Rev3 Quassy Part I: Volunteering for the Revolution

It was't until last week that I made the final decision to travel to Rev3 Quassy. As my teammate (and friend) Kati mentioned, going to Rev3 events is like going to see your second family. I have gotten to know my Rev3/Trakkers teammates well, and with each event I get to know the Rev3 staff a little better. I look forward to seeing LJ smiling in the volunteer tent, Charlie and Eric in three places at once around the venue, and of course our Mama Bear Carole. The Rev3 crew is great. Despite little sleep in the days surrounding the race, their attitudes are resoundingly positive. You know that feeling you have when you see a family member or dear friend who lives far away? That is how I feel about my Rev3 family.


Of course these weekend trips to races wouldn't be possible without my first family. Tommy never complains, never balks when I ask to go to a race. As long as the kids are covered when he works, he is beyond supportive. I am so very fortunate in that respect.

I road-tripped to Quassy with my tri club friend Robin. Of course I was eager to get to the venue, and reunited with my teammates. I saw some of them a few weeks ago in Knoxville, but there were also teammates I hadn't met before. Meredith T. has become a great friend this year, and I finally got to meet her and her adorable son Soren. One of the great things about our team is the support of one another. My kids were home, well taken care of by Tommy, so it was easy for me to offer to watch Soren for a bit while Mer got her bike fixed and got settled. We had a team dinner (minus several of our teammates who were still working at the venue), which was a great chance to get to know some of our newer teammates and hang with good friends. What could be better than a team dinner? A team slumber party of course! Laura was still working at the park when 6 of us showed up at her house to "check in" for the weekend. Thankfully they have a huge basement with lots of sleeping space, and her husband Tom was a gracious host despite just returning from a trip to China. Thank you, Laura and Tom!

Hanging with Soren pre-race
This weekend I graduated from JV to Varsity in the triathlon volunteering arena. Laura was coordinating volunteers with LJ, and still needed someone to drive sweep for both races. (This essentially means going behind the last cyclist/runner and picking up anyone who won't make the time cutoff or is broken down. It also means releasing all of the volunteers/police on the course and thanking them profusely for their help). Hmmmm....so I have to drive slowly, smile, and say thank you a lot. Seems right up my alley. I was excited but a bit freaked about driving the Rev3 Suburban. (I did not want to wreck Charlie's car). It was interesting perspective to be in transition until the very last athlete was out.



One of the cool things about Rev3 races? They designate a last place finisher. Someone volunteers to finish the swim, bike, and run last. That way, no one who is out there fighting to finish the race has the stigma of being last. For the Olympic, Pastor John from Multisport Ministries was the last place finisher for the race. He stuck with slow swimmers in the water, and showed immense patience on the bike (the last biker was really struggling). The challenging thing about being the sweep is deciding when to pull people off the course. You want to give them the benefit of getting a shot at things, but also don't want to hold course marshals and police out on the course for two people who aren't going to make the cutoff. I ended up pulling two people off the course, and driving Pastor John to catch up with the last place runner. I hate upsetting people, so I was worried about telling anyone their race was done. Thankfully the two ladies were very nice, and just happy for what they had accomplished to that point. Awesome attitudes! Pastor John was so patient and he ran the last two miles with the last runner. I only pulled one runner off the course, and she was amazingly positive. This made up for the woman in transition who came back in after a few minutes off the bike.
Athlete: "I got a flat"
Person who shall remain nameless: "You know you can fix that"
Athlete: "But if I'm not going to win, why race?"
Hmmm...because you should finish what you start...because it is a good training event...because sometimes maybe not winning is better for you than winning...because you are a BIG OLD SPOILSPORT! (rant.over.)

In the end, I didn't wreck the Suburban, I figured out (after 5 minutes and asking the gas station attendant) how to open the gas door to put gas in the car, and I "swept" the course successfully. When I say I graduated from JV to Varsity, I was getting calls from Eric the race director and being trusted to pull athletes at the appropriate time, etc.

I got to spend some time hanging in the Recovery Pump tent, and helped with odd jobs around the venue. After another team dinner, I crashed HARD.


