SUP

Otherwise known as Stand-UP Paddle. 

I just tried it a couple of weeks ago thanks to a few friends. I had a chip on my shoulder about it because SUP guys get in the way while surfing. They have this huge big scary paddle and a giant board. Needless to say I did not want to be a SUPper.. Maybe they should be shark SUPper. So my first time I paddled around a shallow area with no waves. 

The next time out, I thought about catching waves but I just started paddling to get pretty far from the beach. All of a sudden I was near boats! Another SUPper actually paddled over because he was worried I was out there alone. Frankly I thought it was awesome and it wasn't until he said something I started getting scared about being alone out there. All in all, I got some great pictures. 

  Yes, I was in Hawaii. 

 My home away from home.

 See I was by boats!

RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI - Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa

Possibly the coolest and strangest vacation I have ever taken. It all started about a year ago when my co-workers found out that I like to ride my road bike. So February 2010 came around this year and I signed up for RAGBRAI. While I felt like I may have made a hug mistake. I went for it. We did several training rides. It also helped me train for my triathlons. 

The actual week was hotter than I don't know what. I road my first century (100 miles) in 107 degree heat!

My biggest regret is not eating more not so good for you food. 

Some of the highlights included fresh squeezed lemonaid, touring a farm, eating ice cream slow churned. I also saw the 6 year old Jake and Jake's Mom. They had signs on but he biked 57 miles in one day! It definitely showed me it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. Get out and ride your bike!!

 I hope I can do it again!

  Me on the first day

What every town looked like

Bike buses. There were several of these. Each one had their unique traits.

Run Run as fast as I can

Finally I'm seeing some results.. running results or maybe I'm not as bad as I thought I was a running.

First I placed third in a work 5K. Third in my age group- really? I definitely did not think I would place.

Second, I found running trails I like. I love running on the road. Having suffered from shin splints the road seems to be the softest surface to run on. And running along the PCH is priceless. I have turned off the i-gadget and just listen to the waves hit the shore. Or running while on travel. I had a great run in San Diego.

Another hint I picked up from the 'pros' after a triathlon or hard run get into cold water. It is so uncomfortable but the result is my legs feel ten times better the next day. 

I just ran a 10K on July 4th. I finished 2nd in my age group! I ran it in 50:42. That's an 8:11 minute mile pace. I had to stop for a fire truck and I slowed down at the water stops. I might have done better had I not been so hot.  Compared to where I was over a year ago, 10K at Wildflower was 9:03 minute mile that's some progress. I am definitely still learning about running, my feet went numb, too. Anyone know the cause of that?

Especially considering how much I despise running I am getting there. Who knows maybe I will do a marathon in the future.

Olympic Triathlon #3

Something braggy

After countless hours of training my goal was to get under 3 hours on my Olympic distance triathlon. Lucky me I had home turf advantage because the swim was in Ventura harbor, the bike was on my way to work and so was the run. Granted I never actually road the bike or ran the run course. It was a pretty sweet course though because there is no way I would have been able to run the run course with out getting in the way of traffic. It was really an beautiful course. AND I got under 3 hours! By quite a bit.. now I have expectations to live up to. I got a snazzy beer glass for placing 3rd in my age group! :)

Clock Time	2:43:41
Gender Place	38 / 121
Division Place	3 / 6
All Place	191
Swim Lap 1	9:36
Swim Lap 2	9:51
T1	3:21
Bike	1:24:44
T2	2:41
Run	53:31

Swim verses Run training

Well after the last triathlon, I found out my swimming training paid off. My lack of running training showed. Due to encouragement from another tri-engineer, I decided to sign up for another triathlon. The only question is which one? I thought about one in Morro Bay (spend more time in SLO).. Redondo Beach (see where I used to live), or Ventura Breath of Life(no driving).

So with once again less than a month to train I signed up for another Olympic Distance triathlon! The other cool news is when I finish USATri will rank me across the nation. I also use some of the $40 membership I paid for 2011.

I am hopeful I will have the 'home turf' advantage. I could train the course. I have ran and swam some of the course before so we shall see. 

Only challenge in all this is balance. I am also going to run more.