Perspective

I am sitting here in my friends apartment watching the rain fall outside and thinking about how difficult the past few days have been. A disaster like this one in Boulder makes you really put things in to perspective.

After my bike crash early June, I spent a long time rehabbing and getting healthy. I went to REV3 Maine after two months away from racing- and I was really excited to get back out there again. I raced okay, but walked away frustrated with a costly mechanical on the bike, and disappointed with the result. The weekend was a lot of fun with OTF Multisport, and our team had a big showing. I also got to catch up with Kurt Perham, my first triathlon coach. Throughout the years, he has always remained a mentor and good friend, so I was really excited to meet up.

Photo from the run in Maine.

I went home to Connecticut for a week, and as always, the time with family was much needed. We went to Rhode Island to see some of my mom's side of the family on Labor Day, a bittersweet feeling without my Grandma being there. My mom insisted on getting some family photos down by the beach- it is rare that we are all together, and photos are always a great way to savor the memories.

The fam. 

Since then, I have been preparing for the Pacific Grove triathlon and the Las Vegas Super Sprint. When I was home in CT I began to develop an old knee injury, which I think came from the combined stress of riding lots of steep hills (the riding where I live in CT is brutal!) and also from running on the roads (Boulder spoils me with trails). I have had the injury before, so I know how to deal with it and what it takes to get healthy again. This unfortunately means I won't be racing this weekend at Pac Grove, and most likely not in Vegas either. This season has certainly been filled with frustration- I felt like I was coming in to good form leading up to Edmonton, then the bike crash happened, now injury is putting me on the sidelines. However, after the past few days here in Boulder, I think the injury was a blessing in disguise.

I was supposed to leave on Wednesday for CA, but decided I wouldn't be able to race, and instead was able to be here to deal with the Boulder floods. My apartment is completely ruined, but I did get home from errands on Wednesday evening in time to get a lot of it raised. If I had left to race, I would have come home to a really really bad situation. Now, after staying at a friends place for the past few days (Thank you Kevin Collington and Lindsey Jerdonek), I am a bit scared to go back and see what further damage was caused by the flooding. Last time I left my apartment the water was 5-6 inches deep throughout the inside, but I got word from my apartment manager that 2-3 feet of water is pooled outside my apartment door and no one can get in to pump it out. (YIKES!) I am just hoping that 2-3 feet of water is not also inside my apartment.

Regardless, with this horrible disaster in Boulder, I have been reminded that things are just things, and the way people have come together to help others is truly remarkable. The next few weeks will be interesting as I am able to assess the extent of damage to my place and my personal belongings, but I know everything will be ok.

I am hoping to get healthy for Cozumel in October- I had a great, fun race in Cancun last year, so Mexico is a place I would love to return to. Until then, amidst the frustration with injury and flooding, I must remind myself to focus on the positive and keep moving forward, one day at a time.

Jessica

Summer Adventures: Connecticut, Canada and California

It has been over a month since I have updated my blog, so I am long overdue! I haven't been in Colorado since June 12, so I have been traveling around and quite busy. It has been a great few weeks all in all- lots of smiles, some tears, but mostly a lot of fun. Instead of writing a ton about my travels, I am going to use a mixture of photos and text to tell you what I have been up to lately.


Connecticut

I made a decision to travel home for Father's day and my little sisters' graduation from middle school, and it just so happened that there was a hometown race for me to compete in while in CT! The Griskus Olympic triathlon was the week before Edmonton, so I figured it would be a great tune up, and it is a rare occasion that I get to race in front of my entire family. My aunt and grandmother came to watch my race as well, so I had quite the cheering squad.

I had competed in the Griskus Sprint Triathlon as one of my first triathlons ever in 2007 (I think?), but had never taken on the challenge of the olympic distance. My mom warned me about the hills, but I honestly did not know what was coming. Riding in CT is actually quite challenging, even after living in Colorado for 5 years where we ride in the mountains all the time. Instead of being able to climb for miles (like in CO), riding in CT is like a roller coaster, and it is very hard to find a rhythm. You go up steep little climbs, then down, then up again...over and over again. I actually wish I raced on my road bike it was so hilly! Regardless, it was a very fun and rewarding course, and I was happy to put together a strong swim-bike-run combo to take the win. I also got the course record, so I have a free entry if I want to go back and race next year! :)

 

Chris Thomas and I after taking the overall male and female wins at the 2013 Griskus Triathlon.

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I enjoyed my time at home and got to see my baby sisters graduate from middle school! My older sister Emily and I held back tears as we watched them receive their diplomas, in disbelief that they will be headed off to high school next year. I am so proud of all they have accomplished so far, and I know they have very bright futures ahead of them!

The whole family after the twins graduation. From left to right: Me, Mom, Hannah (twin 2), Emily, Scarlet (twin 1), Dad.

Canada

After my week at home, I was off to Edmonton, Canada for my second world cup. I was eager to see my Apex teammates, Flora Duffy and Lindsey Jerdonek, and race hard after a confidence booster the previous weekend in my hometown. A major goal of mine this season has been to transfer the relaxed nature in which I approach low key races, into my big races. This is much easier said than done, but I am making progress. I think it is really easy to over think and get in your head when you are on a big stage and have expectations. I always seem to surprise myself in low key race situations, so now it is about transferring this confidence and mentality over to my ITU races.

I was really pleased with my race in Edmonton- I had a great swim, ended up in the first chase pack, ran hard and ended up 18th.

