Longhorn 70.3 Prep

My triathlon friends will know what the title of this post means. For my "normal" friends (haha).  70.3 is a 1/2 Ironman.  140.6 would be a full Ironman.  As far as I'm concerned I still cannot fathom doing a full Iron distance race.  Anyway, so I'm going to do Longhorn 70.3 in Austin on November 8, 2015.  My history with the longhorn began last year.  I was scheduled to do the race and had to drop out in the middle of my training due to an injury to my back that I needed to let heal.  The truth is I will probably always have to be careful with my back.  I have been seeing an awesome PT at Advanced Physical Therapy in Anchorage and I've really been feeling quite good!  I decided that I need to redeem myself and do this race.  So, I requested the vacation time, have been doing some pre-training stuff and am feeling really good.  So after a couple months of thinking about it I signed up. 

I've never been one to quit anything or give up because something gets tough and I don't plan on starting now.  I was feeling so good, training coming together, ready to get started on my official training plan.  So day one I ran a course that when I first started I ran in about 47minutes, with some alternating walking, etc...well, this time I ran it in about 30 minutes.  Talk about a confidence booster!  Also had a nice swim in the lake with Todd and another friend.  A great start!

The next day I'm slated to do a 1.5 hr bike ride.  I decide to get outside because it's summer and you get enough trainer time in winter.  Head out and ended up going about 1hour and 50 minutes just because that's where the loop took me.  The way back got interesting!  First I see a dead black bear on the side of the bike trail that wasn't there when I went out.  Thought about taking a picture, but no!  Then the last mile the guy was cutting grass so there was grass, sticks, and other debris covering the trail.  I'm about 50 yards from the parking lot and I swerve to miss a stick.  My tire slides on a large wet leaf and I lose control.  It happened so fast I have no Idea what actually took place.  All I know is I was laying on the sidewalk a little bloody and my right shoulder is killing me.  At first I could just lay there hoping no one was watching me, but definitely in pain.  I don't think I've ever stayed down after any sort of injury that long.  My shoulder was by far the most painful.  I thought it may be dislocated or even broken.  Can't say I've thought something like that too many times in my life.  I felt it and knew that it wasn't dislocated.  I got to my feet and still throbbing in pain I picked up my bike with my left arm.  I go to get on my bike to coast into the parking lot and realize that my tire is facing one way and my aerobars the other.  Hmmm no more riding right now.  It wasn't rolling either bc my brakes were pressed into the tire on one side.  While balancing the bike on my body I used my left hand to center the brakes so the bike would roll.  Voila' it worked.  So I hobbled my bike back to the car, got in and drove myself home.  All the while my shoulder is still throbbing.  I could move it through a full range of motion though, so at least no dislocation! 

My friend who happens to be a doctor was already supposed to be meeting me at the house after my ride.  I asked her to come over and patch me up a bit.  There were scrapes on my right shoulder and elbow that I couldn't wash the grass and dirt out of myself so she graciously washed them out for me.  Besides for pain I did notice that there was a slight prominence of my right distal clavicle.  Now, making a longer story shorter I texted my orthopedic surgeon friend, got an xray and basically she said I have a grade 2 shoulder separation.  Pretty much a bad sprain.  7-10 days full immobilization and 4-6 weeks for healing....NO TIME FOR THAT! 

So talk about feeling a little defeated in starting my new training plan.  I did take today off to do some resting and icing and pain control, but tomorrow I'm going to put the bike on the bike trainer and show that bitch who's boss!  I'll be riding upright because putting pressure on the shoulder is not good at this time.  So basically I'm going to do what I can when I can until I can get back to full training.  Riding the trainer,  running and swimming when I'm able.  Swimming will probably present me the toughest problem with the shoulder, so I'll wait on it till I'm really ready.  No need to re-injure or continually aggrivate things. 

Here's the xray.  Notice on the right side how the clavicle is elevated...bummer. But at least it will always stay that way...kind of a cool scar without the scar. haha.  And check out that amazing heart and lungs.  Most xrays I look at do not look like this.  haha

I talked with an old friend about it and she said something that I really like.  Champions Adapt!  She's right.  I'll adapt my life and training plan to keep on moving and finish my race in November.  The good news, my back feels ok.  If it can sustain a crazy fall like that going 20mph or so I hope I can count on it. 

