Lifesport Camp Day 2 was another successful training day en route to my next adventure. It left me feeling like I actually worked a full time job all day long and now I am ready for a sunset... The only problem is... the sun does not settle here in Victoria till well after 9pm! I am used to a 6:15pm sunset. Trying to fall asleep with plenty of daylight is a bit challenging-even after a full day of training!

We began our day with a 20 person run around Thetis Lake. It made me feel like I was in a pack of Kenyans running in search of something. To say I liked it would be an understatement, it was a run I could easily run everyday, maybe even a few times a day. From our base it was off on a ride over the river and through the woods...something like that. Cycling up and down hills, having so many loops, and little towns to ride through had this Kona girl very directionally challenged.

Everything beautiful was surrounding me and today it was easy to see beauty in something other than beaches and palm trees. I still pinch myself this is my job!! This trip my focus is on really working hard and making each training session count... By the time our ride was over a few hour nap sounded perfect! However, it was a few minute sit with some food then off to the pool.

Of course I have no photo of the pool. I just could not bring myself to do it. Looking at that LONG meter pool just scares everything out of me. Not sure why I can not shake this pool-fear, it just keeps lingering. I stood at the edge (after looking at the workout and nearly shaking out of my skin), and just dove in. It really was like one of those moments where you just have to go or you will talk yourself out of it.

After 5200 meters I attempted to crawl out only for coach to knock me back in. It was a sorry sight watching me drag myself out of the pool. It's not so much the pace today that got me as it was the volume. When you come from short course yards, roughing around 3,000 of them 3x a week, to 5,000-6,000 meters everyday of the week here in Canada it's a little wake up call or slap in the face-your pick. During the last of the 600's I honestly lost count of 6 loops. I was looking for fish or a shark-anything to keep me focused. NOTE TO SELF: Learn to focus on LONG swims. I think if I could have followed feet it may have helped or if my body wasn't so used to jumping out of a pool after 3000 yards.

In any case, when I hit survival mode I tried to dig a little more knowing it would be a good thing even if the "little more" was only a second faster or focusing a minute longer... I was happy when all meters were swam and done!

Dinner is now done, smoothie is pau, and I feel like sleeping-but I think there is still another 3 hours of sunshine to keep me awake! Tomorrow is a ride with some hills, a lake swim with a wetsuit (you know I LOVE those), then a solo run to explore my homestay's neighborhood! I can hardly wait!

Happy Training!
Swim more!

PS: For more Vancouver Half recap read here


.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

I have a couple FAVORITES when it comes to training camps... for starters, the recovery! Today was DAY ONE of our training camp. To kick it off we got to recover from yesterdays half ironman. A nice swim in the lake to flush around some lactic acid and get the blood flowing. I find an easy swim, bike, or run the day after really helps speed recovery faster than doing nothing.

The most fun recovery however, is a visit to PISE!! Its Canada's Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (the same place we did that sweat test). It's a well known fact that a hard effort in training or racing tears down the muscles (like a little injury). Once the body undergoes this stress it's important to help speed the recovery so we can do it all over again-better. The healing process requires increased blood flow into the area of an injury to support the process of cellular growth. We can just wait for the cells to heal or we can GET COLD & GET HOT!

For our recovery we hit the cold/hot tubs at PISE.

VERY cold, 2 minutes of near-freezing (actually a good 50-60* will work just fine). It was pretty challenging to keep the muscles relaxed while sitting in ice water. Janet turned white then blue...

The boys were struggling too...

Then it was out of the cold tub and into the HOT TUB! This was perfect. 2 minutes of VERY hot water. You could feel the blood just flowing through your veins and waking up all the junk that was hanging out making the legs feel like bricks!

Then a shower to circulate the blood some more... after that...repeat! Yes, we went 3 rounds of cold-hot-cold. ALWAYS end on COLD!

It was pretty fun switching tubs and showers for 30 minutes. I wish I had this available at home! After the hot/cold it was time for some stretch (we are reading the red info about it), wish I could tell you more but I had brain freeze and forgot the benefits of stretch therapy... maybe if you click the photo and zoom in you can read for yourself...

AND if recovery doesn't get any better... I am once again totally blessed to be hosted by the Regensburg family!! Every time I think I can cook Marsha makes me re-think my kitchen skills. Tonight's dinner was once again caught by Bruce... I could get used to this!

Most of us don't have a million dollar facility like PISE and gourmet chefs to help us recover, but we can try. Team mate Lisa invented a GREAT way to mimic the HOT/COLD baths (read to the bottom of her post to see the photo how she set it up). She uses her own tub for the hot water (continue filling it HOT) and bought a giant Rubbermaid tub to fill with ice and water!! In your very own bathroom you can go cold-hot-cold!!

