Inverness Get-Away

Over the weekend, I spent a few days at the family home of some friends in Inverness, near Point Reyes. The house is right on Tomales Bay. Across the Bay, you can see the cars heading up Highway 1 and can see all the oyster cages at Tomales Bay Oyster Farm. It was wonderfully relaxing and quiet. I went into "town" to Point Reyes Station for meals at the Station House, a tourist hot-spot, and Pine Cone Diner, a local diner, complete with plates lining the wall and a statue of Virgin Mary over the cash register. Both places, I had good food (eggs at both!). I also stopped in to Bovine Bakery, a favorite refueling stop for the cyclists, and Cow Girl Creamery, a famous cheese shop. I walked on the beach, took a trail run, and relaxed and read. I also headed up Highway 1 to Hog Island Oyster Farm & Cafe and ate the best fresh oysters I've ever tasted. Next time I go, I'll plan in advance and reserve a picnic table, get a few friends together, grab charcoals & bring salads  goodies & we can learn to shuck our own oysters!

BBQ'd oysters & local brew, Lagunita's

Barnacles & mussels on rocks

Low tide

Kehoe Beach

More oysters! Yum

Hog Island Oysters--buy them & shuck yourselves

Picnic area at Hog Island

Order your oysters here

Pine Cone Diner

Walking Tour--California Gold Rush

RQ and I joined a walking tour group today to learn more about the California Gold Rush and how it shaped San Francisco. San Francisco City Guides Walking Tours is a free, volunteer-led walking tour of neighborhoods & historic areas of the city. I'd always wanted to go on one and today finally did it. It was fantastic! Manuel, our guide, led us through downtown and into Chinatown, past some of the oldest buildings in the city, the first mint where the newly discovered gold was kept, where Mark Twain drank and met the "real" Tom Sawyer (a SF-based firefighter). Both RQ and I had a great time learning about the settlement of SF, the Gold Rush, and the San Francisco 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires. Though gold was never found in SF, only the American River in Sacramento, it was where the boats from all over the world would dock and where much of the gold-money was spent. The city flourished and prices sky-rocketed--in 1849, lunch in the city cost $20 and a loaf of bread about $4...not much different than now!

I can't wait to do another tour!

Commercial Street

Chinatown

Gold Street

If you squint, you can see the Ferry Building clock tower...

Balance Street, the shortest street in SF

Chinatown Light-post

Happy 2013!

Merry Christmas

I went back to MN for Christmas. It was wonderfully relaxing & I was able to catch up with many friends and family.

Christmas 2012

Holiday tree in Union Square, San Francisco

Over-sized ornaments outside my office in SF

Exploring SF & Wine Country with Minnesota Guests

As they say...better late than never! Boy, I guess I've been slacking on my posts!

My mom, cousin, and aunts from Minnesota came out in mid-October for a long weekend. We had so much fun exploring SF and wine country. Yes, even I acted like a tourist....and loved it! We enjoyed wine, good food & great company. I had such a great time...it was hard to see them leave!

Dinner at Cioppino's

Mom & me in the limo to Napa

Castello di Amorosa

Castello di Amorosa

Cheers!

Sparkling wine at Domaine Chandon

Domaine Chandon

Before dinner at Alioto's

Fog-bow!

On my run yesterday, the fog was so thick & wet I was covered in little water droplets. Another runner told me asked me if I'd see the "fog-bow" and pointed upward. I looked up and was amazed. It's similar to a rainbow, but in the fog. I didn't know fog-bows existed!

Ironman Wisconsin

Dad & I. Picking up race packet

 I survived! Almost 2 weeks ago (already!), I completed Ironman Wisconsin, in Madison. When I crossed the finish line, I was overwhelmed by exhaustion, happiness, relief...I was finally done! The lead up to the race & my training had been exhausting, both mentally and physically. I'm not sure why training for this race was harder than my last one. One theory is that I had a training buddy for my last race, where I didn't this one. I did a lot of long bike rides and runs by myself. And, where sometimes, it's nice to go out by myself, I think I didn't realize how much I looked forward to training with my friend and how much I depended on her, and honestly, enjoyed training with her. I'd heard from many people that this race course (bike) was beautiful and the race in general was top notch. So, between my exhaustion and anticipation, I was ready for the race to start (and end!).

Swimming in Lake Monona

Yes, all those "splashes" are people! I'm somewhere in the mayhem.

Mom & Dad waiting for me to finish biking

Swim
I didn't panic at all, not once. This is HUGE for me. I've panicked in the swim in every single triathlon I've ever done, regardless of my training. In reality, I was a better swimmer (not necessarily faster!) than a lot of the athletes. So, I got stubborn & wasn't going to let them scare me (or hit me or drowned me, as in my nightmares!). I concentrated on my breathing and every few strokes, looked up for the buoy. I was touched and swum over and was able to keep cool. The course was a huge rectangle (1 loop), so the backside, farthest from the shore, was a mile and seemed long. People afterward mentioned a current against us, but I couldn't really tell, it just seemed long.

Bike
I think just about the entire race passed me on my bike! Really. I didn't think I was that slow, but I guess I am! I didn't let it bother me though, I just wanted to finish, I knew if I started "racing," it was going to be a long day. I didn't quite keep to my nutrition plan, but I did eat and drink (maybe too much, see below), knowing I had to fuel for the bike and the run. I was able to stay positive and in-the-moment during the bike. Towards the end, it did get a little long and I just wanted to be done. The course was hilly, but really beautiful. There was a headwind, which did get tiresome, and I think took a wear on me mentally and physically. I just tried to keep positive and concentrate on the next turn where I'd get out of the wind.

Run
Until about mile 16, I felt pretty good on the run. I ran slowly and walked through the aid stations. Miles 11-16 felt really good; I felt I was getting into a rhythm. Then I started to get stomach cramps and had to use several (seemed like every one) porta potties. I walked at least 4 miles. I couldn't keep anything in me at this point and was feeling a little light headed. But, I still knew I'd finish. I just really couldn't wait to finish by this point. I'm not sure if I overate during the bike or I under-ate during all of my training rides...Or, if I just cannot do solid food in events like this. If I do another, I might try liquid nutrition.

Still feeling pretty good here.

Overall, I was able to stay positive and kept telling myself I can do this. It really helped me to have my family there, though I felt badly they had to wait so long for me to finish. But, I just kept reminding myself how lucky I was to be there and my family there with me. I was able (physically, financially) to participate, and I would get through it.

Done!

Finish line in the daylight

After the race, I headed to MN for some R&R. And I did nothing! It was so nice to see friends & family and take some time to regroup.

During training, I told myself I wouldn't do another race like this...I think I've started to rethink that...though I haven't signed up for anything just yet!