Well, that's it for now.  Back to training tomorrow.  Because Champions Adapt!  Thanks Saundra!

Lake Trip Summer 2015

Once again as usual I've gotten far behind so I'll describe some things that are fresh and just use some pictures to hit the hot spots of the rest!  One day I'll make the time to just keep up with this stuff.  

Erickson Lake trip

This last lake trip was so awesome.  First of all we both needed some time together and away from work.  It was a really amazing Alaskan summer lake visit!  Temps were in the 80's which to me felt surprisingly hot.  I'm definitely not a Texan anymore.  I was dying!  The sky was an amazing blue for 19 hours a day!  We truly enjoyed ourselves immensely.  The dogs also had a great time.  I'll just let the pictures tell the story on this one.

We love our cabin and hope that we can make many more memories there!

Last 2015 Lake Ski Trip

April 2015

In 2014 we bought a little cabin on a remote lake and right after my husband of course I am in love with it.  Both summer and winter it's just a great place to be.  Fly in only, not another soul around, just peaceful tranquility.  The pups love to go too.  You ask them if they want to go for a plane ride and you better be ready to go.  If you're not while you get ready you trip over 2 very large dogs everywhere you go in the house.

The most important thing upon arrival.  Make a drink!

Once we get the plane all loaded, we just open the door and in they jump!  They're getting better at just curing up.  They know when we're coming in to land and they are ready to sprint out of the plane.  In the winter they jump out onto the lake and just run all over.  In the summer to get in the plane they will walk the floats...when getting out it's a little more of a splash!  They go straight to swimming up a storm.  It's so much fun to watch them have so much fun.  I'm so glad that Todd and I both love dogs so much and that we are able to provide a home for them with so much dog fun.

A few pics from our last trip.  About Ranger on the snow machine...usually we run the machine up and down the lake and Ranger chases it everywhere!  Well, Todd was making several long runs to make a runway for us and Ranger followed him a few times, then he sort of stopped 1/2 way like he was getting tired.  On Todd's way back he stopped and motioned for ranger to jump on the machine.  He sure jumped into Todd's lap and was happy as could be to be riding along.  Now he always wants to ride.  It's pretty funny.  Bree and I also took a ride in the little cart we pull on the machine.  Ranger was definitely having a better time, but she tolerated it.

Dogs curled up in the plane.  Lucky dogs!

Now's the time of year here in Alaska where the lakes start thawing out.  It's time to wait  for the lake to clear so we can put the floats on the plane and land on the floats.  I really love float flying.  It's just my favorite for some reason!  Looking forward to the summer and enjoying this time right now to get everything all prepped and ready.

These next pics are just from a hike we did when we got back from the cabin this week.  It is on a trail at Eklutna.  I've viewed the lake from this far above before, but from flying over.  I think my comment was it's a lot easier to get up this high in the plane...but it's also a lot more expensive!  It's always fun to push yourself and see a view that not many people get to see.  Makes me thankful for the things that I am able to do and for choosing a life filled with activity.  Hopefully many more hikes to come in this lifetime!

2015 Lower 48 Trip

It's been a long hard winter in Alaska.  This probably doesn't mean what you think though.  Instead of feet of snow we've had hardly any.  For those of us that enjoy winter sports it sure makes for a long winter.  This year has really made us thankful for our fat tire bikes.  While lack of snow makes it difficult to ski without possibly ruining your skis it's pretty great for fat tire biking.  So this year we went fat tire biking almost daily and only went skiing one time.  For that time we went up to Palmer to Hatcher's pass.

Louisiana
Because of this winter when we got the opportunity to mix business with vacation we said let's go!  Our trip started by flying into New Orleans.   My dad and uncle picked us up at the airport and we drove straight to my aunts house where we had a nice homemade crawfish stew waiting for us.  The next morning it was a little king cake for breakfast to be followed by some boiled crawfish for lunch.  Yum!  It was good to get to visit with family that we don't get to see very often.

