What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Bitter

Yes people I'm doing yard work....

2009-11-21T10:50:00.001-05:00

The epic train journey back to PDX begins....

2009-09-26T00:35:00.001-04:00

The aftermath

2009-09-25T12:37:00.000-04:00

Clean plate club!

San Francisco knows how to throw down with the vegan food

2009-09-25T12:36:00.000-04:00

Southwestern Tofu Scramble with gf cornbread.

Sunburnt!

2009-09-24T22:07:00.000-04:00

Done!!!

2009-09-24T20:14:00.001-04:00

San Francisco cocktails!

Do you see it???

2009-09-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

We don't either.

Golden Gate Bridge baby!!!!

Day 29 & 30

2009-09-24T00:03:00.000-04:00

We're almost done!!
Yesterday we rode 42 miles and today 67. I think today was our longest
day yet. The 1 is relentless. I love it but it's so hard. Constant up
and down kickers where you have to stand up to get up and over. I had
to have ice cream in a tiny town called Tomales. We pushed hard today
so we can hve a short day tomorrow. 25 miles to San Francisco with
alot of city navigation. The ride across the Golden Gate Bride should
be EPIC! It has a designated bike lane. I'm pretty excited for it.
Then dinner at Millenium to celebrate tomorrow night. Friday night,
Nik and I take the train back to Portland. We really miss Henry and
the girls.

This is a picture of the coast today. The weather was so strange. A
thick fog over the ocean to the right and right blue skies and
sunshine on the left. Sonoma County is beautiful. I've never seen cow
pastures so close to the ocean.

Kampung Kabin at the KOA!!!

2009-09-22T11:48:00.000-04:00

A bed!

2009-09-21T23:56:00.000-04:00

Nik and I zip our sleeping bags together to make one big one. It's
going to be some good sleeping tonight. No raccoons to fight with.

Day 28

2009-09-21T23:53:00.000-04:00

Today we rode 42 miles to Manchester Beach. We decided to stay at the
KOA campground tonight instead of the hiker biker site at the state
park. And it was damn worth it. Hot tub! Beds! Full outdoor kitchen!
Camping cabins!!! Amazing. It was a great end to a hard but good day.

Highway 1 has been great. I admit...I was hating on California. Some
people have a strange love for all things California and it holds some
allure for them. Not for me. I don't mind CA. But it's never been a
Mecca of golden sunshine and I think LA is where souls go to die. And
once I rode for 3 days on the dusty, hot ass 101 with no shoulder and
people in pickups giving me the finger and telling me stories of dead
cyclists at every rest stop, I had had enough. BUT then I turned onto
the 1 and it got awesome. It's technical and hilly but the views are
spectacular and the ocean really does glitter here. Today we climbed
the steepest hill on the coastal route. But it was short and we all
made it alive.
And I love my boyfriend for suggesting the KOA. It's soooo good.

Erin, how did you go on bike tour for 5 weeks and not lose one pound???

2009-09-21T23:36:00.000-04:00

This is how:

The raccoon war rages on....

2009-09-21T10:23:00.001-04:00

Day 27

2009-09-21T10:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we rode 39 miles to Mackerricher Beach State Park. We
climbed the infamous Leggett Hill which ended up being a nice
switchback climb. It took a while but it wasnt a killer but then we
climbed the hill out of Westport, which was a killer. Nik and i
agreed that it was the climb of the trip. It was steep as hell the
entire time and I was really glad ive finally gotten comfortable
enough to stand up and grind up the hills.

This is a picture of highway 1. It rules. It's not easy by any stretch
of the imagination, tons of kickers and not alot of shoulder but it's
so damn cool, it doesn't matter. You can see the road winding along
the coastline in the picture. The campground is right on the water
and I could hear waves all night. I think it was one of the best
nights of sleep all trip.
We have 3 and a half days of riding to get to San Francisco. I can't
believe it's almost over!

They really loved this beer

2009-09-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

Summit!!!!!

2009-09-20T15:16:00.000-04:00

Trish made it! We didn't have to bury her on the side of the road!

Ocean!!!!!!

2009-09-20T15:15:00.000-04:00

After a bunch of days on the crappy 101, we're on the 1 next to the
ocean!
Yay!

What Nik does when he waits at summits

2009-09-20T13:34:00.000-04:00

Day 26

2009-09-19T22:27:00.000-04:00

I think it's day 26. Yesterday we rode 58 miles, the last 14 miles
were on the Avenue of the Giants which was awesome. Today we rode 48
miles in some serious heat along the 101. The 101 has really started
to suck. The cars aren't nice, it's hilly and the shoulder comes and
goes.

Tomorrow we climb the infamous Leggett Hill that Trish has been
losing sleep over since the trip started. We climb up to 2000 feet but
we start at 1100 feet so it won't be that bad. Nick keeps threatening
to leave her on the side of the road. She'll be fine! It's nothing
worse than anything we've climbed so far.

We stopped in Garberville today and stocked up at an awesome natural
foods store and had shaved ices from a really cool stand.

Less than 200 miles to San Francisco!! We are going to make a
reservation at Millenium, a nice vegan restaurant to celebrate the end
of the tour!
Kingsley Harden... I'm in California, let's meet up.

Sent from my iPhone

Avenue of the Giants lunch!

2009-09-18T18:44:00.000-04:00

We rode 44 miles from Arcata to the Avenue of the Giants. We'll be off
te 101 (yay!!!!!!!) for the next 32 miles. We have about 13 more miles
to ride today to get to the Marine Garden Club grove campground.
The day off in Arcata was good for my legs and mind. Although, Arcata
is GROSS. I could definitely never go back there.
And yeah, I ate a sweet tea vodka fueled 2nd dinner the other night.
So what?! Nik did too.

Nik likes to talk trash....

2009-09-17T03:13:00.000-04:00

This is him going to town on his 2nd dinner. Dominated that sandwich.
He wrestled that tofu to the ground.

The aftermath

2009-09-17T03:06:00.000-04:00

It's only farts from here on tonight

Marijuana = Food

2009-09-17T02:48:00.000-04:00

No, we did not indulge in the whacky weed but Erin is farting it up
bad. This is Nik writing and it's 11 :35. And we've been to 4 bars
and now Ern!'s ordered 2nd dinner. Bike touring makes you hungry long
into the nites. And the californianians are a weird and distant breed
but the vegan food iN this establushment is fantastic and Erin is
having a Reuben over french fries not bread. She is in love.
Eating. Just. Now. It's like a fifth grader with a homemade lunch. I
love her so. Sleep well east coast tonight has been a night of
indulgence and love. Many blessings, Nikolas

Scenic Dr. In Trinidad, CA

2009-09-16T16:55:00.000-04:00

Day 22

2009-09-15T22:38:00.000-04:00

Today we rode 65 miles from Brookings, OR across the California border
to Elk Prairie Campground in the Redwood National Forest. We had the
longest, steepest climb of the day today over the hills in Cresent
City. This picture is of the vista about halfway down the desecent. It
was an awesome climb, it took over an hour. We had a good Mexican
lunch for fuel before the climb.
I'm hoping to see some elk at this campsite. The redwoods are really
amazing. They are so huge, it almost looks like we are riding through
a CGI forest.

Tomorrow we are headed to Arcata to take the afternoon off, get some
good food and maybe stay in a hotel!! Arcata is a hippie town so it
will be a good place to relax after a tough couple days.

Viewpoint!

