GOLD Medal & WORLD CHAMPION Title!

Hi All,

Sorry I haven’t posted much but I currently have limited access to the internet  But as you can see by the title of this post, I achieved my goal!!!

I’ll post more when I get home, but I wanted to let you know that DREAMS do come true when you never give up on them!!  Below are a few photos from the 2011 ITU Duathlon World Championships.  I’ll post more when I get home, rested and recovered!

SEE/BELIEVE/ACHIEVE!  It works!

Patty

Start of the Women's Race - All Ages in the Sprint Duathlon World Championships in Gijon, Asturias, Spain on Sept. 25, 2011. I'm in the middle front and center.

Coming down the home stretch and knowing I was going to be a World Champion was quite emotional for me. Hearing the crowd yell USA and my name was emotional and made me tear up with both joy and pride.

Me getting my bike out of transition several hours after the race. I also was told that I posted the FASTEST FEMALE BIKE SPLIT out of ALL the women in the Sprint Race. SEE/BELIEVE/ACHIEVE!

On the podium at the Awards Ceremony with my Gold Medal - THANK-YOU Arrowhead Orthopaedics for helping to keep my body in World-Class Shape!

Final Race for 2009

Hi All!

Yes, I know it is already 2010, but I can’t fully embrace the new year, until I close the door on 2009.  My last blog was several months ago when I wrote about the World Duathlon Championship – my primary athletic goal for 2009, inspite of my right wrist Colles Fracture in March.

I initially started this blog as a way to motivate others that became unexpectedly injured and thought their life, as they knew it, was over.   I wanted to help others with their recovery struggles by documenting my therapy experiences on my “Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds.”   From the comments I received, I am happy to report that my mission was accomplished.  I am always happy to help others achieve their goals.  As a FITness Educator for 19 years at Chaffey College, I thoroughly enjoy educating and motivating others about the physiological and psychological benefits of a workable lifetime FITness Program.

Now that my wrist is 100% recovered with complete range of motion and strength back – THANK YOU ARROWHEAD HAND CENTER and particularly Harold Neuendorff for my therapy, it is time to focus on setting new goals for 2010.  But first, a big thank you also to Dr. John Steinmann for his splendid work as my Orthopaedic Surgeon! Without the teamwork and top rated expertise of the ARROWHEAD ORTHOPAEDICS Community, my 100% recovery may not have been possible!

Before I discuss the 2010 goals of this site, now that my recovery and worlds are completed, I need to wrap up 2009.  After my 4th place finish at Worlds in September, I took some training time off.  However, a friend of mine and I entered one final race for 2009, the Tinsel Triathlon in Hemet, CA.  We had done this race in 2008 and my friend was looking forward to doing it again this year, so we entered.

Usually, I check my times from the prior years and plan how I can improve, but not this year.  I was going to run the race just for training.  The weather was very iffy and rain was in the forecast.  I definately didn’t want to race in the cold rain, so we decided the night before that if it rained, we’d just do the 5k run and not the Triathlon.  Well…it was raining at 5:30 AM when I woke up but the forecast send clearing by race start.  Off we went.

After arriving, I noticed some strong competition among the women’s field.  At that moment, my competitive juices started flowing and my mind was thinking, “Race On!”

Four of the top local female triathletes were there and we all exchanged good luck wishes before the start.

BANG went the start gun and off we went.  I felt good on the run and finished 8th female, within 2 minutes of the 1st female after the 5k run.

Me finishing the run, enroute to the bike transition.

I had a fast transition to the bike and even passed three women in the transition area.  Tom, my husband yelled I was only 40 seconds down on the first women as I mounted my Leopard TT Bike for the 12 mile leg.  I immediately got in my time trial position and started hammering, chasing competitors down like a rabid dog!   I was passing people left and right, but only counting and concerned with the women.  Shortly after the six mile turnaround point, I passed my final female challenger and was now in first place.  Yahoo!

I held the lead for majority of the bike leg and was thrilled to dismount as the first place women with only the 150 yard swim between me and the title of Overall Female Champion.  I was very excited to have posted the fastest female bike split, but was quite concerned with the final swim.  Having trained for most of the year in the Duathlon (Run/Bike/Run) my swim training was sorely lacking.

Me on my lightening fast Leopard TT bike en route to posting the FASTEST FEMALE BIKE SPLIT at the Tinsel Tri, 31 minutes, 22 seconds for 12 miles.

After a fast transition, I took off running for the pool.  Hot on my trail was Polly, who managed to jump into the pool just ahead of me.  I dug deep and tried my hardest to catch her, but my body just could not muster up the strength to swim any faster.  Polly maintained her lead and took first, while I held onto second place.   It would have been great to have pulled off the victory, but I was happy with my performance and estactic to have posted the fastest female bike split.