After lunch we made the 2 hour drive to Lafayette. We spent a couple days there and really enjoyed our visit.  We went to Avery Island and toured the Tabasco plant and tasted some good Tabasco products.  Tabasco ice cream was surely interesting.  It was actually better than I thought.  What was really good was the chili starter that they had.  Actually bought a bottle to make here in Alaska.  Looking forward to that.  Just waiting for the right time.  Our visit to Prejean's Restaurant in Lafayette was tasty too.  I always laugh at all the years I lived in Louisiana there are so many places and things I've never been.  So on this trip we visited a few of those.

I think my favorite part of the trip to Lafayette was getting the opportunity to catch up with my old coach Anne Roger.  I wish I had gotten a pic!  She's a super sweet person and had such a big impact on my life.  I don't think some people realize how impressionable teenagers are.  They may roll their eyes or act like they're not listening, but they are soaking it all in...always watching.  It was really great to catch up with such an awesome person.  It was nice for her to get to meet my husband too.  We met at a super cool little place in Lafayette called the tap room.  It was located in River Ranch.  There are a few cool things that have come to lafayette since I left and the tap room is one of them.  Thanks to my old buddy Brian Campbell for letting me know about it.  Of course on our last morning in Lafayette my dad ran out to get the ever famous Meches Donuts.  Let's just say by the time I left Lafayette I was just a little full.  Always enjoyable for a short trip!!

South Austin - Texas
Todds work this time actually brought us to South Austin.  Usually when I've gone back to Austin I've stayed north in the Georgetown.  It had been years since I really spent any amount of time in south Austin.  To me south Austin was where I grew up.  It was my first post college/professional job.  Finished college and moved off to start life.  It was my first apartment, first job, where I found my love for the outdoors and triathlon, learned to work with all sorts of different people.  After getting to drive around and frequent some restaurants that I enjoy and a few new ones I remembered how much I love south Austin.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Alaska and don't want to leave.  I did wake up every morning with a headache from the nice Austin allergens, but other than that it was good.  I could share so many more thoughts probably, but my brain is just tired.

The SAH crew

Me and Janet at Moontower

Enjoying a beer at salt lick

Look at all that meat!  Salt Lick was so worth the drive.

2013 Year In Review

Once again it seems as though it's been way too long since I've updated.  The reason I thought to do this is not very original at all.  I was on FB and saw a little tab pop up and it said something about reviewing your year and the top moments...something like that.  As I was lured into look at this stuff I noticed that 2013 was packed with all sorts of highs, lows and in betweens.  I'll share some of the most memorable for me with you now.

January 2013
I have been in Alaska since 2011, but it was on this trip back to Texas that I really realized that Alaska was home.  I loved Austin, Texas.  I have some great friends there, discovered triathlon there, started my adult life there.  So many experiences there, both positive and negative.  Don't get me wrong I'm glad I have family and friends there.  If there is any place I would want to go to visit family it would be Austin.  However, on this trip almost as soon as I got there, I realized that it just wasn't home anymore. I had come to love Alaska and couldn't wait to get back. Ever since this trip I can't help but notice how when I go almost anywhere, I'm always ready to come back to my Alaska.

Another absolutely monumental thing that happened in January was that I paid off my school loans!  I think anyone who has ever had school loans understands the burden that you feel when you are paying on these.  It's a nice chunk of change to have back in your wallet.  So glad it's done!  Hope to never have these again!

March 2013 -  Tragedy
In any line of work there will be accidents and mistakes.  In some professions like aviation mistakes and complacency can cost you your life.  The ACE family lost 2 lives in March and the lives of all of the other employees and families were affected greatly as well.  This was a reminder to me to be vigilant in my work and a lesson to everyone involved.  This was truly one of the toughest times and I hope that I never have to experience this again.  This is literally all I can say about this.

April 2013 - Sold the house in Texas
This was a monumental thing on multiple levels.  It was the last thing that I felt was preventing me from fully being in Alaska.  While my heart and soul were definitely here, a significant piece of my checkbook and just the thought of it sitting there over 3,000 miles away was a thought that weighed on my mind often.  In the end, I took a financial loss on the house, but overall selling it was a total gain that can't be measured by dollar signs.  I no longer had to worry about something breaking, or about that mortgage every month.  I had started a life here in Alaska and unloading the house was a great thing.  It was the last thing that allowed me to completely move forward with my life.  Thank you Marcy Urban.  She was a really great real estate agent and I believe made the difference.

