What Happens in Vegas....

Warning: This blog contains graphic material which may be inappropriate for children under 13. 

Technically it didn't happen in Vegas so I don't feel bound by any rules regarding this post. I went to Vegas for Molly/Steph's bachelorette parties (no, they are not marrying each other) but wasn't sure that I wanted to take 4 days off from riding. And like Iceland I have heard that Vegas has untapped trails which was my main motivation to go. I was really hoping to go mountain biking, because of what I had read but found out the shop I wanted to rent had their mountain bike rentals about 20 miles outside of town and was informed that was $100 cab ride. I couldn't really justify that, as cool as I thought it would be to mountain bike there so settled on the $40 dollar cab ride and a road bike. 

I took a cab and the driver asked where I was going so I gave him the address and told him it was a bike shop. He looked at me oddly and then professed, "Really, you ride bikes? But you look like such a girly-girl." I thought it was kind of a weird statement but my hair was still curled from the night before and I had put make up on (as I do every time I ride now in case I get hit and those hot firemen show up again). We started chatting, and about 10 minutes into the conversation I realized that he had been talking about motorcycles when I had been talking about real bikes. Needless to say I had him drop me off a few blocks from the shop so I could remain a badass in his mind. 

At the shop I started chatting with the guys as they set up my bike and I mentioned that I was hoping to mountain bike but didn't think I could get to the outpost. Well the rental was $43 and I joked that was a little more than the cab fare it took me to get there. They asked if I was staying on the strip and I told them that I was and was in town for a bachelorette party, they were impressed I was renting a bike while in town for that. I mentioned that I didn't really feel like I could take time off because I was training for Leadville (bingo!). Then they got really excited and asked what bike I was racing on and told me some great road ride options that conveniently would take me by the outpost, and I could always stop in and do a little flirting with the guy there and he would probably set me up with a mountain bike no problem and no charge. (Except it is a problem because I don't know how to flirt without tequila and even then it's not pretty). I asked what time they closed and he replied, "Six, and if you're not back by then we call the cops." "Oh! My mother would love you." I responded, and he just laughed. 

Definitely not the Strip!

Can't find this in your car.

I went about 10 miles out and did the Red Rocks loop and realized that this is really why people should come to Vegas, I'm not going to lie in my mind Vegas was surrounded by horrid wasteland, basically superfund sites that if you ventured away from the strip you would die. I must say that ride alone sold me on wanting to go back. I got done with the loop and was only at about 20 miles, I realized I could ride to the outpost which would give me another 6 miles and then at least stop and get water before going back. Well there was no way I could go to the outpost and not ask for a mountain bike. And that is what I did. The guy there was super cool too (it must be a bike shop thing) and sent me out on a trial that was about a 10 mile loop. He gave me a full suspension bike, which was actually my first legitimate ride on a full suspension (I don't really count the time when I rode Frank's around the driveway and fell off, even though I have pretty sweet scars left from that one). I liked the full suspension but I'll stick to my 29er hardtails. I saw the largest yukka plant in the world (!!!!) and didn't fall off which was good but definitely got dirty. 

Oh, and I got this gem. Blisters included, well at least that's all I came home from Vegas with!

The rest of the trip went well, I bought some lipstick, which Molly said she was proud of me that it was actually girly and not bike related, so there is some hope. Oh and I also managed not to consume any alcohol, I'm still not sure how that happened...I guess there is always next time!

Going along with other firsts like not drinking in Vegas, I have had my first ER trip of the year and my first ride on my new bike. Don't worry they were isolated events! The ER trip was for an ear infection but it was at 4 in the morning and I had left my car at the shop so I could ride in the next day, so I thought about calling a cab but didn't want to spend money so ended up riding my bike (nothing like training late at night, who knows how long I'll be on Leadville!). I told my dad that I rode my bike because I didn't want to pay for a cab, and he said, "You realize you went to the ER, right?" I was like, yah, but I didn't have any cash on me. I think my parents are counting down the years to when I'm on my own health insurance.

Definitely need this!!

Better my body than my bike, right Mom?

