tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161375494969369382024-03-13T14:05:28.771-07:00Kate Major - Professional TriathleteI am a Professional Triathlete from Australia and living in the US. I have won Two Ironman distance races, along with Four 2nd place finishes and Six 3rd place finishes including Three at the Ironman World Championships in Kona. My husband Jeff, our dog, Kaise and I live in California.Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-73692168815855997412013-07-12T20:59:00.002-07:002013-07-12T21:03:39.271-07:00Week 35.9 Update on Baby Young<div class="p1">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So I finally remembered to put my fingers to the keyboard and write an update as I think it has probably been close to 22wks or so since my first and last update!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A lot has happened since the early days…. clothes have gotten too tight and the dryer is no longer to blame as my belly and body grow to house this little baby girl of ours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Early Days...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When you are pregnant you need and have more of everything: for example-you need more clothes and more material with these new clothes, more moisturizer (due to increasing body size all over), more body wash, more towel to cover your growing body, more food (not really but you do!), more sleep, more time to put clothes and shoes on, more patience from those around you and of course…more hormones!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have experienced my hormones increase at a rate that threw my body into shock I think and caused many months of morning (all day sickness) and extreme fatigue. It was good for Jeff, as he seemed to really enjoy taking our dog out for long runs by himself! I can only describe it as having a stomach bug and virus non stop for 3-4mths of varying strengths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Kaisley asleep after a run with Jeff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Each week I read my various pregnancy books and see the new or continuing side effects that you could be feeling/experiencing during pregnancy. It reads off like an advertisement for a drug on TV, where half of the commercial is warning you of the side effects. Here are just SOME of the ones they mention: Physically- fatigue, heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, bloating, backache, occasional headaches, faintness or dizziness, nasal congestion and occasional nose bleeds, sensitive gums that may bleed when you brush, hearty appetite, leg cramps, swelling of ankles and feet and occasionally of the hands and face and continued absentmindedness…. just to mention a few!! And I thought ‘as if you could get any of these!’ .I was wrong!!! They should just have boxes you tick off and get a prize at the end for having the most boxes ticked! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are my books. Kaz Cooke’s- A Bun in the Oven is funny and informative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeff has been a trooper and supported me through all of these new experiences and I have learnt that the quality men possess to have selective hearing or watch sports and pretend like they are listening, can be a good thing when your hormones are sky rocketing at a rate faster than the NASA Space shuttle can launch into space! He is a very patient and caring man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeff installing the ‘black out’ blind </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We decided to find out the sex of our baby at the 22-week scan as we were finding it hard to think of some names. As they tried to get a good picture of ‘ the area’ Jeff pipes up and says ‘it looks like a travel pillow’ and with that diagnosis we discovered we were having a girl. Jeff came home that night with a pink onesy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeff with a NB sized Bonds singlet from his mum (Nana Gray) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have had to learn how to buy a ‘real’ bra to fit properly for both exercising and casual wear which at the age of 35 seems a bit strange and having to ask how they are supposed to fit is just as strange but must be done. You know if you don’t that you will be very, very uncomfortable. It is as time consuming as buying a new bike or set of wheels, racing shoes etc but not as much fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the past 7 months, I have had more blood tests and urine samples than I gave to USADA/ASADA as a Professional athlete both in squash and triathlon and more doctor check ups than I have had in my entire life but all for good reason.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We had our first ‘Newborn Care’ class a month or so ago and saw some images that should have been at least M rated, if not R during the movie. However we did learn some important things and now Jeff is practicing cutting through hard things in preparation for cutting the umbilical cord. We also did the hospital tour that got the nerves running and heart rate up. I was happy to stand on the outskirts of the rooms and hold tight on to Jeff’s hand. I don’t like hospitals in the first place so actually having to admit myself is the opposite way I would normally roll. However under the circumstances, I will be quite happy to do so! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Our next class is a ‘ Childbirth Express’ class, there will definitely be some R rated material in that to freak us out some more or send me into that nervous laugh/snort. It will be one long day and I hope they have breaks, as my attention span is rather short at the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am still able to swim, bike and run, albeit a lot slower but I am just happy to be able to do it. I only ride one local and very quiet route near our house now as I have become more paranoid the past month or more of cars/traffic and indoors at Velo SF with my Mermaid Tri group. It has been a constant adjustment throughout my pregnancy of decreasing the amount of what I do. Not only in regards to exercise but to daily life, work etc. I have found every couple of months or less I have needed to reduce what I do or I am wiped for a day or two</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Me with my little Co-pilot on board for our Mtn bike ride (on the road!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It is a very different experience for me being pregnant in the fact that I can’t do anything to really prepare for it, No race day simulation type training like you can do for triathlon. Usually before a race I get everything I need out and can through the race in my head and have a good idea of what I will do, what I might feel etc but with giving birth I don’t feel like you can prepare in the same way. All you can do is learn all the different scenario’s of what could, can and might happen and just go with the flow and stay calm and hang in there. I can pack my hospital bag, the diaper bag with the baby’s gear in it and put the car seat in Jeff’s car. I did put the running stroller together a few months ago and learnt how to use it so that is ready to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been fortunate enough to have a good network of athletic friends, family and fellow Pro athletes to communicate with and learn about their experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The group of women from the Mermaid group I have been coaching with have been very supportive and encouraging to stay active and allowed me to do some of their races in their series which is refreshing from the old school of thought that pregnant women should just walk!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Mermaid Team SF- Inger, Myself, Marisa, Ivonne and Astrid</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We had decided to make our last trip to San Diego to catch up with friends and our good Aussie friends Sim and JB made it into a baby shower/get together for us. It was so nice to see everyone together and catch up before we see them all next time with a baby girl. Good friends are ones you don’t see as often as you would like but when you do, it was just like yesterday and I am lucky to say, we are grateful for them (and everyone else who has sent us encouraging and supportive messages).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Our VG’s cake…oh so good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A few weeks later we had some more friend’s lovin’ when a couple of my close friends Sim and Sue came to visit and took Jeff and I shopping to get the remaining baby needs and help us decorate her room. As Jeff took over telling Sim where the parts of the sticky wall art went (to make a tree with Owls and birds sitting on it), Sue and I goofed off and made our own design on other parts of the wall! Jeff and Sim & Jeff did a great job with the tree, it looks amazing and mine and Sue’s looks pretty good too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I couldn’t fit the whole room in but you get a bit of our team artwork in the background.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aunty Sue & Sim playing silly buggers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sue Hutter in action, doing one of the things she does best!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeff telling me it isn’t going to hurt a bit and me saying, you are such a liar! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Baby Young’s first pair of shoes from Aunty Sim.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The week after we decided to start putting the chest of drawers that arrived (that we had ordered online) late Sunday afternoon just as my sister calls. I asked if I could call her back soon because we had just started putting the drawers together and her reply was ‘ soon??.... More like 1am, good luck with that, I will talk to you tomorrow, hahahaha!’. She was right, at about 10.30pm we decided to retire for the evening and finish it later in the week. We successfully put it together after many soda waters (for me) and beers (for Jeff). A couple of weeks later the change table arrived and I started to put it together when Jeff was at work as I was getting antsy that our girl would come early if I didn’t get this thing put together ASAP. I decided to finish it on Saturday before Jeff got home and did it. It was 100f and I was sweating like a big mama would sweat but was hormone driven to get it done. I put everything away and set it up all ready to go and could then shower and go sleep easily…. crazy I know! Now I just need to read the breast pump instructions and we are good to go. Have you ever seen a breast pump?? They are very interesting contraptions and I had to watch a U Tube video to learn how they work as I couldn’t grasp it from people telling me. Then the storage of the milk is a whole other thing to learn. I just hope I remember how to use it and press the right buttons or I could have milk going everywhere except in the bottle!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been getting kicked and punched a lot and am mesmerized by seeing my stomach being contorted by our baby’s movement and where/how she decides to lay. I have been woken up many times by a thump, thump, thump so strong I think it is Jeff waking me up to tell me something really important only to realize that it was Baby Young giving me a nudge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> My first Mother’s Day was exhausting and probably the quietest one ever! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This whole experience continues to amaze me at how we are made and make it into this world and everything your mum (and dad) go through to have a baby. The good and the not so pleasant but you end up with a little bundle of joy that you love more than yourself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not long to go until we get to meet our little girl and learn a whole new world of things!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I will do a short update after our ultra sound in 2-3wks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> My mum and I after Kona…she is amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We will have another pink Curly Head to draw some day! (Chloe, Mum, Sue).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">From my sister with love</span></div>
Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-76695845619769416392013-02-18T21:11:00.001-08:002013-02-18T21:12:59.469-08:00The Times, They Are A Changing'!It has been a couple of months since I last did a blog update and a lot has happened since then (and a lot was going on when I did my last couple of blogs!).<br />
I got back to the US early November from finishing the Crocodile Trophy in Australia and went straight back into my massage certification which I started in September and doing all my hours for that.<br />
I had been talking to Jeff, my family and a few close friends about what my next plan of attack in life might be( and how to deal with that change) as I felt I had achieved what I wanted in triathlon and needed a change. I also felt I didn't have the hunger and fire I used to, to race at the level I expect and knew it was time to take some time away from being a Professional Triathlete.<br />
Of course the subject about having a baby had come up and been suggested by many people especially after spending a week with my sister and her two little ones. It wasn't a good time to try to convince me to have kids after 9 days of hard mountain bike racing and sleeping on a camp mat with minimal sleep and badly bruised ribs...I was a little tired and just wanted to sleep but was woken up every morning at 5am because, as my nephew explained ' the sun's up Aunty Kate!'.<br />
I love all my nieces and nephews but know that having your own is quite different.So fast forward a few weeks as Jeff and I decided we will 'just see what happens' , IT happened very quickly. I was not feeling so good, putting on weight and my boobs (sorry guys!) were SO sore and rather big for me. My (twin) sister called me and said ' are you pregnant?' and I said ' I don't know, i haven't taken a test'. She said 'well, you better go and get one as I was feeling a bit sick and thought I would check but i'm not, so you better go and get one and take the test!'. I called Jeff and he bought a pack of 3 at the drug store on his way home. I decided I would do it in the morning just incase it was the 'girls' making their visit.I got up early to swim and decided I would just do one so I could go and swim and not worry about it. Jeff got up and was wondering what I was doing and I told him and got him to time the 5sec peeing on the stick and 2mins to check the result as I still couldn't see too well as I was really tired. I was watching the results and could see 2 lines (before the 2min was up) which on this test was a positive and told Jeff to double check it but he said ' the 2mins isn't up yet!' .I showed him and said ' I don't think we need to wait 2mins then!'. We decided to make doubly sure I would do one later when i got home....sure enough we didn't need to use the 3rd test, it was well and truly positive. Jeff was rather proud of himself and I think if he were at a bar with his friends, he would have been high fiving them for his manly-hood efforts! I was thankful we got pregnant so quickly as I thought after racing for so long and not having regular 'girly' visits, it might be more complicated. I booked in to see the appropriate Doctors and had a sonogram to confirm I was pregnant and was 6.5wks when we got back from Hawaii which explains the nausea starting there and it gradually got worse, to the point where it felt like I had a stomach bug and virus, all day, everyday for about 4-5weeks until it let off for a day or so, only to start again. I found myself in bed by 7.30pm many nights and the simplest daily tasks were challenging. I forced myself to exercise which usually helped the nausea a little bit or at least kept me sane.<br />
We bought some books and I read the things you could experience each week and thought ' who would get that?!' and by the next day....I would have the answer....'me!'.<br />
I emailed a few friends who are athletes that are either pregnant or recently had their first child, to ask some questions about exercising whilst pregnant, how they cope with a variety of things whilst pregnant and afterwards etc etc which has been really helpful. My sister has also answered a million questions for me and telling me stuff that may have been nice to know before we decided to have a baby....all I can say is 'ouch' and 'gross' !!! It's been a while since Sex Ed at school!<br />