NOW,  I can close the book on 2009 and focus on 2010.  Thank you for joining me on my “Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds” in 2009.  Now I will need to come up with a new title for this blog.  Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, start thinking about your goals and dreams for 2010.  I hope to blog at least once or twice a month, maybe more if necessary.  Stay tuned!

East Coast Vacation – Training

Hi All,

Sorry it’s been three weeks since my last blog.  I was back East for a very needed two week vacation visiting my side of the family (4 sisters and 2 brothers and their families), whom I only get to visit once a year!   The East Coast is so different from the West, especially when it comes to the GREENERY.  The East has more small towns with big yards and not as many fences separating the neighbors.  Everywhere you look, you see GREEN lawns, hillsides, trees and fields that go on for miles.  I can’t get enough of the GREEN.

I spent most of my vacation visiting one of my dearest friends who lives in Alexandria, VA, visiting at one of my brother’s houses in Kensington, MD and primarily at a small town along the Pocomoke River southeast of Salisbury, MD called Westover, where one of my four sisters lives and also my father.  My one brother also has his second home here also – my mother lives here now.  We call it “The River House.”  

 I grew up in an agricultural town called Gaithersburg, MD (21 miles NW of Washington DC) from 1967 when I was 11 until I moved to CA in 1986.  

My childhood home in Gaithersburg, MD

We lived next to a farm and would play hide-n-seek in the barns and catch salamanders, fish and tadpoles in the creeks.  We also lived across the street from the elementary school where daily we would have neighborhood co-ed kickball, baseball, basketball (horse was big back then) and football games.  It wasn’t organized sports but rather every kid in the neighborhood would just show up and play.  Usually my brothers and sisters would form one team.   We’d play until Mom would ring the dinner bell and then the game was over.  Ah….those were the days!   I would love to see neighborhood games came back into play.  Does anyone remember playing red rover, red rover we dare so and so over or how about SPUD or flashlight tag?  If so, let me hear from you and share your story.

Back to the vacation….Sorry, I sometimes get side-tracked.  LOL

While on vacation, I also knew I needed to increase my intensity of my training for the Duathlon World Championship (September 26 in Concord, NC) so I borrowed my brother-n-law’s bike and had the pleasure of riding with several of my former training partners from the early 80’s along the rolling country roads of Germantown and Frederick, MD, as well as along the Potomac River on the George Washington Parkway Bike Trail that extends from Georgetown, DC to Mount Vernon, VA and the countryside of Westover, MD.  There’s no better training then rolling country roads surrounded by various farms and orchards with little traffic and few lights or stop signs while riding through small towns -“Americana!”  When you view the pictures, notice how green everything is.  This is another major difference between the East and West.

Flags posted signifying it's Sunday Ride time in Frederick, MD

The Sunday Group cyclists are ready to ride

Nice rolling countryside view

My nephew and future elite cyclist, Chad Ramsay, riding along a country road. Love the barn! This was one of many we passed during our training ride.

 

My good friend and original training partner, Paul Tellock, hosted a BBQ after our group ride. This "Reels Wheel" group usually gathers at Paul's on Sundays and enjoy a nice country training ride, followed by post eats and beverages. This has been going on for 15+ years if not 20+. How I miss these rides and the friendships. I always make an effort to ride with them when I get back East, at least once a year! Here's to cycling bringing friends together!

 

Got Water/Cytomax/Enduro...Anything? My nephew Chad doesn't like to get thirsty or dehydrated while riding. He always carrys some extra bottles, especially one for his Aunt Patty (me). Thanks Chad!

Another places we trained was in Kensington, MD along Rock Creek Parkway, which runs for many miles usually filled with commuters from MD to DC.  However, on Saturdays and Sundays, several sections of the Parkway are closed to cars.  This has been going on for years, as far back as I can remember in the early 80’s.  There were hundreds and I mean hundreds of people out riding, running, walking, skating….  It was refreshing to see so many people out exercising!   The Inland Empire could take a cue from this and promote a healthier lifestyle by closing some roads on the weekends and foremost by FIXING THE ROADS!!!  As much as I like living in Redlands, the extremely poor conditions of the roads are being to break me down.  Back East, no matter where we rode, the roads were nice.  I can’t recall any major bumpy or bad conditions for any length of time.  When we were approaching a “poor” section that was brought to our attention from someone in the group I’d laugh and say, “This isn’t bad, this is equivalent to our good road.”  They thought I was joking.  I assured them, I was not and then I would get both a bit mad and sad that bad road conditions have become the norm of Redlands.   Wake up Redlands – FIX the roads so it’s residents will want to commute to work and/or school more often and also just ride around town for exercise.  The roads are getting so bad that one almosy needs to ride a Mt. Bike with full shocks.  Okay, enough on that subject, back to the vacation.

