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Eileen Swanson's Tales
>>May 30th, 2008
If you read my post the other day about my group ride and saddle issues, you probably know that I was going to get the new Adamo road saddle. By Monday, I had gotten to the point where I couldn’t even sit on my saddle for more than a minute without having to move around trying to get comfortable. It was so painful, it had been for over 5 months now. It was defintely time to get a new one.
Well, my Adamo saddle came on Wed, so that gave me 2 days to test it out. Since I get home from work around 5:30-6PM most days, I really do not have much time to ride outside. But on Wed, Reid helped me get the new saddle on my bike close to the position my old one had been at and off I went around my neighborhood to test it out. It was crazy how weird it felt, it is so different than my old one in a GREAT way. But there is also some weird bone tenderness you immediately get since all of your weight is resting on your sit bones and ‘frontal’ (for lack of a better word) bones. Anyways, I was amazed at how close to perfect I thought my new positioning was. You know, you can never really tell until you ride long or short and hard on a new saddle. So I was happy with this 15 minute test spin. Little did I know……..
Yesterday, I was determined to get out for a good hour on the saddle and really test it out. Reid came with me knowing that I would probably have to adjust the saddle a dozen times 
He was right. Within a couple of minutes, I felt like I needed to move forward. So we made that adjustment. Then I needed to move up, then back, then tilt the nose down, then forward again, etc, etc. So after about 10 adjustments and having to go to the bike shop to get my seat post cut down, I think I have the saddle in the correct position. I am still not sure (maybe 75% sure now) since I was running out of daylight to ride anymore. I am mostly annoyed about the REALLY PAINFUL feeling on my sit bones. They feel really badly bruised. OUCH! This HURTS BAD! The good news is that this is normal for alot of riders who first try out this type of saddle. I hear from talking to some friends as well as the guys at Blackwell that it can take as little as 3 rides or as many as 10 rides to get used to this saddle. Well, I will be a new category of 2nd ride is a 70,3 race and my saddle feels GREAT! I have to keep thinking this way, the more positiveness, the better right? Wish me luck. I WILL FEEL GREAT, I WILL LOVE THIS SADDLE on SUNDAY!
He was right. Within a couple of minutes, I felt like I needed to move forward. So we made that adjustment. Then I needed to move up, then back, then tilt the nose down, then forward again, etc, etc. So after about 10 adjustments and having to go to the bike shop to get my seat post cut down, I think I have the saddle in the correct position. I am still not sure (maybe 75% sure now) since I was running out of daylight to ride anymore. I am mostly annoyed about the REALLY PAINFUL feeling on my sit bones. They feel really badly bruised. OUCH! This HURTS BAD! The good news is that this is normal for alot of riders who first try out this type of saddle. I hear from talking to some friends as well as the guys at Blackwell that it can take as little as 3 rides or as many as 10 rides to get used to this saddle. Well, I will be a new category of 2nd ride is a 70,3 race and my saddle feels GREAT! I have to keep thinking this way, the more positiveness, the better right? Wish me luck. I WILL FEEL GREAT, I WILL LOVE THIS SADDLE on SUNDAY!
Have a FUN weekend!
E
>>May 29th, 2008
Bree, Me, and Janet – Noosa Main Beach, Rach Ross, Linsey Corbin – FUN GROUP OF GIRLS
Bree, Me, and Janet – Noosa Main Beach, Rach Ross, Linsey Corbin – FUN GROUP OF GIRLS
I love all of my teammates, my ALCiS guys and all my Lifesport girls. Lately, us Lifesporters have been having so much fun on emails and blogging and chatting live. Wee called the race Linsey and I will be doing on Sunday the “potato race.” Yup, how mean, huh? Just because Lins and I will be racing in Idaho at the Boise 70.3 doesn’t mean that we will only be eating potatoes all weekend long!
Just because Lins and I will be racing in Idaho at the Boise 70.3 doesn’t mean that we will only be eating potatoes all weekend long! Linsey fired back with calling the Honu 70.3 the “spam musubi” race! HA! So funny. But I kindly renamed it Spam Wasabi race and Wee will be eating lots of wasabi Ok, I know we are crazy girls, but super motivated and determined to win any challenge thrown our way. We love to have fun!!
Ok, I know we are crazy girls, but super motivated and determined to win any challenge thrown our way. We love to have fun!!We are super excited to have new teammates join us recently. We will now be joined by Terra Castro and E.L.F.. Both of these girls are super fun, strong, awesome, and sweet. I can’t tell you how sweet Terra is, you will just have to meet her in person someday. And E.L.F is spunky, fun and really motivated! Welcome girls…..I look forward to having so much fun with you all…
Good Luck, Fast Thoughts and Warm Wishes to all of you racing Boise and Honu this weekend!
