Welcome New TriGirl Bloggers!

Hmmm, did you know there was a TriGirl forum? Apparently I forgot somewhere along the way, and Jennifer reminded me of it last weekend as we were obsessively tracking our TG IronMan Brazil buddies. In between bike rides and shots. (Just kidding... about the bike rides plural...)

Anyway, as I was catching up, I discovered a bunch of new TriGirl bloggers. I'm adding them to my list and wanted to direct my two readers to them as well:

Debbie Jo, one of the funniest women I've ever met

Kate, whom I actually don't know which is not surprising considering I never work out anymore

Not2Old2Tri who doesn't want her name out but is awesome and definitely not too old

Shawn whose blog cracks me up

Fast Girl on a Bike whom I also don't know but read her blog before she was a TG

I think that might be it, but if I missed someone please let me know!!!! Welcome to the blogsphere!

Fun Ride

I haven't done a bit of exercise since my last post about riding the C'ville Oly route with Jennifer. Yep, that's my trend - one good week followed by at least ten bad.

But tonight! Annnn invited me out for a bike ride. I was feeling fat and lazy, my kids and husband were otherwise occupied with a baseball game, so I was motivated and free to go. YES! Lo and behold there were other TriGirls in the parking lot. I ended up riding with Annnn, Patty, Jill, Debbie (a little), and Charlotte. Here's an early picture before everyone arrived. I had already put the camera away and was ready to ride by the time we had the full crew. (And they wouldn't let me take an after picture. I don't get that.)

We rode a cool route that Annn knew which included some beautiful back roads in Goochland with no main roads and very little traffic. Annnn, Patty and Jill veered off for a hill challenge while Charlotte and I opted for the easier, flatter route, then we met back up for a speedy finish.

Annnn even managed to grab my ass while we were riding ~ 16 mph. I'm pretty sure Patty had something to do with it. That's a patented Patty move!

Annn knows me well and rewarded my effort with baklava. It is well documented what a cool chica she is, but I have to add my praises. Annnn rocks.

It was so fun! I can't wait to do it again!

If you live in Henrico County, please read!

I got this today from RABA:

To all bicyclists and/or racers who live in Henrico County, VA:

The Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA) has been working with local government and the Virginia General Assembly for the past severalyears to promote bicycling in urban transportation plans. Now one of the state's most anti-bicycling counties, Henrico County, (anti-bicycling in that it has completely left out bicycling in any of its county planning and is ambivalent or at times hostile at attempts to include bicycling in its plans) is about to adopt its comprehensive plan for 2026. Henrico County has NOT heard from ANY bicyclist on theproposed plan! Therefore, the county has not accorded any planning for alternative modes of travel on the roads!

If you are a Henrico County resident and a bicyclist, RABA is strongly urging you to voice your support to include bicycling (e.g., making roads wider or include a bike lane, put up "share the road" signs) in the proposed 2026 Comprehensive Plan.

You can practice civic engagement with Henrico County in one of three ways:
1. Attend the LAST public meeting on the 2026 plan, Thursday, May 29, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Western Government Center, 4301 East Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23228;

2. Complete an online survey, developed by the county, click on:http://www.co.henrico.va.us/planning/2026plan.htm Then click the blue hyperlink "Citizen Survey" in the top box area titled "Citizen Survey". There is a comments box at the end of the survey in which you can state that bicycling be included in any transportation plan or roadway enhancement.Also, this site has the draft documents for the 2026 plan, divided into chapters and also available for public comment.

3. Or, send an email to the Henrico County manager, Virgil Hazelett and/or all of the board of supervisors. Again, as an example for your email, you may address the lack of bike lanes in the countycomprehensive plan -or- now with high gas prices, citizens should be afforded a safe alternative to driving a car on the roads and that means providing safe access for bicycles. All comments are beingcompiled into a database that will be presented to the planners and board of supervisors.

Here are the email addresses for the Henrico County manager and each member of the board of supervisors:
manager@co.henrico.va.us, brookland@co.henrico.va.us, fairfield@co.henrico.va.us, threechopt@co.henrico.va.us, tuckahoe@co.henrico.va.us and varina@co.henrico.va.us

Bicyclists can make a difference if they get involved and make their concerns known. As racers and athletes, you depend on safe access to the road to train and the right to ride on the road. I urge you to domore than take for granted your right to ride; fight to preserve your right and create a better environment for future cyclists.

C'ville Pre-Ride

Jennifer and I and our families spent the weekend together. To assuage our guilt about all the food and beverages we were consuming (okay, okay... that was just me. Jennifer knows how to behave) we drove to C'ville and rode the Olympic route. She is (was?) thinking about doing this event.

The route was gorgeous rolling farm land with horse pastures and woods. Key word: rolling. Not surprisingly in the foothills of the mountains, the route was hilly. Even when I thought I was on a flat, I found myself either struggling or coasting. There were a few steep hills but they weren't too long. It was a great route. And one I'd probably really enjoy if I were in half way decent shape.

