Dear Mystery Blog Reader--
Thanks for your continued interest in me, and my rantings. While I think I may know most of you who read this, my mother keeps reminding me that there are many many more of you than I am aware of. In that case, I'm making a plea to you; please make a contribution to Team in Training. Matt & I have less than a month to our event, and about $900 more to raise. Your donation goes directly to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training- and will be spent on cancer research, or go to help people battling the disease. All donations over $50 will get a great photo of Matt & I in wetsuits, all donations over $100 will get a snazzy T-shirt.
Thanks!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilMHutchi1
Again, Thanks to all those who have already given!
Now that the commercial portion of this blog has been addressed-- you can read about our vacation.
Tuesday, July 31
Lets do that agian!
Matt & I had a swell weekend in Door County. We stayed with the Green Bay Krings Friday- and had a wonderful dusk dinner on their patio. It was great to see them!
The next morning we got up and drove up the Door County Pensula, stopping to see Al Johnson's famous grass roof - complete with four real live goats who live on top, and keep the grass trimmed. We also stopped to pick ripe 'sour' cherries on our way to Washington Island. After a ferry ride to the island, we set up camp at the only campground on the island after a ferry ride to the island. We made a yummy vegan dinner of 'hobo packs' with Setain and stewed freshly picked cherries!
Sunday morning, we went on a long run to the East side of the Island where we were greeted by flocks of egrets and cranes. Once we returned to camp we streched, ate, showered, then left for an afternoon of hikeing. We caught another ferry to Rock Island where we hiked for the afternoon, and toured their lighthouse. After an afternoon of activity we found the local bar, and sat down for happy hour. Get this, beer was 50 cents!!! (well it was happy hour from 3 to 6- we were very happy). Plus the bar sat next to the wheat feild that produced the grain of the brew we were consuming! Had Matt 'watered' the feild the way he wished, the wheat would have completed it's circle of life!
Yesterday we sadly packed up and headed home- tired, but happy!
Pre Vacation note-- a half hour before we leave the cat starts howling and acting like he is in great pain. We - like the responsible pet owners we are- to the furry thing to the vet for the weekend..
Post Vacation note-- It cost FOUR times as much to spring the kitty from the vet. (Anyone want a cat?)
The next morning we got up and drove up the Door County Pensula, stopping to see Al Johnson's famous grass roof - complete with four real live goats who live on top, and keep the grass trimmed. We also stopped to pick ripe 'sour' cherries on our way to Washington Island. After a ferry ride to the island, we set up camp at the only campground on the island after a ferry ride to the island. We made a yummy vegan dinner of 'hobo packs' with Setain and stewed freshly picked cherries!
Sunday morning, we went on a long run to the East side of the Island where we were greeted by flocks of egrets and cranes. Once we returned to camp we streched, ate, showered, then left for an afternoon of hikeing. We caught another ferry to Rock Island where we hiked for the afternoon, and toured their lighthouse. After an afternoon of activity we found the local bar, and sat down for happy hour. Get this, beer was 50 cents!!! (well it was happy hour from 3 to 6- we were very happy). Plus the bar sat next to the wheat feild that produced the grain of the brew we were consuming! Had Matt 'watered' the feild the way he wished, the wheat would have completed it's circle of life!
Yesterday we sadly packed up and headed home- tired, but happy!
Pre Vacation note-- a half hour before we leave the cat starts howling and acting like he is in great pain. We - like the responsible pet owners we are- to the furry thing to the vet for the weekend..
Post Vacation note-- It cost FOUR times as much to spring the kitty from the vet. (Anyone want a cat?)
Wednesday, July 25
VACATION!
for the first summer in two years matt and I are actually getting a vacation that doesn't involve a wedding. We love weddings, we love going to, being in, and all the other lovely events that surround weddings. This summer we can actually get out of town and camp. In all the time I've known Matt, we've spoke about how much we enjoy camping. But we have never actually gone camping. A fact that became more pronounced as we moved all our un-touched camping crap for the second time.
We're headed up to Dork County (that's Door County Wisconsin) staying on Washington Island, and doing some hiking on Rock Island. Three nights of 'car camping' and a lot of not being at work! Whoo hoo--
We're headed up to Dork County (that's Door County Wisconsin) staying on Washington Island, and doing some hiking on Rock Island. Three nights of 'car camping' and a lot of not being at work! Whoo hoo--
Wednesday, July 18
Tri photos
Here are some long over due photos-- With the lack of photos on my blog I feel a little more like a Luddite.