Team Trakkers (Mark, Kelly, and Kel) hanging in the Recovery Pump tent.
Another early wake-up, and time to work the Tri Slide Pit Stop. (I've got another blog post cooking on that experience). There were more racers for the 70.3 than the Oly, and I watched the bikes slowly thin out in transition. Pastor John was again the last place swimmer, and Stephanie (Charlie's wife) was to be the last place biker and runner. Sweeping was definitely more challenging in a longer race. This bike course is HARD. Stephanie hooked up with one of the last cyclists and rode with her. I did pick up an athlete who blew out two tubular tires (on 650 wheels so few options for replacement). The volunteers at the water stop and along the course were awesome. One of the motorcycle state troopers was kind enough to help with the sweeping. When we got to mile 40, it was apparent that several athletes wouldn't make the cutoff. It was harder to give the news on this day. Unfortunately the athlete riding with Stephanie went off course a bit and eventually had to be pulled off. She was really bummed, and we both felt badly for her. Our last cyclist on the course didn't make the cutoff, but he pushed hard. He was one of the last out of the swim, so he was at a disadvantage on the bike.

I did get yelled at by a Connecticut trooper on the bike course for being on the phone...when I explained it was to pick up a stranded racer he lightened up on me. (It was much better to have the Rev3 Suburban when sweeping the course- no one questioned my purpose, but it was needed to lead the pro race). The funny part? Several of the calls I got while driving were from the police Command Post. So it is illegal to talk on the phone while driving, but you are going to call me when I'm driving to ask me questions...funny. In the end it all worked out. I misjudged the ability of a few racers to finish in time, but got them off the course before it closed. It was an amazing experience, and new perspective on all that it takes to put on a race.

The Rev3 crew is AMAZING. It was an awesome weekend with my teammates, with so many great moments that I can't fit into this post. I feel privileged to know such a great group of people, and to be affiliated with these incredible events. If you you are a triathlete and have never volunteered, you should. You get a chance to give back and get new perspective on the course. If you aren't a triathlete, but have a friend or family member who competes in triathlon, it is a great way to pass the time.

You can see a great video review of the event here, including the pro race.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

This weekend, the kids and I set out for another holiday adventure at "Camp Rob". This is my nickname for the amazing home my Uncle Rob and Aunt Marianne have in West Virginia. They live in a beautiful community about 20 minutes from Shepherdstown. My sister and I have made a tradition out of spending Labor Day/Memorial Day weekends at Rob's whenever possible. We love this place so much that my sister got married there last October.



I call it "Camp Rob" for two reasons:
1. It is like summer camp for kids and adults alike. (Swimming, fishing, biking, checking out the alpacas and horses in the neighborhood, cycling, bonfires, etc.)
2. Visiting Rob and Marianne generally turns into a great tri training weekend for me. This was my first outdoor ride since October, the pond is great for swimming, and their neighborhood has rolling hills for running.

Of course weekends in WVA begin with a stop at the outlets. (The only store-specific credit card I have is for The Children's Place....I always clean up for the kids there). The kids were troopers, and we had my cousin Marie along for the trip. They did find some fun along the way.


Of course the outlets have nothing on "Camp Rob". Did I mention that the meals are incredible? We all pitch in with prep and cleaning, but Rob and Marianne cook amazing meals when we visit. Even burgers taste better in WVA.


(My daughter helping with breakfast preparations)

Sunday, after a wonderful breakfast, Rob, Marianne, and I set out for a ride. (After I oogled Marianne's SRAM shifters). The scenery there is beautiful. We rode through historic Civil War areas, beautiful countryside, and into historic Shepherdstown. There was one really "nice" hill, and lots of rollers. My quads burned like they hadn't in ages. I was thankful for First Endurance EFS and my super comfy Canari cycling shorts to keep me from bonking.


It felt so good to ride. I MISSED that feeling. It has only been in the past two weeks that I felt the spark to train and compete again, and this ride totally fueled the fire. The post-ride cool-down was a swim in the pond with the kids. (This meant me swimming and pushing them around on rafts, plus a serious water fight).

I got in a little Mommy time, too. I love to read, and it is something I don't get to do much of. While icing my knee, and enjoying an adult beverage, I got to finish The Paris Wife. (A fantastic read, I must say). My son kept me company, very content to do his own thing.



