Playing Catch Up

Soooooo....you may have noticed it's been a while...like 4 months worth of a while.  But to be fair, I've been a bit busy.  Let's see...hubby came home from deployment (yay!), raced 3 sprint tris, hubby made Chief (double yay!), kids have been on summer break, went on a mini vacation...ummm...that may be about it.  So needlss to say I've been neglectful.  But all of these happenings in my life were awesome!!  Here are a few pics to prove it.

Homecoming USS Carl Vinson 2012

The Long Road Home (or back to Petaluma, CA anyway)

I swam, biked, and ran my way into a 7th, 1st, and 5th place finish at my races!

Spent lots of QT with my two little hooligans

So there you go...my summer in review.  Not that it wasn't important, I just don't think I can truly capture it in words, so I'm not going to try.

I have also been spending loads of time cooking. 

You may remember I went mostly vegan a while back...and that severely limited my choices (or so I thought).  This choice forced me to open my culinary horizons and really get my hands dirty in the kitchen.  It also forced me to buy 2 cute new aprons.

It may also be contributing to my wino habit, but hey...such is life!  So anyway...where was I?  Oh yeah....food!  So I've been playing around with recipes...following awesome food blogs (see them all on the right!)...and now I feel like I'm ready to join the club.  You see, as a vegan/gluten free/endurance athlete, I have needs (shush your dirty minds).  I need calories!  I need my food to taste good!  I need it to be healthy and fuel me through long runs, rides, and swims.  I'm gearing up to do Oriflamme 50K again in April (told you I had a course to avenge) and I need food that will carry me through.  Last year I wasn't getting the calories I needed and subsequently dropped too much weight.  But I'm paying attention now...I know what I'm doing and I have the tools to bring me there (plus I'm uber inspired by this book). 

Here goes nothing!  I'm hungry and I'm ready to step up to the challenge...bring on the food!  I know there will be some duds along the way (this is where I'm grateful for my family of taste testers...and possibly my dogs if things go really wrong).  But I'm hoping that some really great meals, snacks, and such will come out of this too. 

I'm starting Monday with a full 3 day juice/smoothie cleanse (yeah, I'll be blogging about it)...then it's onto the real work.  Along the way I'm going to keep following my friends (aka amazing food bloggers), because they know what they are doing and are seriously cooking up some amazing eats!

So I raise a glass in toast to this adventure and whatever it may bring!  Cheers!



The problem with bananas (the ultramarathon that never was)

Before you start reading here is a huge disclaimer.  If you are faint of stomach stop reading now, I'll give you the Cliff Notes version.  I didn't finish.  I DNF'd.  My stomach hated me and I had to quit.  There ya go.  Stop reading now.
However, if you are curious as to the numerous lessons I learned out there and have at least somewhat of a strong stomach (or are willing to skip over the gross bits) then read on...because what I can say for sure is not finishing taught me more then finishing ever would have.

To start lets go back a bit.  The race was originally supposed to be run on St. Patty's day, March 17th.  As luck would have it San Diego was forecasted for an awful storm that weekend.  A storm like we almost never have...torrential rains, flash flooding, snow.  The race is run through a flood wash and is so remote the choppers needed to get runners out should a major injury occur wouldn't be able to fly.  With this in mind the race director made the wise (although soul crushing) decision to cancel the race.  I called Bex at 6 a.m. with the news.  Even in her sleepy state she was just as stunned as I was.  After a few tears we rallied and became thankful a few days later when they rescheduled to April 7th (luckily I was already off that whole weekend). 

Approximately one week later I came down with Death Cold/Flu 2012.  I haven't been that sick in ages.  I was in bed for 2 full days before I could even think of moving.  And forget eating, that was out of the question as I had no appetite and had an array of GI symptoms to go with my sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, headache, body aches, high fever, chills....well you get the point.  It was awful!  Our whole house was sick...it was almost epidemic in proportion (ok, maybe a little dramatic, but it was bad). 

