Ice, Ice, Baby!!

Two weekends ago the "Trilogy Bros" got together to watch the entire Indiana Jones Trilogy.  Needless to say, it was EPIC!  (The fourth movie NEVER HAPPENED!! And that statement goes along with Rocky V, NEVER HAPPENED!!  Alex Farmartino will appreciate these statements.)  I find it fitting that when I started this post the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark was piping through my headphones as I sit her at Starbucks sipping on a soy latte.  I bring up the awesome movie and score for one reason, much of Guilford County has been without power for three days now.  What was supposed to be a mild winter storm turned into a massive ice storm.  (Ironically, it is about 60* outside now.  NC weather, it is bipolar!)  The power outage has made me feel a little like Dr. Jones.  I have been coach surfing at friends' places.  Each night I have packed a bag and headed over to another friend's place.  It has been like searching for heat and electricity.  Granted, not the Ark of the Covenant, but a necessity.  I even took some baked chicken over to my friend +Ron Kennedy aka Kal-El or Clark to put in his fridge.  (That was some good chicken!!)

I grew up on the coast and we were affected by hurricanes so power outages are nothing new to me, but ice storms and power outages are a bit of a new thing.  I am grateful that my friends with power have opened their homes to me.  (And tolerate my Dairy Free and Gluten Limited ways, Liz Hackney those cookies were AWESOME!)  I will say that this ice storm has made training interesting.  I have only been on the bike twice this week.  Fortunately, Tommy Rodgers at E3 Elite Human Performance (Coach Matt I promise to get back in the pool!!) let me get in on the Tuesday night trainer class since Monday was booked up for me.  It was absolutely insane, and I get to suffer all over again this Monday.  I can say that the classes are helping my running and riding.  Yesterday, in shorts and a t-shirt (the weather is seriously chaotic) I was clicking off 7:30 miles/min.  It felt awesome!  The only major issue throughout this power outage situation has been fueling properly.  I have gotten in solid food, but have strayed a bit from my usual diet.  Saturday I subsisted off of Egg protein and Powerbar, well all except dinner which was at Village Tavern.  Yes, Sarge, the Egg Protein is AWESOME!

This brings me to a point... THANK YOU POWERBAR FOR MY SHIPMENT BEFORE THE ICE STORM!!  I received my Team Elite/Rev3 shipment of Powerbar product on Thursday.  It was the gel chews, gels and fruit blends.  I have been eat the Strawberry/Banana flavored that are too delicious!  (I think I picked that flavor up from my old SigEp brother Alex Davis.  He said the Stawbanana juice was, well if you knew Alex you would know the colorful adjectives he would describe it by.)  These past few days have been like a 70.3 event.  How much fuel intake do I need?  When will my stomach finally start to reject all the processed nutrients?  Powerbar is amazing for a long event, or even a quick pick-me-up during an Oly or Sprint; I don't suggest trying to live off it.  But, when in need you eat what is available.  (OK, I haven't eaten only Powerbar stuffs, but I am a teacher who hasn't had a raise in six years... do the math!!)

You know what place does have power?!?!?  Barbados... umm.. I mean Northern Virginia!!  It is less than a week until #TeamRev3 Summit.  I have been following most of my new teammates on Twitter and Facebook.  I am beyond ecstatic to meet them face-to-face.  According to +Carole Sharpless we will need to bring an extra bag for all the swag that we are being sent home with!  This trigeek is super excited!  The weather is supposed to be chilly, but NO ICE, NO SNOW and POWER!  Running tights will work fine with arm warmers.  And, real food!  The only thing I am concerned about is that some of my teammates have a passion for a particular man whose name is Jose!  Jose and I have had a contentious relationship, I have all but given up on any dealings we might have.  With all this said, I am extremely excited about Summit and look forward to meeting and rekindling friendships with people just as tricrazy as myself!

Powder, Pounding, and Pancakes (Alliteration is BACK FOLKS!!)

Look to the left of the image and that is me running up Piedmont Parkway on a snowy Tuesday when the Winter Storm Pax hit.  The photographer, Carly Wrenn, was stuck in traffic and saw me running through the snow.  Needless to say, this has been an interesting winter here in North Carolina!  One day it is snowing and others the temperatures have gotten up to 70*... CRAZY!!

