As long as I can remember I have been deceived by that tiny mouse to believe that Disney is the happiest place on Earth; well, looks like he is finally met his match.  It turns out the town I call home has captured Disney’s title.  I can hear all the moans as I type, because living in beautiful Boulder, Colorado is as much a blessing as it a curse.  I love it here.  The people are well educated and open to new ideas.  Most of our long bike rides include some sort of discussion of the World’s problems and what our thoughts are on addressing the issues.  It is faster to get around town your bike, then a car.  

The weather is stunning.  We have four seasons and the sun says hello almost every day. 

We have very few insects.  After living in the South with bugs the size of small birds, that is a welcome change. We have a ton of trails of every level and you can ride from town to get to most of them.  We are two hours from amazing skiing.  The town is very family friendly and there are very few places that kids are not welcome, mine go everywhere with me.  It is safe.  My boys can ride their bikes all over town with me only suffering from a small amount of anxiety.  It has all the benefits of a big city, with a small town feel.  We have amazing training facilities and on any given day; there will be a well known athlete working out with you.  We have amazing food, we have to refuel after all those hours of had work. We have fun all year long and in all kinds of weather. We change our sports to suit the weather and the parks become cross country ski courses when it snows. 

I remember coming here in the spring of 1993 to visit CU and I swore that I had died and gone to heaven.  I had traveled the World, but Boulder was on the top of the list as one of the most amazing places I had ever been.  Boulder has embraced me as one of its own and has let me be an amazing Mom, athlete, and career woman. 

            There is a side of Boulder that has always bothered me though, the curse as I call it.  It is how we are perceived by the rest of the country and especially the rest of Colorado.  Outside magazine did an article just about how bad Boulder is and how elitist those who live in Boulder are.  People think we are stuck up and we think that we are better then everyone else.  Not true.  People here just value a high quality of life and they are willing to make sacrifices to be able to maintain that balance.  Quality of life, not quantity, is really what makes people happy.  We think we are all Olympic level athletes, just because we train with those that really are.  We just like a challenge here and to push our bodies to be the best that they can be; regardless of age.  It is pretty cool that you can go run a local race and be surrounded by elite level runners.  Or you can be riding your bike with some of the best cyclist with the World encouraging you as they pass by.  Or swimming in the pool surrounded by those you admire the most in the sport of triathlon.  The level of fitness here is inspiring.  I always say in Boulder we pray for rainy days, so we finally have a reason to be lazy for a couple of hours.  Boulderites are all perceived as being hippy, health nuts.  Well, that is partly true.  We do believe in knowing where our food comes from and there are more Whole Foods in Boulder then there are fast food places, but is that bad?  In a country battling childhood obesity, Boulder’s kids are a refreshing alternative to the rest of the nation’s children.  Yes, we do work in Boulder.  We do have large number of residents that are independently wealthy, but there are just as many of us that are working hard to support our families. 

            So there you have it, all of the reasons I love it here.  If you have some vacation time, come and see it for yourself.  I promise you will leave inspired to take your training to new heights, make some new friends, and best of all, you will leave with a smile so big, it will take weeks to remove.  Hey, you already have a friend here.  See you soon.

Becky

I love the Olympics.  In fact, I think I’m a total dork about them.  Winter or summer there is nothing that gets me more excited about sport, athleticism and the fun of competition than the Olympics.  Since the opening ceremonies of the winter games in Vancouver our house has had each TV tuned in almost constantly so as not to miss a single event.  Here in Southeastern Michigan we are lucky to be able to watch both American and Canadian network broadcasts, allowing us to experience the different coverage each country provides.  

One thing I find so much fun about the Olympic games is watching sports I never see except on the Olympics.  In addition to favorites like short track speed skating or alpine ski events, there are obscure sports like Nordic combined skiing or biathlon.  How crazy is it to fly off a ramp on skis to see how far you can go, so you get a time advantage in a subsequent cross country ski race?   Or a sprint race skate ski event where you stop to do a little target shooting, then sprint off on skis again!  Seeing these athletes compete brings about a sense of appreciation and respect for the athletic talent and determination it takes to get to such a high level of competition.  Where does one even go to train for some of these events?  Michigan has wonderful trails for cross country skiers, and there are certainly plenty of hunters here, but they are two groups whose sport I would never imagine combining until discovering the event by watching the Olympics! 