I am now 14.5wks along and feeling the extra weight and the total take over of hormones throughout my body but know it will be worth it and I am looking forward to this experience as it is certainly unique to any other I have had. We had an ultrasound last week and it was really cool to see the baby moving around, kicking it's legs and seeing how much it had grown from only the week before! And the Doctor told me that for ' my age' my results came back extremely low for any birth defects...'my age!' huh!! So now we feel better about telling more people.<br />
I am due August 18th-ish so I will massage as long as I can and continue coaching the Mermaids group until June/July and doing some work with the 5K9 Walk,Run,Wag event that will be held in San Rafael, August 4th and subbing a little bit at Velo SF. That will be and is plenty for me at the moment.<br />
Jeff is off to NYC for a doubles squash tournament this weekend and another one in DC in May (which I will go to and visit some fun friends!) and is still liking his coaching at the Olympic Club.<br />
Kaisley (our dog) is still herself and last weekend chased her first bobcat on a run with Jeff at Lucas Valley and luckily came back in one piece and by herself:)<br />
I will try to keep a more regular blog as we go through this new adventure in our lives if I can remember to do it and don't fall asleep before i finish it....'it's the hormones!!'.<br />
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*This pic sent to me by a good friend.She finds the coolest stuff!....and YES, it is a Wilier!Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-38862967096065976022012-12-23T16:18:00.004-08:002012-12-23T21:25:00.232-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">We are going green this year and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas via online so you can just say 'oh, that's nice' and then delete it. No having to take the cards, photo's etc out to the recycle bins or wonder what to do with them once the season is over. Although I do like receiving the real deal, I must admit, it is a lot less work on our end too!</span></div>
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MERRY CHRISTMAS </div>
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May you all have a great time and I hope you are able to spend it surrounded by your family and friends!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaisley waiting for Santa...she said she has been a good girl!!!???</td></tr>
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<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-75570713753735422242012-12-23T16:10:00.000-08:002012-12-23T16:10:23.716-08:00A real vacation in the land of Aloha!ALOHA!!!!!<br />
This was our first real vacation (i.e. no racing of any kind involved) since our honeymoon in 2006!<br />
Jeff booked everything when I was in Australia so all I had to do was pack my boardies, kini (bikini), wetsuit surf top, flip flops and sunscreen!<br />
I did manage to get Jeff to let me take some running gear and convince him to do the same incase we felt like ' exploring' the island a little further.<br />
So I have put together some photos from our trip to show some of our activities.They are of a few different runs we did- Diamond Head Crater, in the water at Waikiki( didn't get any at Haleiwa unfortunately or of the big Loggerhead turtle I touched), running/trails at Puu Ualakaa State Park and Pupukea-Paumalo State Park.<br />
Jeff bought me a waterproof/shatterproof camera (do you think he thinks I am rough or clumsy with things??!!) for my b'day so we used that a little bit and I have actually downloaded them onto my computer and put some description etc with them...that is HUGE for me as I can never be bothered to do it:)<br />
I wished I had taken more surfing photos but was having so much fun catching waves, I forgot about taking it out.<br />
One lucky girl and a huge smile left on my face from our vacation and a huge warmth in my heart.<br />
Mahalo for reading and looking at my blog:)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Diamond Head Crater</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top bunker at Diamond Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waikiki view from DH</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking through the bunker out to DH</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for waves at Waikiki</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff waiting for his Luau feast to begin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree hugging</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily we weren't hunted by mistake/saw any pigs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff running away from me</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too many choices???</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain came down</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful switchback style roads</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminds me of fine tendons when looking at a Cadaver</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mtn View from Round Top Drive</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain pouring down</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond Head in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't take a self portrait running these days??!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful greenery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo Barrier on a sharp corner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48JvxTdvibg/UNeLOSPk9nI/AAAAAAAAAqY/SwuuHbU1fos/s1600/DSCN0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48JvxTdvibg/UNeLOSPk9nI/AAAAAAAAAqY/SwuuHbU1fos/s320/DSCN0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lined part of the roads</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we came from</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome trail network on the North Shore</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff stripping down</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool winter coat I thought for this big tree:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a lookout we came across (twds Haleiwa)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View twds Laie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much clothing left for Jeff to strip off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle trail dropped us out (luckily) where I thought it did...who takes a map these days??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0edngNn3sA/UNeNH9bSPiI/AAAAAAAAAs4/BOAT5Eu5Mto/s1600/DSCN0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0edngNn3sA/UNeNH9bSPiI/AAAAAAAAAs4/BOAT5Eu5Mto/s320/DSCN0070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red dirt playground</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxjbVpl1kyY/UNeNOacB0UI/AAAAAAAAAtA/BLa4N2lAZNI/s1600/DSCN0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxjbVpl1kyY/UNeNOacB0UI/AAAAAAAAAtA/BLa4N2lAZNI/s320/DSCN0071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the red dirt playground</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It could be a natural pump track</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another gate we went through</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An outlay of all the mountains on the North Shore</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meaning behind 'Waimea' </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Waimea Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local decorating the Christmas tree with mostly hand made ornaments</td></tr>
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<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-55132258750512137882012-11-16T13:40:00.000-08:002012-11-16T13:43:47.234-08:00The Crocodile Trophy ~ Continued with Stage 4STAGE 4<br />
IRVINEBANK LOOPED COURSE (4 26km loops/600m elevation gain per loop)<br />
4 26km loops around Irvinebank didn’t seem to bad on paper until we hit the back half of the course that was an old, beat up 4 wheeler trail I would guess. It took me by surprise as we hit the first few technical parts and I bailed my bike on the first one as I felt a bit pressured by all the guys behind me and couldn’t see ahead as we were right behind each other. I cut the top of my middle finger and busted up my knee and shin and other fingers on the rocks. Luckily I had my Wilier gloves on or it could have been a lot worse. Thank fully the wind was hot and dry and dried the blood quickly to make a plug to stop the bleeding (as I didn’t fancy licking it for the next few laps)!<br />
I counted my lucky stars I made it through the first lap and decided I would just take my time on this stage and have some fun. I caught up to Guy, a man I met from Townsville at the first depot stop and we rode the remaining 3 laps together. It was nice to have some company and as we stopped at the next depot, I joked at how we must look like pigs at a feeding trough, shoving watermelon, cut up bananas and cereal bars, Red Bull and whatever else there was into our mouths before taking off on another lap.<br />
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With each lap I got better on the technical side and really began to enjoy it and the last 2 laps, barely got off except for a couple of sandy creek beds which we had to walk/run and a couple of little up hills that were too steep to get up. I was happy to be in one piece and had gotten better as I went! It was also nice to see the supporters as we came through town each lap as we had spent the last few days in the bush with the rare sighting of locals or supporters unless they happened to live in the remote land that we passed through.<br />
It was a hard, hilly course and the first half, very dusty as the dirt road was open to trucks (big ones!) and cars and at times you couldn’t see anything at all in front of you and just had to hope you had a good line.<br />
Guy and I parked our bikes at the pub, like everyone else who had finished before us and had a nice, cold beverage in our dirt clad kits and bodies. Judy, Guy’s wife joined us and celebrated another stage down and a win for me.<br />
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STAGE 5<br />
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As we started day 5 and headed from Irvinebank to Mt Mulligan, the weather was overcast and a light drizzle that was a welcomed relief to most of the riders from the 40+celcius days we had experienced. The first 15km was fire road and the next 17km was a more technical, rough, rocky, beat up old track and my plan was to take it easy through that then pick it up on the flatter, smoother roads that followed.<br />
Through the last part of the technical section I locked up my brakes for what reason I don’t know. It wasn’t technical at that one place but before I knew it I went over the handlebars and landed, smack on my back and winded myself. As I lay there on my back, unable to move for a short time, I hear Franko (one of the Mackay boys) yell out from the hill ahead ‘ Kate Major…. are you ok?’ and I yell back ‘yep, I’m just givin the earth some lovin’!”. And on that note, flipped myself back over, dusted myself off and tried to catch up to Franko’s group but couldn’t quite bridge the gap. I found myself solo for the next 70km into a head wind for most of it. A little sore in the SIJ and left shoulder from the flip but figured it would be a little stiff and sore for the next couple of days.<br />
At first I was annoyed that I had to ride alone and then I thought ‘just enjoy this quiet time by yourself and take in the Australian outback scenery and smells as the light rain always enhances the bush flowers aromas.<br />
I went through a couple of gates where I had to get off and open them and close them behind me and the last gate I got to a group that caught up to me. In this group was the girl in second (to me) and a few other strong male riders (all Euro’s) that should have been at least 30min-1hr ahead. I don’t know much about bike racing and tactics but it didn’t take me long to figure out something was going on for these guys to be together with 40km to go. We rode the next 15km together and one of the guys went ahead before that…. so it turns out to get the girl’s drinks and food at the last depot, with 20km to go. As I pulled in to grab a cereal bar, she by passed the depot and took off with the group of guys that she was with. So I take off from the depot to time trial to catch them and with some hills ahead I knew I could catch her…. until I see a hand go on her back and helped pushed her up the hills ahead. The guy with me who I know is a stronger rider than me said he would work with me if he could to help catch them but just sat on my wheel for the next 5-10km before taking off on me on a hill and re joining their group and adding another hand to her back, to the finish line to finish around 5mins ahead of me for first place.<br />
I was a little annoyed to say the least when I saw this going on right in front of me and then to have at least half a dozen or more riders afterwards say they saw it going on from before depot 1 (32km mark). I don’t mind being beaten as long it is done fairly. I can’t stand cheating of any kind and that is why I decided to mention this incident in my race report. It doesn’t set a good example for fellow riders, spectators, kids etc and really put a dampener on the race for me. Cheating like that is just as bad as taking performance enhancing drugs or any other form of cheating. I told the race organizer but he blew it off saying it is not allowed but due to it not being written in their rules, that they couldn’t do anything official about it but would mention it at the race briefing!<br />
Mt Mulligan Station was a huge mining town back in the early 1900’s in Australia until a huge explosion. It also has some rich Aboriginal history and is said to be the birthplace of the Rainbow Serpent and is now owned by a friend of my brother in laws’, Gordon. I was fortunate enough to meet Gordon and he offered me a real bed for the night at the station. I couldn’t believe my luck and with my sore ribs, shoulder and hip from my crash, I took him up on the offer and had a fantastic night’s sleep!<br />
<a href="http://mountmulligan.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://mountmulligan.com/index.html</a><br />
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STAGE 6-MT MULLIGAN TO MAITLAND DOWNS? 127KM/2600M<br />
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Today I woke up in a revenge mood and was determined to show Alice that cheating doesn’t get you anywhere. I was a bit tired to start out and had to work really hard to stay with the group ahead of me but knew I needed to to get a break from the next pack behind. There was a strong headwind and I couldn’t get dropped and get stuck out there all by myself again. I wasn’t sure how long I would last but was going to give it a shot.<br />
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One of the local Cairns guys I met was out in his van cheering me on and other riders he knew too. He said to me before the start to just go out and have fun, don’t worry about what happened yesterday, that was yesterday’ and I took his advice on board.<br />
The guys at the front made a big move that broke the pack up and I couldn’t hold it any longer and dropped off with three other guys that happened to be Aussies. We rode together until just after the first depot where the climbing began. It was hot and there was no shade and it was up, up, up with a few short, rocky descents. I made a gap on the guys and found myself riding solo for some time until I caught up to a guy I remember from yesterday. He tells me I’m riding strong and am the strongest girl in the race by far, even after what happened yesterday. That gave me more fire as he was riding with that group so I eventually dropped him too.<br />
Due to the dirt, dust and hot, dry air, my chain was squeaking big time and a couple of young European riders came up on a hill and gave me some lube…..quiet times again!<br />
One of the Mackay boys passed me and I kept him in sight and we left depot 3 together and rode most of the way until he got a flat. We passed a team of euro’s and they didn’t like that and I was solo again after the Mackay guy got a flat. I was nearly out of water, even after re-filling my Nathan hydration pack and 2 drinks bottles less than 20km before so started to ration my water and that is when I see the road to Maitland Downs and an unexpected depot that had coke and water! I downed a couple of cups of coke and water and refilled my drink bottle as we had 10km on the road to go. Christian had caught back up to me and we rode the last 10km together. About 5km down the road I could see some riders coming from behind…they passed us like a freight train…it was the euros!!! I guess they didn’t want us on their train!!!<br />
