21st Century Mom

The thought of that hill getting the better of me just chewed on my mind until I had to go out and do something about it.

I made it up the hill. Hooray!

I'm not sure I could have kept climbing for another mile or so, though and that's where I need to be for Wildflower. I also feel very uncertain on that bike. I rode the brakes going downhill. I think it's a combination of the (lack of) weight and how narrow it is.

For now I'm a little happier. Not totally settled but a little happier.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

So yesterday I wrote about how bummed I was about my first ride on my new bike. What I neglected to mention is that I have been on road bikes (as opposed to my hybrid) twice before and didn't feel so inept. I've been searching to figure out the difference. Searching lead to gathering data so here we go.

My first experience was last year for the Cinderella metric century when I was lent a very sexy Specialized Ruby Pro. At the time I was still using standard pedals so no fear. I was fitted for that bike (Specialized had just introduced them and wanted feedback) so it was perfect. Loved it!

My second experience was on a friend's Specialized using SPD pedals. It was fitted for her and she's taller than me. I dropped the bike twice (and felt horrible) but mostly the ride went fine. It has a triple on it. My ride went fine - loved it.

So what's the deal with my new wheels? I have 2 suspicions:
1). I paid for them. Anything less than 'LOVE IT' feels like a mistake
2). I really need to be fitted.

I did look up the other 2 to compare geometries and here's what we got - clearly it's all about the angles

Bike 1 - The Ruby Pro

Bike 2 - Allez Elite

Bike 3 - the Pinarello

So - apparently it's all about the angles in the frame and I'm just going to have to get used to the straight ones on this bike. I'll get back to you on how I feel about these angles after I've been fitted. Thanks for all of your suggestions and support.

Perseverance furthers.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

My maiden voyage was not the awesome ride I thought I would take. I never made it out for that ride on Sunday and it's a really good thing I didn't because I would not likely have had a good time. This is the sad tale of my maiden voyage on my new Pinarello. I sort of have a name for it but I'm reserving that until I figure out what to do.

Saturday afternoon late I decided that I HAD to get in my 8 mile run for the day. It had been raining in the morning but then it cleared up so I pulled on my running clothes, grabbed a packet of Hammer Gel that I'd had in my nightstand drawer since sometime last summer and headed out the door. I didn't take water because I decided to run to the trail that had a bunch of water fountains - no problem. Or so I thought.

The running felt a little sluggish but not bad, I made my way along the most scenic route and got to the trail head only to discover that the water fountain wasn't really working - great. I ran to the next fountain, every footfall laden with that heightened sense of need and expectation you get when you are thirsty and I just prayed that that fountain would work - it did. It also happened to be at about the 4 mile mark so I gagged down the gel, drank some more water and headed home. It was getting dark and I kept thinking about changing the route so I would have some street light but I really wanted to cover 8 miles so I just pushed on.

About 5 minutes after I got home I got totally nauseated. Then I got diarrhea. Nice. Maybe that ancient pack of Hammer Gel wasn't such a great idea. I almost started heaving but didn't so I just went to bed - at 7:30 on Saturday night - livin' large!

Sunday morning was dreary and rainy and because I had been so ill the night before I hadn't managed to put the SPD pedals on my new bike. I called friend C and asked if we were going out for a ride and she said she and friend B were waiting a while to see what the sky did. They called at about 9 and said, "we're going!" I still wasn't feeling so good so I declined.

Then the day wore on and found one excuse after the other not to get on that beautiful new bike. I wasn't fooling myself, though - I was afraid. Afraid I couldn't handle it, afraid I might drop it, just afraid. I let the day go, never having gotten on the bike.

Today I finally screwed up the courage to go for a ride at noon. I got on, not really knowing what route I would take. I covered some pretty flat ground and then decided to tackle a hill. Not a huge hill but a hill that had some steep to it. Not long and steep - just steep and really, not all that steep.