Swim Start- I am on the right side between the green suit and the Canada suit.

The one down side of the race was a hold up in T2- I made a surge to the front of the pack at the end of the bike and dismounted first in our group. I knew positioning would be key heading out on to the run. Unfortunately, I had a few people cut in front of me from the right side as they came across their transition areas (mine was towards the far end), and I nearly face-planted trying to slow down my momentum with my bike. Transition is always chaotic, so I just stayed calm and tried to get through there as quickly as possible. I was towards the back out of transition after nearly colliding with a few different girls, and I spent over half the run just trying to make contact with some of the athletes. The run course was TOUGH, basically two massive hill repeats. I ran very hard, and was pleased with my race effort-- I had nothing else to give on the day, and crossing the line after giving your best effort is a great feeling! I have made a lot of steps in the right direction, and I am really proud of that. I still have work to do, but I am patiently enjoying the journey, and always looking forward.

We had quite a few men and women racing in Canada, and it was a great trip all around. A big thanks to Greg Mueller and Lindsey Hyman for being great coaches. It was awesome to get to spend time with both of you, as well as all the American athletes.

USA women with Lindsey Hyman and Greg Mueller pre race. A great showing by Team USA!

Me with Chelsea Burns and Katie Hursey, my OTF Multisport teammates!

 California

My travels from Canada included a flight to San Francisco (which was delayed quite a bit due to fog), a missed shuttle to Monterey (due to the delay, due to the fog), a later shuttle to Monterey, CA, and a short car ride to California State University- Monterey, for a week of coaching at a Junior Triathlon Skills camp.

I had an absolutely incredible week- I think I learned just as much from the campers as they did from me. Spending time with young, talented triathletes brought me back to my roots and made me remember the fun and positive approach I had towards the sport when I started about six years ago.

The whole crew pre open water swim in Monterey, CA. It was chilly!

A few big takeaways from camp----For one,  I absolutely LOVE coaching and am thinking about getting my Level 1 USAT certification now. I really appreciate Sharon Osgood (camp director) getting me involved with such an awesome group of athletes and coaches, because I had a truly incredible experience.

With some of the campers and coaches at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Second big takeaway- even though I have been doing the sport for awhile now, I still have a lot to learn! I now understand what people mean when they say "teaching is the best way to learn something." I kept my eyes and ears wide open throughout the week, and through engaging with other coaches and athletes at camp, I can honestly say that I left camp with a lot more knowledge than when I arrived.

Third big takeaway- Enjoying the process is the key to success. I saw all of the campers smiling throughout the entire week- even during some really hard sessions, and I think that having a positive attitude is essential for achieving goals in sport. It is definitely hard to maintain the mentality I had when I was 16 years old and just getting started in triathlon, because I had no expectations and really no care in the world- I just had fun and worked really hard. Now, I have fun and work really hard, but also put a lot of unneeded pressure on myself on race day. Racing is racing, and you have to have fun to be successful.

A quote I read recently that relates.... (I also met Olympic swimmer, Eric Shanteau at an open water swim yesterday in Santa Barbara and read this article later that day, where I found the quote).
"If you're enjoying yourself in sport and enjoying the competition, you're going to get better."

On the second to last day of camp, we were descending a steep climb and I crashed my bike pretty hard. The hardest part of the day was behind us- It was 110 degrees and we had climbed lots of miles in the mountains. I was moving my hands from my hoods to my drops, and in the split second between I hit a huge hole in the road and went flying.

The hip battle wound.

At the end of the day- a hairline fracture in my elbow, lots of road rash, and my first crash down in the books. I would say that 1 bad crash in 6 years of riding is a pretty good record! Sharon took great care of me, and I tried not to cry in front of the campers even though I was in a LOT of pain. The shower post crash, and the day after were just as bad as the crash itself, but every day since has been getting better and better. I went to the doc and he told me to use pain as my guide and swimming is actually "good" for the elbow."
So, I am still able to swim-bike-run, and things could be a lot worse.

Chris and I in Santa Barbara at the Dolphin Fountain.

I was able to catch a ride with one of the campers' parents to Santa Barbara, where I have been now for a week. It has been great to visit with Chris and his family- I turned 23 (ah!), and I absolutely LOVE everything about southern California. We went to the beach on my birthday, and that was probably my favorite part of the whole week!

Chris and I at the beach on the 4th.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to do all the fun local events (swim-runs, open water swims etc), because of my elbow, but I have been able to watch Chris compete. The cheerleader role is actually quite fun! I have one more full day in Santa Barbara, and then I will be headed back to Boulder. I am looking forward to sitting down with my coach and coming up with a plan to attack the second half of my season with full steam! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

Jessica

Butter Braden and I at the beach. :)

Kansas, Dallas, and the rest of June

I didn't write a post after Kansas 5150, and now after racing Dallas ITU, I am due for a double race report. Both races were not the results I was hoping for, but that doesn't mean I didn't take anything away from the experiences.


KANSAS:

Kansas was a fun weekend- I drove from Boulder with a friend and had a wonderful home stay. I was really excited to do a non draft triathlon after having the Kemah triathlon changed to an aquathlon a few weeks earlier. I had really been enjoying riding my TT bike again, and was feeling strong.