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My ribs and shoulder liked the smooth road to finish and I went and visited the Mackay guy’s tent and their support crew went and bought us hamburgers (with the lot i.e. meat, lettuce, cheese, tomato, pineapple, beetroot, egg, bacon and BBQ sauce) and hot chips (with gravy and salt)…. the highlight of my day and hit the spot big time!!!<br />
There were no showers set up for the females so the boys let me use their portable shower tent to rinse off. Hadn’t washed my hair in a couple of days and it was starting to feel like dread locks could form at any time!<br />
That night I slept under the Mackay boys tarps in a real swag as it was a wider mat and more comfortable for my ribs to sleep on.<br />
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STAGE 7- MAITLAND DOWNS- MAYTOWN 90KM/1400M<br />
As the Kookaburras woke me up again at 4.30am I dragged myself out of the swag on the hard dirt and got moving for breakfast.<br />
I was planning on taking today a little easier than the day before but when I saw Alice and her merry men riding up front I thought ‘oh no you don’t’ and got fired up. I rode along side her for a while and was feeling surprisingly good…or better than I expected. So I decided to try to stay with this pack as long as I could. It didn’t last that long but long enough that I couldn’t see anyone coming in the hills behind me. There was one other guy who I had met from Australia in the days past, Steve and we rode together for the rest of the day together. He was hurting to start but warmed up and hung in there and got stronger as we went. We picked up some faster guys who were hurting and formed a group as we went. I found myself again hanging on the back for dear life and finally fell off the back and so did Steve.<br />
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We worked together on the never-ending hills and I knew I was probably going too hard to hold that pace but didn’t care. The last 15km we had a thick, rocky, sandy river crossing to run through and a climb out to follow. I really noticed the heat but knew I only had to hang on for another 15km. I was low on fluids and had to start rationing. I was now hanging on to Steve’s wheel and busted out a gel at 10km to go as I was going backwards quickly. One of the other guys in the group that dropped us was now riding with us too so he and Steve took turns out front whilst I once again, held on for dear life! With no water left at 3km to go I just had to hang on and then I see the Crocodile Trophy banner and was happy to be done….a lot harder stage than the profile suggested.<br />
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One of the riders Garmin’s apparently read over 50deg Celsius in the sun.<br />
I camped that night with Nick and Gary and it didn’t cool off until well in the night/ early morning. Everyone was lying around like lizards in the after noon, as it was so hot!<br />
Once again, no showers for the girls so I showered in another portable shower then laid out like a lizard in the shade as I was officially buggered!<br />
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STAGE 8- Maytown to Laura 87km/1300M<br />
This day I decided I would take easy no matter what as I had dug myself into a good hole the day before with Steve. The start was fast again but I kept within myself and just went out at a comfortable pace back on some of the trails we came in on yesterday.<br />
After 18km it turned technical with some awesome climbs that took some thinking of a good line to take and then some rocky, steep descents. I followed this guy up all of the climbs as he took really good lines and we beat some guys up that passed us earlier but didn’t take the right line. On the downhill I let all the other guys go first and made it down most of them better than I thought I might and was quite pleased with myself. As I pulled over on one descent to let a group of guys go down, one of them said in his broken English ‘ you scare me’ …I took that as a compliment (even though I knew it probably wasn’t!) and buttoned my lips as I passed him about a mile later on an uphill that he was walking up!!!<br />
There were a few steep/un-ride able hills that I was forced to push my bike up and found myself solo for a good chunk through some narrower sandy trails. Some were so thick with sand I had to get off and run/walk through it. The last 30km I was with 2 other guys. One I had spoken to previously as he had done some Ironman racing and was a strong cyclist. His name was Fred and he led most of the way. The other guy sat on the entire way; I took a couple of turns where I could and after a cool river crossing a faster euro guy joined us and he paced us the last 10km or so in. Before that I was leading and my front wheel got caught in a deep sandy part and I went down and Fred missed me but somehow went down and injured his hip flexor/quad but got back and still rode strong.<br />
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With 1km to go to 2 other guys took off and left Fred and I to ride in. I wasn’t going to take off after all the work Fred had done and pulled us the last 30km and he was disappointed that the other guys did that…. not cool!<br />
Fred went to the med tent to get fixed up and I went to the pub (after cleaning mine and Fred’s bike) to get a drink and met a couple of local guys. One had some snakes and put a Black Headed Python around my neck. It was pretty cool to feel all of its muscles contracting and releasing as it moved around my neck. Apparently they have over 300 muscles in their bodies and if they experience over a 10deg(Celsius) change in temp, it can kill them. A couple of them were suffering from the heat so he had them in the shade, in wet pillowcases to cool off. It can also make the males infertile. He had a good variety of deadly snakes with him and had me pick up a 20kg+ python he had in a lawn mower catcher!<br />
After a chocolate Paddle Pop ice cream, lemonade ice block and a liter of milk I went and had hot shower (yes, hot…. the cold water wasn’t working) and cleaned up.<br />
One more time of cleaning my bike, greasing the chain, washing and cleaning and re filling my bottles and Nathan hydration pack for the following day and I was done.<br />
Sleeping with the boys again, Nick and Gary, there was less farting and snoring this night (from them of course!) and I had a massage to relieve some of the soreness around my shoulder and ribs, which made for a better nights sleep.<br />
We went to the local Laura pub for dinner and I ordered another burger with the lot and it was good but not as good as the Maytown one…. probably because they didn’t have hot chips!<br />
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STAGE 9- LAURA-COOKTOWN 140KM/1200M<br />
The organizers decided today they would try to have everyone finish as closely together as possible. In doing so, they grouped about 10 riders or so together based on overall times and started them 15min apart, slowest to the fastest.<br />
I was put in a group that was too fast for me with the fatigue I had built up, especially after stage 7. I was hoping to have a more relaxing ride on the last day and enjoy it and have a chat with the other riders. I knew one guy from Cairns and the other from Mackay and they said the other guys said it would be cruisey until the last 20km, and then it was everyone for themselves. So I thought great, I should at least be able to hang at the back…. that lasted less than 4km and I was on my own for another 30km!!! One of the guys I had met before had a problem with his chain and dropped back, only to catch me back up and I rode on his wheel for the next 80km or so. I was so grateful he caught me as if he hadn’t, I could’ve been out there all day…. or at least that is how I felt at the time!<br />
There was a strong headwind, it was hot and dusty and LOTS of corrugated roads and with my ribs and shoulder pain, I couldn’t wait to get onto the last 20km of paved road. As two guys passed by, we jumped on and stayed with them for 10km or so until one of the guys broke away and the other (Mackay guy) stayed with us. He and Christian took turns in the front as I held on for dear life. I stayed with them until the last depot at 115km and they took off before I was ready. Then I noticed my front skewer had come loose so tightened it up and by the time I got going, the boys were long too far ahead.<br />
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Ant Farm<br />
The next 25km I rode solo into a good headwind and sometimes got down into the aero position when the wind got stronger but mostly just took the time to absorb what I was about to accomplish and the beautiful surroundings of such a harsh country. The fresh, clean air, the sound of the birds in the trees and the smell of different flowers and the sound of my wheels turning around and around on the chip sealed road, brought a smile to my face and a laugh and thought about June and knew she was watching over me and reminded me to enjoy every last minute of it!<br />
At the crest of the last hill into Cooktown, on the descent I let out a ‘woohoo, yeah!” as I had finally done it and raised some money for June’s Foundation.<br />
There were a few locals out on the streets of Cooktown as I headed up the last 1km climb to the top and was happy to be done and to know I would be sleeping in a hotel bed with real showers and toilets and no dirty/sandy floor….ahhh basic amenities!!!<br />
At the top, my friends had finished ahead of me and were there to cheer me up the stairs with their supporters as well. Gary had bought me a liter of milk (which I had been craving for days and had one at Laura) and Judy had saved one of her Weetbix slices for me…oh sooooo good!<br />
I was so happy to have achieved a goal I had set out but the thing that really made my trip a fantastic experience was the people I met along the way (The Aussies and their support crews and the Cairns Mountain Bike club and members to name some).<br />
To have the support of the companies I did to get there, especially Mt Tam Capital, I am truly grateful.<br />
I hope everyone gets to do at least one of their dream challenges in life, as it is a fuel that will keep you going for a long time and something you will look back on and can say ‘I did it’. And at times in life, no matter under what circumstance, you know you will be fine and can get through it’.<br />
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<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-51496397366328454582012-11-10T10:05:00.004-08:002012-11-10T10:06:57.867-08:00THE CROCODILE TROPHY<br />
I will do this race report in stages to make it easier to read and easier for me to try to remember what day I did what!<br />
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STAGE 1:<br />
I decided to do a warm up ride to the race, as it was only 15km and pretty straight forward…. at least I thought! I headed out and was watching the km’s ticking away on my GPS but nothing looked too familiar so I decided it would be a good time to ask someone. There was one farmhouse with a big open shed so I hot pedaled it over the HWY to the shed and two dogs chased me across the field but luckily the guys in the shed yelled out for them to ‘heal’.<br />
The two men dressed in their stubbies’ shorts, singlet tops and thongs, looked at me with intrigue as I rocked up on my bike and I asked them if I was close to Smithfield. One of them quickly replied’ nahhh mate, you’re about 40km south of Smithfield ay’ and he added ‘whatchya doin’ up there?’. I explained to them I was racing the Crocodile Trophy, which started at 12. His friend piped in and said ‘nahhh…you’ll never make it to Smithfield by then. You could catch a cab but they don’t really come out here ay. You’re best bet is to go back out to the HWY and thumb down a ride ay’. They both stood there with their arms folded surrounded by dirt bikes and a 4WD in the driveway. And on that note I decided he was right, I had to try to hitch a ride as I had 45mins to get there and took off across the field and onto the HWY.<br />
I waited for about 10mins and was about to jump back on my bike and time trialing north to Smithfield…and that is when a woman in a Land Cruiser 4WD made a U-Turn on the HWY and asked me where I was headed. I couldn’t believe my luck!!! I told her and she said ‘well, you better throw your bike in the back then and let’s go’.<br />
Natalie her name was and she was headed in the opposite direction but saw me and didn’t think anyone would pick me up so she turned around to come to my rescue!<br />
I was so relieved and my adrenalin was pumping, as I knew we had to get there. I called Will from Cairns Mtn Bike Club and let him know what had happened and he spoke to the race organizers and advised them of my predicament! They said I would just have to start when I got there. I missed the start by 3mins and once on my bike, took off a little too fast but with all the adrenalin pumping, I was on auto pilot….until half way through lap 3 when I began to feel rather tired! I decided to back it off a little as I still had another 8days to go but managed to pass the first place female within the last couple of km’s and win the stage!<br />
I won a genuine Boomerang and leaders jersey and got a ride half way home from my hotel as I wanted to spin my legs out a little and to top my day off I left the prizes in the car of the kind local Cairns woman who gave me the ride. Luckily Will knew her and was able to get them to me before we departed Cairns.<br />
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STAGE 2- CAIRNS TO LAKE TINAROO 102KM/2500M<br />
After dropping my bike bag and other bags off to the truck, I rode down to the lagoon on the Cairns Esplanade to the start of day 2. I made sure I knew exactly where to go this time and was at least half an hour early!<br />
After signing in (we did this each day), we all lined up and rode out together as the first 13km was neutralized until we hit the first climb of the day.<br />
It was at least 30deg Celsius by the time we started and warmed up as we stopped up the initial part of the climb for our official time start.<br />
The climb was long and fairly consistent grade on the road with beautiful views of Cairns on one side and then as we climbed further, the rain forest on the other side.<br />
After the decent down to the dam wall, we crossed it and went into the bush and we were greeted by a very steep climb and many of them. Some parts I had to walk, as I couldn’t keep the front wheel down and others did the same.<br />
After climbing up again, we came down some rocky/loose fire road and and I had a hot flush or two on a couple of corners where I thought I was going to lose it over the edge! Then after a depot stop we moved onto smoother fire road before making it to the flat. I was with a group of 3 other guys and we made the most of the flat section before the next 10km climb. The first 5km was extremely hot and no wind and I was glad I had decided to wear my Nathan hydration pack as that was all I had left to last me until the next depot about 6km up the climb. I know you are thinking…. ‘how could you drink that much in such a short time??’.... Well it is easy when you have already done a lot of climbing and the heat is becoming more intense and the climb was slow going. It was one of those climbs that didn’t look that steep but was. I kept it steady and soon, found myself alone as I made my way ahead of the group. After the depot and refilling my bottles and Nathan hydration pack, the climb became more shaded as we were heading back into the rain forest which was a welcomed relief and nice change of scenery from the dryness below.<br />
With 20km or so to go it was undulating and then a fun, long decent through the Lake Tinaroo campgrounds before getting onto sealed road for the last 5km. I was happy to see that 5km to go sign and looked forward to a dip in the lake, a shower and some food!<br />
I finished first in stage 2 and was looking forward to day 3.<br />
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STAGE 3- LAKE TINAROO TO IRVINEBANK 111KM/2700M<br />
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Today was the day to a one pub town at Irvinebank which was exciting because we would be there for 2 nights which meant one less day of putting up and taking down my tent!.It was the last real town we would hit for a few days and to know there would be some cold beverages and pub food ahead was like a gold mine!<br />
But first we had another neutralized start for 18km before we were under way. We started with some more climbing out of town on a fire road, then some technical descents…. one a little too steep and loose rock for me so I decided it would be safer for me to walk/run/slide down it instead! I didn’t care that the camera was rolling at the bottom, catching riders going kamikaze down it and some had no problem…I just wanted to play it safe!<br />