The first ride on the Superfly went well too. One of the girls at the shop texted me and told me that it was time to "swipe my Superfly v-card" and that she would be there with me in case anything happened. I told her okay, it's after Vegas, I think I'm emotionally ready for it. The ride was good, but the bike had kind of gotten assembled quickly by the guys at the shop for a prank and I hadn't really gone over it since then so the brakes weren't really great. Which made the ride super interesting. The bike is really responsive and I'm pretty excited about it now. I did take one tumble on the ride, but don't worry I sacrificed my body so the bike didn't hit the ground. Don't worry I have been out since and had the one of the mechanics adjust the breaks and go through everything in exchange for some beer. I also informed him that I would probably be contributing to his drinking habit a lot this summer. He didn't seem to mind.

AHHHHH!!!

Stay Thirsty, My Friend

"Did you buy a bike or a piece of art?" Someone asked me today.
"Well with what I spent on that bike, I could have bought some really nice art." She had good reason to ask though. I haven't ridden the Superfly yet. I'm definitely nervous to take it out because I'm afraid I'll dent or crack the frame on the first ride (highly unlikely). I told the guys at the shop I feel like I should ride it first on a group ride so I'm in a safe environment if something does happen. But until then, it's just going to keep sleeping in my laundry room.

That's me, being a Diva.

I have been on my old mountain bike, the Mamba, which weighs in at an obese 33 pounds. Which is amazingly still less than Nessie (Mary's beagle). The first ride of the season I did a 10 mile loop at a really rocky terrain (one of the guys warned me of this but the other place I was thinking of going required me getting gas, which I loathe). I was not impressed and at one point shouted, "If Leadville is like this, I'm selling my spot." Luckily no one was around to hear me because I was really just being a Diva and needed to eat a snickers. Not really a snickers but I felt better after I realized I was crabby because I needed to eat something. Wanting to get my confidence back up after that ride I went back to my house and picked Wayne up to do a loop at the area by our house. We did about 15 miles and at one point on the descent I lost my focus and caught a rock off the front tire and rammed my right leg into the back of the stem which launched me over the bike. Each time I fall I hear the words of one of my guy friends when he tries to pick up a girl "just let it happen" it seems to work pretty well for me, not him. I gracefully rolled over and got up and got back to it. Only later when the bruises appeared did I realize that in mind it was a lot smoother than my body thought. Luckily it seems that all the bruises are above my short line so I don't get weird looks at work unless I show them, which I do.

10,000 feet up, not a bad way to spend Easter

The shop mechanic that I ride with keeps kicking my ass. And he keeps reminding me of it. But it's making me a better rider so I can't complain. We did a 14 mile hill climb on Easter, we were going to keep going because the total ride is 28 miles, but the road was closed due to snow. We gained about 4,000 feet elevation and had we kept going it would have been a total of 7,000 (so yah, I used my inhaler). I look forward to the last half of that ride when the snow melts. We've also done Lookout mountain a few times now. I thought that maybe the last time I was going to get closer or even beat him, mainly because he lifted legs heavily in the morning and was exhausted and he had forgotten headphones for music. Unfortunately I got a little excited at this thought and took off too fast and he dropped me within a mile of the climb. Whomp, whomp, but it made me realize I still need a lot more discipline when climbing so I don't blow my load so early in the ride.

Got reconnected with this guy pretty fast!

I went back to Boston this month too. It was really nice to see a lot of friends and teammates that I hadn't seen since I graduated. As I was walking around I realize that it's actually a miracle I only got hit once while living there. No one seems to know what a lane line is or a cross walk for that matter. I also heard more cars honk (not exactly at me) during the 3 days I was there then I have the past 9 months living in Colorado. I wasn't able to get any bike rides in while I was there but I did go for a run. It was weird because it was in a park that I used to ride through and I realized that my last road ride that I did out there was actually the day I got hit. So it was a little surreal because I rode through that park the day of the crash.

I'm thinking of doing some road races or a couple of road centuries before Leadville just to get some more experience. I'm imagining my experience at Leadville to be much like Frank's when he comes here to go mountain biking and I take him to a mountain that's 9,000 feet up. He starts off pretty good but about 10 minutes in he starts wanting to stop and "take a few pictures" and oh "let me get some water"and then by 30 minutes in he's offering money for my inhaler and by an hour he is asking where to get an oxygen tank and that the extra weight of it would be totally worth it. So in the words of Frank with my training I must stay thirsty.

Crazy Beautiful Life

March has been madness!! And not just because Duke lost in the first round. Work has been crazy with sales all month long in Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Boulder. I still feel like I'm recovering from living in my car on and off for the month. And while trying to up my training. I did seem to add more complications to it with ordering the wrong bike. 

