0 Memorial Day- evidence that the sun still exists

You know, it's funny. Lately, I have heard from a lot of people who are interested in moving to Portland. My first response, given the lengthy rainy season we have had, is to scream in their face: "ARE YOU CRAZY?! THE WEATHER HERE MAKES YOU WANT TO SCRATCH YOUR EYEBALLS OUT!"

But then I take a deep breath, smile and say, "You know it rains here a little, right?"

Which is such a freaking lie, but at least it's pc.

People, listen up: Portland is in a temperate rainforest AKA Depression Land AKA Vitamin D-starved AKA Can we PLEASE for the love of all that is holy get a couple sunny, hot days up in here? Pretty please? Because if we don't, I might have to take drastic measures. Like moving to Las Vegas, land of sprawl and excess and sin and, oh yeah, SUN.

Anyway. I'm kind of desperate, but that's not too obvious, is it?

Life threw us a bone last weekend in the form of Memorial Day, which was predicted to be predictably rainy and cool in Portland. We got the heck out of Dodge, just like we do on every Memorial Day weekend and escaped to Sunlands where it was indeed sunny and warm.

It was like heaven. We wore short sleeves and basked in the glow. We even went a little crazy and did not wear sunscreen, we were so starved for Vitamin D. When we went home on Monday night, my bones still felt warm. I am not making this up- I felt like I had baked in the oven for 3 days until I was suitably browned and toasted. And oh, did it feel good. In every one of the following pictures, it is sunny. And warm. And also sunny.

I really really really did not want to come home.

My daughter is pretty much the cutest child to have ever lived.

We shot some guns. And then we shot some more guns. Yep.

Barker likes to shoot.

I did a triathlon. It was sunny. I actually sweat. I was hot when I finished. I was pleased.

Right before I find out I'm in second for my age group- AGAIN. I will be 2nd forever it seems.

The poor, poor domestique who had to stand around in the sun all morning.

Okay, fine. I will take this 2nd place medal. But I am only smiling because it's sunny.

Ah, Sunlands. It's a pretty rad place.

My favorites chat about...well, who knows what?

River dirt is better in the sun.

Detail: Memorial Day- evidence that the sun still exists

0 The Season

Last week, it was sunny two days in a row which was weird and unusual. And so I spent two days riding my cruiser bike nonchalantly around town, wearing flip flops and contemplating the awesomeness of life.

Then I realized: one of the things that makes life awesome is the racing season! And guess what, people? It is the racing season RIGHT NOW.

You know what else? I am pretty freaking stoked about that. Between the pre-race nerves that make me vomit, the continual self-talk and suffering during a race, and the post-race sinking in to the couch from exhaustion and inhaling burritos from ravenous hunger...I love it. I love it all.

So, bring it. Bring it all- the triathlons, the bike races, the 5Ks, the short track mountain biking...BRING. IT. ON.

Detail: The Season

0 Vacay

I'll be honest. I used to think of Sunriver, OR with disdain. Sunriver is a vacation destination for families. And there aren't really a ton of views of the surrounding mountains. Barkernews and I really, really like views.

But Sunriver has grown on me in the three years I have been going there for the Pacific Crest Triathlon. It has grown on me so much that we planned a 6-day vacation there this year and then spent much of the 6 days turning to Barkernews and saying, "I love it here".

I love the smell of the high desert and the pine trees. I love the omnipresent sunshine and the hot temperatures. I love that I can ride the cruiser bike (thoughtfully provided by the rental house) around 33 miles of bike paths- to the store, to the pool, to the river. I love that out the back door are miles and miles of beautiful road, calling my bike, and miles and miles of trail, calling my mountain bike.

I really love the opportunities Sunriver provides for us to spend time as a family and to hang out with friends.

Can you tell it was an awesome vacation?

Witness the evidence:

Barkernews and Hazel (and Baby, of course) admire the sun and the river and the glorious feeling of not having to go to work.