2009-09-15T17:52:00.000-04:00

Redwood Highway viewpoint.

I'm a woman who likes a view.

Getting close!!!

2009-09-15T16:24:00.000-04:00

California!

2009-09-15T12:49:00.000-04:00

2009-09-14T23:49:00.000-04:00

I love a viewpoint.

2009-09-14T23:48:00.000-04:00

More Harris State Park awesomeness.

2009-09-14T23:47:00.000-04:00

Nik, Nick and Trish at the beach today.

2009-09-14T23:45:00.000-04:00

Me at the beach at Harris State Park.

Day 20 and 21

2009-09-14T23:43:00.000-04:00

Holy headwind!
Yesterday we rode 39 miles from Bandon to Humbug State Park with a
serious headwind the entire day. This was the last state park for a
while before the California border. We're trying to get back on track
with the Bicycling the Pacific Coast book so that we can make it to
San Francisco in time for Nick and Trish to make their plane on the
26th.
Today we rode 52 miles to Harris Beach State Park. The views of the
Oregon Coast were spectacular but the headwinds were rough. I think
today was one of the harder days. It rained all day and there was a
lot of climbing into the wind. But the campground made it all worth
it. We did laundry!!!! And then an ice cream truck drove around the
loop!! Zing!
We are 7 miles from the California border so tomorrow we should make
it the first campgroud in Redwood State Park and all the REAL climbing
of the trip will begin! I'll take hours of climbing anyday over
headwinds.

Oh and here's a story for my mom: I hate hate hate spiders. But I
really have been good this trip about not freaking about them. Until
this morning. I was doing my chores (rolling up the bedding) and
listening to my iPod. I don't get too much alone time on bike tour so
I like my 15 minutes of music in the morning. So I moved Nik's mat and
there was a huge furry spider about to attack me. I screamed bloody
murder and must have also yelled "spider!!!!!!" and killed the spider
in self defense. Nik came down a few minutes later, although not to
check and see if I was alive but to tell me how loud I was screaming
and shake his head disapprovingly.
I don't like spiders.

Day 19

2009-09-13T00:52:00.000-04:00

I didn't take any pictures today so here is a picture of Nik looking
hottttttt.

Today we rode about 40 miles from Tugman State Park to Bullards Beach
State Park. We took a scenic byway called Seven Devils Road. There
must have been a race on the road because all 7 hills on the road were
marked, Devil #1, etc. It was a hard road! I like to use the granny
gear once every couple days, it keeps me humble. It was good climbing.

When we got to Bullard Beach, the Ranger told us that Bandon (where
the cranberry festival was going on) was a 2 mile walk. After an hour
of walking on the 101, we realized that it wasn't 2 miles and by the
time we got there the Cranberry Festival was over. So we had Mexican
food and went to a bar! And called a cab back to the campground. It
was a huge minivan driven by a lady named Charlene and it was $6!
Amazing.

We're about 100 miles from the California border, I think we'll get
halfway there tomorrow.

Day 18

2009-09-11T20:22:00.000-04:00

Today we took another rest day of sorts. Last night, the hiker biker
campground at the Honeyman State park was filled with cyclists. We
stayed up partying late with everyone and got a noon start after
making some pancakes. After the late start mixed with the hangover and
a bad Mexican lunch, we decided to stop, call it a day and start over
tomorrow. I need a nap and to try and digest the mammoth gross
buritto i had for lunch We're at Tugman State Park in Lakeside. Ths
is a picture of Nik and Nick taking another swim in Eel Creek.

Hopefully, the Cranberry Festival in Bandon will be worth all the hype!

Carnivorous Plants

2009-09-10T22:29:00.001-04:00

Day 17

2009-09-10T22:29:00.000-04:00

Today we took a mini rest day, 37 miles from Beachside State Park to
Jessie Honeyman State Park. We decided to stop and take advantage of
the awesome lake and Oregon sand dunes. Nik and Nick hiked to the top
of the dunes and sprinted down into the lake (nick did a face plant
into the sand halfway down) but the water was perfect.

I have to say, the riding for the past few days has made me proud to
live in Oregon. It has been absolutely insanely beautiful. I love the
coast. This is a picture of the sweet descent into the mist off the
road. Today, we saw sea lions at Strawberry Hill and carnivorous
plants at the
Darlingtonia Botanical Gardens.

We're thinking of trying to get to Bandon in the next few days for the
Cranberry Festival.

Cape Perpetua

2009-09-10T12:29:00.000-04:00

Sick climbing action in the am!

2009-09-09T23:30:00.000-04:00

Nik is fueled by veggie jerky.

Day 16

2009-09-09T22:43:00.000-04:00

Today we rode 48 miles from Devils Lake to Beachside State Park. We
decided to take a "short cut" off the 101 and ended up climbing 8 or 9
hills with a 16-20% grade. It was shocking and maybe not the best way
to start the day.
But then the ride got awesome. It was still hilly but the best views
so far. This is a picture from the climb up the scenic route to Cape
Foulweather. We saw a grey whale right off the coast and sea lions.
It was the best road of the trip.
We stopped for lunch in Newport and said bye to Pam and Al. They are
taking the bus back to Portland tomorrow to fly home. It was sad to
say goodbye, we had so much fun with them and the time went by so fast.
The rode about 20 more miles to the campground which is right on the
beach.
I think we'll ride tomorrow and take a rest day somewhere good on
Friday.

Get outta here coon!

2009-09-09T16:51:00.000-04:00

Last night we fought a war with the raccoons at Devils Lake
Campgtound. We managed to save most of our food. They got our rice,
soy milk and vitamins.
Lesson learned. Maybe.

Day 12, 13, 14, 15

2009-09-09T00:37:00.001-04:00

My phone's been dead for a few days so here's the update.
Saturday (12), we took a rest day in Portland and picked up Nik &
Trish at the airport and it poured down rain all day. We still had a
good vegan dinner at the Blossoming Lotus.
Sunday (13), when we woke up it was still pouring down rain. We went
to vegan brunch at Sweet Pea Bakery and decided to make the call later
in the afternoon. We left around 1 and rode 30 miles down the Highway
6 to Gales Creek, OR and stayed at this awesome campground. It poured
down rain all night and the chipmunks ate a pice of trish's scone but
it was still a sweet place to camp!
Monday (14), we rode 35 miles to Tillamook to meet Pam and Al and then
rode another 13 miles to camp at Cape Lookout which was the best
campground so far. My phone was dead so google it so you can see the
pictures. The beach was amazing. The tree line goes right down to the
ocean and there were starfish on the side of the cliffs. Nick, Nik, Al
and I did a sprint down the beach head on into the 50 degree water. It
was so cool. There were at least 10 other people bike touring camping
there.
Today (15), we rode 46 miles. Trish had her first couple real hills
today! We climbed some nasty hills. The next 3 days should be nice and
flat.

I should also note that I lost my partner in cheese and sugar crimes!
Eric decided to go home a few days early to spend time with his kids
before he had to go back to work. Now I'm left with the vegans and my
sugar intake has gone way down. He will be missed!