As for the fine meals... You're on your own unless Bruce and Marsha invite you over! Tomorrow is back in the training game with a run-bike-swim...

Happy recovery!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

The highlight of the Vancouver Half Ironman for me was Jill Savege cheering, "Go Bree". Let me give you a quick story... the very first triathlon I saw in real life she won. She was so much fun to watch that I just knew I had to race a triathlon. After she won I begged for an autograph and foto with her. It was her that inspired me to start this whole triathlon thing. When I heard her cheer my name I almost ran to shake her hand rather than keep on course...
I think it's people like her in our sport that make people like me want to do something and become something in this life...
Vancouver Half Ironman is a must-do-race! I just love it, and that says a lot coming from someone who is far from a city person and not a fan of cold water person. This place is beautiful!! I've got a swim to go do so this will be short...

The moment I got in the water I felt happy to be racing yet everything hurt. Maybe the lack of sleep, the two 5 hour delays, who knows. The only thing I did know was that this is the second half of my season and I HAVE to make it better than the first half. I lost the pack I wanted to be with so played that game 20/20 to get myself back in the groove. It was enough to catch me up to one of the pro men who then became my feet-to-follow. Thanks to him I was able to get out of the water first and off on the bike before the other girls.

My lead was so short. Within moments my team mate Magali Tissyre took control and never looked back. She is the woman with the 4:12, the fastest 2009 recorded womans half ironman time. Oh I tried to hunt her down... it was not happening. Thankfully some much needed confidence had returned and my passion for sport was at an all time high. I was able to push on depsite not making any grounds. My legs felt very heavy but I've learned that when you have a strong mind the body stays strong despite the physical pain.

Once into transition it was evident my tires slow leak was now a "faster leak". That actually made me really relieved, perhaps it wasn't so much my legs and that gave me some hope that I would be able to run and hold my $h!t together as coach told me to do. I took off and actually felt zippy! I knew my bike was one of the best bikes in our sport to run off and it proved true, also having a solid nutrition plan helped heaps going into the run.

I just kept feeling better and better as the run went on. Maybe it was because K-Swiss and Splish let me race in a swim suit like I love to rather than bike shorts, maybe the track workout, maybe this or that, all I knew was that I felt like I was running and it made me really happy. I was not making any grounds on Magali but I was holding off the other women. With about 3 (I think) miles to go I asked the cheering Linsey Corbin how much longer, it was then that I felt ready to see a finish line.

The day ended with so many good moments. I finally broke a 4:30 and set my new PR to 4:23, and I finally ran off the bike better than I have all year with a new 1:22 off-the-bike run split, and I managed to take 2nd female overall and a pay day for some fun at the office. It hurt so good being able to hold on and fight to the finish. It felt so good to race and enjoy racing. And it was such an honor to race against such great athletes and amongst such a fun crowd of supporters!

A couple fotos:

My home stay mom and her hero "Jasper Blake". Loving the Blue Seventy! Kinda feels like swimming naked...

A bald Eagle that came to visit! This was spectacular!

Local sea shells...

My bike-still holding Kainoa's hula girl...

Team mates Linsey, Janet, and I holding the champ (Magali)!

One of my local Canada friends, Rick, who made my special recovery cookies and brought them to me!! Way too cool, thanks Rick!!

My room at my home stay. This room belongs to Ben, I steal it every year. This year I added 5 photos to his wall-of-mess... zoom in and you can tell the ones that are mine...

Local Canada friend and supporter...

Fresh from Angela's garden. She was so excited to have our annual carbo-load party that we forgot to make any carbs! It was fresh fish, 5 kinds of salads, and I was scared. 15 minutes later Jeff ran to the store and made us some pasta!

At the awards with some local friends...

Pro podium...

Headed to the fairy with the Regensburgs. Corbin, Poulsen, and I. Linsey taught us how to play suduko...I finally learned!

The beach...

On the podium with the 2nd place male, I think he looks REALLY scared of me... I promise I don't bite...

BIG Mahalo's to my incredible supporters for making my dream job reality! Trakkers, Argon 18, K-Swiss, Bike Works, Lifesport & Coach Paul, Cerasport, Splish, Blue Seventy, Johnson & Blanton, the Schott family, Healing Hands massage, Kona Aquatics, and of course Kainoa, my community, family, friends, and training partners!

Vancouver Race Results

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

For crying out loud, no matter how hard Coach and I try to get me on a reasonable flight it always ends up being a little on the LONG side. At least this time around it was really fun and I wasn't solo. Forget arriving yesterday, I made it about 8.5 hours later than expected-today, BUT I made it and so did my bike, wetsuit, and goggles, you get the point...


