congrats to everyone that raced this weekend

and thought I’d celebrate my first little v pathetic ride with a joke I wa sent from the Lady who was to be my Lake Placid homestay mama

It kinda on life perception-

“Excerpts from a Dog’s Diary”8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the peopleon the furniture! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

“Excerpts from a Cat’s Diary”

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre
little  dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other
inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.  Although I make my
contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something
in
order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my
dream
of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the
carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending
comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.  Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I
could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement
was due
to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use
it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try
this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and
snitches.  The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released -
and seems
to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with
the guards regularly.  I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he
is
safe.

For now . . .

Sorry to hear about the crash Cat that sucks hope u heal up for your big day sucks when u worked so hard.

Well done to everyone out there racing and I am glad I logged on to see all the new kit you guys are wearing it looks “well smart” maybe if I get of the bench maybe, I’ll be earn some kit =0)

Right now still on a run ban turned out the knee joint was messed up a bit and the patella is still mad after the crash it’s amazing how much you need these little things to work-going up stairs still hurts.  It’s weird it such a little injury and you can’t really see much yet its enough to keep me out of the game. 

Am hoping it’s not the end of the road for Pro Racing and trying to be prepared for if it is and sort out the other areas in my life that have been severly sacrificed due to trying to self finance racing and school with jobs allowing me the flexibility to go and race.  Anyone, trying this will know it just dont add up-so got some stuff to sort out.

It’s weird learning that impatiently wanting to be able to do stuff by being strong willed or determined doesnt mean its gonna happen or work out.

Not being able to train and race and facing that racing Pro may have come to and end is hard it’s kinda lik the end of a relationship where you revisit old memories, am trying to learn to accept the things I cant change and focus on the ones I can.

If nothing else I will try help out newbies that are just getting into the sport.  I am sad that it may be over and I am grateful for having had the opportunity.

Meanwhile-will be following you guys =0)

Everyone left town to go race at DEUCES WILD multisport festival.

I was left behind as still crippled cant run or nothing, did a 20 min run at 9min miling and man did I pay for that, that was 4 days ago.  It was ok as was to puppy sit Crazy. 

Hence crazy and cripple were were abandoned.  I came home from “work” at 830 pm friday night pretty tired watched some trashy tv before planning on going to bed.  Trying to give Crazy a bit of attention as she had been home alone all day and was feeling extra crazy. And then

We both spotted it at the same time crawling across the floor towards us with its distinctive stinger arched proudly.

Crazy and I looked at each other after first withdrawing paws and feet from the edges of the couch.  We looked at the scorpion and then looked at eachother again.

Then we noticed another creepy crawly a wanna be scorpion a kinda cross between a scorpion and a spider and the mother of all spiders with a huge mid section shaped like a baboons  rear.  Crazy decided barking was the way to go……..

didnt seem to deter our creepy crawlies.

I decided to check out on old Google if it was a lethal one and best means of making it go away.

Off course according to the internet this was the worst kind of scorpion the kind that would kill u in like 30 min if u didnt get to the poison center in time fabulous.  Off course we have no landline and my cell was out of credit - yes being a semi Pro Tri Kid is pure glam.  Anyways. google had me freaked out royally- what if the skorp had 100 buddies outside waitng to get in or if it had ickle babies it was coming inside to drop off.  Admittedly mild paranoia and hysteria lurking.

Off course google had me read stories of people being stung multiple times in their beds at night and people having to put their bedlegs in buckets to keep the skorps outta bed.  Also these nasty ones can climb and are kinda see throught or pale sandy colored as luck would have it so is our floor- nice camo

I had some issues as trying to be Vegan -killing it doesnt see very nice- besides being hugely freaked out by reptiles  of anykind the crunching noise was gonna make me nausious plus did not want to see if it could sting me through my crocks - didnt want it going into my shoes or up my leg.  Plus was wondering if Skorps were like wasp or roaches or whatever it is that when u killone of them others of the same species smell it and all come crawling-didnt fancy exploring this.  Felt extra vulnarable as its not like I can run away-was glad the pup was freaked out too.