There are always surprises to be found in Olypmic events.  Athletes are there to live out dreams and are competing with everything they have.  This creates an atmosphere for exciting and unexpected results.  Amazing upsets, overcoming adversity, unparalled sportsmanship, the Olympics has it all.  There are countless examples of  athletes with heartwarming stories, surprise winners-or losers, the unexpected.  It is human effort elevating sport and the human spirit along with it.

So that is why I’m hooked.  Maybe a bit of a dork about it, but that’s ok.  The Olympic games continue to deliver.  And I will be there to witness as much of it as possible along the way.

      Paul had assured us that the trails were dry and since we had not been able to mountain bike since November, we were eager to give it a go.  It was pretty chilly, as most February days in Colorado so often are, but we bundled up and headed out.  We made it out on the first trail just in time.  The ground was still frozen and we managed to stay atop all of the gunk below.  We chatted and laughed and caught up on all that we had missed in each other’s lives for the last couple of weeks.  We made it to the trail head and the dirt was beginning to dethaw, which translated into slop for us.  We persevered through and the nasty mud patches were small and walkable.

      Then we headed out on the main trail and it was dry, bone dry.  We all cheered in unison and realized how much we had missed the dirt.  We headed out on the loop and it wasn’t long before we encountered snow. 

      Anyone who knows me, knows I am terrified of running into a mountain lion.  Mainly because I spend so much time training solo and I know that they are closer then I think.  So needless to say, this did not ease my fears.

      It was not small and I swear I started to ride a little faster after that encounter.  We headed home and I even got a free spa treatment, mud bath, on the way down.  My poor bike was in bad shape.

      Thank goodness for car washes.

      The day ended with dinner and wine at our house.  Paul and I attempted to recreate a dinner we had watched on food network, fairly successfully; but we are no Tyler Florence.    It was a great day, relaxing, time with loved ones, a new adventure, and a bike ride all rolled in one and in my eyes; that is time well spent.

Yes Miles, Your Mom is a Superhero

            The boys and I went to go see Avatar this weekend and there was a preview of a new movie coming out that has real people pretending to be superheroes.  “Mom, that would be so cool” Miles exclaimed!  Little does he realize his Mom is already a superhero.  Yes by day, I am just another Clark Kent.  I am dressed in a suit, I work in an office, and instead of reporting the news; well, I watch the market.  Believe me, these days the happenings on Wall Street are pretty crazy.  To the untrained eye, I look like a typical working Mom, ha, are they so wrong.  No, I can not stop trains, leap buildings, or use my laser vision, I wish.  My super hero garb does not have a cape, maybe next year, but Pactimo, Lazer, Bell, and Sundog made sure it was just as cool as Superman’s.  I do not have a Batmobile, nope.  My superhero mobile is made by Specialized, but mine can climb mountains and is as light as a feather.  You see Miles, while you dream of Legos, skiing, and bikes, I am working hard chasing my dream of being the best athlete I can be.  Before the Colorado sun rises above the mountains, I am in the pool, pretending I am a fish.  While you are in school studying hard, I am sure; I am working hard to help others live their own dreams.  Some days are tough and I feel defeated by the evil forces in the World, but some days are wonderful and I feel like I saved the day.   No matter how hard the day’s battles are, I will always be home in time to help with homework and to hear about your adventures.  While you play with your friends, I will sneak away and race the clouds on my bike.  Up, up, and away, racing to see who can reach the sky first.  Or maybe I will run with the wind, gasping for air, until my legs burn.  At the end of it all, I will fall into my pillow tired from it all, but not before I kiss you goodnight.  Even superheroes say I love you and this supermom is no exception. 