In a long line at the Kona airport I was rescued by some local homeboys (actually Kohala boys). The bike, a huge bag of stuff for the training camp, me and the carry on patiently awaiting the 4.5 hour delay were saved by some incredibly hilarious company, "The Kohala boys heading to Alaska". They helped me lug all that luggage, calm me about the delay and keep the "aloha" in me flowing despite the fact I was soon leaving the island. Knowing we would not be leaving anytime soon we load up in a friend of a friends pick up truck and head to The Harbor House (for schooners of course)... just kidding, it was for the fish.


The boys made sure to feed me well, show me all the boats, and remind me that this trip will zoom by and before long I will be back on the rock-or a boat (we already have a fishing trip planned). Kona to Seattle was the usual hop-skip-jump over the Pacific. The only difference was we passed the airplane food and ate Glens musubi's (I'm still not convinced he made them himself)! Nothing like a little island flavor to go along with pineapple juice! Good company made it fly by and just as I finally doze off to sleep they are waking me up-2am landing!


From there it was a good 5 hours in the airport with the Kohala boys. They were cracking me up with their excitement to go fishing in Alaska, I'm sure I looked a little insane with my excitment to race a triathlon in Canada! Every 10 minutes I would just about fall asleep only to wake with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th wind. Each time I woke up I was covered in a jacket or beach towel, I'm telling you I was spoiled rotten by the Kohala crew. For the life of me I could barely stay awake, carry my own bag, or keep myself safe for over 5 hours in the Seattle Airport-those boys were angels for sure!


Eventually all fun airport adventures come to an end and the Kohala crew boarded a flight to Alaska and me to Vancouver! I slept the ENTIRE Seattle-Vancouver flight, probably a solid 3hrs, Linsey Corbin told me it was only 45 minutes...darn it! My incredible Vancouver momma (Angela James) rescued me and before too long I was passed out in a warm bed...only to be awoken for a run Coach had me do.


Run views in Vancouver are nothing short of spectacular. It looks like somebody hand painted this place, it's unreal. After the run I could not help but spend a few minutes in the grass, under a giant tree, over looking the ocean. It was magnificant! I love running here...


From there it was a pro-press conference. Catching up with my team mates and the other athletes was a cause for celebration, they are incredible people. When my turn came to answer the "Why do you enjoy racing in the Vancouver Half Ironman", I had to respond with, "I don't come for this race, putting on a wetsuit is not fun for this bikini lover, I come for the people", I meant that, sort of. The team, the coaches, this entire little city is just full of amazing people, I think some Aloha was once brought to this place and it just never wore off. OF COURSE I do love the race too, it is beautiful, challenging, and the competition is nothing shy of intense. I'm pretty sure this one will stick on the race schedule for MANY years...


This will be my 3rd time racing this event. Year one-flatted out and ended up in a cop car, year 2, rode right off course chasing the lead motorcyclist, year 3... I will let you know Sunday (or Monday)...


Till then, sending hugs from beautiful Vancouver.
.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

I confess, this is a DREAM job and one I love and adore! In 4 minutes it is BLAST off to the airport, then Canada. Canada feels a lot like a second home as I simply love Ang and her crew that have been my "Canadian family" for the last 3 years. I arrive at midnight, will be to her home about 2am, and her only request was to "make myself at home". A 2am wake up call by the girl from Hawaii still has her happy to have me!

Friday will be a little run and meeting up with my team. Then the dinner and all that jazz. From there the weekend will bloom into the Vancouver 1/2 Ironman. Part of me is deeply excited to race again! This is "round 2". The first round started off uglier than hoped for so just finishing with a respectable day will be a giant step in the right direction and much needed to get the fire lit under my bum again!

After the race it is a camp, not the fun ones with tents and marshmello roasting, it is training with the Lifesport gang. I am so thrilled to have a handful of training partners to help me put some pieces of my tri-life back in order and whoop me in shape. Like I said, this is an absolute dream job that I am so greatful to have been given this opportunity!

BUT there is the hard part... leaving my Kainoa. I miss him already. Took him to school with a little note in his pocket. Wiped the tears and told myself "It's ONLY 10 days".

I love you son!
Mommy!

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Reading the open water tip #472. Look at the pattern on the ocean floor, you can almost line yourself up with sand ripples if they run parallel to the shore and in the direction you are swimming of course. It really makes sighting so much easier & sure beats that black line on pool bottoms!

This post is for all the book nerds that might be in search for something to add to that summer reading list, I thought I'd share mine...

