that my life could end. That time was precious. That family means unconditional love and support, no matter how far the physical distance. That friendships could be fleeting but that true friendships will weather the storm. That true love means not having to worry about your boyfriend (now husband) going anywhere, ever, no matter how bad things seemed or how much hair was on the bathroom floor.

And I learned that both "Strength" and "Hope" come from deep within. That emotions can be harnessed and transformed: Anger, Fear, Pain, Sorrow...into what you need on any given day.

I consider myself "a lucky cancer survivor" in three ways:

1.) I was in peak health and fitness at the time of my diagnosis. I was 34-years old, had been doing long-distance road distance cycling, racing triathlons and running for over 4 years.

I tested the limit of every suggestion my DRs gave me in terms of keeping my fitness up while recovering from surgery and going through chemo. I was very in tune with my body, and what it could handle, so that even early in the hardest part of treatment, I would walk the 2 miles from my house to the hospital to get in my daily workout while I still felt "good". After all it was May in VA - Springtime Morning are not to be wasted! It drove my Chemo nurses nuts, because my heart rate was always elevated and I was sweaty when I arrived for my daily infusions and they simple couldn't understand "why" I would want too continue to exercise - They dubbed me their "crazy runner girl" and I wore that name with pride.

2.) I was already aware of the "then" Lance Armstrong Foundation "now" LiveSTRONG.org prior to my diagnosis so I had instant resources available to me.

I have been wearing a LiveSTRONG band since Summer 2004 and our trip to Le Tour de France - I was a fan of LiveSTRONG - the concept - long before I became a survivor myself.

3.) I have continued to survive my diagnosis and each year, I come one day closer and one-percentage point further away from the "Guarded Prognosis" that accompanies Stage III Metastatic Melanoma.

The current statistical average for survival of Stage III Metastatic Melanoma is 63% survival at 5 years post diagnosis and 38% survival at 10 years post diagnosis.

For each survivor, there comes a moment when you decide how you are going to approach your survivorship - are you going to keep it personal or are you going to respond to what some call the "Obligation of the Cured" and I call the "Obligation as a Survivor."

I chose to go public with my Survivorship and my way of giving back to the cancer community is through the development of the CANCER to 5K Training Program. I wanted to make sure that other cancer survivors would have the opportunity to continue to train and stay fit, during or after, their cancer treatment. Because for me, Running and Exercise were my "therapy" from a bad day, week, month, year of dealing with cancer and I knew deep in my heart that if I felt this way than there would be other survivors out there that felt this way and I wanted them to have the program that I wish I had available to me.

The CANCER to 5K Training Program has helped over 30 cancer survivors train for and complete a 5K race and more importantly, given each of these survivors a chance to gain/regain fitness, in spite, of a cancer diagnosis, through support, encouragement, and more than a little "cowbell" on the side.

CANCER to 5K is how I define my continued survivorship and how I continue to look forward to every Valentine's Day - not for candy or kisses or declorations of love - but as a chance to say:

My name is Holly, I am a Melanoma survivor and I LiveSTRONG!

I hope you never forget:

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

The Way Ahead: My 2011 Season

2011-02-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

Before I post the race report from my first race race of the season (since I am still working on downsizing the photos!) I figured I would share the 2011 Races that currently are on my calendar. There are some "life-changing" events on the horizon (another post about that later and NO, I am NOT pregnant nor are we planning to be...) that are forcing me to be very conservative about my race schedule this year so even my season is pretty tentative after July 2011.

Holly's 2011 RACE SEASON:
Note: Green Races are Tentative Races: I have not yet Registered nor have I cleared my calendar with Jim, who's life if greatly impacted by my constantly growing race calendars!

• Mississippi Blues Half Marathon - 01/08/11 - Jackson, MS

• Myrtle Beach Half Marathon - 02/19/11 - Myrtle Beach, SC (7th year in a row!)

• VA Beach 8K and Shamrock Half Marathon: Dolphin Challenge - 03/19-20/11 - VA Beach, VA

• Gulf Coast Half Marathon - 04/10/11 - Pensacola, FL

****NOTE that at this point I will have officially qualified to be a HALF FANATIC by racing 4 Half Marathons in 4 consecutive months! I have not yet decided if I want to actually sign up or just be happy knowing that "I could sign up if I wanted too!" LOL****

• Kid One SPRINT Triathlon - 05/14/11 - Pike Road, AL

• Capital Crescent 5K (with VA CANCER to 5K Team) - 06/05/11 - Bethesda, MD

• Dragonfly SPRINT Triathlon - 06/18/2011 - Sardis, MS

•Vineman 70.3 Ironman (Half Ironman distance TRI) - 07/17/11 - Sonoma Valley, CA

•Revolutions3 South Carolina (Oly or Half - not decided yet...) - 10/08-09/11 - Anderson, SC

Now somewhere in-between April and July, I would like try to find an OLY distance TRI to race in preparation for Vineman, preferably something with some hills but for now, this is the tentative schedule.

One race down (Mississippi Blues Half Marathon - race report the weekend - I promise!) 5 more to GO for sure...the rest, well let's just say we "winging it" this year!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Sweeping out the Dust Bunnies...2010 in Review

2011-01-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

Already the last week of January 2011, now that is what you call an extended break from BLOGGING, I'd say I have gotten that all out of my system. Let's see what's been happening in the last 3 months?

CANCER to 5K UPDATE:

Immediately following the HALF FULL TRIATHLON was the season Races for both the VA & MD CANCER to 5K programs and our "At Home" CANCER to 5K teammates. I had the pleasure to be in Baltimore, MD at the United Way 5K for the finish of the inaugural Howard County, MD CANCER to 5K Team and then at the end of October, was in Fairfax, VA at the Goblin Gallop 5K for the finish of the VA CANCER to 5K Team.

Both teams ROCKED their RACES and I was so PROUD and HAPPY to see another 2 groups of survivors cross their race day finish lines with SMILES of PRIDE and ACCOMPLISHMENT! In addition we had 3 survivors race with their family and friends in Pheonix, AZ, Portland, OR and Nacogdoches, TX.

Howard County MD - CANCER to 5K Team on race day!

Proud MD Team CANCER to 5K survivors and with Coach Te!

Show us your BLING Ladies!

Proud MD Team CANCER to 5K survivors with their CANCER to 5K finisher's medals!

Libby M-W. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Portland, OR!

Michelle H. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Phoenix, AZ!

Nate H. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Nacogdoches, TX!

Donna Z. (with me) ran her VA CANCER to 5K event at the Wolf Trap 5K!

VA - CANCER to 5K Team on race day at the Goblin Gallop 5K!

In total for the FALL 2010 season, the CANCER to 5K program helped another 14 cancer survivors train and complete 5K events all over the country. We had folks training and racing in AZ, VA, MD, OR, & TX this fall. Since we started the program in Fall 2007 - 47 Cancer Survivors have successfully completed the CANCER to 5K training program through the generous support of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and our Coaches and Volunteers!

Go TEAM CANCER to 5K!!

MEDICAL UPDATE: (TMI WARNINGS APPLY - You were warned!)

The pains that caused me to reconsider the rest of my 2010 racing season, ending with the HALF FULL TRIATHLON are gone now. It is fortunate that the pains went away, yet unfortunate that my DRs and I were never able to identify the root causes of the back pain and the severe abdominal pain except to know that they were not connected in any way.

All my tests (CT scans, Blood Work, Xrays) came back clean - No evidence of Melanoma or anything else for that matter. (YEAH!) The pain and the tests lasted well into early November and then the pain slowly ebbed away and I called UNCLE on any more test, for my own personal sanity.

The only residual side effects? Occasional back/kidney pain late at night (that wakes me) which is cured by a trip to the bathroom. I'd prefer a less aggressive way for my body to tell me my bladder is full but it would seem that I sleep through the more subtle signals so deep back pain it is. Interestingly this is the same pain that I get when I have a full bladder on the road bike. I am suspicious that 12 years of bike riding may have damaged some nerves that traditionally signal a full bladder but since it is just a "signal" issue and everything else seems to work normally, I am not incline to explore this recent development until the next yearly physical. I have had ENOUGH of DRs and tests for at least 6-8 months!

Maybe this is an unexpected "physical price paid for coming an Ironman?" Who knows? My advice to others (any myself) - Get a GOOD SADDLE - Honestly, I have never felt that my saddle has ever been uncomfortable but now I am thinking that maybe I should not have ignored the fact that it takes back pain on the bike to know that I have to pee...

Other than that, I am happy, healthy, a little plumper than I'd like and currently Cancer-FREE. Life is GOOD, ya know!

PERSONAL RUNNING / TRIATHLON UPDATE:

While I was officially done with any Triathlon races for the rest of the season, I never gave out hope that eventually, I would get back to training on some level and that much is true. Once the pain was gone, there was no reason not to get back to training and I had adjusted my winter goals appropriately.

I was already signed up for the MS BLUES MARATHON in Fall 2010 so I simply readjusted the goal to running the MS BLUES HALF MARATHON option instead. So from mid-November through the first week in January, I focused primarily on running with some maintenance swimming on the side.

Sadly there was only ONE Bike Ride the entire fall season but it was a WONDERFUL bike ride with some great Team Z girlfriends! We went down to Cambridge, MD for the Terry Wild Goose Chase. It was the BEST 25 miles on my bike in a long, long time! The TENT SALE shopping was pretty wonderful too! LOL

So after HALF FULL TRI, the rest of my 2010 race season went something like this:

OCTOBER 2010

• United Way 5K - Baltimore, MD: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

• Terry 2010 Wild Goose Chase: 25-mile bike ride

• Goblin Gallop 5K - Fairfax, VA: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

• Marine Corps Marathon - Arlington, VA: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

NOVEMBER 2010

• VA Turkey Trott 5K - Alexandria, VA: 38:38

DECEMBER 2010

• Rivertown Reindeer Race 5K - Conway, SC: 36:53

• Jingle All the Way 10K - Washington, DC: 1:22:53

• Fairfax Four Miler - Fairfax, VA: 49:02

As you can see, I spend the winter logging some miles on my running shoes and I did, indeed, at least stay in the pool until this past January. The reason for my Pool Break? That will have to wait for another BLOG post to follow this weekend but I promise, it's a "fun reason to stay out of the pool" in my opinion.

Also coming, my MS BLUES HALF MARATHON race report and an update on the coming 2011 Race Plans. Lots of great things coming up this year and I am sure, lots of fun stories to share along the way! I am happy to be back to blogging!

But for now, LETS HEAR IT FOR 2010! All in all, it was a WONDERFUL YEAR!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Wrapping up my season HALF FULL...

2010-10-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

This is not just a race report, this is also an "End of TRI season" report. As you may have noticed, things have been quiet on this blog and with good reason. I've been struggling with some undiagnosed pain issues and working closely with my Doctors to try to find the cause for the pain.

Of course, as you can imagine - this undiagnosed pain has put a real cramp into my active life style. Initially, in as much as I could manage, I had fought hard against letting the pain dictate my workout schedule. More than a little "hard-headed", I know but truthfully, sticking to my training plan and staying on target are important to my personal self-identity. The idea of "not working out" seemed wrong and I just couldn't see the connection between the workouts and the undiagnosed pain.

So after willingly putting aside IronGirl Columbia to watch my nephews in late August, the next race on the schedule was the Savageman Half with Team Shoemaker. A relay where I would swim 1.2 miles, my hubby Jim would bike 56 "very hilly" miles and then I would run 13.1 "very hilly" miles. Unfortunately, as the race drew closer, this "undiagnosed pain" I have been experiencing grew in intensity. I was skipping more workouts than I was getting in and while I knew I had the "base" to handle the distances - common sense and my Husband stepped in to suggest that perhaps this was not the best time to toe the line at "one of the hardest half ironman's race courses in the United States." So Team Shoemaker did not start the 2010 SavageMan Half but stayed home - to rest, do light workouts, and hopefully get some answers for my pain issues.

4 weeks have gone by, since this has all started, and I am sorry to stay that my Doctors and I are no closer to having any legitimate answers for what is going on. There has been lots of blood drawn, x-rays taken, ultrasounds done and still nothing to identify cause. That is good and bad news - because it means "More Tests."