I have been able to ride outside three times and the rest of the riding has been relegated to the trainer.  I chose to take a Power Class that is being coached by my old friend Tommy Rodgers over at E3 Elite Human Performance to gain strength on the bike.  Tommy sure knows how to put us all in "The Pain Cave".  Hopefully, these crazy intervals will pay off come Tri Season.

Speaking of Tri Season...

My first official race will be Rev3 Rush in Richmond, VA!  This is an incredibly cool format.  The race will take place over two days on Richmond International Motor Speedway.  It is a draft legal bike, ITU format.  I will be looking to utilize some old school bike racing tactics during this race.  (Yes, Landen Acebo, hopefully I won't crash and scream in agony like I did years ago at Dixie Classic.)  Rev3 is really focusing on creating an atmosphere that is open to all ages.  Rush will allow relay teams, youth as well as age group athletes.  If I am lucky, I might make it to the finals on the Sunday.  Guess I'll have to race four heats in order to get my best qualifying time.  

The overall goal for Tri season is to finish a 70.3 in under 6:00:00.  I will be racing Rev3 Williamsburg in June; hopefully this will be the destined race where I make that stride.

A Quick Review (The Best DAMN running Shoes EVER!!)

I have run in A LOT of shoes over the past year.  Yes, I have shoes for track workouts that I also use to race 5K-10Ks.  BUT, I have to say that I have raced two half marathons, Asheville and Mistletoe, in the Pearl Izumi N2 and they have become a regular go-to shoe!  Almost all the High Point Fleet Feet/ONR Pub Runners have purchased a pair of N2s or M2s and are highly pleased.  (Well except VaLArie, but we have no clue what is going on with her feet!  Kayanos, Transcends, M2s... toe nails gone and we all know that she needs her pedicures weekly!)  

I took the N2s out today for an LSD of twelve miles and they responded fantastically!  The dynamic drop is incredible.  The shoe is never levels and rolls with your foot strike.  As a midfoot/forefoot striker, it truly propels me forward and also allows me to run freely through the downhills.  The only complaint I have about the shoe is that the tongue slips to the side during runs.  The M2 trails (which I also am in love with) lock in the tongue and do not have this issue.  Jeremy recently purchased a pair of T2s, the tri specific shoe, and has raved about its responsiveness and comfort.  I am hoping to move into the T2s for the season (no more buying awkward speed laces.)  

I chose to quickly review this shoe today because last week I ran in my Bondi Bs and they did not respond as well as they normally do.  I felt sluggish so I consciously wore the N2s just to see how they felt and we even picked up the pace to 7:20s at the end of the run and it was like being on cruise control!  One thing to remember is that even though I love the N2 and have introduced others to it, you must find the right shoe for you.  (We'll be glad to fit you at Fleet Feet/Off'n Running!  And just maybe you'll fall in love with Pearl Izumi's EMotion technology as well!)

Pancakes!!!

Fueling up after 12.5 miles! 

This morning Mike and I decided to resurrect the Pancake Run.  I have been very cautious with my nutrition lately as I prepare for the season and the Rev3 Team Summit (shimmer suit photo??  Yeah, I'm scared!!).  Today I through caution to the wind and indulged in what has come to be known as the Johnny Redwine special.  Bill Lamb showed up at the end of the run for the pancakes.  He ate chicken and waffles that looked incredible!  It was a great time of friends and fellowship (and this is Clean, right JSmalls?!?!?)

These past few weeks have been filled with snowstorms, upheaval and new beginnings.  I want to take a second and thank a few people who have really been there during this time. 

1. Michael and Lauren Vance:  I am simply honored to call you my friends and look forward to many more dinners and races.

2. Jeremy and Valarie Yoemans: You guys are like a family and sometimes I feel like that lost brother who comes around.  Thanks for all the runs, chats and KIKS!

3. HP Pub Runners: You are all an incredible group of people.  Thanks to our awesome gang of misfits I have been able to reconnect with my old SigEp big brother, Josh Apel.  

4. Kathryn Campbell: COACH!

5. Tommy Rodgers: It has been great reconnecting with you through the power class.  It has been too long!

6. Carole Sharpless: Thanks for the emails and checking in, Momma Bear!  Also, thanks for the teasing in the emails.

7. Of course my folks and my brother and sister-in-law.

7. And my new Tri Family Team Rev3:  There are so many emails in my inbox reading all of the threads has become a full time job!