Zoom Zoom

Everything has been in full speed since Cal Half. I can't believe that in just two days, I will be traveling to St. Croix to race in another half Ironman. It is ALSO crazy that Ironman Couer d'Alene is in 75 days! I just finalized registration on the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas today. These past couple of weeks have gone by so fast, and I have been a blogging loser. I seriously get disappointed when I check in on blogs and they haven't been updated.. Beth, Tawnee, and Yasi .. I'm talking to YOU!! But I have not been updating myself! This post might be another long-y, but I will try to make it interesting so I don't lose my lone followers..aka my mom and dad ;)

1. I heard back about my appeal at Oceanside and it is a no-go. Unfortunately, it was just a shitty situation, but there is nothing that can be done. I talked to the Ironman head referee (after I stopped crying like a sausage) and he is an awesome guy. I totally understand where he is coming from, technically according to USAT rules, he can't overturn the appeal based on a "judgement call." Basically, it is my word against the ref that gave me the call. I understand and even though it still royally pisses me off that at a race as prestigious as Oceanside a ref was out there who was minimally trained and wasn't looking at the big picture of where I was "drafting," I'm over it. Nothing can be done, so it's time to move on. I don't hate the lady that gave me the card, I don't have any regrets about Oceanside, I just hope that the next time she is a ref she is CONFIDENT in issuing cards. OK - that's done with. I talked with Julie Dunkle, who is an athlete that I admire, and she was blunt and straight to the point. She told me that no one thinks I'm a cheater because I got the card, she said that we've all been there and there's nothing we can do about it. Well, HOLLA. She's right and it's time for me to focus on upcoming races.

2. BarlowLiz has vacated San Diego!! What a straight bummer. We lived next door to each other freshman year at USD and have been roommates for the past four years. While I am clearly sad about losing a best friend, I am also sad that I won't have a race partner anymore! Liz and I blindly signed up for Ironman St. George together last year not really understanding what the hell we got into. After that, she flew to Boise to watch me race and give me a bitch slappin' when I was pissed about my performance and she knocked me into reality that I still had qualified for Clearwater so I should just can it. I watched her race in her homestate, Colorado when she did the Boulder 70.3 and then she even flew out to Kona to support me in Hawaii. The night before Oceanside, I was re-reading old cards and letters of support and encouragement that friends have given me before races. One that Liz wrote to me struck a cord. She wrote, "NEVER let anyone put limitations on you and DON'T accept the people who do - you're better and stronger than that." That right there shows what a supportive friend she is. She got 3rd at IMSG and 4th at Oceanside but you would never know it because she is always too busy cheering on and applauding others. Oh jesus, now I am going to start crying - so I will leave it at that and I will see YOOOOU, BARLOW IN JUNE.

3. I honestly have no idea why I'm numbering these thoughts, but just go with it..

3 Again. Training has kicked up a notch and I am tackling the shit out of my run. Last week I had 7 hours of running which was A LOT for me. The funny thing is that it WAS a lot, but it didn't kill me and I actually did pretty well. I had an awesome day of 2xGWL with Trina. There might of been some bonking and tears, but it is workouts like those that not only bring us closer as friends, but stronger as athletes. There is a picture on facebook where I look ready to murder someone - this was a little over halfway into our ride, it was hot, we were out of water (or the water was too warm), and no one was stopping to see if we were ok. What gives, freaks!? We somehow made it back to the card and finished the day we a strong 30 minute run. The next day I just about died doing a 2.5 hour run with Erin, I made her pull me for 2 hours before I called it quits. My body was NOT having it and rather than chugging along for the junk mileage, I stopped and went home to sleep :). On Saturday I had an awesome day of SBR with Tanya. She is a self proclaimed Amazon woman, because she is like 5'11 and she is a freaking beast! We had different swim workouts, but she is a fish in the water and crazy strong on the bike. The run is both of our weakness, but we both nailed our tempo intervals and ended with smiles on our faces. I was cracking up when we got back to our cars and we saw that Tanya had left her cycling shoes out for anyone to grab. I really started snorting laughing when I was to the side of her truck and saw her front wheel was there, too! It is crazy that no one took anything during the 45 minutes we were gone!! You got lucky, girl!

4. Last year, on the recommendation from my chiropractor who I just love, Katrina Stopper (actionsportschiropractic.com) I went and saw Dr. Kim Kelly, who is a naturopathic doctor. At first, I was a little weary because I wasn't sure what a naturo-something doctor was, and didn't want to waste time and money. I went to him because I really wanted to ensure that IMSG wouldn't be a disaster because of the nagging injury in my hip. Two months before SG, I could barely run 30 minutes without pain. Katrina helped me get back to running, and I was able to do so with minimal pain. Since the race was so soon, we weren't sure how the hip would hold up doing an Ironman. I went to Dr. Kelly and he gave me biopuncture in the areas that hurt around the hip. This is what biopuncture is, based off of Dr. Kelly's website (naturedockelly.com):

"Biopuncture is a technique that combines neural therapy+, trigger point therapy, prolotherapy and homotoxicology. It stimulates the body's own healing mechanisms thus speeding up the process of injury recovery, natural rejuvenation/repair and also lowers pain and inflammation."

I also got a Myers Cocktail IV Push, which is a mixture of vitamins and things (I can't remember!) that are so easily depleted when training as hard and often as us weirdo triathletes do. It gave me an extra energy boost and I felt so healthy before the race. Both of these treatments are 100% natural and made a HUGE difference in my performance. I felt amazing during IMSG. I had no hip pain whatsoever. I don't know what I was thinking not doing to see Dr. Kelly before Kona, but I just went today to get the Myers Cocktail IV Push and biopuncture in my back. I have analyzed all of my races and I truly believe that I felt so great during St. George because of Dr. Kelly. He is so kind and has YOUR best interest in mind. I left a voicemail on Saturday hoping for an appointment on Monday and he got back to me the very next day (even though his office was closed) and was so flexible with me schedule. If you have been sick a lot this winter, have a lack of energy, or have an injury, GO SEE DR. KELLY. Seriously awesome.

So now I leave for St. Croix in two days and am SO excited because my ma and da will be there. Just like BarlowLiz, they are the best supporters and I can't wait to see those big galootis! They will get to meet Lesley, who is also racing, which will definitely be fun. Speaking of Lesley, I met with her today to go over some race strategy. We have decided that this race the goal is not going to be winning my AG or qualifying for Kona (well, that is one goal, but not my MAIN goal). The goal is to nail my nutrition and to hold back a little on the bike so I kick ass on the run. Lesley always has to remind me that a perfect race isn't just going to fall in your lap because you've done the training for it. I have to be patient and execute it well. Fingers crossed for race day magic!! ;)

GOOD LUCK to everyone racing Wildflower (TSU Trina & Bolly!!) and Spring Sprint (say AMF to the people you pass, Sonny!!!)

One last thing, I saw this on my friend Chuck's facebook. It's a picture of him hammering away on Palomar Mountain. The quote under the picture says, "it's just one mountain. If you keep climbing, eventually you're going to run out of mountain." : ) Total motivation for St. Croix - the Beast is just ONE big ass mountain, but it will be over eventually!! Same thing I will think when I get negative thoughts during the run.. yes, it is going to suck, but it will be over soon!! THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION, CHUCKIFER!!