Back in PDX!! Day 11

2009-09-05T01:51:00.000-04:00

Today we rode 60 miles from Clatskanie, OR to Portland. After a 3
mile, 850 foot climb out of town, it was pretty much downhill-ish from
there. We kept a solid pace, pretty much running down the 30 at an 18
mph pace (on an 80 pound touring bike, thats a feat) the whole way and
got into town around 2. As usual, everyone wanted to hop on the Erin
Train and have me pull them in. Today was the first day that I really
felt like I worked HARD all day long.
So tonight, we did laundry, took serious showers (good blow dried hair
can change my world) and went out for good sushi and Eric and I drank
our signature sugary cocktails.
The cat girls are so excited to have us here. No cat pee on the bed!
Voxie hissed for a solid 5 minutes and then came out of the closet for
a cuddle. They like to pretend that they are only children when HH is
on vacation. Little do they know, I'm planning on having a baby
Siamese after this trip! Breaking news! Baby kitten time in the Harden-
Obriecht household!

Tomorrow Nick and Trish get to Portland to join the tour! We'll spend
a day eating in town and head halfway to Tillamook on Sunday and meet
back up with Pam and Al on Monday afternoon on the Oregon coast. I'm
excited for a full day off the bike. I'm going to read US Weekly, get
my nails done and cook in own kitchen.

2009-09-04T10:24:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we camp in nice satae parks with clean showers and peace and
quiet.
And then other times we camp in city parks next to the pinic table
pavillion...

Bad day?

2009-09-04T00:03:00.000-04:00

2 pitchers of margaritas will make it better.
55 miles to Portland tomorrow!! Hopefully the cats didn't pee on our
bed in fit of rage.

Day 10

2009-09-03T15:59:00.000-04:00

We just crossed the bridge from Washington to Oregon. Everyone said it
was a scary bridge crossing but I don't think I could have prepared
myself. It was close to 3 miles long, crazy head winds, no shoulder
and the last half mile was a 6% grade into the headwind. It took 25
minutes to cross. The cars were trying to be respectful but there just
wasn't enough room. I've never been that scared on a bike in my life.
I told myself that if I could just make it across the bridge alive, I
could get off the bike and sit down on the ground and cry because if I
cried on the bridge I would blind myself with tears and then really die.
We made it and halfway across the sun came out, the rain dried up and
we found an awesome vegetarian restaurant, The Blue Scorcher. Back to
Oregon, the land of gluten free vegan goodness.
We'll ride another 40 miles today and get halfway to Portland, camp by
the base of Mt. Rainer tonight, ride another 50 tomorrow to get home
for some much needed laundry time and give Eric a proper tour of PDX.

Sent from my iPhone

Goodbye Washington!

2009-09-03T13:38:00.000-04:00

Hello Oregon!
Astoria bridge crossing.

Day 9

2009-09-03T00:42:00.000-04:00

Today we rode 52 miles from Raymond, WA to Ilwaco, WA to camp at Cape
Disappointment State Park. We wanted to come here because of the cool
name and it did not disappoint. The route was great today and we
finished earlier than usual.
Once we got into town, we had a choice of 2 ways to get into the state
park. Per the advice of the grocery store clerk, we could go the
"flat way, with one hill" or the hilly way. Eric was convinced that
the hilly way was shorter. After we rode up at least 7 or 8 steep
kickers (all in the granny) we realized that if someone who drives a
car thinks a road is hilly, IT IS.
We haven't been able to find camp gas for days so we had dinner out at
an awesome restaurant right on the harbor in Ilwaco. Eric and I, and
even Pammi Sue had delicious cocktails. One blackberry and one
watermelon, so good.

Tomorrow we'll begin to head back to Portland to rest for a couple
days and meet up with Nick and Trish. Henry Harden is still on
vacation and loving every minute. I hear he is learning how to not
chase cats. We'll see how much he retains. I can't wait to see my cat
girls! I think we go about 60-65 miles tomorrow, camp one more night
and get to PDX Friday morning.

P.S. If you are wondering why I gained weight while riding 7 hours a
day, it's because I've been eating a pint of ice cream a day. And it's
been damn good.

This is a picture of an island in the Willapa Bay.

Day 6 & 7

2009-09-01T23:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the longest ride of the trip so far, 63 miles. But it
was really a nice day, we took a 20 mile detour out to the coast on
Moclips Hwy. It was almost traffic free, rolling and the sun was
shining. Everyone was rolling along nicely. We camped in Pacific Beach
at a little campground right on the beach. Our plan was to head down
to Ocean Shores in the morning and take the ferry to keep riding along
the coast. But then we found out that the ferry has been closed for 2
years because a storm turned the harbor into a sandbar.
So today we had to ride back 20 miles on a nice road to get back to
the 101. It was still a nice road but the sun wasn't out and there was
alot of traffic. We're riding in timber country so there are tons of
logging trucks who like to play chicken with hippie bike tourers. It
can really suck. You just hold on tight and keep on the shoulder.
The route today was HILLY. 2200 feet of climbing in 53 miles. This is
a picture of Nik and Eric working on their 3rd or 4th pb and j
sandwich 2 miles from town! When you are too hungry to ride it in, you
know its been a rough day. The past few days Nik and Eric have
decided that I should pull both of them in for the last 10 miles OR if
there's some sick headwind, I always seem to end up pulling. Thanks men.

A few things I've come to realize on bike tour:
1. It's perfectally acceptable to eat 2 ice creams per day.
2. Gore bike shorts are a gift from god but give men a serious mangina.
3. Farting is never not funny.

Lunch!

2009-09-01T15:17:00.000-04:00

Peanut butter milkshake + French fries = a knockout collabo

Day 5

2009-08-31T00:33:00.000-04:00

Today we had a rest day. We rode 26 miles to Kalaloch Beach to spend
the night at the Lodge here. In my mind, Kalaloch was a beach town,
like Bethany Beach with salt water taffy, fudge and a cheap Mexican
restaurant. And the Kalaloch Lodge had a sauna, a bar and maybe a spa.
No.
Kalaloch Beach IS the Kalaloch Lodge. Well this is a picture of the
beach. But there is no town. We have been making some great meals out
of convienence stores. We have a sweet cabin with a fireplace, beds
and kitchen! I'm so excited just for a pillow.

The beach is so awesome. We walked down and sat in front of someone's
fire.
Tomorrow, we ride aroud 60 miles. We're planning to cut across the
Quinnault Indian Reservation and get back to the coast.

Sent from my iPhone

We've reached the beach!!

2009-08-30T13:59:00.000-04:00

Blackberry stop!

2009-08-30T12:56:00.000-04:00

Day 4

2009-08-30T11:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we rode 52 miles from Fairholm to the Hoh Rain Forest. The
campsite was...strange. It was luke camping in a parking lot. Them
there was a huge hillbilly party from 12-3 am. The memorable quote of
the night was, "hey your dog just bit me!!!" at around 2 am.
Today will be a short day. We have a 5 mile climb out of the rain
forest and then another 21 to Kalaloch Beach where Al sprung for a
cabin in the lodge. I'm hoping for a sauna and a hot tub and possibly
some Mexican food.

Sent from my iPhone

Eat right or else

2009-08-29T20:35:00.000-04:00

Day 3
We rode about 56 miles today. We made a stupid call and decided to eat
a little and ride to Port Angeles for "breakfast." It was 17 miles
away per the map. 17 miles on a road bike to get breakfast is
perfectly fine. 17 miles on an 80 pound touring bike (which turned
into 26 miles to take the sweet bike path) takes 3 HOURS. Breakfast
became lunch at a Thai place that served mini sizes. I think it
killed a little piece of my soul. I can't recover the calories that I
need if I skip breakfast. Everyone was hurting. We did a lot of
climbing on trafficy roads. But the end was worth the means for a
bunch of reasons.
1. A picture of me next to a road sign for Forks! We'll get there
tomorrow
2. Port Angeles where Bella and Edward had their first date after he
saves her from the rapists.
3. Crescent Lake where we are camping. The water in the lake is so
blue, it looks fake. I'll post a picture later. There are no showers
at the campground so Al, Nik and I jumped into the 60 degree lake.
Shower + I washed my bike shorts, I love to multitask.
Now I'm laying on the ground because I just finished stuffing my face
with fritos, bean dip and chocolate milk.