XO,
E
>>May 28th, 2008
Pele and Makena – amazing dolphins Reid and I swam with at Waikoloa in 2005
For those of you in the corporate world, you know how hectic it gets at quarter end. Well, we are close to quarter and year end here at Oracle and it is absolutely crazy. Lots of number crunching, trying to close that last deal, contracts signed, negotiating, etc….. Today, especially after a long awesome weekend, was a tough one to get going at work. But it was also a great day to get a ton done at the office with Coach giving me a day off! Phew!
In the midst of all the craziness going on in the corporate world, I was able to escape by day dreaming about being in Hawaii, laying on the beach, and swimming with the dolphins, my favorite animals in the whole world (besides Belle of course), and just remembering my ultimate goal for this season. It is so cool how easily we can escape our present state, by thinking about what we desire and long for. It was so refeshing to day dream just for a bit before returning to the grind. I have to say, I was much more excited and energized to get back to work after my brief mental break
Keep dreaming, as one day your dreams will come true! Dream BIG!
Cheers to an awesome year end here!
E
>>May 25th, 2008
UVAS tri pic, as I sprint to get on the podium. OUCH!
This morning we went on the HOP ride. Super fast, but fun group ride that heads out of Walnut Creek and loops through Livermore and Collier Canyon and back to WC. The group was smaller than most days, colder, and windier than the average. We are having a bit of a cold weekend after having the super HOT heat wave the last 2 weeks.
About 10 miles into the ride, Reid got a flat and I planned to stop with him, but he wanted to me to keep going with the group. So I did and it was pretty mellow for the next 4 miles and then all of a sudden some of the guys at the front picked it up about 10mph. I was towards the back of the pack (not a good spot) and it hurt to surge and close in on some of the gaps. So I moved around a couple of guys and got in a better spot. We were moving down the road at 37mph. As soon as we turned onto the main rolling road, the pace slowed a bit. I was feeling good and even able to chat a bit with one of my friends. Ok, so here come the funny comments. Some guy next to me says “nice set up.” I was like huh? He said “I really like your TT bike.” Ok, sure. Then his buddy comes up to the side of me and says “nice Felt, is that a DA?” So funny. I said yes thanks, then dropped back a spot so I could concentrate going 27 mph. Ok, not done with the comments yet…..
I eventually got dropped when the pace hit 37mph again. I wasn’t bummed, I was actually happy that I could now work on my own and try to hurt, like IM race simulation. So, I got into a good rhythm, picked off a couple of stragglers and put my head down and just pushed so hard into that nasty headwind on N Livermore. I pushed and pushed and I came up on a guy that sat on my wheel for ever, well it felt like it. I wasn’t annoyed, but it was just kind of weird. He didn’t even attempt to help take a pull. Oh well. So, here comes the weird part. We get to a stop light and he says, “I thought you mind if I took a pull.” I said “no, I think it would be nice.” So, he takes off and picks up the pace a ton. OUCH! I held on and then he slows a bit to talk to me. Oh boy! He says “I don’t mean to stare at your butt or anything, but I noticed that you are uncomfortable on that saddle. It looks like you are losing alot of power by moving around a lot on your saddle.” Hmm. Thanks dude! I said I know, as a matter of fact, I am getting a new saddle on Monday. It was shipped a couple of days ago and I am really excited. I have been having problems with this saddle for months now. He then says “Oh that’s good, look at my saddle, this is a really good one. You really need a narrow saddle.” Ok, I was a little weirded out, so I stopped talking to him and just put my head down again and pedalled hard
I was so stoked that I eventually caught the group right before the regroup point. And I was so excited to see Reid. He had taken a little shortcut after he flatted so that he could get back on the group. Now, I was back with the group and my hubbie only to get my butt kicked on the last climb. It was cool though, as I hung on alot longer than I normally do. Plus, again no girls on the ride, just me
Hope you have an awesome long weekend!
XO,
E
>>May 22nd, 2008
Finish line banner for the UVAS triathlon. Yea, that is me HA!
HA!