I hope I'm as fast as Frank when I get on my Superfly!

See I was planning on getting the Scott Scale Expert, mainly because it has nicer graphics than the Trek. Yes- I'm a girl and I buy my bikes based on color. I had checked the Scott warehouse and there were about 21 bikes left in my size so I filled out the form and waited till the next day to fax it in. I had to go to FedEx Kinkos since our fax machine wasn't working. Then it was the weekend and then on Monday there were none left for me. I could have gone with a lower Scott bike but wanted the to have a Carbon bike. I figure it's the easiest way to lose 10 pounds...get a lighter bike! I decided on the Trek Superfly, the graphics are weak but I'm not going to keep it forever as long as I don't get too emotionally attached to it. I filled out the order form and sent it in and kept checking my bank account to see when it would hit. A few days later UPS dropped off a bike box that said "Superfly 15.5" I looked at it briefly and said, "Is that my bike? No..that's not my size." It's not really odd to get random bikes from UPS but the Superfly a little weird. My manager grabbed the packing slip and informed me that it was in fact my bike. "Are you sure? But I ride a 17.5, that isn't mine." Well it was. I wasn't panicking at this point and was going to wait till the next day so I could go home and check my paperwork to see if it was my mistake or theirs. But then I checked Trek's warehouse to see how many 17.5 were left. Only 5. "Oh shit!" luckily no customers were around. "There are ONLY 5 left...for the whole country! Do you know how many people that is!!!" My manager then told me not to cry. "I'm not going to cry." Well maybe I was. I called the Trek rep and left him a panic struck voicemail. Luckily we had a clinic later that day and the Trek rep was there and I talked to him to try and get it cleared up. Our warehouse manager also called Trek and told them the situation. He might have dropped that the bike was for Leadville. The guys at Trek were super cool about it and pulled the size I needed right away and had UPS pick up the wrong bike. I realized that it was my mistake. See the number I needed was 001178889112 not 001178888112...do you see why that is difficult? But still the biggest purchase of my life and I didn't proof read. I think I will forever be loyal to Trek now. 

On a sadder note, while I have been upping my training it seems that one of my toenails is not agreeing with my shoe. I think it's going to go soon, which wouldn't be a big deal but that will take my count down to 7. After losing the first two to the Marathon of 2011 and the Infection of 2010. And it wouldn't be that big of a deal but peep-toe shoe season is RIGHT around the corner...I suppose it's a good thing I'm not trying to date. 

Yep, going over.

Training has been going good. Most of my hours come from riding in to work and back home which gives me about 35 miles. I did do a ride with one of the mechanics and it was a hill climb that lasted 45 minutes. Straight up nothing else. The guy I was riding with is a really disciplined climber and he gave me some really good tips. Which was really nice because I figured he'd drop me in the first 5 minutes and meet me at the top but actually stuck with me to help me out.  On my days off or when I work later there are some great hills north of Boulder that have some awesome climbing. I don't mind going up the climbs but there is one that scares me when i go down. For those of you in the SD area, it has a similar grade to the bottom of Elsie Hill, and I'm just waiting for the day when I topple over the handlebars. 

How do I put this back together?

I'm still basing my training on time and not so much miles. I'm just trying to get my base up to about 4 hours and then will probably start incorporating more intense workouts the latter part of next week. I'm not sure when I'll start mountain biking. I'm actually nervous to ride my new bike. It looks so nice and clean right now and I know after one ride it will no longer be in that state. I did do 4 hour ride today and about 2 hours in I got a flat. Which has never actually happened to me on a ride. Well actually once it did but I was close enough that I just hitch hiked back home because I didn't want to change it on the side of the road. I pulled over and flipped the bike over and took off the back wheel. I then proceed to open up my seat bag to grab a tube and flat fixer kit. Well I have the tube but the kit is nowhere to be found. So for some reason I decided to start changing it even though I have absolutely no way to inflate it. I look at my phone and contemplate calling Molly and realize I have no service...I ponder seeing if I could change my facebook status to SOS. Luckily a little old man came riding up not too soon and asked if I had everything. "Well, actually no, do you happen to have a hand pump?" He Did! And I was saved! He thought it was pretty amusing that I work at a shop and was unprepared. Muh, story of my life. 

Sometimes I run into characters like this....

And sometimes the characters are more bizarre......