In the early hours of race morning, a storm started rolling in and by the time we made it to transition it was in a full on downpour with lightning. (Does the bad weather follow me everywhere?!) It wasn't freezing, but it wasn't warm. I did my bike and run warm up around 6:15 a.m., anticipating a 7:30 a.m. start, but the race director started making announcements that they were delaying the swim every time they saw lightning. And it kept on coming! Ultimately, they decided to cancel the swim and we would do a bike-run, with a staggered TT start on the bike (we left approximately 10 seconds after one another). By this time, it was after 8 a.m. and I was starting to get cold. I had all the proper clothing and was prepared for any weather, but I was so wet that it didn't really matter. It was hard to go off and continue warming up while we waited for the race director to make a decision because we really needed to be near transition to hear what the race would end up being. If he decided there would be a swim, I wanted to be near by to get a good swim warm up in.

As I took off on my bike I tried to get into a rhythm and get warm. I never noticed that I was shivering or freezing during the ride, and I felt like I was riding well, but I kept getting passed by the other riders. I was one of the first to go off and as people went by I tried to stay with them, but they would eventually go off down the road. There was really nothing wrong, I just wasn't riding well, which could be for a number of reasons.

When I got to transition I was excited to see what I could do on the run. I had a great run at Kemah and was eager to test myself again. By this point it was sunny and warm, so weather really wasn't an issue! I put in my absolute best effort, but my body wasn't cooperating and my run wasn't what I was hoping for.

The consistent theme of the day was that I raced hard and stayed mentally strong, despite the swim cancellation and less than ideal conditions. Some days the body just doesn't show up to play! A big thanks to my home stay Rodney and Dynelle Kessler- you made my first visit to Kansas such a pleasure, and I appreciate your hospitality!


DALLAS:

This past weekend I went back to Dallas for the 2nd running of the Dallas ITU Pan American Cup. Last year I had a heat stroke at this race, so I was back for some redemption, and was really excited to race in the US. There aren't that many opportunities to race ITU in North America, so it is important to really capitalize on the races we get. This was also the U23 National Championships and the U23 Worlds qualifier.

The team I race for, Off the Front Multisport, had a whole group that went out to Dallas to race, and it was great to see my teammates. After being sick for the first two ITU races earlier this year in March, I was really excited to get out and race again.

I had a great swim, was swimming in the front group, and exited the water at the tail end of the group. I ran through transition and struggled clipping my helmet, got my bike and ran out of transition to see the group heading off down the road. I mounted my bike, put my head down and told myself that getting in that group was the race for me. And it was. I should have been in that pack after the swim I had, but ITU racing is often times about these critical seconds. ITU racing has a lot of races within the race itself, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to win the race of getting in the pack. I ended up riding alone for 3 laps, then with one other rider for the remaining 5. We were caught by a group of 2 on the last lap, but we just kept losing time to the front group of 12. From all the draft legal races I have done, I know that sometimes this is just how the races go. I rode hard, kept my mind clear, strong and focused on making the most of the situation I was in. I ran well for the first few laps, but then fell apart and finished in a disappointing 12th.

Photo credit: Brandon Wade

The positives of the day were my swim and fueling- I nailed my nutrition and hydration and didn't feel dizzy, thirsty, hungry or sick (big improvement from last year at this race). There were some negatives for sure, but I like to focus on the good. A big congrats to all the racers this weekend, especially the guys who toughed it out in hard conditions with a race start at noon...in Dallas...in June. HOT. There were some really phenomenal performances this weekend from USA athletes, and that is great to see.

I got to have a wonderful dinner with Matthew Murphy and his son Shawn. I have decided to become a part of Shawn's Anomaly, an organization spreading awareness about congenital anomalies in children. I am really excited to be a part of such an amazing group of people, and help in whatever way I can.

With Matthew and his son, Shawn. 

I received an email this morning from someone I met in Dallas while out running on Friday.

"Greetings Jess.....my name is Dennis, and we met Friday morning (along the lake next to the Marriott and my apartments) while I was walking my dogs and you were just finishing your running and preparations for the week-end event.....I want to extend my congratulations to you for your efforts and 12th place finish in this event.....you are likely on your way home right now, and a bit fatigued, but I wanted to also convey what a pleasure it was to have met you......parents and grandparents (like me!!) can always see good qualities in people even when others may simply overlook these positive attributes that are so obvious, and I feel fortunate to have met you, and to compliment you on the intrinsic goodness that exudes from you and via your presence.....while in church this morning, I considered the potential personal difficulties that you must endure in your training, travels, and competitions, and I decided that I am going to pray for you, and for the goodness that God has prepared in advance for you. You are a good young lady, and I wish you goodness throughout your life."

I really enjoy meeting people when I travel, and it makes me happy to know that I sometimes leave a good impression! I pride myself on being a good person, because at the end of the day that is really all that matters.

A big thanks to my coach Grant Holicky, the Apex coaching crew, my family and friends, OTF Multisport, Breeze Bars, Team Psycho and Rudy Project for your continued support. It is monumental having such an amazing group behind me, through the highs and the lows of training and racing. I head home to CT in 10 days for Father's Day, my little sisters' graduation from middle school, and a little hometown racing fun. Then off to Edmonton for the World Cup, followed by a week in Monterey, CA coaching a Junior triathlon camp. :)

All for now.

Jessica

An unexpected email...

Yesterday when I was traveling home from Kemah, I pulled out my phone and realized I had a new email. The subject was "Your Kemah finish line video." I instantly got excited to see the finish on video, and then felt disappointment when thinking about what happened shortly after. Video or not, it was the email itself that truly touched me. Having a complete stranger reach out to me and understand so well what I was going through is pretty incredible.

