Pretty Flowers

For those of you who don't know, I am a lover of flowers and pretty things. I know this sounds super girly, but it is what it is :-) I sure hope that my best friend Melanie reads this blog for sure!! Melanie has always enjoyed making fun of me and my love for the "Pretty Flowers" Once I was on deployment and I received a postcard from Melanie when she lived in Denver that was AWESOME!! It had dried flowers between clear plastic on the card with Melanies' handwritting..... Terri, Look at the "PRETTY FLOWERS"

So Melanie, these pictures are dedicated to

you and your great sense of humor that I lub!!

Isn't Hawaii beautiful! I am so happy to live in a place where I am surrounded by beautiful things on a daily basis. I really never want to leave here!!

North Shore Triathlon

Sunday 7th of June was my first North Shore Sprint...... The fun of this triathlon was camping down the road on the beach the night before. Here is a few shots of our campsite :-) I am glad that Chris came up with the idea, I ended up having a good race even after sleeping in a tent :-)

The race started at 6am which didn't give everyone much time in the morning to get their motors running if you know what I mean. We loaded our bikes in to Chris' car and headed to the beach park. I was glad he drove me the 100 yds or more to the start so I had no chance of crashing my bike before the race start like I did at the Lanikai race. I find it hard to believe that I had a faster bike on the Lanikai after that mishap..... oh well, I did just do a Half Ironman the weekend before so I am using that as my excuse (ha,ha)

I got in a little 5 min warm up run and headed down to the rocky beach to check out the water entrance and exit.... All that I can say is that I am very thankful I didn't have a run in with the reef. Some of my friends were not so lucky, but they had amazing races!!

I am very excited to start my swim clinic next week because this girls needs alot of swimming!! It took me 11+ mins to do a 400m swim (even though there was a long run after the water exit) that is just not an excuse! I will get better!!

I loved the bike (as usual) The only thing about being a slower swimmer I like is getting to pass lots of people, nothing to brag about that is for sure :-) The bike was fast and fun!

I had the quickest T2 ever of under a minute, this is a record for me and hope to get better with time and practice. Last September when I did my first sprint at the Na Wahine, I thought it was ok just to chit chat and smile to everyone in T1 and T2.... I am learning that these are just as important as the swim, bike, and run stuff :-)

I finished my run hard and I feel like I pushed as good as I could for the run. I am happy with my results and honestly this little race is exactly what I needed to get out of the "post Honu" slump that I was in. I am ready to try and get stronger and faster!!

I had a bunch of friends that were racing and I was so happy to see my cycling buddies doing the relays!! Everyone did so great!! The coolest part of this race was just being on the North Shore early in the morning with a bunch of people getting sweaty and smiling!! This is why I love this stuff so much and what better place to do this than Hawaii, do I really have to leave this place?????

PS: Don't worry Zach, your bikes will be here soon so you can play! Thanks for the pictures and joining us for some quick camping :-)

18 holes, surf, and BBQ

JUNE 2nd 2009

OK, today I did even worse on the golf course, but atleast we got to play the back nine of the course that runs along the ocean.

This view is worth my humiliation of my brother beating me, but I had a great time out there!!

I got to entertain myself with the golf cart and my plaid shorts.

I suck at putting.... but atleast I did PAR the last two holes of the day so I kind of redeemed myself before we finished. Now were are off to the beach!!

Dad braved it and got on a surfboard for the first time in his life! I have to say that I am pretty impressed with his bravery and paddling skills. GOOD JOB!!

We had to get a family photo with our boards!

I forgot how painful it is on the ribs when you are a new surfer. I have been surfing for a few years, but since I have been wrapped up in triathlon I haven't surfed much at all and my ribs really suffered from the surf sesh from the day before OUCH!!!

Back on Oahu

1st June 2009

After we return from the Big Island, I take the focus off me and place it on my dad and brother. It is time for me to get schooled on the golf course!! Brent's first time ever touching golf clubs and he still manages to whoop up on me.

I had a great time out on the course even though I am a little rusty! Before I fell in love with surfing, I would spend my after work hours and weekends out on the golf courses here in Hawaii and I was pretty good. You would not know that if you had been here on those days....

After the green, I got to get in the blue..... my favorite!! Dad and Brent chilled out in the shade and have a few beers while I got to catch some waves EVERYONE IS HAPPY!!

Later I took them on a quick "Terrish" version of a tour of Pearl Harbor. It turned out to be a nice evening and I think that Brent and Dad enjoyed the shorter version of what could be an all day event.

This tower is one of the few things that still stands from back in 1941 (date of attack) If you watch the movie Pearl Harbor you will see it.

Of course Brent had to end the day by taking Dad to his favorite local kine grinds..L&L Drive In

While they ordered their BBQ Mixed Plates..... I found some interesting things hanging on the walls inside.

Day after the Race

31st May 2009

Ahh.... I feel accomplished

RACE COMPLETE, QUADS TORN Yep, I think that I need some more hill training since my legs were so sore.... that is just a guess?? Early this morning I wanted to drive dad up our bike course of the race to Hawi and beyond to Pualolo Valley shown here

and then we made our way to the beautiful country of Waimea! Here are some photos: The temp at our beach house was around 80 and up here in Waimea was around 68 and it felt really nice on my sunburn body!