It was another hot day and I refilled my Nathan pack and drink bottles at each depot and grabbed some watermelon and cut up cereal bars as I went through. I had caught up to a company out in the middle of the bush. One rider was David from Spain and the other an Aussie, Pete, from Mackay. I hung onto Pete’s wheel until the next depot and the temperature felt like it was rising further as we re filled and grabbed some Red Bull and took off again. We had another long, hot, climb and some rollers for 25km before a 4km decent on rough, rocky fire road into the town of Irvinebank. To see the finish line and pub along side it was a welcomed site. I had put $20 in my Nathan pack in the morning and went straight into the pub and got a packet of Smiths Salt and Vinegar chips, a soft drink and a glass of red cordial. The locals in the pub did glance a look at me when I came in covered in dirt and sweat and whatever else stuck to me (probably food and drink around my mouth!) and then went back to their beers.<br />
Once I caught my breath and waddled over to the gear trucks, I picked up my bags (with some help from Callum, one of the workers) and set up my tent away from the main crowd, down by the lake with a few other tents…ahhh peace and quiet!<br />
Food and a shower came next, then I cleaned my bike, lubed the chain, got my bottles and nutrition ready for the morning and then it was awards time. I won stage 3 and another jersey and boomerang!<br />
An early night after dinner and I was looking forward to a quieter night and then it started from the pub…. I thought it was karaoke from the tones but no; it was a local husband and wife duo singing at the pub!!! I hadn’t heard some of these songs since primary school disco days and didn’t mind it at first but by 11pm, I was getting a little frustrated but managed to pass out at some point in the frustration!<br />
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Stage 4, 5, and 6, to be continued this afternoon...what a story!Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-45847351894259503952012-11-09T21:38:00.002-08:002012-11-09T21:38:41.865-08:00Back on US soil and getting sorted!I am slowly getting sorted after landing back in the USA yesterday afternoon and will post half of a race report shortly for the Crocodile Trophy. I know some people were finishing their blogs on the bus ride back from Cooktown, the day after the race but I didn't have the mental ability or focus and was a little sore in the ribs/upper body. I also wanted to look out the window at the scenery and see if I missed anything when I was riding or perhaps see different parts of an area we rode through.<br />
When I arrived at my sister's the night after the race, the rest of my week was spent as family time and i think if i had have attempted to write anything....it may have sounded like i was on some recreational drugs or something as I was still catching up on sleep and may have sounded a little out of it! 7 nights camping in a tent, on an air mattress is tough going when you are racing in some hot, hard environmental conditions ( can you hear the violins playing??!!).<br />
Ok, so I will get on with it and get something up and then post the rest of it ASAP!<br />
I will also add up the amount of money raised for the JCF and then they match it dollar for dollar!!!<br />
Back soon!Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-62878071082852312052012-09-13T21:35:00.000-07:002012-09-13T21:35:02.991-07:00Got a little bit of press already from my a guy I know likes a little mountain bike action at Slowtwitch....thanks Herbert!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Adventures_with_Kate_Major_3071.html">http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Adventures_with_Kate_Major_3071.html</a><br />
All fired up now!!! Thanks for the love ST!!!Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-51896666111017044972012-09-12T23:23:00.002-07:002012-09-12T23:23:36.579-07:00Raising money for the June Canavan Foundation...the Down Under way!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The highlighted section is our route for the race....doesn't look so bad on paper!!!</td></tr>
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There is a link on the top left of my blog page to make donations for the June Canavan Foundation (JCF). If you read my last blog you will understand what it is all about and I hope you will help me to raise some $$$ for her foundation to continue her legacy whilst I am beating myself up in the hot Australian outback on a mountain bike (and having the time of my life!).<br />
This way we can track how much money is raised through by doing the Crocodile Trophy and then the JCF will match the same amount of money to which we raise! If everyone could put $1 in....that could end up to be one big fat piggy bank!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That would be tops if you could help me out!</td></tr>
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Here is a little video footage from the Crocodile Trophy last year when they had heavy rain the first couple of days!!!<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/30852423">http://vimeo.com/30852423</a><br />
This is later when it dried up....the scenery is pretty amazing!<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/30674181">http://vimeo.com/30674181</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msGT8GlledE/UFF7GwFkueI/AAAAAAAAAhE/ri2KRQSX3yM/s1600/Frill-Necked-Lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msGT8GlledE/UFF7GwFkueI/AAAAAAAAAhE/ri2KRQSX3yM/s320/Frill-Necked-Lizard.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on...please donate...and yes,I am a real Frilled Neck Lizard.</td></tr>
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<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-18859749181207611112012-09-04T12:02:00.004-07:002012-09-04T20:41:22.985-07:00The Crocodile Trophy ~ October 20, 2012 ~ QLD, AustraliaThe Crocodile Trophy is just around the corner....October 20-28th, QLD, Australia.<br />
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The Wilier machine I will race on (except I have pimped her out w/Reynolds carbon tubeless rims, Conti tires & a John Cobb mtn bike saddle).<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">The Crocodile Trophy</span><br />
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Is a 9day/9 stage mountain bike endurance race</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfgbL9tffR4/UEPISkF5R9I/AAAAAAAAAeg/xEXeBoaxbMI/s1600/foto_ct2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfgbL9tffR4/UEPISkF5R9I/AAAAAAAAAeg/xEXeBoaxbMI/s640/foto_ct2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Starting in Cairns and heading out west into the Outback<br />
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It is a supported ride where we will camp every night and I will attempt to set up my own tent etc. to sleep in. I will be practicing this portion of the event in the privacy of my own home beforehand just to make sure I look like I know what I am doing. If all else fails, I will pretend to be tough and sleep under the stars!</div>
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I am raising money along the way for my late friend's foundation- June Canavan Foundation-</div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">I met Dr. June Canavan when I was 17, as she was recommended to me as the best sports doctor in Australia and particularly
with helping athletes with their asthma control.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">She gave each and every patient her undivided attention and genuine care and always ran late because of this but no one
complained as we all knew that was how she did things. Each patient was as important as the other. June not only treated
Olympic and World-class athletes, as well as kids, parents and grandparents.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">Over the years I became friends with June and her love for life and adventure outside of her busy schedule is what she lived
for and when she couldn’t do it herself, she lived it through her patients and athletes.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">June was game for anything and I remember her doing a 100km bike ride through the Swiss Alps on no training. When I asked
her if it was a good idea, she replied “it will just take me a while!”
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">Unfortunately June was killed in a light plane crash in 2009 whilst en route to hiking the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea to
raise money for a charity she launched called Klocking up the K’s. It was to raise funds for the school of St Jude in Tanzania.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">Junes’ plan to raise the funds was by hiking up 5 mountains starting with the letter K.
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">At the time of her death June had completed 3 of the 5 Ks: Kiel Mountain, Kosciuszko, and Kinabalu.
She planned to walk the Kokoda track in August and climb Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in October. This
would have resulted in June climbing a total of 47,560 feet in altitude. Her aim was to climb 5 Ks
during 2009 and to achieve $1.00 in sponsorship for each foot of the total number of feet she climbed.
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">“In honor of Junes goal I would like to try and raise $1 for every metre I
climb in this race – 12,900 meters” .</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5bmnSBYfrA/UEPO0F91a5I/AAAAAAAAAfI/I3qe4KqBD70/s1600/750751-dr-june-canavan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5bmnSBYfrA/UEPO0F91a5I/AAAAAAAAAfI/I3qe4KqBD70/s640/750751-dr-june-canavan.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro; text-align: left;">THE MONEY RAISED</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">Dr. June Canavan completed the MSA (Master in Sports Administration) course at AISTS
(www.aists.org) in 2006. She was passionate about providing better opportunities for women
to undertake leadership roles in sport.This scholarship commemorates June’s enjoyment</span></span><br />
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of the AISTS MSA course and the contribution she made to assisting students through the
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">course between 2006 and 2009.
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">The Lausanne Network for Women in Sport (LNWIS) offers a fully paid<br />
fee scholarship for the AISTS MSA course to a high potential female
sport leader. The scholarship is funded by the June Canavan
Foundation.
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">This will be my way of honoring June and sharing her love for life,
adventure and hopefully inspiring other women to get active and
just get out and try something new (as well as men!). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">I have been offered my back up bike from my </span><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">niece if it gets a bit rough out there and I need 3 wheels!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qV5yqnUna5I/UEPIOGCXIQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/dt9TPs59pDo/s1600/IMG_0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qV5yqnUna5I/UEPIOGCXIQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/dt9TPs59pDo/s320/IMG_0500.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">I will post a link shortly to where you can donate money to her foundation. Any amount would be great as all the pennies add up at the end (remember the old piggy bank?).</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">She was one cool lady who would be happy to see me do this race and if she were here, would probably join in for the shorter event herself.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">This will certainly be a challenge for me on many levels but each time I think about it, it makes me smile both with excitement and that nervous snort/laugh you have when you do something for the first time. I have had two things in my life I wanted to do, one was the World Ironman Championships and the other is the Crocodile Trophy so I am tickled pink to have the opportunity to do it and the support of my sponsors, family and friends to give it a shot. I have no goals for this race except to have the best time in my home country, seeing places by mountain bike I have always dreamt of, meeting people from the local communities, making new friends and experience a whole different style of racing (whilst raising as much $$$ as I can for June's foundation).</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">We all need to do these things in our lives whether it be athletics, academia or in general daily situations. It takes a lot of courage to try something out of your comfort zone but it can also lead you to many new opportunities and experiences you would never have had.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">I love this saying and have it stuck on our fridge and have had to re read it many times over this year and thought I would share it with you too.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">'It's impossible' said Pride.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">'It's risky' said Experience.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">'It's pointless' said Reason.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: MyriadPro;">'Give it a try' whispered the Heart.</span><br />
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Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-35931044756246669062012-09-02T13:35:00.003-07:002012-09-02T13:35:34.769-07:00What in the begeeba's have I been up to the past couple of months???<br />
I decided to have a break from racing triathlons until after I finish the Crocodile Trophy. Is that a crocodile wrestling competition I hear you ask??!!...NOOOO!! It is a 9day/stage mountain bike race in far north Queensland in Australia (Oct 20-28th). I will tell you more in the next update:)<br />
Here is a short recap in photos to begin-<br />
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I had Mike's Bike's fit my mountain bike<br />
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I have still been swimming(minus the heels!)<br />
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We had our friends from SD visit<br />
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I have been stretching..<br />
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And doing yoga<br />
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I found some new trails on my mtn bike and discovered some 'secret spots'<br />
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I have been taking my recovery ice baths<br />
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Finding new trails<br />
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Practicing my new skills learnt at the All Women's Sport Camp<br />
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Had some close calls with these things!!!<br />
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Avoided the new 'Vodka to Go' on my rides<br />
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Won a mtn run in Tahoe at the All Women's Sport Camp<br />
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Did some amazing rides at the All Women's Sport Camp in Tahoe<br />
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My friend Jessi Stensland showing me how to ride the mtn bike!<br />
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Am loving a little change<br />
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Loving the heat<br />
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Played at the Pump Track in Truckee w/the girls from the All Women's Sport Camp<br />
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Hadn't had this much fun in a long time!!!<br />
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I have been under the watchful eyes of some hard task masters<br />
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On our first weekend away together (w/ 15 other crazy peeps) for way too long...Shasta Lake<br />
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Picking up the boats, water-skis, wake boards and tubes<br />
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Capt. Jeff is back behind the wheel of a speed boat...I'm scared w/that facial expression=faaast!!!<br />
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We made some wake on Shasta Lake<br />
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Saw a house we would like to buy<br />
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Came home and rode above the clouds for training<br />
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Got to wear my summer dress<br />
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Had more friends from SD visit on their summer cycling trip<br />
