Happy Halloween!!!

We had a good time at the trunk or treat. I shouldn't have bought such good chocolate candy to pass out . . . I'm gonna be sick.

The Tri that turned into a Bi . . .

The Lake Powell Triathlon 2010.

Last year I took my good friends Lisa and Beth to Casa Grande to do a sprint triathlon.  We loved it so much we decided we needed a bigger challenge.  Enter the Powell3.

Lisa, Beth and I decided we would go for the Olympic length this time.  That means 1 mile swim, 24 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run (10K).  Scary, but we knew we would train together and get ourselves ready, and man what a goal to achieve!

So, we trained together since July.  Tons of early mornings of riding, or running or swimming, or 2 of the 3 to "brick" our training.  It was crazy, but kinda fun to push each other and talk about who did what each day.  It also was funny to see how driven some of us were (Beth) and how laid back others were (me).  

Anyway, we got up Friday morning to drive up to the metropolis of Page, AZ.  Lisa came in the truck with Lane and I.  Lane was nice enough to be our chauffer, photographer and cheerleader.  While on the freeway in the northern part of Phoenix, I suddenly had a thought - my running shoes!  Did I pack them?  I don't remember?  We pulled over to an off-ramp and I got my bag out of the back, and sure enough - I hadn't.  Really?  Really.  Good thing the Anthem outlets were right there, and the Nike store that we had just stopped and bought new running shoes at last week was there.  So, we stopped and I bought another  pair of running shoes.  Kinda thought I'd need them.  

We got up north, and found it was cold and raining.  Not good for what was supposed to be perfect weather for our race!  We met up with the Adairs (Beth's family) at the Page version of Olive Garden.  It was called Strombolli's, where we ordered the "Tour de Italy" and found it should really be called the "Tour de Page".   Yeah, we are thinking a Hot Pocket covered in spaghetti sauce probably would have tasted about the same.   And the water leaking in from the roof into the big buckets behind our seats really added to the ambiance of the restaurant.

Saturday morning dawned with the hope that maybe we would see the sun, but the weather gods were not so kind.

Our little group was Beth, Lisa and I.  Then, Beth's daughters Chelsea and Shelby, and Beth's husband decided to come do it too, and hardly even trained!  Crazy!  

Transition area

We set up all our stuff at the transition station.  You are crammed in there like sardines, and you just hope someone doesn't throw your stuff somewhere.  As I looked around I started to realize this isn't your novice or beginner triathlon.  These people are for real.  One guy was sitting on his bike pedaling while it was propped up on some holder, others were jogging around, others got in the water and swam around a bit to "warm up".  We even met a guy we named "Baker Boy"  He had brought himself some corn starch to sprinkle in his shoes (How does that help?  I don't know) and he had some Pam baking spray to spray his body for the wet suit to go on and off better.  Mix those two ingredients with the rain we got, and he could have made some gravy!

Ok - who came up with this hot look?

Anyway, the people were set up to leave in waves.  The Olympic men started first in 2 different waves, then the Olympic women left.  As we rounded the buoy to go around for the last time, they allowed the men who are doing the sprint to go.  I felt like I was being overtaken by a ton of piranhas.  I held my ground, and finally finished the swim.  I am a slow swimmer - I think there may have been like 5 ladies after me!  Ugh!!

But, undaunted, I got out of the water and ran up the huge steep boat ramp to the transition area.  I quickly stripped my wetsuit off and threw on my bike shoes and decided to wear my jacket because it was raining and gonna be cold.

Changing for the bike ride that wasn't

I hopped on the bike and took off, and almost instantly knew something was wrong.  I was riding and pedaling pretty hard, and was only going 12 miles an hour.  My handles were shaking and rattling, and I was going slow!  I kept pushing thinking maybe my legs just needed to wake up and go, but the harder I worked, the more my bike shook.  I checked my speedometer again, and it said 12 mph.  I was going to keep my speed around 18 mph, so I was really worried.  I thought I was in for a long ride.  Well, after about 1 1/2 miles, I finally got off to see what was wrong.  My front tire was flat.  Dangit!!!  I grabbed my CO2 cartridge to fill up my tire and be on my way.  The tire inflated immediately, but then all the air came shooting right back out the valve.  I had somehow broken the valve on the tire of my bike!  