In the meantime, while I am waiting on "more tests" and "more Doctor visits", my race calendar moves on. The next event on my calendar was this past weekend and was an event for a foundation that is near and dear to my heart: The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Teams "CT5K Chicks" & "RacerZ with Sole"

Holly & Jess - Ready To Swim

This weekend was the HALF FULL TRIATHLON to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund and the LiveSTRONG Young Adult Alliance. I put together a great relay team with Team Z team-mates Leanne Layne and Meghan Rooney. Together we made the Relay Team "RacerZ with Sole" - Swim - .9 miles: Holly ; Bike - 56 miles: Leanne, Run - 13.1 Miles: Meghan. In addition, I had put together a fantastic crew of volunteers from CANCER to 5K and UCF's Team FIGHT to run the "Gatoraid Hill Aid Station" at Miles 1/7.5 of the RUN course. It was going to be a busy but fun-filled Race Day.

THE SWIM: .9 Miles - 51:29

Well, truth be told, I had it in my mind that I was going to set a PR on this Swim. I knew the course well (Centennial Lake - Ellicot City, MD) and I have a season's worth of swim PR at every race I have done in 2010 - so why would this race be any different....Oh how naive I can be...

The SWIM was a 2-person "time-trial" start with swimmers starting every 5 seconds. We were set in waves and paired up. I was in Wave 10 with the rest of the relay folks and was thrilled to start with Jessica Datta, who was racing with Judy Layne and Jennifer McRobbie on the "CT5K Chicks" Relay Team. Jess and I both got hugs from Executive Director of the Ulman Cancer Fund, Brock Yetso, and then we were in the water and on our way.

The first half mile of the swim felt good to me. I was having no problems sighting, I was not experiencing any shoulder pains nor any other significant pain of any kind (which had been a concern) and I really did feel like I was doing well. As I got to the first turn bouy, I did notice that there did not seem to be as many swimmers around me as before. I brushed it off and just put my head down and focused on the next turn buoy.

It seems to take FOREVER to get 300 yards to the next turn buoy and as I got there and sighted, I thought to myself again "Where the heck is everybody?" and I sat up for a second to look around. There were a few people in front of me but nobody behind me and that threw me into a little bit of a panic because I knew there were 2 waves that started after our wave. I didn't feel like anything was wrong with my swim, so where the heck was everybody?

I put my head back down and focused on getting to the next buoys and damned if it didn't seem like it was taking forever to go these last 400 yards. At one point I looked up and saw that a man pulling an inflatable raft and his son, was passing me like I was treading water. That got me moving - because I knew he was the last wave and if he was passing me, than I was in some trouble in terms of losing time and missing the swim cutoffs. Still I didn't look at my watch, just put my head down and kept swimming. At this point, my calves began to cramp - and I would have to stop for a moment - and try to let them recover. I now had a kayak escort, which confirmed for me that I must be one of the last swimmers in the water - and still it was taking me what seems like "forever" to get the last 100 yards to the Swim Out.

Finally, I was standing up on shaky legs, to kind hearted cheers of some friends/CANCER to 5K teammates and the SWIM OUT volunteers and running up the long parking lot and up the steep hill to Transition. My Teammates let out a big "Yeah Holly" when they saw me (THANKS FOR TEAMMATE LOVE!) and Leanne and I switched the race chip as I apologized profusely for taking so much time to swim. Leanne would hear nothing of it and just told me she was happy to see me finish and she would see me when she got back from her BIKE. Meghan was super sweet and supportive and gave me a hug and told me not to worry about my swim time, we all have the occasional unexpected "rough swim" and told me not to be so hard on myself and I took her comments to heart and tried to do just that but I was still secretly feeling awful for having taken away a good 15 minutes from Leanne and Meghan on the race clock.

Holly, at Swim Out, Looking as Rough as I felt...

The Next Stop was to change clothes and then leave Meghan to take a rest in her car (and stay off her feet) while I headed up to the top of Gatorade Hill to work the Mile 1/7.5 Aid Station with volunteers from Team CANCER to 5K and Team FIGHT.

If I do say so myself - WE ROCKED THAT AID STATION! We were placed at the top of the first significant climb on a very hilly 2-loop Half Marathon RUN course. We had GU, GU CHOMPS, Water, CereSport (electrolyte replacement drink) and 10 volunteers for the AM and PM shifts! We rang cowbells of all kinds, left motivational signs on the course coming up the hill and played some awesome music on an portable iPOD stereo system to keep the energy UP and help all the Triathletes stay strong and fueled as they tackled Gatorade Hill twice on their way to finishing the HALF FULL TRIATHLON.

Just a portion of the GATORADE HILL Crew!

We got your GU, right here!

Working Hard for the Triathletes on Gatorade Hill....

Highlights of the Day:

1.) Witnessing CANCER to 5K volunteer and Relay Runner for "CT5K Chicks", Jennifer McRobbie, running so strong on the course! Her Marine Corps Marathon training made this 13.1 mile run look effortless and she proudly represented for Team CANCER to 5K!

Jenn McRobbie of "CT5K Chicks"

looking strong at the top of the climb!

2.) Watching CANCER to 5K volunteer Andrea Hampton keep a strong and steady pace on the run course. HALF FULL TRI was Andrea's first attempt at the Half Ironman distance in Triathlon and she expressed concerns that she might not make the bike cutoffs - so seeing her come up Gatorade Hill, strong and steady, was just a thrill! I knew deep in my heart that as long as Andrea made that bike cutoff, NOTHING was going to keep her from finishing the race! And FINISH she did - with a big smile!!

Andrea looking "great" coming out of the water...

Andrea looking "great" AGAIN on the run course...

3.) Seeing my "RacerZ with Sole" teammate Meghan, come running up Gatorade Hill, in all her bright green Team Z glory. Until that moment, I had no way to know if teammate Leanne had made the challenging and hilly BIKE cuttoff (SHE MADE IT WITH 1 MINUTE TO SPARE) so seeing Meghan brought of flood of relief. Meghan would have the toughest challenge of us all, she was in the back of the race pack, with 13.1 hill miles of running ahead of her. Talking to her, as she jogged through the aid station, she expressed some concern but said that she was going to do what she could for the first loop and then see how she felt. I could tell she was nervous but I also knew that her reason for racing with our relay team was to honor the passing of her grandmother, who recently passed away from cancer. So if anybody on our team has a reason to keep going, even with it got tough, it was Meghan.

When I saw Meghan for her second loop, it was like a fire had been lit deep inside her, I jogged up to her to ask her what we could get her from the Aid Station and asked how she was feeling, she told me, in no uncertain terms that "I am finishing this damn race, even if they take the finish line down!" I told her that Leanne and I would meet her at the Finish and that, according to my RUN COURSE Captain, she was not even the last runner, so she was doing great!

It was a good 10 minutes before the last runner came through the Aid Station and we were released from our Volunteer duties. We cleaned up the station and I headed towards the finish line with Meghan's friend Giovanni, to see Andrea and Meghan finish their races.

Leanne and Judy had gone to the park entrance, 1 mile from the finish line, to keep an eye out for Meghan while I stayed near the finish line, waiting for both Andrea and a text from Leanne, saying that Meghan was on her way. It was an honor an a privilege to be at the Finish Line of the HALF FULL TRIATHLON in that last hour.

As a slower, or "Back of the Pack" athlete myself, I know what kind of physical and emotional effort it takes to race when you are clearly one of the last racers on the course. It takes courage and deep inner strength to find a reason to keep going, to shut our the negative voices that can creep into your head telling you that you are "slow" or "not good enough" or that this is "too hard" and too keep putting one foot in front of the other. As much as I love to marvel at the fast racers and cheer the average athlete, my heart and soul goes out to the "Back of the Pack" because I believe there is a completely different "race" that these athletes experience. One by one, the last athletes made their way across the finish line. You could see in their faces the struggle and the deep pride in what they accomplished.

It was an honor to be there to watch my friend and CANCER to 5K volunteer Andrea Hampton cross the the finish line. She toed the line to this race not really sure that she had what it took to complete a Half Ironman but ready to take on the challenge and all to honor her sister Sandra, a breast cancer survivor. Andrea's smile as she crossed that finish line and was handed her FINISHER shirt and race medal was just beautiful and I was so proud and happy to be able to share in her accomplishment.

I sat with Andrea for a few minutes, listening to her tell me about her race and finding out that she and Meghan had exchanged encouraging words throughout the race - switching back and forth with the last runner and the bike sweep during the last few miles. Then I got the text from Leanne, telling me that Meghan was on her way. At some point late in the race, Meghan and the last runner had switched places and as the second to last runner came into the finish line, I was already looking up the course, to the corner where I knew that I would catch site of Meghan on her way to the final climb to the finish line.

I rang my cowbell like I was a crowd of 1,000 people for Meghan - so very proud to see her with a big smile on her face, heading up to the finish line to complete what Team RacerZ with Sole had started at 7:45 that morning! Both Leanne, Judy and I ran to the Finish Line corral to congratulate her and we all received our HALF FULL Finishers Shirt and Finishers Medals and were the last RELAY TEAM to complete the Inaugural HALF FULL TRIATHLON on October 3, 2010. It was quite honestly, the perfect way to represent the Team Z BOP. We may not be fast, but WE WILL ALWAYS FINISH WHAT WE STARTED!

Meghan, just yards from the Finish Line!

Team "RacerZ with Sole" - HALF FULL TRI finishers

TEAM "RacerZ with Sole" - 8:12:59 (51:29 - 4:48:12 - 2:31:48)

As I drove home, exhausted but happy with my experience both as a RELAY RACER and a VOLUNTEER for the HALF FULL TRIATHLON, I took some time to think about some good advice that a fellow Triathlete and a CANCER to 5K volunteer and teammate Coleen, had given me while we were working the Gatorade Aid Station. She had asked me, in reference to my currently issues with undiagnosed pain, if I had considered simply taking a break from training and racing. To give my body a break and to take "exercise" out of the equation as a possible "cause" for the pain. At the time that she asked me, I hemmed and hawed, not really comfortable with considering the possibility, especially in the midst of the excitement of a race. But now, alone, coming down from the long day and race excitement, I took Coleen's suggestion to heart.

With all that that happened in the last 4 weeks, "What did I have to gain by trying to push through this pain and try to race the Beach2Battleship Half Ironman" in 6 weeks? Wasn't it more important to really focus in on getting some kind of answers to this pain? Isn't part of holding myself to the "LiveSTRONG" motto, facing unexpected challenges that come along and having courage? Maybe the courageous thing to do right now was to call this a season, and take a break from training and try to figure out where the pain is coming from and work with my Doctors to get back to being pain free?

The connections, if there are any, are still up for serious debate, both by myself and my Doctors but in an effort to "eliminate a potential cause", I've decided to completely back off of my regular training schedule for the next 2 weeks - to start. This will allow me to track the pain and determine if it is truly associated to any of my workouts.

Additionally, I am getting ready for another round of tests which should get a more detailed picture of what is going on internally. I have the love and strength of my friends, family and teammates at CANCER to 5K, the ULMAN FUND for YOUNG ADULTS, Team FIGHT and TEAM Z to help me through and I know that the future holds miles and miles of races for me so for now, the 2010 TRIATHLON season is closed and that is fine....

Because I am ending it HALF FULL! Who could ask for anything more?

Never forget, Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

10/2 - Today is LiveSTRONG DAY!

2010-10-02T04:36:00.001-07:00

Wear Yellow! Show your support! Find an event going on today in your community!

LiveSTRONG DAY 2010

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

How's that workin' for ya?

2010-09-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not blogging very regularly anymore - call it a "sign of the times" - it's easier to post a quick update on FACEBOOK - so the Blog posting has become less frequent but I hope it is seen as "quality over quantity" for those of you who still read this sometimes. LOL

I wanted to do a brief UPDATE on the TRIATHLON BIKE CHALLENGE that I set for myself a few months ago near the end of April....

40 lbs = NEW TRI BIKE with Custom Paint Job!

The Goal was pretty aggressive, as far as permanent weight-loss goes and my body doesn't respond quite the way it did in my late 20s so I simply have to accept that and stay focused.

RESULTS SO FAR?