I'm also trying to figure out my nutrition, what I will want to eat at mile 70, when I don't really want to eat. One of the guys at the shop goes for cheeseburgers; but my stomach isn't exactly made of steel. I'll figure out the solid food later. But for these shorter rides I've taken a liking to the Clif Shots and Blocks. The shots of espresso are really nice and the Clif Block Margarita's aren't a bad flavor either. They even have extra salt which helps ward off cramping. I'm just really worried if I over do it with the blocks I will never be able to drink tequila again. I know it's a rough life.

The Race of My Life

Well I am pleased to say the half-marathon went out without a hitch! It was my first real vacation sans parents. Luckily Molly is almost that and printed off my boarding passes and packed snacks! It was a quick trip but so much fun to hang out with Molly, Jaime and Jessie and it was warm! We actually did a lot considering we weren't there very long.

We started by going to Santa Monica and walking around the pier and renting matching tandems and rode down to Venice Beach, which I imagine to be a modern day World's Fair. That was pretty fun and I'm sure a sight to see 4 girls in sundresses on 2 bikes. I had to drive and have a new respect for all the people I have had drive me around on the tandem. It's a wonder I didn't hit anyone.

Clearly I take running very seriously

The day of the race we got there in time to get all settled and get in line for the bathroom, only to realize the line was really long and Jessie and I didn't want to miss our wave start and betting we would be able to hold it, took off running. Even with running at sea level Jessie dropped me about mile 3. I held a pretty steady pace the rest of the race and finished just over 2:00. It was a pretty scenic route as we ran right by the ocean- I was going to stop and take a picture but didn't want to add any time so kept running (that's also why I never stopped to go pee). Jessie ended up beating me by about 20 minutes, but somehow I managed to beat her to the beer tent. Molly finished about 2 minutes after me but she started in a different wave so I never actually saw her. We grabbed lunch at a Mexican restaurant (I got a chicken sandwich and fries, what else?) and then went and sat on the beach. Luckily I brought some light reading (Gone with the Wind) and got to work on my tan to try and cover up the spray tan I got that left one leg darker than the other and spots on my stomach (the joys of having fair Irish skin). No luck though I had to sport those spots for the next 2 weeks. Luckily work doesn't require me to wear a bikini so no one saw. 

The next day we went to the Hollywood sign, and hiked around someone that gave us views of the sign. We walked around the walk of stars and only took a picture of the Chuck Norris star and saw David Beckham, just a typical day in Hollywood. 

Now, did you really think that the half marathon was the race of my life? I hope not, because I didn't even break 2 hours. The real race of my life is Leadville. Yes I got in. It's bitter-sweet as none of the guys from the shop got in and neither did Wayne. I think that it helps that I have two X chromosomes. Luckily the guys at the shop are really excited for me and have been offering tips left and right, even making me do lunges when I'm putting product away. They started me on a training program, even before I was in but now I take it a little more seriously and they push me a little  harder. Example: When I was doing switch grip pull ups (you do 2 over hand, 2 underhand) I thought it would be good if I got to 16, well they kept saying 2 more, 1 more, just 1 more, you got it until you fatigue your still going (I always give into peer pressure, except for drugs). Some how I ended up doing 60 and was not able to brush my hair the next day for work. Another thing was that one of the guys misheard and thought someone said, "Oh, Kate has a date tonight," (I think he really said something about getting coffee) but he replied, "No, she doesn't. Kate's not allowed to date until September, she's in training." So no, Molly I will not be needing a plus one on that wedding invitation.

Who needs a boyfriend when your bike is this hot? Ha

I'm really excited for it. I will be happy if I finish under 12, but figure since I'm training I should shoot for under 9, that way I get a gold belt buckle. Plus only 2 girls in my age group finished under 10 hours last year, so go big or go home. I've already started looking at new, lighter bikes (well mostly the guys have been showing me which bike would be great for the race) but I've found one that I like, it's black and red and about 23 pounds. It's weird though I feel like everything in my life has led me to this point, every wrong turn or decision I thought I had made all seems to make sense now. Especially all the work I did with DF last year after getting hit by the car. I know mentally I'll be able to make it through the race, not to say I won't have my moments of doubt or crazy rants when I yell "what the heck am I doing!" but knowing that I've been through worse will help. I mean really who can complain about getting to ride their bike for 100 miles at 12,000 feet? Not many people even get to be in the position to complain.

