For my birthday last weekend, Jerome got me an IPod Nano.  This is the first time I’ve had a device that played music that was not my phone or car.  Since the day I received it (the 12th of January) I have listened to it A LOT.  I have realized that this one piece of equipment has made me soft within the last 10 days & even has changed my training.  Never before have I needed music to hammer out a workout.  Sure, don’t get me wrong,  I ENJOY stimulation when I am training, hard and long indoors…but I realized this music while running or cycling allowed me to turn my brain off.  Furthermore, I found myself thinking about WHEN I could go to a Kid Rock concert instead of how my breathing was on my run.

Then, I ran indoors on the Treadmill.  It was -2F degrees outside yesterday morning and while I pride myself on being tough, I surely am not stupid.  So, I had an easy run that I did on the treadmill – WITH the TV on the TODAY SHOW and then listening to my music.  Really?  It was too much.  I hated that moment and I realized, this is a SLIPPERY slope.  I can either hide behind all this external stimuli OR I can start to plug into my workouts and do what I am supposed to do.  Even in January.

This weekend was an insanely busy weekend for us.  It was basketball games (that I coached – absolutely the highlight of my week) for Graham, the twins’ 11th birthday, dinner out, Epic Air with their cousins, a Professional Soccer game and kid’s game on Friday night….ending with Jerome heading off to China on Sunday AM & me racing in a bike TT.  OH, and then in the ER with Graham into wee hours of the night on Sunday into Monday. (he is fine, a bad infection)

I really was at my limit.  Life was moving faster than I could keep up and this doesn’t even count work!  I had to stop falling down that slippery slope and get a grip of the situation. And, as busy people and busy parents, this is NOT easy.

I realized a few key things this past weekend.  As I drove to my bike TT on Sunday…visualizing my race and getting ready for the pain that a short indoor bike TT could create, I had to compartmentalize my life. I had to take myself OUT of the day to day busy-ness of my life and be PRESENT at my race.

I will not lie –  I went to this TT to win.  That is an aggressive goal when it is January and I am racing Cat 1/2 girls who are coming out of Cross season and tip top shape.  I don’t care.  I knew what kind of shape I was in and regardless of it being January or May – I still am super competitive.  I am realistic too; however, but still I was hungry and motivated by the effort it would take to do this.

As I am driving to the TT I went over the race in my head.  The warm up, the suffering, the watts I was aiming to hit, the cadence I needed to sustain and the competition.  Then, as I walked into the TT – a little later than I would like (the sitter was late – again, out of my control) – I ran into friends & athletes I have not seen in awhile.  I found myself socializing for a long time.  AND honestly, I was OK with it and excited to see everyone.  It is almost like a little reunion of sorts.  But, that is why I went over my race plan of attack on the car ride to the race… I knew I would not be able to control the hectic environment of a school gym with 100s of riders.

As I was warming up, I had my I POD on and was listening to my music – (AGAIN, WHAT?) but I was just trying to drown out the white noise going on around me, I found myself talking to everyone, asking athletes about their races – catching up and before I knew it, it was almost time to race!  Again, thankful that I felt confident and prepared for my race so that I could make the SWITCH and go.

Speaking of that SWITCH….some athletes have this natural ability to be present for every race, every workout.  They can easily switch from FOCUS to not-focused.  I have worked on this over the years of racing and it one of the most important tools I have in my pocket.

I can go from a hard, intense run and walk in the door and be ON – be MOM or coach in a matter of seconds.  This is definitely something that took me awhile to learn/master.

For a race that lasts 16 minutes, I have to be able to REALLY dial it in and be ready to suffer from the gun.  IF I allow any outside noise into my head OR even any negative chatter, the focus and race is gone and off.  Short TTs – like short run races are decided by seconds..and I knew this.

I got my bike set up on the Computrainer – calibrated and ready to go.  One of my athletes, Todd, was announcing this race and trash talking me before I knew it.  I finally realized that THIS was the best time for my I Pod – to drown out the talk, the expectations & stress and JUST race me, myself and I.  I knew what the fastest time of the day was up to this point –>  so my goal was to beat that time.  Period.