Matthew Murphy gave me permission to share the email.

Jessica,

I wanted to write you to provide you a moment that was a bright portion of your weekend.  I read your commentary on your blog, and I know that it is disappointing to you that you were disqualified not only emotionally but financially.  As someone that is a former professional athlete, I felt inclined to write you.  I felt that you "had" to write what you did, but it may not reflect how you really feel.  

I played golf from the time I was 6 years old until the day I was forced to retire from the pro tour at 28 because of injury. I took advantage of my talent and my career "in the moment" because it was the only life I had ever known.  When it was gone, I went through a huge depression because in an instant I lost the only identity I had ever known. I spent 2 years trying to find myself.  I want you to realize how blessed you are from today's modern technology and social media.  You will be able to show your children your career.  Sadly, I have very little pictures let alone video of my career. 

If I had a chance to do my career all over again, I would have done it so differently.  It is not always about the money or even the finishes as much as it is about competing with integrity and performing at your best while loving every second you are there.  I know that there are pressures on you to have results from your coaches and sponsors, but remember to carry the attitude of enjoying what you do and not letting your athletic career be "work".  The results will come in your favor because no matter what, we have the "drive" to train to be the best.

I was fortunate to find a new life outside of competitive sports. I also feel very fortunate that at 35 I got into triathlon even though I was never a swimmer, biker, or runner.  It is now my outlet to let my competitive juices flow for a good cause of raising awareness and providing help to families affected by birth defects similar to what my son was born with through the organization we founded www.shawnsanomaly.org.  I am fortunate to now see other athletes (both pro and age groupers) choose Shawn's Anomaly as their reason to race.  It really helps them put everything into perspective, and I am happy to just be a litte part of that. 

Please see the attached video of your finish!  I hope you have a great season. 

Sincerely,

Matthew Murphy

I can't thank Matthew enough for reaching out to me and giving me perspective on sport, and what matters most. This is something I love about triathlon- the people you meet along the way and the lessons you can learn from them. I am in communication now with him and plan to get involved with Shawn's Anomaly. Racing for a cause is something I have always wanted to do, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. 

Jessica

Kemah Tri

This weekend was a whirlwind of a trip. I made the decision to travel to Houston to race the Onurmark Kemah Triathlon, my first non draft race in over two years. After going to Florida to start my season early March, and being extremely disappointed with a bad result and a DNF (due to illness), I was eager to get back out racing. Since March, I have done a few crits and a TT in Boulder, and have thoroughly enjoyed racing bikes. I have seen fitness improvements across all three disciplines, and gained confidence from some great training sessions the past few weeks.

Kyle Leto and Kevin Collington both traveled from Boulder to Kemah to race, so it was nice to have friends and training partners to hang with. On Saturday the weather was okay, with just some light rain as we previewed the course late morning. There was a chance of thunderstorm and rain in the forecast, but the weather really seemed fine most of the day, and the thought of rain becoming an issue was not on my mind. Then, after an early dinner with Kevin, Kyle and Lauren and Barrett Brandon, we stepped outside and it was a torrential downpour with nasty thunder and lightning bolts. Our 50m dash to the car left us looking like we had just taken a shower. The rain continued to fall and we received emails that night explaining possible “Cancellation policies” from the race director. 

Race morning, 4 a.m. wake up (ouch!), breakfast routine, coffee, pack bag, receive email that bike is cancelled, boo.

Instead of sulking, I tried to remain optimistic, something that Grant always reminds me. “Focus on the positive, focus on the positive.” 

Everything was delayed a bit because of the change from a triathlon to an aquathlon. We put our racing shoes at the swim exit because there was a 3/4 mile run to t1 after the swim, and we basically would just be running through transition anyways. Our race belts were in transition, and I clipped mine around the bar on top of where my number was positioned (892). We got on the boat around 7 a.m. and started around 8.

It was a non wetsuit swim for the pros, which I was happy about. The water was pretty rough, and it was a small women's field so I ended up alone. I chose a line to shore that may not have been the best, as I was pretty far away from the buoys, but it seemed more realistic to me at the time because of the currents. 

Swim start.

I exited the swim and was in 2nd behind Lauren Brandon by a substantial amount, but felt good as I put my shoes on and started running towards transition. And then I reached the pro transition rack and my number was no where to be seen. I searched and searched, and after about a minute of waisting my time, I somehow assumed that since there was a race belt exactly where my number had been, that someone may have taken mine by accident. I thought "Oh well, not a big deal, I will just take theirs." That may sound silly, but we all know how we get when we race. Some things seem rational when maybe they aren't. Well, that turned out to be the reason I got DQed. But if I had run without a race number I would have been DQed as well. I am not completely familiar with non draft rules, so that is my own fault and I should make sure I learn them. However, my race belt was missing, and that was completely out of my control. 

I got onto the run and felt great. I ran to the front around mile 3, but knew that D'Ann was probably charging from behind. After catching Lauren I started feeling progressively worse, but that is how it should be, right? ;) I focused on keeping my cadence up, and my arms relaxed, and as I rounded the last corner and saw D'Ann behind, I knew that I had the win in the bag. She was closing hard and ended up finishing 10 seconds behind me, so congrats to her on a great run.

Grabbing the tape felt GREAT. It has been 4 years since that happened last- Collegiate Nationals in 2009. Even though it was an aquathlon, and even though I ended up getting DQed a few seconds later, I was reminded how much fun it is to cross the finish line and feel happy. It isn't necessarily about winning, it's about putting out your absolute best effort on the day and being happy with the result. A win is a win, DQ or not, it was a great day for me.

