May 5, 2009
FIRST FRIDAYS AT CHESAPEAKE
I pretty much cleared most of my calendar this past weekend just so I could be part of such a spectacular weekend. Where to begin....hmmmm...
First of all, Let me start by saying that I showered for the Friday event which is a pretty big deal for me. That's my way of saying "Wow, this event is worth my cleanliness!"
It was first Fridays in Havre de Grace, MD and all the shops throughout town were open and the spirit of everyone was quite jovial. When I arrived the sky was looking a little dark but I was not going to let that spoil my evening. I had just dropped off all four, yes all FOUR kids, at the gym for Parent's Night Out and I was alone for 2 and a half hours. Oh joy! I checked out the fully stocked shop, did some meeting and greeting and then hopped in the rickshaw.
My very very strong fellow cyclist Jeff took my friend Priscilla and I (we're a little hefty) around town and it was glorious. For the first time in my life I felt like a queen. I waved, sang, drank wine and gave out occasional autographs. Who cares if people have no idea who I am? On the way back to the shop I had the superb idea of stopping for beer for everyone. Well that superb idea quickly turned into a wet t-shirt contest that unfortunately I did not win. Nonetheless a good time was had by all!
April 26, 2009
RUN SUSAN RUN!
Out of running, biking and swimming, I like biking the best, swimming second and running is definitely last. I have tried to love it for years but I just can't get into it. It doesn't excite, inspire or move me BUT if I want to do triathlons I have to run.
This is the second year I have done the Women's 5K by the Bay in Havre de Grace, MD. The run is along the bay and is a celebration of women, running and fitness not to mention freakin' beautiful. A portion of the proceeds are donated to local women's charities and its always powerful and ultra inspiring to be surrounded by 400 women.
I had a pretty good run and manage to do it in 30 minutes which isn't terribly bad but more importantly, I finished!!! I ran with old and new friends and then afterward we stopped by my friends' new bike shop, Chesapeake Cycle and Sport. They sponsored the Women's 5K by the Bay and had an open house for the runners and volunteers which included mimosas, tasty treats and good music.
After we all fueled up we went out on a chic only bike ride! I had the pleasure of riding with 4 women I had never ridden with before. It was an all level ride and I really enjoyed cheering on the other riders and sharing my love of cycling. I'm telling you riding is totally infectious! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I get to see women cycling and really wanting to do it just for the love of riding. Now get your bike out and start riding!
PS - I forgot to mention that all 5 of us were riding WSD Trek bikes!
April 22, 2009
GOALS FOR THE SUMMER
When I think of working out I think of a big fat juicy cheeseburger and that's just wrong. Over the years I have found ways to get away from the eating visualizations and into my fitness visualizations or "goals" as I like to call them.
Its always good to have a goal. Whether you achieve it or not its just good to have. As I have a mentioned in the past I like to have goals as they help me visualize a beginning, middle and end with my tasks. Deep down goals scare the crap out of me but I really love that aspect of them. Scare tactics always seem to work...especially with the monkeys.
This summer I have already signed up for 4 events and 1 is in a holding pattern.
- Women's 5K by the Bay - 4/26
- Catoctine Challenge 150 mile ride - 6/26
- Diamond in the Rough Sprint Triathlon in Maryland - 7/11
- Northeast Olympic Triathlon in Maryland - 8/16
- Trek Women's Triathlon Series (Date TBD)
So there you have it. I've only done 3 of these events last year and they all proved to be big fun but very challenging. So once again I will start/continue training and hope to have a strong finish with all events.
Now that I have my goals lined up I will crack a beer, eat a cheeseburger and think about them. Just kidding. I will start riding a lot more outside and try to eat a bit more protein and a little less fat...ok, a lot less fat. Is that possible? We'll see.
April 8, 2009
I BIRTHED MY FIFTH CHILD
For the past few weeks I have been directing a one woman show in New Mexico. I rehearsed in Baltimore and then went to New Mexico for production week. It was an experience I will never forget.