I blared my music so loud so I could NOT hear myself panting for air.  In fact, I even closed my eyes for 90% of the ride so I could just focus on managing the pain that comes from 16 minutes of sheer suffering.  AND, I turned the SWITCH ON.  I was there – and only there.  I was not thinking about my kids, my athletes, my dirty house OR even that I had to run after the bike test in temps sub 10F degrees.  I was PRESENT.  And, when the race was over, I held the fastest women’s bike time of the day. (My time would fall to 3rd OA by the time the day ended).  And, as soon as the 16 minutes or so were up, I turned the SWITCH off and was socializing and trash talking shortly thereafter (and almost vomiting).  It is almost a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde performance.

Moreso, I can see the athletes that have the ability to do this.  They are able to transcend the outside noises, the stressors, the pressure and the junk and PERFORM.  And, perform at a high level.

I think this really hit me this past fall when we were at Graham’s XC meet.  Graham is a very scattered and typical 10 year old boy ….you know…when you have to remind them to change their clothes and EAT type of kid?  Well, we go to his XC race and Jerome and I really do not put any pressure on the poor kid….We just talk about the race, how it will hurt and how to race others, etc.  Well, I sh*t you not, the gun went off and I saw it in Graham’s eyes.  THAT switch.  He couldn’t hear Jerome or myself screaming for him, he was so focused it was so intense and downright scary.  AND that is when it dawned on me…..he has that natural “SWITCH”….you see it with high end athletes too – when they are racing they can TURN IT on and then TURN it OFF just as quickly. IT is innate but I think some of it can definitely be learned and practiced.

Ask yourself — Are you plugged into each of your workouts?

Are you laser focused on what you need to accomplish with each workout?

Are you SO focused when you race that you cannot and are not thinking of anything else but the race and managing it as it unfolds?

AND, if you have a hard time focusing on your workouts – take one step at a time to improve that.  Remove ALL outside stimuli for your workout – get rid of the TV, the Iphone, the IPod and plug yourself in.  Allow yourself to be present in the workout and then, finish and move on.

On the same lines of mental preparation, Elizabeth and I finished a PODCAST yesterday.  IT is all things our listeners asked us.  Topics include:  Topics include: ideas for daily nutrition, conquering fears, body composition, training camps, age-related differences in training/recovery, MAF approach, setting goals, climbing out of mental and physical holes, handling pre-race stress and balancing triathlon with other life demands.

Happy listening!  Please send any additional questions you want answers to as well – and make them risky!

http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenandliztalktriathlon/Podcast_4.mp3

Gosh…

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!  And, I’m alive!  I survived the nasty flu bug.  Yes, it was THAT bad.  I don’t ever remember being that sick.  In bed for days & really miserable.  I was just grateful Jerome was home (Happy New Year to us) to help with the kids & help me try to work because I don’t get sick days.

And, now I ring in my 42nd year from Tucson healthy & refreshed now to get 2o13 started off right …a little late.

Speaking of the new year, I have been doing some Podcasts & Webinars.

Elizabeth & I did a Podcast recently covering:  All Things Pregnancy!

Here it is:  https://www.box.com/s/mvgl0ksa4dmry4ktkixz

For our next Podcast we are going to do a Q&A with no topics off limit.  So please put any of your questions in the comment section here or send me an email at jhtriathlon@sbcglobal.net.

Also, I was happy to do a Webinar with Training Peaks titled:  How to Beat the Winter Training Doldrums.  I have to tell you, I was actually a little nervous.  Talking into a phone while staring at your outline-notes in dead silence is a little nerve-wracking!  But, I never stopped talking (!) and had fun with it.

Here it is:  http://youtu.be/TxhKrYgFsIY

Enjoy!!!  And please send in your questions!  Looking forward to them.

Merry Christmas!  In what has become my favorite week of the entire year…I have decided to finally make a decision about the winner of my 2013 Pay It Forward athlete.

First, thanks to everyone who entered.  I was touched by all your stories and honestly, wanted to sell my house, SUV and start a non-for profit organization to do more with my time and energy —  You all are amazingly inspiring!