I couldn't do it. I didn't make it up the hill. Here I was on a brand new, beautiful bike and I freaked out and got off. I couldn't even get back on and get going - it was that bad. I had to walk the bike the rest of the way up the hill. Now I'm very unhappy for a bunch of reasons. First of all, I think I bought the bike too soon. It seemed fine when I tested it but really it isn't that comfortable for me. It's the right size (50 cm, I'm 5'2") but it just feels a little big. Also, it has a double in front and I really think I need a triple if for no other reason than for the comfort of having a granny gear.

So now I'm bummed. I figure I have several ideas for what to do but I need help so bring it on! Here are my ideas:
1). Sell the bike on Craigslist for what I paid and go to an LBS and get fitted properly for another bike
2). Take this bike in and get fitted properly so it feels better.
3). Put my bmx pedals on the bike until I get used to it and then put the spd pedals back on and kick some ass
4). Get a triple put on front and assume that the bike isn't the problem, it's the rider
5). Suck it up, get back on the bike and tackle that hill.

I just don't know. I'm pretty bummed out about it now. I'm really bummed out. I am the worst shopper in the world which is the major reason I still haven't gotten a new car. The whole part about careful consideration, taking the time, weighing the options - I'm no good at that stuff. And on top of all of that, I have so much fear around bike riding that it's hard to separate out the real problems from the demons in my head.

Any input you have would be really welcomed - really. Thanks.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Oh yeah - my new (to me) Pinarello Galelio with Ultegra 9 and Campy Proton wheels. Uh huh....

A friend of a neighbor bought it for his wife who rode it about 3 times and decided she didn't like road biking and wanted a mountain bike. It didn't even have water bottle cages on it when I bought it. I picked some up and he put them on for me when I picked up the bike.

I had solicited advice and input from coach Bold and from Flatman who Bold claims is the King of second-hand value. So I sent him an email. They both wanted pictures but I had already spent a long time looking at the bike and test driving it and felt odd about asking to go get pics. I told them it was very clean and they said that if it was very clean it was probably a good deal at $1500.

Clean? You be the judge (click for larger view)

I think that counts as clean.

Of course the weather sucks today and I have a long run scheduled but tomorrow I will test drive this baby by riding up a long, long hill. The ride we are taking is described like this

Wildcat Canyon is a varied, woodied climb, with pitches up to about 9%, and a lot of longer, slight grades.

Or like this:
Distance: 2.5 miles
Climbing: 620' -- 420' to 1,040' 7%
A very popular road for climbing. The first mile is steep. After passing El Toyonal Road it eases up until reaching Inspiration Point. The descent isn't much fun because of the tight turns, reverse grades and slick pavement.

I'm not too crazy about the descent part but I think we come back a different way. For the most part, new bike and I say Bring.It.On!

Since I started writing this post it has begun to rain - and I didn't go for my run yet. I suck. Wildflower is going to suck for me if I don'g get it together soon. My first long ride on my new bike might be in the trainer. OH THE INJUSTICE!!!

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I started out thinking I would write about parenting issues (hence my blogname). Then I thought I'd go for politics but soon realized I wasn't really that dedicated and lots of people do that better than I ever could. Then I added running and joined the RBF. Then I discovered the tri blogging community and now I'm doing triathlon and writing about that.

Can't say as I've gotten any better at this but I can say that I am very happy to have found community in my fellow athletes and I thank you all for your support. It makes all the difference in the world.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I have 4 weekends between now and then where I won't be able to go on a long, hard, hill climbing bike ride like I need to. I have 2 shopping weekend, one in San Diego for the Maiden of Honor and one in Chicago for the Bride, and I have the weekend before the wedding when friends and family will start rolling in to town and one the weekend of the wedding when I will be partying like a mad dog!(see item #6)

That means I have exactly 10 weekends to pump {clap...... point......} me up.

I hope it's enough.

To my shopping partners please note - Mama will need to go for a long run or workout in the hotel gym on Saturday morning and maybe Sunday. I hope you can join me.

What's really exciting is that I'm about to add a new weapon to my training arsenal (in addition to actually training, that is). Stay tuned.....

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Be safe in knowing this decision in no way involved the abuse of martinis, baby kittens or mind-altering browsers.

