When I have a chapter 2, I am always a bit concerned that no one wants to hear my rattling on, and instead just looks at my pictures:) But my journey in life is about relationships, new and old. And with that journey is the stories that my lil ol brain wants to remember forever, and thus the writing is my journal...
Saturday morning was another play day, as the race was on Sunday. The adventure for the day was to go hiking in the surrounding area and not get lost. We wanted to see Latourell Falls, it is such a towering waterfall, with the forest around it green with moss and the yellow colored lichen cliff walls are just dancing with color. The gorge seems so huge and remote...the hiking trails go on and on. Sim and I were quite for most of the walk...soaking in the beauty of it all.
Sim made me do the pose thing, since I am always the one behind the camera, don’t like my picture taken so much:) so I was trying to make her happy! I had to crop off the leg shot though, to much of a good thing is not so good!
Next up was the Vista House at Crown Point...Majestic! It’s the only word to describe this historic view point which was built as an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite.
Oh my, I know Simone was meant to be on top of the world...don’t you agree and she was! Our Saturday morning hike was complete, next up was getting ready to be super race support stud-dets:) Rev3 Portland, here we come!
Dinner with Lisa, Keaton, and Simone...best homemade dinner made by Chef Lisa
Ahhh, I could do what most do and write a “race report”...but do you really care how fast someone swam, then came into T1 (transition 1) or how high the heartbeat was, or what the daily nutrition was off the bike, or how their special cool shoes made them run faster? I didn’t think so. Cause remember my writing is about friendship:)
Lindsey Cotter and me...she is the bomb and a great cook of all things good...like gluten free good:)Her hubbie JC is a fast racer dude!
I know a lot about the world of triathlon, inside and out just about...the players, the fast swimmers, the slow runners, the cool cats on the bikes, a few coaches, but what it comes down to is they are all just people...every day joes like you and me, with the same goals and the same hopes. They have families, kids, husbands, pets...and they have enriched our lives...a bunch. This is a story about our friend Kate...along with a few others and some fun facts:)
1. Kate has curly hair and curly stickers and has a twin…that looks and talks just like her. Her twin Emma lives in Australia, and is prego with her 2nd kid.
2. Kate doesn’t drink...I think she has tasted beer once or twice and tried a glass of wine once. I am the wino friend from the North:)
3. Kate eats everything...but fish! She can’t stand the smell of it either. She likes a home cooked meal better than eating out and is a good cook! And she likes to bake...my type of friend.
Getting set up in transition, she often pretends she is a movie star...since the cameras are always around her. I call this the “Do I look sexy look”. Not really, but I like to make things up sometimes, cause I know she laughs at her self all the time...that’s a good thing.
Never mind the smirky smiles...Kate is all business leading up to the start, her head is always in a good spot, she knows what she wants to do...she trains hard and she is dedicated, not only to her job...but to her friends, the ones she relies on to help her make her world go round.
Simone and Kate pre swim start
Good hugs always make the start of the race better…this I know. No matter where you are, or what you do, someone helps you get there. Somewhere along the line are the people who step up to the plate for you, or believe in your dream, or dig down deep in their pockets, or come up with a bright idea…
4. Kate has a tattoo of a butterfly on the back of her neck...Chloe wants one on the side of her foot, I say not until she is Kate’s age, which by the way, Kate was born the same year that I graduated from High School. If you do the math, that will be a long time away:)
The swim was about ready to start, Rev3 is so laid back, that even lil ol me could get on the beach without getting shoed away. After all my favs, Kate in the red, Meredith, Bree, and Jen were racing for the women and the men's pro race was a oh la la type of good:)
Kate is #41, guess she didn’t need a peg
Kate was 4th out of the water...Meredith was 1st, Simone was already up on the bike course...I was trying to get there, we were looking for Zody as well, she is another firecracker, it was getting hot...just what I luv and the race was on! I couldn’t have been happier. No words to explain what watching a race is like when you know your friends are racing...see I take pride in what I do. The kind of pride I’m talking about is not the arrogant puffed-up kind, it’s just the whole idea of caring...fiercely caring for people in my circle. It’s a good feeling.
Kate smiles a little if she spots me...Not so much with Bree...she looks the other way or puts her head down...unless I am a bit quiet and don’t jump up and down so much...so thank you Bree for one of the few photos of you on the bike, after 4 races its about time:) I heart Bree!
The view on the bike course.
So the race was on...the chase was on...the men were flying by and one of my all time favorites that doesn’t know me from adam is Jordan Rapp. He is a story of near death...hit from a car while on his bike...to back on the bike and in tip top form.
You can read about him here if you like...but following his journey I am sure that he was treasuring this day...treasuring himself, truly a believer in himself and in life.
And then there is Meredith...see my story just could go on and on...I have factoids about her also
1. Meredith was the one who started the whole idea of getting your nails painted before every race. Now everyone does it:)
2. Meredith married her high school sweetheart, his name is Aaron and he likes to fish.
3. Meredith likes a good glass of red...she is my wino friend from the west:)
Mer was on a mission...for herself and no one else. She was in 1st place coming out of the water and was leading the bike by a good margin. She has had a hard start to her year of racing, I always want the best for the friends that I care about the most...I cheer and want everyone to win! I just think that nothing else can quite substitute for a few well chosen, well timed, sincere words of praise. They are absolutely free and worth a fortune! And so my words of choice during a race are spoken…well rather loudly:) Yes I am the best!! Oh dang, this isn't about me though is it?
Meredith is in the lead with Kate in 2nd...
I wanted Kate to catch Meredith...run her down on the course and then stride into the finish line with her...swinging hands together...I was so excited for both of them. Kate cause she was buying me dinner with her prize money and Meredith...cause it was just that big of a deal for her.
Meredith was the winner for the day...Kate was 2nd...it was the best day ever for a race!!
I wish I could wear my name across my bum… but afraid it would just make mine look bigger…and then I would appear to be a want-to-be...my kiddos would definitely move out! But when I see Major or MBK run their arses off...it’s the coolest thing. The stride and grace and determination. I luved how Meredith waited for Kate at the finish. I believe that Goodwill is reciprocal. The good thoughts that you send out to others will always return to you multiplied.
Bree had a great race...a 4th place finish…I think she liked Portland, always fun to be around. I think Bree leaves a lil bit of herself at each race, and not sure if she knows all the good that she does by just her simple smile...cause she does a lot.
Zody with a ZZZZZZZ. She is the last piece to the great times in Portland! She is a super smart working girl with an instant smile to whomever she meets. I chased her down on the golf cartOh she got used to me quickly...I think! All that I wanted to do was encourage her to run faster! Cause she was so close to being top 5 in her age group..she even has her own hats that have a “Z” on them. She has the will to do and the soul to dare. Another one of the good people...
Sometimes I find that words fail me and that I am not quite sure what to say, but here’s a start...from my heart “Thank you” for making a difference in my life to all of you:) It’s a good life I live…
Maybe just maybe the Pot Pie story will have to wait until Chapter 3…
Kate and Sim after the race and ready to eat…and do they eat…
