Catching up

Holy Crow!

When I think back to everything that has gone on over the past two weeks, my first thought was "Holy Crow!". While the urban dictionary declares that 'holy crow!' is just a reworking of 'holy cow!', wiki answers says that it's blasphemy based on the cleverness of the crow or the raven. You have to love google, I image requested it and this is what popped up. Funny. Anyway, it's been a busy couple of weeks after the Montauk sprint so I will try to briefly bring you up to date on my doings. Celebrated our 10th anniversary on Monday the 18th, followed by a trip up to Lake Placid for a week of training and race watching while celebrating my 40th birthday (F$&K!). Age is just a number right? Yet, I have a hard time thinking about the past 15 years flowing by like a blur. Life is good though and I am truly happy so that's how I'll celebrate this next decade. Happy.
We arrived at the house in LP on Wednesday afternoon after a brief stop at HSS in NYC. Dave will be receiving a bionic hip at the end of August, and while many people are "sorry" this has to happen, we are not. The type of procedure Dave will be undergoing is meant for younger athletes. With good muscle strength and flexibility, the Doc indicated that he is a prime candidate and doesn't see why Dave wouldn't be able to return to his athletic status after the requisite amount of healing and therapy take place. It's like a shining beacon, a light at the end of the pain tunnel.
Thursday morning we joined Nancy, Jose and two of his friends for what was supposed to be an easy 1 hour ride. Going out of town on 86 backwards, we got to Wilmington and went straight. It's a long gradual climb for a few miles. Nancy, Dave and I seperated off at the end of the road, Jose and friends making a left for a 3+ hour ride, we went right. A sharp downhill followed by a right turn took us to the end of the old out and back. "Yikes" we said, 1 hour ride just extended, by a lot. Never the less we took it easy on the way back, wind kicking up strong in our face climbing back into town. 40 miles in 2:20. Not necessarily the "easy" 1 hour ride we were looking for but it didn't matter. You have to take advantage of the riding up there when you can get it! Friday, my birthday, we met up with Doc Rush, Marty, Ted and his friend "young Matt". Ted said, "Jen, to celebrate your 40th, we are going up Whiteface today", I laughed thinking him not serious. Out of town we went, on the bike course. The roads were exceedingly crappy on the downhill this year. Normally I love to rocket down the big hills, had to pull back. At one point my bike was wobbling so badly I thought I flatted only to pull over and realize it was the road causing the wobble, not a flat. I went down a little more carefully after that and we all regrouped on 9 heading towards Jay. With a slight tailwind, we were flying down the road. I had no trouble hanging on until the speed got up over 30! Settling back into my own 25-26 mph pace I stayed within sight of the group, relishing the flow in the aerobars. What a great feeling that is. Making the left, we stayed together as a group for the climb stopping at the gas station for fluid refills and a quick Coke. Whiteface, it was on. We stopped for pictures in front of the big sign (have to get them from Marty) and began the onward and upward. I rode with Doc Rush for the first couple of miles, chatting away about training, studies, etc. and we regrouped for a short pit stop up ahead. I was very unsure of myself, I've never climbed anything remotely like this ever and wasn't sure I was ready for it. I haven't been riding all that much this year with no long triathlons scheduled and the Doc was reminding me not to fall into the peer pressure which of course I did. I turned 40 today, time to bring it in big. Up we went, and up and up which is pretty much the theme. It was really hard, spinning was virtually impossible and I had a 27 on the back. I felt like a was pedaling in squares. We stopped twice along the way on the climb to regroup and rest our aching muscles for a bit. Up, up, weaving (what a great way to get up the tough spots, I was riding horizontally for many of the sections!). At the last pit stop, Marty said "look up, that's where we are going", I cursed, a lot. Dave prodded me on and encouraged me. More square pedaling, turning a corner on one of the switchbacks, I knew I was closer. Sightsee'ers in cars were cheering us on. My own private Alpe de Huez. The wind was gusting near the top and FINALLY, the end was there, Ted waiting, and we all hung out for a bit at the top. The pictures tell it best:

Marty climbing steady

The boys: 'Young Matt', Marty and Dave at the last pit stop. I think  speedy Ted was at the top already!

Yikes! Still another 100 feet of climbing to go!

Ted snapped this pic of me from his phone, I'm a speck in the road on the final switchback towards the bottom left. Having climbed Alpe de Huez before, Ted thought Whiteface was very similar.

Made it! At the top.

So happy to be up here.

View of Lake Placid at the top of Whiteface

This picture doesn't do the view justice.

Thanks Dave for encouraging me up.

Ted, this was all your fault.

After grabbing some fluid and completing the picture rounds it was time to head back down. I mentioned to Ted that I was a bit scared. The roads weren't great and I tried not think about what was on the other sides of the cliffs (nothing but air!). I descended cautiously, tapping the brakes and made it down to the bottom in less than a quarter of the time it took to climb up. It was hot as well, but spinning the last 10 miles uphill into town was a pleasure. No more square pedaling. I have to say, it was one of the hardest rides I have ever done. My legs were trashed for a few good days afterwards but I didn't mind. I learned something else about myself and my limits and I look forward to giving this a good go again next year, just on a road bike next time! Climbing like that on a tri bike is definitely tough and harder I think, the forward position really isn't meant for that kind of continual steep uphill effort.

Saturday I ran an easy 5 on dead legs for recovery, swam a bit in the beautiful Mirror Lake with Dave hoping that my legs would recover in the next 24 hours to run at least 10 miles after the swimmers went out on the bike course. I did manage it, feeling like crap after 4 miles but loosening up and feeling better for the final 6. Stopped at the top of Cobble to cheer on our friends. After a good meal and a shower we went back there to catch the bikers on their second loop and spent the rest of the day between the LP brew pub and Matt Long's I Will cheering station on the run in front of his house. What a great day and congrats to all the racers out there!

Scott K took our picture on top of papa bear. Dave's backwards visor looks like a bad 80's headband!

In front of Matt Long's. The I WILL cheering section making virgin margarita's for the runners. Hilarious.

Monday was an easy recovery spin tooling around with Dave for an hour, trying to ride "flat". Tuesday morning was a loop of the swim before the drive home. What a great week. Coaching has been busy, I started working with 3 new athletes this month in addition to my regular posse and I am very excited to help them reach their goals: 2 doing a fall Ironman this year (Harry and Katie), a consult for an IMLP athlete next year (Jim Mac!) and I'm proud to be sponsoring CAF's Nick Roumanada for triathlon and NYC marathon training. I love the teaching, planning, problem solving, intuitive, functional aspect of coaching. 

Next up: Smith Point triathlon and West Point triathlon, both sprints for pure enjoyment. Bracing for the start of school. Four more weeks before I'm teaching again and 4 more weeks until I become a student myself again. Let's get this PhD started!