Blood and needles are pretty much my least favorite things in the world. Yep, right up there with spiders and insects. So when Coach Diablo suggested I do a blood lactate test, I had only one thought:

“No way Jose!”

I resisted for a really long time. But eventually I gave in for 3 reasons:

(1) I actually do want to get faster

(2) Diablo is usually right about things

(3) Everyone else was doing it!

So, what is a blood lactate test? I stole this from the Dynamo Multisport website and highlighted the important parts:

Basically, the test would give me an idea of my current fitness level and help me figure out what kind of training I need to do going forward.

I would be riding my bike on an indoor trainer (with power, to allow for measured intensity). Every couple minutes Diablo or his cronie, Shanks, would prick my finger, squeeze out a drop of the precious red stuff, and take a blood lactate reading. The number would show how hard I was working. Over time, the bike intensity would increase, and so would my blood lactate level and heart rate until…

(Just kidding. Sort of.)

When I showed up for my test I got a little preview courtesy of Michael. He was almost finished and was seriously killing it! Everyone else in the room was cheering him on. FIND A WAY MIKEY!!!

I was actually very happy to see Michael’s anguish seemed to come more from his effort on the bike and not the tiny pin pricks in his finger. Hey – I can handle that kind of pain! Things were looking up!

I got on the bike and did a quick warm-up before the games began.

In the beginning, everything was really easy. I just focused on Kathryn’s awesome music mix and maintaining a good cadence. But gradually things started getting harder and harder and harder.

Before I knew it I was drenched in sweat, practically drooling all over myself, and using every single muscle fiber in my being just to keep the pedals turning over. I could hear people cheering and Diablo calling for 30 more seconds. I tried to keep going, but eventually…CRASH. The train wreck came to a screeching halt.  My legs had had ENOUGH.

The good news is Coach and I actually got some really good data from the test. It turns out I’m in a really good spot for February, but I still have plenty of room for improvement. I also have some new heart rate and power zones I’m ready to put to good use!

The other good news is the pin pricks really didn’t hurt that bad. Or maybe I’m not that afraid of needles anymore? Now if only I could figure out how to toughen up around roaches…

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No, it wasn’t my birthday. (Mark your calendars – that’s in July!) It was my good friend Brent’s birthday!

Brent also loves exercise. So to celebrate the conclusion of 29 spectacular years of life, Brent’s wife Erica and super-friend Kathryn planned a double secret birthday surprise!

Surprise #1 was a group bike ride! The only thing Brent loves more than exercise and America, is exercising with a bunch of Americans!

Micki, Me, Chris, EJ, Brent, Nick, SpK, Betty, Scotty, Alberto, Katie, Kidd, Dan

Surprise #2 was a post-ride picnic! Erica really outdid herself with sandwiches, veggies, chips, fruit, Coke with twirly straws and even cupcakes! I wish Brent’s birthday was every weekend!

The only thing missing was Drew, who sadly had to put his beloved cat Charles down that morning. I’m not responsible enough to have any pets of my own, so I had chosen Charles as my favorite “pet of a friend.” I’ll miss you Charles!

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What the heck is a Hogpen?

I’ve ridden up and and down both sides of Hogpen Gap, and even run it on a few occasions. But in all those climbs and descents, I’ve never seen a single hog, boar, or any other type of swine. So why the funny name?

Well, thanks to my trusty iPhone and some unexpected free time in the jury duty waiting room this week, I now have a pretty good answer! Apparently, back in the day, farmers would build a fenced-in pen near the Gap, or Pass, in the mountain. Then they would run through the hills rousing up all the wild hogs, running them straight into the pen where they became…BACON! Yum!

So there you have it – Hogpen Gap!

These days, the hogs must either be less tasty or better hiders, because I’ve sure never seen them!

The Hogpen Hill Climb is an 18k run starting near the quaint Bavarian town of Helen, Georgia, and ending at the top of Hogpen Gap. And yes, it is basically just one very big hill:

This was my third time running Hogpen and it was made even more special by pre-race lightening, thunder, a torrential downpour, and even HAIL! But I suppose I wouldn’t have signed up if I hadn’t expected maximum suffering!