Did I mention I did a little triathlon while I was there? Yep, the Pacific Crest Olympic distance race. I took 7 minutes off my 2009 time, 13th out of 46 in my age group. Next year, I shoot for under 3 hours. Pretty sure I can do it if I improve my run training. Maybe.

Did I mention the cruiser bikes? (Barkernews used his mountain bike since he needed a gear or two to pull the baby trailer.) Oh My God, I need one. Unfortunately, in my real life, I live at the bottom of a very steep hill so unless I move or get a cruiser bike with a motor, it's not happening.

I love vacation! That's Eli, Sara's 13-month-old, in the foreground. She's pretty dang cute.

Barkernews and I managed to sneak off for a little mountain biking fun on the Deschutes River, thanks to LeAnn's daughter, Sara. That was stupid fun. Seriously, it was a major highlight of my vacation for us to go out and ride together and a gorgeous, fun trail which was perfect for our abilities.

Detail: Vacay

0 A weekend in the life

For the first time in 20 (20!) days, the sun came out, just in time for me to compete in the Blue Lake Sprint Triathlon. I am getting in to this sprint triathlon thing- you're done in time for brunch and you're not so physically wasted that you can't do anything else for the rest of the day. I love it. It's still pretty competitive and there are some wicked fast sprint triathletes out there. I am not wicked fast, but I can hold my own in a mediocre manner. I came in 7th out of 46 competitors in my age group on Saturday, but I was sorely disappointed in my run. My legs hurt and it took me a full minute longer than my 5K the previous week.

Before the race, Greg introduced me to the concept of "kill rate". This is the number of people you pass in a race. Kill rate on the bike? Very, very positive. Kill rate on the run? Disappointingly negative. Meh.

Greg and Sara, triathlon virgins no more. Addicted yet? I guess we will find out!

Michelle and I demonstrate our Specialized River City Cycling Team prowess. Actually, Michelle has a lot more than me. She won her age group in the duathlon!

After the race, we met Barknews and The Hizz for lunch and then promptly headed to the desert, where it was purported to be sunny and hot. It was. We parked ourselves next to the Deschutes River and spent hours throwing rocks in to the water with Hazel, reading and just chillaxin'. Best way to spend a Saturday afternoon ever.

On Sunday, we did a little exploration- of the White River Falls and the Gorge Discovery Center. Neither Barkernews nor I have really ever been to that part of the Deschutes River, nor White River Falls nor the Gorge Discovery Center (despite many days spent in The very sunny Dalles). We loved it and mused about how we tend to visit the same places over and over again because we, well, we love those places and hold them dear in our hearts. But we also desire exploration, even if it's not very far afield.

I competed in a triathlon, we explored the desert and we were home in time to unpack in 15 minutes, make dinner, take showers and go to bed by 9:30pm. Now THAT'S what you call a weekend.

This week brings a lot of activity to the Barker house: ski patrol meetings, Mt. Tabor racing (finally!), long runs in preparation for Pacific Crest, a re-introduction to mountain bike racing (how do I ride a mountain bike again?), and a camping trip to the beach. Other people may think it impossible to get away as much as we do and still make it through the week. I, on the other hand, NEED our weekend trips to rejuvenate me for the week. I need that time devoted to my husband and my daughter and yes, even to me. I need to see beautiful places and revel in the sunlight, and take the time to imagine that those moments can and will last forever. Our work weeks are not difficult and they are busy and full by deliberate choice. But our weekends? That's the core of this family's time together and I want to keep it that way as long as possible.

Detail: A weekend in the life

0 Hiatus

I spent the week prior to Memorial Day weekend obsessively checking weather forecasts. Would it be sunny at the cabin in Central Washington? Would it be hot? What would I do if it rained there TOO? I couldn't take much more rain, especially over a weekend.

There was no need to worry. I think that Sunlands, WA enjoys some sort of special blessing from above. Sure, it may rain every now and then, but never for long and that sun? Oh, that sun feels so, so good.