Courtney Javorski is the winner!  Courtney is a 35 year old mother of two (teenager + toddler) and has always dreamed about doing an Ironman.  During the pregnancy of her 2nd child, she was diagnosed with cancer.  Courtney went through all the chemo, radiation, drugs and every thing else to beat cancer.  Two years later, her cancer came back.  Here is an exert from her email to me:

Things were looking up & I was about to hit my 2 year mark of being cancer free in June of 2011, but on April 20th of that year, (I’ll never forget the date cause triathlon season was getting started) during one of my many scans I was told that cancer had come back. Devastated, blind-sided, and confused were only some of the emotions I was feeling. I was given such good odds, 90 percent chance it would never return. How could I be that 10 percent?! Depression set in as everything that followed happened so fast. I began my chemo & radiation treatments in May & had some not so pleasant side effects. Skin blistering & darkening, bruising from needles & shut down veins, loss of appetite, fatigue…

Of course, in addition to the challenges of cancer itself, Courtney also has the financial, personal and professional challenges that rear their ugly head when we go through a life- altering illness.

I am hoping, with some help from me, Courtney can reach her goal of crossing an Ironman finish line in 2013!

Congratulations Courtney!

Courtney will start blogging in the New Year, so she can keep you updated on her journey.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2013!

Dear Santa:

This year my Christmas list is not going to be about world peace or pleasesellmyhouse.  Instead, it is going to be about Triathlon and what I want to ask for Christmas and 2013.

• Please just give us Midwesterners some sun this winter.  We are not greedy.  Just would like maybe 1-2 days/week of some sunshine to keep everyone from screaming at one another.

• How about a little bit of gratitude instead of entitlement?  I know times have changed, but this sense of entitlement has spilled out into our great sport of Triathlon and I liked it best back in the day where everyone was grateful for everything.  My biggest pet peeve is when people are not grateful for things.

•  Can you please help me out with Training Peaks?  I love the software and it is a product I am extremely grateful for, but can you please get my athletes to fill it out on a regular basis?  I cannot read minds (that could be a “wish list” item actually) and I cannot make magic (another “wish list” item) but if I am not updated on Training Peaks on a regular basis then my job becomes infinitely harder.  As a Type-A athlete, I cannot wrap my head around this one for whatever reason.

• How about a little sharing and love?  I think this is one of the professions where Triathlon coaches are multiplying by the day.  Some of that is good – and some of that is not so good.  I think there is enough room for various coaches – the good ones always prevail anyway.  However, what happened to all of us coaches talking about different ways to get the best out of our athletes?  For some reason there are “secretive” discussions going on instead of open discussions, forums, emails and more open communication so we can all grow – learn from one another – and make the best triathletes we can.   As I always say, coaching triathlon is not life or death…and there are no secrets…just about building relationships and figuring how what really works for each athlete.  I would love to get a small group of Triathlon coaches together on a monthly open discussion to bounce ideas off of and help one another become better coaches.  I really see a need for this.  And, I wish other coaches would reach out for help!  We can all help one another.

• And, building on the above, what about female athletes?  Please help them understand that we need to support one another (we can use this for politics & religion too, right?), SUPPORT each other’s differences,  different ideas on how to train, or what to race, or what to wear OR even different needs and desires in this sport.  NOT everyone wants to win.  NOT everyone wants to go gluten-free (or whatever it is).  People make their own choices.  IT IS OK and we do not have to approve.  If we all would remove ourselves from all of this – think about how refreshing that would be AND how much time we would have to do other things – like train and recover!

• Santa, can you please provide patience for these athletes…and remind everyone it is December.  I do not need to see PRs in December or massive miles in December.  Instead, please ask everyone to enjoy the holidays.  Drink some egg nog.  Partake in some holiday drinks and eat Christmas cookies.  In fact, please do not weigh yourself in the entire month of December.  Does it really matter when your “A” race is in June?  July?  No, not at all.  And, please remind these athletes that the WILL be running slower, swimming slower and biking slower in December.  That is the plan.  Remind these athletes that it does all come back…when the time is right.  Unless these athletes are racing an IM in March, they need to relax.

• I know this is a big “please”, but can you please remind have athletes that IF they ask what things will make them faster, better and more efficient, then they need to listen and implement.  I spend a lot of time talking to athletes and discussing what they need to work on in the New Year, what will make them faster…and what they need to work on.  Inevitably, it is hard to change and mix things up.  Change is scary.  But, honestly, if they keep doing what they were doing – then they cannot expect different results.  IF the athlete has been talking about going to Masters or a Group run – THEN go.  Please do not blow it off, make excuses and then complain that their swimming is stagnant…or they are bored in the pool.  The options are in front of them.  Get out of your comfort zone and take some risks.  If you don’t want to change, then just stop complaining.  We all make choices.  Commit yourself and step up in 2013.  Face your fears.

