An Update FINALLY

I have a lot to update since my last blog prior to departing for the Boise 70.3 race last weekend. Sorry for the delay! To make a long entry into a short one I will put the most important points (the ones to me anyways!) in bullet form:

• The drive to Boise was great. It took 2 days. I stayed at one of the best home stays ever! The Benzing family treated Chuckie and me like royalty by providing us with great food, great rooms and great conversation. Samantha, their daughter, helped us get to/from their local pool and showed us around Hidden Springs.
• The race was not so great. The water was freezing and my feet were so numb coming out of the water that I didn't even know I stubbed my right big toe hard enough to break it. I stubbed it while running up out of the water. They had a rug held down with a number of sand-bags. The timing mat was not secured to the ground and I got caught up in the mess and stubbed my toe -HARD! I ran up into transition and onto the bike with no idea taht this happened. On the bike, I felt awful for some reason - possibly because my body was in defense mode for my toe, just not a good day for riding and/or mixing some of my gels. I couldn't eat any of my gels (I only took in two) and I could only manage 3/4 of one water bottle for the entire ride. Once I got to the run I felt like I had no energy and my foot was throbbing. After a mile I stopped because of the pain and limping I was doing while running. I hate dropping out...it is the worst feeling. I was having a very crappy race to say the least but I never want to be known as someone who gives up. After meeting up with Chuckie, we headed to the med-tent where his friend PZ Pearce (the race's medical director) suggested to us to get it x-rayed. We left the course and went straight to a walk-in clinic. The very last bone of the big toe is broken but stable.
• After the race, I flew home to Penticton for a few days. Training was minimal as many things went on at home. I have decided to make the US more of a permanent basis for my training, and that meant having some long talks with family and packing up many of my belongings for this purpose. I am not sure what the future holds but I do know that this choice is what I want in my life right now. I know it takes a lot of focus and effort to give it your all to be a champion. I want to say I gave 100% when I get older.
• I flew back into Santa Barbara two days ago. I am headed to Colorado in a few days when Chuckie leaves so we can continue the daily training and team-work.
• I plan to race next at Vineman 70.3 . We are alternating the training a bit to include more long rides and more base-styled training. We will cross-train for running and continue to work on my slow and steady road to faster swimming. Personally I think I am going to be able to start running sooner that what the doctors have said. I can push off the wall while swimming and can walk with no pain and even balance on the injured foot without difficulty. Since the bone that is cracked is the very last bone on the big toe, it is used minimally for normal walking. Running is slightly more difficult but I think in three weeks if we try it out - we are going to be surprised! :) It is good to be positive. My doctor always told me I had blood type B positive! :)

And I guess that brings us to today. Training is getting back to normal and I am slowly coming around to getting my head focused. I know with my decision to come down here to the US again will creep up sometimes, but I believe 100% that this was the best choice I could make toward my dreams of doing my best as a triathlete. Chuckie is a great coach and being around him makes me that much more motivated, positive and focused.

Today I rode with Chuckie and Jesse Leyva (a friend or ours). We rode for an easy 3 hours and I swam prior to the ride: 4,100yards. We are slowly increasing the intensity due to the time I took off while at home and some, because of the toe. We will start the run cross-training shortly and get back into a more intense schedule when we head to Colorado, where I'm sure the altitude will affect me.

And finally, a big THANKS goes out to my sponsors for their support and help for Boise 70.3: AVIA, Standard Process, and Ernest Weider - Momentum Financial. Thanks to the my supporters: Sable Optics, Cocymela, my secret extended family donation for travel expense to the race, Specialized for my race helmet and new triathlon race shoes, Francines Finest Food specialties, and Whole Foods in Penticton.