Later that day we got to snorkel down the road from our house at Puako Bay and that was super fun... Thanks Chris for entertaining us all with your sea creatures!

We got all packed up and got to stop by Kona Brewing Company for a beer before our trip back home...... who could ask for a better weekend??

Mahalos to all my friends and my family for making HONU 2009 one of the best trips of my life!

RACE DAY!!!

30th May 2009

It is 4:15am and I wake up before my alarm.... I am ready for this!! I kinda beat the Distraction to his coffee duties since I was up so early :-) This mornings agenda is to drink, eat, go to bathroom and get to the race start :-) Oh yeah... and finish the race of course

While Dad, Brent, and I were walking to T1 I couldn't contain my excitement, I wanted to run. This is the biggest race that I have ever been in and I was ready. I pumped my tires, got my water and my food on my bike, and strolled down to get body marked. It was crowded and loud and I liked it. 5 years ago, I would have needed to be in a club or bar for kicks, but this is WAY BETTER THAN THAT!! I ran into a few old friends and got my picture with Mike before the start, he decided to do this race last year about the same time as me.

I think both of us were clueless on how to swim or ride a bike at the time. WAY TO GO MIKE, you had a great race!!

I was excited to see Brent and Dad when I came out of the water (5 mins faster than I had expected) and now I am off for a nice hot 56 mile fun ride ;-)
The bike for me was great, I felt good and kept telling myself to remember that this is a longer race and not push to hard in the beginning. I had to remind myself to save it for the 13 fun miles of running that was next. After the bike leg I get to T2 and the volunteers made me play Where's Waldo with my bike slot..... they had me going all over the place. I think it would have been better if they wouldn't have told me anything and let me find it on my own :-( Oh well, I am sure that someone else had a longer than 6 minute T2 (isn' t that crazy!!) I put on a bandaid, some sunscreen, and took another pee and I was gone.... all smiles coming out of T2!!

HOT HILLS LAVA HOT

These words pretty much cover the run course :-) I was in pretty good spirits the whole time, I was just so stoked to be doing this thing!! I stopped at mile 3 to get another bandaid for my hot spot on my toes and I took a little to much time enjoying the aid stations, but I had a good run. I didn't start hating myself until about mile 10 so I was happy with that.

After the race, I couldn't really enjoy myself. Something was "off" with my body! My head hurt and I just wanted to cover up my head and lay down. I didn't have the energy to do anything, but managed to force some food in my mouth. I think it took me an hour to be able to have a conversation with my Dad and Brent. Thank you both for being there for me and treating me like a superstar after the race! I really appreciate it!

So we headed back to the house after my attempt to feel normal again. I don't think that I ever really felt normal for the rest of the day. I am happy with that because it makes me feel like I gave that race everything that I had in me.

I want to say thanks to my supporters at the race.... Thank you Brent, Dad and Debra!!! It is so nice to see your faces while I am suffering with a smile!!

I also want to thank my friends (you know who you are) Who were out there racing that day.... I look up to you all for being such great athletes and friends and just great people in general. You are all what makes this sport so much more fun and I love you for that!! YOU MOTIVATE ME!!

Day Before the Race

Here was one of Dad's favorite spots......

29th May 2009

Aloha! I have failed at my attempt to be a good blogger since I was on vacation so I am going to give this another shot and redeem myself. My last report was from the Big Island before the Honu. WOW!! What a perfect race weekend, I had so much fun. Not only did I enjoy the race that I have been looking forward to and training for what seems like FOREVER, but I got to spend time with great friends and family and make some NEW FRIENDS to!! Here is a family photo from the view that we had at our beach house.....

I would wake up way to early every morning and go outside to enjoy the peaceful morning. I loved every second staying here for our trip. We had many little green friends that lived in the house with us, I wish the Geckos' were this pretty at my house on Oahu (I should have taken a few home with me) They are great insect control and they bring good luck.

The day before the race included an early morning swim (FUN FUN) FL got to follow my bubbles and on the way back we got to see some cute fish and a turtle... we yelled to Maggs who had her video camera and she got some great footage :-) Here is a picture of us after our short swim.

Since this was my first race with real aid stations on the bike I wanted to practice the bottle exchange/pickup as FL had suggested that she do so Dad and Brent kindly held water bottles for us to fly by and grab. I quickly realized that I need to go slower. Here is a picture of me after my short 15 minute run after my bike, can't you tell I am excited for the race tomorrow??

Later in the evening Dad and Brent made their way into Kona Town and I stayed at the house to prepare my things for race morning as you see here and I had a chance to lay around and relax. I still felt a little under the weather from being sick so I wanted to let my body rest up. We had another great family dinner oceanside with the nice sunset in the VOG.....

Here is what Brent and Dad spent alot of time doing while were were on vacation... They love the grill :-)

Who could ask for a better pre-race day??? I LOVE HAWAII!!

OH YEAH.... I got to meet an amazing triathlete/surfer girl/mom :-)

Bree Wee just happened to walk up while I was at the Expo so I got to do a little chit chat and found out that I am not the only person that is getting over a sickness..... I am super tickled about the photo op that I got with her and her Lifesport add.... GREAT JOB AT REV3 BREE!!!