So much for second thoughts, after last week's weekday swim in Lake Michigan, our weekend training required one open water swim for a mini tri, and a brick workout of swimming and biking. Because of our proximity to the lake we opted to do the brick outside on Sunday, and had what I would call an excitng swim without a lifeguard- but perhaps a little too exciting for Matt. It seams that if one wishes to swim in water that isn't knee high, the lifegaurds will haul ones butt back to shore. Other beach goers recomended a nice private beach where we could get a decent swim in. I loved it, but the whole idea of swimming in deep, open water without a guard alarmed Matt. (I am well versed in all the reasons not to swim alone- and there is no excuse-- but it was fun, and a good swim). So in one weekend I managed to spend more time swimming in Lake Michigan than I have in the entire six years I’ve lived in Chicago!
Thursday, July 12
Second Thought City
Training Update:
For training yesterday we swam 1/2 a mile in Lake Michigan. Still on a high from last weekend I thought that this would be just as easy. WRONG.
It was cold. It was really cold. The waves kept pushing me off course, deeper into the lake, and occasionally into other swimmers. To add insult to injured pride, when I got out of the water I was smelly.
After last weekend's adventure, I'm realizing it's a little over a month to the Chicago Tri- and it's double the distance, with a swim in the great lake! Umm, so much for living in the second city, I think I’ll be spending some time in second thought city.
This weekend we're doing a 'min tri' with the team. We'll be getting our wetsuits, too - THANK GOD!
Fundraising Update:
Matt and I are almost two thirds of the way to our fundraising goal! Thanks everyone! Our deadline is quickly approaching. If you've been planning on giving, but haven't done so yet - now is the time!
With your generous donation you'll be earning our un-dieing gratitude, bragging rights, and shared status as a Cancer Ass Kicker.
Please see the Matt & Meg Training link to the right of your screen if you wish to donate online, otherwise shoot me an e-mail.
Thanks!
For training yesterday we swam 1/2 a mile in Lake Michigan. Still on a high from last weekend I thought that this would be just as easy. WRONG.
It was cold. It was really cold. The waves kept pushing me off course, deeper into the lake, and occasionally into other swimmers. To add insult to injured pride, when I got out of the water I was smelly.
After last weekend's adventure, I'm realizing it's a little over a month to the Chicago Tri- and it's double the distance, with a swim in the great lake! Umm, so much for living in the second city, I think I’ll be spending some time in second thought city.
This weekend we're doing a 'min tri' with the team. We'll be getting our wetsuits, too - THANK GOD!
Fundraising Update:
Matt and I are almost two thirds of the way to our fundraising goal! Thanks everyone! Our deadline is quickly approaching. If you've been planning on giving, but haven't done so yet - now is the time!
With your generous donation you'll be earning our un-dieing gratitude, bragging rights, and shared status as a Cancer Ass Kicker.
Please see the Matt & Meg Training link to the right of your screen if you wish to donate online, otherwise shoot me an e-mail.
Thanks!
Monday, July 9
My first tri
WOW! As a cancer survivor and a first time participant I was honored to start in the second wave of the Danskin Chicago-land Triathlon. IT WAS AWESOME! Lining up in the gates with other survivors was powerful. My eyes overflowed with tears as I looked at the swim course ahead of me, felt the strength within my body, and recalled that it wasn’t that long ago when an event like this was just an out of reach goal.
As the countdown to the swim finally began, I pushed the tears aside, shoved my goggles on, and dove in. The water was calming, clear, and cool, wonderful on such a hot morning. I was amazed that the lake wasn’t a crowded with swimmers as I feared it would be. Carefully I stroked on ahead of other swimmers with great ease, soon my goggles clouded and navigating the straight swim across the lake became more difficult. I was able to find one tiny spot in my left goggle that wasn’t clouded and used that spot to find the way to the end.
My transition from swim to bike was quick, and easier than I anticipated. I dried off my feet a dusted off the sand then shoved them in socks, pounded on my shoes, threw on gloves, helmet, sunglasses, and grabbed a power gel. I ran my bike out of transition and hopped on for the ride.
The course had a couple slight inclines and tight corners, but what no course map could predict were the strong winds. Cross-breezes and headwinds blew against my wheels with every mile. Shifting down to an easier gear helped me sped through some of the hardest winds. Each two miles a marker would appear with some great encouraging slogan. The mile two markers read “I ride for those who can’t” reading it filled me with strength. I thought of when I couldn’t ride due to the fatigue of treatment, those doing treatment now, and those who have recently been diagnosed. As my ride finished up and I drew closer to the transition area a powerful tailwind pushed me all the way to the end of the bike route.
As I climbed off my bike and walked it back to my spot, I was feeling aching in my quads, and a burn in my lungs, so I took my time racking my bike and taking off my gear. I slurped down another gel with water, and walked to the run start line. My run felt like a heavy trod as I smiled through mile one. I walked for a small section of mile two, then found a runner who I could keep pace with until I got back into my groove and sped into the last half of mile two and sprinted across the finish line!
