Kerry On the Spot

on September 17, 2008

. 11 Comments

Update: A triathlon finish.

It’s official. Just call me “~~Jack~~ Kerry of all trades, master of definitely not biking, nor running for that matter… swimming is not so bad, but definitely not biking.” Or “Sporty Snail” for short, just not to my face…

After much debating with my own self about whether or not to participate in the Tri Turtle Tri, a local sprint(plus) triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike & 3.2 mile run)… I sent in my registration and a check. I registered very late… which earned me a finishers medal from last year. But hey, a participation medal is a participation medal is a participation medal. Yay for the highly esteemed and accomplished participant of many faster or slower participants!

What was this post about? Oh yeah, it’s about a tri I did (today) in 2008… in which I received… a 2007 medal. In school, a student gets detention for turning in her book report late… in triathlons a participant gets last year’s medal! I love it!

This is a post about the tri in which my swim went swimmingly.

This is a post about the tri in which I am glad my swim went well, because it gave me great pleasure to give most of the participants lots of opportunity to pass me. I’m a giver, people. Pass, pass, pass…

This is a post about the tri in which, during the run my body felt like a bag of cement left out in the rain. This is where I confess to you I wished that I had choked on one of the bugs I encountered when I ran through a bug “cloud”, so I’d have a reason to give for running slow… “I choked on a big nasty bug and it was so gross I had to stop and throw it up!!!” Then as I ran past a bee I thought, “I wish a bee would sting me so I could have a really good reason why…” I’m not right.

Plus, during the run, I pulled/damaged/destroyed a couple muscles in a region I was previously unaware existed in the human body. How on earth?

BUT. I finished. I even finished fairly well. I don’t have the results just yet, and I was a dork an forgot to hit my watch timer to track my times. But I feel good right now… I ate ribs and cheesy garlic toast for dinner at Claim Jumper. Proper calorie replacement - I can’t emphasize how important that is…

And my pulled muscles? Fine - since I am sitting in my bed and not moving.

Nighty-nite :)

Published

on September 7, 2008

. 7 Comments

I went for a bike ride today.

And folks, am I glad you weren’t there to see it. No, I didn’t take a fall. I’m sorry. I know a really good fall is always a fun thing to write read about. Plus, if I had a good “fall off my bike” story, I could have distracted you from the fact that I have the biking skills of a sporty snail. You know how that one pop star is named “Sporty Spice“… from now on you can just call me “Sporty Snail”… just not to my face.

I went on a 12 mile-ish ride with my friend Julie. You know, Crazy Julie… 2 arms, 2 legs… Yes! THAT Julie! She’s so cute. We went on a beautiful route along the Washington Coast. Rolling hills, a view of the Pacific, and a FANTASTIC view of Julie’s butt (which, by the way, looks very small - especially when she is a mile ahead…)

Julie is FAST. Her level of bike skillz earns her a “skill” with a “Z”. Let’s just say… for every HALF a rotation of my wheels she gets three rotations worth of distance. From here on out, I will address her as “Supastar”.

I mean, how much faster can one person go than another when going downhill? Really. I mean, gravity is gravity and… how the heck does that woman go so fast??? How??? **on knees, arms shaking - reaching to the heavens**

Oh well. I guess there can be ONE thing in life I am not the best at.

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Published

on August 30, 2008

in 365, Fa' Real?, General and Swim/Bike/Run

. 4 Comments

It’s a shout-out!

I met Kathleen of Forging Ahead at BlogHer ‘08. We were standing at a table the first morning, trying to eat our breakfast and talk and talk and talk. Early on in our conversation - we learned we had something very special in common - triathloning! Our connection was quick and natural… and lasting!

Well… Kathleen’s time has come. On Saturday (tomorrow!) - she will be competing in her first triathlon! And it’s not the short sprint triathlon like I did my first time (OK - first 5 times!)…. NOOOOO. She’s doing a biggie. My first tri was a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 3 mile run… Kathleen will be swimming an entire mile (in the ocean, I am not brave enough to swim in the ocean), biking 34 miles and running 10 miles! Her tri-distances are between the Olympic and an Half-Iron triathlon distances!

I just want to send out a great big - Good Luck to Kathleen, Bert and her coach! You guys are awesome! Kathleen, I am so proud of you. You have worked so hard! You are going to do incredible things tomorrow! Go! Go! GO!!! :)

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Published

on August 22, 2008

in 365, Bloggy Bloggy and Swim/Bike/Run

. 3 Comments

More silliness about “stretchers”.

Remember when I wrote about the oldest Olympic swimmer - Dara Torres? Remember? She’s the one who has 2 stretchers - because, when your body is 41 - a girl kinda needs professional stretchers to gain that extra edge over the youngies. Like me, Momma K was a bit beside herself over this “stretcher thing” too.

Aaaaanyway.

I can’t recall how the conversation came about, but I mentioned something about stretchers and Dara to my friend Katie today. Katie, my running/triathlon partner in crime. She replied,

I’d need a stretcher too… bit it would come out of an AMBULANCE!

BWAH - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

I love Katie. I bet you love Katie too.