In Defense of Food: I have read this book countless times when I started to seek out my nutrition degree, I think it sums up everything and anything food, and the best advice in the book, "Eat food, mostly plants, and not too much".

The Blue Zones: This is my newest book, I got it when a friend of mine from Costa Rica rubbed it in my face that CR earned the "Happiest country in the world" award, they had less depression and all that other stuff than anywhere else. Australia was 3rd, United States was 114 in case you are curious. Within the 50 United States Hawaii was 2nd least depressed, Florida didn't even make top 10, and Virginia was the happiest. Michigan was the most obese, Cally had the slimmest Americans. Anyways, the book isn't about all that, it just took the 4 Healthiest places in the world and researched these peoples way of life to see what it is that keeps them living into their 100's and smiling every day... I like the book so far, especially reading about my second home (Costa Rica!!).

The Alchemist: Brooke recommend this one to me 2 weeks ago and I read it in 2 days. Its a fast read about a boy in search of his treasure in this world and in the end comes to find it was under his nose all along, but he discovers we have to chase our dreams to realize what they even are in the first place... something like that. Pretty good book if you are lacking motivation in your life to get up and do something...

Exploring Lost Hawaii: When I taught at Kahakai part of my job was teaching "Hawaiiana" and I knew NOTHING... then they hooked me up with a lot of books on the islands and I learned some stuff, I still love finding more island secrets, this is a cool newer one on the shelves...

The Power of a Positive Mom: I read this book when I got pregnant, I am rereading it this summer now that Kainoa is practically an adult! It's from a Christian author so it has a lot of God-loving stuff in it. If you are a mom I reccomend it, it's a good one for sure!

Ocean Star: I'm half way through this book (yes, I start a few books at once, BUT I ALWAYS finish them!) This book lured me in because it was a girls love of the ocean that saves her from a pretty nasty life-I'll save the details, (true story book). It's a good read if you want to hear how someone makes it through a bad patch of life and finds something better all because she didn't give up... I made my sister Brooke read it, and she is NOT a reader, I'm the book nerd of the family, even she likes it!

Happy Reading!!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

I wish I had photos of Hapuna, forgot the camera batteries. This one is more cool anyways, Pat took it. Lono is laughing (see his smile), he burped in my face and I am getting away from that fishy kiss!

Hawaii is knee deep in our ocean swim races, all the islands have lots of them going on and truthfully, they are so much fun! Hapuna was yesterday, it brought out a ton of fish (the local high school kids that honestly have scales and fins and swim like fish), a dead whale, and sharks. Actually the whale died Wednesday and sure enough it brought in some sharks to eat it up... that made the race feel more like Jaws...

You could tell race morning that a lingering dead whale body with guts and junk had some people curious about tigers (tiger sharks) and if they were still in the area. I never saw anything and thankfully nothing was reported...but it was on my mind...and it contributed to one heck of a good swim for me!

As always the winds were brutal, they had buckets of sand flying that made spectators on the beach a little frustrated. It also brought out a nice current that felt a lot like swimming on a treadmill when headed North. Nonetheless, the views under the surface and the company were top notch.

Like all the Hawaii races, it started out 1....2...3... GO! And hopefully the goggles were on and you went. I was on Leahi's feet for the first 200, she is the states (all islands) number 1 back stroker and can out swim almost anyone's free on her back! I was happy to be on her feet, then I looked up and discovered a huge pack that were headed a little more "straight" to the buoys. I really did not know what to do, hang on her feet for as long as I could or leave her and go straight... I left her hoping to beat her to the buoy with my straight path. Soon enough the highschool girls in matching bikini's caught me and I clung to them (this is the group that can swim like 18 minutes in the Olympic distance swims). I have never been so happy to see them and I figured I made a smart move leaving Leahi.

Once we got to the 2nd buoy and made the North turn the current was so outrageous it felt like a treadmill swim in the ocean. It was so choppy and feet were barely noticeable. I was around loads of people so I was more happy than my last ocean swim race. I knew once we turned South and into shore we would have a current to help us, so I used every drop of energy into the current knowing the tail current would be my friend and get me home to shore...

Heading South I got back onto the bikini girls (trust me they are the fastest things I ever saw in a 2 piece), I tried to tell them if they wore a Blue Seventy or even a one piece they would be unstoppable, but this is Hawaii and I understand, I didn't even wear a fast skin, it's "local style or bust". The current going with us now made breathing more manageable and off that treadmill in the sea was even better. The thought of sharks and a dead whale never entertained me, I was just so happy to be with the girls that usually leave me swimming solo...