I was upset for about 5 minutes until I realized a few things:

1) I just had fun racing.

2) I ran a 36:55, my fastest split ever.

3) It is April, and there is plenty more racing to come.

4) I love triathlon again.

A big thanks to my coach Grant Holicky for encouraging me to do some local racing the past few weeks. It brought me back to a place of enjoying racing, which I was able to transfer into my experience at Kemah. Also thanks to Off the Front Multisport, Rudy Project and Breeze Bars for your support! 

Now I have my DNF and DQ out of the way for 2013, and I am ready to kick the rest of the season's butt.

Jess

My return to Non Draft Racing

After a few weekends of bike racing, I am off to Texas this Friday for my first non draft race in over two years! I will be racing the Kemah Triathlon on Sunday in Houston, and I am SO excited. As much as I love draft legal and still am focusing on that style of racing, I am thrilled to be back on my TT bike. I did the Haystack TT this past weekend in Boulder and had an absolute blast, further confirming my decision to get back to some non draft racing this year. I will post next after Kemah!

Haystack TT 2013.

My first bike race!

This past weekend I competed in my first bike race in Boulder. I have been riding now for five years, but there is still a great deal of room for improvement as a bike racer- handling skills, tactics, cornering, efficiency etc.

I spent Wednesday-Friday at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and had a great week of training with Grant Holicky, Kristen Peterson and Race Swimming. I didn't think the week could get any better, but man was I wrong. Bike racing is FUN!

I was a little nervous and scared headed into the race, because I know crits can be dangerous and I have had friends who have crashed and broken bones.  More than anything though, I was excited. It is pretty cool to do something that scares the heck out of you. If the picture below is any indication, I had an absolute blast riding my bike that day.

How I feel about bike racing- all smiles. Thanks Ryan Wakat for the photo.

The race course was a small loop (about a half mile) in a research park just across the street from my apartment (perfect!). I couldn't help but think about Rhianna's new single "Stay." If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics, listen here.

Anyways, around and around and around we went, and I attacked a few times, and smiled, and thought 

"Holy crap, I love riding my bike!" I don't even know where I ended up at the finish (mainly because I didn't know where the finish was), but everyone started sprinting and I followed.

If there was a conversation between me and my legs during these final few moments it would go like this:

Legs: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? You already sprinted too many times in this race, I do not want to sprint again.

Me: GO LEGS GO! Man up.

Legs: Maybe you should have saved us for the final sprint.

Me: Maybe, but I was getting antsy and attacking is too much fun.

Legs: You learned for next time.

Me: Probably not.

Anyways, I am racing again this weekend in Louisville, and I simply cannot wait! 

Jessica

The (not so great) start of 2013

It has been a rough two weeks. I am back in Boulder now after ten days in Florida, where I ventured to kick off my 2013 racing season in Clermont. I planned to race Clermont (sprint) as a tune up for the Sarasota Pan Am Cup the following weekend, and use these two early season races as a gauge for where I am at after a great training block this winter.  I was very excited as March approached because it has been awhile since I have started my season so early in the year due to injury and illness.

About a week before I left for Florida I got very sick- I had a 104 fever, a sore throat and a gnarly cough. I called my Mom in the middle of the night (lets be honest, we all want our moms when we are sick), and she said "Jess, are you sure your fever is 104? You would feel like you were dying." As I lay in bed, sheets soaked in sweat, my mom encouraged me: "at least your body is fighting it off!" I really just needed a hug.

I spent an entire day on the couch, watching marathons of Two and a Half Men (great show!), tried to hydrate and eat, and started to feel better over the course of the weekend. By the time Wednesday rolled around, I was packing up my things, feeling more human, and eager to race on Saturday. The one positive of being sick already was that I knew I couldn't get contaminated from the germs on the plane.

I ran through my normal pre race routine on Friday, had a nice dinner with Stephen Wright (team director of Off the Front Multisport), and attempted sleeping. I laid awake coughing the entire night, but remained positive that my body would miraculously decide to feel better come race day. Long story short- I toed the line, gave it all I had, and finished. I was happy that I made the effort, but my body was not, and I continued feeling worse over the course of the next few days. I went to an Urgent Care in Florida where the doctor concluded that I had pneumonia, and then I was put on antibiotics which proceeded to drain every ounce of energy out of me the following week leading in to Sarasota. But once again, I toed the line. About half way through the second lap of the swim I started coughing, throwing up fluids and overheating. I pulled the plug and decided that my health is way more important right now than trying to race.

I learned a lot these past two weeks:

1) It doesn't matter how fit you are if you aren't healthy enough to race.
2) Getting sick is part of life.
3) Having support from family and friends is instrumental in overcoming hardship.
4) Listening to your body is more important than anything.

I plan to regroup, figure out what is going on with my body, chat with my coach about the rest of the season, and continue working hard towards my goals. Congratulations to all the racers these past two weekends- there were some great performances! It was really cool to see the Elite Development Races take place, and there is certainly a great deal of talent emerging in the sport.

A little lyrics from my new favorite song by Imagine Dragons:

I could of gave up then but

                                           Then again I couldn’t have ’cause

I’ve traveled all this way for something

Now take it in but don’t look down

And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down

                                       And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground

Get up now, get up, get up now.

Best of luck to everyone as the 2013 season is now underway.