It dawned on me yesterday that it was the first time in a VERY long time that I wasn't planning or prepping for the next thing. I was just enjoying BEING with my children and my family. Of course I missed Tommy, but I am glad he got to enjoy some "down" time (he didn't get to relax a whole lot between home improvements and a softball tournament). It felt so good for me to really be "in the moment". I wish I was better at doing that more often.

What better way to end a wonderful day than with a bonfire. I can't stand milk chocolate, so I modified the traditional Smores recipe to include dark chocolate..... Y-U-M!




I am so thankful to have awesome family, and a heavenly place to spend a holiday weekend. Thank you Rob and Marianne (and Mere, Trevor, and Marie for helping with the kids so I could ride and run).

Rev3 Knoxville Volunteer Report

After being sidelined by injury for the first part of the season, my "race" plan has changed repeatedly. Last year I missed out on Rev3 Knoxville, which was the first meeting for our team. I didn't want to miss out again this year. When I realized I wouldn't be racing in May/June, the trip became more of a possibility. Even better- my teammate Laura was driving down from Connecticut, so we could travel together.

The weekend was bittersweet for me. Our dogs were sick and I had a lot of guilt about leaving. They had been declining for months, so this wasn't particularly new, but it still tore at my heart to leave them. At the same time, I knew seeing my teammates would be good for my soul, and my amazing husband never said a word about keeping it all together at home. I am so thankful for his support of this crazy tri habit (and everything that has come before).

In true Team Trakkers style, my first in-person meeting with Laura M. was as we left for our 8.5 hour drive. Thankfully, our team is full of amazing people. Laura and I got to know each other well on the drive...and while waiting for "fast" food (and coffee)on the way down. I don't think my endless rambling drove her too crazy...she has twin 5-year-olds, so she can handle me!

We were rooming with Laura W., who arrived earlier in the day. Saturday was up early for the practice swim. It was like a reunion seeing so many good friends, and meeting new teammates. Thanks to social networking, the ice had been broken months ago. My dear friend and teammate Kati and I hung out while everyone else swam. Kati was awesome to babysit for Jill's kids, and I got to hang with them for a bit during the swim. Of course Kati and I did a little goofing off, with the munchkins egging us on. All I can say is thank goodness I jump higher than her, because she definitely swims, bikes, and runs faster than me! ;)

At the expo, we checked out the Recovery Pump booth with "Recovery Pump Doug", and met Trakkers Pro Courtenay Brown at the Kestrel Booth.
On to Volunteering
I got to volunteer packet pickup with Laura M., Colleen, and Kristin. I managed to elbow, er, work my way to the pro line at registration. It was a lot of fun checking in a mix of pros and age groupers. I got to tell Julie Dibens how much I enjoy following her on twitter. Laura and I got to goof off a bit, too.

Dinner was great, with Mike, Laura, and Laura. Nothing like some good Southern BBQ. Then Laura x2 and I wandered looking to get some coffee for the next morning....no such luck. Thankfully it was there in the lobby when we woke up.

Sunday brought the Tri-Slide Pit. Team Mom Carole asked if we would help spray athletes down with Tri Slide in Transition. Hmmm.... let me think....spray down a bunch of triathletes with lube...including some very fit men...I'm in! (Of course it really wasn't quite that exciting, but tons of fun). Being the vocal one, I did lots of yelling to encourage people to come visit us. Lesson learned: don't spray 9 cans of TriSlide near the black transition mats...thankfully we fixed that problem. It was great to encourage teammates as they got ready for their races, and promote a great product.



Teammates Mike Moore and Jeff Vanis
The next stop was the finish line. I think this was seriously the coolest part of volunteering. Yes, I got to see the pros finish, but my favorite part was even neater than that. I worked at the beginning of the finish chute, making sure spectators didn't cross in front of athletes. Once the age groupers started coming in, I had the pleasure of helping kids connect with their athlete family members to run to the finish line. This is why I LOVE Rev3.