Once to the shore I knew it would be a run for your money... we now had about 9 of us clumped close. I used that little trick coach always tells me where you CAN NOT STAND UP TILL YOUR HANDS HIT SAND... so even though some boys were running (it was now VERY shallow), I kept on swimming, it must have looked funny seeing 5 guys running and a girl trying to swim, but it worked, I got out on the feet of the bikini girls and passed the running men!

Leahi was already in a towel! Darn, my smart move maybe wasn't too keen, Coach Steve must have helped her with the plan to the buoy and I did not listen too well... BUT it was by FAR my best 1 mile swim race ever and the first time I broke 20 minutes in the mile. 19:45, good enough for 5th chick! My Tuesday swim partner Amee won it (43 seconds up)GOOD JOB AMEE!!! Then Leahi, (Kainoa's favorite babysitter by the way), then 2 bikini babes and me a second behind them. Usually, they are minutes up on me. I am blaming it on the surfing I have been doing, I think it helps being able to fight chop, swells, currents, and waves... that or Coach Steve on deck coaching me to move my tail is paying off!

Big congrats to everyone who raced, it was so much fun! AND BIG mahalos to Mo Matthews for putting on another GREAT event!! Next up, The King Swim, my VERY FAVORITE open water race EVER and sadly I will miss it, I am really REALLY sad about that... it is over my favorite shores & coral bottom. I will be in Canada for the Vancouver 1/2 Ironman. Looking forward to it, but if it is cold me and my bikini's will be back on a plane to Kona faster than you can say ALOHA!

PS: My Splish suit is missing, the blue one with the K-Swiss logo on the chest, it blew away in the sand storm, so if you happen to be snorkeling at Hapuna please send it home to me... I am Splishless...

.
.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Hey, remember back in November, that little race (Ultraman Hawaii), I was the honored one that got to paddle as support crew for Jason Lester?? Remember him, the triathlete with one physically working arm... He has a fantastic life story, reads better than most books. His story has inspired so many people and given opportunities and hope to loads of others. Anyways, I'll stop rambling. He is up for an award and he could use our help, all you have to do is vote... here is all the info:

Ironman / Ultraman triathlete Jason Lester - is up for the 2009 ESPY Award

Ironman / Ultraman triathlete Jason Lester - is up for the 2009 ESPY Award ( Best Male Athlete With A Disability ). Please login to ESPYS AWARD and vote.

Jason has one Paralyzed arm and has completed 4 Ironman and two Ultraman. He will be competing in the Canada Ultraman - Hawaii Ironman World Championships ( where he qualified w/ the able body at Honu ) and the Hawaii Ultraman World Championships in the next 5 months.

Thanks in advance to anyone that jumps on to vote for him. In honor of the holiday I made my favorite BIG ISLAND TARO burger!! It's from back in the day when I was trying to be vegan (that did not last long). Anyways, this recipe still hangs out at my house... Of course at the 4th of July dinner I was the only that ate it!

Ingredrients: See above
Directions: Mix everything together in the food processor for just a few seconds (so it stays thinck with chunks in it). Heat coconut oil on the stove, cook on each side for 5 minutes on medium-high heat. Top with spinach & fresh squeezed lime!!

Okay, off to meet the crew to watch fire works! Happy 4th of JULY everyone!!

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

A "lovely April Day"
One I think about A LOT...

Today: One I thought about ALL week.
Here is where life gets ugly... but if you make it out alive it's a beautiful thing!

Me and the track have never been friends, it's hated me since 1997. 1997 was my Junior year of high school and the year I tried out for the track team. I sucked, coaches words not mine. He told me if I really wanted to be on the team I can run hurdles. SURE, I was short, I'll find a way to get over them. A few meets later I was over them-as in, track wasn't for me.

I didn't see the track again till Coach Paul became my coach. Every time I see it I just see this horrible, ugly loop that causes me a great deal of frustration. Maybe frustration because I have unfinished business with it, maybe frustration because running on the track truly becomes one of those times where the mind has to be stronger than the body and you must prepare for it.

I did prepare. I made recovery balls. They were my bribe to gather up anyone in Kona who would play with me. That top foto, those are some of my team mates. In April we had 8x800 repeats on 6min. pace. They pulled me along, pushed me, and helped me reach mentally when the body was wanting to chill out. Today it was 8x1000 repeats on 5:30 pace. I have trained hard all week, with a long ride and a run off the bike yesterday that left me smashed. This time the pace was more challenging so facing it alone required back ups, thankfully the balls were enough to bring out the boys.

I would LOVE to report that it was AWESOME AND I FELT GREAT! However, it was not awesome and I did not feel great. It hurt like giving birth and I felt like someone was beating me up. After round 3 it got ugly enough that I had to get help from Coach Eric...I was determined to finish the workout without giving up or caving in, but I didn't know how. These demons that come from facing training sessions where you lay it all on the line and make it or break it were looking me square in the eyes.