The Greatest Lesson Learned

            Here I am.  It is 2010 and I swear I am having problems recognizing that person staring back at me in the mirror.  She does not even look like the old me.  Last year was rough on me and no matter how hard I tried, there were too may tears and not enough smiles.  There was no explanation for my heartache; at least, not a simple one.  I am used to challenges and last year had some hurdles, but no bigger then any other year.  My life can get a little crazy.  I have a stressful job, two boys to watch over, and a table to put food on, but all of that is normal.  It was my tiny little secret that brought me so much sadness.  I found triathlon, Xterras that is, on a whim.  It was not part of a calculated plan.  It was just a way for me to get out of the house, get some exercise, escape the stress and reality of my day to day life, and the cries of a newborn and toddler.  What I got back from the sport is more then I could ever put into words.  It gave me confidence, coping skills, and most importantly, a slew of great new friends.  I never took myself too seriously and looked at each race as a new adventure that was until the end of 2008.  My husband coaxed me into taking my participation to the next level.  It was time to get serious, work hard, and focus on having a great 2009 season.  Guess what happened?  All of that stress on top of life stress and work stress caused me to pretty much have a complete breakdown.  The thing that I loved was now a burden, there were no adventures in front of me, but instead things I had to do.  My swim got slower, my bike got slower, my run fell apart, and worst of all, my smile was gone.  I can see it in the pictures from last year.  There is sadness and fear in my eyes, not joy.  It was a downward spiral, the worse I did, the worse I felt about myself.  I was a bad wife, a bad Mom, and a bad friend.  So after a season of lackluster results, barely qualifying for Nationals, and missing a Maui spot, it was time for some serious evaluation and soul searching.  It was not my entire fault, there were outside factors, but at the core of the problem was the unneeded pressure I put on myself.  I was terrified of missing a workout, so I trained when I was tired, I trained when I was hurt, and I trained when I should have been spending time doing other things.  I refused to go on a fun ride with friends until the season was over, no girl time, and I chose training over spending time with my family.  My friends attempted to help me, so did my husband, but sometimes when you are stuck in a hole; you do not know how to get out; all you can do is kick at the dirt walls and scream.  At first I was going to quit, give up, walk away and never race again, but then it came to me, I just needed to have fun again.  The first step was taking a week off at Christmas in exchange for some quality family time on the ski slopes.  There was no talk of training, not even a word.  The only words we spoke related to racing were my Mom attempting to convince me to race in Georgia, so she could see me.  Georgia I thought a new adventure!  I found balance again.  Training was fun and not a burden even under the blanket of fresh Colorado snow and cold air.  I am once looking forward to a year of new adventures, new friends, and lots of laughs.  That is not to say that I do not train, I do and I work hard, but now I am doing it because I want to, not because I have to.  The structure and rigor may work for some people, but for me I do much better when I am enjoying myself.  Sometimes the greatest lessons learned are sometimes the simplest, but the most life changing.  Here is to 2010, may it bring us all a little more smiles and laughs.  I think the whole World could use more of that right about now.

One word triathletes know all too well is discipline.  To be a competitor in tris requires hours of dedication, training and focus.  It means getting out of bed when you want to sleep in, it means going for a ride or run when you’d rather be lazy, and it means being smart about nutrition when you’d rather not have to think about it and just eat chips and salsa instead!  So for many of us that can mean the hardest time of year to be a disciplined triathlete is not during peak race season, when schedule’s are tight and everything runs like a well-oiled machine. No, the hardest time to maintain the discipline of triathlon is the down time of year, after most of the big races have come and gone.  The time of year that comes as warm weather begins to cool, when summer gives way to fall, and days full of swimming, biking, running and obsessively recording all sorts of mind-numbing data in training journals start to get replaced by days full of comments like “Hey, what time is The Family Guy on?”  It’s a time generically known in popular American culture as “the holidays”.  Or as I may start referring to them, “the horror-days”. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the extremely commercial yet poignant and religious time of year between October 31 and December 26th as much as the next guy.  But is it me, or is it becoming increasingly harder to not blow 9 months of solid nutrition and training in the last 3 months of the year?  Why is it that the focus of the holiday season seems to be consumption, whether it be fiscal or food?  From the end of October right through December we are bombarded by temptation from media, friends, family, and co-workers to eat drink and be merry.  Initially, with the latest competitive accomplishments still fresh in mind, succumbing to this constant barrage can easily be averted.  But no normal person can expect to fend off these attacks forever.  Sooner or later, especially when the past season becomes a fading memory,  even the most disciplined can fall prey.  We find ourselves suddenly less lean, less fit, and moving at a pace that feels very close to that of a sloth.  