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Published

Continue reading ‘The Mid Summer Triathlon - through the eyes of Kerry.’

on August 10, 2008

in 365, Funny Funnerson and Swim/Bike/Run

. 3 Comments

The Mid Summer Triathlon - through the eyes of Kerry.

My apologies - this will be one of those long posts. The kind-of post successful bloggers advise against. But for the sake of time and being sure to get this down, I’m going to just go for it. Is there a blog award for longest post???? If you bear with me, I promise to post a video in here somewhere in which I make a fool of myself as I demonstrate the sounds of a man I encountered during the swim who I have named, “The Blubbering Swimmer”.

In case you didn’t know - I did this:

I did it! I did It! And here’s proof I finished:

And I didn’t need one of these:

Published

on August 5, 2008

in 365, Eats, General, Kerry Jen-Jen, Swim/Bike/Run and The Butt Series

. 28 Comments

A Post-Race Video

Why? Because I am soooo multi-media.

Why? Because I want you to see the ridiculous mega-shades I got at Target for $12.99, and it’ll be funny in 10 years when my children see this video. They’ll be all, “Moooooommmm! I can’t believe you wore those!” And I’ll be all, “I know!”

Why? Because I intended to take one or two short videos prior to my race and I never did… for I was too busy taking pictures of my transition area and Freaking. Out!

You know what? I’ve never seen what it looks like when I talk with my braces. Dudes, I totally have that funky braces-lip-thing! I am so glad I don’t have to look at my mouth when I talk to me. Also, I was not intoxicated in this video… I was flippin’ tired! Gosh! That happens when a girl swims .92 miles, bikes 24 and runs 6.2 miles in under 3 hours - she gets tired and talks like a drunk!

Update - I think the rib went back to where it was supposed to be. Yay! It doesn’t hurt anymore when I breathe in. The only discomfort I feel right now is in my shoulders, butt, more butt, legs, neck and arms. That’s all. And, My People, it was TOTALLY worth it :)

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Published

on August 4, 2008

. 10 Comments

I finished my first Olympic Triathlon today.

How’s that for a gripping title?

I have a wonderful story to share about my first Olympic triathlon, that was also my first coed triathlon… but the lengthy details (such as the “Blubbering Swimmer”) will need to be shared later - hopefully tomorrow.

I must share a little though, but quickly before my Tylenol PM kicks in…

The weather was PERFECT. Completely cloudy. The water at 67 degrees was warmer than the air. I had no worries about overheating. I mean really, it was incredible considering it should have been cloudless and 80. I’m a wimp when it comes to heat…
I finished, and cried a little at the finish line for all the relief and happiness I felt.
I finished in 2 hours and 55 minutes and whatever seconds… I didn’t know if I would finish in under 3.5 hours, so imagine how happy I was to cross at 2 hours 55 minutes!
My butt hurts. The part where you think it’s all padding… but it seems there be some muscle in there.
My legs ache, mostly probably from the over 4 hour drive home. I probably could have used a bit more stretching. Though we did stop for an hour to shop at the Nike and Helly Hansen outlets! I found a great winter coat - all army green with a furry thing growing on the lid.
Oh, and I have cramps. Because I started my period today. Yes, today. We always feel 100% on Day 1, don’t we ladies? All those burley fellas passing me today - they never have to consider THAT risk on race day. Last night I could tell the tide was-a-changin’, but I have a 5 day window of “normal” so… I’m just glad Aunt Flo decided she didn’t want to bother me until the afternoon.
I burned 1,514 calories in that 2 hours and 55 minutes. 35% of which was from fat.
I drank a fair amount of green lake water, but never got attacked by man-elbows. I was spanked on the butt and grabbed by the foot and part of my right shoulder was swam over, but I could tell each incident was not intentional. And for the record, I ended up slugging two people of my own. Hey Dumblond - it was just like you said, I AM hardcore!

I want to thank everybody for your comments full of encouragement on my last post. I wonder if you’d be surprised at how very much your encouragement fueled my strokes, pedals and strides… and breath :)

Oh. The medicine is working it’s magic of gentle mercy. Nighty night…

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Published

Continue reading ‘Can I tell ya’ll somethin’?’

on August 3, 2008

in 365, Kerry Jen-Jen and Swim/Bike/Run

. 21 Comments

Can I tell ya’ll somethin’?

I am officially nervous. My heart is beating a bit fast, my hands are shaking, and my chest feels a little twisty.

I am getting my gear together for Sunday. Sunday? What’s so big about Sunday? Nuthin’, really… except the biggest challenge of my life - gah! OK, with the exception of the epidural “incident” during the birth of my first child, but you don’t want me to go there… back labor… it was ugly.

Sunday I am taking on my longest triathlon distance (an Olympic distance - a .92 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6 mile death march run). I have done 5 sprint triathlons since 2001. Started doing them for baby-weight losing goals. The sprint distance is great, but I thought it was time to stretch myself, and today is the day I need to get my gear together.

As I debated which race number strap to wear, MEN came to my mind. Triathlon-y men! Competetive, prolly-gonna-be-knocked-out-by-a-MAN-elbow-during-the-swim-kinda-MEN! This is my first coed tri! What was I thinking? I’m gonna get pounded… or at least dunked like a poor little, sweet rubber ducky during toddler bath time. The horror!

Published

on August 2, 2008