Because of this my 2 weeks pre first 50K (aka 31 miles on mountainous, rough, unforgiving terrain in the heat) were spent in bed resting.  I attempted to eat what I could but my body simply wasn't cooperating.  I knew it was going to be a gamble out there but I had to try.  Even worse was the 2 days before the race my body decided to be even kinder and give me more GI symptoms that kept me close to home and without any form of an appetite...awesome.

As I woke up on the morning of April 7th I was conscious of the fact that I was nauseous and not even the slightest bit hungry.  I downed 2 Immodium as is my standard pre race ritual since my stomach always tends to give me some trouble.  I choked down an english muffin with peanut butter as we drove up to Laguna Mountain and Sunrise Trailhead...

At 5000 ft of elevation we knew the descent and ascent in and out of the desert would be brutal.  But we put those thoughts aside and geared up to go early for the 6 am race start.  I hit the bathroom once on our way off and felt fairly great (the feeling didn't last long).  Logically I knew beyond a doubt that I was far less then 100%.  But blame my stubborn nature or the simple fact that I/we had trained months for this event and I had to give it my best shot (I never dreamed I would be forced to give my all).

The morning was beautiful as the sun rose slowly over the mountains.  Bex and I were on our way to ultramarathon greatness...and we were together.  Let me segway a bit and really hammer home the importance of this event.  See we meant to do this distance a while ago...like a year ago actually for Bex's 30th birthday.  But Bex was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  A hefty diagnosis for anyone...but a virtual nightmare for an endurance athlete.  It stopped all plans for running an ultra and basically stopped many of her endurance plans altogether.  But in true Bex fashion she sucked it up, fought through, and vowed to conquer the distance.  When your best friend wants to give a big F you to RA by completing an ultramarathon...you sign up with her...period.  That's what friendship is.  That is the nature of our friendship...always has been.  An eternal vow that whatever god awful scheme one of us comes up with (legitimate or not) the other will follow.  Because who doesn't want a partner in crime, a battle buddy, an accomplice in all things ridiculous.  And over time and miles this goal became extremely important to me too.

Ok...back on track...er trail as it were.  By a few miles into the race I knew things weren't quite right with my stomach.  Call it intuition or simply years fighting my own body but I knew it was going to be a long day.  My first pit stop happened extremely early in the race (and when you are out in the desert a pit stop means simply a bush with which to hide your *ss from other racers...no porta potty here).  It was gross, disgusting, and completely necessary.  Thankfully I have some foresight and pack baby wipes for most long runs...cause you never know. 

This pattern kept going over the next few miles...run a bit, stop, find a bush, potty, run....etc...ad nauseum (literally).  As we hit the first aid station we dropped our jackets and surveyed the cornucopia of goodies on the table.  My first clue that I was bad off was that nothing on that table looked remotely appealing (if you know me you know I can eat most men under that table, so the fact that I wasn't hungry at all was BAD).  So I settled for some electrolyte drink and moved on. 

The next 6 miles were downhill.  And I don't mean a little jaunt down a small grade...I mean DOWNHILL.  We descended into the desert over 5000 ft in those 6 miles.  And about 2000 ft of it was in the last 2 miles.  Nothing hurts more then jarring your GI system repeatedly running downhill for 6 miles.  It's like shaking a soda can (or for the parents, jostling a baby that just ate...bad juju).  By the time we reached the desert floor I was in bad shape...nauseous, cramping, and pit stops were happening so frequently we were miles from where we should have been by this time.  I kept hopelessly looking at my watch knowing how far behind we were falling from our goals.  I know I told Bex many times to go on ahead and I would just keep going as I could.  I knew even as I said it that she wouldn't leave me like this.  It just wouldn't happen.  We don't leave each other unless it's dire (which it later was).  We are battle buddies...and this was battle.  You don't leave your friend to suffer in the desert alone.  Instead she kept trying to help me...giving me suggestions for what to do.  Nothing worked.  Somewhere into mile 12 the nausea became too much.  I started dry heaving (as there was virtually nothing in my stomach at that point).  We were walking with another runner (an amazing man in his 70's) and he kindly gave me some electrolyte pills after he learned my plight.  I felt a bit better as we headed into the 2nd aid station around mile 13.  We saw a good friend there and she gave me many suggestions for what to eat to stop the nausea and try to put a dent in the huge caloric deficit I was rapidly accumulating.  Flat soda, potatoes with salt, fritos, and bananas (you had to know there was a reason for the title of this blog).  Someone also had some Tums and I downed those too.  It hurt.  I didn't want it.  But I'm a smart girl and knew I needed every precious calorie. 