Was hugely freaked out that the closet or cabinets in house were full of skorps in hidding all waiting to coem creepy crawling out - or for u to find when u got to get a pair of socks and bam u get hit. O r book of the bookshelf high up above your head and bam  u get stung and bring down a skorp it falls onto your head and crawls down your top down your neck- down your spine and u cant do anythign in case u wind it up and it stings u.  Jumping around or trying to hit it is just gonna make it mad. yikes not nice at all.  Goolge was telling me stores of people considering burning their house down as so full of scorps- and an even worse thought do Snakes eat skorps? or do they eat the same stuff so if its a good skorp environ is it a good snake environment too.   Maybe the rattlesnakes will move in as well -it was kind alike watching a scary movies when u r are home alone and aged 13-stupid stuff suddely freak u out and it excalates.

Crazy and I teamed up in notifying eachother of creepy crawlies luckily Crazy was as scared of them as me-which was a relief as the boy dogs if they’d not been at ShowLow (multisport fest location) would prob have gone to lick it or sniff it.

Am not proud, but we ok, I should take responsibility, I drowned it in a gallon of Anti bacterial soap the gloooby sort. and I put a bunch of it on the floor to slow down and track any potential other skorp visitors it was about midnight when the first one was spotted and I had had a couple of glasses of wine.  Google had me totally freaked out - couldnt help wondering its like any other “pest” right, if u see one its means theres a 1000 in there right.  Googgle told us theyre nocturnal-so there was nothing else for it than to be on skorp patrol to the sun comes up.  I went into the garage and was terified when trying to roll up the windows of my little truck- can u imagine a skorp getting inthere and then crawling out and stinging u when u r drivng down the road u’d be trapped in there.

Next day I drove to the supermarche and any rattle in my car or the car keys touching my leg had me freaked out- prob didnt help was drinking coffee for 3 as they others were gone and I’d been up all night so were super jumpy.  Thought would see in the supermarche if there was any anti skorp stuff I dont know maybe they dont like a certain smell or color or something, that all locals would know. A guy was whining about ants and getting some kinda ant spray- I laughed at him and said “ants pants” I got “skorps” and he looked at me asked what color I told him and he told me thats the dangerous kind and he ran away from me like I am a deadly plague.  I asked others advice to same result- this was not helping the “calm down mission” calm down debrief post “midgnight patrol skorp.”

There wasnt any anti skorp candle.  But I figured skorps come in looking for food right- and the food they eat is bugs-and bugs dont like citronella right-so got a citronella candle well bucket sized candle.  As a back up got some kinda earth friendly plant based killing spray intended for ants or something.

As dusk was approaching, how fast was I about watering everyones plants? certainly was not hanging about.  Got home and sprayed some of the spray around the houses perimeter in some hope that it would deter bugs and skorps also sprayed some outside my  bedroom in the hope that it would say dont come in please.  Kinda feeling guilty about 1) killing the skorp and 2) the way I did it and 3) I vacuumed up its body.  Kinda feeling like 100 little skoprs are out there to avenge it .  Man reptiles give me the creeps and about a 100 times a day I will see something that will make me think skorp or my pant leg will graze my ankle and I will be thinking skorp attact skorp attack.  Bit more chilled today as there were no hostile reptiles found on the premises last night- but man am I gonna remember to roll my truck windows up at night watch were I walk espec as tend to walk barefoot and will be checking inside of shoes as well yikes.

Terrified of reptiles the worst being snakes of course but anything else yikes got tons of work to do so must run away coffee it up so can write words of brilliance =0) yeah I know takes more than coffee-maybe a brain transplant might as well do a knee one while we r at it.

Just wanted to say hi and whilst cant train it seems life is still not drama free to be honest since not having trained for over a month now and put on 15lbs  in the process I just dont know how I ever had the time to train before.

Anyways go play

And look out for reptiles they could be lurking in your house too-maybe in your mattress

ha ha ha ha ho ho

Sweet dreams

Really helped heal my leg up fast - have no excuses to not get booty in the pool and try to swim with pullbuoy.

Thanks for making soem thing so somple yet so vital - made a huge huge difference for me this week.

 jess

Well as cant train (can’t walk) properly, but must obey and atempt to still the A type within, am atempting the guiness book of records atempt at surviving on vodka and m&ms alone (I know even the peatnut kind which viloates all veganess (milk choc) but this is an emergency).  Now, its a good time to do the challenge bc 1) m&ms are kinda involved in the new Shrek movie so have ogre (Jess) sized all the M&Ms have gone through 7 COSTCO “small nation sized” bags  (the brown, yellow, beige, purple bags - if u are gonna do it might as well do it right).  After, a “chairbound” weekend and being all ok with it “grateful being alive, could be worse, happens for a reason etc  blah, blah weekend” by sunday afternoon was about to kill somebody (anyone/anything provided with in reach off course) I ventured to grocery store shop-it took 4 hours-its a 16 mile drive-rest was simply dumbass leg issues.  I did have a discussion about my Vodka purchase though with another vodka fan. Fabulous.