Jess

Why you should eat Breeze Bars

I have been an athlete for as long as I can remember, and this means I have tried pretty much every energy bar out there. I competed in so many sports growing up; swimming, soccer, golf, tennis, dance, running etc., and energy bars were a convenient snack to grab in case I got hungry. I really just loved eating them because some of them tasted like cookies, but my Mom never knew that is how my sister and I felt. She thought we knew that we were eating healthy snacks to allow us to perform to the best of our ability. Honestly, growing up I had no idea about nutrition. I just wanted to eat anything that tasted like a cookie because my mom would never let us have them.

Throughout high school, I became a bit more aware of what I was eating, and how I was feeling after consuming certain foods. I saw an allergy doctor because I was having stomach problems when I started running my sophomore year. He determined that I had a gluten intolerance, and was sensitive to a few other foods, but I really never made an effort to cut anything out of my diet. I didn't have a full blown allergy to anything, so why eliminate it? I loved pasta and bread, and as a growing teenager, I pretty much ate anything in sight. My mom always stressed the importance of eating a balanced diet, so every meal was coupled with fruit or veggies. And throughout high school, I kept eating bars. I would always bring them to school, and began to realize that they might be the reason for my stomach problems (as I was consuming them at the end of the school day before running). 

When I started doing triathlon halfway through high school, nutrition became even more important. I was getting up at 5 a.m. a few days a week to get a workout in, going to school from 730 a.m. to 230 p.m. , then squeezing in another workout before swim practice from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Then I would head home to battle hours of homework and studying. Eating right was essential in getting through the days and performing well in school and sports. But even still, I never truly understood nutrition and I never found that perfect bar that would give me energy while keeping my stomach happy.

Now, several years wiser, nutrition is a huge part of my life. Not only do I love eating, but I love putting food into my body that I know will make me healthy and strong. Being in Boulder makes this relatively easy, and I am so lucky to be in a place where health and wellness are so strongly valued.

About seven months ago I joined the Apex triathlon crew in Boulder, and started working with Grant Holicky. This was when I was introduced to Breeze Bars for the first time- a company that Grant's wife, Breeze started a few years ago. I had heard about the bars around town, but had never taken the time to try one or see what they were all about. 

I slowly began adding them to my routine- first I started using them on long rides, then I tried having them before swims, then I took the chance of eating them before running. And finally, after years and years of consuming bars, I found my prince charming. Being able to run shortly after consuming a bar (with no stomach problems) was nothing short of a miracle for me. I thought for sure that it was just beginner's luck, but again and again, Breeze Bars came through. They are now something I can rely on to fuel me and keep my tummy happy. Sigh of relief! 

My favorite flavor- Chocolate Cranberry. Maple Almond is close in second.

I recently started working for Breeze Bars in their gluten free kitchen on Sunday mornings. I make bars with Breeze and a few other employees, and absolutely love every minute. I get to see all of the quality nutrition going into the bars, and see that the ingredients are truly what you read on the label. I can see why these work for me and so many other athletes- it is all goodness! 

For so long, training nutrition has been hit or miss. Some days I don't have stomach problems and feel great, and other days are just miserable. Sure, there are other factors to contribute to how we feel during training, but ever since I implemented Breeze Bars into my routine, my training has truly been more consistent. It is a refreshing change to focus solely on my training, and not whether my stomach will decide to rebel. 

BREEZE BARS: EZ nutrition that will make your stomach happy, and probably you happy as well!

Get a Breeze Bar! Or 2, or a box. :)

Jessica

Moving forward...

After nearly two months without a post, I thought it was a good time for a life update. I just got back to Colorado a week ago after a month in CT with family.

Since Thanksgiving quite a bit has happened.

I graduated college at the end of December. Although I am not officially "walking" until May, I am done with all of my classes (yay!). It was easier for my family to travel out to Colorado in the Spring, so I decided to postpone my graduation ceremony until then. It will be great to have all of them out here at the beginning of May for some fun. They have only visited once, and I truly can't wait to show them more of the reasons why I love it here.

My amazing and beautiful Grandma passed away on January 4th after battling cancer for nearly six months. This was a very hard time, as my family is extremely close and my Grandma has been so present in my life since I was born. Every summer I would spend weeks down at her beach house in Rhode Island, and celebrate my birthday (4th of July) with family there. I have incredible memories with her that I will cherish forever. She taught me to always believe in myself, share love with others, and smile even through the hard times. My life will never be the same without her, but I plan to practice what she taught me everyday, and find comfort in knowing she is watching over me always.

Twelve grandkids+ Papa celebrating my Grandma's life. 

I spent the past month in Connecticut- I always go home for the holidays, and I stayed longer to be with family through my Grandma's passing. Through difficult times in life, you really gain a greater appreciation for loved ones, and the past few weeks have been a testament to this. It was a bag of emotions: happiness when reflecting on our times with my Grandma, sadness realizing that there won't be more times together, comfort knowing she is no longer in pain, anger that we don't have more time etc. As my uncle put it, "There are four steps of grieving: sorrow, denial, anger and depression." I am definitely experiencing all of these, and as I come across photos, cards, gifts and other trinkets in my apartment, I am constantly reminded of her. I feel so blessed and lucky to have had such an amazing women in my life.

Things have been going well since I got back to Colorado. Training is going really well and I am doing some freelance writing for Competitor magazine and Triathlete magazine, as well as babysitting for a few families in Boulder. I like to stay busy!