There were two incredibly inspiring moments at Rev3 Knoxville:
- The first was a wife whose husband passed away three weeks prior. They were supposed to complete the race together, and she chose to continue in his honor. She finished with several family members, and the race announcer had the crowd worked into a frenzy for her.
- The other amazing group were the Owen family. They founded an organization called Caroline Can! Caroline suffered a traumatic brain injury, and her family works to raise funds and raise awareness. Caroline and two family members completed the race as a challenged athlete relay team. The spirit of their team and all of their cheerleaders was amazing!

Laura and I had to pack up before the end of the race, but it was an awesome weekend. I am so thankful to be on a team with such amazing people. I look forward to seeing them like I look forward to catching up with an old friend. Did I mention our teammates have awesome spouses, too? (Emily, Michele, Paul.....all of the Team Trakkers family members rock!).

Knoxville was awesome. (There was even a great Farmers Market up the street from the host hotel on Saturday). The drive home, not so much fun. After sitting in traffic for 90+ minutes (literally parked for a period of it), we passed this sign.....


You think?

Laura was an awesome travel buddy (though she is a super healthy eater so I was worried about being the "bad" one). Thankfully, she has a dark chocolate habit. I knew I liked her!

Next up...Volunteering Rev3 Quassy

Goodbye, Sweet Boys

Today was a very hard day. We had to say goodbye to Spanner and Spridel, our beloved companions for almost 14 years. When we grieve, we remember, so today we are thinking about them. We got out a lot of old pictures, which has brought a lot of laughs and reminiscing.

Tommy and I began dating 18 years ago, but took a three-year "intermission". During a phase where we weren't speaking, we both got dogs (literally within weeks of one another). Tommy rescued Spridel from a woman in Virginia who advertised the puppies but had them flea-ridden and in bad shape. He also bought Spridel's sister. Both dogs came down with Parvo, but we always joked that Spridel was too stubborn to succumb. Tommy trained Spridel, and he was always a great listener. Spridel got his name from the cartoon "Speed Racer", and was nicknamed "Sprinkle" for his tendency to lose control of his bladder when he was a puppy and got excited.

I hadn't planned on getting a dog, but then my friends Catherine and Larry had a pregnant Golden Retriever. I was there when the puppies were born on July 4, 1997. Some time later, the dogs did not all have homes. I became the proud owner of Spanner (aka Star Spangled Banner, aka Sir Spanner of Ashton, aka Spanks), a reddish Golden Retriever. He went to formal puppy school, and never listened nearly as well as Spridel.

Spridel and Spanner became brothers before they were a year old. They were very different dogs, but spent their lives together. Spridel loved his personal space, but was never mean. Spanner thought he was a lap dog and would try to sit all 90+ pounds in my lap on a regular basis. Spridel loved to smell everything (especially as his hearing went). Spanner had breath you avoided smelling at all costs. Spridel had his ear cut by the tooth of another dog while playing. Spanner had belly surgery after eating a tin can.




When we had our children, Spridel and Spanner welcomed the onslaught of crumbs on the floor, and were always very mild-mannered. We will miss our boys terribly, but they gave us so many wonderful years. Their time had come, and they are no longer in pain. I am so thankful that they passed peacefully, and together, after spending so much of their lives together. Rest in Peace, sweet boys.

San Juan 70.3 Race "Sherpa" Report

While I like to think of myself as spontaneous, I am also a HUGE planner. When we did personality testing at work, my strongest trait is "Structure". I LIKE IT! I have pre-typed packing lists in my computer (hey-whatever works when you are packing for three people). There is one for trips to Florida to see the "Greats", one for the annual trip to Nags Head, one for my annual nursing conference....you get the picture. So after a rough few (six) months, one of my awesome Trakkers Teammates invited me to join her in San Juan for her 70.3 race. It went something like this:

Andree: You should join me in San Juan, no pressure though

Me: My passport is expired

A: Puerto Rico is a US territory, I don't think you need a passport

Me: Oh, good point [Checking my work schedule, weighing the pros and cons]

Three days, twenty-seven checks of airtran flights later, one conversation with my EXTREMELY supportive husband, and an early birthday present from my grandparents later, I was IN! My kids were awesome- they helped with the dogs and drew awesome pictures for me to take on my trip.

A note to readers- while Andree and I email often, we have never actually met in person. This might be sketchy if we weren't Trakkers teammates and didn't know lots of people in common. Of course I showed my husband several pictures (since Andree is pronounced the same as Andre- didn't want him to think I was pulling a fast one).