Here are some shots from riding in Rock Creek with my husband, Tom Resh and nephew, Chad.

Tom, Patty and Chad infront of my brother's (Barry) house before our Rock Creek ride.

Chad and Tom climbing in the Park

Tom and Chad descending in the Park

Tom coming straight out me - I'm taking the picture

Chad coming straight towards me. This is how photographers sometimes get an upclose and personal shot

Tom and I also had the opportunity to do a “race pace” training ride with a team out of Salisbury, Md that my nephew Chad trains with on a regular basis and a rival team out of Ocean City, MD.  It was 46 miles of non-stop riding, averaging 26 MPH.  This was exactly the training we (Tom and I) needed.  Chad informed me that I was the only female to every ride with the group.  There were @ 20 of us riding a wonderful rotating paceline.  I had a blast!!!  It reminded me of my bike race training days with the National Team.  I took my pulls at the front and was treated like a fellow athlete vs a girl they were trying to drop.  They were all good bike handlers and we were flying along the countryside of Salisbury, MD.  I hung with them for an hour before I dropped off the pace on a gravelly s-turn.  Chad tried to bring me back to the pack but I couldn’t quite maintain the 30+ MPH needed to get back on.  I told Chad to go ahead and that I knew my way home.  He didn’t want to leave me but once he knew I could get home, he took off.  What natural speed he has.  I’m going to have his VO2 tested.  I’ve seen many cyclists over my 25+ athletic career and I firmly believe that my nephew, Chad Ramsay, has both the physiological and psychological qualities to be an elite cyclist.  He also is a good runner, so how knows, maybe he’ll be a Duathlete.  So remember this name – Chad Ramsay.  You may hear it down the road.  

While riding back, I ran into Chad again who had stopped to help Tom with a flat.  So now Tom, Chad and I had a good pace line going back to the start – the Cycle and Fitness Store in Salisbury, MD.  What a great training ride we had!

Below are some shots of Tom and I riding the flat farm lands around Westover and Pocomoke.

Welcome to Farmland in Westover, MD

20 Miles into our ride at the turnaround - Snow Hill, MD. We had a tailwind getting there and a headwind for 20 miles home. We both rand out of water with 15 mile to go. Where was Chad with my extra bottle? LOL

 

Tom riding over a country bridge. We probably only saw 10 cars during our entire 40 mile ride. That's what I call peaceful!

Notice the sign (Share the Road!) If small farm towns can put up signs to share the road with cyclists, why can't Redlands?

 

We passed by this nice cabin for sale. Anyone need a cabin in the country?

I also rode with my sister, Sharon, who recently bought a bike and is loving it!!   Some days, I would ride Tom’s bike and Holly would ride the bike I borrowed and my brother Tim even hopped on a Mt. Bike and joined us. 

Family ride - Brother Tim, Sister Sharon, Me and Daughter Holly

Sharon passing a tractor on our way to Shelltown's boat ramp - our turnaround point.

Shelltown Boat Ramp - turnaround. The Pocomoke River is in the background.

The end of the ramp at Shelltown with my sister Sharon (on the left). What a wonderful turnaround point!

Cornfields make for good wind shelter. Sharon demonstrates. The downside of riding the flatlands is that the wind can be strong at times. However, since there aren't hills here, riding into the wind takes power like hill climbing.

Holly waves while riding among the cornfields

Inside one of the chicken houses on my brother-n-laws family's property. They raised chickens and pigs. My brother-n-law is the town's dentist, while others in the family still farm and some make their living by the industry the water has to offer.

The vacation wasn’t just about training, we also enjoyed activity on the water and with family and friends.

View from my brother's dock as Sharon (my sister front in white) and other members of the family pick us up for some water fun.

Catching air while tubing. Who needs Disneyland when you can have a ride like this!

 

Me attempting to get up on one ski. It's been a few years.... On your mark...

Get set.....

Go....I'm almost there...

Yes! I did it - YEAHHHH!!!! NOTE: Holly took these sequence of photos! What a natural photographer she is!

Holly also is very excited to master getting up on one ski! The fruit does not fall far from the tree! LOL

Besides tubing and skiing, we also enjoyed some fishing and crabbing.  Crisfield, MD is world renowed for it’s crabs. 