Sadly, I'm not. I had no intention of doing this race before our pre-ride and certainly not after. Maybe next year.

After we finished, I felt more than justified in consuming cheese crustades (appetizer), black bird martini (my favorite), beef stroganoff and several glasses of red wine. Yum.

What's That? Eight in a Row?!?!?!

Yes yes I know, I haven't posted a Workout Week in Review (WWIR) in awhile. There's a good reason for that and it is that I suck.

But but but - what's this sportsfans???? Some activity?

YES!!!

So let me fill you in on my recent antics...

Last Thursday - whoa! We are going waaaay back!!!! - I ran 5 miles, 9:45 min/mi average pace. In an effort to be a double-tasking super Mommy, I ran to the baseball field to catch the end of my son's game.

Friday: Weight class. It was not a great class but still, I was there baby!

Saturday: Okay, are you sitting down? Good. I went on a BIKE RIDE!!!! Yes! Patty let me tag along with her for the first 15 miles of her two hour ride. It felt great (metaphorically. In the real world, it hurt my girl parts a little bit since I hadn't ridden for so long. Not that you needed to know that.)

Sunday: Another weekend shocker - I ran. Running on the weekend at all is good but this was six miles - long for me of late - 9:56 min/mi average. My speed is not there but I don't care.

Monday: Five days in a row! I missed my favorite weights class due to being unexpectedly pulled into a stupid meeting. But did I give up? No I did not! I persevered and went to the gym after work to do the elliptical and some free weights. I tend to kill my legs doing free weights on my own and this was no exception. My hammies were aching for several days afterwards.

Tuesday: What?!?!? We're up to six days here in case anyone else is keeping track... I ran five miles. This was another pull-it-out-of-my-ass exercise day. I planned to do my usual run from the bus stop in the morning but chickened out due to the cold steady downpour. That night, Scouter surprised me by suggesting that I get my run in. (Can you tell he's worming his way out of the dog house?) I had a speedy-for-me run at 9:20 min/mi average. I'm coming back!

Wednesday: Seven! Lucky seven! I met my girls Jennifer and Patty for a stellar 18 mile bike ride. We found a cool new route that I'm dying to try again, then we had a long leisurely lunch with more girlfriends. God can these chicas come up with some conversation topics. And nicknames. I heart them.

Thursday: Big EIGHT in a row!!!! I ran five with the Bean which was awesome - our schedules haven't meshed well lately. I think we were at or near 11:00 min/mi. Yes we were slow but I rationalize that all the extra oxygen burning from yapping incessantly more than makes up for the lack of speed.

Today, I'm right back to suckage with a school weekend. I've earned a break though, right?

By Request...

My kids did the PowerSprint Triathlon last year and begged to do it again this year. Well, begged might be strong. It's not like I resisted! I love that they want to participate.

Was the swim for the little guys 25 meters last year or is my memory faulty? This year's event website says 50 meters.

It should be entertaining! Bring your kid(s) and join the fun!

(Cyndi, you know you want to!)

Man, It's Been Awhile...

Since I blogged....
But not as long as Richard and Kermit!

Since I biked....
Although my ass finally sat on my bike seat on Saturday! Patty suggested that I join her for all or part of her two hour training ride and I could actually make it work at the last minute. We rode 15 miles, 17.2 average pace, and I was dying by the end. Pathetic! Patty was very kind to put up with me. Even when she dropped me like a bad habit on the hills, she slowed down and waited for me to catch up. Panting. When she dropped me off, I got to see a bunch of TriGirls getting ready to start their own rides. Bonus!

Since I ran on the weekend....
Yet I managed to fit in a six mile run today. I was so mad that I had to get out of the house before I hurt someone and it seemed like a good way to channel my energy. I was slow, I had my music cranking, and all was well - okay, better - with the world when I finished.

I really need to break out of my rut and do these things some more... I miss them, especially biking.

Sharing

Dear Woman in the Blue Minivan,

The road we share is very nice. It is smoothly paved, it is divided from oncoming traffic by a nice wide grassy median, and it has a lovely wide paved shoulder.

There is no reason I can ascertain for you to swerve over the white line separating us, causing me to interrupt my run and dive into the ditch. Please be more careful next time.

By the way, the sticker from our children's school looked lovely on the back of your van as you skidded away. We probably know each other.

I hope you have a great day!

xoxo
Tri-Di

I Suck

I know, I know... it's been a week since I posted. Seriously it's insane over here. Last night alone, I shopped for and wrapped 10 teacher appreciation week gifts, baked a delicious chocolately dessert for a work luncheon, finished organizing a teacher appreciation luncheon, sent invitations to Bunco, and I don't know what the hell else but it was not fun and I didn't go to bed until midnight.

So while I'm whining and being lame, check out all the TriGirl blogs listed to the right and read about some real athletes and their phenominal exploits at White Lake!

Congratulations, girls. You all rock.