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Now onto something that makes me sweat just thinking about it.....The Crocodile Trophy Mountain Bike Stage race....Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-5418572358240036912012-07-17T20:47:00.000-07:002012-07-17T20:47:04.539-07:00Still AliveI have been a little MIA the past couple of months as I made an unexpected trip back to Australia for family reasons.<br />
I hadn't been back to Australia for nearly 3yrs and even though not under great circumstances, I was able to see all my family and some of my extended family and friends.<br />
My mum lives in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney and is a mecca for outdoor activities. I have a mountain bike I have left there so I can get out on the trails and see the beauty of the country.Not that I was there for that reason but it is always nice to know it is there if I had time to get out and clear my head. I was there for my mum first and foremost and the mountain biking and trail running I did get to do, was an added bonus.<br />
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The is the Mountain Bike Narrow Neck Trail in the Blue Mountains National Park<br />
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Another gorgeous picture of the Narrow Neck Trail<br />
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Can you see the trail ~ and that isn't the end!<br />
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I was able to spend time with my sister Emma and my niece Stella (who I hadn't met in person as she was only 11wks old) and my nephew Levi. We went to Kinda gym (gymnastic type activities for 2-5yr olds) and I learnt to change a nappy and Em made me do so several times....just to make sure I remembered she said! I got in one swim and a mountain bike ride and stopped by my local bike store on the way home, Coolum Cycles, to say G'Day to Bob and Barb.<br />
At the end of my time in Australia I flew up to my brother and sister in law's and witnessed them raise nearly $20,000 from doing a quiz night for a local 6yr old boy who has Batten's Disease. I also got to mountain bike with my brother and his mate, build a beach shack out of driftwood with my nieces and their friends, play beach touch football with the locals and take Zoe (my eldest niece to netball and karate) and go for a run with her too.<br />
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This is at my brothers at Valla Beach<br />
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We visited my mum's Aunty Pat(my nan's sister) who we lived with for a short time as kids.Mum and I made a couple of different slices to take for afternoon tea and a few of our other relatives came also. It was great to see everyone and catch up. Aunty Pat's home hasn't changed one bit since we were kids and we still go through the back door....made me feel like a little kid again!<br />
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Before I left Sydney, I was able to catch up with a good friend I haven't seen in years, Amy and her family. Her son Baxter and I had a PJ party...he has a great Spiderman PJ set....and we read a story together before bed.<br />
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As far as racing goes for me,I had to forgo a few races to head back to Australia but to me, family is more important. There will always be more races but you only have one mum! I also got to reconnect with my dad which was good and I will go back to see him (and mum) later in the year.<br />
I am not sure just yet what the remainder of the year will be for me in regards to races. I am getting back into training to gain some fitness back and will decide shortly as to my next race.<br />
It has been a crazy year and still some challenges to come for my mum and dad but they will do only what they know.....the best they can:)<br />
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<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-47747374038925281572012-04-24T12:58:00.001-07:002012-04-24T12:58:09.282-07:00Sea Otter Classic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I entered the Mountain Bike XC race as a CAT2 rider. I have never done a cross country bike race of any kind before so after asking a few people where I should start, I decided this was probably a good place. I have always wanted to do a mountain bike race since I was a kid so I was really excited to be finally competing in one so many years later!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSe8q2jIOh4/T5b4YlaW1WI/AAAAAAAAAVU/447YBWFGK4U/s1600/GALLERYKateMajorDoingXCRace-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSe8q2jIOh4/T5b4YlaW1WI/AAAAAAAAAVU/447YBWFGK4U/s640/GALLERYKateMajorDoingXCRace-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My friend Gaylia helped me find a homestay with Sharon Osgood and her family that lived close by and whom I met at my first race in the US in 2004 at Wildflower. They made me feel right at home and assured me the course would suit me. I registered on Friday afternoon when I arrived and met up with the girls at Sidi who introduced me to a 24hr solo mountain bike champion, Timari Pruis to pre ride the course with. Timari was helping out at her sponsor's booth for the 4 day event.<br />
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We met Saturday morning and we chatted as we rode and I asked her too many questions I'm sure, but she was very helpful with riding tips as I crashed a couple of times (as far as I know she didn't laugh!) but I did as she told me and it worked and I followed her lines for most of the ride.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shqw-M3F19Y/T5b6rbMHNiI/AAAAAAAAAV8/oOCq2VuLq-I/s1600/kate+in+Sea+Otter+crash+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shqw-M3F19Y/T5b6rbMHNiI/AAAAAAAAAV8/oOCq2VuLq-I/s640/kate+in+Sea+Otter+crash+11.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Dirty</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Clean</span></td></tr>
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I rode the last 7miles solo as Timari had to get back to the expo but made it back in time for an icy cold pepsi (as it was nice and warm out) and had a visit to the Shimano booth for some mechanical repairs to be made....probably done when I crashed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cccpUdIHhTU/T5b52nbdwkI/AAAAAAAAAV0/aUofSZxezyM/s1600/kate+in+sea+otter+top+of+bike+course1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cccpUdIHhTU/T5b52nbdwkI/AAAAAAAAAV0/aUofSZxezyM/s640/kate+in+sea+otter+top+of+bike+course1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">View from the top of the bike course</span> <br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> I was driving from the supermarket back to the Osgood's house and had just turned up the climb when I noticed a guy who had crashed his bike, trying to use his phone. The Grand Fondo for Sea Otter was going on and he was one of the cyclists in the event. I pulled over and asked him if he was ok...turns out he crashed a while back and his rear derailier had just snapped so he couldn't go anywhere. I put his bike in my car, told him to get in the front and asked if he wanted one of the cold beers I had just bought! I don't think he thought I was serious and just laughed. He said his friend was up ahead and both their girlfriend's had gone to the Monterey Aquarium whilst they rode so he would have been waiting a while. I dropped him off and told him to wait at the finish line for the Grand Fondo with a beer for his friend and then ask him when he comes in 'where have you been...I finished a couple of beers ago!" Somehow I think he just went back to his car, threw his bike in and went to the medical tent to get cleaned up</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">!</span>
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I got up early Saturday morning to make it to the event to warm up and get to the race track in plenty of time...I was wondering where all the women were for the start...turns out I was over an hour early for my start time. I went back to my car to warm up as it was cold and foggy. Then I got back on my bike to warm up again and head over to the race track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEuAdUKqaQM/T5b_WN0_YkI/AAAAAAAAAWU/2oP5BUpk0kA/s1600/Kate+in+Sea+Otter+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEuAdUKqaQM/T5b_WN0_YkI/AAAAAAAAAWU/2oP5BUpk0kA/s640/Kate+in+Sea+Otter+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Day Before was Clear</span></td></tr>
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About 13 or so lined up on the line to start in my age group and a few people told me to sprint for the first few miles so that is what I did and lead out the group around the race track and onto the trail.<br />
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I was just hoping that I wouldnt get nailed on the downhill but as it turns out there were only a few of us together by the first downhill and I followed one of the girls down and onto the single track. I stayed with her for a short time and then she was gone....until the uphill where I caught back up to her. This was the theme until half way through and then we didn't cross paths again....I had made a little gap.<br />
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I came across parts of the course that the day before I had either crashed or taken very cautiously but during the race I was fine and went down one downhill I crashed on on Friday and didn't realise until I was at the bottom it was that decent....that was a positive.<br />
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As I rode along the course, I was passing mountain bikers from earlier categories and with one short downhill to the finish I caught up to the first junior female and slowed up so she could go down first....she stayed with the guys ahead of us and I stayed up with her....I felt pretty good about that!!!(and laughed at myself!).<br />
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There were lots of spectators at the finish and the riders all waited for their friends to finish and were chatting about their 20.2mile adventure with over 3500ft of climbing. Everyone and their bikes were covered in dirt but were all happy campers for having finished a tough race.<br />
I did a short cool down spin and headed to the expo to tell Timari that I did better than Friday when we rode and did what she told me to and it worked and then over to the awards to receive my yellow jersey and goodie bag for winning my category. As it turns out 2nd and 3rd place live within 10 miles of me!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqOwUM1zx84/T5b-4z9GaiI/AAAAAAAAAWM/i8HQhGjmnPQ/s1600/kate+in+Sea+Otter+finish+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqOwUM1zx84/T5b-4z9GaiI/AAAAAAAAAWM/i8HQhGjmnPQ/s400/kate+in+Sea+Otter+finish+1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;">Yellow Jersey</span></span></td></tr>
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I got some food and went back to the Osgood's to shower and clean up before driving home as I was filthy and the dirt had really stuck to my gravel rash from the day before as I put Neosporin on it that morning.<br />
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The vibe of the whole scene was very relaxed, friendly and fun and I got to watch some incredibly talented downhill slalom races,road races, BMX stunts and XC mountain bikers ride/race.<br />
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I was most happy that I came out of it in one piece and could tick off having done a race I have thought about doing since I was a little kid.And I came out with a yellow jersey....still makes me chuckle!<br />
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Thank you to Gaylia for organising a great homestay and to the Osgood family for having me stay with them, you made my trip a very relaxed and pleasant one.<br />
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To my sponsors who provide me with the equipment I need to do my job (and some side gigs like this type of race!). Reynolds have some new carbon tubeless race wheels they sent me to use which were fantastic. Wilier for providing me with other type of TT bike....called a mountain bike, Nathan for the comfy and much needed hydration pack, Rudy Project for protecting my eyes both in and out of the bushes (upright and tumbling) and my head with their helmets, Mikes Bikes for always looking after me, Sidi for protecting my feet and keeping me clipped in, John Cobb for keeping my toosh comfy with his saddle, Saucony for my clothing and running shoes, Flora Inc for supplying my body with world class supplements, Profile Design for my parts and accessories(their sister co. Titec) and the crew at Mike's Bikes for getting my mtn bike race ready!<br />
<br />Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-63614705083145692132012-04-15T11:25:00.001-07:002012-04-15T22:06:13.660-07:00Xterra Las Vegas<p><font size="6">I am currently laying on the floor at Las Vegas airport writing this blog, as I had the grand idea of getting on one flight earlier than mine at 6.30am. The check in lady told me I could but it would cost more than 10,000 points. Without even opening my mouth the 3 other Southwest sista's chimed in and said ' oh no you ain't, there’s another flight right there girl...you only gotta wait an hour'. With that said, I decided they were right until I received a 'flight status update text', telling me my flight would be delayed until 8.20!!! That grand planned back fired so I joined the other hung over people on the carpet to lay down. One man to my right is sprawled eagle with his baseball cap over his face, the girl in front of me is propped up on a pole and 2 other girls sitting on the chairs are playing video on their phones which sounds like a big night out (lots of woohoo's)! A perfect environment for writing my blog about an Xterra race don't you think!!?</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j62JkQXR9vs/T4sShqOphfI/AAAAAAAAATc/WhR0rGLm0MM/s1600-h/Kim-and-Kate3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kim and Kate" border="0" alt="Kim and Kate" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zd73_GgzT2A/T4sSiBGgnfI/AAAAAAAAATk/hwE4Z6cFWuE/Kim-and-Kate_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="690"></a> <p> <font size="4">Kim & I in an old pic, good friend for sure!!</font> <p><font size="6">It was about a week or so ago when I decided to do Xterra Las Vegas. My friend Kim McDonald from San Diego called me and told me he was doing a story for Triathlete Magazine about a road triathlete doing an Xterra for the first time and he was that athlete! I also knew a few other people going from San Fran and thought it would be fun and give me some time on the mountain bike (for the Crocodile Trophy in October) and something different. I booked my ticket with points, put my Mountain bike in at Mike's Bike's for a service (as I stacked it on the Monday and could hear 'noises'), packed my gear and my Road ID (first time I have worn it during an event!). I arrived and discovered I had a very bent derailleur and thanks to the Specialized mechanic (yes, I do ride a Wilier mountain bike) and bent it back for me and I was good to go.</font> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8bZ2FYbNZCI/T4sSieqfCLI/AAAAAAAAATs/RqIcet-x40c/s1600-h/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-54.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate Major and her Wiler Mountain Bike for Xterra Las Vegas April 2012" border="0" alt="Kate Major and her Wiler Mountain Bike for Xterra Las Vegas April 2012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bPc1I-UHn20/T4sSjXd80HI/AAAAAAAAAT0/8vfTaMxrmcE/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="769"></a> <p><font size="5"><font size="6">I met up with Kim Friday morning to pre ride the bike and run course and we set off laughing about how we hadn't been mountain biking much (Kim at all) and how the pavement was great. Then we hit the start of the trails and laughing turned into fear laughing. The wind was so strong it was blowing us sideways, Kim hit the dirt/rocks within the first 10mins and after what seemed like hours later we finally got back to the pavement and rode back to the transition in silence. We met up for dinner and hoped it would rain to make the trails a little tacky and contemplated doing the sprint rather than the Championship distance! Rain came down, temps dropped into the 40's and right before transition closed the sun started to peak through and it got a little warmer</font>.</font> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Wu1QH1k8pk/T4sSj78PcWI/AAAAAAAAAT8/hymSFCSrVA4/s1600-h/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-44.