10 pounds lost in 18 weeks

(since the Blog Post)

I'm not unhappy with these results, I am happy with my progress - it is slow but it is steady and that is the ideal path to long-term, permanent weight loss. I intend to keep going until I reach my goal - but at this rate - it looks like my "New TRIATHLON Bike" is still a good 6-9 months away.

It all balances out though...because there has been a lot going on in my life, and honestly, right now is not the time to drop $3000.00 on a brand new bike. So, there will be no new bike this September and probably not a new bike by Beach2Battleship Half Ironman in November. It will be Me and Sunshine, my trusty road bike, on the course together, as we have been for 10 years now. Sunshine is good to me - that trusty old Reynolds Steel Lemond Buenos Aires...

The challenge is still ON and GOING STRONG! It just might take me a little longer than I had originally planned.

And sometimes, that is the way life goes, right?

Life is Good! Keep Living STRONG!

Resistance is futile...

2010-08-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

• 12-17 hours of training a week

• early morning workouts

• yards of swimming... long runs... longer bike rides...

• money spent on race fees, gear, coaching, gym fees, ect.

• fatigue, aches, pain, hunger, taper madness, post-race blues...

And for WHAT?

• 14-17 hours of racing?

• a medal?

• a tshirt?

• a running hat?

• a waterbottle?

But it's not the stuff...It is about:

• the FITNESS

• the LIFESTYLE

• the fellow ATHLETES

• the FINISH LINE

• the JOURNEY

I have the support and consent of the most important person in my life, my husband - my training and racing impacts him the most....

I thought once would be enough...but it doesn't ever seem to be enough. So why deny myself?

Ironman ARIZONA: Nov 2011

Forever LiveSTRONG!

2010 IronGirl Columbia: The AUNT HOLLY Race Report

2010-08-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

(Author's Note: You can read Heather's IronGirl Columbia Race Report HERE)

5:30AM: TRANSITION SET-UP

"They're two they're four they're six they're eight
Shunting trucks and hauling freight
red and green and brown and blue
they're the really useful crew

All with different roles to play
Round Tidmouth sheds or far away,
Down the hills and round the bends
Thomas and friends..."

Our Race morning started with Thomas and Friends on DVD, as we sat in the darkness of the Scion in the field in Centennial Park - slowly waking up. I spent an hour monitoring sippy-cup levels and making an internal list of things to accompany our race day (cowbells, signs for Mommy, snacks, camera, cell phone, jog stroller) waiting for the light to come up and for my partners to decide they were ready for some adventure....

My partners in crime for this Triathlon Adventure? Newphew's Rowen (nearly-4) and Kain (nearly-2).

Rowen: 5:45am

Kain: 5:45am

My Role: Aunt Holly/ Triathlon Sherpa / Keeper of the Peace / Creator of all things Interesting & Fun / Navigator of the IRONMAN Double-Jog Stroller

Sleepy Aunt Holly (self-portrait)

6:30AM: MOMMY GEO-LOCATION - PART ONE

Rowen was the first to speak-up and tell me that the time had come to "get our of the car..." and so I turned off the DVD (with the help of my nephew, who had to tell me "Just close the top Aunt Holly..." because I honestly couldn't figure it our myself) and went outside to set up the IRONMAN Double Jog-Stroller that would be our "race equipment" for the day.

With all the items on my list packed onboard, next came my nephews, and then the rain flap which Rowen (nearly-4) quickly dismissed saying "We don't mind sprinkles..." and taking him at his word, away we went, into the crowds of spectators and racers to find "Mommy" (my sister Heather).

We headed to directly to the Team FIGHT tent via the big hill, circumnavigating the crowds the first time around, the BIG STEEP HILL didn't feel so bad the first time over!

Once at the Team FIGHT tent we quickly realized that Mommy was not to be found - she was with Jessica Tanner, checking out the PRO swim start. So I took the boys on a walk, through the masses, to the docks so that we could watch the ducks and the swimmers for a little bit.

7:15AM: MOMMY GEO-LOCATION - PART TWO

After about 20 minutes of watching the PRO swimmers and the ducks, I decided that we should try to find Mommy again, before her race day started. The boys and I worked our way though the masses again (people do not care to move or give you any room even if you have a double wide stroller with two children in it, for the record!) and headed back to the Team FIGHT tent where we were successful in locating MOMMY and in getting some tasty watermelon to enjoy as breakfast! We also were treated to the first of many unexpected rain showers that would continue throughout the rest of the morning.

Spirits were HIGH for everybody, in spite of the rain, Watermelon and Donut holes were involved!
Watermelon Rocks!
7:55AM: SWIM

Heather's wave was off and swimming so the boys and I headed back to the docks to watch the swimmers. We had a GRAND TIME! The boys really loved watching the mass of swimmers heading into the swim finish. We spent time looking at cap colors (pink, purple, blue and red) and the boys were keen to tell me when they started seeing RED caps, knowing that RED was Mommy's cap color!

I kept an eye on my watch, hoping that maybe we would be able to anticipate Heather's swim time and see her get out of the water but Rowen and Kain were having so much fun watching the swimmers and clapping and yelling "Yay Swimmers" that when I suggested we move to see if we could "See Mommy", I was vetoed 2-1 - so we stayed on the dock for an hour watching the swimmers come in and naming a row boat "Ancient Old Crumugeny" (because all old rusty row boats have names, ya know...)

8:55: T1

Our transition from SWIM to BIKE came with a short stop in the ladies room so that Rowen could take care of some morning business, followed by a walk to the transition zone to look at all the bikes while Aunt Holly determined that Mommy had indeed finished the swim and was on the bike...

9:00: BIKE

The BIKE portion of our event was split between "Playground Time" during which I was literally torn in two by the need to chase a screaming "nearly-2" Kain (screaming with joy, I might add!) and a enthusiastic "nearly-4" Rowen who was happy to "stay close by" but desperate to do his own thing. Sadly, my multi-tasking playground skillz are lacking and I cried "uncle" long before my Nephews were ready to stop playing.

Just about that time, the rain picked up again, prompting me to hustle my nephews back to the IRONMAN Jog-Stroller with promises of "fast bikes" and "cowbells" and a "Mommy sighting" and so we headed down to the BIKE IN to cheer on the triathletes as they finished the BIKE and headed back into transition.

We stood (they sat) in that spot for about 20 minutes, while the boys happily rang cowbells and I anxiously watched for Heather (aka Mommy) - eventually convinced that we must have just barely missed her - we headed "downhill" to check the Bike Rack to confirm that Mommy was off the bike and on the RUN...

9:50: T2

A walk down to the edge of transition confirmed that Heather was, in fact, off the Bike and onto the Run course, and so it was time to head over towards the FINISH LINE - in hopes that we could at least cheer her into the finish. Just as we were getting ready to leave the transition area, the skies opened again and the rain poured down, as I hustled my way to the jog stroller to pull down the rain flap as both Rowen and Kain giggle madly at the rain coming down and Rowen yelled "Aunt Holly, Aunt Holly, The Rain, The Rain..."

10:00: RUN/FINISH LINE

Anybody who tells you that the transition from BIKE to RUN is easy, has NEVER done a TRIATHLON! And anybody who tells you that pushing 50 pounds of IRONMAN Jog-Stroller with two 2o+ pounds nephews over a BIG STEEP HILL multiple times is not a workout - simply doesn't know of which they speak!

By the time we got to the Finish Line area and the end of the run course, I thought for sure the boys would be excited to ring their cowbells and finally see Mommy but I underestimated the excitement of the day - so by the time we got to a good "Cheering Spot", I looked down to find that both my newphews were OUT COLD! They were sleeping so deeply that not even the surrounding 100 spectators and the various cowbells (including my own) stirred them from their sleep.

So I stood, by their side, as they slept, and rang that cowbell and cheered on the triathletes as they passed. I saw many Team FIGHT athletes and friends pass by, big smiles as they finished strong. Then about 20 minutes into the boy's nap, over the hill came MOMMY! (HEATHER) with a big smile on her face - running strong and finishing her race! We "high-fived" and she laughed as she saw that her little boys were out cold in the midst of the commotion.

Then Heather came and stood with me and the boys as we waited for our friends Jessica and Ginny to finish their races and we cheered more Team FIGHT teammates on in their accomplishments. Eventually the boys woke up, and were happy to partake in some post-race snacks with Mommy and Aunt Holly before we headed for home - long morning complete with a successful race day for MOMMY and for AUNT HOLLY & Rowen and Kain, too!

Some will read this report and say "But I thought you were racing too?" and Yes, that was the original intent - for Sisters to race IronGirl - side by side. When plans changed for Heather and the boys, I stepped forward and offered to "transition" my own race plans to watch my nephews. So many times over the last 8 years, my sister Heather has stood by me, on my big race days, and traveled far and wide, to support me - that I was happy that this time, I could do the same for her, especially for a race that I knew she had been looking forward too for quite some time.

Besides, I got to SWIM, BIKE, and RUN with my nephews all day long! There isn't a medal in the world that is worth more than the memories we made on Sunday....Life is GOOD!

Go Team FIGHT!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME! $5 for 5 Years - LiveSTRONG!

2010-08-06T12:25:00.001-07:00

Alyssa P. and Holly S. @ Crystal City Twilighter 5K

Well that about does it...just about two weeks ago, I turned 40!

I certainly do not feel any different (aka OLDER) but I did have alot of FUN celebrating with friends and family - in spite of the HEAT WAVE.

Try running a 5K at 8PM at night with temps at 96F = MELT DOWN! Not my best 5K time but I had a good time and was joined by fellow CANCER to 5K teammate Alyssa P.

As many of you may know, my sister Heather and I are racing the Irongirl Columbia Triathlon on August 22 with TEAM FIGHT!

The money raised for TEAM FIGHT go to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and it's programs. One of those programs is very dear to me: CANCER to 5K.

So, I am putting it our here - it's been more than a year since I have done any soliciting on my blog - HELP ME RAISE SOME MONEY FOR TEAM FIGHT and CANCER to 5K. I'm just $225.00 away from my minimum goal of $750.00.

That's 40 donations of $5 each....Consider it a Belated Birthday gift....After all, I will only be 40 once AND this year is the 5th Anniversary of my Melanoma diagnosis...Help me celebrate 5 years as a SURVIVOR - just $1.00 per year...I know there are 40 of you lurking out there...

DONATE HERE!

And if that is not enough to motivate you...here a little bit more!

Two weeks ago we started our SECOND CANCER to 5K Team in Howard County, MD. They already have 11 survivors training and this weekend the DC/VA CANCER to 5K Team begins!

CANCER to 5K: Getting Fit, Having Fun and taking your life back from cancer - ONE MILE AT A TIME....via The Ulman Cancer Fund!!

DONATE HERE!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! LiveSTRONG!

- Holly

Fat & Happy: A Mini Musselman Race Report

2010-07-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

Umm...let me explain my race title first: I had a GREAT TIME at the Mussleman Triathlon Festival this weekend! It was by far the most fun I have had at a race since my Beach2Battleship victory last fall.

Having said that: Good Lord, I want my 2009 IM/Wedding body back! I'm busting out of my darn Team Z kit and with Irongirl around the corner in August, I'm NOT really looking forward to what my Team FIGHT kit is going to look like in photos. I've been working hard at the solution but the progress is slow and not readily apparent in the pictures....yet. Must keep working hard - I want my new bike *before* Beach2Battleship Half in November!

Saturday, Mini Mussel Race Day with Team Z teammates Priscilla and Mike

Now onto the - RACE REPORT!

I was supposed to race the MicroMini but pouring rain and lightening forced the race director to modify the event and the "regular bike" division of this race was canceled. We still had a BLAST watching IronCat and Es and a few other teammates - Rock IT OUT in a "Tricycle Duathlon" in the pouring rain! GOOD TIMES FOR EVERYBODY!

Mini Musselman: Sprint Distance Triathlon

750yd Swim - 16m Bike - 3.2m Run

Overall Time: 2:14:35

SWIM: 750 yds - 21:08 (New Open Water PR for this distance!!)