It was then that I guess I went brain dead, because if I had been thinking, I would have pulled out my spare tube, taken the wheel off, changed the tire, and prayed that someone would have thrown me an extra cartridge to blow up the tire, or maybe have a pump I could borrow.  It would only cost me maybe 10 mins. of time, but I never had any intention of winning - just finishing!

But, I stood there in the rain wondering what on earth to do now.  So, I thought, Well, I just have to go back.  I turned around and started the mile and a half back to the transition area.  Walking in cycle shoes is not comfortable.  As people passed me they asked: Are you OK? You got a flat?  Bummer!  So sorry! I was very embarrassed and frustrated thinking all that training down the drain.  

Add on top of that, I am wearing a "cute" jacket that I grabbed at the last minute leaving my house.  I didn't even bring a sports or running jacket in case of inclement weather.  No, I have the cute sweat jacket that is blinged out down the arms and on the zipper and hood.  Not very inconspicuous on a 6 footer.

When I got back to the transition area I fought off my tears of frustration, handed the bike off to Lane and he took it to the truck.  I then walked around to the back entrance of the transition area because I didn't want to trigger the timing chip and look like I had ridden that fast.  I didn't even ride my bike across the line for the end of the bike part. I put on my soaking wet brand new running shoes, and thought, "Hey, I paid for this race, I might as well at least get 2 of the 3."  So, I took off to run the 10K.

That's when I realized I was in trouble.  You see, suddenly I was WAY ahead of everyone.  Remember, the men all left first, and the women were about 1/2 hour after the first wave of men.  Imagine, all the front runners of the men are out there running, and there is this lady out there running too!!!  How in the he** did she get out here???  I know that's what they all were thinking.  I got some serious dirty looks, puzzled looks, and a bunch of fist pumps and Awesome!  You are kicking it!  Way to go!  comments.  

I now am trapped and don't know what to do.  I have taken off to run way too soon, and am freaking everyone out!  I regret leaving so fast.  I should have waited for my friends to finish the bike ride and then I could run with them.  Too late, I am out there on the road.  I consider just standing at the side for a while to let a bunch of people pass, but would feel totally dumb doing that too!  

So, luckily, I am about 2 miles out, and I come upon Beth's daughter who also got a flat.  She had made the bike loop one time, and was on her second round.  She didn't have a spare tube, pump or anything.  So I stopped with her for a while.  She called someone who was back at the finish line and asked them to come pick her up with the bike and then she would do the run.  I hung with her for a few minutes, then decided I just needed to go run and be done - who cares what anyone thinks?

So, I take off running again, and kick it into gear.  After all, if I am in first place of all the women, and up there with all these killer guys, I better look like I can run fast enough to be there! :)  More "way to go's! and good jobs!" follow.  Still lots of puzzled, disbelieving looks.  

We ran 3 miles out, and 3 miles back.  So, I had made the turn and was on my way back when I pass the first REAL girl going the other way.  I worry that she is going to think I am ahead of her, so I am trying to yell at her - you are in first place!  You are winning!  I'm sure she didn't hear or understand a word of it, so I decided I wouldn't try to explain the flat tire to anyone else I was running past.  I just decided to kick it home.

But then I realized I didn't want to be the first girl crossing the finish line.  That would be bad!  I needed some ladies to pass me!  So, I slowed up a touch, and 2 of the women passed me.  (As a side note - they write your age on the back of your calf - lovely - but I was happy to see the 2 who passed me were old like me! 38 and 39! :)

So once I got a couple ladies past me, I kicked it the rest of the way home and smiled and took in all the cheering as I crossed the finish line.  No one had to know I didn't even do the bike ride - it was OK.

Running to the finish

At least I thought it was OK.

About 20 minutes later they were doing the awards for the top winners in each age group.  Then, the man announces into the microphone, 

"And now for the moment you've been waiting for.  The overall winners of the women's Olympic tri.  In 3rd place, with a time of 2 hours and 19 minutes, from Mesa, AZ, KATHRYN COOK!!! "

What?  I panicked!  No!  He then says, "Kathryn Cook, is she here?"  I am trying to hide over behind some tent.  I make my way over to the girl at the computer who is manning the timing strip and told her there has been a horrible mistake.  In the meantime, Lane was nice enough to go up to the announcer and explain the little mix-up with the times, and they quickly found the REAL 3rd place winner.  Whew!  Seriously, how embarrassing!!!!!

Apparently I hadn't outsmarted the timing strips, and had crossed them somewhere, and it was still keeping my time.

