Epic Adventures: Part 1 of 2

In my years of epic adventures I have had the feeling of accomplishment, dedication, and achievement.  One feeling I love to have is that of anticipation.  Anticipation keeps me motivated to train and prepare.  One feeling that I don’t commonly talk about is the feeling of sensory overload and coming down after a big adventure.

*Loving life on two wheels

If I could remove one part of the adventures it would be the coming down and getting back to neutral feeling.  I get these feelings regularly after big events; they give me a lot of anxiety and nervousness.  It is unfortunate that many times my adventures end with this feeling, but it’s part of the process to getting back to neutral and it is this neutral feeling that allows for the next big adventure.

After my most recent two adventures; my training block (Part 1) and Kevin’s wedding (Part 2) I found myself with a lot of anxiety and longing to relive the adventures we all shared.  Again, if I could change one thing I would change this aspect.  However, I think it necessary and in the end the re-adjustment is worth the amazing experiences.  I share this aspect of the adventures not to tarnish the adventures, but to put forth the point that coming down after a big adventure is normal, maybe someone will read this and can relate. J

*The road to adventure

*All smiles in the Hammer Kit

*JM working the draft

Okay, so what led to one of the longest re-adjustment periods?  Well, the answer is again in two parts.  This post (Part 1 of the adventures) will focus on my recent training.  I was lucky enough to get away last weekend and have some great training in new scenery.  Nothing will super charge the triathlon spirit like new training challenges and training partners. 

*My Hammer kitted twin-turbo engines :)

*A big thanks to Hammer Nutrition for keeping me fueled up.

I was very lucky to share a couple of my training sessions with my friend, JM.  We did a couple of great road rides under some fabulous sun. I showed him how to use the draft, work the pace-line, and attack the break.  It was great to ride with him, splitting the work while riding into the wind and having some good laughs.  

*JM looking sharp in his kit, yeah buddy.

*Pic of me posing with "The Orange Crush." 

*Love that hot sun! 

*Action shot from the paceline

*Working JM's wheel at 25 MPH.

JM’s wife, Leanne, made a delicious and nutrious “garbage salad” (her name, not mine) that was anything but.  The salad was a great treat and post training session meal.  Friends make everything better; the minute I left their house I missed our time together greatly.  A very big thanks to JM and Leanne for being part of memories I will hold very dear.

*Leanne's "Garbage Salad," delicious.

I was also very fortunate to have a great swim session with Kevin and JM.  We did our fair share of hard swimming, but we also did our fair share of joking and laughing.  We practiced our dolphin kicks and alternate strokes.  Triathletes practicing things like this usually leads to hilarity.  Although, I should say, the past couple of years I have become a much more pure swimmer while doing my swim training. We are very lucky to share those side-splitting laughter moments with the people who we love to compete and train with. Our time at the pool was great.

*Lime green shoes, lime accent shorts, lime sunglasses, sweet run kit!

*Long stretch on the run

 As if the cycling and swimming wasn’t enough, I had some fantastic run sessions.  One day was a pouring rain that I sloshed through. It makes me feel like a little kid to run through huge “gully-washer” rains.  It reminds me of when I was little and would ride my bike in puddles.  First I would tell myself I won't get wet.  Then I would reason that I would only get wet from the knees down.  Before I knew it I would be wet head to toe.  Hilarious.  Another run session was filled with sun and one of the sweetest lime green run kits ever, if I do say so myself.

*Sweet kicks!

*Home remedy blister relief

*Gully washer!

*Total down pour while containing my excitement, lol.

 With all these special moments you can probably see why I had so much anxiety over having to come back down.  You can’t ride the tip of the wave forever, I am so thankful to have had the moments with my friends, and have a healthy body that can do what I ask of it.  The adventures are well worth the re-adjustment and I look forward to the next great moments.  

Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing in my adventures.