Tomorrow we will get the nutrition right.

Campsite in Sequim, WA

2009-08-27T22:39:00.000-04:00

Day 2

2009-08-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

Today we rook the ferry from Edmonds, WA to Kingston, WA and started
our ride. I felt way more comfortable on the bike today. We rode up
the 104 to the 101. There was a lot of big truck traffic but still it
was a great ride. This is a picture of the view from a roadside
espresso place that served (delicious) Lavender Mochas.

We rode 42.5 miles today. Solid first day. A big thanks to Multnomah
County and all her hills. We did some major climbing today and I felt
damn good even with my 50 pound ass on the bike.

Mt. Rainier

2009-08-27T00:44:00.001-04:00

This is a view of Mt. Rainier from the bike path out of Seattle.

Day one

2009-08-27T00:42:00.000-04:00

Today we rode about 26 miles from Seattle to Edmonds, WA. This was my
first real day of riding on a loaded bike. It's definitely
different...I've never been the best bike handler so I'm trying to
work on it. After a couple days, I'll be fine.

This is a picture of my new Gore shorts. I bought myself a nice pair
of Gores before we moved and have been saving them for this trip. When
I went to pack, they were gone. So I've been complaining to Nik and
also blamed Nik for losing them. Then continued to blame Nik while I
rode in my cheap old Trek shorts today. I cursed him every time the
crotch got caught on my seat and basically every chance I got.
(Obviously, he didn't lose them.) So today when Pam and Al got here,
Al hands me these amazing new Gore shorts (better than the ones i
lost) that Nik had him bring for me. And some hot pink arm warmers! I
love my boyfriend.

Tomorrow we take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston and ride about 45
miles to Sequim.

I have a feeling that this trip is going to be feuled by Mexican food
and ice cream.

Seattle!

2009-08-26T13:04:00.001-04:00

Seattle has been awesome. We have done nothing but eat and walk
around. Today we ride to Edmonds, WA to meet Niks parents and tomorrow
we take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston to start the ride!
I hope I can still pedal a bike after all the Mexican, ice cream and
sushi I've had in Seattle for past 3 days...

I'll bitch anywhere on the internets that I can

2009-02-12T11:38:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been obsessed with this site www.ruminations.com. I also like to talk to my friend Wes on gmail everyday. When I found out that Wes was an only child, I took it upon myself to act like the big sister he never had. Which means I tell him when he's wrong, his jokes aren't funny and just give unsolicited advice that he doesn't appreciate.

This conversation with Wes might have been my favorite EVER.

2:14 PM me: i cant stop ruminiating wes
2:18 PM Wes: its fun
2:25 PM Wes: i feel like the site has gotten worse though, half of the top ruminations aren't even funny, not at all, anymore
2:26 PM me: oh god wes. im going to write one where i complain about people who complain that things were always better "before"
2:27 PM Wes: yeah, those people are annoying
me: right!
Wes: wait, you're making fun of me
damn you
2:29 PM me: lol that was beautiful

www.ruminations.com/Erin214

oh New York, I love you...

2009-02-03T19:40:00.004-05:00

Now that I am officially leaving my beloved NYC, I've decided to do some reflecting on my time here. I have learned a lot living here...

Here is a start of a running list of little things every girl needs to know when moving to the city:

- Most space issue problems on the subway can be solved with a death stare into the offender's eyes. If that doesn't work, an "accidental" bump with a gym bag works too.
- Happy Hour is not an hour. Or two. It's seven. On a Monday.
- Because no one drives, there is no need for a designated driver and therefore no need for restraint at the bar.
- Brunching is an art form.
- It is essential to food google and yelp for at least an hour before you commit to picking a restaurant or bar.
- Commuter shoes are perfectly acceptable. Commuter shoes in NYC are not the white tennis shoes with nude panty hose like you see in DC. They are converse in the fall, slip flops in the summer, Uggs (if you must) in the winter and rain boots in the rain.
- I said this when I first moved here and I stand by my statement. Any and every man you know has and will pee on the street.
- People from New Jersey don't really think jokes about New Jersey are funny. I thought EVERYONE made fun of Jersey, even if you were from there. I plan on making fun of Jersey for the rest of my life.
- You can do all your grocery shopping at the bodega downstairs if you really need to.
- Just because I don't have a car doesn't mean I don't have road rage anymore. Now I have walking rage. And sometimes, when I'm wearing headphones, I don't realize that other people can hear me when I yell, "Jesus Christ asshole, walk or get the fuck out of the way!" But, I don't apologize. They should walk or get the fuck out of the way. It's just like driving. Stay on your side and watch for oncoming traffic. Dumbass.
- Just when you think you've seen everything a man will walk out of his house, pull down his pants and take a dump on the street.
- I disagree that New Yorkers aren't friendly. I've made amazing friends in the city.
- There's nothing that makes me love New York more than running the big loop in Central Park on a perfect sunny day.
- If you show up to your Total Body Class at the gym and the teacher is zero body fat gay man in a baby tee and skin tight shorts with a man thong sticking out the back, do not think you are getting a free ride, easy class. You will do squats and lunges until you cry listening to remixes of Cher and Britney and he will out lunge the woman with the tightest ass in the class.
- Taxis are annoying and always a last resort.
- There is no excuse to eat crappy food. This city is filled with amazing food and you should be picky.
- Delivery everything is a way of life. Food, laundry, groceries...Getting my cat food and litter delivered was the best thing I've ever done.
- Dropping off laundry to have it done is essential. The first time I hauled 20 pounds of dirty clothes down 4 flights of stairs, down the block, did 5 loads and hauled it all back upstairs, I got over some random person touching my dirty underwear and let them do it.
- I love celebrity sightings and always will.
- When it's hot, hundreds of people lay out in Central Park in bathing suits like they are the beach but there is no water to swim in.
- I've gotten locked IN my apartment two times. One time I had to beat on my own door when I heard someone in the hallway and slide my keys under the door for them to unlock my door.
- I've brushed my teeth in the kitchen sink for a year and half because my apartment is so small that I don't have a sink in the bathroom.
- Apartment walls are thin. Don't call your neighbor a cunt right after you shut the door in her face. It makes for an awkward morning.
- Fruit guys on the corner are how I get through the day. I will miss them.

I have way more. This is just a start.

stop it

2009-02-02T16:53:00.004-05:00

Dear MTB wearers,
Those "shoes" are not lifting and toning your ass. They are not making your thighs rock hard. They are not getting rid of cellulite. They are simply making you look like a dick and stumble around, getting in my way on the street because you can't balance to step up on a curb. Those shoes look like moon boots and no matter what you wear with them, you look stupid. There are no "cool" versions of them. The faux croc ones, the ugg ones, the all black version...ALL BAD.