• Can you please invent a shocker that will give an athlete a shock every time they compare themselves to anyone else.  No need to kill anyone, just a shock that is strong enough to slap them when they start thinking silly things and want to run 100 miles in December because they ate too much pie or their best friend is doing it “just because.”

• Santa, can you please help the athletes understand the joy of this sport?  That we are supposed to do this for FUN.  It is a hobby for 99% of these athletes.  Help them understand that we need balance, we need structured plans, we need a mentor, a cheerleader and a master weaver…someone to weave everything seamlessly together for the benefit of the athlete.  Can you please tell them that it is a privilege to have the funds and health AND TIME to do this sport.  I know many people that would kill to do this sport – but for many, many reasons, some we could never even imagine, they cannot.  Remind these athletes that this is a privilege not a chore.  Getting up at 5am and getting into a cold pool is NOT a chore.  It is a privilege.

• Remind athletes to thank others.  Remind athletes to THANK their local businesses, their race directors, their governing body, their mentors/coaches, their teammates, and their family.  During the holiday season, really step back and remember who and what helped you achieve your goals this year and say THANKS.  It goes a long way and doesn’t take too much time.

I realize this is a very tough list, Santa.  And, last time I sent you a tough list was when a teenager and I wanted to be like Michael Jordan – and we all know how that worked out.  So, please, this time around, help me out!?

Thanks and Merry Christmas!  xo

Over this Thanksgiving holiday, I am excited to announce I will be doing Pay It Forward for 2013 again!  Last year, I had an overwhelming response to this offer and realized how many athletes are out there that have overcome some type of hardship and really wanted to get some specific coaching help but were not able to for various reasons.

If you are interested, I encourage you to apply.  Here are the details:

1.)   Applicants can apply via email to:  jhtriathlon@sbcglobal.net from December 1^st – December 15^th 11:59pm CST.  Feel free to be as creative as you want in the email application.

2.)    Please only apply if you have struggled or overcome any type of hardship:  financial, health, personal, etc.

3.)    You cannot currently be a coached athlete of any type (effective 1/1).  I do not want to “break up” any good coaching relationships!

4.)    You CAN re-apply if you applied last year!

5.)    You need to have at least one “A” race in 2013.  Can be any significant race, but we need to have goals for 2013.  All levels of athletes are fine.

6.)    The coaching will start January 1, 2013 and last until the end of your “A” race or 12/31/13, whichever one is first.

7.)    You will have to blog about your experience and be an active member of social media (FB or Twitter)

This year, the 2012 Pay It Forward winner, Cathy Bonich had a great year finishing with a super Ironman Wisconsin race!  Cathy keeps a blog – you can find it on my blogroll if you want to read about her experience.

I encourage you all to apply, if interested.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reply to this blog or send me an email.  I will announce the winner before January 1^st, 2013.  Looking forward to another great year of paying it forward to our great sport!

I can’t believe it is nearly Thanksgiving already!  We leave tomorrow for our annual vacation to Tucson as a family.   Of course, this is a trip we look forward to all year.  And, each year it gets more and more fun because the kids get older and can do so much more.  Ironically, all they ever want to do is swim in the pool (this is payback for me only wanting to swim my entire childhood and my parents probably bored stiff).  So, Jerome and I do some training (Lemmon!) and hang out by the pool with the kids.  Eat out…sleep, Hike, relax AND SHOP (even though shopping in Tucson is meh at best)…it is so great.  We are all really looking for some quality R&R.  I will be in Tempe spectating Ironman Arizona this weekend too.  I am looking forward to that.  Just last year I raced there and had a great time there – LOVED this race.  Jerome is signing up for 2013.

I have been done racing since September 23^rd…and have enjoyed a nice break.  As many of you know (because I talk about it all the time) I always take a huge break after my last race of the season.  I know it is something that so many athletes struggle with, but for me, it is the only thing that keeps me ticking year after year.  Admittedly, the first week is easy….I love getting out of the routine and sleeping in and eating chocolate for breakfast (not really, but close).  Then, the 2^nd week I start to move a little bit more but besides something like YOGA, I am not a gym person.  Actually, believe it or not, I do not even own a membership to a gym.  I have a personal trainer that I love (Kate at ProKine) and swim with my Masters team, so there is no reason to go to a gym.  I have a Computrainer, treadmill, weights and all of that in the basement as well.  Besides the social scene, I do not miss it.  But, this has also prevented me from getting too involved in the politics of sport and what everyone else is doing.   I have a schedule; I follow it and don’t ask too many questions.  I prefer it that way.