We didn't have the 95-degree temps of Memorial Day 2009, but we did have 75 degrees and sun. Considering that I am now growing mold here in Portland, that was good enough for me. There was a lot of time spent outside, from hanging out on the grass to throwing rocks in the river to cycling to rock climbing. It was the hiatus from soggy Portland the Barker family needed.

Ritchie gamely kept Hazel occupied by stealing her toys while Barkernews and I escaped for a little bit of cycling the country roads.

Oh, I am so excited to be riding my bike in the sun.

Have I mentioned that we love it out there? We do. It's so freaking beautiful. I mean, check this out:

Yep, pretty awesome.

We also got some rock climbing in with Ailey and Ritchie. While Ailey and Ritchie played around on the rock, Barkernews and I managed to knock off 6 climbs in 3 hours, which must be some kind of record for us. I led some 5.10a and 5.10b climbs, which is the hardest I have done in...two years? It was total radness.

Seen from this angle, the future is so bright, the Barkers have to wear shades.

While we were off climbing, my family was busy letting Hazel wear her pajamas in the middle of the day and goof around in the wagon.

One of the great things about hanging out with so many family members is the ability to ask ten people at once, "So, can someone watch Hazel so Barkernews and I can go on a date?" and someone will invariably answer "YES!"

Off we went for our date to the very fancy restaurant at Cave B Winery. The view from there is even more amazing than the view from Mom and Dad's cabin. Nothing short of spectacular. The food is pretty good too, even if it does come in very small portions.

Price per bite? I don't even want to think about it.

After killing a bottle of wine with Barkernews at the restaurant I promptly put myself to bed because I had a triathlon in the morning. My bike racing season started in March, but triathlon season is just starting to heat up. I say that tongue in cheek of course- the lake water was a brisk 58 degrees. I had a much better swim than the week prior, I pushed it hard on the bike and I maintained a fairly steady pace on the run. I came in at 1:10 and 3rd in my age group. Considering the 1st and 2nd ladies were the winners of the whole race, I wasn't too upset. Oh yeah, and the winner of my age group put in a 22 minute 5K run. Definitely can't beat that one.

Post-race, about to head home for more family fun activities.

Post-race activities included a whole lot of chilling out and then a long drive home. Before leaving, we managed to get a Barker family picture, an extremely rare occurrence.

Someone here doesn't have very much hair...

We almost cried as we drove back in to the wall of clouds on the west side of the mountains. Does the rain REALLY have to continue?

Apparently it does because showers are forecast for the rest of the week. We are already circling the wagons and planning the next getaway- starting this Saturday, right after my triathlon in Troutdale. Plans are indefinite except for the following: The Barker family will be desperately seeking sun.

Detail: Hiatus

0 The things I promise myself

I will only race the Mt. Tabor Circuit Race if it's not raining, I said. I will only ride out to Hagg Lake and do the open water swim if the weather is warm, I said.

I lie to myself.

I did it all anyway, in the rain. What else was I supposed to do? It is predicted to rain until the end of time around here. I have poison oak (a small price to pay for a weekend in the sun) and I am on steroids- a lot of them. The steroids make me crazy. The rain makes me depressed. I had no other choice.

The Mt. Tabor race, aka The Murderhorn, consists of 6 laps up and over the volcano. It is not a large volcano- total elevation gain on each lap is only 136.6 feet- but it gets pretty painful sometime around lap 3, at least if you're me and training has been minimal to nonexistent. I was beyond grateful to only race 6 laps- the senior men did THIRTY. I think I would have died of a heart attack before I could get to lap 10.

I kind of like to climb, being a small person and all, and I kind of like to descend now that I have a super rad race bike, so I have to secretly admit...I like Mt. Tabor. It hurts and I feel like I am surely going to gasp my last breath the whole entire time but, dare I say it? I enjoy it. Even in the rain. Lots and lots of stupid rain.

Then I went home and read a book while Hazel took a 2-hour nap. Bliss.