I arrived in San Juan on Thursday at 10pm. I was a little nervous about catching a taxi that late, but my friend Hector (from Mid Maryland Tri Club) assured me that I would be fine. I felt even better when I had a female taxi driver. I arrived after 11pm. There was a key for me at the desk. Andree was sound asleep (as she should be), so I crawl into bed. We both woke up around midnight, and chatted for a while. Again....we still hadn't officially met.

Friday: Andree and I finally met on Friday morning. Our room had a view of the water and the sun was shining (meanwhile 30 degreees at home). While Andree did her pre-race routine, I checked out the resort. It was BEAUTIFUL, and in an ideal location for the race. Pools, swim-up bar, ocean, gorgeous views, and walking distance to swim start and transition. They had several restaurants in the hotel, and the pool bar was the site where the Pina Colada was invented. Yum! The hotel gym was really nice, with a view of the water, so we got in a great workout.

We checked out the expo, and hung out with Doug from Recovery Pump. It was fun to chat with him about the medical science behind the recovery pump. We also got to hang for a bit with Trakkers Pro Amanda Lovato. For lunch? Mahi mahi tacos (and a mojito) for me. Yum. Andree had some mechanical issues with her bike after her flight (thank you, TSA). To ensure her gearing was ok, she took a spin in the hallway (I ran interference).

For pre-race dinner we ended up going to the Italian restaurant in the hotel (I told Andree it was her race and her choice...I can do some sympathy carb-loading anywhere). I might have exaggerated slightly when I told my husband "It was the worst service EVER." The Puerto Rican people were so welcoming, and so kind, but there was definitely an island attitude toward service. One great thing about Puerto Rico- an island feel but cell phone service at no extra cost. It was great to stay in contact with my family while having a great trip.

Saturday: This was the first time EVER I have attended a triathlon I am not racing and not volunteering. It was also my first "Ironman" event. I love Rev3 events, so I already know that if my body ever lets me complete a 140.6 race it will be at Cedar Point. That being said, I was looking forward to seeing what the hype is about. I got up with Andree, and hung out people-watching at transition. I was so excited to see Hector (my tri club friend from Maryland and a native of Puerto Rico). Transition was in an old sports stadium. It added to the race-day atmosphere. Walking into transition, you had to walk the gauntlet of body markers. I have never seen so many body markers...all smiling at 5:30am.

The walk to the swim start was a hike from transition (the run from the swim finish to transition was quite a HIKE). I met up with Andree, who was not feeling well. (You can read her race report here). She said she would do the swim and see how she felt. I got to know her husband at this point, texting him. He told me she would finish if she started (a girl after my own heart). We saw Hector before the swim start, and he looked totally hyped.

As soon as the pro gun went off, I race-walked the mile+ from the swim start to transition. Whew! This sherpa stuff isn't easy. It was fun to cheer for Trakkers pros Amanda Lovato, Richie Cunningham, and Chris McDonald (I got a few crazy looks when screaming "Go Big Sexy!"). When Andree and Hector came through transition, I yelled like crazy!

T1: T1 for me meant breakfast (breakfast #2 since the Starbucks was open at 4:30 am- awesome!). The breakfast buffet was outstanding, and the service impeccable. They even had fried cheese (I steered clear of that one, though). I finished breakfast and made it back in plenty of time for T2. I didn't know the area well enough to be out on the course, so I figured transitions and the finish would be good.

T2: I never realized how hard it is to keep track of the athletes when spectating. I was trying to tweet about the pro race, and sometimes you can't see the race number, or it has rubbed off their arm. New respect for the people who do this on a regular basis. The fans were great..especially when there were Puerto Rican athletes going by...they cheered like crazy. My favorite volunteer? A twenty- or thirty-something woman who had her T shirt tied in a knot and low-slung pants. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" came on, and I swear this woman could give Shakira a run for her money. She was cheering and dancing like nobody's business. She embodied the spirit of the volunteers there. I was surprised by how quiet the crowd was at times, though.