Now today I got told that as triathlete’s when we are out of action we are not like other sport people and don’t have the luxury of the same lucrative/safe contracts, but, in fact we are more like race horses.  Basically, the stable/trainer spends x months on us, and then we go lame and its “game over” and we are fragile little creaures-doesnt take much to mess up our race calendar, I was tempted to ask if he wanted to have me try trot up and down and subsequently shoot me?. 

Also, not being able to train/race if a triathlete u can not claim its a los of income- no its a loss of profit like a “gambler” it was pointed out to me today as we as triathletes “wilfully” take on this risk- i.e risk/sacrifice everything in racing pro and that somehow makes it all our fault when some one drives on the wrong side of the road at us and hits us-hmm wasnt over joyed by that one-and apparently being hit by on coming traffic is jus takin to injuring yourself from your own”error” like biking into a tree and hence if sidelined and can no longer train/race its our own fault its a wilfull risk taken (all eggs in one basket syndrome) and hence it’s not fair to expect this “type of selected lifestyle to be reimbursed if damaged by other road users negligence.” NICE

Just thought give anyone else a heads ups-also make sure u are insured and make sure your car insurance has something called med bills, in the event u have a hit n run experience.

I was also told today that we”triathlete types are so finicky/fragile, if we were footballers we’d just have stuff strapped up and be back in the field” I sugessted strapping up knee and doing tri training however- was told to stop if knee does the buckling thing (thats just so not cool-its been really showing me up on that-we’ve had words and I’ve threatened it with a baseball bat if does’nt grow out of this bucklimg retardation phase- warned it zero tolerance was being inforced on 1) buckling and 2) wadldling.

Anyways, was told if were a tenis player, a volley ball player or football player I’d be fine but bc I’m a tri geek the smallest thing screws up my game- tried to point out as can’t walk- any sport is kinda stuffed up right now. I don’t know was kinda mad that these sweeping assumptions were made on the 1 hand we tri geeks are fragile finicky little people on the other hand if the knee buckles dont do stuff as u will fall on your face when it gives way and rip apart your ACL.

Anyways, thought would give u kids a heads up =0)

You need to document everything, have multiple and adequate inurance, show fitness/ability be prepared to be laughed at be prepare to try to explain your lifestyle/training to people that are incable of grasping 1) what you do 2) why you do it 3) why and what you have sacrificed to do it and above all 4) what never being able to race again pain free at the same ability means and 5) that sitting on your ass for 3 months unable to train doesnt meant that on day 1 they declare u can race that u would be race ready i.e u have to be able to train for a race. I am not sure if there is some kind of insurance out there- if there is get it- don’t even whine about it.

Seriously.

 As u can imagine after having been told that my efforts/sacrifices to lead a pauper lifestyle despite way to many degrees renders me and anyone else doing the same thing as “useless idiots” as the only meassure of worth - of what u do is purely economical/financial.

I felt belittled and drove home frustrated that I had been unable to represent us trigeeks- and say to hell with the system to hell with what u know- this is how it is and I’m not alone, and felt guilty as did begin to think maybe I was a financially unstable (if cant race) idiot.  Then I heard this song that made me happy- happy that there is someone else on earth that GET’S IT.  I heard the song RODEO (Garth Brooks I think) basically it was about how rodeo steals everything u got and u r left with broken bones, penniless and with strained/sacrificed personal relationships - and I was like ” man this is totally applicable to triathlon” in my sad state this was immensely exciting.

I never set out to race Triathlon as a pro I never set out to really do any form of triathlon as I knew I could not swim for sh1t. But I fell into it, and when I was “messed around” with my PhD funding and left to live in a Ford Transit van with no locks (got robbed week 4) with a broken collar bone (week 1) cleat broke on a uphill, for 5 months, with a Law department that seemed unable to realise that GTA-ships are to make a postgrads life easier not worse. In a country with low “currency” in a teaching post with BAD pay and a limited VISA(i.e couldnt work more hours or switch for better paying job)- was forced to race Pro Ironman if wanted to eat- and not be mortified by food vouchers from the University.  (”have to make my own way or die trying” was still the motto at that time).