Celebratory dinner after house sale

June 2013 - Got Surprised
One normal June day my pilot boyfriend asks if I want to go flying in our friends plane.  We kept talking to our good friend and he always encouraged us to fly the plane to keep it going and put some hours on it.  So I think this is way cool!  Little did I know that I would come home from that plane ride an engaged woman.  I knew that I wanted to be with Todd for the rest of my life, but I definitely wasn't expecting to receive the most beautiful and precious ring that I am wearing today.  Pilots....never a dull moment. :)

Flying back from Seldovia, engaged to a crazy pilot

July 2013 - Amazed
From the beginning Todd's and my relationship has always been honest and real.  We had always talked about how we didn't really want any sort of wedding or big deal.  It's just NOT how we roll!  We were married in an as small as you can get private ceremony at a place where summer and winter we spend a lot of time.  On the shores of that little lake in Kincaid Park I married the man of my dreams and my soul mate.  He showed me that love is a real thing.  It's not a word, but an action.  It's not a feeling, but a choice.  He is the most manly man I know.  He makes me feel beautiful inside and out.  I am a better person for having known him and I am so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Our Wedding

August 2013 - Loss
The loss of our dog Brew was very sad for us.  We love our dogs just as they should be loved....they are part of the family.  God puts these animals in our lives for a reason.  Anyone who has truly loved an animal knows this.  They only know how to fully give love.  There's no 1/2 way for dogs.  They love you completely unconditionally.  Brew was no exception.  He was such a sweet thing.  He had a charmed life.  I'm glad I got to be a part of it.

The amazing Brew Erickson

October 2013 -  Wild Blue
Wild blue came into our lives!  I've always enjoyed aviation.  Since I can remember aviation has been a part of my life.  Enjoyed flying with my dad in a 185 as a kid....when I met Todd it's like aviation came back into my life.  We talked frequently that it would be one of our dreams to have a plane that we could explore Alaska in together.  What can I say...it was the right deal at the right time!  Adventures around Alaska here we come.

Captain Todd and Wild Blue

November 2013 - World Travel
The summer was very busy for both of us so we deferred our honeymoon trip!  The south Island of New Zealand was the destination.  Spending 2 weeks with the love of my life was awesome.  It was everything I could imagine and more.  We enjoyed dragging our mountain bikes all around the island.  Too much fun!  A solid start to a lifetime of adventure together.

Mountain Biking New Zealand

Here's to 2014!  Bring it!

Changing Seasons

The crisp green is gone and the colors are beginning to change.  I went for a run today and there are leaves on the ground.  The temps are starting to get cooler and the windows are closed.  This summer was amazingly beautiful and we did as many fun things as we could.  We had some very great moments and also some heart breaking ones.  I guess it's always good when your happy moments outnumber your sad ones.  We had many great moments, but our saddest was the loss of our Brew.  Brew was such an amazing dog!  He was ultimately sweet and the best snuggler.  He could run all day or just lay with you on the couch all day if that's what you needed.  He played with Bree and even let her lay on him all the time.  So many times she'd lay close, then he'd get up and move (repeat).  He eventually just accepted that she loved him and had to be touching him.  I think he knew he was loved by all of us.  He got ill very suddenly and was waggling his tail up until the very end.  He most definitely was trying to love and comfort us even while we were trying to comfort him.  We have a million pictures and videos of Brew and when look at them only good memories come.  He brought every one around him nothing but joy.  I thank Brew for taking care of Todd for me till I could find him.  He's the best example of unconditional, selfless love that anyone could have.  We miss him very much and smile when we think of him.  I could go on theres so much to say about this awesome dog....but at last a picture.  His favorite place was always by Todd....no matter where Todd was.

Brew in his favorite place....right next to Todd.  This was the day after we got married and our last little trip all together.  Great times.

