To my Sweet Summer (roo)

Disclaimer - If you are not a triathlete, I suspect that you may find me even more crazy after this post.  That's ok.  I suspect every one of us out there has our own 'roo.

Well, it's been one of those weeks.  An out of sorts week.  A "I want to pull my hair out and scream obscenities as I quit my job" week (I love my job.  Just not this week).  A "how in the hell is my baby going to preschool orientation and my other baby turning 1" emotional week.  And, of course, a fucking taper week for my upcoming half.  A week full of first world problems, I am well aware.  But a draining week.  

Then I lost, what to me, may as well be a family member.  No, no one died - I'm being melodramatic, and I know it.  But we sold off my beloved tri bike - she went to an amazing new home, and I know she will be loved.  But I will miss her.

Beautiful girl.

I first got "Summer" , my tri bike, back in 2008 after my road bike bit the dust in a car accident.  She was a brand new Quntana Roo Chiquilo - women's specific, shiny pink, and frickin gorgeous.  I called her "Summer" because my cat, Summer, was nicknamed "roo".  Don't ask.

Summer's namesake!

Summer and I had a great run -  from my first Half Ironman to my first full Ironman in Placid....she was the bike I rode the morning I got married.  The bike I rode all through both pregnancies (indoors of course!0 and the bike I rode the day before I went into labor with each kiddo. She was the bike I rode the day after my fur summeroo passed...after 17 years of friendship, the two wheeled Summer caught my tears as I mourned the loss of my fur kiddo. 

 She took me through 8 Sodus tri's, and quite fittingly, had her last ride on that iconic and special course where I first dove into the world of triathlon.  

Rob n the 'roo

She had approximately 35,000 miles on her over the last 8 years...more than most cars.  And she has some awesome life left in her for another racer, I know.  But I will miss her.  Without getting into it, it was sort of unexpected that I sold her - I knew it was time, and it was the right decision.  Right now I see myself doing tri's, but I'm done for 2016 and now was the time to explore a new bike that fits my needs as a racer now.

Summer, I'll miss you - you were an epic bike and I thank you for all of your faithful years!!

Sodus Tri 2016: Because you know I'm all about that run, bout that run...

Ahhh, Sodus.  It seems this race is the one constant in my life.  It's the race that started all this madness off (yep, still thanking Greg for that 12 years later!) and the one race that we make sure is on our calendar every single year.  This is the race that I jumped into Lake Ontario in 2005 with no concept of what the heck a tri really was, the race I did in 2009 as a newlywed (one week post wedding!) and the race I did as a new mom in 2013 (5 weeks PP).  This race has seen me through everything.  It holds my worst time (2:01, first tri) and my PR (1:21).  It's close, friendly, and we have done it every year in one shape or form (yes, I did my own race last year, as a non competitor!) since then.  This year, it was not about the PR.  As somewhat of a slacker in the tri department, I was well aware that if you want to do well in a tri...you have to train.  And despite my best intentions, all that promising I did post Pittsford resulted in....more running.  The pool sucks here (no consistency), and lately,  I've been running more than anything.  So rather than shooting for a PR, I decided to hang on in the swim, not die on the bike, and PR on the run (current run PR 25:05)

Pre Race:  We left the kiddos with gramma and a friend (such a wise choice) and headed out to the point.  Picked up packets, stared at the muck of choppy mess that was the lake, and got ready to do battle.  With an hour to go, the RD announced that the swim would be in the bay whih is...unheard of.  Seriously.  In 11 years, we have always thought this would be wise....turns out, the town never let them do it.  So they asked the sheriff.  Kudos, boots, kudos.  Dipped in the water for a quick warm up, tore my wetsuit (shit!) and got ready to rock it.

Swim: 17:56.  Seems that when you make the water calmer...you extend the swim.  According to the 5th place OA, the swim was 950m instead of 750, and I believe it.  I was figureing about a 15:00 swim, so I felt bummed, but when everyone else has a 3 minute longer swim, you roll with it.  Swim felt a bit more congested...there were quite a few more women in the mix, and the bay was smaller.  There was also a significant sand bar that made swimming pretty rough, but other than that, no biggie.  I felt comfortable, albiet slow for me.  And when I checked my watch post swim, the PR was off the table.  Hey, nothing like relieving stress early.

Bike: 42:14.  Hit the bike feeling good - helmet on correctly, check (yes, I am the moron that put it on backwards in 2014) and I was ready to rock.  Hit the small hills in the beginning without much incident, and settled in to ride.  I had crap luck with my bike in Pittsford, but Greg tuned it for me, so it shifted nicely, felt great, no worries.  I didn;t really have the speed, but held 20ish on the flats and didn't dip too low on the hills.  Passed 7 women and coasted into T2 in 42 minutes and change, about 2 minutes off my bike PR, but feeling good.