I could slow down, I could take more rest, I could call it a day. I told Coach Eric I wanted to finish, I have to find a way, I'm committed. I missed my goal by 8 seconds and was on the verge of crying, I told him I can not cry at the track (that would be too much like 11th grade), and I wanted to do this. I asked him if its my legs or my head not making this. He told me only I can answer that. Round 4-8 I ran with Coach Eric. He told me to tuck in behind him to save myself from going out to hard and to focus by following. I did just that, he was the train that pulled me around the track. I was off my goal pace 4-7 but I was making it in so many other ways. Round 8 the plan was to do the first 600 on Coach Eric's pace then build and fly home the last 400. My goal became to hold off Coach Eric and hold off those ugly demons that tell me it will feel better to take it easier. Yes, easier does feel better but only temporarily, today I did not take easy...

I still have unfinished business with that darn track. Maybe tomorrow I will go again, just kidding. Today left a little fuel for the fire and in some ugly way I am looking forward to the next go at a track session. Until then I prefer not to see another loop.

Way to hold up the wall boys! Ha ha... see ya next time, I'll bring the balls!

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Look! It's Kainoa, that's his first foto... he's in the belly... just shy of 3 months old. Xterra Maui was my first time racing off-road, my 3rd time ever on a mountain bike to be exact and I was pretty convinced the Gods of Maui were punishing me for attempting the World Champs in my first mountain bike race. I was barfing like a dog, flying over my handle bars into rocks and camera men, and more dizzy than a kid at the fair. A quick trip to the doctor informed me I was very pregnant. Very.

My best pal Leann and I spent an afternoon naming the little baby. Kainoa was the first one I ever liked, it was the name of my favorite student I ever taught. Later I was informed it has multiple Hawaiian meanings, one of them is "strong". After the doctor told me the baby was perfectly healthy even after launching into rocks during Xterra the name seemed fitting. If Kainoa was a girl I wanted to call her Coco. Coco Wee. Everyone made fun of me for that, saying it sounds more like a cereal. Leann did her best to help think of names that his peers won't tease him at school (she's a local Hawaii girl who was showing me the ropes!).

"E noho iho ike opu weuweu, mai ho'oki' eki'e"

A Hawaiian prayer that my child will remain part of the Earth-walking humbly but with an inner self confidence. To have a quiet strength more admirable than self importance, arrogance, and egotism.

HAPPY 3rd (ekolu) BIRTHDAY KAINOA!!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

The run was perfect! I had the road to myself, the ocean to keep me company, and the Kona sun reminding me to relax. A man in a tree was the only one with a better view... I love the runs that you want to keep on going, the ones when you finish you don't even remember what your thoughts were because you were somewhere else the whole time. Another perfect day at the office.

When I got home a huge melon was staring at me, perhaps the only fruit I will never buy. It's been sitting in my fridge since my Florida family was here (I think every fridge in FL has some kind of melon in it at all times). I tried to give it to my sister, but they left one in her fridge too. I cut it up for Kainoa to eat, he wouldn't. The only thing I knew to do was juice it. Almost everything I have ever juiced tasted good. Melon + lemon = better. Finally that fruit is out of my sight.

In case you like melons or don't, here is what they have to offer (1 cup):
*Low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol.
*Good source of Dietary Fiber, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Folate
*Good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium.
*60 calories

On a sweeter note... last night Kainoa and I spent 5hrs trying to make cupcakes for his class to celebrate his birthday. He got a sugar high and I was bonking. The cupcakes took as long as my run/swim/bike to make and we were improperly fueled. It took us 3 grocery stores to figure out the full fat, loaded with sugar, bad for you treats. All the other parents bring in the "good stuff" and he wanted to for his birthday. I was tempted to whip up one of my raw food cakes but after having to wear the purple pants I couldn't do that to him...

This time 3 years ago I was in the hospital waiting for Kainoa to arrive... tomorrow morning will be his BIG day! For now, it's off to swim practice!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Today, after swim Coach put on the plan "add in 15 minutes of paddle". Oh Coach, that might work for your mainland athletes or the ones not on an island, 15 minutes of paddle to me, means a surf board, a one man, outrigger, stand up board, knee board, something other than the usual-not those things that hook on your hands (better known as paddles).

The ocean was small and mushy, that meant paddle it all...

Brooke and I started with surf boards, then I paddled with my arms taking fotos carrying Tom's fins (he was body surfing/yapping), from there the paddle was on a "short stand up board" as in a 7'0 which is tiny for a stand up board. And that is where I stayed...or didn't stay as you can see in the foto above!