Now we are in mid-November and I am back to a schedule, which I really enjoy.  I like the “freedom” of non-structure for a little bit…but then I get into a little trouble left to my own devices.  I will usually DO too much in November and honestly, with my first “A” race in June, it is not necessary.  And, I need to be specific in my training to get better each year.  After all these years of racing and competing, I have to have a ton of specificity.

I thought I would race Cross this fall too, but really more than needing a physical break, I really needed a mental break from the competition.  I am super intense and even something like Cross I would go and compete at –and not just “do it.”  I know my limitations.  So, after Long Course Nationals, I did not compete again until just a couple weeks ago when I did jump into a 10k.  Ironically, this 10k is near and dear to my heart because about 4-5 years ago I won it with a fast time.  Now, I was going back, kind of out of shape….but, I was able to step back and race as hard as I could for my fitness, which still was 2 minutes off that time, so not too shabby.  And, the stark reality of the race was that I ran a 10k a little slower than I did at AG Nationals off the bike.  Figures.

I am back in the pool.  Honestly, I have been in the pool for a few weeks.  My swim team starts training again October 1^st.  So, I rested after LC Nats and then swam 1-2 x/week and then starting 11/1 got back into it.  I need to try to keep up with the swimmers and get my swim mojo back.  But at the same time, I am also back in the weight room/strength —and that really makes me feel like garbage in the pool.

I have started to think about 2013 and what I want to do.  I have this darn house over my head…and I will be damned if it does not sell soon.  We have not had any offers.  It has been rough.  Not only is the housing marked lousy, but it is even worse in Chicago AND worse for homeowners with 100+ year homes (us!).  I really want to get on with that next chapter of our lives and I feel like we are in limbo land…and I hate that.  UGH!  Pretty soon I am going to say, “heck with it!” and move on.

I am excited to say that 2013 was going to be short racing…I have signed up for Eagleman 70.3 in June and that makes me happy.  I skipped it last year because I needed a break from it – but we both agreed we missed our annual trip to PA and MD to visit Jerome’s parents and race.   I will do a bunch of local races that I JUST love and have so much fun doing.  Then, past Eagleman, I really wanted to do something else and what is hovering in my head is USAT AG Nationals in August. Probably will be closer to home in 2013, which is appealing and I LOVED IT this year….but what I am trying to accomplish there?  Do I have the FIRE to do that again?

I had 3 goals in 2011-2012 and accomplished them all.  So, I have to go back to the drawing board and think of 1-3 goals for 2013-2014 that I want to aim for.  I have one big one – so figuring out how to get there is what rolls around in my head.

When I think about my seasons – and this will be my 18^th racing season –  I have to REALLY dip deep and think about WHAT do I want to accomplish?  WHAT drives me and what motivates me to get up and do this day in and day out?  AND what makes me happy (not my friends, not my mentors, but ME)?  I have done this for so long – how do I change things up?  How do I address my limiters for another year and keep working on my strengths?  One good thing for me is that whatever I am doing IS working.  I may not be getting much faster (tough after 18 years+ of racing Triathlon) but I am controlling the slowdown and I am a smarter and more experienced racer.  And, frankly, that is what I work on now at coming on 42.  AND staying injury free and flexible (don’t laugh Kate).

My inner circle is very tight.  While I coach a great group of athletes and talk to them daily about their limiters, races, workouts….I keep my circle tight (again, rare for me because I am SUPER social and a talker – be quiet Elizabeth)….I have also found that if I keep my circle tight, I am not over-exposed to too many opinions.  One of the challenges of social media is OVER sharing of information and opinions…and for athletes; this can be too much information that is usually not super helpful.  I would suggest finding 2-3 mentors of the sport and utilize them.  One, of course, should be your coach, if you have one.  Then, the other 1-2 are people you admire in this sport and have proven successful and most importantly, have been successful year after year (Longevity).  And, successful doesn’t necessarily mean WINNING – but a good role model for you – or a Mom who has 4 kids like you and balances this sport and working, etc.  I am lucky to not only have my husband in this role but a very good friend in Elizabeth and my mentor, Dave.  This trio keeps me honest, humble and engaged in what I SHOULD be doing versus sometimes what I want to do (race every weekend in June).  That is all I need.

