Ready for a new path....

The weekend...

Finally here at last, although Friday is technically a "weekday", I like to be optimistic and enjoy what I consider a preempt to pure fun on my bike. Don't burst my bubble....and I really don't care. Lol!

Tomorrow I'm due to ride a new route that I'm a bit cautious about. I've heard it may be tough, but reallly, anything I attempt is tough. The ride is to Chantry Flats, and other various local climbs in the area of Pasadena. I'm escorted by my awesome best friend and exceptional rider Ron. I just hope I don't disappoint. Forgive me ahead of time.
I'm the type to know what I'm getting into before trying something new, so this is a challenge. I will treat to lunch if I suck badly enough....

So Molly is ready.... am I, hehe... we will see. Am I a blazing sandbagger???

More to come on my trek with my very best friend, that I'd love to be like one day. Cheers, I will be riding hard, not hardly riding. Yeowza!!

H

Thankful.... freakin thankful.

Okay, I woke today... happy.

Shit, all I can say is I'm freaking thankful. Despite what I go through in my everyday life, I can say I've got the best people whom I'm surrounded by everyday.

At work, I have a great core set of friends who back each other up good or bad, and on my spare time I have a group of friends I call my brothers....they all hold a special place in my heart.
This weekend was not exception. We are a tight club. I'm so darn thankful for my tenacity to stick with these guys.

Thanks for all who are in my life, and allowing me to be a part of yours.

Cheers!

Ahhh... shit, thank you!!!!

Thank you my love..

I ride for life.

The honor is all mine...

As I relax I can only think of this weekend....I had planned going on a 70 mile ride today, but my body said, "Hells no way.... after yesterday? You crazy girl..." lol! I know when to listen.

I was thinking of the Triathlon venue that was on the Navy side where the Hovercrafts are stored. They are indeed beautiful to see up close and to get to run onto one at the end of the race is by far a treat that we earn.

While on out on the bike with loads of time to make up from my dismal swim effort, I powered on as quickly as I could despite the dehydrating effect of swallowing all that sea water which was taking its toll. I was literally the last to come out of the water. Remember, I was in the last wave of the day. You remember don't you lol! This time I told those nice marines as I got out of the water, I'm the last civilian out of the water.. I have to thank God for all the marines.on base and those who are deployed and serving all over the world. It was my honor to be in their house, as gracious hosts they were. On the bike portion I was indeed happy... spinning away. It was only a short Sprint of 18 miles with moderate hills and some headwinds... nothing I wasn't prepared for except making a wrong turn on the course. I was behind this guy cyclist who said I was doing pretty good. Maybe, that's why I followed him? Lol! Jk... anyway we came upon an intersection, and since I thought he was in the race, there you go. I followed him to another part of the base to an exit and a guard shack but no signage. Oh no, where am I? Crap, I thought. After asking the guard about where I was, and confirmed dread of my mistake, ugh. I pedaled as fast as I could. Oh well what can I say? It happens...ahhh..so I did an extra two.miles. eh, so what. I get back onto the tarmac and head to transition or T2 for second transition from bike to run. At that point I had to pee like you can't imagine. Okay so I'm honest..I almost went under the ropes but the thought I might get disqualified so suck it up I said to myself. I ran up the tarmac to the top. There we were Marines handing out water and Gatorade. I had my Gatorade.in hand from my bike, but kindly requested water. Ha! They thought it funny that I didn't want to drink it but rather preferred it poured on my head. The nice Marine smiled and said, " yes, maam." You see, my hair at that moment was dry from my ocean swim and looked like Doc Brown from Back to the Future movie, stiff and filled with salt water. Funny thing was , I forgot my cap for the run. BTW, I now have a sunkissed.looking face with sunglasses. Nice...job Helene.

At that point a young lady Marine asked me if she could join me for the run to complete her PT for the week. I said sure,, of love the company. Then four more of her peers joined in on the run. Wow, was I lucky, or what? I do want to say I do know their names. They are... Luann, Chrissy, Rob, Luke, and Hollywood. Hollywood is named Hollywood because this was where he was trained, while the rest came from other parts of the country. We maintained a good pace as they ran the entire three.miles with.me. we had a blast.

Luann was who joined me first and I think the oldest at 21, and in the Corp for 3 years now. Beautiful girl. Chrissy was very energetic and cute with a very short haircut with brown hair. She actually started us singing some.songs. Bon Jovli's Living On A Prayer means much to me now.
Luke was rather quiet with an awesome smile, and a cool laugh. He would interject a little and would run ahead and tale pics.of the group as.we ran with his phone. Rob blond hair blue eyes maybe 18 yrs old was animated.at times, but more serious, while Hollywood made me laugh the most. It was such great fun,, and three of my teammates Jose, Chris, and Rolo who joined in on the run as well. We were a.running party. Tired as all heck, we inspired each other.

At the end of the run everyone encouraged me to run the last 100 yards full on, as fast as I could. Then Jose lights a fire under my feet by saying, "Helene that lady is coming up fast"... to which I reply, "Aw shit"... and pour it on. Nice trick Jose. My legs thank you now. I'm so lucky to live..

I want to say that I love the Camp Pendleton Triathlon. Even if it kicks my ass good.

It is my honor to share a day with our servicemen and women.
Cheers!!!

Top Challenge Sprint Triathlon- Camp Pendleton

Yesterdays triathlon was seriously the hardest I've completed thus far for a sprint distance race.