Get off your ass, do some squats and some lunges and stop eating Cheetos and you will you have no need for those squishy, thick soled asshole "shoes."

xoxo,
Erin

beat this oliver

2009-01-10T14:54:00.002-05:00

Henry also thinks he can't move when I put this awesome puffy coat on him so it's even more amazing.

i know i know

2008-12-18T11:20:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted anything in a long time. I don't really have that much to be bitter about right now. But I'm still listening to music and somewhat training, more eating and laying in bed though. So when I'm not training and eating chips and salsa and laying in bed, I like to listen to this song.

I'll get back to posting soon. I promise. Maybe. I'm busy right now, jeeeeeeeezzzzzzzz.

perfection

2008-10-23T13:54:00.001-04:00

vampire baby

2008-10-13T09:17:00.002-04:00

wtf

2008-10-09T13:07:00.001-04:00

I saw this Victoria's Secret model at Whole Foods the other night...with her boyfriend who could have been Adam Sandler's ugly cousin.

More music

2008-10-02T14:28:00.002-04:00

So when I went to the Zac Posen Show at Bryant Park (ahem), the models walked to this song and I was obsessing over it and I finally figured it out.

Emiliana Torrini, Jungle Drum
Loves it.

my latest song obsession

2008-09-30T21:24:00.002-04:00

I've been obsessed with Meiko forever but I just started listening to this song and I can't get enough. This song and her song, "Boys with Girlfriends" just rule.

Family!!

2008-09-28T12:32:00.001-04:00

Love

2008-09-22T17:37:00.002-04:00

I hate love. I don't like vampires. Teenagers disgust me. But, holy shit...get on the the teenage vampire novel train and read these books. So good.

meh

2008-09-21T19:16:00.002-04:00

I've been feeling uninspired lately. Here's my calendar for the end of 2008 and 2009.

2008
Seagull Century 10/4/08
Richmond Marathon 11/15/08
plus a bunch of bullshit NYRR races to be able to run NYC next year.

2009
Hinte Anderson 50k 3/21/09 www.hatrun.com
Bull Run Run 50 miler 4/11/09 http://www.vhtrc.org/brr/
and if i dont get into that one
Diablo 4/11/09 http://pctrailruns.com/Diablo.htm
Mooseman 6/7/09
IMLP 7/26/09
SOS 9/13/09 http://www.ulster.net/~sosnyta/

Yeah, next year should rule.

hot mess

2008-09-11T20:13:00.003-04:00

This is not fierce. I love her but no. Nobody's gonna be able to bring back the bike shorts under the jean shorts. Not even Aggy. Sorry sister.

Warning: Longest race report EVER

2008-09-02T20:48:00.004-04:00

Ironman Louisville Race Report

Pre-Race
I got down there on Thursday afternoon. I went to registration and got myself weighed in, disgusting. This year, they also took your body fat and your percentage of hydration. I really liked it when the volunteer said, “Wow…I wouldn’t think that was your body fat by looking at you.” Thank you lady. That night I had dinner with Team KY and then Matt saved my ass for the millionth time by completely cleaning my bike and chain. I spent Friday eating, the entire day (and I swam a little). Mexican, pasta, ice cream, a frosty. I took FULL advantage. It was sort of disgusting. The ice cream deserves a mention though. I convinced Andrew that we should drive across town in horrible traffic to get it and it was worth it. Probably, the best ice cream I’ve ever had in my life.

On Saturday, I swam again and got all my bags together and did all the usual annoying Ironman errands. My last minute search for my Pink Tab didn’t work out so I got a couple Red Bulls for my special needs bags. I ran into Joe, Nathan and Kristoph on my way to dinner and talked to them for a while. Then waited a ridiculously long time for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory where I stuffed my face with pasta. And then got a solid 6 hours of sleep.

Sunday
I got up at 4 to leave the hotel at 4:50 to walk down to transition. Pumped up my tires, changed up some ghetto rigged Gus on my bike and dropped off my special needs bags. Then started on the 30 MINUTE WALK in the pitch black to the swim start, insanity.

Swim
The swim start was my biggest gripe with the race. I understand that the channel where you jump in is small, but why start it there? We got to the end of the line around 6 am and sat down on the ground. And then waited an hour and forty minutes to get in. The start was definitely lacking that epic Ironman feeling when they sing the National Anthem (I never heard it) and it’s silent and then the gun goes off and 2,000 people start together. Ironman is unique because it’s an even playing field. You pass someone, you beat them. You don’t know when anyone started, so there was no telling if it mattered to pass that next person in your AG.

Anyway, the swim was ok. I like the point to the point and not having to do 2 loops. Supposedly you swam against the current on the way out and then turned and swam with it. Not so much. The buoys were pretty close together which I like. Swimming with no wetsuit was not that big of a deal and the water temperature was perfect. I wanted to swim around a 1:25. I knew I was doing ok but the current got a little hairy going under the bridges and I was sort of all over the place.
1:31:08

T1
I have a thing with transitioning. I do not fuck around. I had my bathing suit off before the volunteer even had my bag open. It took 2 people to pull my bike shorts on. Those girls were on it! I turned around and one was holding up my jersey for me to put my arms in. I was putting on my helmet and another lady was spraying me down with sunscreen. In and out.
4:53

Bike
I really didn’t know what to expect on the bike. I had heard so many varying accounts of the bike course. Flat, easy, good for first timers, hilly, rolling, comparable to Wisconsin…I trained on the hills at Harriman all summer so I knew I was ready for hills if it was bad.

The first 15 miles or so are flat and I was trying to suck down some water and get some calories. I was hungry when I got of out the water. I heard that the out and back section was going to have some hills. There were some fast down hill sections and it would have been way better if someone hadn’t crashed bad on the bike and I pretty much had to stop and go through a teeny space at the bottom of the hill. Hairpin turn around a cone at the end (hate it!) and back up. It wasn’t too bad.

Then I started on the 2 loops around La Grange. Then it started to get really hot. Lots of people (crybaby men) were lying on the ground under trees. What happened, guys? Your special bottles of accelerade, protein powder, baby tears and sheep’s balls didn’t stand up to the 100 degree heat???? There were a couple little hills that really didn’t look like much but if you didn’t stand up, you fell over. I saw 4 people just tip right over! At one point, I looked down and my shorts were crusted with salt and I got the worst cramp in my thigh that I’ve ever felt. I took 2 Electrolytes, downed half a bottle of Endurance and stepped up my salt to every 30 minutes. I stopped at Special Needs for about a minute, opened up my boiling hot Red Bull, took a huge sip, looked at my Snickers and thought, “oh hell no,” took my potato chips and left.

At around mile 75, my toes started to hurt really bad in my shoes. Then it moved up to my feet, then it moved up to my shins. I really had to talk myself out of hysteria because all I could think about was how bad my feet were hurting. I rode the last 20 downhill miles with my shoes barely on and sitting up straight like I was riding a Huffy, going 20 mph. I just kept telling myself (and maybe crying a little) that the pain would stop when I got the bike shoes off. It was really important to me to do the bike in under 7. I didn’t want another shameful bike time.
6:55:52 (zing!)

T2
I threw my bike at twelve year old girl and tore off my bike shoes and ran in my socks to T2. I had 2 more extremely helpful women putting my shorts on and getting everything together. One even ran to the medical tent when I was whimpering, Tyenlol pleassssssssssseeeee. My compression socks took more time to get on than I would have liked but they were worth it in the run.
6:41

Run
I didn’t see my Mom when I came in on the bike so I was really looking for her on the run out. I saw her and screamed, “SUB SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!” and then kept running. You run out and immediately run across a bridge. I wasn’t scared of the bridge hill because the Brooklyn Bridge is my favorite running route in the city and I do it all the time. This bridge was nothing compared to it. I saw MJ on her way back down and then Gary. I think everyone’s first thought was “hottttttttttttttttttttttt” It was so hot. The sun was beating down, my skin felt like it was boiling. People just looked bad. There was one man literally stumbling. Luckily, I have a black heart and ice runs through my veins so I was doing ok…I stuck to my plan: run 4, walk 1, don’t talk to strangers. I can’t get sucked into someone’s life story while I’m trying to take care of business!