So, on the eve of Thanksgiving week, I am searching for what I want to do in 2013.  Of course, Nationals for swimming, which I have been looking forward to since they announced it in Indiana…and I WISH I could have registered for California 70.3 because I want to race that one again.  I am itching to race early in the spring with something like Florida 70.3 or Gulf Coast ½ IM …why not?  I have always had that on my “to do” list.

I know that JHC Camp is the first week in April – and I am excited for that!  I also want to head to Tucson for some shorter trips (training) too – and I need to work on doing /organizing those too.

The real question of the day is this:  DO I WANT to race IM AZ in 2013.  Elizabeth was giving me sh*t asking if I wanted to eat Apple Cider Donuts in October or ride my bike for 5 hours.  My answer to her, “I can do both!”  I can ride and eat pretty darn well.  So, some of you reading have my phone number….feel free to text me on Monday AM and convince me NOT to sign up for IM AZ.  There is a big part of me that wants to do it.  Why, you ask?  Because when I did it in 2011 I was injured (Achilles).  I still raced well, PRd and got 3^rd, but I was not satisfied with that.  UNLIKE Nationals (LC and SC) where I am satisfied with my races this season…I have unfinished business at the IM.  And, after you win LC Nationals – what do you do next?  THESE are the questions that haunt my 2013 season.

So, we will see what my vacation to Tucson brings.  It will be a great time to clear my head, read some good books, hike with the kids and figure out 2013.  Can’t wait!

I am happy to share with you our Podcast!   Elizabeth and I are both athletes, coaches, moms and good friends who have been doing Triathlons/coaching for a very long time.  We try to keep things real and politically correct, but don’t promise it’ll always happen!

This is our first podcast, so there is a lot of laughing and noises on this one — bare with us as we work through the bugs.  We hope you get a little laugh and learn something too during these 45 minutes.

If you have any comments or questions, please let us know!  We can answer questions on our Podcast!

ENJOY!

Elizabeth and Jen Talk Triathlon — 1st Podcast!

We are happy to announce the 2013 JHC Triathlon Camp!!!

So, with that being said, here are all the details:

Camp Dates:  Thursday, April 4th – Welcome Dinner at 6pm.
Ends:  Monday, April 8th @ 12:00 noon.

Camp Fee:  $399 ($100 less than last year since I am not using Trisports!)

Camp Housing:  We have rented 2 THREE bedroom condos that will sleep 12 adults and the fee for this will be in the $350 range for the whole time. The condos are in my condo area so you will be close to Jerome and I this year!  It is beautiful.  I may also get another 2 bedroom condo as well.    Just as an FYI, we have the condos from April 2nd —->  April 9th, so you can come early/stay late!

Details:
This camp is NOT for beginners.
We will have 12 campers.
There is no OW in Tucson…but we will swim (of course!) !
NO refunds.
Payment is due in Full at time of registration to hold slot.  If payment is not rec’d within 10 days of registration your slot will go to the first person on the wait list.
We work really hard.
IT IS HOT in Tucson.
Bring your big boy/girl panties.
NO WHINING 🙂
You must be a current JHC athlete
————————————————————————————————————-
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

This will be first come first served basis.  Last year (and previous years) the camp has filled w/in 10 minutes.

Registration starts 9am CST (CENTRAL STANDARD TIME)…..on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9th…via email only.  I will send out a confirmation email – or if you did not get in – by that afternoon.
I will not take early registrations.  (yes someone else can register you – spouse – if you are not around).

Looking forward to another great JHC CAMP!!!  If you have any questions, let me know!

I love the month of October!  Last year at this time I was training for IMAZ and we were having an amazing fall!  This October I am on the extreme opposite end of that – I am still resting after Nationals LC that was almost a month ago now.   Since it has been a busy and random month, I’m going to bullet point the highlights and lowlights.