Oh and btw, keep on tri-ing, because your ass is looking spectacular in those jeans.

Sincerely,

Sisters for the Prevention of Eye-Bleeding

P.S. We strongly suggest you move far, far away from Blogger.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

I fully support anyone's right to be horrified at the very thought of abortion. I fully support anyone's right to cry bitter tears at the lost babies. I fully support anyone's moral indignation that a woman would terminate a pregnancy. I do not support your right to stop a woman from making that choice for herself, though.

We cannot pick and choose who gets to have an abortion and who doesn't. You can't legislate 'in the event of rape, incest or danger to the mother's life' for several reasons. First of all you can't always define a rape. Is it rape if a long time boyfriend holds his girlfriend down and forces penetration while saying "I love you baby - I just can't stop" and she lies there crying and terrified, unable to utter a "no" or a "stop - you're violating me". I think so but a court might not. Is it fair to say that a young girl who is impregnated forcibly by her perverted uncle has to have the baby? Is it fair to say that a woman on the way to her car in a shopping mall parking lot who is grabbed, thrown in a van, driven away and raped and then released has to have that baby? And who is to define 'danger to the mother's life?" Is giving birth to a rapists baby and then giving the baby up not without long term risk and danger to the mother's health and well being? Who is to say?

The motions and cases that threaten to bring down Roe vs. Wade today generally decree abortion to be illegal - no exceptions. I believe we need to keep abortion legal without exception or reservation because it isn't up to you or me or a judge to decide on the course of a woman's life or how that pregnancy might impact her life. There is only one person who can make that decision and we need to maintain the right of women everywhere to manage their lives.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

UPDATE - fixed in IE. Doesn't work at all in FireFox. I tried to fix it butn then it broke in IE. If anyone can tell me what the issue is for FF I'll fix it. Otherwise you have to use IE to read this blog. Sorry!

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It's like she knows me! I registered, paid (hint people - she doesn't do this JUST for love) sent her a couple of graphics and voila! There I am, staring at the course map and dreaming of putting in the Tri performance of a lifetime when what I should be doing is getting my whiney ass off that chair and training. It is SO me!

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Actually, getting jilted has its advantages. Had my training shown up as scheduled I'd have to write about how every muscle in my body is sore. About how when I walk my legs hurt. When I lift a mug of tea to my lips my arms hurt. When I carry my computer bag my shoulders hurt. When I pull myself up out of a chair my abs hurt. In fact, the only pain free option open to me for most of the day was standing still with my arms at my side.

Now that my training took a powder and I missed out on 90 minutes of strength training I feel pretty good.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS EVERY DAY, TRAINING!! I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER AND I'M COMING AFTER YOU!

Tomorrow is 1 hour swim, 30 minutes bike. There will be no escape.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 08:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Page 123, sentences 6,7,8 read:

Maybe you'd like to lift weights, too. How do you blend everything together with limited training time and without doing the same boring routine for weeks on end? And one more thing: You'd like to feel fast and strong for some of the workouts, races or sporting events.

That is correct. It is all correct. I'm going to read the rest of the sentences and the rest of the book and come up with a good plan. A plan that fits my life. That means I can't use the 'canned' plan for "Faster Olympic Distance Performance" because there isn't enough swimming on that plan. She has you swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I like swimming M, W, F. I will follow the general pattern and guidelines, though and will be setting some time goals for each leg of WildFlower soon.

I think I'm finally training now. I went for a 20 mile bike ride this morning in spite of the cold. I learned something valuable, too. I don't like large group rides.

This was a women's ride put on by the very wonderful Luna Chix who deserve considerable kudos for doing this. It just wasn't for me. First of all it is really hard to negotiate some space with a huge group like that (there were about 50 women) especially when many of them are new to cycling. Second of all we went too slow. I was looking forward to some speed work and I found myself going 12 - 13 mph which was frustrating. I finally peeled off and took off on my own but not without thanking the woman who was leading our group.

