Strive to TRI

I haven't done a triathlon in over a year. There is a good reason for my hiatus. My daughter was diagnosed with 'Very Severe Aplastic Anemia' on May 31st, 2011. She suddenly and unexpectedly stopped making blood. She was unable to fight infection or virus' and was put into pseudo isolation. She underwent a year of immunosupressive therapy and finally found a bone marrow donor in the International Registry. She had her bone marrow transplant on May 24th 2012 and after, chemo and radiation, was in total isolation for 28 days. On June 14th she was released from the hospital (Memorial Sloan Kettering) and we now live at the Ronald McDonald House on 73rd Street in Manhattan. She is doing very well and her story can be read at www.norasstars.wordpress.com. My training has pretty much been limited to occasional bike rides, running (poorly) on the treadmill and the occasional fitness DVD. I am still helping to organize the Smith Point Triathlon on Long Island, NY and the race...

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Between design work, organizing the Smith Point Triathlon , working with the best tri company around EVENTPOWER , kids, family, volunteering, pilates , strength and tri training... I AM CRAZY TIRED!!! Training is going well. Not superb but well. I've been swimming, and running at least 2x a week. I really need to step up my biking. I've been out on the cruiser with the kids but that's not training! I finally got out the road bike, put on the pseudo winter gear, ready to hit the road 2 minutes out—a flat. After fixing a flat I get a call from a friend of mine come over and help me find my dog 2 hours later ready to ride and BAM thunderstorm. I won't be riding until tomorrow early morning. Hopefully not to many drunks on the road.

After a nice triathlon free winter I am sufficently sick of yoga, pilates, belly-dancing, circuit training and that damn treadmill! Yesterday I started running outside. I can not believe how much I missed it!!! Where is SPRING!!!! This morning it snowed. Tomorrows forecast sleet/snow. Friday snow. Saturday SUNNY and 45 degrees!!!!! I'm plotting my course around the neighborhood. Where to go?

Yes, I am late writing this one. Now the question is can I remember? I think this race was a bit like childbirth. I'm forgetting the pain. I'd better write it down now. Last Jan I decided if I ran a 13.1 under 3hrs I'd sign up for the MightyMan 1/2 Iron man in Montauk . I did, and I did. I was under the impression that 10 months of training and quitting drinking would prepare me for the race. HA! If I was a serious athlete that wasn't prone to bouts of cheesecakecouchpotatoitis it would've turned out much better. I probably would've bailed on the race if it wasn't for one thing... Last May, I won an essay contest at Event Power for a hotel room at the race. And being the cheap-o that I am I wasn't letting a free room in Montauk and a entry fee go to waste just because I was unprepared. Oh did I mention I just returned, the Wednesday before the race, from a 7 day 6 night trip to Disney World that had a free upgrade to a Villa on the meal plan. Not e...

I know I'm late on this post. It was a good solid race. No crazy, weird bodily things happened, no flats, no insanity of any kind... so I don't know what to write about! I apologize now for boring you to tears. Saturday the family and I went out to Southampton to pick up the race packet. It went quick without a hitch. Spent the evening eating pasta and went to be early. I told you BORING. Sunday EARLY morning I got up at 3:15AM I was determined NOT to be late this year. I was on the road, in the dark by 4:15AM. I made it to the race site in Sag Harbor (one of the first) at 5:30AM. It was chilly and dark but the tri community was beginning to buzz and as usual people were excited and having lots of fun even though it was pre-dawn. I found myself chatting with my rack neighbors. They were two guys from NYC that came out to do the race. Both were worried about the swim but looking forward to the bike. I told them to "Say hi as you pass me on the bike. I'm gonna destroy yo...

MNF "They call me Jane, that's not my name" is the lyric on the radio at 4am the morning of the MNF . Crap, now I have that stuck in my head for the day at least the beat is up-tempo. I get out of bed put on my race gear, load up my bike and throw my pack into the truck. Where are my keys? There they are on the kitchen table with my sunglasses—clearly not needed now, pre -dawn and post-storm—and with an envelope. HUH? It's a card from my husband. Today is our legal anniversary . We've been officially married 6 years, he is so sweet. I kiss him and the kids good-bye and drive out to the North Fork of Long Island, farm & wine country. The drive is easy a quick stop at 7-11 (I need my coffee—the last addiction—I am unwilling to give it up) and I'm off. I drive the back roads cause I like to do that. Give me a winding country road—with the possibility of hitting a deer, over a highway and the possibility of hitting a deer— any day . I get to the race si...