Sundance Film Festival
I spent the weekend in Utah, a noble feat considering it is January. But I love to attend the Sundance Film Festival, so headed to the Wasatch Front armed with ski gear, my wool coat with faux fur and the thickest gloves I could find. It reminded me of when I was there just two years ago shopping for the Antarctica marathon. All my gear for that trip was bought in Park City while attending Sundance.
When I checked in for my flight on Friday morning, I thought my flight was at 9:40am. I checked in diligently at 9:40am for a seat in the A group, only to find out I'm B2. What? My flight was at 9:10am instead. How did that happen? Where did I get 9:40 from? Turns out I arrive back at 9:40pm on Monday. Oops. My bad. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I am flying to Salt Lake, the land of families...and families on Southwest board right after the A group. So B is more like the C group.
But such is life and it is not the worst thing in the world...but here comes the bad news. I got my rental car and immediately headed to Park City in the mountains. The weather got worse and worse the higher I went to the point I couldn't see anything--zero visibility. Everyone is driving with their hazard lights on and pulling off to the side of the road. I'm in an economy rental and no doubt has no snow tires on it. I pull off to the side and turn on my hazard lights (at least I think it was the side of the road; I couldn't see anything). I then attempt to drive back onto the freeway, as I have to keep going; there's nowhere to turn around at this point. I head downhill as I was at the summit and my brakes are non-existent...no brakes at all. I try pumping them; I try everything, but the car will not stop or slow down. I immediately call my dad because apparently in guy school they teach you how to fix things and deal with a driving crisis. He tells me to put it into the lowest gear and just coast. So I do, only to see a semi-truck so close to my rear end that I can't even see its headlights. I panic. Then another semi is in front of me. All I am thinking at this point is..."I don't want to die in Utah." Of all the places to die, I don't want it to be in a rental car up a canyon in a blizzard.
I finally find an exit down the canyon and my car completely freezes up, no brakes, no gas. I restart the car and head back the other way to Salt Lake City. No Sundance for me today. I lost an entire day.
I call the rental company and say the car smells of an electrical problem and I barely have any brakes. So they say take it back; they have plenty of cars. So I do. Only to find out they only have huge long caravans to rent. Soccer mom cars? How can I look cool? The man at the rental car company said, "this should drive better in the snow." Oh yeah? Any car would drive better in the snow.
I nickname my rental Old Betsy. It is the longest car in the world. In fact, I couldn't even see out the back window it was so far away. Plus, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to move the driver's seat back. So I am driving on top of the steering wheel in the longest car ever, but can't move back. I just started laughing so hard I was crying.
I then decide because my day of Sundance was over before it event started, I went to visit my grandparents. I surprise them, as they didn't know I was in town, and I walk in to find my grandmother...I swear this on my life...was watching....a marathon of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Is this backwards day??? I thought, okay, I have a hip grandma. Rock on.
I visited my cousins and went to dinner with them. We then watched a marathon of shows on hulu, one of which scared me. So, their three-year-old son brought me his action figures to make me less scared. "Superman will save you. Now you won't be scared," he told me proudly. So cute! I guess that is why people have children--never-ending amusement.
Sunday, I made it up to Sundance and had a blast. Saw celebrities, some documentaries and found the perfect hot chocolate of absolute creaminess and sweetness.
Monday, I saw more movies and had lunch with some ladies I used to work with and it was so wonderful catching up with them. Always good to keep in touch.
Salt Lake wasn't too cold for me. It was actually rather pleasant, except for when it snowed Saturday night. But much better than in December when I was there.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Triathlons and training
It has been 2 months now since Ironman and I didn't go through the typical depression after a big-time race. I went through a euphoria for two weeks, then back to normal. I am always planning the next race and don't want to stop training, so I don't usually go through a down phase after crossing a major finish line.
However, with that being said, I have gone through major, major difficulties in stamina. My endurance isn't what it was before Ironman when I was doing 5 hour bike rides followed the next day by a 15-20 mile run and swim. Now, I have a hard time mustering 13 miles of running. I did 15 miles last weekend and could barely muster the energy past mile 12. I have planned on doing a marathon on Valentine's day (as I thought that is the perfect way to spend a silly holiday), but now not so sure. I should run 20 miles this weekend and see. If I don't make it, I'll switch to a half marathon on Feb. 14th and complete a full in the spring... maybe 2 fulls in the spring when I'm hoping my stamina level is back and 20 miles is a walk in the park like it used to be pre-Ironman.
I am also planning my international marathon and very excited at where I will be heading. I will also find out if I won the lottery into the NYC marathon.
Plus, triathlon season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, I do not hear the pool calling my name. I can, though, hear my goggles yelling "don't touch, don't touch." Hmmm...
It has been 2 months now since Ironman and I didn't go through the typical depression after a big-time race. I went through a euphoria for two weeks, then back to normal. I am always planning the next race and don't want to stop training, so I don't usually go through a down phase after crossing a major finish line.
However, with that being said, I have gone through major, major difficulties in stamina. My endurance isn't what it was before Ironman when I was doing 5 hour bike rides followed the next day by a 15-20 mile run and swim. Now, I have a hard time mustering 13 miles of running. I did 15 miles last weekend and could barely muster the energy past mile 12. I have planned on doing a marathon on Valentine's day (as I thought that is the perfect way to spend a silly holiday), but now not so sure. I should run 20 miles this weekend and see. If I don't make it, I'll switch to a half marathon on Feb. 14th and complete a full in the spring... maybe 2 fulls in the spring when I'm hoping my stamina level is back and 20 miles is a walk in the park like it used to be pre-Ironman.