Hats off to the Luna Chix for doing this - you are fab. They also host various clinics on bike maintenance and safety. They gave out free mini Luna Bars and water bottles today so thanks! Thanks again. If you are a woman and a cyclist you might want to see if there is a Luna Chix team in your area and connect with them. So far I've learned how to change a tire and I expect to learn much more in their clinics and if they do some harder training rides later in the season I may join them. They are training for the Cinderella Classic which I'm not riding this year as I am hosting a wedding but I don't think they mind if I tag along.

And look at this! I just clicked the dropdown again and noticed that they have a local triathlon team and that they host a triathlon. Woo Hoo! I loves the Internets. Learn something new every day! They will be at WildFlower so be sure to say Hi if you are there.

In addition to promoting and supporting women's sports, Team Luna Chix raises money and awareness to fight breast cancer. Their corporate sponsor makes great nutrition bars, too.

Welcome to Training Season. I hope I can focus my training better than I focused this post!

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

2). The Ride - I have recently discovered the joys of riding on the trainer while watching a movie. I love multi-tasking like that. Too many things to do and too few hours in which to do them. This is a perfect solution. I'm in the middle of a very good movie so I can hardly wait to get back on the trainer that I have been shirking for weeks and weeks.

3). The Run - When I run I listen to audio books on my iPod. I love that. I'm mostly a fiction junkie and just about any contemporary book and quite a few not so contemporary books worth reading are available in downloadable audio format from audible.com. A good book helps a lot with increasing my mileage but not so much right now because...

4). I live in California. We are not supposed to have winter. There is ice on my car every morning and it is supposed to snow at 1,000 ft or maybe even sea level this weekend. I really, really hope this is just a blip. If I wanted cold I'd move to Canada where I could enjoy their excellent sense of humor while freezing my chimichangas off.

Those Canadians make great movies, too!

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

A-B-C meme

A-Available or Single --- Both and probably for the rest of my life.
B-Best Friends --- My sister and my daughters and my son
C-Cake or Pie --- Pie. I only like 2 kinds of Cake – carrot and the band of that name. I loves me some pie, though. Just about any kind.
D-Drink of choice --- Mojito! Or a Non-fat latte.
E- Essential Item --- My computer, I guess
F-Favorite color --- Fuschia
G-Gummi Bears or worms --- Either – it’s not about the shape, it’s about the sweet gooey goodness.
H-Hometown --- I was born a Buckeye but consider myself to be from Madison Connecticut
I-Indulgence --- pedicures
J-January or February --- neither. I’m more than ready for May or June
K-Kids & names --- Humbly Anne, Small Son, Pookie
L-Life is incomplete without --- My family.
M-Marriage Date --- hahahaha…. Now that was just mean.
N-Number of siblings --- 3. I’m the third in line of 1 sister and 2 brothers.
O-Oranges or Apples --- Oranges . I love citrus fruit
P-Phobias/Fears --- Getting hit by a car when I’m riding my bike.
Q-Favorite Quote --- “Perseverance Furthers” – the I Ching
R-Reason to smile --- My kids.
S-Season --- Summer.
T-Tag three people – I’m letting you all self-select.
U-Unknown fact about me --- I’m cheap – but you might have figured that out.
V-Veggie I hate --- Beets. Lovely color but the smell and the taste just gross me out.
W-Worst Habit --- Procrastination
X-X-rays you've had --- Mammograms
Y-Your favorite food --- Pizza – the world’s most perfect food
Z-Zodiac --- Capricorn.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I was determined to get in at least a little time on the trainer, though because I really need to work those 1 leg drills to help my form. I carried my bike back upstairs (it had been in the living room where I put it after my New Year's Day Tri) and struggled to get it in the trainer. I had an inordinately difficult time with it but finally managed to screw the turn thingie (technical term!) onto the left spindle end. I put on the shoes, got on the bike, clipped in, started peddling and the next thing I know - BAM! I'm lying on the floor with a bike on top of me. I had neglected to open up the hinge on the trainer completely and that was the result. Grumble.. mutter... mutter... Not my day. I got up, fixed the bike and did my thang.

Later in the day I banged my head on the car door getting out. Not my day.