• Speaking of lowlights, I got my hair done.  I have been seeing the gal who cuts my hair for at least 10 years.  I probably should try someone new — but I am fiercely loyal in all aspects of my life and that includes the gal who cuts my hair!  (really?)  Anyway, I like her because I walked in there last week and she said, “OK…time to keep it real, Jenny.”  She told me that she cannot just highlight my hair blonde anymore.  I have too much grey and it is time to color it – back to more of my natural hair color.  BLAH!!  It is darker than I like it, but at least you cannot see all my grey when I have a pony tail in. I wanted to slap her because she is barely out of diapers, but that would not get me too far – and it surely won’t take away my greys.

• Jerome has been in China for 2 weeks.  He now goes 1x/quarter, so I am used to him being gone.  The first week is lovely – quiet, I can go to bed at 8:30pm.  But, the 2^nd week sucks and this cycle was especially hard because over this trip, my dear grandmother passed away.  She passed away on a Friday and services were on a Sunday.  I did not even get in touch with Jerome in enough time for him to come home (and, it would have been too much). While my grandmother lived a  full life and died at 90 years old, she still was super special to me and my family and my last living grandparent and the end of an era.  Being with my family and extended family for a few days during this process made me realize HOW lucky I am /we are and how much I value my family and living so close to everyone.  We all could pull together and celebrate my grandmother’s life!  Just going back to Kankakee, IL where my parents grew up and where I spent a large part of my childhood, was very special.

• Graham is really getting into this XC stuff.  His school does not have a program (he is only in 5^th grade)…but there is a team of local kids (well, it is not that close to us really) that practice and compete in meets every Saturday and sometimes week-days.  I did not want to push Graham so it was on his watch when he asked to go.  We took him and have been pleasantly surprised.  This is the most NATURAL I have ever seen Graham.  He is a good soccer player, but there is something about his running – he seems to be in his element.  And, it is a pure joy to watch him run.  I have never felt so nervous or proud in my entire life.  We are careful with it though –  make sure he does it for FUN and winning is not everything…etc…They sound like common sense things, but what I experienced at his last meet I will never allow to happen to Graham.  At his last meet, which was a XC mile, there was an 11 year old girl there.  Her mom had on a Chicago Marathon Finisher Jacket on.  This girl was in the back of the finishing girls and you can tell she was struggling.  Her mom literally ripped her apart – for all of us to hear.  Her mom told her (yelled at her) that she had GIVEN up and that her form fell apart and she looked like SH*T out there.  I was mortified.  The girl was crying.  IT is exactly what I think is wrong with kid’s sports these days and I was shell shocked.   Graham looked at me (teachable moment) and I just told him, “Just go and have fun and run your hardest out there” since his race was up next.  Win, lose or draw, WHO cares.  Of course it is fun to win – but that is NOT real life stuff.  So, Jerome and I are careful not to focus on that with these kids.  There is plenty of time for that!

• After my Triathlon season ended, I thought I would want to race Cross.  I actually LOVE Cross and have raced it a few years back.  But, I just don’t have the interest now.  I am usually ALL OR NOTHING type of athlete.  Either I am in to win or I am out to play.  I would have to practice to do well at Cross and get that FIRE to compete.  I just don’t have it right now.  In fact, I don’t have the interest in my bike this fall.  I have ridden my bike 2x since Nationals.  Once up Lemmon when I was there for our anniversary & once this week with Elizabeth on a coffee ride.  Both were lovely, but plenty.  There is plenty of time for the bike. (My TT bike is still in the bike box from Oklahoma)  So, not sure I will Cross this year….too bad because this would be the year (since no later season triathlons), but I am not feeling the love right now.

• In my off season, I have been thinking a little bit about what I want to do next year and I do not know!!  Jerome is signing up for IMAZ.  He loves the IM and he took this year completely off.  In fact, he drank more beer than I drank water – but Jerome is such a great athlete naturally that when he “flips” that switch, he will be ready to train and race fast.   I am not sure what I feel like I want to do.  That is the great thing about accomplishing what I wanted to accomplish in the last 12 months.  I had 3 goals….#1: PR at the IM and q-fy for Kona (done) #2:  Podium at AG Short Course Nationals (done)  #3:  Podium and win AG at LC Nats (done).  So, I am completely satisfied with the last 12 months.  Now I have to see what excites me for 2013.  I am not sure if Jerome can talk me into IMAZ or not.  One day I will go back to Kona, but not sure I want that now?  I am not sure I want to train for the IM with the kids this age (I LOVE THIS AGE).  Who knows…as corny as it sounds, I am just grateful to be healthy and motivated to be in a position to be EXCITED TO race and get back to training soon!   What motivates me?  I will say that I am really looking forward to not only USMS State Swim Championships in April but also the National Championships for SCY USMS swimming in May!  That is one of my 2013 goals:   TOP 3 at Nationals in the 1650 (that will be aggressive).