I’m happy that I finished, and was impressed when I found my times latter that day.
Swim: 15:56 (rank 833! That's the top quarter overall!)
T1: 2:49
Bike: 45:10 (17.2 mph!)
T2: 4:54
Run: 33:31 (about an 11 minute mile)
Total 1:42:22
Overall rank: 1140 / 3919
Age group rank: 171 / 363
(I completed in the top half of both groups! - not bad for a first timer!)
Looking ahead, this sprint tri has me excited about the longer distance Olympic Tri I’ll do in August. My training plan will have lots of brick workouts that include biking then transitioning to running- exactly what I want to work on!
As the countdown to the swim finally began, I pushed the tears aside, shoved my goggles on, and dove in. The water was calming, clear, and cool, wonderful on such a hot morning. I was amazed that the lake wasn’t a crowded with swimmers as I feared it would be. Carefully I stroked on ahead of other swimmers with great ease, soon my goggles clouded and navigating the straight swim across the lake became more difficult. I was able to find one tiny spot in my left goggle that wasn’t clouded and used that spot to find the way to the end.
My transition from swim to bike was quick, and easier than I anticipated. I dried off my feet a dusted off the sand then shoved them in socks, pounded on my shoes, threw on gloves, helmet, sunglasses, and grabbed a power gel. I ran my bike out of transition and hopped on for the ride.
The course had a couple slight inclines and tight corners, but what no course map could predict were the strong winds. Cross-breezes and headwinds blew against my wheels with every mile. Shifting down to an easier gear helped me sped through some of the hardest winds. Each two miles a marker would appear with some great encouraging slogan. The mile two markers read “I ride for those who can’t” reading it filled me with strength. I thought of when I couldn’t ride due to the fatigue of treatment, those doing treatment now, and those who have recently been diagnosed. As my ride finished up and I drew closer to the transition area a powerful tailwind pushed me all the way to the end of the bike route.
As I climbed off my bike and walked it back to my spot, I was feeling aching in my quads, and a burn in my lungs, so I took my time racking my bike and taking off my gear. I slurped down another gel with water, and walked to the run start line. My run felt like a heavy trod as I smiled through mile one. I walked for a small section of mile two, then found a runner who I could keep pace with until I got back into my groove and sped into the last half of mile two and sprinted across the finish line!
I’m happy that I finished, and was impressed when I found my times latter that day.
Swim: 15:56 (rank 833! That's the top quarter overall!)
T1: 2:49
Bike: 45:10 (17.2 mph!)
T2: 4:54
Run: 33:31 (about an 11 minute mile)
Total 1:42:22
Overall rank: 1140 / 3919
Age group rank: 171 / 363
(I completed in the top half of both groups! - not bad for a first timer!)
Looking ahead, this sprint tri has me excited about the longer distance Olympic Tri I’ll do in August. My training plan will have lots of brick workouts that include biking then transitioning to running- exactly what I want to work on!
Thursday, July 5
Danskin Sprint Tri Sunday
My first triathlon will be this weekend! I'll be participating in the Chicagoland Danskin Women's Triathlon.
As a novice, I feel like I'm getting treated like a pro!
Let me share just a couple of the perks I've recieved for this event:
- As a cancer survivor I am invited to a race day eve breakfast (free meal, nice).
- On race day I get to join the survivor's start. The second wave of swimmers that starts the race (there should be more than 20 waves).
- Due to all of the things I mentioned above I get a really low race number! It doesn't mean anything, typically the numbers I get for races are typically in the thousands, and for this race I am 56! (Cool, but I recommend getting a low number the easy way, by getting a trainer and working your butt off to become a competor in the sport).
- I was invited to join Team Toyota, beacause of this race. So Saturday I'll do a Toyota Meet & Greet, and pick up all kinds of free stuff too!
- A fellow Team in Training member is letting myself and a friend stay at his condo, 20 minutes from the race for free. Phew, no pricey hotel!
As a novice, I feel like I'm getting treated like a pro!
Let me share just a couple of the perks I've recieved for this event:
- As a cancer survivor I am invited to a race day eve breakfast (free meal, nice).
- On race day I get to join the survivor's start. The second wave of swimmers that starts the race (there should be more than 20 waves).
- Due to all of the things I mentioned above I get a really low race number! It doesn't mean anything, typically the numbers I get for races are typically in the thousands, and for this race I am 56! (Cool, but I recommend getting a low number the easy way, by getting a trainer and working your butt off to become a competor in the sport).
- I was invited to join Team Toyota, beacause of this race. So Saturday I'll do a Toyota Meet & Greet, and pick up all kinds of free stuff too!
- A fellow Team in Training member is letting myself and a friend stay at his condo, 20 minutes from the race for free. Phew, no pricey hotel!
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