We left the aid station after I took my gazillionth pit stop and headed into Box Canyon (a sandy beautiful place that on any other day I would have been so excited to run through).  As we emerged into the desert I felt a brief moment of health and said we should jog...cause with scenery like this you just have to!

It didn't last long as I quickly stopped and everything I had painstakingly taken in at the aid station came back up.  Everything.  Let me tell you...there is nothing classy about vomiting.  Specifically when you couldn't be bothered to fully chew your food.  Yeah, bananas are awful coming back around.  The worst was everytime I thought I was done and would try to clear my throat a bit of banana would gag me and I would vomit again.  It was a vicious cycle.  The funny part was my only thought in these moments was for Bex.  I know beyond a doubt that she HATES vomit with a passion.  And yet she stood there...watching me...helping me...and never batted an eye.  That is true friendship.  My other thoughts were jumping around as angry tears streamed down my face.  I also knew how far back we were getting and how much I was holding Bex back...it was horrible.  The other racers were amazing though...as was my battle buddy.  People would run by and yell "It's ok honey!  Get it out and keep going!"  It was almost comical. 

After that I got down one gel and some water.  I felt a bit better and trudged on at the fastest walk I could muster.  We pulled into the turnaround aid station and I had some water and wet my hat and buff with ice water to stave off the encroaching desert heat.  We quickly turned around and kept up our relentless forward motion. 

At mile 16 my mom called Bex.  I had texted her earlier that I was in bad shape but with spotty cell service she couldn't get hold of me.  After Bex got off the phone she told me what my mom had said...it was simple...be a nurse for yourself.  What would you tell a racer that was in your situation.  I had to think about that for a bit.  I was still excited about the fact that I'd kept a gel down and was telling Bex this fact when she simply gave me the hard truth..."Great, you've had 200 calories over 17 miles.  How do you expect to get out of the canyon on that?"  I was about to tell her that I thought I may be able to get another gel down when in that moment of pure irony everything came back up again.

It was then that I knew I was done.  Over.  Finished.  There are some things that pure will and stubborness can fuel you through.  An ultramarathon in the heat and up 5000 ft isn't one of them.  As we hiked the mile back to the aid station I cried.  Tears of pain, defeat, anger...everything.  I apologized more times to Bex then I knew...she finally told me to shut up and stop apologizing.  She was right.  Apologies don't apply here...to these circumstances.  At mile 18 we reached the aid station and I dropped out.  The paramedics and volunteers took over and gave me small bits of fluid as I sat down.  They removed my pack and tended to me as Bex fueled up to keep going.  We looked at each other and didn't have to say much.  When you've been through so much with someone words are unnecessary.  I knew she needed to finish.  She knew I needed her to finish...for both of us.  She was feeling great and who knows when she would feel great like this again.  With a few words and a quick I love you she was off.  Into the desert.  Alone.  I felt so sad.  I felt like I had let down my best friend and sent her into the unknown alone.  But at the same time I knew it was going to be a life changing experience for her...thankfully I was right.

The medics took my vitals and told me my blood pressure was a bit low...hmmm...shocking.  As I sat there wallowing in my grief I still knew that there was no way I could have kept going.  I was nauseous, cramping, with fingers the size of sausages (a pretty decent sign of electrolyte imbalance).  My head ached and I was a bit dizzy.  My race was over.  But my day wasn't done.  I still needed to get to the finish line to wait for Bex.  Luckily there was a driver heading that way and once I was a bit more stable he offered me a ride with another runner who was suffering the same problems I was (seems the Death Flu hit a few more people during the weeks prior). 