Run: 24:05:  YESSS.  The run.  I glanced at my watch runnign out of T2, and knew I needed a sub 27 to get under 1:30, which was my B goal....(A goal to PR, such a pipe dream).  I knew I could do it, but a sub 25 was really the goal.  I passed one woman coming right out of T2, and settled into the run.  I felt pretty strong until .5 mile when a woman about my age passed me like I was walking.  Hmmm. ...keep her in my sights!!!  Halfway in I was at 12:25 so...turn it up a gear!  I passed said age grouper at mile 2, and we ran together for a bit.  We confirmed that we were both ...33.  Game. On.  At 2.75, I felt awesome, told her I was turning it up and to come catch me.  I blasted it in the finish line (kept her at bay!) at 24:10, a 7:48 pace and almost a full minute PR.  YESSSS.

Overall time was 1:27, no PR by any means, but I was proud of my run and that's what I came to do.  I also now had something cool to request for my birthday (a wetsuit, lol) and a sweet 2nd AG award, 8th woman OA.  Seeing as the woman that won my AG came in 2nd with a 1:15 and did Kona I felt...pretty legit.

Sodus, you are an awesome race.  Every year you throw it down in some way, and I remember why I love tris.  Just next time...I promise to train.  For real.

Month 11: Oh My God....What Happened to the Baby??

Wow, kiddo.  Seems like just yesterday, we were heading off to Highland in our Mickey shirts (blame bro) to welcome our new kiddo....and now, here I am, with you and said bro hanging out, playing cars in the next room, a first birthday party invite on the fridge, and a scrapbook in the making on the table next to me, filled with 335 days of the Biz.....where did the time go??  (I feel I am a broken record.  I say the same thing every month.  But it's true.....how do the days fly by so fast???)  Well, like it or not, here we are.  The last monthly edition of you, the Biz, by the months old stage....next month t this time, you will be the big ONE year old lady!!  Wow, wowee, wowzers.  Insane.

Size - 21 pounds.  You are as healthy as can be, little one.  Next month we will find out how tall you are, but when I even attempt to feed you on the boppee (so hilarious), you just fall off.  Such a far cry from the little nugget who basically fit in my two hands!

Likes:  Basketball!  We have a little fisher price set and you love dinging the basket (sometimes you even throw the ball in, too, lol.  You love reading, playing cars with bro (you are getting good at it!) racing in the czy coupe, and playing with your bulldozer.  You also have a weird fascination with the toilet, which is gross yet funny....we call you Mario behind your back (ok, to your face, too!!)

Dislikes: Still not too much other than the obvious.  You aren't a fan of canteloupe or bananas, which is kinda weird, but in the food dept (more below) anything else is A OK.

Sleep: Seems to have hit a regression this month, dammit.  You go down usually about 730 like a dream....then wake up anytime from 11pm to 2am screaming for me.  Yes, only me.  Who needs sleep anyways?  I guess I can do that in 18 years.  Maybe.  But the upshot is, we do get soem good snuggles in.  Even if you want to talk about boys at 2am.  Too soon, Biz.  Too soon.

Eating:  OHMYGOD.  All the things.  Except, of course, cantaloupe and bananas!  You put away steak and burgers like a dude, and you adore cheese (don't blame ya).  Grapes are fun, and of course, the old standby, yog.  MMM..  my little nomser.  I got my email of the month from strong moms, talking about how its about time to wean from purees...HAH.  Like, 4 months ago.  Such a brat you are.  And I love it :)

Milestones/Firsts:

Stairs!  You climb them like a champ.  I am in serious trouble.
Boat ride:  We went to the 1000 islands for a long weekend, and rode in a big boat! You loved it.
Vacation:  See above - We had a blast on vacation, you loved exploring and hamming it up for everyone.
Standing, unassisted:  Walking any day now, running soon to come I am sure.
Clapping:  You are your own biggest fan.
High Fives:  You love them!  They make you giggle, you get so impressed with yourself!

Best Moment: Watching you zoom up those stairs.  It was sort of bittersweet, because i know the baby days are nearly over....but watching you explore and take chances, and the big grin you get when you scale those steps....just melts my heart, kiddo.  Mommy is so darn proud of you!

Looking Forward to:  Your first birthday!  Invites are out, and we are going to have a book party, complete with your fave, Sophie (and all the giraffes).  I can't wait to see you in your pink party dress and, of course, said party dress all smeared with cake :-).