I had the same rule for my Sunday activities as I did for Saturday- no rain. I didn't follow it. I set off at 6:45am to ride the 37 miles to Hagg Lake with Michelle and THANK GOD she came along. Because, yeah, you guessed it, it rained. Riding with her made it so much more bearable and fun.

I barely made it to Hagg Lake in time to register, throw on my wetsuit and jump in to the freezing cold water before the 2000m swim started.

The whole event was horrific. There is a reason the swim is the first event in a triathlon- maybe because it is not advised to jump in to cold water when your heart rate is still sitting at 150bpm after a bike ride. I couldn't get my heart rate down to a manageable level and I panicked. I have always been a slow swimmer, but this was ridiculous. It took me a good 5 minutes floating on my back just to calm down enough to flip back over. Even then, my heart rate absolutely refused to go down. It was an awful catch-22- I couldn't speed up enough to warm up (my hands and feet felt like they were going to fall off) and I could never go slow enough to get my heart rate down.

Worst open water swim EVER.

Afterwards, a very worried Barkernews quickly escorted an almost hypothermic me to a heated vehicle where I had to stop shivering long enough just to put on dry clothes. My time was terrible, but I SO did not care. I just wanted to go home, be warm, and have a normal heart rate.

I made Barkernews ride home in the pouring rain and then I went home and laid on the couch for two whole hours. Hazel took a wicked long nap. I didn't feel the need to move, so I didn't.

Then I went to Happy Hour with Barkernews and Hazel because it was still raining and at some point in the deluge, what else are you going to do?

Next time, I will listen to myself and avoid open water swim when the temperature outside is below 75 degrees and I have just ridden 37 hard miles. For real.

Detail: The things I promise myself

0 Out with 2009, In with 2010. For real.

Everyone I know has posted their 2010 goals/resolutions/reasons to go to the gym on their blog, so I guess I should do the same, if only to get it out there and hold myself accountable.  Besides, if the cool kids are doing it, then I should definitely do it too, right?

First, a little recap of 2009:

1. I went back to work after 6 months of maternity leave.  I was SO HAPPY to go back.

2. I skied 30 days that winter.

3. I bike raced more than 40 times.

4. I met some new, and now close, friends.

5. Our family camped over 10 times together, hiking around or on most of the Cascade volcanoes within a 3-hour drive of Portland.

6. My daughter turned 1.

7. I took up the sport of cyclocross and *ahem* loved it (damn you, Barkernews).

8. The Hizz and I spent one spectacular, memorable summer together.

9. I placed second in my age group in a triathlon, my first podium ever.

10. Barkernews and I celebrated 10 years since our first date.

Nothing too insane, like having a kid or getting married, but notable in its satisfying tone none the less.  It was a great year.  I was in better shape than I was pre-kid.  Barkernews and I really became part of the bike racing community.  When I think of 2009, I will think of it with an all-around sense of general happiness.  I am pretty sure you can call that a success.

Now, on to 2010.  Resolutions aren't really my thing, but goals are and I've got a few of those.  Here ya go:

1. Ski 30 days between Jan. '10 and Dec. '10.  This repeats the amount of days from the previous year.  While I would like to increase that number, I am also realistic.  I do have a job and a kid and a husband and other hobbies.  I was up to 15 by the time I left Colorado, so I think it's doable. 

2. Thoroughly clean out each room of my house.  This is a BIIIIIGGGG project, and one I am not too thrilled out.  But it needs to be done.  Six years of living here has taken its toll.  Anyone need 10 pairs of stretched out cycling socks?  How about a women's size 6 pair of mountaineering boots worn ONCE?

3. Read 1 book a month.  This may seem easy, but during the school year (during the summer, I read voraciously), I am often so tired from working/working out/making dinner/taking care of Hizz/checking Facebook that all I want to read is one short magazine article before I go to bed.  Being a member of a book club will help.

4. Go to Teatro Milagro for four performances.  In my effort to be a well-rounded person (see #3), I am also intent on attending our local Spanish-language theater.  Lucky Barkernews, a non-Spanish speaker!  We start this coming Thursday, with tapas and American Sueño.  