Racing Ironnman as a Pro seemed like such a selfish pursuit and not at all aligned with what I wanted to do-(work for and international NGO with standing to lobby the United Nations for change in specific human and environmental rights orientated fields). I so struggled over racing pro and had such a moral/ethical dilemma over it despite trying to combine the two through fundraising, I found I was not big enough fry to further dramatic change or fundraising results rather it was simply my constant nagging of close friends and family adnorsium.  

Seems so “strange now that I am being told I may not be able to pull together a competitive pro season ever again” (don’t worry am not buying into any of that crap - still hell bent on proving we tri geeks are just as tough as the footballers/tennis players or whatever).

Just kinda funny the easy come easy go thing- they say (over n over again to the point that the next person that says it might have the baseball bat tap presently reserved for my retarded left knee-yes thats pre vodka as well) that “everything happens for a reason”  this has just enticed me to compile a list which includes serial killers, AIDS, traffic accidents, rapists and American Idol-why do these things exist for what possible reason? hmm.

Most people as you can imagine are stumped by ” American Idol”

Anyways I must go there is only one packet between me and the clydesdale division which is pretty impressive as I’m 5ft6 =0)

And I made a break through today I”walked”- well kinda walked 1 mile had to have stops etc it took me 1 hour (yes I timed it and it will be in my training log and next time I will wear my timex body link to confirm it was a mile and the avarege pace and heart rate I susepect its 1 mile and hour and Hr below 100 however I was pretty darn exhausted so maybe I maxed out at like 101 or something its pretty exciting as have no preconcieved idea of what can and cant do. 

Certainly teaches humilty and respect for people who over come proper injuries

All da best keep training keep believing notwithstanding all around you atempting to discourage you and belittle your goals and ambitions whether its to finish anh ironman or to win and ironman for that matter wether its to complete or PB at a 5K

Stick with da program

=0) and just laugh insanely if people are trying to belittle you or put you off I’ve found that way faster and more effective than doing the whole trying to explain thing.

goodnight - enjoy

jess

enjoy all that you have all that u are capable of despite your self doubts have fun - and know we are all on borrowed time - so might as well make it count

I opened my email today, and I had 75 email messages, alot of which were from the TIMEX team, I can’t begin to say how much this means to me and how good it’s been, reading your guy’s blogs has also been fab, and a good distraction for feeling sorry for myself or trying to test out my post crash niggles. 

I hope the TREK is ok- in my mind we are still on for Ironman on May 19 and I fly out May 9.  However, right now going to the mailbox and back was a challenge.  Am thinking walk the 10m to mailbox and back - read Timex emails and Blog and repeat. The Mailbox challenge its kinda like a new interval set.

 Anyway, you guys keep blogging cos right now Im training vicariously through you, and your emails really meant alot to me, really did reaffirm that I am on a team- a great team.

If continue being unable to train Sharpie/Princess Paolina better watch out, as I’ll come to your guy’s training weekend and be the gopher/cook/wine taster hey I even got my massage cert now - re bike mechanic stuff u r onw ya own though.

Anyways, thanks again guys and be careful on those gorgeous red bikes.  The motorcylist that hit me was so busy looking at the bike he drifted over to my side of the road into me looking right at the bike rather than looking at the corner and where he was going-well meant to be going.  I might have to consider some kinda wrapping for the bike when in practice so as to avoid future accidents.  Wow a bike that is dangerously sexy.  Ha ha

anyways I am now rambling and I have some work and sulking to do before Mailbox interval challenge two.

Just wanted to say thanks and that I some howfeel much more positive and stronger from everyones nice emails.

Jess =0)

Thanks a bundke for ya nice words =0) thanks for taking the time.

Am trying to beg and steal my way to do Ironman Lanzerote or Brazil, Lanzerote is cheaper to get too.

Anyone, know anything about this race? Where to camp? seen any air specials better than travelocity, oh yeah and in case someone had some airmiles that they need rid of contact me ha ha

Hey Paolina when are u in Placid in June? You guys need a sport massage person =0) ha ha

anyway sorry for DNF-ing it up with them darn tires and hope to make it up soon =0)

Peace

Jess

Not the start to the racing season had wanted.  All week was stressing out about my trapped nerve issue in feet. Then a little nervous as had a shoe and Bike swap in the week up to the race.  Day before race feet were killing after 30 min, but cuningly for race day I covered my orthotics with spencos little blister proof gems and a tube or Targets version of Biofreeze thanks to which feet were very well behaved.