The run was flat, 2 loops on an out and back and some it was shaded. There was one little hill to go under an overpass. The crowd support was pretty good. It wasn’t a silent death march. I knew that I needed to keep my head together on the run. It was so hot, it’s your first instinct to suck down as much cold liquid as you could at the aid stations. The volunteers are great but they offer a full buffet to everyone who comes up! I forced myself to take a quick sip of Coke, throw down the cup, a couple sips of Gatorade and then dump 2 cups of ice water on my head and grab a cup of ice to go. I was still eating gross Power Gels and taking the salt pills. I didn’t have any time frame or method to the madness at that point; it was really whenever I realized that I needed something. At about mile 8, after seeing many broken people, lots of barfing, random triage units set up on the side of the road with EMT’s and IV’s and mass carnage, I made a decision to just keep pushing until I couldn’t anymore. I just tried to be very aware of how I was feeling and try to keep a strong pace.

I stopped at Special Needs, took a sip of my second hot Red Bull, tossed it, grabbed my Reese’s PB cups and my potato chips. I opened the Reese’s and thought, “nope!” and threw it down. But the potato chips saved my life. I came around to the turn around, saw my Mom and a bunch of Team KY spectators and Joe and his crew. I was still on my 4 and 1’s and feeling ok. The finish line was amazing. Right when I made the turn to get on to 4 St to finish fireworks were going off. I was so excited to be done. I heard the guy say, Erin Harden, You are an Ironman! It was awesome.
4:37:16

Overall: 13:15:48

My goal was 13:30. But my real goal was 13:15. I’m still shocked that I made it. First and foremost, I have to thank my Mom who is my mother first, but she’s also my coach, my mentor, my best friend, I could go on… I’d be dead in a ditch somewhere with out her. Jeremy and Dan, who push me everyday to not suck and peer pressure me into riding when I don’t feel like it. I think I would be lost in New York City trying to train for IM without you two. To all my Team KY team mates, everyone did awesome; it was a brutal day out there. And especially to Matt who was the unofficial team captain…you get shit done, bottom line. I don’t like to count on people for stuff, but I know I can always call you when I've screwed something up.

IM KY ruled. Now I’m stoked for some fall ultra marathon training and IMLP 2009!!!!!!

oh no

2008-08-26T21:58:00.001-04:00

Somebody gonna miss their mama when she's at Ironman....

Done and done

2008-08-17T16:24:00.003-04:00

I don't usually blog about individual training sessions because I think no one really cares to read about me going on about my bike but yesterday was the end of my Ironman training. (I'll be back with my usual snarkiness in a few days.) I really wanted to end with a strong, kick ass workout. Thank the baby Jesus for Dan who let me borrow his car while he is on his romantic vacation in Croatia, so I drove up to Harriman to do 4 loops on the bike and a 2 hour run, alone. Harriman is gorgeous. This is a picture that I took while I was running.We've been riding that loop on a regular basis since May. The best time I've ever done 4 loops in was 4:04. That loop is fucking hard and the hills suck your energy but it makes you strong as hell. I decided to really push it and work a good pace and finished 4 loops in 3:42. I threw my bike in the car and went right out on the run. I decided to run 30 minutes in one direction, turn around, do 30 minutes back, refill my water at the car and then do 30 minutes in the opposite direction and then turn around and do 30 minutes to get back to the car. I negative splitted the first hour by one minute and the second hour by 4 minutes. It's all about the 4 and 1. It makes for a strong finish when everyone else is dying. See you on the run course, bitches!

Just kidding, it was a good end to a good season and I hope that the work that I've put in shows itself on 8/31.

Now it's time to taper. Last year, I spent the last two and half weeks before Ironman drinking vodka and trying to ignore the fact that I was fucking terrified. This year, I'm staying sober and embracing the terror. I'm a bitch but I'm ready to race.

fry you little piggies!

2008-08-17T16:18:00.002-04:00

Best celebrity sighting ever.
I took HH to the Washington Square Dog Park last night and sat down on the only empty bench. I love over to see who/what I'm sitting next to and its PARKER POSEY. OHHHHH YESSSSS. I tried to hold it together and not throw myself at her when she started asking me about Henry and if he gets scared in thunderstorms like her dog. Amazing. I love her. I was in a full on lesbian girl crush haze for hours.

Act like a lady!

2008-07-31T09:38:00.002-04:00

I know that's saying a lot coming from me but for serious ladies...there are rules in the gym locker room. Follow them.

Take a FAST shower. You don't need 40 minutes in a public shower stall.
Do not hock up loogies in the shower and try and spit them down the drain. Everyone knows those drains don't work. And if you are hocking shit up, then you are probably peeing in the shower too, so stop.
Walk to your things wrapped in a towel, not with all your lady parts exposed and flapping around.
Put on your underwear asap. No one needs to blowdry their hair naked. You are not at home.
Put on your lotion quickly. You don't need to rehearse for your porno shoot by lotioning up for 30 minutes.
Do not sit down on a bench with no underwears on. Have you seen the person before you put their foot up on that bench to lotion themselves up porn style? Now you are sitting in it.
Do not clip toenails or fingernails and DO NOT pull out a huge skin file and file down a corn or bunion and leave all the shavings on the ground.
Number one, most important...DO NOT STARE!

Please girls!! Let's act like ladies in the locker room.

brother and sister

2008-07-29T20:57:00.002-04:00

she's most definitely a Harden

2008-07-24T20:46:00.003-04:00

We love to accessorize!

IMLP 4eva

2008-07-21T19:29:00.005-04:00

Just got back from Ironman Lake Placid. There was a conversation in heaven around 7:30 am Sunday morning and it went like this:

God and/or The Baby Jesus: I think I'm going to take a day off from the weather maintenance today. Satan, could you watch over it for me??
Satan: Oh sure, God. I'm on it. Hehehehe.
Swim start.

Davis running out of T2.
Julie rocking the run!Everyone killed the race. Dan, Jeremy, Julie and Joe, you all did amazing!!

now for some love

2008-07-17T14:14:00.000-04:00

Click here.

I love you Dita!

while I'm on a hatred kick...Musselman Race Report

2008-07-15T12:06:00.004-04:00

If I made a list of things that I hate in life, it would be constantly rotating, but top three-ish...Babies, teenagers and rain are high up there. There were no babies this weekend.

The weekend didn't get off to the best start after I waited for the 19 year old intern at a Dunkin Donuts in the Bronx for 2 hours. Because he forgot his car keys...twice. Like a normal 19 year old kid would do. I forgot how irresponsible and not logical thinking teenage boys are. (Kingsley Harden, remember when I wanted to kill you for like 5 years??) So I scrambled to call everyone I knew doing the race to pick up the room key by 9 pm because we were not going to make in time for the check in.

The day before the race was equally annoying. It was a million degrees, I walked around too much and did annoying shit. Being at someone else's mercy to get around is just unfun and I don't deal with it well.