A new starting spot extended the race from 17k to 18k this year. In the beginning, I liked this change because it meant an extended downhill section near the start. But by the end, I was cursing the extra 1k as I passed the 11 mile marker. It was a lot easier to stay motivated last year when I only had to count to 10!

I went out really hard hoping to bank some time on the easier part of the course before it turns drastically uphill at mile 4. After that, I just tried to hang on for dear life. Luckily, my Dynamo teammate and training buddy Michael was just in front of me for most of the race. This meant I could focus less on the hill and more on just keeping him in sight!

The strategy worked for this race, and even though I was seriousy dragging the last couple miles, I managed to claw my way to the finish and take the overall female win and more importantly, post a much faster time than last year! Maybe my December running streak is already paying off?!

Post-race, I got to celebrate with Georgia swimmer turned ultra marathoner Kelly…just before she ran back down the mountain! (My whimpy triathlete self took a car!)

And of course, it was my Dynamo teammate Kathryn’s birthday so we just had to celebrate!

Kathryn's ideal birthday? Running 11 miles uphill! In the rain!!

Our friend Drew recommended we try the “World’s BEST Buttermilk Fried Chicken Restaurant” about 40 minutes from the race. So our Dynamo crew packed our soggy selves into our cars and caravaned toward the restaurant. By the time we got there everyone was starving and absolutely salivating over the thought of fried chicken! Unfortunately, we found this:

CLOSED?!?!

Yes, the “World’s Best Buttermilk Fried Chicken Restaurant” closed two weeks ago.

Luckily, Kathryn was ok with our backup plan…

It also probably helped that Katie had packed surprise cupcakes and they were ridiculousy delicious!

Happy Birthday SpK! And congrats to everyone who conquered Hogpen!

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I am a self-diagnosed exercise addict. How could I not be when my athletic endeavors have led me on so many amazing adventures? Is it possible for me to dislike something that’s allowed me to meet so many amazing people? Definitely not!

Last week I was in Pennsylvania for work but I managed to have dinner with two totally amazing ladies I only know because of sports.

In 2000, I watched the TV as American Kristy Kowal won the Silver Medal in the 200 breastroke at the Summer Olympics in Sydney. Fast forward three years and I found myself swimming at the University of Georgia, just one lane down from that same breakstroker!

Kristy taught me what it meant to be a Georgia Swim Dawg – how to race for yourself and for a team, and that even when your college swimming days are over, you are always a member of that team. 

Nearly eight years later, I think it is so cool that KK and I can sit in a restaurant in Reading, PA, talking about sets and times and coaches just like we did in the locker room at Georgia. KK and all of my UGA teammates will always be very special to me!

But now that I’ve moved on from swimmer to triathlete, I’ve opened the doors to even more amazing adventures and met even more cool people. I didn’t think that was even possible!

I like to tell people I met Alyssa Godesky at an aid station at Ironman Louisville. Alyssa tells the full hilarious story on her blog, and while I’m sure mutual suffering played a part, I like to think we’re two cool chicks who can recognize someone equally aweseome despite the suffering! I mean, seriously, who makes a friend at an aid station?!

Alyssa lives in Baltimore and we were able to coordinate a sort of meet-in-the-middle dinner in York, PA. This dinner led to some of the all-time best tweets I’ve ever seen.

First, Alyssa tweeted a trivia question:

Katie Thomas, another stellar 25-29 IronWoman got the answer right away:

And even Alyssa’s superstar coach (and my personal pro triathlete idol) Hillary Biscay had something nice to say! (I may frame this tweet)

But my coach thought the question was too difficult and the twittersphere needed another clue:

Thanks Diablo! Now the whole world can be absolutely certain Alyssa had dinner with a mongoose last week!

But in all seriousness, catching up with Alyssa while we weren’t racing was a ton of fun. And since she’s already qualified for Kona, I’m even more motivated to get myself back to the Big Island so we can cheer each other through more aid stations!

I sure hope the tiki man in the background didn't get any tears on Alyssa's jacket...

And stay tuned for even more fun exercising with friends news when I post my Hogpen Hill Climb race recap later this week!!!

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