Bummed out and cold

The only benefit of not being able to do the ride was I was done first, and got to watch everyone else cross. The funniest was watching Wolverine Beth attack Lisa 50 feet before the finish line.  Lisa was ahead of Beth most of the race - though by a tiny margin.  We saw them rounding the corner to come home, and Lane said, "Oh no, Lisa's in trouble - Beth is gonna eat her alive!"  Sure enough, Beth could smell the blood, and had to attack and win the sprint to the finish.  But, it was only by .6 seconds.  So really, it could be counted as a tie, right? 

They are so awesome!  They did it in 3 hours 4 mins.  I was planning to do it in 3 hours 15 mins, so I would have been a bit behind, but that's OK.  I just have to say I love my friends and how proud I am of them! 

Course that also just depressed me even more that I couldn't have such a triumphant finish and know that I had accomplished this major goal.  

So here's the thing.  Now I have to find another one to do!  You know I can't have that be it!  Good thing Lisa convinced me I will probably be doing one a year and I needed to buy the expensive wetsuit because I'll be using it! :)

(Beth, Kathryn, Lisa and Shelby - Beth's daughter who incidentally hardly trained at all, and beat the whole group!  Ahh to be young again!)

So, getting home, I decided I will drown my sorrows in training for the Shun the Sun 1/2 marathon in Mesa on Nov. 13.  That will have to make up for the bust of the triathlon.  That gives me 3 weeks to train.  5 days of which I will be in NYC though.  It is 13 miles.  I've never run more than 10 miles at one time in my life.  Hmm... should be interesting.  Funny thing is - one of my 5 goals for this year was to run a 1/2 marathon.  I was going to let the tri substitute for that, but looks like I will be accomplishing the original goal in the first place!  

So, it's all good. . .

I leave home for 10 minutes!!!

Did they really have to burst open the can of spray paint over in the empty lot in the 10 minutes I was running Kayla to piano?  Could they not have done it the 2 hours they were out there before I left?  Or maybe waited till I got home?  Nope, it had to be while I was gone.

All I can say is thank heaven for my awesome neighbor who took care of them and calmed them down, and Conner's long, long eyelashes that protected his eyes.

Lessons learned that day:

1)  You can never sneak away for a minute because that will be the minute your perfectly happy, playing with the neighbor kids will suddenly need you.

2)  Boys are very curious, and spray paint cans can turn into bombs that need to be exploded, and if you hit it enough, it will explode all over your face!

3)  Acetone (nail polish remover), oil-free eye makeup remover, soap, and water do not remove spray paint from your face.

4)  You can google how to get it off though, and you will find you are not the first person to have had this problem!

5)  Ponds cold cream, or any oil-based makeup remover will remove spray paint from your face with no stinging or pain really.  Just rub it on, let it sit a minute, and with a rag, you can scrub it off.  It is a little hard to get out of the ears though!

6) 4 days after the incident, you may be sitting in church and realize there are still tons of flecks of paint in your boy's hair.

So, here's Conner after my neighbor cleaned him up with everything she could think of.  I guess it was worse than this to begin with! 

P.S. - I had to pay Conner a dollar to let me take this picture.  He hates pictures.

Savannah says, "Mom - you need to do a blog about this..."

Kathryn Cook really cooks!

I was making dinner for my family (as usual) and Savannah came in and told me I should really wear an apron while I cooked.  So she went and got me my new apron from Africa (thanks mom and dad) and I put it on.

Then she looked at me and said, "Man I need to take a picture of this and you need to put this on your blog."  I said, "Why?  What are you talking about?"  She said, "Kathryn Cook really cooks!  Then you can show that you really do!"

So, for Savannah, here's my blog showing that I really cook, because really, I do.

(In case you are wondering, I am making carrot soup - their very favorite!)

Getting a little nervous . . a boring training update.

So I officially have 6 days until the Lake Powell Triathlon.  My first Olympic Tri.  Really, truly, what was I thinking?  Who knows?  Guess it is the mid-life crisis in full swing.  Wait a minute, am I really old enough to be going through a mid-life crisis?  Actually, if I'm honest - I am!!!  AAAAA!  How did that happen??  I swear in my mind, I'm still that youngish 28 year old who can do anything.  But, the older I get, the more sure I am that age is so much in your mind.  I really don't feel almost 40 (eek!) and I refuse to get old, so I guess if I keep in shape, doing more new things, enjoying my chocolate, and maybe buy stock in Botox, I'll be OK!! ;)

This last week was so crazy.  We thought we weren't going out of town, and everyone else and their dog was, so like a nice girl I was subbing classes for everyone at the gyms I teach.  Here's one of the problems of teaching at 3 gyms.  You kinda feel loyal to all of them, and want to help at all of them, so 3 times as many teachers are asking you to sub, instead of only 1 gym.  But, I am kinda weird and love it . . . much to Lane's dismay.  So, I had filled up my plate pretty full with classes, and of course it was my last week of hard core training for the tri, so I was gonna beat my body up pretty bad.