I directed a woman, Kathleen Fontaine, that I had worked with onstage when I lived in California. She was writing and performing in a one-woman show about her life. It was about her troubled childhood, her 15 month addiction to crack and her road to rehabilitation. It was anything but a comedy.
The material was very powerful and on opening night I found out how powerful it really was. In the middle of the show on opening night Kathleen was so nervous that she completely lost her lines, stopped the show, asked the audience to leave and then walked off stage. As I sat in the audience I realized that the audience was not leaving and she wasn't coming back so I went into the bathroom to get here.
Long story short....I basically told her to get her ass back on stage and eventually she did. The show went on, she finished with a bang and the audience loved it. She had many people congratulate her telling her that the part when she "walked off stage" was their favorite. No lie. So I guess it worked and apparently really well.
The name of the show was Learning to Stay and I think that by coming back onstage she accomplished that. I must admit that the stress of getting her back onstage and watching her finish the show was a little bit of a nail biter. As she took her final bow I felt as though I had birthed my fifth child...without the epidural.
April 5, 2009
THE NEW GIRLS IN TOWN
Bittersweet.....ah yes, its one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
Well that's how I'm feeling right now, Bittersweet. I've been doing this Trek blogging gig for a couple of years and I'm really comfortable with it and gosh darn it I like it! But all good things must come to an end....sniff sniff.
This week Trek announced the next five Women Who Ride. I know that no one can truly live up to the quality blogging that I present to my audience (joke) but I think we should give them a fair chance.
....And the winners are.... Roxzanne Abbott, Caitlin Hollister, Rebecca Jensen, Amy King, and Mary Strupp. I am thrilled to death for them and am sure they will rock the Women Who Ride Program. I think I even get to meet them!
I would also like to say a big thank you to all of the women that submitted an essay. Your enthusiasm was overwhelming and apparent in your essays. As everyone knows it is hard to put yourself out there in front of a group of people and then ultimately not make the final cut. I encourage you all to keep riding and to share your experiences and your love of the bike with every person you meet.
We all do this for a reason so keep riding and remember its your courage to try new things that makes you a winner.
March 30, 2009
INACTIVITY
Definition of INACTIVITY - Idleness; habitual indisposition to action or exertion; lack of energy; sluggishness.
Ok, so I have been feeling the repercussions of my inactivity. Why? Because I'm busy as all hell and my kids are sick so as a result I have been inactive. Fiona had strep throat last week so she was out for three days, then I rehearsed for 4 days for a show I'm directing in New Mexico this week, then Seamus had a thick green mucus coming out of his nose which translates into "he can't go to the gym nursery", then I went to NYC for my friend's memorial, then Liam got strep throat and the list goes on. I'm not complaining, I'm just pointing out that inactivity is just another way of enjoying life. A lot of fun without the sweat.
So I've only worked out 2 to 3 times a week for the past 2 weeks BUT I've been a great mom and a good friend and that has got to count for something, right? But I can't help but think about the 2 (yes 2) Olympic triathlons that I've already signed up for this year. Why Olympic? I don't know. Maybe because I figured I'd never be in the Olympics so this would be the one time that I would be doing something Olympic-like...not quite sure what I was smoking when I signed up. Maybe I just want to suffer. Maybe I just want to let my fat jiggle for several miles longer than usual....hmmm
Speaking of fat, I noticed that there was a special category for big girls! I never knew that. Even though I have gained 20 pounds and clearly fit in the big girl category there was no way in hell I was signing up for it. If I did I might as well wear a sign saying "I'm one of the big girls, look at me!" Believe me, people will already know that after looking at me. Nothing wrong with being bigger but why the hell do we need to telegraph it?
So once again I have to figure out how to shed those 20 pounds. Guess I'm back to having my jaw wired. I have no problem with it, it's just the Loveman that it bothers.