Race day: It was clear and cool when I woke up so I thought that MAYBE JUST EFFING MAYBE the thunderstorms that they were calling for would hold up.

Swim: The swim was a joke. The water was so choppy, it was just a shit show. I was actually stopping and just laughing because there was just nothing you could do. You had to walk out to the start buoy and it was about knee deep. Then they blew the horn and it was too shallow to even swim until about half way to the first buoy. Wasted time. It was a one loop swim, the water temp was perfect, the water is clear and gorgeous but it was so choppy. I patted myself on the back for teaching myself how to bilateral breathe or else I would have been screwed. And doggy paddling, like half the people out there. Same thing happened at the end, it was so shallow that you had to walk in and waste more time.

51:39 (my swimming prowess amazes me. I just get better and better. ha)

Bike: The bike started off fine. The first 20 miles or so are uphill, false flat type riding with a straight on head wind. It was hard but I felt like I was keeping an ok pace for the climbing/wind. Once you hit about 25, its pretty much downhill. There were time when I was going 25-27 mph on the flats. I was actually thinking that I may not pull a suck ass time. Then the rain. Not rain mist, or rain drops, or just rain. Sleeting, hailing thunderstorm rain. The wind was whipping sideways and it was raining so hard that it was burning my eyes, getting in my ears and stinging all the exposed skin. Not fun. It never stopped. The last 30 miles, it poured rain. Needless to say, biking in the rain is one of my biggest fears and I did not do well. I'm glad I finished and sort of conquered a fear but my bike time suffered and I realized that it was not going to be a PR day, or even CLOSE to a PR day, I started to get really mad. It was more of PW day, personal worst.

3:21:25

Run: I knew I wasn't going to run at 1:40 half marathon to make 6 hours like I wanted so I just stopped looking at my watch. I did my usual 4/1s and felt strong on the run. It's a hard course, alot of short steep uphills. Even though it was a bad day, I love the people of Geneva and the support they show to the athletes. They were standing the god awful, pouring down rain cheering, screaming and smiling and handing out aid. The bongo players were there at the devil hill at mile 7, a long steep climb up a gravel hill. It's really cool. The rain poured so hard that I was stepping in puddles that were covering my whole entire foot. No amount of body glide or vaseline could right the wrongs done to me by my tri shorts/jersey for 6 hours in pouring rain. Not pretty.

2:03:14

I didn't get a massage at the end because all I wanted to do was get out of my soaking wet clothes and go home. And get the hell away from EVERYONE. Even the post race ice cream didn't do it for me.

overall 6:20:56

SO....I figured that maybe my shitty time was going to be the worst part of the weekend.

No. We start the drive home and my ride tells me he wants to stop in PA and spend the night at his parents house and get up at 4 am and drive back to NYC. I'm thinking please, baby jesus, god no, just take me home. but wtf can i do? So fine. I'm stuck in PA overnight.

Then the car breaks down on the side of the road. In the pouring rain. We wait for AAA. Then wait to get picked up. Then spend the night at someone's house and wait to get a ride to the bus stop after I had to borrow a bike box, break down my bike and add it to the pile of shit that I now have to drag back to NYC on the bus.

It's going to take a massage at the asian place and some sort of guacamole/chips/mexican food/ice cream/wine to make things right in my world.

Musselman...I love you forever. But, I'm glad that shit is over.

hatred

2008-07-11T11:50:00.003-04:00

I decided to wait a day before I posted this picture so that I wouldn't go off on too much of a tangent about my hatred of assholes on the subway. I told myself that I wouldn't talk shit about her fucked up toenails, her inappropriately short for work skirt, the fact that the watered down iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts (barf) that had it's own seat obviously had half and half in it (fatty) and the purse that also had it's own seat was cheap and made out of fake white leather and she probably bought it from a dirty man on Canal St who pulled it out of a garbage bag and sold it to her for $40.

No, I'm not going to go off about all that. I'm just going to say, fuck you bitch for taking up 3 seats on the 3 train at 8:30 AM with your gross coffee, your ugly purse and your stupid ass texting on your old Blackberry. I hate you.

sighting!

2008-07-09T06:09:00.004-04:00

Colin Hanks strolling with some chick in Hudson River Park. See people? It pays to run in 90 degree weather and barf afterwards. I would have missed this amazing celebrity spawn sighting.

get jealous B

2008-07-08T08:25:00.003-04:00

Spotted! Jenny from GG outside of my apartment last night.
She's seriously 15 and looks it. I figured it would be inappropriate to squeal, "JENNY!!!" at a teenager hanging out with her friends. Because I'm an ADULT and I've never even seen Gossip Girl, anyway.

birthday time

2008-07-08T06:13:00.001-04:00

Two years ago today, a star was born...Henry Harden!!!!!!!!! Light of my life, apple of my eye, baby dog, cutest thing ever.

post holiday blues

2008-07-05T13:05:00.002-04:00

Poor HH. He wants to go to the small dog dog park to run off the 4th of July gluttony but it's raining.

killed it

2008-06-29T22:25:00.002-04:00

Jay Z fucking killed it at Glastonbury.

Vintage Henry Harden

2008-06-25T10:56:00.001-04:00

Lake Placid Recon

2008-06-23T17:53:00.007-04:00

Around 1 on Friday, Dan, Jeremy and I headed up to Lake Placid for the Fireman Ironman Training Camp weekend. We got in around 6, checked out Mirror Lake and checked in to the Northway Motel. It was like the Four Seasons of Lake Placid. Saturday morning, we got up early to meet the campers in the Olympic Oval to start the ride. We also met up with Joe who got in late the night before. The IMLP bike course has always scared me so I was terrified to ride. The 20 minute talk beforehand about the "7 mile downhill where you can hit 50 mph" and the "you don't want to crash or you will die" warning didn't help the situation. I left to go out on the course not feeling confident. The bike course was awesome once I got myself started. The course profile on ironman.com makes it seem like you climb a steep mountain twice, but in reality, the climbs are ladder type climbs long but not so steep. I sat back and spun up the hills. The downhill was insane, in a good way. I didn't have my computer on, thank god. I don't want to know how fast I went down that hill.

It started to pour a few miles into my second loop and I made the call not to ride it in the rain. It's not my race, it was a training weekend and I couldn't face that mountain again in the rain. I was disappointed but OK with it. I went back to the hotel, picked up my wetsuit and swam what I thought was the Ironman course. I did one loop, got out, checked my time. 59 minutes for one loop. Hum...Then some girl tells me I did a 2 mile canoe course and not the IM course. So not a bad time!

Dan and Jeremy killed 112 miles and then ran after. I think Dan rode the course in 5:40. The man is a machine and is going to kill IMLP. Then we lounged outside of our 4 star cabin room at the Northway in some lawn chairs.

Sunday morning, we got up and swam the real Ironman course with the Fireman campers. There were about 75 of us out there swimming. I did the 2 loops in 1:25, ten minutes faster than Wisconsin. We'll see how I do at KY. Mirror Lake is gorgeous, flat and you can see the bottom and the famous cord that connects all the buoys. There's no need to sight if you can stay with the cord.

After the swim, Jeremy and Dan ate breakfast burritos (smart) and we went to a Chi Running Clinic by Sherru Fraiser, a million time Ironman from Canada. She gave some great tips for running up the hills on the run course and I really tried to think about them. Then we headed out for about 16 miles. 13 of the actual run course and 3 miles to get there and back. For all the talk of the LP bike course, I think its the run course that is the killer. It's soul destroying and hard. Tons of hills, and a windy, rolling out and back where I'm sure there will be no spectators at 9 PM. The hills back into town are just brutal.