Heading out to the Sound to fish. We even saw the buoys that signified the water state line of MD/VA. I thought that was rather interesting.

Some sites as we leave the harbor. Here is a commericial fishing boat.

I caught the first fish - a Croaker. We let it go though. We planned on doing only catch and release that day.

Holly catches a Croaker. Her Uncle Bruce, and the "Boat Captain," did an excellent job of taking us to various spots to fish. He knows these waters and the Pocomoke River like the back of his dentistry hands! These waters were and are his playground. What a nice life where one is in balance with nature.

Tom caught the biggest and best eating fish - a 16.5 inch flounder. This one we kept! Way to go Tom!

Heading back into Crisfield after a good morning of fishing!

While in Crisfield, Bruce gave us a tour of a Softshell packing facility.  it was fascinating!  See pictures below.

A Shanty house.

 

Crabs waiting to be processed

Bruce, Holly and Tom checking out the crab tanks.

 

Assembly line format. This depicts several workers cutting the legs off the softshell crabs

Softshell crabs getting nicely wrapped and packaged

They get weighed and boxed ready for delivery.

I love eating MD Blue Crabs, soft or hard.  While visiting one of my best friends and former training partner, Mary Ellen (she qualifeied for the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials), Tom and I went out in one of her family’s kayaks in search of netting our own crabs.  See blow

Mary Ellen and Tom in the Kayak

Me with the softshell crab I caught.

Holly trying to get some crabs the old fashion and very successful way - with a chicken neck tied to a piece of string. We caught at least a dozen crabs this way.

 

Mary Ellen's grandson, Russell, practicing his kayaking skills in the pool.

 

 

 Speaking of crabs, we had a crab feast to help celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday.  She is in good health and even help out in the Dentist office once a week!  We also celebrated my father’s 81st birthday the next day since six out seven of their children were in town.  Happy Birthday!!

Crabs, Corn and more to celebrate Mom's 85th B-day! Chow down!

Holly is all smiles while eating crabs. Tom is to her right and I'm two places to her left. We ate crabs for 1.5 hours!! Nothing like quality tiime with family. Barry's screened-in porch was big enough to connect several tables to accomodate all 20 of us!

 

My mother surrounded by her "out of state" children: Tim (AZ), Cathy (CO) and me (CA). Happy 85th B-day Mom!!!

With 6 out of 7 kids in town, we decided to take some family group photos. Not to disturb my hard working older brother, Barry (who's house, we call the "River House" where we all stayed, except my sister Sharon who lives a few acres over from Barry), we gathered round and snapped the shot. From left to right: Me, Tim, Dad, Sharon, Pam, Cathy and Barry on the couch!

Now a shot with our mother: Left to right: Cathy, Sharon, Tim, Mom, Pam, Me and Barry still power napping on the couch!

Before we leave Westover, I want to show you some shots I took along the river as we went fishing one night.  I hope you find them as peaceful as I did.

A get-away cabin along the river

A boat and dock waiting for someone to enjoy them!

 

We saw several bald eagles while visiting. They know they are safe in this area! It was breathtaking to watch them soar!

A good ole American Farm!

A beautiful sunset as Bruce enjoys a quiet moment of fishing.

 Before we headed back to CA, we visited my dearest and longest friend since I was in the second grade, Mimi, at her home in VA.

Mimi starting a fire in the fire pit so we could make some Somores! Yummy

Everyone roasting marshmellows

 

Tom gets the award for the PERFECT roast!

The final product is eaten by Holly - Yummy!

We couldn’t leave the DC area without making a stop downtown.  My brother Barry was kind enough to take us downtown.

Myself, Tom and Holly outside the Museum of Art with the Capitol in the background.

 

 

We saw the White House

The Washington Monument

Barry in the doorway of the entrance to the special showing of the "Royal Armour." Unfortunately, they wouldn't permit photo taking inside the exhibit rooms, but I can tell you this - it was fabulous. If you ever get an opportunity to view the "Royal Armour," take it. We only had an hour before the Museum of Art was closing so we moved swiftly and saw a lot in an hour. Next year, we will spend a few days in DC. There is SO much to see!

 It was GREAT to visit with family and friends back East.   Now it’s back to several more weeks of Du Worlds training and getting ready to teach at Chaffey College.  This will be my 19th year!   I thoroughly enjoy educating people about fitness and how important it is for high qualilty of life well into their golden years!  

My next blog will be more about my Countdown to Worlds!!!   Hope you enjoyed reading about the East Coast.  I’d love to hear your comments.

Until then….See it, Believe it, Achieve it!

Patty