It should be a really fun time, so if you're in the area on August 11 we have a house booked in Copper Mountain and you are more than welcomed. I can't guarantee a bed but there should be ample floor space. I'm hoping that the people that do come have a great time and good excuse to party while I'm probably puking my brains out on the course (altitude sickness...). I figure if nothing else it gives me an excuse to keep writing. And really this is what I talked about with DF all last semester, overcoming crappy situations. If only he could see me now!

Lush: One Who Becomes Intoxicated After a Few Drinks and Flirts With Everyone

"Oh. My. Gosh!! I feel soooo old!!" Was my exact response when I opened my Christmas present that contained a crockpot. It also didn't help that I just turned 22 1/2. I know it's only a half, but really I only have 6 months till I'm 23 (I did pass Calc.!) Now I know that I tend to cater to an older generation with this blog, so I know what you're thinking...I'm not old, I'm still so young. Wrong. The way I see it is I only have a few more good years left where I can have fun and be able to have little responsibility in the real world before I have to become an adult and get my own health insurance (that is super important). Especially because I'm thinking about grad school in the future (not the near future, but some future) and well do you now what the difference between working at Bicycle Village and a large pizza is? A large pizza can feed a family of 4. Ha! Stole that one from Frank when my mom wanted him to be an English major. I don't want you to think that I'm on food stamps, but there is no way I can afford more than 4 designer shoes a year on this salary. Do I have my priorities straight or what? But not that I want a family of 4 right now (but I would have a crockpot that could feed them!!) But maybe when I'm 30 I'll get the hankering to adopt and should be prepared for when my biological clock starts running like Usain Bolt. I must say I do love my life at the moment and feel like I should get all the fun out before I hunker down for real. Plus this way I'll be able to tell my kids what not to do.

My "To-Do" list

Over Christmas we took a family photo and somehow I ended up sitting next to my Grandmother for it (not sure how that worked because she is still the classiest lady I know and well, I tend to struggle some days) Well being 91 she uses a cane (she had to get rid of the shillelagh for beating too many children- Ha! Bad Irish joke, I know!) and needs help getting up from couches, she disappears into them easily, like quarters and chips. My brother was standing behind her and when she went to get up I grabbed her arm to steady her and help her up. Frank came up from behind and basically picked her up and set her on her feet. She looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Oh my, have you been lifting weights?" Why yes, Grandma I have! Ha!


But seriously I have been lifting because I put in for the Leadville lottery system and need to get my right leg strong again. I haven't decided if I'll do a qualifying race if I don't get in the lottery or not but there will be time to decide that I suppose. I also signed Wayne up for his Christmas present because he didn't want to pay the $15 dollars just for a chance and conveniently that was how much I was going to spend on him for Christmas. Hopefully we both get in, or I get in, I'm not sure how I'll feel if he gets in and I don't because I paid for it but it would be fun to SAG for him- and he's faster than me so he'll be a great training partner. 

By "Hoodrat stuff" I mean Leadville

We find out in about a week if we get in and if all the guys in the shop who signed up (4 total) got in too it would be the ultimate cruiser ride, or at least after it would be fun. So it's pretty exciting and weird to put so much pressure on one single race, playing volleyball and basketball you didn't exactly prepare for one game the whole season, more of an ongoing process. But I get pretty excited/nervous every time I think about it - and I think if I actually get in I might throw up. If I do get in I would probably buy a new bike (which again is kind of ridiculous for one race) but my bike weighs a crazy 33 pounds and the one I want weighs 22 pounds, of course it costs a lot more than the one I have now but it's an easy way to lose an extra 11 pounds. I was thinking if I didn't get in I would get the new Lush (mainly because of the name- I'm not sure if I'm offended or feel like I need to have it because of the name), which is a women's mountain bike designed by Trek. It's the first of it's kind. Unfortunately after riding it around the shop I realized the proportions are based more for someone under 5'5" and it was the only time in my life I wished I was shorter.

The Lush!

Other than that nothing new has really happened, which is probably why I haven't written in a while. I'll try to blog more so maybe my Godfather will actually remember I'm writing this. Even things at the shop have been pretty slow. The most exciting thing that happened to me this week was I took an exercise class (forgetting I was uncoordinated) and fell over, which I'm sure is also the most exciting thing those old ladies have seen in years. I know my life is so exciting. I am running a half-marathon this weekend, which I am pleased to announce that I have done more training for than the marathon! And it is at sea level so I'm pretty exciting about that added benefit. I did make one New Year's Resolution this year though, even though I think they are kind of dumb but it's to not meet the health insurance deductible this year (my mother's idea) so I'm not very excited about the extra day we have because of leap year.

