I am alive...

Hey Bloggers,

I know it has been forever since I have updated, but between training camp, being away, and mostly being sick there just hasn't been any time. I am back and promise to update you!

So I guess it all starts with the sickness. The week leading up to the splash pedal and gasp I was starting to get a cold. After the race I took it easy trying to recover so that I could go out to training camp and just giver. Well I just steadily got worse all the way along. It was in my chest and I was hacking up my lungs on a regular basis.

This did not stop me from hammering away at training camp (more on that later). Which in turn made me even more sick. Then I went to Vancouver to visit with my family...my dad had his surgery on the 14th, all is well and he is recovering nicely! Once I came home I was on strict orders by Greg to take it easy until I am better.

Well I am STILL coughing and fatigued, but I am going to go for an easy run today and test the waters. In relation to how I was I am much better and I think I may be rid of this thing. It turns out I was a little contagious and now Darryl and Chad are both sick and Lisa is on her way. I am soooo sorry guys, I hope you bounce back fast!

Here is what went down at training camp in Penticton:

We left Thursday after work (around 6:30) headed to Penticton. I was down and out for the night by 10:00. Darryl was not too far behind me and Chad was on his own to drive the rest of the way. The nighthawk that he is didn't have a hard time with this! We got to Penticton around 1:30 local time and couldn't remember the name of the hotel. With a quick call into Greg we soon found our way! Then it was straight to bed because we had a full day of biking ahead of us!

Camp Day 1

We were up early enough to get ourselves together and organised to ride. We were doing the course in reverse (which is about 160km), so our jerseys were stuffed with food and gels...well mine was anyway :):):) We also had to raid Greg's food since we hadn't gone grocery shopping yet, what are coaches for hey!

We stayed as a group through town and out onto Green Mountain Road (GMR). Although we were told to take it easy everyone was off right away. I stayed back...trying to breathe...took my inhaler and waited to feel some what "normal." After about an hour my chest started to loosen up a bit and I was able to breathe a bit. The descent from GMR is soooo fun and you can just giver.

We met up again at the Big Bear and once everyone got there we were off to tackle the rollers and the back of Richter pass. These were still challenging but nearly as bad as I remember. I snotted and hacked my way up and was soooo happy to see the Husky in Osoyoos. After a quick break we were back out on the road and my legs were feeling all of the climbs I had just done. The way back into Penticton Susi and I rode together...we would take little breaks and chat and then get down to business and bike. I got a flat outside of Oliver and was able to change it with relative ease. To be honest I was kind of glad because the break was nice!

We stopped again (very briefly) at Tickleberrys and met up with Chad and Dusty. The way back into Penticton was along Skaha lake (the run course for IMC). It is so pretty along there...and bumpy I might add!

I was more than happy to get back to the hotel, and then somehow they convinced me to go for a run. It was a quick one, only 10 mins I think but with my wheeziness that was good enough for this gal. Then it was into the freezing okanagan lake to ice the legs. Within a couple of minutes I was good and numb. Susi braved the water with me...Chad put a toe in and said no way!

Camp Day 2

We went out to Oliver to go for a swim. It was CCCCCOLD. I had to talk myself into getting in the water. I wanted to swim with Chad though because it was his first open water swim. Open water swimming is sooo different than swimming in a pool. Especially when you throw a wetsuit and lots of people in the mix. We started out okay, Susi was giving Chad sighting tips. He wanted to take a break so we went back into shore and then I swam out a bit and he swam to me. That way it was easier for him to sight and stay on track.

Once we got out of the freezing lake we headed out to Osoyoos to climb anarchist. This is a 20 km climb with some pretty good grades. I love the challenge of climbing so I was actually looking forward to it. I started time from the moment I had to gear down...I don't think I even made it past the fruit stands at the bottom before I had to do that! I got into my groove and climbed my way up. I did see a mink and a snake...which I still think was alive although no one else believes me that it was! I find the hardest part is when I am close to the top and around every corner I am looking for the top and it isn't there! It took me 1 hour 19 min to get up to the top. Then it was the zoom zoom down. By the time I got to the husky my back was on FIRE!! Yes my back...sounds weird but when you climb like that you use a lot of core and back...so mine was hurting.

The way back I was a hurting unit and was sooooo happy to be off of the bike. Chad and I went for a quick run...I was smart today and took my inhaler about 30 min before I got on the bike so I was still a little wheezy while running but not nearly as bad as the day before!

Camp Day 3

This was a doozy of a day for me. I felt awful. I got up, got ready and headed out at about 7:30 to get a head start on the guys. I lost part of the group right away...they decided to go down main street instead and I didn't know:) So I went to usual way and led a couple of other people who didn't know the course out to Maclean Creek Road. Once I got going it wasn't too bad, not great, not awful. I tucked into aero at OK falls and stuck to my plan all of the way out to Osoyoos. By the time I reached the Husky I was hurtin, but the hills were coming and I like to climb so that was my saving grace.

Up Richter and onto the first couple rollers is when Greg and a couple of the other guys caught me. I was happy I made it that far, I was sure they would have me by the Husky! Darryl came by a hill or two after that! The rollers went good considering, I did go into Keremeos for a quick water break and then it was back to Yellow lake. I think the 20ish km of gradual climb leading up to Yellow Lake it worse than the climb itself or at least I find it harder!

At the top of yellow lake I had a little pity party. For some reason I figured that even though I was sick, killed my legs with the 2 previous days, it being early in the season I should have seen more improvement. My frustration with being sick 4 times since January finally got the best of me and I was not a happy camper. I kept on trucking...I was cranky but I wasn't about to pull over and call it quits. So I sucked it up and kept on going. When I got back to the hotel I wanted to crawl under a rock. Instead I went and iced my legs, had a shower, took a couple of advil and layed down until the pounding stopped! An hour or two later I was feeling a little more human and was able to go out an visit a bit. I have not felt that awful in a long time....I think Ironman was easier than that! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right???

I have not trained since then, so I am itching to get going again because I have the Boise 70.3 coming up in a few weeks! I do get to watch Chad race for the next 2 weekends as well, watching races always motivates me!

I think I have paid my sick dues for the year so hopefully I can move forward to a healthy summer and season!

I am sooooo behind in blog reading as well so my plan is to catch up and see how everyone's training is going!

Happy Training everyone!