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Water at Lake Las Vegas for Xterra April 2012" border="0" alt="Water at Lake Las Vegas for Xterra April 2012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hiv6iWL96I8/T4sSkQplGcI/AAAAAAAAAUE/Z-zWJwTpVVw/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="769"></a> <p><font size="6">Race day morning the water was a balmy 57f and I jumped in with a few minutes before the start and was totally numb within one minute. I warmed up during the swim but could not feel my hands or feet. I had a good swim though but getting my wetsuit off proved impossible as my hands would not function so I ended up sitting down to get it off! Beth Walsh and I came out of the water together and we were dueling it to see who could have the longest transition..I then put my gloves, arm warmers, socks, shoes, and Nathan hydration pack on and finally made it out of transition...</font> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dq44ij7R-20/T4sSlCQI4uI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Pu8wS62SH2k/s1600-h/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012.jpg54.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate Major Xterra Las Vegas in transition April 14, 2012" border="0" alt="Kate Major Xterra Las Vegas in transition April 14, 2012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CXLz4GydUEE/T4sSl74FHcI/AAAAAAAAAUU/elw0HVra4o0/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012.jpg5_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="772"></a> <p><font size="6">I won that one and caught up to her on the bike and we rode the first lap back and forth with each other. I dropped my chain and she slid out on one corner but made a terrific save and it looked like a burnout! I was surprised as to how much better I was riding compared to the day before and that it didn't seem that bad...a huge relief as I really began to enjoy it and had the best time. I was keen to do a third lap but headed back to transition for the run.</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OCc9idGWFMA/T4sSm16wipI/AAAAAAAAAUc/usVBm9DzAcI/s1600-h/kate-xterra-in-vegas-2012-24.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate Major at Xterra Las Vegas, April 14th, 2012 picture from Xterra" border="0" alt="Kate Major at Xterra Las Vegas, April 14th, 2012 picture from Xterra" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oseuPq49Qjg/T4sSn9x8HsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/AFVzqLo3taE/kate-xterra-in-vegas-2012-2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="682"></a> <p><font size="6">The first 2.5km was predominantly uphill on sandy/rocky trails and then dirt road and we hit the bike course and ran part of that (uphill), made a left turn and it looked like a wall of dirt/rock that was too steep to run the fest section until half way or so up, but I was feeling good running today and just loving the trails and scenery. I finished up 7th and was happy to have had a truly fun race and really enjoyed myself.</font> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZIdZAGL_7Eg/T4sSodPz34I/AAAAAAAAAUs/Q3sx5KZfa5o/s1600-h/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-34.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate Major on the run Xterra Las Vegas April 15, 2012 pic by Nils Nilsen" border="0" alt="Kate Major on the run Xterra Las Vegas April 15, 2012 pic by Nils Nilsen" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ERAPj9x6gWk/T4sSo0nfJzI/AAAAAAAAAU0/mRM4BlIEecQ/kate-in-xterra-Vegas-2012-3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="685"></a><font size="5"></font></p> <p><font size="5"> </font><font size="6">These athletes can really ride bikes and are pretty courteous when wanting to pass and the whole event has a great friendly, low key vibe to it. Kim finished up well and was also happy that he stayed on the bike except for one softer section where he face planted. We had dinner again and laughed about the whole experience and were thanking our lucky stars we were still in one piece and able to continue to train and race as we were thinking we would be like the walking wounded, stranded in the desert landscape of Las Vegas, left for dead or for the coyotes to have a feast upon our open, fleshy wounds....that is a bit far fetched but you get how relieved we both were! Kim's last words...'we'll have to do this again some time...it was fun!'.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bKTPWeHyRjc/T4uNno8nVyI/AAAAAAAAAVE/CPK_SMXfdc8/s1600-h/1204142109%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="1204142109" border="0" alt="1204142109" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--I2EPiDhbqs/T4uNoauhD6I/AAAAAAAAAVM/BDDC9g_GipA/1204142109_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="618" height="772"></a></p> <p><font size="6"> Thank you to Elle who found me a great home stay, to Wilier for providing me with my Mountain bike, Saucony, Profile Design, Rudy Project, Nathan, John Cobb Saddles, Sidi, Mikes Bikes, and Reynolds for supporting my racing both on and now..off road!!! To my coach who didn't blink an eye when I asked what he thought, he just said 'yip' do it! Jamie Whitmore for all her advice and my endless questions to her about Xterra, and her friendly energy. My friends who were pumped for me and encouraged me and Jeff who was just Jeff and supportive as always, my mum who was worried that I was going to hurt myself and my sister who gave her hard core support also, I really appreciate it all:)</font></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-75163895174064747782012-04-02T10:50:00.001-07:002012-04-02T10:58:06.401-07:00To Good Friends<p><font size="6">A recent visit from my good friend Sue Hutter and her daughter Chloe was just the boost I needed!</font> <p><font size="6">Since moving to NORCAL, it has been hard for me as I have really missed seeing my good friends from San Diego (even though Sue and Chloe are from CDA). So for them to visit us and have some good chats, belly laughs and just spend some fun time together gave me a well needed boost until I go to San Diego in June.</font> <p><font size="6">Good friends are what keep you going when you need a push, keep you in line when you are out, and are just fun to be with and fill you with love. I didn't realise how much I would miss my friends until we moved. I didn't realise how much I need the times during the week we got together to train, have dinner, surf, chat, paddle with, have BBQ'S, tennis tournaments and watch some of them become parents for the first time. </font> <p><font size="6">I ran with Chloe and Kaisley whilst Sue speed walked and took photos.We had coffee, they went into the city, explored the sites of San Francisco, we went to Stinson Beach and collected shells and chatted as Kaise chased the birds and ran through the water.</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NdBC9M9EuGk/T3nmxiofVTI/AAAAAAAAAS8/jDfNm8tEBnY/s1600-h/DSC01305-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Chloe and Kate at Stinson Beach" border="0" alt="Chloe and Kate at Stinson Beach" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5n4lDGrcwac/T3nmynTftMI/AAAAAAAAATE/sF9st0waIC8/DSC01305-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="684"></a> <p><font size="6">Sue mentioned suffering from migraines since starting this new workout program. I suggested it could be coming from being tight as she was doing some upper body work for the first time in a while.... so I flattened her on the floor and loosened her up like a good friend would.....she never mentioned it again??!!</font> <p><font size="6">So here is to good friends that fill your life with laughs, joy, kindness, and fun times. Remind yourself how fortunate you are to have your circle of friends and tell them every now and them how much you appreciate them....not too much though....you don't want to inflate their ego:):):)</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cIAs19mF1Yc/T3nmzNQNAlI/AAAAAAAAATM/GVDjAUXGNzg/s1600-h/DSC01308-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate and Kaise on Stinsom Beach March 2012" border="0" alt="Kate and Kaise on Stinsom Beach March 2012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-axn1HquVkMI/T3nmzpx-2uI/AAAAAAAAATU/D91_Nutxuos/DSC01308-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="684"></a> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-33824261854142478632012-03-30T20:29:00.002-07:002012-03-30T20:51:01.285-07:00Rev3 Costa Rica<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had been looking forward to this race since last year when REV3 confirmed it would be on for a second time.The warm weather, warm ocean water, waves, a chilled local atmosphere and a fun race was in my mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I knew some of my partners in crime( for surfing and racing ) were joining me again which made me even more excited. Bree Wee and Malaika Homo were headed south and were up for a little surfing adventure after our jobs were done racing on Sunday. Another friend of mine, Zody, had been in southern Costa Rica learning to surf the week before and had ventured up to see me and join in our post race surf and activities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know I seem to be talking more about the surfing than the racing but it is a place that makes the race. The locals, the course, the people around you and the feel you get from a place that can make the difference in your attitude about racing. I go to places to race that I like as I find I enjoy it and when you want to be in a job for a long time, you have to like where you work (for the most part). So I make it a priority to try to make this happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Surfing is my way of chilling out, having fun......kid type fun and enjoying it with others who feel the same and encouraging others to try it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Wednesday before, I packed my new Wilier Twinfoil TT bike, complete with Reynolds race wheels and wrapped her up like she was a wine glass as I had only been riding her (dont know why i call my bikes her and not he...i think i learnt that from my brother talking about his motorobikes and car!) for a few weeks so she is unscratched and still looks brand new so i did my best to keep it that way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I received my new Saucony race kit the day before I left, packed my Rudy Project sunnies, helmet and my Profile skin suit (I love this suit for two reasons-it means the water is warm and it is a great, fast fit). I decided to use my Engine clear goggles even though the sun was in our eyes coming into the turn around/exit, clear is good for me in any race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I arrived into Liberia after 9.5hrs of travel time, to share a ride with two athletes, Chris Forster and Michael Poole. It didn't occur to me until we reached our condo and the driver was having trouble getting our bags out of the van, that he had been drinking (out of a plastic water bottle!) on the drive from the airport.....I just thought he was thirsty!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The condo was just on the hill in the town of Tamarindo, about 15-20km from the race venue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had found a great BBQ place the night we arrived and had the best brisket taco's ever. So we went back several times during our stay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first day we walked down to the beach in Tamarindo and went for a swim.The boys did a little extra and the currents are a little tricky along the beach and the water was so choppy i lost sight of them (in between my body surfing sets) and next time i see them they are way out but managed to make their way back to shore safely and I was happy that i got some fun body surfing waves in as well as a swim!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We took a cab to the race venue so we could ride and run the course but the cab driver (the one who picked us up from the airport-now sober) didn't want to take our bikes in his van. After Chris convinced him in Spanish to include our bikes, we were able to get there, and get a ride and run in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Race day was an early start but meant we had more of the day for recreational activities and to pack my bike and stuff back up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got in for a quick warm up swim, then we lined up on the beach and took off at the sound of the horn. The swim start was lined with spectators all the way into the water which was cool, people yelling out, and cheering us all on. It was a 2 loop swim and we had to exit the water, run around a buoy on the sand and head back out. I felt fairly good going out but got in the wrong position and missed the first pack and swam with 2 girls on the second loop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I headed out onto the bike knowing to get my feet in my Sidi shoes ASAP as there is a dirt section and then the first climb within 30m of the mount line. I tried to get into a rhythm on the hills heading out of the resort but there was a bump on the way out that caused my handlebars to drop. Luckily they didn't fully loosen or I would have been in serious trouble but i still had to be careful not to put too much pressure on them. On the second lap the mobile support van came to my aid and I took the allen wrench on the fly, tightened it riding into a nice headwind, and then the van drove alongside me to get the tool back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had some trouble with an athlete drafting from me for a good portion of the second loop.....even when I had to slow up to tighten my handlebars! After telling her a few times it wasnt an ITU, draft legal race she suggested if we worked together we could catch them, I wondered which part of non ITU, non drafting race she didn't understand. I can't tolerate cheating of any kind so found this a little frustrating that because there were no race officials on the course, that cheating is acceptable. That is why I do non drafting races. It is your own individual effort, not a team event. It is also part of an honor system racing. Just because you are not in view of a race official, doesn't give you the right to cheat. Respect your fellow athletes and race your own race is a good way of saying it. Ok on with my story:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The run in Costa Rica starts along a sandy trail along the beach and through a little shanty town then out into a small neighbouring community and up the hill into the hotel and around the golf course, twice. There are many locals out cheering and kids helping at the aid stations and locals out with their hoses for a little extra cool down if you need it. I didn't ever get into a real grove in the run but did the best i could with how I felt and welcomed the fresh coconut water ( yes a real coconut with a hole cut out of the top and a straw placed in it ).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I then went and jumped in the ice baths they had for us at the finish line and my friend Zody decided to join me to cool off and make sure my entire body was cooled off!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a quick presentation and fresh tropical fruit platter that REV3 ordered for us all, Chris and I got our gear together and rode back to Tamarindo. Luckily for us we had a tail wind for the majority of the ride and it was good to spin out the legs even if it was about 95f....I was enjoying the heat so was quite happy. We were so hungry and thirsty we went straight to a local bar/restaurant and ordered the Big Burrito and a couple of icy cold beverages (beer and water for Chris, soda water and pepsi for me). It was just what we needed</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we got back to the condo, we packed our bikes and I went down and met Zody and Malaika at Kelly's Surf Shop and we hired a board each and headed out. The wind was a real strong off shore and somehow my board got picked up and hit me, fair smack in the middle of my nose/face and made my nose bleed! I shook it off and stayed out. It was great fun then we decided to head in and get a drink and a plate of nachos 'as big as your ass' .We ordered a half serving of these famous nachos between the 3 of us and just finished them....so a full serving would be interesting to see! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we sat out on the beach chatting and eating, a band came out to play and some people got up to dance and then the sun began to set. Chris came down to join us and have a beer. It was a beautiful ending to an eventful day. I felt so fortunate to be sitting there with friends, enjoying what I am able to do and thankful to be me.....then the mozzies came out! We did miss Bree Wee as she decided to stay at her accommodation and pack for her early flight home ( we forgive you Bree! ).</span></div>