 

13 Stitches later . . .

First of all Happy Birthday to my loyal reader and bestie, Heidi!!!

I think my mom actually jinxed October for me by texting me to "stay safe and keep ER trips to a minimum." I should warn you though because as you read this I'm sure you'll ask yourself how does this happen? But let me remind you this is the same girl who said the wrong confirmation name (I'm stuck with Virgina for the rest of my life) and the same one who almost got stuck in Mexico illegally (I'm still missing a shoe from that one).

 

Good thing I washed the bruise off before the ER

My coworkers and I had been planning a Halloween cruiser ride in Denver for almost the entire month of October, the route, the bars, the costumes. I wanted to go as Ke$ha but the group wanted to do a Zombie theme so I combined the two and ended up more like Domestic Abuse Ke$ha than Zombie Ke$ha (but more on that later). The day before I found one of the mechanics, Owen* to ride on the tandem bike with me, he offered to drive which is great because as Wayne will tell you I'm not the best tandem driver even when I'm sober (in my defense it was just a small tree we ran into). I brought the tandem into work along with some amazing Halloween cupcakes, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting and mocha chocolate chip with vanilla bean frosting (I've been in a bake off with my manager). 

The re-vamped tandem

The guys in the shop really transformed the bike putting better handlebars, brakes, and a new seat and even outfitting it with stickers and little plastic babies (don't ask). One of the best upgrades was moving the rear brake to the back handlebars on the left side, so it makes for a little more adventurous riding. Owen offered his floor space for people in Boulder to sleep on so we wouldn't have to worry about driving home. Six of us met at his house to change, get ready and pregame (which is apparently not needed as much once you're out of college). Anyways we got to the first bar and met up with the other 15 people who were already there. Well because of Owen's costume (he went as Thor but didn't realize they made adult size costumes) he didn't have any place to put his ID or debit card. I put it with mine in my "Greece" clutch and put it in my purse along with my camera, glitter (I was Ke$ha), phone and almonds (a great way to ward off a hangover). Well after a few drinks at the bar I went up with a few other girls to take a shot when I asked someone to take our picture and at the same moment dropped the "Greece" clutch (which I only realized after getting to the 2nd bar and not being able to get in). At the 2nd bar not being able to get in and not knowing where the wallet was, Owen went back tot eh first bar to look for it and I offered almonds to anyone who might be able to produce my ID. No luck for either of us; and Owen took me back to his house to get his passport and put me on house arrest. Owen said that if I left he would never forgive me for leaving his house unlocked in Downtown Denver. Well what is a girl on house arrest to do except cook or clean? I did think about watching TV but being a girl renders me incapable of working more than 1 remote. Since we had made such a mess pregaming I figured I would do the dishes and then move onto the living room. I start washing and not two glasses in, one breaks on the counter. I manage to get my arm cut on loose piece, it's not too bad, kinda bleeding but it doesn't seem deep. I rig up a band aid out of cocktail napkins and get the blood to start clotting. I keep washing and do a pretty good job until I'm down to the last two plates. I move one over to the drying rack (which is much closer to the sink than mine) and manage to knock out not only a glass but a shot glass as well. The glass drops and shatters into the sink while the shot glass bounces once on the counter, once into the sink and then tumbles down the drain. Without thinking, I immediately reach in after it, like it would disappear if I didn't grab it right away and cut my right arm on the way down. This one is a little deeper, some of the white fatty tissue is sticking out but I don't have my wallet to walk to Albertson's and get some band aids. I do my best to control the blood but it's a losing battle. Every time I would wipe one drop up it seemed the other cut would bleed more out onto the floor creating a positive feedback cycle. I'm just glad I didn't pass out because I was very anemic that day. I didn't know really to do at this point so I decided to shower and at least keep the blood in one place and wash my make up off. After I get out the bleeding stops and I'm able to clean up the kitchen (or at least I think I do, Owen later tells me that I left blood everywhere). About and hour or so later Owen and his roommate come back after having one of the pedals on the tandem fall off and having to take a cab home. Owen thinks my cuts are pretty bad and maybe it's all the time I've spent at hospitals (interning, not being a patient) but after no band aids are to be found I receded and to go the ER with him. Apparently when you show up with more than 1 cut and a boy they start assuming domestic abuse. It definitely didn't help that my body was covered in bruises from running into things and mountain bike falls. I think they found it hard to believe that I had hit the coffee table that many times. They actually sent Owen home and told me I could call him when they were done. Since my cuts weren't life threatening it took them about 6 hours to attend to me, and after 4 the nurse finally realized that Owen and I were not dating and she became a lot nicer about the situation. I got my stitches and called Owen to come get me. Then we had to go track down the tandem because the pedal fell off and the backseat was wobbly, so they locked it up on Colfax. Which is a pretty long street but I'm pretty sure Wayne would have killed me if I didn't bring it home. Luckily we found it and it wasn't in too bad of shape, besides the missing pedal and the wobbly seat.  I made Owen the rainbow cake after breaking 3 of his glasses, getting blood all over his house and almost getting him charged with domestic abuse, it was the least I could do.