I went to the finish line and waited with J and Nathaniel for Bex.  We knew from the smattering of texts and phone calls that she was ok and moving forward at a decent pace considering the delay and conditions.  We watched other racers finish with huge smiles on there faces...it was so motivating I couldn't even be sad.  I had 2 more bouts of vomiting but was finally able to keep some water down and simply staying still sitting on the grass was the only thing that felt ok.  So we waited....

And she finished...sprinting and smiling.  It was overwheling wrapping her in a hug as she came across the line.  It was a big group hug...and it was good.  She had done it.  And I have never been more proud of her. 

Looking back now a week out I still know beyond a doubt I made the right decision.  It was an extremely hard decision but I finally listened to my body and did what was right.  Maybe going the additional 6 miles while vomiting wasn't so smart but I couldn't go down without a fight.  I fought like h*ll and I lost.  Oh well, such is life.  Tomorrow is another day...and next year I will try again.  There is always another day.  And our motto has always been "Do you want to run today or do you want to run for the rest of your life?"  If I had tried to keep going I would have ended up in the hospital without a doubt.  I chose to run forever.  And run forever I will.  Because you don't attempt an ultra without a deep love for the sport and a strong will.  I will be back...and I will finish.  But I may never look at bananas the same again....

Holiday Trails (er...Tales)

As I sit among the chaos of Christmas morning I reflect upon the last week of holiday merriment and adventure that I have been blessed to have in my life.  Yesterday I took to the trails for the first time in a loooonnnggg time with the bestie Bex.  Since we are training for an ultramarathon a mere 11 weeks away we figured knew it was time to start training.  Luckily for both of us we have a ridiculous amount of base miles under our belts.  We knocked out a fabulous 16 mile trail run in under 3 hours...not too shabby...here are some pics of our morning.

Can't run without festive socks!

The view on the way up

Learning how to eat REAL food during a run...



Overall a painful amazing run that set the tone for the new year...health, taking time for those you care about, good food, amazing friends...and miles upon miles of happy trails and tales.

The rest of the previous week has been filled with family, friends, food, and love.  Although we are missing a very important member of our family we are making the best of it all and reveling in the joy of being with those we love.  We were even lucky enough to get a few phone calls from Mike over the last few days...so that was a welcome and happy surprise.

Friday night was Hanukkah with the Lewis family.  GFV (gluten free vegan) latkes were the highlight of the holiday since I am a HUGE fan of those bad boys which are normally neither vegan nor gluten free...with a few minor tweaks (gluten free flour and egg replacer...oh, and sweet potatoes instead) they were just as wonderful as the regular kind.







The kids got to enjoy the lighting of the menorah as well as hanging with good friends...a very festive, yummy night!

Saturday was Christmas Eve and after the above mentioned run I took to the kitchen to put my culinary talents to the test with making the holiday partially GFV friendly for Bex and I.  It was an adventure for sure.  Let's start with the "tofurkey"...normal tofurkeys bought in the store are riddled with gluten (literally the label states wheat gluten as ingredient number 2).  So clearly those are a no go.  But I found this recipe and although it certainly didn't look as pretty, it tasted pretty darn good!  Here are some pics of the prep steps (I was too busy eating to get pics of the finished product).

I also tried my hand at this recipe for a vegan pumpkin pie and baked it in these great pie shells for an overall GFV pumpkin pie experience...turned out great!

There was so much other food that didn't get chronicled, but suffice it to say the feast was fabulous and included fare such as pasta salad (with an amazing garlic aioli), coleslaw (with veganise), green beans, mashed potatoes (with vegenaise, veggie broth, and vegan Smart Balance), beet salad, sugar cookies, and other things I think I forgot...I was stuffed at the end of the night to say the least.  And when you look this awesome while cooking, you know the food will be good!

This morning was Christmas madness!  With Daddy gone we wanted to make it a special day for the kiddos...and I think we succeeded.  Check out the pics and you can see how clearly evident the happiness is.