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The walk down to town from the condo</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had one more day to play in the sun before heading back to Northern California and it was to be spent surfing of course! I slept in and walked down to check out the surf which was small but a nice shape. So i walked over to Kelly's Surf shop and the guy there said it would be better in an hour or so with the tide changing. He said if I wanted to check out a few other surf spots to check at the surf shop across the road as they take groups out everyday. I ran over but they had already left so I trotted back to Kelly's and told them and Monica, the surf instructor there said if I wanted to go later when she finished work, I could go with her and just put in for gas. I was in!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hired a board and went out for a couple of hours until she finished and caught some fun waves until Monica finished then she took myself and her friend to a couple of other local breaks. It was great to get to see some other local communities and meet some other locals too. Next time I will hire a car so I can go to these places again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michael left the night of the race and Chris the following night so I was by myself the last night and decided to go down to the beach and order dinner from the bar and make the most of being near the beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the morning before I left, I had to do a run along the beach and luckily for me it was low tide and I could run around the points and get to beaches that had pretty much no one on them and collect a couple of shells before saying good bye to Costa Rica....until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want to THANK my sponsors for their continued support and my family and friends for keeping me going with this sport of triathlon. Along with the good people of Costa Rica...what a beautiful country. See you at the races!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium'; font-size: small;"></span>Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-91130271367951688012012-03-30T16:35:00.000-07:002012-03-30T19:49:13.544-07:00Something for Everyone<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">' It's impossible' said Pride.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">' It's risky' said Experience.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">' It's pointless' said Reason.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">' Give it a try' whispered the Heart.</span></strong></div>Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-3355381477679294532012-03-15T12:53:00.001-07:002012-03-15T13:31:10.104-07:00Appreciation ~ Costa Rica<p><font size="6">As a quote from my friend Bree Wee “Bring on REV3 Costa Rica!” I am off to my first race of the year for 2012. My bags were packed with all things ready to race, including a few other things that makes this trip to Costa Rica one of my favorite spots! I can’t wait to have a few days in a tropical place like Costa Rica, get my feet under me, and see where my fitness is at for the start of the year. Ok, back to that packing thing. I must admit the first things I put into my bag were my boardies, flip flops, and surfing gear, except my board! I had to leave that at home because after all I was going down to Costa Rica to race the Rev3.</font></p> <p><font size="6">This year I am going to mix things up a bit, more about that later. I really like the Rev3 Series, the people that put on the event are really good, nice people. I think often times in this sport called “triathlon” that you feel as an athlete that after you pay your registration fee to race, that the race has a certain obligation to you. Whether that be a well marked course, help with knowing the course, places to stay, free swag, or whatever makes your race day feel special. </font></p> <p><font size="6">My idea of a good event is all of the above, but goes one step further. It has to do with how I can give back to the sport, which is a true “Appreciation” for putting on the events in the first place, for making me seem special, for allowing me to race my race, and no matter where I finish, to always being thankful to all the people behind the scenes. From the volunteers, to the supporters, to the people that deliver the water, to setting up the course, and for just loving this sport as much as I do, even though they may not be a “triathlete”. I really do delight in the little things that make up the big things, that is what makes my life good as I like to say. </font></p> <p><font size="6">As I was reading the newsletter about Costa Rica, I came upon one of the most well written articles I have seen for awhile. It was talking about how I feel so thought I would share a few highlights with you.</font></p> <p><font size="6">“A little reminder must be thrown into your thoughts as you are getting ready to race Costa Rica, I know it is a race, but it is so much more than that” is the meaning I got out of what Bree was saying. “50 years from now you want to remember “that time I raced in Costa Rica”. She is right, I am there to swim ~ bike ~ run, but I did as she did. I am packing my appetite for the local foods, walk the local paths, going to try to speak the local language, surf, look for treasures on the beach, catch a sunset not just from your hotel room, and most important to meet a new person or two. You will always remember the race, but most important you will remember the adventure. </font></p> <p><font size="6">You can read her full article here</font>: <a href="http://rev3tri.com/newsletter/2012/28-CostaRica/images/athleteGuide_low.pdf">http://rev3tri.com/newsletter/2012/28-CostaRica/images/athleteGuide_low.pdf</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_J203wDMyHw/T2JIw-yZvoI/AAAAAAAAAQo/eOWCYloqNR4/s1600-h/playa-conchal%252520Costa%252520Rica%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="playa-conchal Costa Rica" border="0" alt="playa-conchal Costa Rica" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0-I7P2EbSZ0/T2JIxbXHRqI/AAAAAAAAAQw/VePXekWAsEw/playa-conchal%252520Costa%252520Rica_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="735"></a><br></p> <p><font size="6">Cant wait to show you my treasures I find! See you at the races.</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-23585983564011454152012-03-05T21:51:00.001-08:002012-03-05T21:56:29.110-08:00Rattlesnakes and Kaise<p><font size="5">What a day we have had today! Seems that our daily doggy run this morning turned into quite an adventure and a dangerous one at that. Jeff and our dog, Kaise went out for a run this morning, as she was running the Trails at Lucas Valley, she came upon a rattlesnake and got bit from what we can tell on the side of her face! Jeff took her to the vet for antibiotics and a drip. From there we had to go to what I call the “ER Hospital” for dogs as she needed anti venom. </font><font size="4"><font size="5"> I went to see her tonight and one side of her face is all swollen and she was whimpering a bit. It made me want to cry for our poor Kaise, cause I couldn’t do a thing for her. Her levels were not so good after the anti venom so they gave her some more meds and it is working! She is all good now, but having to stay over night at the Doggy Hospital tonight. They are keeping an eye on her and we sure hope she can come home tomorrow.</font> </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ncqzYnSU_kg/T1Wl6tU4J7I/AAAAAAAAAQY/1yd4HAoRG-M/s1600-h/dont-tread-on-me%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dont-tread-on-me" border="0" alt="dont-tread-on-me" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GSoVOko0S4E/T1Wl8UgY9bI/AAAAAAAAAQg/njWYUk2nkPI/dont-tread-on-me_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="430"></a></p> <p><font size="5">It is so quite here at home without her. You wonder when you have to always take care of an animal, the walks and runs and feeding and cleaning up their poo…if you could just take a day off from it sometimes. Well tonight is our night off, and I can tell you Jeff and I don’t like it one bit. She is family to us and cant wait to go see her tomorrow to bring her home…keeping our fingers crossed!</font></p> <p><font size="5">Some good has come of this because I now know a bit more of rattlesnakes and what to do in case this ever happens again. Thought I would share them with you:</font></p> <p><font size="5">1. Carry the dog, do not let them walk.</font></p> <p><font size="5">2. Identify the snake if you can.</font></p> <p><font size="5">3. Get to the nearest emergency vet that has serum. Not all of them do.</font></p> <p><font size="5">4. Speed is of essence. The serum is stored frozen and has to be thawed. So call ahead and let them know you are coming.</font></p> <p><font size="5">5. The amount of venom delivered varies by the season, age, and size of the snake.</font></p> <p><font size="5">6. Remain calm.</font></p> <p><font size="5">Ok, that’s about all the excitement I can handle for the day. Off to bed for an early rise tomorrow…not sure if I will run the trails for awhile:)</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-57928960858922140662012-02-13T13:21:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:01:15.509-08:00Blog Talk Radio with Rev3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Ovon2TkIg/Tzl8N33dy5I/AAAAAAAAAPg/i_CzMNTFxLs/s1600/header-banner-blogtalk-2012-02-Andrew-Starykowicz-n-KateMajor-600x230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Ovon2TkIg/Tzl8N33dy5I/AAAAAAAAAPg/i_CzMNTFxLs/s640/header-banner-blogtalk-2012-02-Andrew-Starykowicz-n-KateMajor-600x230.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rev3tri#.Tzl7ltLU7wE.blogger">Revolution3 triathlon Online Radio by Rev3 Triathlon | Blog Talk Radio</a><br />
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I am excited for a bit of a talk with Rev3 for this coming year, honored to be involved in the series again this year, alot of great races, fun places, with good people! Tune in for a fun evening on Feb 15, 5:30 PST ...its going to be a cracker of a good time! Grab a cup of coffee, click on the link above will chat with you on Wednesday!Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-4523760194181492742012-02-01T20:52:00.001-08:002012-02-01T22:13:28.509-08:00All That You Do.<p><b><font size="5">Some important people in my life...a glimpse that helps me along the way.</font></b></p> <p><b><br><font size="5">Often times in the limelight of this sport called “Triathlon”, the people behind the scene are the ones you never hear about. The ones that are glue to our sport. They keep you balanced, they keep you laughing, they listen to you when you don’t want to talk about the sport, but other things of interest. They keep you focused, they keep you motivated, and most of all they have become important people in my life. </font></b></p><b><font size="4"> <p><br><font size="5">So I think it is fitting that sometimes along the way I need to make sure to say “Thank You”, and there is no better time then now.</font></p> <p><br><font size="5">1. Siri Lindley, for bringing back the enthusiasm to my training and racing. One of her favorite quotes, that hits home with me is “ There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Thank you Siri for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LwNe0Mx-pyY/TyoWbZyd3wI/AAAAAAAAANQ/7l4Vq9KtRaY/s1600-h/DSC05033-1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC05033-1" border="0" alt="DSC05033-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pZeYlkeoJCw/TyoWcGj_l8I/AAAAAAAAANY/KaFaPPXQefY/DSC05033-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432"></a><br><font size="5">2. Simone Wolowiec, for being my matey from Australia, from the first day i met her, to her wonderful hands on being my personal massage therapist, to always looking out for me and offering her magic whenever i needed it. For the kind words, for being so good for my body and soul, for the dinners and laughs and trust like it should be. Her constant smile is and always will be a reflection that I can always see with my eyes during my days. Thank you Sim for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z9tYg-ZUdiA/TyoWeIp3EII/AAAAAAAAANg/-3R63rWWQ0k/s1600-h/DSC04682-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC04682-1" border="0" alt="DSC04682-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rzPI_clxHh8/TyoWfJP2jlI/AAAAAAAAANo/r0CJhDY7Ci8/DSC04682-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="429"></a></p> <p><br><font size="5">3. Sumi Gross who is a old soul that I met at a bike shop in San Diego. She is an awesome surfer chick that loves to surf the Fiji reef breaks. She would take me surfing when ever I needed a break from training, mix it up for me, as I like to do. She has this nickname for me, calls me Scrappy as I will go for just about any wave and she won’t ride anything but her short board:) A dog lover after my own heart as well. Thank you Sumi for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uqQqTuOIuGw/TyoWfoLb7xI/AAAAAAAAANw/ZyG-wrE80zs/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252823%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (23)" border="0" alt="photo (23)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QP4HFLSofNc/TyoWf60PNSI/AAAAAAAAAN4/xxuU4H2Kstw/photo%252520%25252823%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="430"></a></p> <p><br><font size="5">4. Nina and Dana, a couple that I stayed with a lot in 2011 whilst training in LA a couple of days a week. I can’t say enough about both of them. They opened up their home to me so I could stay in LA and train with Siri and we became good friends. Dana is an awesome cook and makes a killer smoked anything on the bbq. They love to do everything and have shown me what it is to have a good balance in life. Thank you Nina and Dana for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v3tMGLCo7Qc/TyopfHYxqGI/AAAAAAAAAPA/wI3UAAC1U0I/s1600-h/nina%252520and%252520dana.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="nina and dana" border="0" alt="nina and dana" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3TYmzyA17-I/TyoWiTd_88I/AAAAAAAAAPI/l5vWQnx7DPU/nina%252520and%252520dana_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="6" height="6"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8aX4_ZFAQxU/Tyopg-wWj0I/AAAAAAAAAPM/vH3wLxqGPog/s1600-h/nina%252520and%252520dana2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nina and Dana" border="0" alt="Nina and Dana" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Gqr4_mBxfm4/TyophxP7qPI/AAAAAAAAAPU/toW8q2spCCA/nina%252520and%252520dana2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><br><font size="5">5. Sue Hutter, for your kindness, continuous support, always listening with an open ear, for cheering me on, taking pictures, and just good genuine friendship. She would rather be behind the scene then in front, but still managed to snag this pose from her! Thank you Sue for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--3fr0ECrlTQ/TyoWkmfSGFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/IlMU2NSvuLc/s1600-h/DSC02293-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC02293-1" border="0" alt="DSC02293-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A80mF78ashE/TyoWl8jMzeI/AAAAAAAAAOY/WHw7jJnj-dA/DSC02293-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="429"></a></p> <p><br><font size="5">6. Gracie, I met at the Boys and Girls Swim Club in Solana Beach. She is an awesome swimmer and just an all around genuine nice, kind hearted person. We would swim together some times...when I needed a good swim pace and she was doing a recovery swim! Gracie gave me the idea that I should and could do something to help raise money for the Aussie Flood victims last year. Gracie is a lover of life, surfing, paddling, cycling, camping, and SUP. Thank you Gracie for 2011.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PACov-rk2CM/TyoWmdbttOI/AAAAAAAAAOg/pwZgmrkZbWQ/s1600-h/gracie%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="gracie" border="0" alt="gracie" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n7CjUhuN4WA/TyoWm3kx1xI/AAAAAAAAAOo/0Wsc-ml5x8M/gracie_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="484"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="5">7. Susan Zode, a funny lady I had the pleasure to meet whilst I was coaching at a Multisport camp in Coeur d Alene . I knew right away we would become fast friends, as she had my sense of humor and laughed at the dumbest things just like me! A bit of curly head on her top, a good spirit she has about her, and is always up for an adventure. Thank you Zodes for 2011.</font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N1h0PSdEfxE/TyoWnzESi6I/AAAAAAAAAOw/NAO2AZ0lHbg/s1600-h/kate%252520and%252520zodes%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="kate and zodes" border="0" alt="kate and zodes" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4zfHg4qwUnc/TyoWpES_rWI/AAAAAAAAAO4/k1y2m87lOpM/kate%252520and%252520zodes_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="482"></a></p> <p><br><font size="5">Thank you is such a small word that really is not used enough, but I really want to say “Thank You” to all those people, in my life who changed it for the better by a word, a gift, or most important, “An Example”.</font></p> <p><br></font><font size="5">Here is to a great 2012!!</font></b></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-31290879536157632822012-01-19T19:51:00.001-08:002012-01-19T21:23:06.250-08:00"Time" for 2012<b> </b><br />