The weekend ruled. I would reccomend that camp to anyone doing IMLP. It was low-key but organized. They had great sponsors, tons of aid and lots of booze after a hard day of training!

sightings!

2008-06-20T10:39:00.003-04:00

Amber Tamblyn sitting an outside table on Greenwich St last night, eating chicken wings!Then an hour later, Lisa Loeb walking down 7th ave. on her cell phone.

I should be a paparazzi.

Long Island Gold Coast Tri

2008-06-16T12:27:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, Jeremy, Minty, Heather and I went all the way to Port Washington, Long Island to race the Gold Coast Sprint. We got up super early and took the LIRR out there. We had to ride about 4 miles from the train station to the race site. It was a long uphill and then a fast downhill with all our gear on our backs. Not fun.

Swim: .5 mile
The swim was an ocean swim in the Sound. It was a run in start and the salt water was a little shocking when it got in my mouth. I was really thinking I was pushing it and getting a good draft to the first buoy. It was such a short swim so I was really trying...I stood up at the beach and my watch said 16:45. I was psyched. Then there was a long pavement run to T1. They added it into the swim time so my overall time was 17:54. Jeremy effing beat me in the swim! The same Jeremy who's ass I hand to him every morning in the pool beat me in a half mile swim. Godddddddddddddd.

Bike: 12 miles
The bike was 6 mile loop with 2 hairpin turns. It was...cute. There were 2 long straightaways, a little bunny hill (I saw someone get off their bike on it) and it was mostly in an office park area. You could go pretty fast but there were some scary idiots out there on Huffys and some people in aero helmets thinking they were going pro. It was fun to try and bang it out. 38:52 overall, average mph 20.1. Not too bad for someone who is a pussy on the bike.

Run: 3 miles
The run was another 2 loops of randomness. It did go out on to the boardwalk which was pretty cool. I was still trying to push it but couldn't really tell what I was doing. There was one aid station on the run that you passed twice and I walked through them. I think I did 2 rounds of 4:30 running, 30 seconds walking and ran the rest. Time, 23:47, pace 7:37 miles. I think the clock was wrong. I don't think I can run that fast. Usually, I'm dragging ass and not caring.

Overall time: 1:23:47

I don't have much to say about the race. It was really fun. It was my second sprint ever and I don't think I love to try and push it. Plus, I'm bitter that Jeremy beat me in the swim and overall. Just kidding, I'm proud of him. He's gotten really fast and he's going to do awesome at IMLP. Minty and Heather had great times as well. It was Minty's second triathlon ever and I think she is slowly coming around to loving triathlon again after her torture half IM experience.

Next up...Fireman Ironman Training Weekend. 3 full days of torture, IM style.

Bay Swim equivalent of a Jem and The Rockers Barbie

2008-06-13T20:38:00.004-04:00

Special order on Etsy.com
I can't wait for it to come

I don't know what my deal is with the cute stuff lately

2008-06-12T10:58:00.001-04:00

But this is killing me...I love him.

awwwwwwwww

2008-06-11T12:38:00.002-04:00

I'm all about babies and puppies.

Bay Swim...BFD

2008-06-09T09:34:00.006-04:00

JK.

Actually it was a BFD. And I'm glad it's over.

Race Report:

I knew I needed a lot of food on Saturday night and a good night's sleep. Check. Done.

Sunday morning, I had my favorite pre-race breakfast. Gluten free bagel with butter and 2 eggs. Stopped at Starbucks, got a large coffee and drove across the bridge.

I was seriously terrified but trying to be cool about it. I stood next to 2 old men who had done the race 18 years in a row or something and eavesdropped on them giving people advice. I parked at the park and ride across the bridge and took the shuttle bus back across. Found Gary and Sandi and sat around for an hour and a half, getting nervous. I put sunscreen all over my face and neck and ears but really didn't think about anywhere else because I was wearing a full sleeve wetsuit. Bad idea. I thought I hit up the Body Glide enough, but obviously didn't.

So, the swim start. You can start anywhere along the beach, so the mass start was really a non-issue. You can enter the bridge anywhere you want once you get past the jetty. I caught a good draft off a girl and made it to the bridge pretty fast. Swimming under the bridge and coming up in the middle is so amazing. Sighting the bridges is just so cool and swimming underneath those bridges that I've driven across hundreds of times is so surreal. The weather was way too hot, so there were seriously hot patches of water and then if you got in the shade, the water was cool.

I made it to the first buoy with no problem in about 35 minutes. I was drafting as much as possible. And thanking Joe the whole time for the major draft practice that we did. The current really picked up in the second mile. I had a good draft going off this man but I kept hitting his feet. He finally turned around and yelled something and I backed off. Then we passed the 2 mile buoy and came up the first aid boat. I swam to the other side of the boat and hid because that dude was pissed about the drafting and I was afraid he was going to punch me in the face. The aid boats had water, pieces of banana, saltines and vanilla wafers. So basically, I was screwed. I ate a piece of a banana and had 2 cups of water and went on. I wish there was gatorade or gus. My second mile was so slow that when I got the buoy, I thought maybe I missed the second one and I was actually at the 3rd. Ha. No. It was about 50 minutes.

Third mile, I started counting the bridge pile-ons and trying to talk myself into swimming pile-on to pile-on. I was really starting to lose my mind and feel extremely tired. I don't think I thought one positive thought at Nanticoke and it really affected my performance so I really tried to keep my mind in check. I was repeating all my swim techniques in my mind and trying to do them. I think the 3rd mile was around 40-45 minutes. We were supposed to get a slack tide in the middle of the swim, but I never really felt the current let up. It was fight the whole time pretty much.

The 4th mile and last .4 were completely mind over body. I really struggled. I knew I wasn't going fast but I knew I was going to finish. All I really wanted out of the day was to finish and not come in last place or get pulled. Check.

A few things I learned from the Bay Swim:

I can swim. I've proven it. But, I am not a fast swimmer or a strong swimmer. I think the 2.4 Ironman swim is about my limit to be able to make any sort of decent time.
I've never been the biggest fan of water. My earliest swimming memory is my mom begging me to jump off the diving board at Worthington Valley Swim Club. I said hell no for pretty much the whole summer until she offered a Jem and the Rockers Barbie for jumping off it. I threw myself off that shit, swam to the side, everyone was cheering and I said, "get my shoes, we're going to Toys R Us." My mom said, "don't you want to do it again? Wasn't it fun?" I said, "yeah, yeah, fun, whatever. I'll jump again tomorrow. I want that Barbie." I went to Toys R Us wrapped in a towel, dripping wet. That sort of sums up how I feel about swimming. Get it done to get what I want.

The event was totally organized though. And it had maybe the best race shirt ever. I've done a lot of OWS where I felt like I could die out there and no one would see for hours. But this event was so organized, you were never alone, there was tons of kayakers and boats everywhere. The whole thing was very cool.

But, I'm never doing it again.

the littlest diva

2008-05-30T07:18:00.008-04:00

Introducing....Lindsey Theresa Jackson
May 29, 2008 7 lbs, 2oz.

Deana and Linwood

Anna and Lindsey

My family makes the most beautiful babies ever.

celebrity!

2008-05-28T14:58:00.002-04:00

On Joe's blog here.

We had an awesome swim last night. I got some good motivation and a sweet reminder bracelet.

Yes, that does say "harden!"