The swim was a lovely 750 yards in Lake Geneva with an in-water start. The water was about 74F and crystal clear and even though I didn't really need it temperature-wise, I still wore my wetsuit. I had no problems with the swim overall but I think I could have taken another minute or two off my time if I had sighted a little more efficiently - doing Tarzan drills instead of stopping dead in the water and looking around like a "holly-sized buoy". I pretty much stayed in the back of the pack of the Yellow Caps and only ended up seeing a few of the Dark Green Caps that started 6 minutes behind. To stay with my pack - even in the back - for the entire swim is a huge improvement for me. My pace may not be mid-pack but now I am not getting completely dropped! Room for improvement but still a PR so I am thrilled!

T1: 3:36

Nothing of note here, this is a typical T1 time for me - I take time to dry my feet and put on my socks cause I hate blisters on the run!

BIKE: 16 miles - 1:02:49 (Pace 15.7 mph)

Whoot! There it is!!! - The goal that I set for myself for the bike for this race was 1:00-1:05 - as close to a 16 mph pace as I could get and I did it! I'm VERY satisfied with this pace and felt - if it had been a little cooler, temperature wise, I would have been able to maintain a solid run pace off the bike even after this kind of effort.

Of course Keri and Leanne, my close friends and Team Z mates, will tell you that I wandered around pouting a bit all day Saturday afternoon/early evening because I *thought* the bike course was short by a mile and my bike computer was giving me an average pace of 13.8 mph for the Bike. NOTE TO SELF: Trust the GARMIN 3:10XT and not the Bike Computer which is fussy and can change just because a magnet shifts slightly or a battery is running down...

Riding on Sunshine and enjoying a strong Bike ride...

T2: 03:16 - WTF?

Completely baffled by this time that I spent in T2 considering that all I did was rack my bike and change my shoes and put on a hat - I have no clue where the time went as it didn't feel that slow but it was sooooo slow.....

RUN: 3.2 miles - 43:46

What can I say except that today I just didn't have it for the run? The temperatures were in the high 80s and the course was not hard or hilly. I started out with what I hoped would be "a nice easy pace" and by the time I reach Mile 1 - I just was not feeling it - at all. I did some self-reflection on my race goals for the day and decided that I wasn't in the mood to "suffer" or "HTFU" so I just went with the flow and ran when I felt I could and walked when I wanted to.

I saw plenty of teammates out there - all looking great - and while I today I would not "catch" my teammate Jackie on the run (she was looking to strong and nearly a 1/2 mile ahead of me) - I did have in the back of my mind that my teammate Priscilla was out there somewhere - catching up to me. That kept me running more than walking and by the time we got to the near the finish line, my teammates Tracey and Emily confirmed as they cheered me in, that Priscilla was right on my tail because they cheered for me and then less than 30 seconds later were "Whoohoo"-ing for Priscilla! By that point, we were about 300 yards from the finish line so I just sucked it up and ran it in to the wonderful cheers and high-fives of my Team Z teammates!

On the run to the finish line - see the green the background

- that's Priscilla closing in on me...

So that is my Mini-Musselman Race Report. The rest of the weekend was spent cheering on my Teammates who were racing the Musselman Half Ironman and AquaVelo and ringing a cowbell all day long! That's my kind of fun!

Cheering folks on Sunday at the Half Ironman - More Cowbell!

My CONGRATULATIONS to all my friends and Team Z teammates who ROCKED the Musselman Course this weekend! It was a great way to spend a summer weekend and I highly recommend the race to anybody!

Summer is here: ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ!

2010-06-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

I looked at my husband last night and said "Le Tour starts on Saturday?"

Summer is officially here and Le Tour de France could not come soon enough because I needed a visual *kick in the pants* to get me going...

ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ!! (GO, GO, GO!)

On the Race Horizon:

• Independence 5000 (5K) for FUN!

This Friday night with some good friends

• Mussleman Weekend with Team Z
Just a Utra-Sprint and Sprint TRI for me then I will cheer on my Team Z peeps as they go long at the Musselman Half (70.3)

• IronGIRL Columbia TRI in August with Team FIGHT and Heather!

• Savageman Half in September with Team Shoemaker.

Plans are currently to CRUSH our combined time from last season and move up several places in our division!

• Beach2Battleship Half (70.3) in November to wrap up the season.

Focusing on this fast, flat course to net a solid PR for the Half Ironman distance.

On the NEW BIKE challenge: Slow, SLOW start but a start none the less! I am 5 pounds down with 35 pounds to go. I'll start shopping in late August...

The biggest challenge Day-to-Day is still finding "balance" in my life.

I'm figuring it out slowly, just like everybody else. Ironically, I have learned that without some "big scary, seemingly impossible challenge" on my plate - (Fighting Cancer, Finishing an Ironman, Planning a Wedding (not scary but a big challenge! LOL), Launching a Running Program - I loose focus and tend to just flit from thing to thing. That has been a bit of an eye-opener for me now that my life has much less drama in it.. for which I am VERY THANKFUL!

So in honor of Le Tour de France 2010, I will spend the next 28 days moving my body (training), racing, working, living - in general - finding some balance and keeping my eyes on the horizon ahead - because you never know what is just around the corner!

ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Team CANCER to 5K: Spring 2010

2010-06-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Words fail to describe how proud I am to be a part of Team CANCER to 5K so for the Spring 2010 Season, I am going to let the pictures to the talking.

I will say this much: 15 Cancer Survivors, 6 states represented, 3 races (in FL & MD x 2), over 25 Pace Leaders and Sherpas, 1 - Coach Bob, 3 - Assistant Coaches, myself, the Ulman Cancer Fund, a lot of CowBell and 5 more CANCER to 5K Finishers Medals went into the Spring 2010 season!

To-Date there are 32 Cancer Survivors in the United States who have earned the CANCER to 5K Finisher Medal by running/walking their FIRST 5K or 10K since having been diagnosed with cancer.

Way to LiveSTRONG! Enjoy the SLIDESHOW!

This Fall 2010, we are *thrilled* to be adding another local Team CANCER to 5K Training Program in Howard County, MD in addition to our Northern VA/DC Team and our "At Home" Training Program for out-of-area Survivors!

OPEN LETTER TO Team CANCER to 5K

2010-06-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Another 12-weeks has flown by and SPRING 2010 marked some HUGE firsts for the CANCER to 5K program. I'd like to take a moment to share them with you all.

This season CANCER to 5K:

• had 16 runners training for 5K or 7-mile race distances
• doubled the number of NEW RUNNERS to the program this season!
• 3 of our 16 runners trained "at home" in FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA and ARIZONA
• had 25 volunteer pace leaders and sherpas help through the 12-week season
• had one broken toe (not running related)
• had our first fundraiser "COLORS OF EMOTIONS" art show with The CRUZ Collection and raised over $3200.00 for the program

As with any running season, sometimes life gets in the way - we have 4 runners who will not be racing a 5K at the end of this season. The reason's are varied but there are two positives that come out of this:
• Nobody has had to stop running due to cancer reoccurrence
• 3 of our 4 runners have ALREADY COMMITTED TO COMING BACK IN THE FALL to start a new round of 12-weeks of training!!!

I want to take a moment and say THANK YOU to a set of very special people - our Coach, the Ulman Cancer Fund, Assitant Coaches and Volunteers, without whom, none of this would be possible.

THANK YOU TO:

• Coach Bob Shaver, ShaverMulti Sport - for your hard work and dedication and for wearing both hats, whenever necessary: "Nice Coach Bob" and "Mean Coach Bob"

Even "Mean Coach Bob" isn't really that mean...and we *do* listen...and everything is "good", "fine", "_____" (insert one syllable word here! - THANK YOU for your love and dedication to the CANCER to 5K program for the last 3 years!

• Arnetta Davis, Destiny Iorg and Andrea Hampton- for once again stepping up and being excellent "Assistant Coaches/Head Pace Leaders" even when your lives were pulling you in different directions, you still found the time for the Team. Your dedication and love is appreciated.

• Denny Cruz, Thomas Schmadtloch., Elizabeth Yap, and Leona Spencer for all your 6 months of dedication and hard work. You made the COLORS OF EMOTIONS Art Show and Fundraiser a huge success in bringing Awareness and Funds to the CANCER to 5K program and the ULMAN CANCER FUND.

• Katrina McGowan and Brian Satola of UCF for their constant and unwavering support of the CANCER to 5K program and for being the program's "Hands and Hearts" at the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults main office. We can't WAIT to welcome the FALL Howard County CANCER to 5K program to the TEAM CANCER to 5K Family!

• Jeff and Peter Stehm (& William Stehm and Adrian Threat) - THANK YOU for joining the Team this season and for being so generous in letting us run in Helen's Memory at Survivor Harbor 7 next weekend. I hope as you have trained with the Team and put on the miles, that you have had the same fun and positive experiences that Helen did while running with our group. My hope on race day is, as you run SH7, that you push hard and deep and embrace every mile you are covering - knowing that you are on the same roads that Helen was on - pushing hard and living STRONG - Giving CANCER "the bird" the entire way!

• The Team's Volunteer Pace Leaders and Race Day Sherpas! You guys are AMAZING! I hope that you know what a HUGE impact you have on our new runners. Your love for running, your enthusiasm for life and your endless and unwavering support has made this the most amazing team. THANK YOU for unselfishly donating your time, support and energy so that our Survivors can feel safe to push the limits of what they imagine is possible, mile after mile. YOU GUYS THE REASON THE MILES FLY BY AND THEIR ARE SMILES AT THE END OF EVERY WORKOUT!

THANK YOU: Rishi Bharathan - Linae Bohemne-Terrana - Janet Chow - Colleen Cannon -Denny Cruz - Arnetta Davis - Monica Datta - Amy Fabella - Ben Fabella - Catherine Goldman - Keri Hadley - Andrea Hampton - Jessica (Bosworth) Hawkins - Destiny Iorg -Rachael Schoenbaum - Esther Letsche - Yuneng Li - Shawn Newton - Tara O'Hare - Monica Ross - Katy Smallwood - Thomas Schmadtloch

• To our CT5K Runners/Survivors: THANK YOU for your trust, faith, courage and for taking a chance on the CANCER to 5K Program.

Alisa Brook, Cyndi Clark, Jessica Datta, Ginnie Degause (SC), Michelle Hastings (AZ), Erika Johnson, Brad Lunz (FL), Christina Noboa, Alyssa Petroff, Shari Shuman, Beth Sherring., Paula Sternberg, Cheryl Stucky, Jeff & Peter Stehm, and Jessica Tanner.

For all your HARD WORK over the last 12-weeks, my hope for each of you is that you cross the finish line with BIG SMILES and feeling SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED!

It has been an honor to run and train with all of you. Thank you for reminding me everyday what it means to LiveSTRONG!

I come to you all with the deepest gratitude for making my life fuller by sharing your lives with me and for indulging my love for running by having the courage to give it a try yourselves.

You may not find that you love to run, but I do hope that this experience has left you knowing deep in your heart, that you CAN DO ANYTHING you set out to do and that you can FACE ANY CHALLENGE with hope, courage and endurance. You already all LiveSTRONG everyday...now you'll just have a MEDAL on the wall that you can show your friends and family that says:

"Yeah, I had cancer but really cancer NEVER HAD ME! I LiveSTRONG!"

With Love and Respect - remember Life is GOOD! More COWBELL!

LiveSTRONG!
Holly

Melanoma Monday: SPF or Chemo?

2010-05-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

SPF?

or CHEMO?

Any Questions?

Five Years ago TODAY, I started my first round of Interferon Chemotherapy Infusions. I sat in that recliner for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Then I graduated to giving myself "self-injections" of Interferon 3-days a week for the next 48 weeks.

Yep - that was 52 weeks of Chemotherapy.... ONE YEAR of my life spent doing CHEMO!

So...in memory of my 5-year Anniversary of Chemotherapy, let me share with you the following in honor of Melanoma Monday!

Remember Life is Good! Live STRONG!

SLIP, SLAP, SLOP on that Sunscreen!!

(More Info on this can be found HERE)

Proper Use and Application of Sunscreen:

Most people use sunscreen improperly by not applying enough. They apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. Sunscreen should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas that it forms a film when initially applied. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should also be the last product applied especially on the face since some sunscreens can break down in the presence of water contained in water-based foundations and moisturizers.