So what is one to do when the realization of January hits?  When it is cold and dark outside, when our bike shorts or swimsuit fit a little less comfortably?  When the disconcerting jiggle of our own body parts as we run is enough to bring us to tears?!  Get right back into it!  Grab a tissue, dry your eyes and suck it in…er I mean up, and look back on the past couple of months with fondness and appreciation.  Be thankful for the opportunity to take life a little slower and to have extra time.  Make a vow to do better in the future, then forge ahead. Put on those bike shorts (ignore any unsightly bulges, most of us are training  in our basements this time of year anyway), and ride away (or in place as the case may be) with the same determination and discipline that was there before.  Focus on what can be done in the future, not what can’t be changed in the past. 

See, even if the discipline waned a bit in the final months of the year, that is ok.  It is still there, waiting to be resurrected along with the smelly running shoes in the closet, waiting to be called upon once again.  And when that happens discipline will get you back to where you want to be.  Fit and ready.  Ready to start the whole crazy process all over again.  Ready to focus, with discipline, on the road ahead.  The road that leads to the life we love and wouldn’t trade for anything, even if it does get put on hold for a few months out of the year.

Visit Everyman Tri to vote:

http://www.everymantri.com/everyman_triathlon/2009/12/and-the-2009-top-ten-endurance-sports-blogs-are.html

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The Misfit Toys of Triathlon

            It is Christmas season and all of my favorite shows are on T.V.  The boys and I are cuddled on the couch watching the same Holiday specials I watched as a young girl.   The snow is falling outside and the thermometer is dropping rapidly every evening from the chill of the Colorado night.  My boys laugh at the characters and the antiquated animation, but they love it just the same.  One of my favorite ones is about the misfit toys.  I can relate to the feeling of just not fitting in.  I got the last issue of Inside Triathlon and it was beautiful, filled with pictures from Kona, but there were no pictures from Maui, not even one.  You see we Xterra athletes are a strange bunch, the misfit toys of the triathlon world. 

            I know this personally because I live in the Mecca that is Boulder, Colorado.  It is a wonderful and beautiful place to live, but as a triathlete, it can be well, overwhelming.  As an Xterra athlete, I have found that the mountain bikers scoff at me for being a triathlete.  The road triathletes also look down their noses at us.  How can we be triathletes when we ride mountain bikes?  The ITU racers scoff as well.  Xterra racers, they can not even swim, they say.  Do not even get me started on the Ironman crowd, only those that have raced along side us think Xterra is hard.  I understand an outsiders’ confusion.  I mean how hard could it be if the whole field is beaming ear to ear.   You see, that is where we have everyone fooled.  Little do they realize that we are actually having fun out there, yes fun.  There is little attitude among the pros, we all start together and is not uncommon to hear the cheering you on as you cross the finish line.  We know a lot about our fellow racers.  We know what they do for work, we have met their families, and we have shared in their heartbreak and their triumphs.  We are at the start of the race laughing and wishing each other good luck.  We encourage each other, by name, as we pass our fellow racers.  We smile at the camera crews and give them a thumbs up and a smile, even when we are seriously hurting.  When you grow tired of racing Xterras and move on, you will be surely missed and people will reminisce about you and the time you shared together.  Maybe it is because the people at Team unlimited are so wonderful.  Maybe it is because Xterra was born in Maui.  I think that we are just a wonderful group of people bound by our love of playing in the outdoors, wherever on that globe that may be.  So to all you outsiders, come and join us we promise a great time, good company, and some wonderful stories.  For me, I am fine being labeled a misfit; at least I have some wonderful company.

Dear Santa,

Unlike my friend and fellow team mate Becky, I have not been very good this year.  I have been terrible about household chores, putting off things like grocery shopping and laundry so I could train.  I didn’t work much, and what little earnings I had I spent on frivolous items, mostly workout clothes and tri-gear.  I wasn’t around much for friends or family, and when I was I was either exhausted or busy planning for my next race or training session.  I also missed a lot of church, and didn’t visit my mom nearly as much as I should have.  