I had a feeling about this one. You know, intuition of sorts. For days leading up to this event I was pensive as I recalled the last time I did it two years ago when the waves were massive. Then Thursday one of the guys posted the temp, water conditions, and what the surf was at that time, and the waves were about four feet. Okay, that got me thinking. Friday morning nerves were dead on serious through out the day. Then after noon time I got a surf advisory saying that the waves were up to ten feet and would be that way through Saturday night. Ughh!! The next morning at 245 I get out of bed for for an early breakfast and my coffee jolt.
After meeting the guys to caravan down to Oceanside, I was hyped up. Check-in went as usual and anticipation grew as we walked our bikes down to the transition area. All I wanted was to quickly get my wetsuit on and check out the water. I wanted to feel the rush of what I was fearing to the core until then. I went in to feel the temp... all good. So far so good, the waves were my friend.
PROPS TO ALL WHO WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRY... IT WAS CRAZY!!
All of those feelings and so called confidence dissipated once we saw the first wave of participants head out into the water. These guys were the elite triathlete men. I will try and paint a picture of the scene... the swim is a quarter mile distance, piece of cake, right? Well, because of massive waves out there to the swim buoys, two of them were placed way past the the big waves. Our job for this part was to swim straight out to the first buoy make a right, then another rig at the second buoy, and then come straight on in.... easy concept, right? Haha, not if mother nature has a say in that plan. The waves were massive and crashing relentlessly, but unknown to us all was that the current was worse. So as the elite swimmers raced out at the sound of the horn, they had an immediate reality check. They began a mad swim against the nasty current that was preventing them from reaching that first buoy. We on shore were stunned at what we were seeing, and then strategizing began.... all this meant was we had to run from the start at least 100 yards up from the start just so as we entered the water current and the bashing waves we'd reach the first buoy perfectly. Pretty good theory if you get past the big waves in time. I happened to see the circus of jetskis and skids pulling folks out of the water. I was scheduled for the last wave of the day and saw some pretty young and strong individuals get pulled out. Great, huh. Not.

So with all of my teammates out into the water, my turn came up. The horn I dreaded went off... I'd don't give up unless I know I will die, and had made a promise to be funny at the end of my swim in honor of passing ....I decided I'd do a little dance then head on in to the transition area. That's what kept me in the game. I gotta dance....I told myself. So though all those waves and as they were the raging all around me and yes the current that kicked my ass. I feel like that's what it must be like to swim in those lap pools that you can swim forever. The lifeguard would tell me...you're almost there. He said that at least four times as I just couldn't get close to the first buoy. Torture. I finally did.then seemed to swim so fast to the next buoy. Land was minutes away. Haha! As I stumbled onto land, a Lifeguard told me congratulations for finishing the swim portion, that 300 others had not. So happily as I reached the point between the balloon exit of the swim, I stood there and did my little spin and dance. I was alive.... now for the bike.

Molly was there waiting for me as I transitioned out of my wetsuit. We set out for the bike. I lost lots of time in the swim amd had massive time to make up... happy at last.

Time fades away...

As I ponder why time seems to slip by....

I am preparing for a few events within the next few months. This Saturday August 6th 2011, my best buddies and I will participate on a fun triathlon. It's become more of a fun Triathlon event than anything really serious. We usually do it for the smacktalk that my buddies seem to spew out weeks prior. Nonetheless it is very entertaining.
I have not trained a lick on the two other aspects of the Triathlon at all, call me brave or stupid. I prefer brave, haha. I did this two years ago and was surprised by the swim portion. The waves were huge that day, so a warning, I may drown. Just kidding, sort of. Lol! We will see...

With all the preparations that have kept me busy every weekend on the bike have been in preparation for the Gram Fondo in October. Thus ly swim and time have suffered. I know o could have run after work, but after working a crazy Assed day at work, that the last thing I want to do...

Time fades away....

So with three days until my day with my friends, I know despite it all, I always do my very best. The swim will be, eh, the bile will rock, and the run will be the best I can do. The best part I will have my brothers and a new girl to have a blast with... lucky me...

Why does time fade away??

The Climb...

Yesterdays summer rain was very refreshing. I was a little bit relieved as our planned bike ride was to cover the Orange County hillsides and canyons. Hot does not suit me well, so this weather was perfect.....
As we rode in the misty rain and raindrops speckled my glasses.... I thought of where we were headed. I know the course and was anticipating some pretty cool climbs and views....

All I could do was smile as we passed a few folks riding up those hills amd remembered how I used to think that I'd love to one day make this climb look easy. It never is easy, just the fitness you gain does. Yeah, I still breathe a bit hard but not like before. Now the climbs are more enjoyable, yet faster each time.

I had to stop a take a few pics as I always do and as I was getting back onto my bike these two cyclists girls came right past. I always acknowledge anyone who I pass or who pass me up with a good morning or a nod if I can't breathe... haha, whatever the case may ne. These two looked like pretty intense riders and did.not respond. Maybe they couldn't breathe, and talk at the same time, right? So eh, resumed my trek through the canyon. Then here is my favorite part... the climb. It is about a 9.5 grade climb with awesome views on both sides of the road. I have respect for climbs as I have had many instances I felt I could die, not really die, but feel that way by many a hill. My gain was suddenly really close to the those two girls who passed me up. I let them see that I was on their tail for a bit and then I thought, hey I'm feeling good, why let them lead? Let's show them what I've got. It was nice to say hello again without a response from them again, but the best part was that I said to them, "on your left" and powered past them right up that hill... I lead the way up that hill amd never stopped. I never saw those two girls again, I actually thought it might be rude to look back.

I loved the climb as it always gives me challenges and the reward of finality of your effort and that is the descent. The rain picked up as I reached the top and at first I thought, shit I better watch out on the speed and slick roads. It was awesome the whole way down....Fun all the same.

The climb on my bike rocks.... when's the next ride.

Feel the climbs, in life as well... there is always an easy and rewarding part of life.... when is next???