Big things are afoot! I am wrapping up the map/mailer design for our annual Open Studios event, and that will go to the printer today. Rob is moving more stuff up this afternoon. On Friday, the movers come, and then we will settle in with his boxes and my boxes and try to make sense of it all.

The good news is, I’ve been riding a lot. Oh, and I got these, and they rule. Thanks, Todd, for the recommendation. These are the Crank Brothers Candy SL pedals, and they have enough of a platform for me to pedal clipped out in traffic, and I am likng that a lot. I am also (still) loving my bike, so much that Spinning class is just… meh. I am dreading the cold, wet months just because of that. But, on the other hand, that weather is great for my running.

But back to the life stuff for a second. One of the big plusses for Rob moving in revolves around running. Apart from having to find a new favorite route, which is sad because we loved our old one, we will get to run together more, and that is such a big bonus. I swear, when I don’t want to go, he makes me. And when he doesn’t want to go, same deal. Plus, we end up eating better when we’re at my place, and we’re both committed to getting out there more and eating well. So I’m excited for that.

I was thinking, too, about my weird eating issues and how I do much better when there is someone around to make me more accountable. I suppose this goes back to the ED days, but anyway, I eat less junk when I live with someone, mostly because I have to shop with them/for them, and I don’t want them to see me pounding down the Oreos while simultaneously whining that I am fat. Which I’m not. Shockingly, I am not a secret binge eater, hiding Ho Hos in the closet and whatnot. I just don’t eat that stuff, or rather, I will have a couple of cookies instead of an entire row, when there are people around. This is probably because I eat out of boredom, come to think of it.

ANYWAY, I’m looking forward to having Rob here, and being able to have a more managable routine again. That being said, if I don’t get out and run soon, I am going to lose my mind. :)

I’ve been trying to write my race report all week, and it has not been easy. For something so… life affirming and kickass, I really needed a solid chunk of time to sit down and devote to remembering and writing, and well, time’s been short this week, as usual.

But first, the photos. Go see them, then come back and read a spell.

I met Dianna on Saturday at the packet pickup, which was exciting, fun, and mobbed. I peed like 6 times, sat with Dianna in the race prep sessions with Sally Edwards, got marked, and met J & M, Dianna’s friends. The school where the pickup was, had a buzzing hum of energy about it. It was exciting to see women of all ages and sizes, women with their partners, their daughters, their friends.

The most moving part of the morning was when the Team Survivor ladies came up on stage. Immediately, the audience rose to its feet and cheered for these strong women, many competing in their first Danskin, and some fresh out of chemo. Needless to say, both Dianna and I were bawling.

After the sessions and more peeing, Dianna and I went to our hotel, checked in, dumped our stuff, and headed out to get provisions for race day… and lunch. As we walked through the mall, our arms and legs tagged with our race numbers, I began to feel eyes on me. Curious passersby stared and kept moving, yet no one approached us, and as we began to look around, we caught sight of more marked women. Badasses, all, in my opinion. I stood a little taller then, and smiled.

I had forgotten how Dianna makes me laugh and how, when we’re talking, one of us will say something, then the other will exclaim, "I KNOW!!!!" and we laugh like it’s the funniest thing in the world… because we’re nerds. In case there is any doubt, see the photographic evidence.

The next couple of hours were all geeking out – talking about the race, prepping our gear, looking at our race loot, and me trying to avoid that stupid nail fungus "digger" character that happened to be a sponsor of the race, because, you know, it skeeves me out. *sigh*

Had dinner with J & M at a great little Italian place where Dianna threw down at the table. Damn, that girl can eat. Heh. We had a really nice meal, and I loved getting to know J & M. They are such sweethearts.

When we got back to the hotel, Rob was waiting for us, and I was so glad to see him. There was some doubt about whether or not he was going to come, up until Friday night, because… well, boys are dumb. I’m sorry, but it’s true. To clarify – Boys are dumb, and girls are crazy. So, he wasn’t going to come, and I was upset and didn’t say anything, then I freaked out and cried because I was imagining crossing the finish line with no one there just for me and all that dramatic crap, blah, blah, blah.  So he  hugged me and said he’d come, and 24 hours later, there he was! Whew.

We got ready for bed, since o-dark-thirty came early (4:45), and watched a little Law & Order SVU. While Dianna worried, Rob asked questions about SVU. Who’s that guy? Is that the cop? Why is she sneaking around? Etc. Finally, Rob and I drifted off, and Dianna soon followed.