But I wasn’t all bad in 2009.  If one of my kids, my husband or a family member or friend needed something I was there for them.  And, what little work I did do involved serving others, whether it was for the non-profit soccer club I work for, or my pilates students that faithfully attend my weekly classes.  And, even if my house isn’t the cleanest it is warm, stocked with food (even if I didn’t prepare it!), and full of laughter.  I’m also here every morning to see my daughter off to school and home every afternoon to welcome her with a hug and snack.  So maybe I was a teensy bit good after all. 

That being said, here is my Christmas list for 2009:

Discipline.  Whether it’s about food choice or training, please give me the discipline to do the right thing.

Limitless energy.  I’d love to be able to log in a 20 hour training week and not think twice about doing it again.

Better technical skills on the bike.  I want to fly over obstacles and lean into tight switchbacks and make it look easy.

Better swim technique during races.  Why is it in the pool I glide with effortless ease, but in a race my stroke deteriorates into what could be described as ”painful thrashing”?  

Faster legs.  I figure since Becky asked for these you might as well bring a set for me, too.

Patience.  I seem to have less of this as I get older.  Must be a “as we age we have less time on earth to get it all done” sort of thing.

And of course, health and happiness for my loved ones.  This is a given since without it all the gifts in the world are meaningless.

Thanks Santa!  And have a very Merry Christmas!

Your friend Heather

Dear Santa,

            I have to say that all in all, I have been a very good girl this year.  At my job, I did the job of many, but my company only had to pay for me.  I did all my chores.  I cleaned the house, shoveled the walk, did the laundry, made many meals, and brought home the bacon.  I did all of my homework, with my two boys, school projects and spelling tests.  I put others first, even to my own determent.  I was polite to others.  I did not throw too much sand in the sand box.  You see Santa; I have been very good this year.  So here is my Christmas list, I hope it is not too long:

• A job for Paul.  It has been nice to have him home, but my wallet is much lighter then it used to be and he is getting bored. 
• A good night’s sleep.  I would like to be able to sleep in just one day.  One day with no little boys screeching at the top of their lungs at 6:30 am.  No sound of little feet running above me.  Nowhere to be, nothing to do.
• A longer Sunday.  No matter how I try to not wait until the last minute, Sunday night comes and I am running around like crazy trying to get ready for the week.
• Health and happiness for my family and friends.  It has been a tough year for us all, please make next year a little easier.
• Longer days.  It is pretty depressing to get up when it is dark and go home in the dark.
• Lots of Colorado sunshine.   Nothing makes my smile bigger.
• More time to relax.  There are just too many things to be done and too many places to go.
• A warm January.  We all know in Colorado February through March is extra snowy, so a little break in January would be nice.
• As little of the Crazy Colorado wind as possible.  Last year it blew off my roof and almost blew me off the road.  Please give us as few of 80 MPH gust days as possible.
• Lots of snow, but mostly in the mountains.  I love the Colorado snow and I love to play in it, but it can be a major nuisance when you have to drive to work in it.  Let it snow, but stay on the ski slopes.
• Faster legs.  I know this is a big one, but if you could help me run faster, that would be great.
• Less Itchy skin.  The pool in the winter wrecks havoc on my skin, so if you could help it itch a little less that would be great.
• Less crashes.  There were a lot of trees and rocks that jumped out in front of me on the bike this year, so a little less next year would be great.
• The ability to eat as many fries and drink as many beers as I want and not gain a pound.   MMMM cheese fries.
• A little less attitude from my boys.  Please remind them that they are still little boys and they have plenty of teenage years ahead of them for eye rolls and back talk.
• For my husband to love me as much as he loves riding his bike.  I always come second on that one.
• A clone to go to work for me and do my chores.  Then I can do what I really love.  If a clone will not work, a huge trust fund and a maid will do.

Santa I know you may not be able to fit all of these things in your sled, so just one more thing.  Please let me have some fun in 2010.  That should be an easy one.

Thank you Santa,

Becky