Here's to another week...the last of 2011!  I'm off to work with my second family tonight...more food, more friends, with a smattering of saving lives thrown in to tip the karmic balance in my favor for the new year.  Hope you and yours are enjoying this holiday season.  Keep those far away from their families in your hearts and prayers...until we are all reunited.  Happy Holidays from us to you!

No longer a carnivore...week one in pictures

AHHHHmazing GFV Ice Cream Sandwich

It's been almost one week since I started this vegan quest with my best friend Bex in order to take control of my health and huge risk factors related to cancer and high cholesterol. I'll admit I was skeptical and a bit nervous about the huge change to my diet and to my lifestyle. I'm already gluten free (for over 2 years now) so taking away another huge component of my diet was a daunting task. But armed with knowledge, recipes, and a healthy dose of motivation I embarked upon the week with a sense of adventure and a desire to cook up some good gluten free vegan (GFV) grub. Monday was the weekly bed date and Bex had the fabulous idea of "tuna" melts...so I scoured for recipes and finally settled upon this fabulous recipe from Happy Herbivore. I had also picked up some GFV chocolate chip cookie dough and Bex again came up with the idea to make them into ice cream sandwiches (with coconut milk chocolate ice cream). As you can see from the picture above, they turned out amazing. As did the tuna melts...we were off to a great start.

Although I can't map out every meal of the week, I can show you some pics of the goodness that ensued.

Pesto stuffed portabella mushrooms...I made the pesto in the Cuisinart. Lots of basil, olive oil, garlic, almonds, nutritional yeast...all pureed and mixed with vegan Daiya mozzarella cheese and stuffed into a cleaned out portabella mushroom and baked. Served them over quinoa cooked in No Chik'n Bouillon. Amazing meal!

I then used the Cuisinart again (it may be my favorite GFV appliance) to make vegan chocolate pudding. I then made almost a game out of it at work by making nearly every nurse taste it and try to guess what it was made out of (avocado). Only one nurse got it (go Jenny!). It was so, so yummy...really took care of any chocolate craving I could have possibly had...but small doses, because it's rich!

The above skillet concoction is a fair representation of how most of my meals for the week looked. Basically I just threw veggies and tofu into the skillet with whatever spices I fancied and possibly of soyrizo...and then plated it over rice, quinoa, or potatoes. Or maybe I was feeling adventurous and wrapped it in a corn tortilla (rice and beans are a fav...or my own GFV chili).

GFV french toast. Gluten free bread soaked in coconut milk egg nog and mashed banana, then pan "fried". Seriously amazing...didn't even require syrup!

Cashew "sour cream" served over my GFV chili or portabella mushroom fajitas was a total hit! So much so that you can see the finger tracks through the bowl!

Not everything I made this week was from scratch. This banana bread was so simple. Just add some Ener G egg replacer, warm water, and 2 mashed bananas...and voila! Amazing, moist, fresh GFV banana bread straight from the oven. It's really, really good!

So that about wraps up my first week as a non carnivore. Here's hoping the rest of the weeks ahead are as flavorful and fun!

Welcome to Crazy Town

I say that my life and home are crazy town in jest...but to know me is to know the truth of this statement...so because of this I only just recently realized it's been nearly a year since I last posted a single blog! So so sad on my part but a long break was needed...from this apparently, from racing, from training...from so many aspects of my life. This post is basically going to be one big catch up!

Going into this year I had so many lofty goals...and shortly after Palm Springs enduro weekend (first century ride on Saturday, half marathon on Sunday) I realized I needed a break. I never really took an off season or gave myself any time to just stop and breathe for a minute...I just kept hitting it hard and it all eventually caught up to me. So I stopped, cold turkey. I'm pretty sure I even had withdrawals. I raced only one other time this year and that was as the relay runner for the San Diego Triathlon Challenge...and I didn't even "race"...I just enjoyed the day with my best friends.

