RUNNING, RACING & MUSHROOMS

I worked for 8 hours on Friday night, cocktailing in heels and a dress. I got off work at 1am and was packed and asleep by 2. After 4 hours of being dead to the world, I was up and running again. I headed north, to Stanley, for my second triathlon.

After having some beginners luck in last year's sprint, I decided to do the full Olympic distance.

The water temp was 52, as was the air. There were 51 kilometers to race and a light rain. I ended up 17th over all (3rd female) and my back survived a FREEZING cold 40k bike so I am thrilled.

My swim is my Achilles; something I will have to work on for next year. Thanks to teammate Sarah Groff for the wetsuit, I stayed warm during the first leg. Heat was not an issue however, it was pace. The 2nd place female beat me in the swim by over 6 minutes!

1 Trish Deim 2:19:59
2 Ashley Crawford 2:30:28
3 Kate Whitcomb 2:33:55

Thanks for all who offered advice and equipment! Each year I get things figured out a bit more. I had aero bars, a real wetsuit, zip ties for my shoes and endless advice from friends around the nation. You know who you are - thank you!

For full results: click here

In other news: I have gone on some great runs lately and our Harper's time trial is tomorrow (Monday, June 22nd). I am extremely sore from yesterday's effort but hope to get a PR regardless. Stay tuned.

Roommate, Monkey and Cmall, hit a burn section on our Pio Cabin run last week.

Miles, checking for Morel mushrooms (top secret location)!

Some little guys, making their place in the world. No morels yet...

THE FINAL 5

Girls on the Run is an after-school program that teaches girls to be strong and confident. It gives a support system during a critical age of development, enabling young females to take control of their feelings and bodies, using running as an outlet.

This spring was my second season of being a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run. We train for 6 weeks in preparation for a 5k finale run. We meet twice a week to eat a healthy sack, run and play games. We work on critical skills such as cooperation, listening, and being a good friend during these sessions as well.

The following images are from the 5k, held at Heagle Park in Hailey, ID. Goodie was a sponsor, which was most apparent at the Happy Hair station. Girls (and coaches) painted, clipped, braided and wrapped their hair with all sorts of colorful accessories to celebrate the 5k run.

As far as my training is concerned I am still logging the long hours, living life and loving it. 2o hours this week, 24 next and my Sorrel is ready to eat in my garden. I am one of the luckiest kids in the world.

Sisters, Tara and Tess help each other get dolled up

Leaving my fate in the hands of one of the girls

Ella (GOTR) with brother Gill, one of my 5th graders

Danielle and Savannah strike a pose, just before the start

Alexa, women's winner, coming across the line

Alyssa, our first Ketchum GOTR finisher, bringing it home

Everyone was #1 on this day (notice the bibs)

101

Ketchum, ID - My hundred and first post, with the new year well on its way. We are still grooming up past Galena (Horse Creek) and running in shorts down in town. The single-track is drying out, so there are new trails open each day. We had some solid rainy days, which has led to tons of flowers, buds on the trees and lots of green to come! I even got an afternoon of thunder, which is an eastern characteristic that I miss terribly.

I have been coaching Girls on the Run again this spring and our final 5k race is this coming Saturday, May 16th.

Other than getting dolled up for The Derby (Billy Cook, pictured, won big on Mind The Bird), I have been putting in some solid hours.

M - 4x4 L4 run intervals, strength
T - Easy 1:15 run + 1:15 spin
W - 2hr ski w/ video work, strength
H - 2:15 run
F - 3x7m L3 FS roll intervals, strength
S - Off
U - 2:30 run

Oh, and I planted my garden today, yay! Of course we leave for Bend Camp on the 19th, so it will probably die while I am away. No roommate yet to water the poor little guys. Stay tuned for their fate.

DAYS OF EVERYTHING

CO Heidi to backcountry, ID

Like any job, cross-country skiers get their two weeks - ours are just two weeks of UN-paid vacation.

How are these two weeks different that the 351 other days of a pro-athlete's life?

They are not logged. I wake up and go for a run, I meet friends for coffee, I go for a backcountry ski and then bee-line it to a deck for lunch. I shoot to the gym and finish the day with a bike ride and some grilled food. I wear lots of sunscreen and still get burnt. I laugh more than I speak and I am going all day long. I sleep hard at night and I am thankful every minute.

These are the days of everything. You can do it all because there is not a race in the morning and there are no intervals at 7am. They are not days of slacking, in fact they are filled over the rim. I am healthy, I am able and these are my 2 weeks.

I am the luckiest kid ever and May first is on Friday. It might be the start of the weekend for most, but for me it is the begining of 2010. I have been sick and injured, broke and currently homeless but Vancouver is 10-months away. There are skeptics - but I am not one. The game has been on since I was 5 and it will not end today.

Living the dream,
Kate

EASTERN SPRING

Spring in Vermont; something I miss terribly. I flew into Burlington for my "little" brother's birthday (little in age but 6'4" in height). We had some fun at his place in New Haven and I had the chance to catch up with some college friends.

After a few great days in the green mountain state, we headed home to surprise my folks and to catch up with our big brother (for my mother's birthday).

Happy Birthday Mom, and Jake!

Some of the highlights from the Vermont portion.

Training is going well, I am back in Idaho and my back is feeling roughly 75% these days (which is great)! I hope everyone has a good case of spring fever!

I have started coaching again (Girls on the Run) and training for the current year. The game is still on! More to come.