Reapplying Sunscreen
Most instructions on sunscreen labels recommend reapplying sunscreen "frequently", but the definition of "frequently" is vague. A common instruction is to reapply sunscreen after 2-4 hours in the sun. However, one study has shown that reapplying sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes after being in the sun is more effective than waiting 2 hours. It is possible that this time period is more effective because most people do not apply enough sunscreen initially, and this second application approximates the actual amount needed. Sunscreen should also be reapplied after swimming, excessive sweating, or toweling.

Daily Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be applied daily. The daily use of a low-SPF sunscreen (15) has been shown to be more effective in preventing skin damage than the intermittent use of a higher SPF sunscreen.

Sunscreen and Insect Repellents
Insect repellents reduce the sunscreen's SPF by up to one-third. When using sunscreen and insect repellent together, a higher SPF should be used and reapplied more often.

You've Come a Long Way Baby....

2010-05-10T13:26:00.001-07:00

Wow...I was looking back through my posts when I realized that 5 years ago today I was just getting my drains removed from my second round of surgery for Melanoma and spent the day meeting with my Oncologist to discuss the start of Chemotherapy the next week.

I'm definitely one of the LUCKY ONES, no doubt about that. To be here, happily married, racing in Triathlons again, around to meet my two beautiful nephews (who had not even been conceived yet...), to be able to do Team CANCER to 5K - all of this while having been diagnosed with Stage III Malignant Nodular Melanoma and give a 75% chance of reoccurrence within the first 2 years.

It's days like today that I realize how truly bless and lucky I am...Life is GOOD!

Have you bought fresh Sunscreen for this coming season yet?

LiveSTRONG!

2010 Kinetic SPRINT Report: What the watch can't tell you...

2010-05-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

"Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care about time?" - Chicago

Time and Triathlon, intertwine deeply - my races are almost always about TIME.

What time is my swim wave?

Does this race have cut-off times?

Can I beat my previous time?

Did I have a good time?

The last race of my 2009 TRI season was "NOTHING BUT TIME" and it had to be, of course. In an Ironman-distance event there is only one time that matters 17:00:00. Anything under that time and "You are an Ironman" anything over that time and you may finish the race, you may go the distance but your not official.

Along the way in Ironman, time is always on your mind. Time to the Swim Cutoff (2:20:00) Time to the Bike Cuttoff (09:30:00) - miss those times and your day is over - no matter how long and hard you have trained. I should know, I missed the first loop Bike Cuttoff for IM USA in Lake Placid, NY in July 2009 which was why my last race of the season in Nov 2009 was Beach2Battleship Ironman-distance Triathlon in Wilmington,NC.

In Nov 2009 as I ended my season, time was on my side....I completed my 10-year goal of becoming an Ironman in 16:17:48.

So with that BIG GOAL behind me, I started the 2010 Season determined to race short, have fun and enjoy the sport of triathlon as much as I can. But as my first race of the 2010 season got closer and closer, again TIME took over my thoughts.

Can I race this event faster?

Can I race this event stronger?

Faster is a TIME driven denominator but Stronger is not necessarily all about time. Stronger has so many variables you can measure by....Power, Mindset, Pace....That idea had me intrigued and a little scared...

Could I race a SPRINT TRI, stronger?

In my 10 years of doing Triathlons, my goals have always been to finish, to finish longer, to finish faster, but never to finish stronger. I may not be a fast racer but as Coach Ed has said, "Holly won't quit until you pull her off the course..." I do have endurance but that endurance has always included a "little bit of walking" - Walking in Transitions because I saw it as a chance to recover before the next leg and walking during the Run because well "Hills are hard" and "I'm not a fast runner" and "I can still finish" and "I'm tired."

In 10 years, I'd never dared to challenge myself to truly push beyond my comfort zones - I think partly because I already knew I could FINISH doing what I always do (run/walking) but what if this time, on a SPRINT race course that I knew pretty well (racing it in 2005 & 2008) I took a big risk and set my goal for racing STRONGER than ever before?

What if I RAN it all this time? Run out of the water to transition, Run through T1, Run through T2, and (OMG!) RUN the entire 5K with just a few steps at the water stop so that I can actually drink the water and not wear it ...(my one concession...)

So I started out on Sunday @ Kinetic Sprint Tri but I only shared my big goal of "Running the whole thing" with about 5 people. A short list of folks, In part to be accountable and in part because I was scared of failure on a grand scale. Of course, I shared my PR swim goal with the world via FACEBOOK.

My goals: 1.) PR the swim - 750yds and 24:00 has been my fastest time. 2.) NO WALKING

People I told about Goal #2? My husband Jim, my teammates/friends: Keri, Leanne, Andrea H. (Cancer to 5K friend/teammate) and Coach Ed. Keri, Leanne and Coach Ed were told, If you see me walking for even a second "GIVE ME HELL!!"

SWIM- 750yd: 22:30 (Garmin 310XT time) - 2 minute PR at this distance!!!

The water was a balmy 72F and with just a little chop to make us rock and roll a little, I was nervous but had no fear. I think swimming 2.4 miles 4 times last year really built my confidence as has actually going to regular swim practice 2-3x a week for the last year.

I tried to find feet and "stick like velcro" but I never did find any. Instead I just counted and sighted and tried to remember to reach long and pull. I was on the first turn bouy very quickly and was surprised but happy. The next turn buoy took a bit as I was getting pushed around alot by the chop but I just told myself "rock and roll with it" and tried not to fight the water but move in it. Soon enough I was making the turn for shore and that last leg seem to take *forever* but I just "kept swimming" and soon enough I was on shore and jogging up the ramp to transition. I felt good, there were still bikes on the racks around me so I knew I had a good swim but I didn't dare look at my watch because while I wanted a PR, I knew that I had to stay focused on "No Walking" and any TIME on the watch could effect my MENTAL FOCUS so I would have to find out after all was said and done...

T1: 4:30 (Garmin 310XT time) - about the time I was putting on my bike helmet, I thought to myself, "What is this,Holly, a picnic? Get Going!" They added a bit more run to the "mount/dismount" line than in times past so that added some unexpected distance to Transition so I am happy with this time.

BIKE - 18 miles : 1:14:xx (Garmin 310XT time)

I *love* this particular race bike course. It is on low traffic roads and is a rolling bike course that is mostly rolling downhill. There are two things of note for my third time doing this course. NOTE 1.) I felt like *a lot* more people passed me on this course than normal. I can usually hold my own - during the race itself, I considered the possibility that "maybe I did PR my swim" and found myself in a new spot in terms of bike start." That thought made me SMILE even if I still was not that happy at being passed on the bike very much. NOTE 2.) I passed at least 6 people in the last 3 miles of the bike. It would seem that when we got to the park entrance, all the folks that I couldn't seem to catch on the bike course, decided that they were going to relax for a bit. I wonder if those people realized that we still have 3 miles of riding left? I took that opportunity to get in my aero bars, and push the pace and gain 6 places off the bike in the last 3 miles. I figured with 3 miles left, I still had time to spin down a little and if they pass me on the run, so be it BUT they will have to pass me....we are in a triathlon folks, you still have 5k to run!

T2: 2:10 (Garmin 310XT time) - Considering the extra running post dismount - this is okay. I ran through only stopping long enough to rack the bike, toss the helmet, changes shoes and grab my visor.

RUN - 5K: 40:00:xx (Garmin 310XT time)

Okay, here is was, my biggest challenge of the day, right in front of me - I only had one goal - Find a stride and pace that I could stick to all the way to the finish. Immediately, I told myself "THIS IS NOT ABOUT TIME" this was about being STRONG - physically strong enough to run the entire 5K - which I already have proven time and time again that I can do - and mentally strong enough to resist the usual tempation of walking when I felt tired or saw other triathletes around me walking. This was MY RACE, it did not matter what anybody around me did - that did not give me justification to "walk" - my goal was to RUN - at whatever pace that needed to be - for the ENTIRE 5K.

And that is what I did! I took my time up the big hill at the start - finding a steady pace and keeping my stride short - my reward - lots of love and good vibes from strangers and good friends alike. Andrea H. was there to cheer me on at the crest of the steepest part of the climb and she was like my own personal guardian angel, keeping me from focusing on the hill by making me smile with her enthusiasm. Then I settled into a nice easy stride and just rolled up and a over the rest of the gentle climb, past mile 1 and around the corner and down the hill to the turn around. Cheering on Teammates as I passed them and as they passed me, having fun and keeping my inner-dialog on "Run, just Run" & "Feeling Tired, Go ahead slow down a bit but Just RUN".

Soon enough I was at the turn around and running back up the hill. That was hard but I just kept my stride nice and easy and focused on getting to the Port-O-John since I needed a quick pit stop. I ran to the John, did what I needed to, popped back out, grabbed a handy wipe and a cup of water, took 3 walking strides (enough to drink the water) and then resumed running. Soon enough I was past 2 miles and turing left for that last rolling mile to the finish line.

I kept my eyes up and on the horizon, thinking about the lovely downhill run through the trail on the trees that would preceded the finish line. Knowing that I could have some free speed with that gentle downhill and could surge onto the beach to the finish. As I crossed the street, heading to the trail, the smile was big and wide - I was doing it! After 10-years of racing triathlons - every distance from Sprint to Ironman - I was racing STRONG!

The energy, the accomplishment, my determination and the cheers from Andrea H. and from my Team Z mates at the finish line just made the finish that much sweeter! While I'm not sure I was smiling at the finish (Keri said I looked and sounded Stern and Very Determined) I was SO PROUD of myself for pushing my boundaries that it didn't matter WHAT THE TIME was on the Race Clock or my Garmin 310XT.

I set a goal to Race STRONG and NOT WALK the Kinetic Sprint TRI on Sunday, May 9, 2010 and I MET MY GOAL. I also learned, post race, based on how I am feeling now as I recover, that I probably could have pushed the pace up as much as 30 seconds a mile and been able to hang on - so next time maybe TIME will be a goal again. As it turns out, I also PR'd my that swim distance by 2 minutes AND overall, came within 1 minute of my 2008 finish time at this event.

I may not have race faster BUT I am racing STRONGER than ever! And that...is a heck of a way to start the 2010 season and my next 10-years as a Triathlete...

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG! Race STRONGER than your fears and make sure you have good friends and teammates on the course!

Holly S.

Today is MELANOMA Monday....

2010-05-03T05:49:00.000-07:00

(Artwork by Awareness Gifts)

May is SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH and every Monday this month is "Melanoma Monday."

As a Stage III, Nodular Melanoma Survivor, I do my best to give back and celebrate my survivorship (5 years ago in February) by raising awareness of Melanoma and Skin Cancer. With all the great resources available this month, I want to do my part to SPREAD THE WORD!

It only takes small habits to protect yourself from the sun and to catch skin cancer early by doing self checks and making a yearly check-up to a Dermatologist a part of your annual DR visits.

Melanoma Monday is also known as National Skin Self Examination day in the U.S. Starting in 1985 the American Academy of Dermatology has sponsored free skin cancer screenings in many cities on today:

FIND YOUR CLOSEST FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENING HERE!

More about MELANOMA

While only 4% of diagnosed skin cancer is melanoma, melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer because of its ability to spread. This is why it is so important to catch melanoma early when the cure rate with dermatological surgery is about 95%.

Where Occurs
Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body — soles, palms, inside the mouth, genitalia, and underneath nails. However, it is most commonly found on the back, buttocks, legs, scalp, neck, and behind the ears.

Warning signs
Melanoma often develops in a pre-existing mole that begins to change or a new mole. It is estimated that 20% to 40% of melanomas arise from an atypical mole. This is why it is so important to be familiar with the moles on your body and perform regular self-examinations of your skin.

When looking at moles, keep in mind the ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection:

1.) Asymmetry. If you could fold the lesion in two, the two halves would not match.

2.) Border. Melanomas often have uneven or blurred borders.

3.) Color. Melanoma typically is not one solid color; rather it contains mixed shades of tan, brown, and black. It can also show traces of red, blue or white.

4.) Diameter. While melanomas are usually greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If you notice a mole different from others, or which changes, itches, or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6 millimeters, you should see a dermatologist.

5.) Evolving. A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.