Now as the year comes to a close I'm starting to really feel the burn to train and race again. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't sat on my duff all year, I've been working out. And the payoff has actually been better then expected. I'm lighter, leaner, and stronger then I've been in a long time. I have paid attention to my diet, strength training, flexibility, and the balance of it all way more then I ever have before. But I've also learned to really listen to my body...so much so that I buried my Garmin in a drawer and barely used it all year. I dug it out last week (actually I had to borrow Mike's) and took it on a run around Balboa park....lo and behold I had a 7:59 min/mile average for just over 5 miles. Not to shabby for not paying attention all year! This will mean nothing as I head into the new year with a completely new goal in mind...to complete an ultramarathon. Haven't officially decided on a particular race, but it will be a 50K (30 miles) and it will be early in the year...looking forward to that challenge!

But there have been many other recent changes in my life that are going to affect me greatly going into 2012. First and foremost my husband has once again deployed. He left just last week aboard the USS Carl Vinson and won't be home until spring or summer. It's our 3rd deployment since we've been married but our first in almost 4 years. It's been an adjustment getting used to his absence again...moreso for how to deal with two children who are now older and understand the magnitude of the amount of time daddy will be gone...but we've been trucking along and getting by. Christmas will be a bit more lonely...but time passes and he will be home safely again before we know it.

Photo courtesy of USS Carl Vinson photographers

Work is also going to be keeping me busy as we roll into the new year. I can't even believe I've been on night shift for almost 2 years now. I can honestly still say I adore my job and I'm so lucky to be where I am. I am constantly learning and growing...and I'm surrounded by the most amazing team of nurses and doctors I could ever imagine. In January I will start taking classes for my CCRN (Critical Care RN certification test) and hope to take the exam by the end of Feb. This is a pretty big deal in the ICU community as it a daunting test that will really force me to buckle down and learn the core concepts of the human body as they apply to the patient populations I work with. I'm excited, nervous, and really ready for this challenge.

On the health front there have been some recent developments that have made me ponder my own decisions regarding my health and the steps I can take to ensure I stick around for a long time. Though I always considered myself basically healthy since I ate well and exercised a ton, a recent blood test revealed I had elevated total cholesterol, my LDL was high and my HDL was low. I wasn't entirely shocked as both my mom and dad have bad cholesterol. So I gave up milk (since it was bothering my stomach anyway) and tried to reduce my intake of red meats. Shortly after that I went to see my primary care doctor for a routine checkup. At the end of the appointment she told me she wanted me to see an oncologist (I'm currently in the process of moving all my personal healthcare from Naval medicine to my own insurance with the health group I work for as I feel I get much better continuity of care with them). I felt like this was coming out of left field but she explained with my crazy personal history and my awful family history of cancer that she didn't feel she could follow me adequately enough. So I was sent for labs and a number for an oncologist. Of course I stalled for a while...but I eventually got around to making an appointment with him. Once at the office I was told that my blood counts were abnormal (seriously?) so now more tests are pending...love the waiting game. It was also noted the my cholesterol numbers were still not normal (guess I didn't really lay off the red meat like I said I would). I also got a referral to GI to follow up on the years of stomach problems I've had an hopefully get some answers (I went gluten free over 2 years ago and that has helped immensely but hasn't gotten rid of all my problems). After these numerous blows and moments of clarity I realized I needed to make a drastic change.
This realization happened to correlate perfectly with my viewing of a movie/documentary called Forks Over Knives (www.forksoverknives.com). The entire premise of the film is the ridiculous links between the main diseases of the Western world (cancer, heart disease, etc) and an animal based diet. Numerous studies have shown that if people eat a plant based diet they can essentially halt and even reverse the spread or development of these diseases. After watching the film and doing a bit more research on my own I was convinced (of note my dad went vegan a few years ago due to health reasons and has completely reversed all his problems...hello proof!). Even Mike realized that a change was needed (this from the most self professed carnivore I know!). So I have now embarked on a new journey...veganism. And tomorrow (Dec 12th) is day one. I've been playing around with recipes for the past few weeks and sampling new brands and foods. I'm feeling amazing and not deprived in the least. I'm tracking my nutrition as testing has shown that I have a great metabolism and with lofty ultramarathon goals I can't afford to skimp on nutrition or calories. It's been touch and go but I'm finally dialing in the ability to hit my caloric goals (roughly 2200 cals on a good training day). I will be blogging alot about my adventures in vegan cooking and eating to be sure....should be a culinary blast!