<b>Its been a great off season for me! A lot of mountain biking, a lot of family time, a wedding, a bit of travel, a lot of laughs with great company and now my engine is fully charged. </b><br />
<b>I am lucky to have found balance in my life with the renewed desire to always seek new adventures and remember how lucky I am in doing this sport that I luv so much. So here is to a new season with new goals, new races, familiar places, and familiar faces. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Each year when the race season is upon me, I realise that this thing called "Time" has a wonderful way of showing me what really matters. To me it is health, happiness, family, friends, and doing this sport that I luv...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-82405575443757168022011-12-12T19:11:00.001-08:002011-12-12T19:11:06.787-08:00My Day…during off season.<p><font size="3">Seems that the year is coming to an end rather fast. A lot has happened this past year for me which is all good! I raced the Rev3 Series to mix things up and keep things interesting…we got a dog…my twin sister is pregnant again…and we moved to San Francisco. It was a year of adventures, just what I like but will admit I also was a bit nervous about. But it worked out just fine! I had a lot of positive encouragement from good friends and family and for that I am forever grateful. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I won the Rev3 Series, figured out how to take care of a dog, have made new friends in San Fran, played in my first snow, and am just grateful that I can do what I luv! Being a professional athlete does have its ups and downs, but I would say so does any job. Its all in how your going to do your job that makes it worthwhile. I thought perhaps for a short good read, I would give you an insight to my daily life. It goes a bit like this:</font></p> <p><font size="3">So a day in the life of moi....<br>5.45-7am swim practise<br>home for breakfast,check emails and reading more details for Crocodile Trophy<br>9.15-11.45am ride<br>11.50-12.20pm run with kaise<br>lunch and shower<br>1.15pm head to city for a massage at 2<br>2-3.45pm massage/body work<br>walk to car and head to Mill Valley for hair cut at 4.30pm<br>5.15pm leave hair dresser and drive towards home to Trader Joes to get some food to cook for dinner(stuck in peak hour traffic!)<br>home and cooking dinner whilst talking to my sister on Skype and feed kaise<br>ate dinner<br>took kaise for a walk<br>watching Up All Night,The Middle and Modern Family(taping them so can watch one after the other!)<br>i could go to sleep right now!<br>got another long day tomorrow.another early swim, then run kaise, then i have to train a couple of people from Jeff’s club from 12noon on!</font></p><font size="3"> <p><br>And I wouldn’t change a thing about it…cause it makes me feel like I am on top of the world…except for the traffic:)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CA1GQT59k_4/TubCR1q-WMI/AAAAAAAAAJo/yLpJrRcxX54/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252822%252529-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (22)-1" border="0" alt="photo (22)-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z-whn5y0vtI/TubCSTjVIpI/AAAAAAAAAJw/JS1tCXLchIw/photo%252520%25252822%252529-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="446"></a></font></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-74108048468237233572011-12-07T09:22:00.001-08:002011-12-07T10:35:38.124-08:00A Trip to Tahoe<p>First trip to the snow,Tahoe!<br>Our friends, Tyler and Johnny invited Jeff and I to their cabin in Tahoe for the weekend a few weeks ago and we accepted. We have never really been to the snow and were so excited at the possibility of seeing our first proper snowfall!<br>Tyler said not to get our hopes up, as it usually doesn’t snow much at this time of year but I was checking the weather report every day for the area and it said there was a good chance for snow showers. Snow showers just means snow fall, no rain involved as I learnt the lingo!<br>As time got closer Tyler mentioned that a couple of her friends were joining us and that we would stop along the way to do a run. I put two and two together and figured out the friends joining us were her North Face 50 miler training buddies and that this was to be a training weekend!<br>After a class at Velo SF in the morning we both raced home, got our gear packed and I met Tyler and Adam at her place and we piled in Johnny’s truck (dogs in the back) and headed for Auburn (en route to Tahoe) to pick up Matt and to run along part of the Western States 100 mile trail race trail.<br>Adam said he knew where to run so we parked, got changed, got a couple of the dogs out that Tyler was looking after and headed out. We made our way through various trails, crossing streams, up and down hills, over bridges and got to a town and decided to turn around and head back before dark. After we all found a tree to hide behind to go to the bathroom, I happened to pick an area full of prickly bush. The prickles attached themselves to the inside of my shorts. I spent the next few minutes delicately pulling them off before we took off or they could have caused some serious problems!<br> Shortly after I grabbed a bit of a bar out of the back of my Nathan Speed 2 hydration belt and did a stupid thing….looked down at the bar to see which piece to eat first….and within the blink of an eye….ate dirt! Luckily my belt softened the blow and I did a pretty good body roll and was up again and running, very quickly! A little embarrassing…<br>We managed to get back right before dark thanks to Tyler picking up the pace in the last couple of miles with myself and one of the dogs bringing up the rear with our tongues hanging out. We quickly changed as it was pretty chilly out, piled in the car and headed for their favorite and famous pit stop in Auburn. Their pies are from near and far but we ordered our non-pie meals, inhaled them and took off for the last leg of our journey to Tahoe.</p> <p><br>Matt plugged his IPOD in and a little karaoke began with him singing Bonnie Tyler’s "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and Tyler with" I’m Sexy and I Know It". Adam stayed out of it and concentrated on driving and I was backup vocals.<br>As we got closer to Tahoe there was snow on the side of the roads and a ski field was lit up and people were skiing at night. Now I’m getting excited and asking every question I can think of to do with the snow…not quite sure if Adam sped up or not but we happened to get to Tyler’s place relatively quickly.<br>We arrived at the house and jumped out of the truck onto….snow!!! Yes….snow!!! After we got all the gear in, Jeff and Kaise arrived and we got settled in the house and Kaise got familiar with the feeling of snow under her paws, which she seemed to love.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_dniWfmarx8/Tt-gwkfPjlI/AAAAAAAAAIw/b7c-zxrSmrw/s512/photo%252520%25252815%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (15)" border="0" alt="photo (15)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rE2EaE_NtOw/Tt-gyuCfb0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/7PLHsNItlfE/s512/photo%252520%25252815%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="484"></a><br>Jeff and I drove to the store later that night and it began to snow. I had to stand there and see what it felt like to have a snowflake (or many) hit my face…pretty cool. And then watch it land and stay on my North Face 800 down jacket (this thing is awesome!) and beanie and then even more dorkie…brush it off! </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zuQaZM4r1l8/Tt-gzUOXK3I/AAAAAAAAAI4/hs2mzeVkvnA/s512/photo%252520%25252817%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (17)" border="0" alt="photo (17)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rSwGUcZWjDI/Tt-g0S_t8PI/AAAAAAAAAI8/si5JJ1jWCAc/s512/photo%252520%25252817%252529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484"></a><br>Driving in it was fun too but I took it easy. I felt like the police woman from Police Academy who sang as she drove and had the really soft voice, I was going that slow.<br>I must admit I probably looked funny walking too as I wasn’t quite sure if it would be slippery and I would slip like they do in the movies but once I got the feel of it I lost the funky walk.<br>I said to Tyler " if it is snowing in the morning and I’m not up, Come and wake me up". I was just that excited!<br>When I woke up, I pulled the curtains back to see…sure enough there was a good dumping of snow overnight so I woke Jeff and Kaise up and we got dressed and went outside. We went for a walk and played in it and Kaise came back and was rolling around in the snow and being really playful, as was I.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T0WdhD4Q04c/Tt-g1dxFC5I/AAAAAAAAAJA/2LhO_BHBUJg/s512/photo%252520%25252818%252529%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (18)" border="0" alt="photo (18)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U-VuBsnCdHE/Tt-g2NoW4HI/AAAAAAAAAJE/JU1aHgeu5o4/s512/photo%252520%25252818%252529_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="407"></a><br>Due to the snow Tyler, Matt, and Adam were going to run on the treadmills at the gym but I wanted to try running in the snow as it was deep enough and not slippery. I also wanted to try out my new Saucony Razor’s 2.0 that are waterproof! They were awesome, feet were dry!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kg1665CsxOA/Tt-x9sJVKUI/AAAAAAAAAJY/G7ESZRnirrY/s512/saucony%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="saucony" border="0" alt="saucony" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B14oueud4TY/Tt-x-Mx_7OI/AAAAAAAAAJg/8RWkcufsC7k/s512/saucony_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="335"></a><br>I told Tyler and the boys and they decided to join me. So we headed off with the dogs on a trail to town to say hi to Jeff who was in the local pub watching the Bengals play. It was awesome! The trails were up to knee deep in soft, fluffy snow and the dogs were running off in every which direction together having a blast. I was running along with a huge smile on my face….so this is what running in the snow is like!<br>Jeff had made many friends in the time he was at the bar and finally called me many hours later to pick him up. We had gone to get buffed and a soak in the hot tub and picked him up on the way back. <br>After some food we all felt better and went back to the cabin to chill out in front of the fire, snow still lightly falling. I had to stare out the window of our room at the snow sitting on the trees then falling off when it got too heavy…only something I had ever seen in a movie and now I was seeing it for myself. So beautiful!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ld4PfHTsT8E/Tt-g3cDLTQI/AAAAAAAAAJI/hTr8GBVeN9Q/s512/photo%252520%25252813%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (13)" border="0" alt="photo (13)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LVHEt3Fofa8/Tt-g423Sy-I/AAAAAAAAAJM/_ijJrcRzgrc/s512/photo%252520%25252813%252529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="484"></a><br>The next morning Jeff and I took Kaise and the other dogs for a walk on the trail we had ran the day before as we had to leave for Jeff to get back to work. The snow was still thick but the roads had iced up a little bit so we had to be careful where we walked as we had a couple of slippery incidents! And so did the dogs which was pretty funny to watch. I decided I better make my first snow angel before the snow disappeared but had to be quick about it as I didn’t want my pants to get wet and freeze my butt off (although that could be a good thing!). I gave Jeff my phone to take a photo and quickly laid down on the snow and started my snow angel. Within seconds the dogs came running over to me, thinking I had fallen and needed help or at least a lick on the face and pinned me down. Next time we go to the snow I will attempt a better looking snow angel but I will always remember my first one!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hIGIfIoKjWY/Tt-g543qqVI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/oworqq8F8VI/s512/photo%252520%25252819%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (19)" border="0" alt="photo (19)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yxQNkmBUtOE/Tt-g7EKNuaI/AAAAAAAAAJU/lNdTF1qNQaM/s512/photo%252520%25252819%252529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="484"></a><br>We packed the car and headed home whilst Tyler, Matt and Adam were going to run some more of the Western States Trail in preparation for their North Face 50mile race on their way home later in the day when it warmed up.<br>It was such a fun and relaxing weekend away and I now have a list of activities/sports I will do next time I am in the snow when there is enough snow. I now have another bucket list: XC ski, skate ski, snow shoe, ski, snowboard, toboggan, and go tubing!<br>A weekend of firsts for me- first time running part of the Western States trail, first time to Tahoe, first time walking/running/driving in the snow and first time in a hot tub outside when it is snowing! There are probably others I have forgotten about but you get the idea.<br>I am so happy I discovered and felt "Snow", fun to play in and beautiful to watch. Not to bad for a warm weathered girl for my first adventure in the snow... </p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416137549496936938.post-70045933284074846422011-10-29T08:14:00.001-07:002011-10-29T08:16:29.687-07:00My First Week in San Francisco<p><font size="4">I have been in San Francisco for five days and have only managed to get lost once out riding and once driving so that is pretty good for me! I have joined in with a couple of different masters squads and everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.</font> <p><font size="4">There is a little different feel up here compared to San Diego, but I can't find the words yet to describe it. Just thing it will take some getting used to.</font> <p><font size="4">It has been great to have Tyler Stewart and her husband Johnny show us around a little. We jumped on trampolines at House of Air, and she also had me join in a Computrainer class at Velo SF in the city. It </font><font size="4">is nice to have new training grounds to explore and people to meet but I do miss my friends in San Diego and surfing/paddling. I know I can do it up here but it is a little to cold for this warm blooded animal! I know I will make friends up here but just have to give it time...it's only been five days and I haven't been out much to socialize as I have been unpacking.</font> <p><font size="4">Kaisley is loving the trails up here and has been great during the entire move. She particularly likes the neighborhood cats, deer, rabbits, and squirrels.</font> <p><font size="4">Jeff is busy with his new job and is loving it which is great to see. So back to my weekend chores of unpacking a few more boxes, and eager for anyone who wants to come visit us!! I promise to have the spare bedroom ready!</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aVdlmuQpDJ8/TqwYNjdY4zI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GcGC2ghrkhA/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252811%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (11)" border="0" alt="photo (11)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-46J7UG276qo/TqwYOTomvzI/AAAAAAAAAHU/y20ZUV14a00/photo%252520%25252811%252529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="484"></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F8t8dPoaEOw/TqwYO_SgJKI/AAAAAAAAAHY/CiMGygB4-jo/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252812%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo (12)" border="0" alt="photo (12)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PHPpSJ3lhR4/TqwYPoSKtkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/zFyIkkLkvT4/photo%252520%25252812%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="484"></a></p> <p><font size="3">These are some of the trails that I have found to run on by our house.</font></p> Kate Majorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454055114471778259noreply@blogger.com