It is important to realize that a mole may have some of the characteristics described above and not be a melanoma. A biopsy is often necessary to distinguish an atypical mole from a melanoma.

Other warning signs of melanoma include:

Change in the appearance of a mole, such as the spreading of the pigment from the border of the mole into the surrounding skin
A mole that looks scaly, oozes, or bleeds
Itching, tenderness, or pain in a mole or lesion
Brown or black streak that appears underneath a nail or around the nail
Bruise on the foot that does not heal.

Whatever will get you to the finish line...

2010-04-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

We all have goals. For some of us (ME!!) goals are the thing that keep us focused and motivated on the rough days. I have learned over the years that without some kind of solid, tangible goal - my motivation to work hard can stray - badly....

So my struggle of late has been with my weight and while I know how to successfully "lose" weight, my big challenges come in maintaining the loss over the long term. So I find myself, now, having bounced back up the scale a bit since my Ironman training has ended.

Since this season, I'm not doing any race distance that "scare me" (another great motivator - fear of not finishing) - I am finding it hard to keep myself motivated to stick to a clean, healthy diet and drop this extra weight so I can race in the best shape possible.

I need a BIG GOAL - Something tangible that I *want*; something that I can cling too when the times get rough. I realized my BIG GOAL this weekend as I was driving home from the Team Z Bike Ride. I want a NEW BIKE.

And not just any old "NEW BIKE" - I want a genuine TRI BIKE!

Now you may ask: "You've trained for Ironman, why don't you already have a TRI BIKE?"

Well I am of the opinion that:

A.) TRI BIKES require BIKE HANDLING SKILLS and I refused to by a TRI BIKE until I was very confident in my own bike skills. After 11 years on a road bike, I am pretty assured of my skills as a cyclist. I am confident in my ability to climb, descend and hold my line at any speed and my husband (even when he was just my boyfriend) never has any issues riding with me - and he has 25+ years of riding/racing experience - so I know my riding skills are solid.

B.) I REFUSED TO BUY A NEW FAST BIKE when I know that I can be *faster* on my own bike if I just lose some weight!

Now before you lecture me, I know that OPINION #B is a "self-imposed" limiter - sort of - but if you do some reading on more expensive bikes - a lot of the equipment is "weight-rated" to under 190-200 pounds (like saddles and pedals) - and truth be known, I would be humiliated if I ever found out that my equipment failed because my *butt* was too big!

So while looking for that "Deeper Level of Motivation" for this season's goals - I realized that a NEW TRI BIKE was a perfect motivation tool!

So my primary goal and focus for the next 5 months:

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 GOAL:

40 POUNDS LOST = QUINTANA ROO DULCE with CUSTOM PAINTED FRAME!

(The custom frame is because I *love* the CAMO paint job on the 2010 Quintnan Roo Dulce however, I really am not big into PINK and would much rather have PURPLE CAMO on my wonderful new TRI bike - so if I am going to work hard to earn my bike, I am going to have my new bike MY WAY! Seems reasonable to me!)

So through the magical powers of Adobe PhotoShop:

BEHOLD My Custom Paint Scheme!

Some of you may scoff and say, "Yeah well what is to keep you from bouncing back up the scales when the 2010 Season is over?"

Great Question! You see, I actually have already met with and hired a Nutrutionist and it will be "our job" together to get me to my goal weight in a healthy time frame AND then help me learn how to successfully maintain the overall weight loss long term.

You see, I have kept about 80 pounds off for the last 10 years. I used to weight 299 pounds at my heaviest back in 1998. It is the last 50 or so pounds (that I have always tried to lose) that I can't seem to get off and keep off. So I am pulling in all the help and resources I can to make this a successful long-term venture but even with my past successes....

WITHOUT A BIG GOAL to help me on the HARD DAYS, I am easily distracted.

Enter PURPLE CAMO DULCE: A Gift to Me in September for reaching 40 pounds lost AND a great way to toe the line at Beach2Battleship Half Ironman in November!

Life is GOOD! Keeping my GOALS in sight!

BIG SISTER BRAGGING!

2010-04-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Proud as a PEACOCK for my sister Heather

who finished her FIRST TRIATHLON

by finishing SECOND in her AGE GROUP! (24-29)

WAY TO GO HEATHER!

You can read her race report in her own words: HERE

(Thanks to Heather and Rich-in-Law for sharing the photos!)

PRE-RACE: Heather sets up her first transition...

POST-RACE: Just after crossing the finish line!

NICE JOB HEATHER!

2nd Place: AG 24-29!

Ebbs and Flows...

2010-04-15T08:57:00.001-07:00

My dear Blog friends:

How are you? All doing well and Living STRONG, I hope! Things here on my end of the cyber-sphere are good. I have not been posting but that is because I have been Swimming, Biking, Running, Working and Volunteering a lot these days.

Blogging (as you already know...) has fallen by the wayside. Oh yes, I confess, I have time to post a little something to my FACEBOOK wall almost daily but random thoughts are much easier to do than writing a blog post. At least, that is how I have felt about it these days.

I have come to learn that my blogging "ebbs and flows" like the tide. Frequency varies based on race reports and big life changes. After all, I started this blog when I was diagnosed with Cancer back in 2005 as a way to keep my friends and family updated and a way to keep my sanity in check. In fact, this blog started in April 2005 so I have a "Blog-o-versary" coming up.

More importantly, my first WEDDING ANNIVERSARY is coming up this weekend! I have a hard time believing how quickly the last 12 months flew by. This time, last year, I was running all sorts of wedding errands and my entire family had just arrived in Jackson, MS for the wedding weekend. My how time flies...

The SPRING 2010 CANCER to 5K program is going well. With a full team of 15 runners - both local and "out-of-state" - things are very busy! We recently had a great fundraiser event "COLORS OF EMOTIONS" and the show is still on display through the month of April. If your local, you should come by and see it.

If you want to make a donation to the CANCER to 5K program, you can DONATE HERE. All money raised through my Team FIGHT Page goes directly to CANCER to 5K!

Training with TEAM Z is underway! My goals keep changing somewhat. I have learned that for me BIG GOALS are a great motivator when it comes to working out regularly. Unfortunately a Half Ironman in the Fall doesn't scare me so it is taking more effort to not skip workouts. So I set a NEW GOAL for myself and am focusing on an OLD GOAL again.

NEW GOAL: To move up 2 lanes in Team Z Swim Practice by the end of the 2010 season

OLD GOAL - REVISITED: To reach my overall goal weight by losing 65 pounds.

Both the NEW GOAL and the OLD GOAL will be very effective in keeping my training *on target* because in order to move up 2 lanes in the pool, I need to keep swimming AND in order to lose those last 65 pounds, I need to be consistent in my training/workout and focus on continuing to "eat cleaner." (yet another goal that I set for myself early in 2010)

Ebbs and Flows....Old and New...Funny how it all comes back around.

I'm not gone - just blogging less and posting more on DAILY MILE and FACEBOOK but with the TRI season just around the corner for me (my first race is Kinetic Sprint on May 8th) - the race reports are on their way...

Hope you are all having a good SPRING and enjoying all that life has to offer you. Time moves so quickly, don't let it pass without taking time to do what you love and tell those you care about that you love them!

Life IS GOOD! Keep Living STRONG!

Thanks YP_NATION and Jennifer Scala!

2010-03-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Paula Sternberg, CANCER to 5K Alumni, for referring the CANCER to 5K Program to reporter Jennifer Scala when asked about her involvement with different Running Programs!

CANCER to 5K (and myself) got a bit of free press in an article on WEB-ZINE "YP_Nation" on Running Groups.

http://www.ypnation.net/running-groups-offer-yps-more-just-fitness-and-health-benefits

NOW if I could just get my act together and follow-through with a certain runner/author/reporter/blogger/aussie-native (that my sister connected me too) who has been more than kindly talking to me about sharing the CANCER to 5K story ...maybe we could spread the word even more...

but first...V_A_C_A_T_I_O_N!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Before I take a break...

2010-03-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry...I'm busy beyond belief. My health is good, my fitness is lagging, I'm crazy busy and I have a *much needed* 8-day break around the corner...

So when this last posted to my blog, I was close to being on my way to DISNEY to do the Royal Family 5K and the Princess Half Marathon with my sister Heather and my mom, Carol! Sister Cathy was not able to make it but we brought her with us in spirit! (Cathy-on-a-stick)

Quick Synopsis: Lots of cool goodies; stayed in the house of The Mouse (Walt Disney World); Carol (Mom) finished her first official 5K; I survived the Princess Half Marathon, is spite of my serious lack of training and I reconfirmed that YES INDEED, I AM A PRINCESS!

Then I came home and our car got rear-ended on the way home from the Airport. The car is doing much better now that it has a new bumper and hitch.

CANCER to 5K has started it's SPRING 2010 season with over 14 new runners in the program! I am excited beyond belief and VERY BUSY!

Also, this past weekend, I ran the St. Patty's Day 8K in DC with some of my Team Z Ladies! Had a really fun time even if I was a little disappointed in my finishing time.

So Life is Good but so very Busy and I frankly I need a vacation. The good news is that my vacation starts in just 2 days. You'll hear nothing from me between now and then, I am going "web silent" and going to enjoy some time with my husband.

Packing some sunscreen!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!***

(***Catch you in the end of March!)

The Myrtle Beach Half Marathon that would not be....

2010-02-24T05:48:00.000-08:00

SNOW! I moved "south" about 12 years ago in an attempt to have less of it in my life. The first 11 years were lovely. Winters in VA are usually mild, chilly and relatively SNOW-FREE. You'll get the token 1-2" of snow but for the most part the roads stay clear and dry. It's a wonderful way to spend the winter - cool weather to remind you of the seasons but no true reason to skip your workouts - indoors or outdoors.

Until this February. Of course not only do we get SNOW - we get a BLIZZARD! Northern VA has had record snow fall this year! 50" since the start of the winter season. The roads are a mess but I had no worries...I was escaping to Myrtle Beach, SC for our annual Myrtle Beach Half Marathon and Bike Ride Weekend!

This was year 6 of the streak! It was the 13th Annual Marathon and Half Marathon.

It FREAKING SNOWED in Myrtle Beach, SC. Enough accumulation (about 3-4") to cause City Officials to go against Race Director recommendations of a Delayed Start and CANCEL both the Marathon and Half Marathon.

SNOW in Myrtle Beach, SC...I still wouldn't believe it if I had not been there and seen it.

So there was no official "Half Marathon" this year but we did have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND and helped my sister Heather buy her first bike and then go for a nice 14 mile bike ride on Sunday. (Micalob Ultra Myrtle Beach Bike Ride - 65/33/14 mile options) It was my first time back on my bike since my Ironman - yeah, that long! LOL

It was a beautiful sunny but chilly (38F) ride and Heather did really well for her first official group ride on her new road bike. You can read all about our ride on her blog post: My First Bike Crush.

I'll leave you with some photos of the weekend's adventure to enjoy. The Princess Half Marathon is around the corner, in less than 2-weeks and I have to confess I'm a little worried.....

What are the odds that it might SNOW in Disney World in March? Based on my season so far, I wouldn't bet against the possibility....

Aunt Holly and Rowen went out to play in the Snow on Friday Night...

This is what we woke up to on Saturday Morning...

Holly & Heather on Saturday AM:

wearing our BIB numbers for a short 5 mile jog...

so they canceled the race, we can still run...

(it was cold! I was the one who cried "uncle" after

the first loop and canceled our planned 13.1...)

Uncle Jim and Kain spent some quality time together playing with a puzzle...

Aunt Holly and Rowen: We built TRAINS out of blocks!

Heather and Holly - PRE-14 mile Bike Ride on Sunday

Jim, Heather, and Holly - Post Bike Rides on Sunday

(Jim rode 34 miles, we did 14 miles)

Heather: Runner, Mommy and Cyclist!

(Soon to be TRIATHLETE!)

We interupt your regularly schedule life with....SNOW!!

2010-02-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

So there is nothing to report, good or bad, on the 3-month follow-up with the Dermatologist because my appointment has been rescheduled due to SNOW! Heck, truth be told, the entire NOVA/DC METRO region is on hold thanks to Mother Nature.