Vegan Sushi for our kickoff dinner!

I think that about wraps up my updates and it's officially time for me to get some shut eye...lots to do tomorrow (isn't that always the case?). Looking forward to getting back into the swing of training and learning how to adapt to a new life of alternative eating. :)

The "ON" Season...

Since these last few weeks (or months really) have been deemed my "off" season...I guess the recent increase in training means the "on" season is truly upon me...with a new year comes new goals and a new batch of workouts to help me achieve them. If you also haven't realized, this is San Diego and we don't really have an off season...but that being said...my 3 hour workout this morning and the 1 hour swim I have planned for this evening is quite an increase from what I have been doing since U.S. Women's Tri last October (keep in mind I went into Vegas very un-trained and lazy...though that "race" was in December).


The weekend kicked off in style with an easy 2 hour trail run with Bex...the run was a fantastic opportunity to discuss the goals for the year and talk about missed opportunities and learning experiences from the previous year and season...all in all it was a great soul-searching run that was more therapy then run...but 10 miles of dirty, hilly trails is always considered a good day. This is a pic I snapped at the top of the Sweetwater Reservoir...beautiful...

After I got all prettied up again the fam and I headed to the San Diego Zoo...we don't go there nearly enough and it really was nice to walk around and see the animals through the kids eyes...they really enjoyed themselves! So much so that I bought season passes for them!

The next morning, with my legs completely reminding me that it's been a while since my last long trail run, I woke up with the hubby to meet Bex and Jason for a bike/breakfast combo (so really this was my last day of chill workouts and I wanted to enjoy it!). We met out at Otay Lakes near the Olympic Training Center (talk about some motivation!) and rode first to the Broken Yolk Cafe for breakfast...so good! Ate some good food with some of my favorite people...

...then we headed out towards and into Jamul and back. It was really beautiful weather for a ride. The scenery was truly amazing and many times I realized I had lost any speed as I got caught up in the views. During one stop I just had to snap a pic...you can vaguely see Bex and J waiting for Mike and I just up the road...



...Great ride, great friends, great day! We also seem to have a fantastic sense of style and clearly exhibited this with our choice of footwear post-ride (which spins me into a future blog I think...but you'll have to wait for that one).

I had to work Sunday night...and it was a LONGGGG one...capped off by me losing my stethoscope as I chucked it aside to jump on top of a bed and give CPR to a patient...very dramatic really...and yes, the patient lived! Later that night the tech brought me my stethoscope all cleaned and nice...when I asked him where it was he looked at me quite puzzled and said he had found it in the sink! Hmmm...I don't know how to explain that one...let's just say I was more focused on my job then my belongings! Ahh...the many perils and triumphs of my job...again...more fodder for another blog...

Monday I slept later then usual since I was feeling tired and only had time to get a quick 30 minute run in with some hill repeats...also did some strength exercises while Addy played at the park...hey, you gotta do what you can!

Today was bike day...and also my meeting with coach Bryan to discuss the upcoming year. The ride started heading up Mt. Soledad...where I quickly took in the view before heading back down (this is a pic from a previous trip up the beast)...

We then headed down Nautilus and I was thinking I had gotten off easy...ummm...yeah....nope! We head back up Mt. Soledad the back route and still, miraculously, ended up in a place I love to hate...Via Capri (again pic from previous trip that does NOT do it justice!)...

After that it was a 1 hour run to top off the 2 hour ride...then lunch and planning sesh with coach to discuss the goals for the new year (another blog...again)...and tonight it's a 1 hour swim...holy moly artichoke...here we go!