Later still I banged my head on a beam in the attic as I put the Christmas decorations away. Just not my day.

The afternoon ended with me taking Pookie to the airport so she can return to school. The sun was low in the sky and I couldn't see and there was a lot of traffic and I got diverted to the wrong lane. We got to the end of the terminal and I decided to pull over in the taxi area and just let her out real quick. I was a little worried but there didn't seem to be anyone around. Or so I thought. She took off and as I started to drive away I noted a cop walking to the car, ticket book in hand. SO NOT MY DAY! I stopped and rolled down the window and must have looked totally stunned. He asked me did I know I was in a bus area? "Well sort of ... I just missed my turn and ... stammer, stammer". He looked me in my very stunned eyes and said, "Did you know it was a $250 fine?"

"No! Of Course Not!" I'm sure stunned turned to dismay.

"I've been writing people up all day but... you got lucky. Get out of here and don't let me see you here again".

I uttered a meek 'thanks' and left.

And then, in a flash , it was my day. It was SO my day.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

1). Open Letter to Blogger Beta -
YES! I really, really mean it. I honestly do want to show the secure and non-secure items on the page. EVERY TIME! Please stop asking me that question!

2). Why can't I do a crappy job and walk away with millions like the Home Depot guy? This Nardelli guy got Home Depot an SEC investigation for options violations and allowed the price per share to drop 15% and he walks away $119.5 million dollars richer with a severance package of an additional $210 million dollars. Absurd.

3). So what? I got my swim on this morning and I'm feeling good. I'm almost ready to fix my nutrtion intake from 8 billion calories in chocolate and fat to lots of wholesome grains and fruits and vegetables. I can really feel it coming on!

4). I should be receiving my copy of Gale Bernhardt's Training Plans for Multisport Athletes soon and when I do I will put together a training plan.

Hear those trumpets? It's the sound of the start of training season. Train Hard! Train Smart!

5). Here is my swim year in review - it's my favorite review story. I have to add the disclaimer that the times are not quite accurate as they depend on the workout and who I'm swimming with which determines how much socializing we do between sets. The trend is awesome, though! As you can see, just putting in the distance improves the times. I'm all about improving my times this year and I'm very excited about that.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Swim 2800 yds - 1:15:00
T1 - 22 hours
Bike - 12.5 miles 1:00:56
T2 - 2.5 hours
Run - 3.9 miles 1:05:00

Let's deconstruct that, shall we?

Swim - 2800 yards 1:15:00 My masters team has a tradition of celebrating the year with x number of y distance laps. For 2007 that meant 107 somethings. I was in a lane with 4 other women and we might have done a bit of chatting as we did our 107 25s and I added a few to make it 2800 yards even.

T1 - 22 hours - really. The pool was closed today so I had to do the swim yesterday along with the rest of my masters team.

Bike - 12.5 miles in 1:00:56 - I was a little astonished at my lack of speed but in keeping with my New Year's Resolution I'd like to say Hooray for me! I did it!

T2 - 2.5 hours. I got home, got some food, read some blogs, visited with the kids and then noticed that Humbly Anne seemed a little blue. She was feeling sad because she goes back to the mid-west tomorrow and because getting married is a little overwhelming.

I changed my plans a bit and invited her to walk around the resevoir with me. It was a stunningly beautiful day and I figured the fresh air and sunshine would do her good and it gave me a chance for more visiting time.

Run - this turned into a lovely walk with the very lovely Ms. Humbly Anne, my first born child. It was a brisk walk and we covered 3.91 miles (gotta love that Garmin!) in a little over an hour and had a great time doing it.

A great start for what I expect will be a great year.

Now - a word about age. I JUST turned 52 the other day. For some reason I show up as 54 in the GYGO triathlon site. I must have clicked the wrong line on DOB. What's more interesting is that USAT has decided that everyone gets 'aged' according to your age on 12/31. That means that as far as USAT is concerned I am 53 all year long. I have mixed feelings about that (I'll age up almost a whole year early!) but it doesn't matter how I feel because that's the way it is.

Posted by 21st Century Mom at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)