Eat your heart out Martha Stewart.

My mom texted me that morning and asked "How was last night, did you have fun? Any trips to the ER?" I check the time and saw that she would be walking into church so I said "Super fun, and only a couple stitches."

Not the same as riding through a herd of Buffalo

Since then I haven't had any other major spills just your typical run into the desk, dresser and car door. But I've done more bike rides this month than in October. And I'm seriously considering putting in for the lottery for the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, which is at 12,000 feet. So between my asthma and prone-ness to altitude sickness I might just die. But it would at least be a great way to go. Our house is right by some trails which makes it super easy to get out and ride. Yesterday was my third day in a row going. The first two days were pretty uneventful. But yesterday I went into a corner to fast and fishtailed on the way out and since my right leg isn't as strong as my left still I couldn't pull the bike back to the right and instead went careening off the trail hitting a rock and flipping over the handlebars. I scrapped up my knee, shin, back and bum and bent my front brake lever. I get up brush myself off and keep riding and what do you know but half a mile later I come within centimeters of running over a snake. The nice thing about mountain biking is there usually aren't a lot of people around so no one could hear my shouting that "It wasn't funny the first 17 times and it's still not funny now." End of November and I still have to put up with it. Geeze Louise.

*Names have been changed because my parents have done background checks on boys for far less. 

**Our mechanics are quiet qualified. I was the one who put the backseat on which is why it probably came loose. Don't worry the mechanics barely let me touch my own bike, let a lone costumers.

This Week in Kate's Big Adventure

I accidentally ran a marathon this past week. I'm not sure that statement has ever been uttered. Ever. Let me start at the beginning so you'll know how I ended up in such a peculiar situation. 

Last February Molly and I had a skype date where we signed up for the Denver Marathon. We talked about how we would train and have so much fun doing it and it would be awesome. I figured it would be a great way to get back to running and maybe have some motivation to actually do it. I got cleared from my PT to start training for it, because of my busted leg. I started running, a little, but the weather was crappy and I could only handle the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Around March we thought we should sign up for a half marathon to help us stay on track with our training. 

Well that didn't exactly happen because I stepped off a curb wrong at the beginning of May and had to spend about a week getting the swelling out and I stopped running. I scratched the half, but so did Molly, Barb, and Pat but we still got our t-shirts so it worked out.
I thought the training would pick up over the summer, but I only ran about 3-4 miles at a time. I'm not really a fan of running 10 min/miles, like at all. I'd through in occasional sprint work but my leg strength was still kind of lacking so not a whole lot. Much of my summer was like this and I went to see the Doctor at the end August and he told me I couldn't run it, that my leg was still far too weak and a marathon was not in my near future. I accepted defeat and didn't mind not feeling obligated to run for a while. I got the out I needed, the Doc said no. About 2 weeks ago I went to my parents for a few days and ended up running late at night for about and hour. That was actually the longest run I had done in the past 2 years and I was a wee bit sore the next day, and the day after, and after that. 


The weekend of the marathon I had to work on Saturday but got to cut out early, just because we weren't busy, not because I had told my coworkers I was running a marathon the next day, because I figured I wouldn't be. My plan was to just run until I couldn't so I figured 8 miles would be good and then I'd call it a day. I even had strawberry shortcake the night before because I wasn't going to be running the next day, especially if it was cold. 