Then we ended up leaving Wednesday to Sedona, so at the last minute I was able to get some of my classes covered and take a nice 2 day break.  Monday I taught my normal 2 classes (and did my 5 mile run), Tuesday I ended up teaching 5 classes, then Wednesday I ended up teaching 4 - hard core classes - but I survived, and then we ran out the door up to Sedona.  Now maybe I could side with Lane on the fact that I had gone a little overboard those days.

I got home Friday night and my friend Lisa and I were going to get up at 5:45 to do a mini tri Saturday morning.  At 10:30 p.m. I went out to put my bike in the back of the truck only to realize both my and Lane's bikes were at the shop getting a tune up and cleaning.  AAA!  So, we had to change to just a swim and run Saturday morning.  Then on top of that, we drove all the way out to the lake and realized we didn't have our dang Tonto pass to get in and park.  We had to turn around and go back 12 miles to buy one and go back out.

This was my second time swimming in my new wetsuit. Man those suckers are expensive, but Lisa convinced me we are probably going to do 1 or 2 a year, so I bought my own.  Geez, now I HAVE to keep doing these things!  It helps you float and keeps you warm though - so worth the purchase.

I have officially accepted that I am probably the world's slowest swimmer, but next to drowning, swimming slow is a much better option.  Maybe someday I will magically get faster.  I really am disappointed that with all the swimming training I've done, I haven't improved my speed much.  My form and stroke is definitely better though.  Any training help is appreciated!  I think my friends are so good because they were raised here in AZ and did swim team as kids, etc.  Growing up in Bountiful, we had 2 swimming pools on the block, and they were pretty darn cold - you could only swim 3 months of the year.  So, I didn't get the proper training as a child.  I'll just blame it on that! :/

We swam a mile, got out, came home and jogged 4, then called it good.  Really, do I have to do a whole tri to train?  Frankly sometimes it is better going into something not knowing just how bad it is going to be!  Of course I am relying on my amazing adrenaline to propel me through all 3 events in record time, and I'm sure I'll win the whole thing! ha!!!

No, I will take 3rd out of the 3 of us doing it.  Lisa is a way better swimmer, and we are equal on the bike and run.  Beth is just a powerhouse in the legs and always kills us in the bike and run.  So, I will concede right here that I will not win - but I will finish in under 3 hours and 30 mins.  (That's aiming pretty low!)

Here's the funny and crappy thing.  You know how you work out like crazy to be skinny?  That's what I tell myself at least.  Well, here's the truth right here.  It's all genetics baby - well, that and what you eat.  Me and my 2 friends have trained together, in addition to on our own.  We are pretty equal in what we have put in.

One friend has lost about 10 pounds and looks amazing. (She didn't need to lose)
I have stayed the same weight the whole time and look the same :(
My other friend has gained about 7 pounds.

Really????  How on earth is that possible?  Genetics, I tell ya . . .

In the meantime I'm craving some chocolate - so I gotta go! :)

Our Sedona Adventure

What do you do when you have a whole week off of school, and your brother-in-law offers you a condo in Sedona for about $35/night?  You pack up the kids and you go!!

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We only spent 2 nights and maybe 1 1/2 days - that's all the kids - or parents - could handle.  But I think it is a trip they won't forget!  Making more memories! :)

Camping - attempt #2

So you may not believe me - I don't believe it myself.  Somehow after last weekend's failed camping attempt on the roof, Lane convinced me to go camping with the kids for real this last weekend.  I was so not wanting to go, but his brother Darren and his family invited us to go with them, and we thought that would be fun.

So we loaded up the car with all our stuff and drove up to the Mogollon Rim and spent Friday night.  I can handle 1 night of camping, right?