Overall, I am in a good place. I have amazing people around me everyday in the Apex triathlon crew, a supportive coach who believes in me, a family that loves me, and friends who make me happy and encourage me to have fun and embrace life. I don't really know what lays ahead for me in life, but I think that is part of the fun. Life is an adventure and I plan to wake up everyday with an optimistic attitude, work hard towards my goals, and smile. 2013 is going to be great.

:)

Jessica

My best race yet

After my last road race, I woke up with pink eye and strep throat. Even still, my sisters and I decided to do a race together on Thanksgiving day in Madison, CT. We decided to run together, dressed in similar outfits, and make it a fun tradition that we can carry on through the years. Since I wasn't racing per say, I figured it would be okay for me to run while fighting off illness. Plus, how many chances do I get to run a race with all my sisters? It was happening, sore throat, pink eyes and all.

We went with a hawaiian theme and wore leis and hula skirts over our running clothes. It ended up being a pretty nice morning, and when the race started at 10 a.m., it was in the 50s. There were tons of people racing and it was a really fun atmosphere. We ran most of the way together, but Hannah and I ended up finishing a minute or two before Scarlet and Emily. The results show Scarlet finishing with me, Emily finishing a minute later, and Hannah finishing 20 minutes after that....Not really sure what happened there.

Regardless, I am really proud of all my sisters, especially the twins! They play soccer and swim, but don't run regularly like I do, and I know it was tough for them. We had tons of fun and everyone was cheering for the "hula girls!"

Before the races. Me on the left, then Hannah, Scarlet and Emily.

This race was really special to me. On a day when we give thanks for all we have in our life, I got to spend time doing something I love (running) with the people I love most. My mom was visiting her Mom at the hospital earlier that morning, but made it to the finish line to see us. We didn't tell her what we were wearing, and she was really surprised when she realized the crazy hula people running towards her were her daughters. It was a day I will never forget!

Jessica

Off season road race fun!

Hello!

I thought it would be a great time to do a little off season update while I am home for break and have some more time on my plate!

The past couple of weeks have been great- I have been really focusing on my stroke in the water, getting used to the pain cave (computrainer sessions) with the Apex group, enjoying some speed ladders and hill work for running, and getting back into a routine with strength training. It has been a nice change of pace, still challenging, but in a different and refreshing way. I love this time of the year, and fortunately, it has hung around for longer than usual. To say we are spoiled in Boulder is an understatement. It is hard to believe that the "winter" months are here and we have weeks of 50-60 degree, sun filled days. No complaints here.

Since I LOVE road races, I decided to do one while I was home for this Thanksgiving break. I always say I am going to, and somehow never do. Today I did the 38th Fischang Cicchetti 5 mile road race in Waterbury, CT (the town next to mine), and had a great time! I wasn't really expecting anything, but was pretty surprised with how smooth and strong I felt. Maybe it's all the squats I have been doing! Or the hill repeats! Maybe both :)

After crossing the finish line with YMCA director Jim O'Rourke. Freezing, but as happy as can be! 

Both my parents stood out in the freezing cold and watched me race. It was awesome to have them cheering and give me hugs and high fives at the finish line. They have always been my biggest fans and supporters, and it means a lot to me when they can see me race. Mostly, I just like to make them smile when they see how happy I am doing the sport(s) I love. I even won a trophy and $300 for first place female, so it was a solid day!

Here is a link to the video of my race from today. Around 500 people competed, and it was a blast! It was great seeing so many people from the town I grew up in and interacting with them.

I may do another road race on Thanksgiving day with my sisters, but I am not sure yet! I am trying to take advantage of sea level running because my oh my, it is wonderful! I have another five days at home and I plan to train a bit, spend lots of time with family, and continue to be so very thankful for all that I have in my life.

Jessica

Cancun World Cup Race Report

This weekend I competed in my first World Cup in Cancun, Mexico. In the midst of the fall semester picking up speed, it was great to escape for the weekend. I also was able to miss the snow and the cold weather that swept through Boulder. :)

Chris and I had a very easy travel day on Friday, leaving Boulder in the morning and arriving in Cancun around 4 p.m. with a direct flight. A van organized by the race director was at the airport waiting for us, so we loaded up our luggage and were off in five minutes. We got checked in at Iberostar and went to the race meeting at 6 p.m. which was just down the road at the Westin. When we got back we went for a short run around the soccer field at our hotel, and then enjoyed the amazing buffet for dinner.

View from our hotel window. Amazing!!!

On Saturday we woke up to a beautiful day and it was difficult to avoid the beach and pool in an effort to conserve energy for race day. We had breakfast, did a short short and then went for a swim in the ocean. After the swim we rewarded ourselves by body surfing a few waves, and then realized we should get inside, put our feet up and relax. In the afternoon we went for a ride down to the race site and checked out the course. We had an early dinner at the buffet and then went to sleep. Well, we tried to. The theme of music playing the night before a race continued from Buffalo. Iberostar has shows every night that start at 9:30 p.m., so it took me awhile to fall asleep and before I knew it, the alarm for 5:00 a.m. went off!

Our hotel: Iberostar.

Thanks to Grant enforcing the 5 a.m. swims with the squad, my body felt okay getting up. I showered, had my pre race breakfast and gathered all my things. I left the hotel at 6 a.m. and biked over to the race site in the pitch black. This was by far the scariest part of my day as buses roared past me about 12 inches from my body. I was relieved to see the transition area after about 20 minutes of riding in the dark.