This is INSANE! I grew up in New England, spend 4-years of college in freaking New Hampshire and even so, I can not remember the last time I saw this much snow fall in less than 2-weeks time.

It was quaint getting 2 feet of snow back in December just a week before Christmas. I didn't really have a problem with the 5 inches we got last weekend and I thought it was *fun* that we got a little more snow mid-week. But when the forecasters started talking in terms of FEET and not inches on Friday, in anticipation of this weekend's storm, I got a little frustrated.

But "Hey, it's the weekend, you'll probably get Monday off, enjoy it!" Right?

HA! It is now Tuesday and the Federal Government in the DC METRO region is still closed and we are under another Winter Storm/Blizzard Warning for the next 24 hours. They are predicting ANOTHER 10-16" inches of SNOW here in Alexandria and more if you live in Maryland and further North. This means that in all likelihood I will work ONE DAY this week: Thursday.

So what am I doing with all this FREE TIME?

Shoveling Snow

Playing with the Bengal Kitties (in the Snow)

Shoveling Snow

Watching lots of Movies with my husband

Shoveling Snow...

Did I happen to mention SHOVELING SNOW?

UNCLE! ENOUGH WITH THE SNOW!!

Friday we head south to Myrtle Beach, where the roads will be clear and dry. It might be a little chillier than usual for the 6th Annual Myrtle Beach Weekend but honestly, all I care about are clean dry roads to run and bike on, getting some quality time with my family and NO SNOW. (all fingers crossed! LOL)

Anxiety on the horizon...

2010-02-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

I have a "cancer-versary" coming up and it's an important milestone in relation to my original cancer diagnosis. I'm coming up on my FIVE YEAR MELANOMA SURVIVOR anniversary.

To be honest, I am excited and scared to death all at the same time.

I'm excited to be currently above the "law of averages" for a reoccurrence and have reached this significant point on the Survival time-line.

In Feb 2005, (February 14, 2005 to be specific) I was diagnosed with Nodular Melanoma. In March 2005 that initial diagnosis was upgraded to Stage IIIB - Metastic Melanoma - meaning that surgery had determined that the Melanoma had spread to my lymph system. (1 lymph node to be specific and *thank god* that is was ONLY 1 Lymph Node...) I was fortunate to have no other major organ/metastasis involvement.

The 5-year survival rate ranges for my diagnosis are from around 25% to around 68%.

The 10-year survival ranges from around 44% to around 60%

I'm SCARED TO DEATH of the upcoming 3-month follow-up on Monday with my new Dermatologist, Dr. V - because he has me coming in early to "keep an eye on a few spots" that he doesn't really like. He want "proof" that these spots have not changed in the last 3-months before he will let me go back to "6-month visits."

The biggest anxiety, for any cancer survivors, is always REOCCURRENCE and so far (*fingers crossed*) I have managed to evade the typical trend of reoccurrence for my diagnosis.

67 percent of all recurrences were are within 24 months (2-years) and 81 percent are diagnosed by 36 months (3-years) after the primary melanoma.

- Regional nodal recurrences are commonly diagnosed earlier - 63 percent at 18 months and 74 percent at 24 months (2-years).

- Local recurrences and in-transit metastases are comparable - 55 percent of each at 18 months and about 66 percent of each at 24 months (2-years)

- Systemic recurrences are diagnosed later - 52 percent at 24 months (2-years) and 71 percent at 36 months (3-years)

Now, there isn't a survivor out there who will tell you that they don't have *any* anxiety when they go to the Dr. for follow-up care and I would be a FOOL not to be thrilled that my new Dermatologist "Dr. V." is so vigilant....BUT HONESTLY there is a little part (the pessimistic part of me...) that worries that these few little spots are going to MESS UP THE GOOD THING I HAVE GOING and ruin my plans for the "5-Year Cancer-versary" party & or happy hour that I wanted to have sometime this spring.

So for now, ANXIETY seems to be the "Emotion du Jour" until Monday afternoon when I see Dr. V. Until then I have ... Finger's Crossed, Toes Crossed & Sunscreen On (even in winter...)

"Yo Melanoma, I mean what I said 5 years ago: "Get OUT and STAY OUT , you sneaky little bastard - You are not welcome here so don't even consider making any second visits!"

That should have scared my moles into staying the same size as 3-months ago right? LMAO!

What can I do? Not much, just stay vigilant and continue to Live STRONG!

Will NOT let them get any tighter....

2010-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am speaking, of course, of my jeans. My poor old jeans that were loose and baggy at Lake Placid, NY in July 2009 and *not so* loose and baggy in Wilminton, NC in November 2009 just before my IRONMAN glory; are now in serious danger of not fitting at all for present day, February 2010.

D'OH!!!

So there is much work to be done! Along with getting those jean loose and baggy (or PERHAPS trading those jeans in for a smaller size or two! hehehe), I have FINALLY come up with my RACE SCHEDULE for 2010. While there might be one or two "local" races added to this schedule, there will NOT be any other TRAVEL RACES added to this schedule.

It is, as many of you know, "THE YEAR OF JIM" and that must be respected!

Luckily some of JIM's events happen to be things I can do to! Benefit to having a husband who ride bicycles. We can train and sometimes race together! More so now than in the past.

Holly's 2010 Race Plan:

Myrtle Beach Half Marathon - Feb 13, 2010 (with Heather & Cathy!)

Myrtle Beach Bike Ride - Feb 14, 2010 (with Heather & Jim!)

Royal Family 5K - Mar 6, 2010 (with Heather & our Mom!)

Disney Princess Half Marathon - Mar 7, 2010(with Heather!)

Kinetic Sprint Triathlon - May 9, 2010 (with Keri & Team Z!)

Wilderness Road Ride - May 29, 2010 (with Jim & Team Z!)

Capital Crescent 5K - Jun 6, 2010: Team CANCER to 5K

Survivor Harbor 7 - Jun 13, 2010: Team CANCER to 5K

Mussleman Sprint Triathlon - Jul 10, 2010 (with Team Z & KERI!)

IronGirl Columbia Sprint Tri - Aug 22, 2010 (with Heather!)

Beach2Battleship Half Ironman - Nov 13, 2010 (with Team Z!)

So here it is in all it's glory - with ONLY 4 OUT-OF-STATE races (MD & WV do not count as "out of state" in my mind....) this season - I think it's the smallest race calendar I have had since I was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2005.

What can I say....I like to stay busy! And busy will help me keep my jeans in check!

Life is Good! Live STRONG!

Do as I say NOT AS I DO...

2010-01-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

OH.MY.UGH!

Again, I offer advice to my fellow triathletes and budding endurance junkies...

If you take a siesta from training after your first Ironman - say about 8-9 weeks and you jump back into training: THINK TWICE ABOUT DOING TWO WORKOUTS IN ONE DAY ON YOUR FIRST DAY BACK! Cause you will be very, VERY TIRED by the end of the day....

Yeah, I know ...D'OH! But I felt GOOD after 1700 yds with Team Z at the pool at 5:30AM yesterday morning and my husband was heading to the RECenter just a mile from our house for his evening workout so I just figured I would go with him and get in a nice easy 5K run on the treadmill.

NOTE: There is nothing "easy" about 5K when you have not been running steadily in about 8-9 weeks. You will suffer.

Here is the funniest part of the whole mis-adventure. I didn't EAT enough for a double workout. I should have had a small snack of fruit before I left for workout #2 but about 2 miles into my 3.1 mile SLOG on the treadmill, my stomach began to protest. LOUDLY and without any thought to how embarrassed I would be to be making such sounds in public!

One good side effect of this WORKOUT FIASCO...Dinner was VERY TASTY and I had no problems FALLING ASLEEP at the end of the day.

Only ONE (1) workout planned for today...and I already have an apple ready to snack on in prep for the workout.

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Inertia is threatening to overtake me...

2010-01-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

Take my ADVICE: When you spend a year training for an Ironman-distance triathlon and the race has come and gone. Feel free to take 2-4 weeks off to relax and chill then then GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF WORKING OUT!

Even if you don't have any intentions of doing an Ironman the next year; (as is the case for me...) you'll feel much better if you roll right back into the routine before "inertia" settles in.

It's been 8 weeks since Beach2Battleship and with the exception of a few random runs (mostly in the form of races), I have fallen off the "TRAINING" bandwagon in a big way and now I am looking at "6 weeks to the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon." (and about 9 weeks until the Disney Princess Half Marathon.) I'm not expecting any PRs this early in the year, I'd be happy to finish both races with a smile on my face and the feeling that I am getting a good start to the new training season.

Speaking of "NEW TRAINING SEASON" - What exactly am I going to do in 2010. Well after the whirlwind that was 2009 - Getting Married and training TWICE in one year for Ironman - I'm going to settle for a more low-key year. I think I have earned that - LOL.

2010's focus is going to be on my overall FITNESS and WELL-BEING with some dedicated refocus on the CANCER to 5K program.

FITNESS:

My TRI season is going to consist of Sprint-distance races for the Spring season with Team Z while I get in the necessary bike miles so that Jim and I can enjoy BIKE VIRGINIA this coming June. (5 days of long distance cycling)

Summer will be all about Columbia IRONGIRL with Team FIGHT!

Then come the fall; I'm seriously considering a HALF IRONMAN (70.3) distance race - maybe returning to Beach2Battleship with Team Z in November to do either the HALF or relay a FULL-distance *Z Team* (or a FULL-distance *SISTER TEAM*...depending on what's going on with her race schedule and life in general....)

I'm only registered for races through August (Columbia IRONGIRL) so that is keeping me *honest* and keeping my schedule open - as I promised I would do this year.

WELL-BEING:

For all the training and wedding-prep in 2009; when all was said and done - I ended the year on the *up swing* with regard to the scale. Having always struggled with my weight, I'm committed to being more focused this year on preparing and eating healthy meals for myself and Jim. This is a big departure from the usual "diet to train - slim down for the race season - slack off in the winter" routine that we fall into. I'd really like to find a true balance with my body and after 10 years and thousands of training miles - it finally sunk in...

It's all about the FOOD.

So this year I am learning how to prepare and cook our meals and how to eat cleaner, less processed meals. Because after 10 years, the truth is that I have learned that it's not just calories in vs. calories out - it is about what kind of foods you are eating.

So we are moving away from the quick-fix, easy meals and moving towards a big lifestyle change. It won't be easy or fast but in the long run, both Jim and I will benefit from the changes. I'm lucky to be married to somebody who not only supports my crazy fitness goals but is supportive of my well-being and willing to try new things. This kind of change would be very difficult otherwise. I'm one LUCKY lady!

CANCER to 5K:

The CANCER to 5K program is going into it's 3rd FULL YEAR (so exciting!!!!!) and this year I am really hoping to push awareness of the program to the next level both locally in the Northern VA/DC Metro region and in the Howard County/Baltimore, MD region. There is alot of outreach and networking for me to do this year with the local cancer support groups and hospitals. I'm really going to be stepping out of my comfort zone but I know it needs to happen so I am excited(and a little scared...) to get started!

I'd really like to bring in some more new runners to our VA team this year and there are plans to expand the program to include a second training group in MD, which is very exciting! We are also in the process of planning a month-long ART SHOW with will include a SHOW OPENING/ FUNDRAISER in early April - so that is keeping myself and several dedicated volunteers very busy right now. Add to that that the Spring Training Group will start in Mid-March and things are BUSY (in a good way!)

Personally, I am considering taking a big step and doing the training to get my Level I Running /Coaching Certification and possibly a Personal Training Certification so I can take some specific courses as a Cancer Exercise Trainer in the next 2-3 years. Increasing my own personal knowledge of running and coaching and staying on top of the most recent research with regard to "Cancer and Exercise" seems like a logical next step.

Looking over my list now, these goals; along with my full time career, my new marriage and all the "unknowns" that are bound to pop up; are more than enough to keep me busy in 2010.

But it all needs to start with a simple run...and I'm suddenly feeling the urge to lace up my Brooks Adrenalines and get a little fresh air....

Life is GOOD! Happy New Year! LiveSTRONG in 2010!!!

Win some AWESOME Runner GOODIES and SUPPORT CANCER to 5K!

2009-12-28T05:50:00.001-08:00

Want to win ALL of this?