Swim was ok 70 min is a PR for a solo swim for me despite going to the right a lot not helped by getting a sticth and only breathing to the right doh.  Set out on THE BIG RED what a sweet bike usually am very conservative first loop but today set a decent pace for the first look thanks to the big red.  Not far in to loop 2 had a slowish flat tried to deny it but it was there messed about changing it, learnt that its saves u like 10 min if u stick the valve extended on the new tired before inserting it or u have to re do it.  Stuck most (not all, but most) of a 16 co2 cartridge in there and of I whent like a possessed person determined to make up for my 15 min set back and then some.  About 50 minutes later the front tire exploded- literally - both side walls of the tub blew out.  No more spares wondered with my shoes in one hand back to the last aid station and waited for the sag wagon which came 1hr30 later and had run out of tubulars so nothing left to do than to call it a day.  This was my first DNF ever in any race kinda an odd numb surreal feeling.  It’s my current “home town” race so new a few people racing from here and from England was good to cheer everyone on to complete their goals, most of them amazed me by interupting their race to ask what had happened (how come I was finished already).

It obviously sucks to DNF and feel like a big LOOSER actually just got that weird feeling like I forgot to do soemthing, guess my brain is still waiting for me to fulfill the inputted distance, so its owed half a bike course and a 3 hour Marathon.

Actually, it was awesome to focus on the Timex buddies racing and my other friends doign the race and congratulate them on their day.  Juli, Blake, Mark and Louis all rocked and nobody had a smoothe day but they did us proud out there. (Also Jeanne’s husband Donald was a real superstar and kept me a prep talk in the middle of his race when I was waiting for the sag at the side of the rode -he fished my ego out of the gutter).

Right now am opting tp not re- continue my heakth insurance which ran out APR 1ST BUT instead beg a loan so can do a “make up” ironman next Month May offers Brazil and Lanzerote.  So fingers crossed can swing it.

Well, its now 1am we just got back from the race and we fly out tommorrow am neither of us have started packing- the creakfast thing is a stop en route to the airport.

Wayne was so inspired he wants to sign up for next year.

Again you guys congrats you guys rocked on a less than easy day weather wise awesome and Juli- you are a scary fast mamma - but we knew that already right =0)

Should I win the lottory and keep it a secret from my debtors I’ll rent a house and have ya all come stay for next years Ironman AZ =0)

The garage is full of black widows (well, actually, about 3). They love nothing better than to climb all over my bike, especially the wheels. Also, I am learning to check my shoes before putting them on!

We still got 20 dogs, 30 parrots, and now 10 cats - so it’s pretty busy at my boss’ other property. They’re into rescuing horses and goats now.

This week at the sanctuary, we saw the cutest yellow lab in the world named Tank. We get on like a house on fire because he’s so much fun and always so happy for attention. He does have that lab thing with chronic 10 minutes boughts of compulsive licking - slopper guts.

Think I found a good home for him with a triathlete friend down here in Phoenix. It made me laugh that his name is TANK because that was the nickname I was given by a bunch of German kids I was teaching (camp America style) due to my clumsiness on the soccer field. Tank the lab could also have been named this, due to his clumsiness. It makes me laugh as we cruise around the house knocking into things, ha ha.

Timex Race in Tempe
Crikey! Am I mad I missed you guys! Tried all the cell phone phone numbers, but to no avail. Very, very sad. On my doorstep as well, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Well, I better go - gotta try that swim thing again, haha.

~ Jess

Travel - As far as leaving for a race abroad goes, this was as good as it gets. I got a lift to the airport, did not have to pay for bike box, checked my baggage and bike all the way to Zurich - I have to say American Airlines were great.

British Airways were not as great, as charged me over 100 Great British pounds to be allowed to have my bike return from Switzerland to Britain. American Airlines from Gatwick to Phoenix, no charge again … Guess who I will be flying with next time, eh?

Anyway the flights were cool, the 10 hour lay over in Gatwick was a bit much. I was getting cranky, as I thought Wayne was turning up at lunch time and not 90 min before departure at 5pm, hmm … Of course, my phone’s simcard did not want to work (that was helpful), especially as I’d managed to forget it on way to the airport. Heather drove to the airport in Phoenix rush hour to kindly give it to me.