I did my warm up on the bike on the way over to the race, so I checked in, set up transition and then went for my pre race jog. I knew it was going to be a hot day when I was drenched after 10 minutes of running. I found some ice, shoved it down the back of my suit and then got ready for the swim warm up. The water felt great- it was the perfect temperature and it was a beautiful morning. I warmed up in the water and practiced some ins and outs, and then we were ready to line up for the start at 8 a.m.

Swim: The swim start caught me off guard because when the announcer said "on your mark" everyone started jogging towards the front of the carpet, where as I stayed in my numbered box. I guess we were supposed to jog forward to the end of the mat, like a track start. Anyways, we were off, and after quite a few dolphin dives, I was able to start swimming. I wasn't beat up at all in this race which was a pleasant surprise! Get out speed is a component of my swimming that I am still working on, and I noticed that this was crucial for the race, especially since it was a sprint. I find myself swimming through the field on the second loop of most races because I am finally warmed up, but I knew that since this was a sprint I needed to try and get up there earlier. I could see the front few swimmers and then the start of the pack that I was at the end of. Coming out of the water I knew I was dangling off the front group and needed to have a great transition. I got to my bike and saw most of the girls exiting transition. I put my helmet and shades on, grabbed my bike and headed off hoping I could bridge up to the group

Bike: The chaos out of t1 is probably the most stressful part of races for me. Once I was on my bike I started riding hard and the main group was only a couple seconds up the road. Then, as I tried to put my foot in my shoe, my bike shoe flew OFF my bike pedal. Ugh! I stayed calm and composed, got my shoe, and started riding again. I ended up in a group of 6 girls, and a few of them were unable to pull through (I have been there!), which made for a few of us doing most of the work. I ended up riding at the front a lot because I didn't want to lose too much time from the front group. We could see them down the road the entire race, and ended up losing only about 45 or 50 seconds. A group of 8 or 10 women from the 2nd chase pack caught us with about one minute left on the last lap of the bike, so I made sure I was at the front of the group headed into t2. I felt good on the bike and was eager to see if my running legs would show up.

Run: As soon as I took my first stride I knew it was going to be a better run than Buffalo. It was hot and humid, but I felt great and smooth as I headed off on the run course. I was one of the first out of transition from my group, and made my way up to an athlete from Mexico, and ran on her shoulder for a bit. Then I realized I could run harder and made my way around her, with no one else in front of me but the athletes about 50 seconds up the road from the front pack. Approaching the first turn around, I could see all the top athletes headed back down towards transition. I put my head down and focused on keeping good form and staying hydrated. At the end of the first lap I was able to catch one athlete, then two, then three. I kept running hard on the second lap but was unable to catch anyone else. Coming into the final shoot I heard Chris scream at me to sprint and try to catch another athlete and I gave it all I had to the finish line. I was really happy with how the race went overall, and mostly just pleased with finishing strong and putting together a good run. In the past I have let things get to me in races, and I think so much of having a good performance is keeping your head and staying mentally tough. As we all know, the majority of sport is how we handle what is going on upstairs. I ended up 16th place which was the number I had going in.

It was great to see fellow American athlete Kaitlin Shiver seize her first World Cup podium after an incredible 2012 season. Good luck in New Zealand!

I was able to take a quick dip in the ocean and then watch Chris race. The mens race went by very fast and it was fun to watch everyone compete. The pack came together, so about 50 guys dismounted into t2 for a very speedy 5k run. It was hot and humid, and I think many of the athletes were happy the race was only a sprint! Chris toughed it out even though his running legs didn't show up, and I am proud of his effort out there. What an amazing season he has had! It was really fun to travel the world with him and experience our first World Cup together in Cancun.

Chris before the start of the swim.

After the race we biked back to our hotel, showered, ate a huge lunch and then relaxed by the pool. We went in the ocean but the salt water was stinging my body everywhere from all the little cuts that had formed during the race. I ended up passing out on a beach chair instead.

Pool at Iberostar. 

We ended up just hanging out at our hotel and going to the night show. Chris competed in a Michael Jackson dancing competition and WON! It was awesome, and one of the best parts of the trip. The next day we had all morning to swim in the ocean and relax by the pool. My Monday went from sunbathing on the beach in Cancun in the morning to schoolwork in a cold Boulder at night. The trip was a blast, and a great way to end my short season of racing.

I met with my coach today to discuss the plans for the off season, what we will focus on, and the goals for 2013. I have been working with Grant now for a few months, and am very pleased with how things have been going. I can't wait to see further progression with more time. Since I started racing in June this year, it has been a pretty short season, but I have big goals for 2013 and am excited for the future. The biggest transformation for me has been my renewed love for the sport. Earlier this year I was not in a great place mentally, and was questioning why I was doing the sport at all. I wasn't having fun, I was taking things too seriously, and I was physically and mentally drained. Now, for the first time in awhile, I feel like I am in a great place mentally and am enjoying what I am doing everyday. A lot of that is credited to my amazing coach and training partners, who motivate and encourage me to become a better athlete, and who believe in me. I feel very optimistic about what the future holds.

A big thanks to my sponsors: Off the Front Multisport, Chobani Yogurt, Rudy Project and Endurance Shield. It has been an honor representing all of you this season and I appreciate all the support you have given me.

Best of luck to everyone who still has races left for 2012, and happy off season to those who don't! May the 2013 season bring you all you dream of and more!


Jessica