• Speaking of April….I am working on the JHC Triathlon camp for April.  Easter is on March 31^st next year, usually the weekend we are in Tucson for camp.  So, once Jerome gets home from China, and we solidify the housing arrangements (in process), I will announce 2013 CAMP.  Look for the announcement on or before November 1^st with registration following shortly thereafter.

• AND, I am seriously considering having blogger/FB camp down in Tucson too.  Not necessarily my current athletes I work with, but my on line friends.  Some I have worked with in the past and miss!  And, others, who I have become friends with.  Nothing organized here but a weekend away of training.  My little condo does not hold that many people, but I am thinking about this for 2013 as well (earlier like February)…..

The fall in Chicago has been amazing!  After LC Nationals, I came home and started my off season.  I am sure I could have done a few more races – but I was starting to HATE my bike.  The week leading into LC Nationals if I just LOOKED at my TT bike I wanted to throw it.  THAT is when I know I need a break.   And, my TT bike is still in my bike box – in the basement.

I did not do anything last week.  I had a ton of random things to catch up on.  I wanted to visit my ill grandma, sleep in, eat a bunch if crap and go take the kids to the Pumpkin Farm with my parents, sister/brother & families.  It is one of my favorite things to do in the fall.

On Monday I woke up on Monday – 5am.  Ready to workout.  I had to remind myself to go back to bed and SLEEP!  I did, it only took about 4 days to break that 5am habit.  And, this morning I opened up my eyes at nearly 7am!  Ha, oh, how quickly that becomes a slippery slope!

Tuesday my phone rang at 7:20am.  My phone rings a ton, but 7:20 is rare – it was one of those silent looks Jerome and I gave to one another.  I thought it was my parents with bad news regarding my Grandma.  It was my friend Julia.  Rich, her husband had passed away that night.  I tried hard to control my emotions but that lasted about 5 seconds.

Jerome and I had the pleasure of knowing Rich.  He has come to nearly every JHC camp (in some capacity) and has a deep love of riding bikes.  Jerome and him hit it off instantly.  There was never any hesitation – Jerome and I decided I needed to be at the services for Rich that weekend.

Thank goodness Angela Kidd offered up her place and Zach, Landon and David were kind enough to host me.  Now, knowing that I sat on my A$$ all week and ate nothing that was not brown chocolate all week – I knew the weekend would have me running with Angela.  Thankfully, one week does not make us out of shape – but considering I did NOTHING all week and then found myself with my running shoes on at 6:30am on Saturday for a run – well, it could have been ugly.  Thankfully, the colors were spectacular up in Minneapolis (WOW!) and we did an easier warm up 2 miles and then did our own thing and met back at the house – it was perfect. (Angela mentioned something about a BARRE class – or something silly – and I just went back to eating dessert).

After the run and breakfast (where I demanded oatmeal while she ate some form of FRUIT), we headed to the funeral.  It was one of the most amazing services I have ever been too and it is a wonderful credit to what a great man Rich was.  It was so wonderful to see many of my triathlon fries – what a great community up there!  Seeing Marit and her mom, Kate Oliver, Jen Lenarz, Cathy Y, Julie & Erik Hull, Julie & Brian Mac – what a great group up there to support Julia during this time!  Further evidence about how great this sport is!

I flew out that evening and was at the Pumpkin Farm with my family the next day…perfect way to end a tough weekend (where I ate FOUR apple cinnamon donuts thru the day – YEP!).

And, tomorrow Jerome and I head to Tucson!  IT is our 15th wedding anniversary and we wanted to get away to celebrate.  My vote was BORA BORA, but clearly that did not win and we are heading to Tucson.  LOL – kidding…we need to be prudent…we will enjoy the downtime in Tucson and SUN and heat again!  AND, even Lemmon if I decide to get on my bike. 🙂   Looking forward to some R&R!