Let me just say though, you may want to carefully check to be sure you have
- enough pillows for everyone (I went without - ugh!)
- jackets for everyone (I forgot mine - but got one for all the kids, so that is a bonus!)
-napkins/paper towels
- a skillet or any sort of pan for your stove that you want to cook pancakes on
- soap
-towels/rags
-broom to sweep out the tent
-graham crackers for your s'mores

you get the idea - we forgot a lot of stuff.

And, despite freezing all night and having no "facilities", we actually had a good time!  The kids totally loved it and said it was the best time EVER!

That's what you do it for - to make memories.  I sure love my family! :)

Even the best laid plans . . .

Meet Lane, a father of 4 lovely children who have been hounding him about wanting to go camping.  Having never been a camping lover, he set out the greatest plan to camp in his own way.  He discussed it with his amazing, beautiful wife ;) (who may or may not be writing this post) and she was 100% behind the idea, because it meant she didn't have to really go up and camp!

He decided the greatest compromise between not camping and camping, would be to get their sleeping bags out and sleep up on their beautiful balcony that overlooks all of Phoenix.  They would have the luxuries of home (aka bathrooms) yet the kids would get to sleep in sleeping bags and under the stars.

He talked to the kids about how fun it will be.  They began the countdown.  "Only 3 more days until we camp on the roof!" "Mom this is the best week ever because we get to do a, b, c, and end it by camping on the roof!"  

These kids were stoked. 

Now, knowing that no camping trip is complete without the fire, he purchased a portable fire pit and some fake logs to take up on the balcony and make s'mores.  Because everyone knows that you can't camp out without making s'mores!

Sadly, about 1/2 hour before heading to the roof, he started getting reports of rain coming from the south.  But undaunted, he insisted the family go up to the roof with pillows, sleeping bags and the fire pit.  He really didn't want to let his children down - who were still wanting to sleep outside (we can just put up the tent! they said)  

The family ascended the stairs and sat around the real/fake fire and started to tell ghost stories.  After 2 stories were told, the rain began to fall, and more than just a sprinkling.  So, Lane and his lovely, supportive wife ;) quickly grabbed as much as they could and herded the clan down to the covered patio.  Oh no, they were not going to call it quits yet!

The children were sword fighting and jousting with their big metal pokey sticks, anxiously awaiting the s'more making.  Their mother was just waiting for someone to poke an eye out.  

Plan B: Lane decided to light the fireplace out on the covered patio.  That would have been perfect, except for the fact that the natural gas fireplace would not light!  He could not get it to start. 

Still undaunted, the children suggested the family room fireplace.  

 Plan C:  roast marshmallows and make s'mores in the family room, then sleep on the covered patio. Perfect!!

After about 10 attempts, Lane finally got the gas fireplace in the family room lit and ready.

Things were going along rather swimmingly - (even though the marshmallows Lane bought were made for the Jolly Green Giant's family).  The marshmallows started to get a little soft, and the chocolate bars and graham crackers were opened and ready to go.

However, fate had other plans.  The smoke detector/fire alarm started going off.  Oops!  You mean it's not OK to roast marshmallows in your house?  In a panic, they turned on the ceiling fans, and opened some windows.  Prayers that the in-ceiling sprinkling system not go off were being sent to heaven.  All supplies were taken back on to the patio, and Lane and his wife were ready to say sorry kids - no s'mores.  

Plan D:  Not wanting to give up so easily, Lane went up on the balcony and found the still blazing fire pit with the fake logs.  The rain had slowed to a sprinkle, and the fire was still going.  He somehow discovered that the legs of the new portable fire pit were not hot at all, and with his lovely wife's help, they could carry it down (still burning) off the balcony and set it up on the back patio.  His lovely wife thought he was completely crazy, but didn't want to crush the hopes and dreams of her children and husband.  Amazingly they were able to bring the fire pit down without starting any hair on fire, burning any appendages, or spilling it while going down the stairs.  It must have been meant to be . . .

Now, the kids could make their ginormous s'mores and eat 2 bites, decide they don't want it, and feed it to their mom or the dog.

Although technically CPS could have taken this child from her parents for the way she was swinging around her pointed roasting stick - she had a blast roasting the marshmallows and the kids had fun.

As all good things must come to an end, the kids finally snuggled excitedly into their sleeping bags on the covered patio, ready for a great nights sleep.

They came in the house 5 minutes later, said they were scared, and went downstairs to bed.

So, thus ends the story of the Cook family 2010 camping trip.

(You may notice that the oldest of the children is missing.  She was kinda smart and opted to shop at the mall with her friends instead! She missed out on quite an adventure! :) )