My teammates and I at Team ALCiS all raced on Sunday as you know. But what I forgot to say was that Team ALCiS took the first 6 spots overall for the men. Super cool and amazing! My teammates are studly There is an article on Inside Tri about our team that was just published today. http://www.insidetri.com/article/71286/team-alcis-dominates-the-podium-at-uvas
There is an article on Inside Tri about our team that was just published today. http://www.insidetri.com/article/71286/team-alcis-dominates-the-podium-at-uvas
Also, there will be an article in Competitor magazine on our team in the June issue. Pretty cool stuff. I must say I am so happy and honored to be a part of this amazing team. Thanks ALCiS for supporting and believing in Reid and I. You guys ROCK!
Have a great day!
E
>>May 19th, 2008
Podium, Me, Gina Kehr, and Tracy
Podium, Me, Gina Kehr, and Tracy
Belle and Me cooling off
Me and Kristin Hilger
It was a VERY good weekend! Reid’s double century hit temps of up to 112 degrees!! YIKES! Reid managed to come in 7th out of 835 riders in 11 hour and 40 mins. AMAZING! I am so proud of him. What a stud! He even drove home right after the race so he wouldn’t miss my race today!
My 100 miler yesterday was great despite getting 2 flats along the way. I rode with a friend Dave Shinsky, who was awesome to ride with. He is getting stronger and faster each time I see him. He motivated me to keep going and riding hard! I had some rough patches, but overall I was happy with the LONG ride in the heat, it was about 100 degrees out there. FUN!
Ok, now for the great news. I raced against Gina Kehr today and 5 other local pros. She got me out of the water, but it was close. I lost alot of time on the bike (it was rough to get my legs going), but then I had the best run I have had in a long time. As I pulled into T2, I had tons of my Team ALCiS friends cheering me on, telling me I had to go hard. My friend Kristin was right there and she is a great runner. So I went out hard and felt good. I was holding on to my spot in 2nd. Kristin then passed me at mile 1ish followed by another girl. I was determined to stick with them or keep them in sight. As this was a race put on by Team ALCiS, we had so many of us racing. The men on my team started coming back on the run all yelling at me to catch those girls in front. I can’t believe how many people were out there cheering. It was AMAZING for a local race (about 900 athletes and TONS of spectators)! At mile 2.5 (the turnaround) I still had Kristin and Tracy in sight. I knew I had another 2.5 miles to catch them. Tracy was pulling away, but Kristin was running steady. Then something really cool happened! I actually started thinking smart, I thought about what Bree had told me in so many emails I kept me head in the race, I hurt so bad, and I ran Kristin down by mile 4. I passed her with a little more than a 1/2 mile to go and she stayed right with me. I then heard all my friends yelling and telling me I had to go NOW. Then I saw Reid and Belle cheering and yelling tons of words of encouragement and I surged, sprinted and held on to 3rd place. I am so happy with my run. This was a great day for me.
I kept me head in the race, I hurt so bad, and I ran Kristin down by mile 4. I passed her with a little more than a 1/2 mile to go and she stayed right with me. I then heard all my friends yelling and telling me I had to go NOW. Then I saw Reid and Belle cheering and yelling tons of words of encouragement and I surged, sprinted and held on to 3rd place. I am so happy with my run. This was a great day for me. Congrats to all of you who raced today. I hope it was an awesome one….
E
>>May 17th, 2008
Belle lovin’ the air conditioned house (with her favorite stuffed toy) after a nice long walk in the HEAT!
Wow, it’s been a nutty, hectic several days at work. I have been in Rocklin, CA for work and these days have been pretty long. Yesterday we had a training class all day, followed by a team bowling event (which I didn’t want to go to, but ended up having a GREAT time at) and a team dinner. My day started at 5AM with a 2 hour drive to Rocklin and ended at 10:40PM as we left the restaurant. I didn’t get a chance to workout, but I was totally ok with it. I know that work has to come first. It’s all cool! Plus I had an awesome 18 mile run on Wed night after work, so this made me feel better. I got done running at 10PM on Wed. Just been one of those hectic weeks.
This weekend I am super excited for 3 major reasons. 1) Reid is doing a double century with one of his best friends in Davis (temps will be the upper 90s, low 100s). Reid is super excited as he loves the heat and anything super challenging on a bike! 2) Coach has me doing a 100 miler tomorrow followed by a nice light swim (I am adding this in to cool off) and on Sunday I am racing in a local triathlon (3/4 mile swim, 18 mile bike, and a 5 mile run). 3) My friend Kristin is coming up to stay with us tomorrow night and will be racing on Sunday too. Reid and Belle will be cheering us on from the sidelines! So it should be a really great weekend for all! It will be HOT, the way the Swanson’s like it
Have a great weekend and good luck to all of you racing! Kick some bootie our there everyone!