March 20, 2009
READY TO TRY A TRI?
UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! Trek has started their own Trek Women's Triathlon Series. The Trek Woman Triathlon Series promises to be spectacular and based on the locations and the name behind it, I KNOW its going to be the best sprint tri series ever!
These tri are being led by the one and only Sally Edwards. A world-class and professional athlete, best-selling author,
and inspirational speaker, Sally is the CEO of Heart Zones,
USA, a training, education, programming, and coaching company.
She is the CIO, Chief Inspirational Officer of the Trek Women's
Triathlon Series. Sally has volunteered to finish last in each of the
8 races in 2009 so that no other woman has to...no joke.
Check out the these date and get there! Don't you think its time you tried a tri?
• May 17, 2009--Austin, TX
• June 14, 2009--Southern CA
• June 21, 2009--New York METRO
• July 5, 2009--Seattle, WA
• July 12, 2009--Pleasant Prairie, WI
• August 9, 2009--Mount Snow, VT
• Sept. 6, 2009--Orlando, FL
March 12, 2009
FINALLY
After freezing cold weather and not being able to ride for a few weeks we finally had a day that was sunny and seventy. Yes that’s what I said, sunny and seventy.
It was a brilliant day and the Loveman and I started our day by deciding who was going to get to go riding. He was up first for the local Harford Velo Club ride and the minute he walked in the door I was ready to ride.
I had already laid out my helmet, shoes and sunglasses and they were waiting by the door. My purple argyle outfit was already picked out and sitting on my bed. I quickly dressed and out the door I went. I just started to ride and ride and ride. I had no agenda, no time frame, and no route…. I just wanted to ride, plain and simple.
The ride was glorious. It wasn’t too windy or too hot but everything was just right. I even ran into some friends along the way who were carrying a box of fabulous chocolates in their jersey pocket. The chocolates were much better than any energy bar. A savored every bite and off I went.
As I rode through my hood my mind wandered as I thought about all the wonderful riding ahead of me in the spring and all the riding buddies that I would be able to reconnect with after months of hibernation.
Finally I was in my glory and loving it.
March 2, 2009
NASHVILLE IS FINE
This year for my weekend away with my grade school gal pals we chose Nashville, Tennessee. Why? Probably because it was cheap and easy to get to for all of us. But for a place that's cheap and easy it sure was a good time.
I thought about checking out a local Trek dealer and taking a ride one day but all the cards were stacked against me. The weather was cold and rainy and there was no way the girls would allow me to do anything but eat, drink and do the 2-step.
I succumbed to peer pressure and ended up doing everything that I could possibly think of that was bad for me. Isn't that what girl weekends are for anyway?
This week it's back to the grindstone. Time for lots of exercise and healthy eating (if I can remember what that is) and I'm actually looking forward to it. Hee-haw!
February 28, 2009
I MET LANCE
Ok so I thought I met Lance....or someone I may have thought was Lance....or a guy who is possibly or remotely resembled Lance....but at the time I would have sworn it was him.
It was a late night party and I was hanging out with friends. We were eating, drinking and enjoying a fabulous evening. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the spirit moved me to start acting as if I was hairdresser (which I am not and never was...hmmm). I don't know if it was the beer. I don't know if it was the food. Nor do I know for sure that it wasn't the dessert BUT I do know that out of nowhere I saw Lance Armstrong.
He walked into the room where I was doing hair (once again, why?) and he looked at me and said "Hello, you must be Susan, one of the Women Who Ride." Of course I was very nervous and totally freaking out. All I could say was "Can I take a picture with you and get your autograph?" He happily agreed, we snapped a shot and then I promptly fainted. When I woke up he was gone and this picture was on my phone.
I'm a little embarrassed to share this story because to this day I'm not sure if I really saw Lance or the ghost of Lance. Who knows, maybe it was all just a figment of my imagination. After all, I have been a little loopy lately...but what if it really saw him? How cool would that be?