I woke up, for the first time, at around 3. My mind started racing at that point, and I couldn’t shut it off. While Dianna, as I later learned, was thinking about the race what-ifs, my head was occupied with other, less important shit, like, I wonder if my sister has left for vacation yet, and how hot is it in the Carolinas this time of year? Can my nephew eat peanut butter yet? How do kids learn sign language? I bet they get another dog this year. AND SO ON, until about 4.

At the ungodly hour of 4:45am, the alarm went off. My brain finally shut itself off, I guess, and I couldn’t get it working. I had prepped the coffee maker the night before but still spent 2 minutes staring at it before turning it on. Did I put the water in it yet? How do I work this? Miraculously, the coffee came out, and we gears in my head creaked to life. We got ready, grabbed our gear, and then a knock was heard at the door. In comes J, perky and well, awake. I just sort of stared at her in disbelief. :)

Made it out of the hotel, onto the highway, and to the race site. Got our crap out of the van, packed onto ourselves and bikes, and headed down to the beach to set up. I tried to eat, but couldn’t yet. The next couple of hours were pretty uneventful, what with the setting up, walking around being nervous, and peeing. I choked down a banana and half of a PB&J on wheat. Then I wanted to hurl. And pee. And hurl. And pee. You get the picture.

Dianna and I were standing there talking, and then poof, she was gone. I was in the next wave, so I got ready to go, too. It was so sudden and surreal. One minute you’re standing around being nervous. The next you’re on the sand, then in the water, then going.

So we go, and I’m swimming, then BAM, kicked in the face. I was sort of stunned, I guess, and scared. I’d done some open water swimming, but nothing prepared me for getting kicked. My goggles filled with water and my first thought was "my contacts!" But when I popped up, it seemed like I could see, so I shook my goggles out, put them back on, and breast stroked to get my heart rate back under control, because, truthfully, I was having a full-on panic attack. It was pretty humiliating, given that swimming is my event. Anyway, I recovered, and kept going. The course was triangular, and as I swam along the 2nd leg, parallel to shore, I caught sight of the most amazing clouds and sky. That really helped me focus on something other than the nerves and panic. The rest of the swim was uneventful, except for the disgusting plant life on the way back in. :shudder:

Up the beach and across the pavement. Rob is running along side me with the camera, telling me I’m doing great and stuff. I am jello-legged and have to pee, but keep going. Get my gear, the bike, and go.

The bike was fine. A good climb, a steep descent, and a stop to help another rider in the middle. That felt good, and it helped me calm down even  more. I passed some people, I was passed. I yelled  on your left a lot more than it was yelled at me. Do people just not follow directions? Up, down some more, past some donkeys and llamas or something. I keep following a woman in an apple green jersey. We leapfrog a lot. She says "gotcha" when she passes me and I say, "oh no you don’t" when I pass her. We’re laughing. It’s a good time.

Coming back into the run, I had all these weird but most likely typical thoughts. Like, I can’t believe I just did the bike. This is almost over. Alternating with I can’t believe I have to run now. This is insane. Then I thought I saw Dianna, and then thought no, that’s not her. Of course it was, and she yelled my name (mind you, she was on the way BACK from her run, that fast chick!), and I felt dumb for not being able to recognize her from the back. *sigh*

Got to the transition, felt okay, and well… kept going. Now, I’d done some bricks before, but I have to tell you, I felt tired. So I did a run/walk for the remainder of the race. It was fine. I yelled encouragement to a couple of people, and pretty soon I was at the turnaround. On the way back, I talked with a couple of other runners and soon I found myself passing under the bridge and heading for the finish line.

The finish line was strange in that I didn’t really know where it was, and found myself running on pavement, then grass, then turning a corner and AHA! So yeah. I crossed the line, saw Dianna and J and the whole entourage. I grabbed Dianna and hugged her hard, then started crying. Rob appeared and I cried some more. Dianna’s mom hugged me and asked if I was okay. I just cried and smiled and cried, because really, that was all I knew how to do at that point. I was just so tired. Heh.

I had my chip taken off, got my medal, and then we walked around a little, the whole time thinking, Holy F-ing Shit! I can’t believe it’s over. What now?

And that’s about it, really. I had the best time. Dianna was a rockstar, as usual, and I couldn’t have done it without her. Rob was amazing. I feel blessed.

And now I really am wondering what’s next? Today I rode my bike for 20 miles, and I’m going to start working towards Tufts. Would I do Danskin again? Absolutely. I think I’d also like to ride more… maybe train for a 50 miler or a metric century. Regardless, this tri girl will be back for more… well, some might say punishment, but I would say accomplishment. Yeah, accomplishment. Word.