XO,
E
>>May 11th, 2008
Belle, Me, and Reid today after a fun day of riding and playing
Today I went out on an awesome long ride with Reid, Chris McCrary (agent to Leanda Cave, Rutger Beke, and a couple others) and Steve Cramer (cyclist extraordinaire). Steve offered to take us all out on a ‘new’ hilly route. One that he has done before, but Reid and I had not.
We started really early at 6:30AM. Steve likes to do a FAST warmup, which means me sucking his wheel and holding on for dear life right from the start He does slow up a bit if I ask, but sometimes it is just fun to go out and get started!! Reid loves to have fun when anyone picks up the pace. So it was me holding onto both of their wheels this AM. Great way to “warm” up as it was a bit chilly this morning.
He does slow up a bit if I ask, but sometimes it is just fun to go out and get started!! Reid loves to have fun when anyone picks up the pace. So it was me holding onto both of their wheels this AM. Great way to “warm” up as it was a bit chilly this morning.
We headed North to Walnut Creek, through Lafayette (where we met up with Chris), then onto Orinda, Berkeley hills, Moraga, and back home. It was BEAUTIFUL. The climbs were amazing. Very challenging hills. There were hills and MORE hills, way more than I have done this year. The views were spectacular, but I only got to get a slight glimpse of them as I was working really hard not to lose sight of Reid and Steve up ahead!
I discovered something awesome during all the climbs today. I realized that I was working hard, but staying in control and moving up these hills with more ease than I have ever felt. I looked down at my HR a ton today and I was way higher than I was at WF. And I felt so much stronger. I know after talking to my coach a couple times last week that we were going to tweak my zones since they were a bit off (a bit too low especially in my half IM race zone). So, I realized that I am able to hold a higher HR for a longer period of time than we both thought possible at this point in the season. Sweet! A work in progress for sure.
Great day, 5 hours and 15 mins of learning great new things about myself
By the way, here is what Coach P said in an email to me today about my ride…..
“Great ride and good perspective.
We are still figuring you out and you are moving the right direction. That is what counts the most for the future.” Coach.
We are still figuring you out and you are moving the right direction. That is what counts the most for the future.” Coach.
Have a Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mom’s out there……
XO,
E
>>May 7th, 2008
Thanks to all of you for the super sweet messages, comments, and emails. I truly love all of you. I am so happy to have so many awesome friends. You guys ROCK! Thanks Elaine for finding this pic online
I had a nice long chat with my Coach, husband, and some fellow pros. They all put things in perspective for me and I can now see and think clearly. I know that I did not have the day I wanted on Saturday, but I do know what I need to change next time in all 3 disciplines. This is good news! I also have to remember that I am training for life, triathlon is a lifestyle. Yes, of course I want to race against the best and be able to compete with them and this will happen, just not overnight AND it is not the most important thing. There are so many great things going on in my life and I am privileged to be healthy enough to just do this sport. With that said, I will continue to always give it my best effort in every race and I will no longer be bummed with the outcome! I will now remember how lucky I am to be able to compete in this amazing sport!
YES, I am already excited and fired up for my next race!
Cheers,
E
>>May 5th, 2008
Super tired Belle – post WF weekend!
Well, it is what it is and I have no excuses to make nor do I ever want to. I followed a plan my coach gave me for Saturday’s race at WF to a T. We both thought that I would be happy with my end result if I followed my plan and only focused on the process goals. I did just that and I did not have the result I expected.
It was all I could do on Saturday and I have no excuses for how I performed. Of course I do not understand why I did not do better, given the training I have been doing and the great improvements I have seen in my workouts. I just don’t get it. I stayed in my HR Zone on the bike and run that my coach recommended and I worked hard to stay there. I never gave up, only thought positive thoughts, and pushed myself really hard. But I guess on this day it was all I had in the tank and I can only be happy with following the plan and giving it my best effort for the day.
I know I have only been training with coach Paul since January and I shouldn’t expect to see great results overnight or even in the near future, but I do expect to do better at each race….and we will see what the future brings. I will keep trying, believing, working my butt off, and hopefully I will have a break through race in 08.
I did have a blast given this race is sort of a hometown race and I got to visit with so many friends, sponsors, teammates and coaches. It was an awesome time and Belle had an even better time hanging out in the lake most of the time She was quite the popular pup all weekend!!
She was quite the popular pup all weekend!!
Congrats to those of you who had awesome races this weekend! Way to go!
And thanks for all the sweet messages and comments
E
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