After Wayne finally arrived, I had a much-needed meal at Gatwick and short flight to Zurich … We were happy to see a friendly face in the shape of Lucky, who was there to pick us up in our homestay “Dad’s” flash car. That had saved us the agony of a train with a changeover to get to our final destination Zofingen – in total 45hrs of travel time for me! The life of racing ‘pro’ … the not so good side!

Home Away From Home - Our home stay family in Switzerland is amazing! We stay in Marco’s house and basically have our own flat, including a kitchen where we can cook.

However, we are spoilt rotten by the Wyss family 200m down the road because feed us fabulous food all the time. I must have put on like 5 kilos before the race from eating all this gorgeous food. It’s a really active family with rowers and handballers, and we are hoping maybe a Powerman athlete will emerge in Flavio, the youngest.

This year, all the kids and Olivia’s boy, Micko, and Wayne made up 2 relay teams in the short distance event deciding this just 4-5 days before the race.

Race Build Up – Sick Pup - I’d arrived 9 days before to acclimatize and to get to know the bike loop, which I was told is 3km longer each of the 3 laps (not good news if running is your strength) and tougher.

My first ride on the new bike loop the Saturday week before the race was a disaster. I felt awful and felt like my muscles were being ripped apart. I never felt so bad and didn’t think I was gonna get around the course because I had to stop twice.

The first time it was because of a huge hill, and I simply had no power with an abnormally high heart rate. The second time it was because a car came at me very fast over the brow of a hill - as he was overtaking he was on the wrong side of the road, and only just missed me. I was already missing the wide open road with shoulders to ride which I’d become accustomed to in Arizona!

The next day, I was sick as a dog, so I guess that’s what was up. It really is so easy to pick up bugs on long haul flights it seems. I spent a couple of days feeling sorry for myself and not doing much, other than lie around. Luckily I felt better by race day.

This year I was given the honour of saying the athletes’ oath and formerly opening the “games” at the opening evening, kinda unique experience and a real privilege.

Race Day - came around in pouring rain again but hey you expect that in Zofingen.

Run 1 10k - I had the formidable two-time Zofingen champ, Erica Csomor, to try to beat. Like my first two attempts here, I led out the first run, lost a bit of time in T1, and headed out on the bike.

Bike 159k - It was still raining, so I was very very cautious on the downhills, which were pretty technical, and by third lap on the bike my legs were shot. They hurt and I felt like I was lacking in nutrition. But I thought 850 calories on the bike ride would be more than enough for the 8hr+ race, but maybe not when your heart rate goes up so much on them darn hills.

Run 2 30k - After racking the bike in T2, I ate 2 gels before setting out on the 30km run, but I could feel I was really tired. I left transition knowing I was in 4^th place, and 12mins behind 2^nd and 3^rd place, and a full 18mins behind the storming Erica.

One gal dropped out pretty quick, which left 2 gals ahead. Erika was miles ahead wasn’t anybody gonna touch her for sure. She won the men vs women bonus by a huge margin as well, she was impressive.

Maja, an awesome bike rider, was in second going into lap 2 of the 30k run course (2 x 15k) she was 7 minutes ahead. But I was tired and 7 minutes seemed like a long long ass way. I figured would try “get her” on the flat near the turn around and pull away down hill if need be.

I got up the top and was making good progress when my shoe got sucked off my foot in the mud - I was not too impressed. I was trying not to fall over, balancing in the mud on one leg trying to get my shoe that was pretty ingrained. Maybe elastic shoelaces in this mud bath weren’t that smart an idea after all.

Finally, I got my shoe back and got back into my running, managing to pass Maja with 5km to run. I could relax a little now, although not too much, as knew there were some good runners behind in the form of my Timex teammate Tamara.

It was great to finish, albeit 2^nd for the 3^rd time on the trot.

More Ramblings - Normally I like to walk around a fair bit after any race, before I actually ‘stop’ altogether, but it was all a bit crrrrrrazy in the finish area, standing around to collect flowers and champers for over an hour in the cold. Then another hour for drug testing, I was hurting as I could feel my left side had completely stiffened up.

I could hardly walk for 3 days. I was so sore (and a bit shocked) as I’ve never really been sore after races before. Wayne just laughed and said ‘ha ha now you know what it feels like for the rest of us mere mortals.’ I kept whining and wondering why on earth people would do these events if they felt like this the next day. Ha ha must be getting old, eh?