FOLLOW THE LINK:

http://runfastermommy.com

To soon to say "GoodBye" ...

2009-12-14T08:12:00.001-08:00

Shawn Felty: great friend, cancer survivor and colon cancer advocate

I am numb and still not really able to accept the reality that another wonderful friend and teammate of CANCER to 5K has gone...

HE'S TOO YOUNG FOR THIS!

I could wax poetic and try to find some elegant words but frankly, I'm just too damn angry and sad. THIS IS NOT OK!

I had the opportunity to be a small part of Shawn Felty's very BIG and WONDERFUL life and have the privilege to call him a friend and teammate. I hardly feel like I can pull together the words to describe Shawn.

Shawn was the guy who knew everybody and who everybody liked. He was the "glue" that bonded people together who would probably never have met otherwise. He was ENTHUSIASTIC, ENERGETIC and SO IN LOVE WITH LIFE. (and PITT ALUMNI Baseball - LOL) He was a downright SPORTS FAN and was set on maintaining his fitness no matter what was going on with his health and that is what brought him my way.

Shawn was also ROLE MODEL and SPOKESMAN for Colon Cancer Awareness from the moment he was diagnosed. In 2008 at the Scope it Out 5K in Washington, D.C. Shawn encouraged his friends to come out with him and join Team NEVER FELT BETTER and ended up fielding the TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM in the event and the team placed 3rd Overall and Shawn walked the 5K event in 65:33.

In Fall 2008, Shawn joined CANCER to 5K to train with us. He was still in the midst of active chemotherapy but he was also still VERY ACTIVE with his Alumni Baseball Team and joined our group to help him regain and maintain his fitness. In November 2008, Shawn, along with the rest of the CANCER to 5K Fall 2008 Team, earned his CANCER to 5K Medal at the VA RUN Turkey Trot in a time of 36:56. While the competitor in Shawn was a little disappointed in his finishing time, he was still might proud of his accomplishment and celebrated by completing his chemo just a few weeks later.

Jessica T., Shawn F., Katy S., Denny C. and Andrea H. - post-race pride!

In 2009 , again with Team NEVER FELT BETTER, Shawn RAN the 5K race in a very respectable 33:02! (although he would tell you that was slow...)

In Fall 2008 when I first met Shawn, after he had joined the CANCER to 5K team, he told me about a calendar that he was hoping to be part of - the ColonClubs "COLONDAR" which featured young adult colon cancer survivors and their scars as a way to promote awareness and raise money and support for the Colon Club. Shawn's goal to be a part of the 2010 Colondar and to help raise awareness about Colon Cancer was a high priority to him and he really worked hard on putting on paper and in photographs, his story, hoping that he might be selected.

I am happy to share that Shawn was selected to represent MAY for the 2010 Colondar. It is no exaggeration to say the experience of shooting and being in the 2010 Colondar was life-altering for him. He made deep connections with some fellow colon cancer survivors that really changed the way he approached his survivorship and really stepped up and out from the role of cancer survivor to an active role as a colon cancer survivor and advocate.

Yesterday, the world lost a wonderful man but in reaching out and being chosen as MR. MAY 2010 - Shawn will continue to impact the lives of current and future colon cancer survivors.

Shawn, you will be so dearly missed. Rest in peace my friend. Thank you for showing us all how to LiveSTRONG and find joy and happiness in every single day.

LINK to SHAWN's MAY 2010 COLONDAR PROFILE

Off-Balance...

2009-12-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling rather odd these days...I'm UP and happy and super-motivated and then less than 2-hours later I am wondering "What the H*LL am I going to do now?" and I am DOWN and mopey and frustrated.

I think I'm still in the midst of some classic Ironman Blues...I GOOGLED and got all sorts of articles and they read like a personal laundry list of my day-to-day emotions...

This ARTICLE in particular was pretty helpful. Particularly this part:

"Let’s face it; Ironman is very demanding physically, mentally and emotionally. So afterwards you are just plain worn out. After such a draining event you need a rest. So you start to sleep in and go to the coffee shop, you stay up late watching TV, or go out. In short, you get out of the habit of consistent training. This makes everything just that much harder. If this isn’t enough to give you the blues, then tell me your secret!!

So with these special set of circumstances that accompany reaching your Ironman goals, we must approach it with an equally special attitude. When you have worked that hard for so long you are quite entitled to, and in fact should, remind yourself of your achievement every day. I’m not suggesting you shout it from the rooftops, or leave little memos detailing your successes to your colleagues, but just that when you conquer Ironman, keep it alive inside, because it helps to combat those post Ironman blues, and darn it, just simply because you’ve earned the right to! So too should you remind yourself that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that this is merely the natural cycle of things. Just as quickly as the last Ironman registers as a memory and not just something you did a couple of weeks ago, so too will you find yourself on the starting line of your next big Ironman challenge – and for those of us who have already done it – we all know that the feeling you have on that one day is worth everything else you go through before and after!"

Hey IronCAT, maybe you should hold off any big decisions "to race or not to race" for another week or two cause I am guessing your aura is as BLUE as mine these days... Being GOOFY might not be so bad after all. Just get in a few more LONG naps between now and mid-January.

Life is Good - I am an IRONMAN! (Hey, the article says I can share that more often!!)

LiveSTRONG!

5Ks and Being Thankful Daily...

2009-11-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Well I hope that you all had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving Weekend. My Thanksgiving turned out to hold some unexpected but welcome reminders on Being Thankful Daily...

Thursday morning I woke up bright and early for the Arlington Turkey Trot 5K - where I met up with good friends Denny & Thomas to get some exercise. We ran into two of my *favorite* Team Z teammates IronCAT and Ollie - who were both looking GREAT on and off the course.

I felt like I had a pretty good run considering that last week was pretty "light" in terms of workouts - I was still using "Recovery from Ironman" as my "excuse du jour" - and I had a finish time of 35:59 (pace of 11:35 per mile). I started pretty well and then the hills kicked in and at first, I tried to "stay with" and then "catch up to" and finally simply "keep in sight" both Denny and Ollie on the 5K course. It was a hilly course through the back neighborhoods of Arlington near Lyon Park and I was passed by Santa & Mrs. Claus along with 2 elves, a reindeer and a Gingerbread Man. I think if you are going to get passed in a 5K - there is no better group to pass you - LOL!

As I finished the race, I stood near the finish with Denny - waiting for Thomas to finish up. Thinking we had missed him - we split up and I headed for the Water table to grab some waters and look for Thomas while Denny stayed near the finish line. As I was walking back to the Finish area (with waters but no Thomas...) I was approached by a young lady named Lizzie who asked me if I was involved with CANCER to 5K. (I was wearing my team tech shirt)

Lizzie mentioned that she knew about the group through her friend Helen Stehm, one of our Spring 2008 teammates who passed away this past June '09. She told me that she had come out to the 5K that morning to run in honor of Helen's birthday - Wednesday, November 25. She didn't have quite the race she was hoping for but as we talked, we both knew that at that moment - Helen was right there with us in spirit and I said as much to Lizzie - hoping she knew that even though she might have had a rough race - her race was a wonderful tribute to her good friend Helen.

I invited Lizzie to come and run with the CANCER TO 5K group this coming Spring and as I walked towards Denny and Thomas and thought about the "odds" of Lizzie and I meeting - I teared up. 2 people in a crowd of 2,000 runners - brought together on Thanksgiving Day thanks to Helen. Proof yet again that every day the people who touch our lives in so many ways continue to "Live STRONG" in our hearts and minds!

Helen Stehm at the Survivor Harbor 7 Race - June 2008

It was also a reminder to me, yet again, to be so THANKFUL for the good health and fitness that I continue to enjoy and the wonderful friends and family that I can share it with.

Thank you Lizzie & Helen - for that wonderful Thanksgiving Day gift - I am forever thankful.

Life is Good! Live STRONG!

Back in the Pool...

2009-11-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

It simply blows my mind that just 2 weeks can feel like 2-3 months. That is how much Ironamn training had become my daily routine. When you take it away it feels like another lifetime and truthfully, it was only 16 days ago.

So 2 weeks OFF is all that I can stand, I feel relaxed and ready to GO, GO, GO. So last night Jim and I talked, in general, about the coming year and made some basic plans and I decided to continue on training with Team Z. Truth is that I didn't know how I could "not" train with the Team - I have made some wonderful friends and seriously nothing matches the "FUN and FITNESS" that is a Team Z RACE. Add to it that some of my friends and teammates are training for IM Wisconsin 2010! (IM MOO) - GO OLLIE ! - I am sooooooo about supporting them in this effort and looking forward to being able to do shorter training rides and then stay on to CHEER and HELP OUT this time around! GO Z!!!

So now that I am not training for IRONMAN, what on earth am I going to do?

(1.) I am debating the merits of an IRONMAN-worthy Tattoo. Something that includes LiveSTRONG and M-DOT or 140.6 - I'm in talks with my personal "tattoo" experts (a.k.a. both younger sisters) - Location yet to be determined....

(2.) I'm going to focus the next 365 days on EATING CLEAN; learning to cook; losing about 30-50 pounds; and maintaining my TRI fitness.

The PRIMARY focus will be EATING CLEAN and adapting my eating habits long term. (think *lifetime*) Done correctly, the additional weight-loss is just a bonus side effect.

( 3.) In terms of RACING - I'm keeping it LOCAL with the exception of 2 EVENTS. And I am keeping it SHORT - Nothing longer than an OLY-distance TRI this season with a FOCUS on eliminating any/all walking breaks during running.***

*** This might be against my BOP nature but I am going to give it a try - what the heck! ***

December: Jingle All the Way 10K
January: TBD
February: Myrtle Beach Half Marathon & Bike Ride (Family FUN Weekend!!)
March: 2010 Disney Royal Family 5K & Princess Half Marathon (Heather Birthday Weekend!!)
April - May: TBD - Spring TRIs with Team Z
June: CANCER to 5K Spring Session; Survivor Harbor 7 & BIKE VA
July: TBD
August: IronGirl Columbia (with Heather!!)
Sept - Nov 2010: TBD - CANCER to 5K Fall Session & Fall TRIs with Team Z

(4.) Oh and somewhere in the middle of this year - there is a lovely Honeymoon Vacation to someplace *warm and romantic* - but that is all the details I care to share here...

This seems like a nice *quiet* year in comparison to 2009...Time to RELAX...

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

LOL CATS RULE!

2009-11-17T05:53:00.001-08:00

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

POST-IRONMAN BLISS

2009-11-16T06:05:00.001-08:00

I'm still producing BIG SMILES when ask about Beach2Battleship and while "work" threatens to take away my happiness daily, I have not let the grayness seep into my sense of accomplishment and pride.

I spent the first 6 days RESTING - which meant "No Formal Workouts of Any Kind..." but that insanity can only last so long. Like my sister, Heather, exercise is definitely a form of therapy for me - much less of a price to pay for working out than for eating (which was my therapy of choice and still, sadly, the alternate backup at times but that is for another blog post...)

Anyhow, ON DAY SEVEN, I RAN. The Get Your Rear In Gear 5K to be specific. Oh yeah, I am that kind of crazy - I ran a 5K race the weekend after my first Ironman.

Get Your Rear In Gear 5K results: 35:46 (11:32 minute per mile)

It wasn't my fastest 5K of the year but it was a pretty good result considering the previous weeks efforts. I really had no idea what to expect - I figured I would either had a decent run or I would immediately feel empty or have no energy. My legs felt pretty good the entire way, just some tightness from my left hip which seems to have worked itself out completely now.

Everybody keeps asking me "What's Next?"

I'm still working that out in my head because right now it feels really good to have nothing BIG on my agenda. I do have a few races on my schedule for next year but the GOALS for those events are still "up in the air."

I'm enjoying some down-time for the first time in over a year and with my 6-month MELANOMA follow-ups with Dr. B, my oncologist, and my new dermatologist, Dr. V coming at the end of the week - I've got my fingers crossed for another year of "No Evidence of Disease." (also known as NED).

Coming off my first Ironman Finish, I'd say that being confirmed NED for yet another year would be a great "Next" moment. Even if that does involve drinking some nasty "apple juice/contrast" cocktail.

Life is Good! I'm enjoying myself...