I found something REALLY hard and was so determined to get it! A long stand up board no worries, but this little one had me all over the place. Back flops, belly flops, you name it. Once I "sorta got it" I was nearing Banyans and needed to get back to Lyman's, then I was in the line up and back in the water-on my face. It was so much fun. That was paddling, trust me, in some way this 15 minutes of paddle (as coach put on the schedule) turned out to be 2hrs of paddle, I am sure that will help come race day!

Paddle the board...

Our chief of the firemen, yep, everyone and their grandma was out (I mean no offense to that, I saw a few grandmas).

Kai Foo taking a drop...

Alyssa Foo, one of the islands top swimmers (she is an 18 minute Olympic distance swimmer at 15 years old, paddling (my style) works for her!).

Brooke-fish bait...

The calm after the storm (or clean up set)...

Looking back to shore...ahhh, the good life...

Alyssa and Maddy Foo showing off their secrets to those 24 minute 1.2 mile swim times!!
Kai Foo again... I plan to draft him at Hapuna Roughwater swim this weekend. I am taking notes on his "paddling". He usually drops me after 400 yards, these local Hawaii kids are FISH!

Weiwei Foo...(as you can see I was playing with the Foo family today)...

This isTom, Hillary Biscay's buddy from SD. She told him to swim with me, so he has been joining our masters for the past week. Day one he was sent to lane 2. After 10 minutes he was moved over to lane 1. We made him go first... then I made him paddle (with real paddles) with me after practice. Today I told him to paddle with me again since coach put more paddling on the plan. This is where he ended up... Hillary has to be careful sending her swimmer friends to me, I will steer them in the ocean pretty quick...because some days paddle does not mean in a pool...
I love training!!!!!!!!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Today was my best day of racing since IM Japan (about a year ago). Not because I broke any record or set a best time (I was far from either), but because the same emotions I felt at IM Japan (and all the previous races) were with me today, I was enjoying sport again-A LOT, I was really happy to be part of something I love, and I "wanted" to be running, to be racing...

After IM Japan everything just got bumpy and rocky and junky... nothing to do with sport, it was the divorce. It had a larger impact on me then I was allowing myself to believe. I remember calling coach from the middle of a long ride telling him I can't even ride my bike, I have to get off now, my head is absent-in the clouds trying to save and fix something broken. Sport just stopped mattering to me. Some of my good friends use sport as an outlet-for me it 's a passion, something I can't use as an escape (I've tried), its something I do out of love. Most things I love (including sport) just took a long back seat as I went through the motions without care or thought.

The past couple weeks I decided to let myself feel the sting, the shock, the pain. I decided to just take it and stop faking that everything was okay. It worked, I was able to face so many emotions and so many bad places that I didn't want to look at. Perhaps it was like all this time I was just putting a band aid on my injury rather then letting it heal. Today, running, it felt like I could breathe again.

After the race I was so excited to call coach (the past like 8 races I didn't call him till he called me). For the race he gave me just a couple things to think about, we knew I was not fit for this and that I was climbing out of an emotional-lack of confidence-dark hole. The goals were simple, have some fun, get the nutrition right, get the HR up, and think about my form all the way. Coach- this video is for you-I decided not to run with high elbows!

Brooke & Kainoa hung out on the corner of Kuakini & Palani snapping some fotos and laughing as we climbed the hill: Some of the Kona locals she snapped fotos of...

Like most Hawaii races, awards were picnic style next to the beach, in swim suits with good friends. Ruben (see above) and I did our first ever run race together (this very race, the Kona half) in 2003. Back then we had no idea what we were doing, we had only ever run 8 miles at a single time. Our friend Lauren told us to take a gel, so I "took a gel" as in carried it with me, really I had no idea what a darn gel was. About mile 6 we were toast and our friend Kawika told us we should have a gel! DUH! So, the one gel I "took" Ruben and I shared at mile 6... Today we laughed as we both had our own gels!!

Hanging out with part-time Kona faves... The famous Frank Shorter & Shirley Perley!

Big Mike celebrating his Marathon with a Kona Brew...

Top female age group winners (way to show em' Kona girls).
Of course I had to snap The Hawaii Photoman!

The Jesser family...

Kainoa on stage (see far left) trying to snag awards...

Jon Kunitake-the AMAZING race director who will run this marathon EVERY year of his life!

Boys being boys...

The largest cup of Kona coffee ever...

Terrin and Kainoa post sunscreen war...

Our crew for the first few miles...

Terrin, Sam, and Melissa...