5.  Rock climb every two weeks.  Sadly, this will be happening at the gym.  Happily, this will probably be happening with Ky, followed by margaritas.  I really miss climbing, a fact I have alluded to too many times to count on this blog.  The gym is just a stand-in until Haze can hold her own on the rock.

6. Finish that pesky master's degree.  For real.  I have to finish the program by 2010, so there you go.  The goal was set for me.  The only things standing in my way are a research paper and an internship.  Three words: GET IT DONE.

And some super-secret goals I can't share with the internet.  Sorry, internet.

Phew.  That's done.  Here are my races for 2010:

1. Banana Belt Road Race #1, 2/28

2. Banana Belt Road Race #2, 3/7 (dependent on snow conditions and a possible work trip to DC)

3. Banana Belt Road Race #3, 3/14 (unless it's a powder day)

4. King's Valley Road Race, 4/10 (unsure about this one, unless they create a dedicated Cat 4 group)

5. Cherry Blossom Stage Race, 4/23-4/25

6. Hawthorne Farms Sprint Triathlon, early May

7. Silverton Road Race, 5/16

8. Spring Festival Sprint Triathlon, 5/31

9. Blue Lake Sprint Triathlon, 6/5

10. Pacific Crest Olympic Triathlon, 6/27

11. High Desert Omnium, 7/10-7/11 (VERY dependent on the arrival of my niece or nephew!)

12. OBRA Road Race, 8/7

13. Portland Triathlon (sprint), 8/22

And, of course, the Mt. Tabor series and the Monday PIR series.  After completing a season of cyclocross, I am now seriously thinking about doing a couple short track mountain bike races too.

That is all.  Happy 2010.  Mine started fabulously.  Yours?

Detail: Out with 2009, In with 2010. For real.

0 Buy my bikes!

In case you haven't heard, I recently acquired a cyclocross bike (more on this later) and will be taking delivery of a sweet new road bike in the fall.  What does this mean?  Well, dear internet, it means I must sell several of my current bikes!  Sweet deals for a petite someone out there = a bike racer who is not in debt (also known as ME).  See info below and if you're interested, email me at climberchica(AT)hotmail.com.

P.S. I also have an extra pair of wheels to anyone who is super nice to me and buys a bike.

Trek 2100 WSD (2007), $1200 OBO

FRAMESET
Sizes	Women's 43cm
Frame	ZR 9000 Alloy w/TCT Carbon seat stays
Fork	Bontrager Approved, carbon

 

WHEELS
Wheels	Bontrager Race 700c (43cm: 650c)
Tires	Bontrager Race Lite, folding, 650c
DRIVETRAIN
Shifters	Shimano ST-R700 STI, adjustable reach, 10 speed
Front Derailleur	Shimano Ultegra
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Ultegra
Crank	Bontrager Race Lite 53/39/30
Cassette	Shimano Ultegra 12-25, 10 speed
COMPONENTS
Saddle                      Bontrager Race Lite FIT Lux
Seat Post	Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon
Handlebars	Bontrager Race w/BzzzKill
Stem	Bontrager Race
Headset	Cane Creek Internal, sealed, alloy
Brakeset	Shimano Ultegra w/adjustable reach STI levers
Extras	Bontrager BzzzKill harmonic dampers by Mathews

Custom Triathlon/Time Trial Bike, $800 OBO

FRAMESET
Frame	Custom aluminum
Fork	Profile Design, carbon

 

WHEELS
Wheels	Mavic Ksyrium Flite (43cm: 650c)
Tires	Hutchison Carbon Comp, (43cm: 650x25c)
DRIVETRAIN
Shifters	Shimano 105 (on aerobars)
Front Derailleur	Shimano Ultegra
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Ultegra
Crank	Truvativ 52/42/30
COMPONENTS
Saddle	Terry Butterfly
Seat Post	Aluminum
Handlebars	Ironman carbon aerobars

Detail: Buy my bikes!