The home stay teams did great finishing 4^th and 6^th in their respective categories-not bad at all especially because I had passed my bug on to Olivia, who by now who was sick as a dog. She had to slow down on the run to keep her heart rate under 200.

Also, Micko, her partner, did the race riding a road bike for the first time - whatta dude! He’s like 10 feet tall and 220lbs! Wayne, of course, despite promises of going slow and ‘taking it easy’ and all his protestations of being totally unfit etc., etc., of course, had the fastest team bike split. Hmm… he’s such a fibber.

We had a few pints that night and caught up with Zofingen friends before heading to the UK the next day.

UK Visit - Whilst in the UK, it was the celebrations of my dad’s 70^th Birthday in the Isle of Man.

As it was a surprise birthday bash I did not get to spend much time with my family. Cake - but there are so many candles!

Special Mentions
Steve Tietz from San Jose, California was involved in a bad accident, breaking his pelvis whilst practicing the new bike course in Zofingen. We visited him in Hospital in Aarau on the Friday and Monday, and he is such a brave and inspirational person.

I hope surgery goes well and that he will be on the road back to recovery. If anyone will come back from such complicated injuries he is the one to do it, he really is such an inspiration and I wish him all the best.

Michelle Parsons - representing GB is going from strength to strength turning 40 has certainly not slowed her down quite the contrary she is motoring like never before - good on ya gal.

She was 5^th in Powerman Zofingen in the Elite field. She would have won her age category by well over an hour - crikey! Then the following weekend, she raced Powerman Austria and took second -which means she is ranked number 1 in the Powerman World Ranking for the series. Rumor has it she’s learning the swim business, so watch out Ironman!

Thanks
Thanks for everyone involved in Powerman Zofingen, and thanks to Zofingen the town itself. These people always go out of their way to make us feel so at home, this is the best race for friendly community atmosphere.

Our home stay family is awesome. Thanks Marco for letting us stay…. Again! Thanks Franz, Christin, Olivia (happy birthday for Sept 17 now 19 years old, eh), Micko, Nico, Flavio and of course Juma (pronounced Huma) their great big black hairy Newfoundlander dog which provides hours of entertainment.

Thanks to Lucky and Jacquelyn (and her team), as well as Stefan Ruff (and his team) which work their butts off behind the scenes. Also to my other homestay family Brigitte, Christian and Ramona Suess. Then to Anja for the Power(wo)man cookies (yum) and Ursala Richards (the kiwi) home stay mama for feeding the troops (yum). Her honey lemon ‘get well’ mix, worked a treat when I was sick.

As always it’s great to catch up with other athletes again some of them I only see in Zofingen like Sharom and Richard from Malaysia and New Zealand, and Nico and Tamara from Belgium and the Ukraine to mention a couple. Always nice to share a coffee pre race and a beer post race with these guys.

It really is such a special race and such a special atmosphere it such a privilege to be able to come here - we’re having such a good time. This was my third time here and my third time being runner up. Am thinking might just have to do it 10 times to get the special numbers your receive when you have done it 10 times.

Thanks also to my sponsors for making this possible for me, IOMSAF-Servicetech, Timex, Tristore (Eastbourne UK), Infinit Nutrition, Vega (everyday vegan food =0), Tom Manzi, my coach. Murray my tri mentor who has babysat me at 3 ironman races this year and booked all Hawaii travel arrangements what a star. Wayne for ……………well his list is endless.

Others that have helped me have been Cliffpratt cycles in Hull, Maximum Potential (psyche stuff) in North East London, Brian Martin, Endurance Rehabilitation, USA Grant Smith (Chiro help), USA. Andrew Jones (orthotics) NZ. Mike and Sandra Lovell (extended stay) NZ. On the swim front, I am indebted to too many people to mention, but thanks to everyone that has tried to encourage me have suddenly seen some improvement in the last 2 weeks so am happy =0).

Thanks again everyone without you guys that be no Pro races and no Pro Racers - the world would be bleak.

Fundraising note
I am racing Ironman Hawaii as a Pro this year and very excited about it too, but, I would like to use this opportunity to raise awareness and cash for 2 organizations close to my heart survival-international.org aiding tribal communities globally to survive and luckydogrescue.org which rescues dogs from mistreatment and finds them a new permanent home.

Please visit my pages and pledge a couple of bucks/pounds/kroner/francs whatever…
www.justgiving.com/jessIMHawaii or
http://www.firstgiving.com/jessrace4good
My tri news http://www.jessdp.com