The seasons are changing and the fall colors are out.  It has rained almost every day the entire month of August.  Pretty yucky.  Hard to complain though because I bet almost all of July was perfectly clear and beautiful.  The couple beautiful days that we've had I was able to get out.  Todd was away so my friend Mary and I took the dogs on a nice hike.  It was a great time.  A perfect day!  Here are some pics from that day.

Tonight I'm waiting for my husband to come home from the lower 48.  He has been there working for a few days and boy do I miss him.  I'm so used to having him around.  I guess a little distance is good sometimes because it makes me appreciate all that I love about him.  I think that's enough distance for a while, thank you!  I hope this finds all my friends in a good place.  Wishing everyone the best!  Bring on the snow!!!!

Hammerman 2013

A few days before this years hammerman triathlon I was feeling pretty good.  My swimming was coming along quite well and the weather was supposed to be awesome.  Race morning we get there and it starts raining and is cloudy.  So much for those good trail conditions.  The lake was still like glass though.  Got in a few minutes before the start to do a little swim warm up.  Still felt good! 

At the start I got way to the outside away from all the crazy swimmers and just took off.  I was feeling really good.  After I rounded the buoy I briefly glanced at my watch and saw that I was definitely on swim PR pace.  I got a little excited.  I was calm and controlled throughout the entire swim.  When I exited the water and saw I was at 15 or 16 minutes I was really pumped.  In fact, as I was in transition trying to get my wetsuit off, and get on the bike I was just so excited about my good swim.  I almost had to slap myself and say "ok, bike time". 

Starting the bike at the hammerman is always interesting.  You exit transition and mount your bike and immediately start climbing a crazy up hill.  Surely humbles you if you were feeling good.  The course was incredibly slick and super muddy.  Anyone you passed by was totally covered in mud.  And you just knew you were too.  It was quite difficult staying upright at times.  The roots were very slick and your tires would just slide all over them.  On some of the up hills you had to get off your bike and really kick your feet into the mud to drag your bike up to avoid slipping...which you still did a lot.  As I was coming around a corner there was momma and baby moose right there on the trail.  I of course stopped and gave them a little distance.  A couple guys came up behind me and sort of yelled at her a bit and she and baby just moved so we could pass.  Thanks momma!  Since the babies are a little more mobile now I think the moms are a little less anxious and protective.  She honestly didn't look concerned about us at all.  Ears up the whole time, just grazing.  After than obstacle the bike finished up ok.  Not my best time with all the mud.

When I started the run my legs felt like cement.  I usually feel pretty good coming off the bike, but this year I think the bike was just so much tougher with all the slipping around so more energy output.  It probably would have helped to at least do one brick before the race.  Yea, I'm smart.  My whole thought on the run was "just keep moving".  Walked up a few of the steep hills, but walked less than I did last year for sure.  I ran into Todd about a mile in and he was having a crazy quad cramp so he wished me well and told me to go on.  I was feeling a lot better when I knew I had about a mile left to go.  At this point I was looking at my watch thinking I could beat my overall time for last year.  About 1/2 a mile left to go I hear this bird making a god awful sound.  Suddenly there's this bird in front of me coming straight at my head doing it's war yell!  So I waited till the last second then ducked!  Ahh, it missed me.  It's the same bird that chased Todd on the trail for a few miles last week.  I think it was a hawk and she built her nest right along the trail and it was known that she's been dive bombing people.  She drew blood from some, but thank goodness not from me on that day.

I finished the run strong with a total time of 2:54:23.  I believe last year I was 2:58 ish.  So overall I was pretty happy.  I don't have the splits yet, but no matter I'm very pleased with my swim.  I must say another thing about Todd.  I was sad when I saw him walking in front of me on the run.  When I caught up with him and he was cramping I was just bummed, because I know how frustrating something like that can be.  It's so nice that he's so supportive of me and an amazing man that pushes me to go on ahead of him.  Instead of him being upset that he got "chicked" that night he just told me how he was so proud of how well I did.  What a man!  Todd's accomplished so much in triathlon.  His accomplishments are such a motivation to me.  I think he knows that no matter how we finish in races that he will always be my triathlon hero. 

Here's a pic of Todd and I after the race.  We are both super tired, dirty and smiling from ear to ear!

Me and my Tri man