Post run shaved ice-yes, Hawaii races are sweet!

Jon, Frank, and Ruben...then came trouble!

After the run it was the children's turn to play, and play they did! Congrats to ALL the finishers of all the distances! Way to beat the Kona heat!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

Kainoa, grumpy as can be because I won't stop laughing at him, I know, I'm a really mean mom...

I'm not kidding... THIS is what Kainoa had on yesterday when I picked him up from school. The foto does not do it justice, the pants are HOT purple valor! Waiting in parent pick up I see this little boy from behind and think to myself, "Poor little guy, his parents made him wear purple pants to school". The boy turns and runs to me-it was Kainoa! I was laughing so hard I almost fell over, I couldn't even take his hug seriously, he looked like he belongs with the Scooby Doo crew about to jump out of a big van!

The teacher told me he wet his pants, my gosh having to wear those would make you NEVER make that mistake again. All the parents and I could not stop laughing, the teacher told me I have to return them on Monday, NO PROBLEM!

It only gets better... next up... THIS! A real Argon 18 bike kit! (no I did not make the mistake of thinking this one is mine, never attempted to try it on). He loved it so much he rode into the wall! My entire day was laughing at his clothes. I prefer my little buddy in surf trunks and slippers...


Swim-bike-run has been going pretty good. Getting my groove back slowly but surely. Highlight: I got to mingle with Frank Shorter a bit the past couple days, it's always nice meeting legends and leaders. He comes every summer to run in the Kona half marathon, I think he brought a surf board with him too as the waves are HUMONGOUS again this summer!

PS: I stole this (see below) from my aunts previous post, it fits my life today thanks to Kainoa (he gave me a good 12 laughs for sure!)

A few years ago a health study determined there are 3 main reasons people can't cope in life:
They live in the past.
They have a low self-esteem.
They can't laugh at themselves.
In fact, the study indicated that we need approximately 12 laughs a day to stay healthy!



.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post

It's almost Kainoa's birthday so I did what most moms do-SHOP! I found him the most fun Quiksilver surf trunks I ever saw for a soon-to-be 3yr old!!! I'm so bad, they scream 1980's and his dad will hate them!! ha ha, LOVE IT!!

All day had me in 1980's flashbacks. When I heard the news about Farrah Fawcett & Michael Jackson all I could do was call the sisters...we had to replay our favorite "growing up memories" to keep that gloomy feeling from coming.

Bron and I had these awesome neon green t-shirts that said "I'm Bad" in hot pink we would wear to school every week tied in a tight knot on the side. I was also in a talent show to his song "We are the world"...to relive that one I sang it to my massage therapist after my run today. To shut me up she put hot volcano rocks on my stomach. Man I will miss blasting MJ from my boom box with my pink Converse high tops!

Then we remembered Farrah and that hair! Our mom used to make our hair poofy like that on picture day, we had to flip our head over and she would blow dry us with toooooooo much hair spray! It was such a bad look for me. I was more of a crimper-iron kind of girl. Great memories were floating along all day long with us sisters. Then Bron told me Ed McMahon passed away yesterday! I had no idea.... oh the memories that one brought back!

The sisters and I grew up with BIG dreams of being on Star Search! Every Friday our Aunt and Uncle would come over and Judge us so we could host our own Star Search at home. We had real categories too, like best costume, best lip synch, and best dance moves. Bron always, EVERY week danced to George Michael "Gotta Have Faith", she had the best moves with that song (don't even ask). Brooke would do "Under The Boardwalk", that song from the movie Beaches. She wore this little blue bikini and would walk around a towel, at the end she would put on black sunglasses! My song (most weeks) was Madonna's "La Isla Bonita", even then I was dreaming about life on a beautiful island. I had this very long flowered dress for my costume with HUGE hibiscus flowers all over it... oh the fun we had. RIP my faves from the 80's!!!


To top off my 80's flash backs & theme of "I'm bad" I had more surf shop fun... I had to upgrade my mom's bikini! She is my biggest fan and most loyal reader (when she see's this foto posted of her I'm sure she will kick me to the moon). Anyways, when the family was here for a visit the sisters and I made some fun of her swim suits, when she left back to Florida she left it hanging on my bathroom door. Oh man that made me feel rotten for teasing her, so I had to upgrade her old 1980's suit with a new neon pink one!

Tomorrow I am mailing it! Most likely she will call me to say a grandma with 3 grandsons DOES NOT need a hot pink bikini, BUT mom, you do, pops will love it! ha ha...

Other than the 80's flashbacks I had a run that started sour but ended great, a swim in the sea, and a ride with no flat tires... it was RAD!

.

+ read more of Bree Wee's post