The morning of we made our way over to the starting line and I told Molly that if she had to stop I would wait for her but if I needed to stop she should just keep going because I would probably tap out and find a medic tent. We started running and the nice thing about Molly is she is a really goo pacer because I usually just try to run really fast. We settled into a nice pace and around mile 3 I found an awesome sparkly purple headband which I sported the rest of the race (don't worry at this point if it was infested with lice I'm pretty sure I'd be itching). We ran into Barb around mile 8, which was awesome. At mile 12 the course split for those doing the half and those doing the full. I was feeling pretty good so I told Molly I'd take the full turn with her and told her I just wanted to make it to Mile 17. Around mile 14 I wasn't feeling too great but missed my chance to cut out at the half so kept going. I really wanted to make it to 17 too (I know such a random number, I'm sure somewhere in my subconscious there is a reason for it). I told Molly to go ahead I was going to take a walk break. At about mile 15 I saw the greatest thing in the world- people standing on the side of the street with a keg, handing out sole cups. Is this real life? I make my way over to grab one when of of the guys asks "Keg Stand?" At which point I thought when am I going to ever be running a marathon and get offered to do a keg stand-you have to know when to seize the opportunity right? So I did, not long, definitely nowhere near my record, but enough to at least call it a keg stand. I walked away with a solo cup full of PBR and decided either it would give me carbs and help me to to not feel anything or I would throw it all up and feel better so a win-win. I kept it down and it helped me to get to mile 17. I spent the next mile after that contemplating stopping while I choked down a GU pomegranate gel, yum! I somehow staggered into mile 18 and met up with a woman named Kerri, who was walking faster than I was able to run so I started walking with her. Misery loves company. We made it to mile 20 and at that point I figured, hey it's only 6 more miles, that's it? Ha well....it was actually the longest 6.2 miles of my life. I thought about stopping but didn't want to leave this woman on her own. We talked about our injuries, she was battling back from a knee injury and I told her about my leg. She was a mom of 5 (!!!) and 2 of her kids were running the half, and her husband did the full. She grew up in Iowa and got her degree in mechanical engineering, lived in TN for 3 years and didn't like it and now is in Colorado Springs. Trust me I got her whole life story. Somehow we were able to keep walking, moving and talking. We started jogging with about .60 miles left and crossed the finished line together and then went our separate ways. I hadn't seen any of our group when I was headed towards the finish and figured they made their way back to the hotel so I started walking back to the hotel wrapped up like a burrito with a bottle of water when I heard "Kate!?!?!!" and looked and saw our group.

We Made it!!!

"Kate, you little shit! Did your run the whole thing? Ha, yah but I didn't really mean too.
"We thought you headed back to the hotel after mile 17 and were taking a nap." I wish.
I couldn't really walk the next day, but neither could Molly so we went to a hot tub where would could actually bend our legs to stretch. On completing the marathon I learned a few things that people never mentioned about marathons so I thought I'd share my wisdom

1. It helps to train (this is probably a given for most)

2. Take the beer!!

3. Your hands might swell, this is gross, but not permanent

4. That feeling in your stomach only gets worse if you stop

5. That stress fracture you think is developing, is actually just a blister, and no it's not bleeding.

That's about all I got but if you need any real advice you should ask Molly, she is the textbook example, she trained, brought her own food, plenty of clothes, and said thank you to everyone who was cheering for us. The funny this is now that it's over I actually want to train for one.


I thought I would add a little bit of my other adventures this week because as Paul David told me "All you do is talk about that car, you think you'd been hit by a freight train." I think that's his way of saying he likes my blog. So in other news...

Insulin shot not included.

On Tuesday night I made Colossal Diabetes cookies for one of my coworkers who is leaving. I baked oreo cookies inside chocolate chip cookies and then baked those inside Mississippi Mudpie brownies with marshmallows. I didn't eat one (because I don't like chocolate) but I heard it was amazing. And I'm going to believe it because when I took them to work I got a marriage proposal, a roommate request and a guy's phone number. So I'm going to go with that they were pure awesomeness. And they had better been because I skipped knitting club to make them, but that's another whole blog on stay at home moms needing a social outlet...

I also did a mountain bike night ride with some of my coworkers which was way too much fun probabaly because it was dark so it actually seems like you're going faster than you actually are. I only suffered one crash when my back tire slid off a rock and I only remember sliding parallel into the ground - I scuffed up my elbow and got a couple of bruises and some grass stuck in my bike but that was about it, I'm just glad the guy behind me didn't run me over because that might have made work the next day a little awkward. 

Those were the big things this week...and so far so good I am ER free!!!!