I am also planning my international marathon and very excited at where I will be heading. I will also find out if I won the lottery into the NYC marathon.
Plus, triathlon season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, I do not hear the pool calling my name. I can, though, hear my goggles yelling "don't touch, don't touch." Hmmm...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wimp
I have become a weather wimp. I grew up in Seattle for 20 years and had rain almost every single day. Now it has been raining and I can't stand it. Use a treadmill? Blah. Wear closed toe shoes? I can't find any in my closet. Umbrella? Do I even own one? I think I gave mine away at a white elephant gift exchange.
It takes forever to drive in rain because no one knows how. They are shutting down the airport. Shutting it down! If they shut down the Sea Tac airport because of rain, no one would ever get into the Puget Sound area.
But the rain will go away and it really isn't a big deal, even though everyone is making it out to be. I lose my cable when it rains so I read and my house stays quiet for the evening. So I'll curl up with a good book tonight. Too bad I will miss Burn Notice and the Real Housewives of OC.
I have become a weather wimp. I grew up in Seattle for 20 years and had rain almost every single day. Now it has been raining and I can't stand it. Use a treadmill? Blah. Wear closed toe shoes? I can't find any in my closet. Umbrella? Do I even own one? I think I gave mine away at a white elephant gift exchange.
It takes forever to drive in rain because no one knows how. They are shutting down the airport. Shutting it down! If they shut down the Sea Tac airport because of rain, no one would ever get into the Puget Sound area.
But the rain will go away and it really isn't a big deal, even though everyone is making it out to be. I lose my cable when it rains so I read and my house stays quiet for the evening. So I'll curl up with a good book tonight. Too bad I will miss Burn Notice and the Real Housewives of OC.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Weekend
Well I should be at mile 9 right now of a half marathon race, but instead I am at home checking email and Facebook and sleeping in till 8am, rather than get up at 5 to head to the start line. Oh well, it was my choice not to do the big race this weekend. Rather than feel guilty about it, I think I will donate what I would have spent on my registration to the Red Cross to aid the rescue efforts in Haiti. Then I won't feel so guilty.
I did run a really poor 8 miles yesterday and did not run well at all. I am about to go out for a 20 mile run in preparation for an upcoming marathon. I am doing a half marathon in a couple of weeks then hopefully a full. I may end up switching back to the half if I keep running like I have been since Ironman (slow, slow, slow).
I went to go see Kathy Griffin perform last evening with one of my girlfriends and it is nice to hang and have girl talk and laugh amidst such a terrible time in the world.
Well I should be at mile 9 right now of a half marathon race, but instead I am at home checking email and Facebook and sleeping in till 8am, rather than get up at 5 to head to the start line. Oh well, it was my choice not to do the big race this weekend. Rather than feel guilty about it, I think I will donate what I would have spent on my registration to the Red Cross to aid the rescue efforts in Haiti. Then I won't feel so guilty.
I did run a really poor 8 miles yesterday and did not run well at all. I am about to go out for a 20 mile run in preparation for an upcoming marathon. I am doing a half marathon in a couple of weeks then hopefully a full. I may end up switching back to the half if I keep running like I have been since Ironman (slow, slow, slow).
I went to go see Kathy Griffin perform last evening with one of my girlfriends and it is nice to hang and have girl talk and laugh amidst such a terrible time in the world.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty
That is how I am feeling by not doing the P.F. Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon this weekend. It is one of the largest races in the country and I always do it, but not this year. I am going to do a half marathon in a couple of weeks and then *planning* to do another full in February...depending on my training. I am quite tired after Ironman. I did a half marathon and 10 mile race just weeks after Ironman and both felt harder than they should.
So I'm setting this one out and it feels very strange. So many people at work are running in it. I see all the advertisements for it. I hear about the expo and get emails about it. My training group is having a lunch get together to support all those doing it. And I'm not. It's weird. But it is my choice. I'll save my legs for many other future races.
That is how I am feeling by not doing the P.F. Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon this weekend. It is one of the largest races in the country and I always do it, but not this year. I am going to do a half marathon in a couple of weeks and then *planning* to do another full in February...depending on my training. I am quite tired after Ironman. I did a half marathon and 10 mile race just weeks after Ironman and both felt harder than they should.
So I'm setting this one out and it feels very strange. So many people at work are running in it. I see all the advertisements for it. I hear about the expo and get emails about it. My training group is having a lunch get together to support all those doing it. And I'm not. It's weird. But it is my choice. I'll save my legs for many other future races.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Pet peeves
1. People who run faster than I do and don't even try or train. They just can run a marathon and run it quickly with little effort. Some people just naturally qualify for Boston every year.
2. Men who lie about their age. It's okay for women, but for some reason, I'm not okay with it when a man does it.
3. When all the radio stations take a commercial break at the same time. Same with television stations.
4. People who obviously hate cyclists. Share the road.
5. Scam charities. Sick people are profiting off of the current situation in Haiti by setting up fake charities. There's a place in he** for you I'm sure.
1. People who run faster than I do and don't even try or train. They just can run a marathon and run it quickly with little effort. Some people just naturally qualify for Boston every year.
2. Men who lie about their age. It's okay for women, but for some reason, I'm not okay with it when a man does it.
3. When all the radio stations take a commercial break at the same time. Same with television stations.
4. People who obviously hate cyclists. Share the road.
5. Scam charities. Sick people are profiting off of the current situation in Haiti by setting up fake charities. There's a place in he** for you I'm sure.
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