Once again, I cheered on the pros and then Andree and Hector. Watching the pro finish was really cool. I'm usually hours from finishing when they cross the line. Important spectator scoop for this race- there is a local bar just feet from the finish. When the clock struck noon, I purchased two bottles of water and (very large) pina colada. (All for $9). Definitely a nice spectator perk. I can be a bit chatty (you think?), so I met several people, including a man who went to high school with my Mom (small world!). The biggest bummer to me about the finish was that people kept getting sternly reminded that they would be DQ'd if they finished with their children. Finishing with my daughter was my favorite moment at Rev3 Cedar Point.

Hector finished waving the Puerto Rican flag, with a huge smile on his face. It was really a neat moment. His father, who had never seen him race, was there. The whole family had "Team Garcia" shirts.

Andree came to the finish looking tired but determined. I cheered like crazy, then ran to the "catch" area of the finish. When she came through the crowd, she was being supported by two volunteers and saying she needed to go to medical. (Keep in mind that feeling like crud she finished in the time it would normally take me to finish...she is one tough cookie). The benefit of bringing a (bossy) nurse practitioner with you to your race is that she will recount your medical history in the medical tent. I was texting Andree's husband, getting Hector his stuff, and crossing my fingers that IV fluids would work. After just a little fluid, she looked like a different person.

For the rally of the century, Andree hung at the pool bar with me later that afternoon. We caught up with Kelly Williamson (pro triathlete, winner of Rev3 Costa Rica and San Juan 70.3, and Recovery Pump athlete) and Recovery Pump Doug. Kelly is very cool (and a crazy fast runner). I'm always amazed by how down-to-earth most pro triathletes are. We might have (allegedly) sampled the mango mojitos (or was it classic mojitos??). The post-race party that night was probably the biggest disappointment of the evening. The ticket cost must have gone toward the entertainment, as it was a cash bar and no food. The bar inside was actually much more entertaining (there we met up with Doug, Team Trakkers pro Amanda Lovato, and some other age groupers).

Sunday: Recovery day. Lots of time by the pool. It was overcast, but relaxing. We ran through Old San Juan (beautiful, and lots of restaurant choices to explore next time) in the morning, and saw a rainbow over the old fort. If my body cooperates, I would definitely race this myself (and make it a diving trip for my husband). I am very thankful to Andree for letting me tag along!

Perspective

So this evening, while I am folding laundry, our daughter asks us "What is the difference between half full and half empty?" My answer? "Perspective". Then Tommy and I had to explain perspective to her.

I haven't blogged in over 3 weeks. This is a triathlon blog, and I have awesome sponsors and incredible pro and age group teammates, and I'm not sure if I can be a triathlete this year. I have put off racing until August (but will be there to cheer my teammates on at Rev3 Knoxville). My knee started hurting suddenly on a run two weeks ago. It feels exactly the same as my torn meniscus did. I saw the ortho, who suggested the symptoms don't sound like a torn meniscus. Since they are exactly what I had before, I'm not so sure. I rested the past couple of weeks, and did a lot of strengthening, and it still hurts like crazy if I do the wrong thing. Even swimming and deep water running hurt it. So I will get an MRI this week and try to figure it out.

This brings me back to my daughter's question. I seem to be a magnet for non-life threatening medical issues this year. I am frustrated as all of my tri friends and teammates blog about their training and the start of race season, but at the same time there is a feeling of acceptance. I fully realize that I have SO MUCH to be thankful for, and I am. So while I am putting it out there right now, I know whining gets old.

I was laughing to myself the other day as I told a friend about reading other blogs where friends/teammates/fellow bloggers post their training numbers (swim/bike/run distances logged). My training is virtually nonexistent (though thanks to teammate Andree I am ready to begin my pro career as race sherpa).

Here are my 2010/2011 numbers so far:

- MRIs - 2 (soon to be three)

- CT scan-1

- Ultrasound-1

- Blood draws- 7

- Hearing tests-3

- Little round scars after attempted ablation- 3

- Little round scars on left knee- 3

- Courses of oral steroids- 3

- Courses of antibiotics- 2

- 2x normal (size my foot was after swelling up in reaction to a foot spray)

- Expletives uttered after recent knee injury (too many to count)

- Reasons to suck it up and get over it- countless

Maya Angelou said it well.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."