Guru Photo Shoot

[update: December 22, 2005]

Day 1 On Wednesday morning I woke up for a quick run before my early flight to go to Montreal where the headquarters for my bike sponsor, Guru, is located. I had plans to attend a photo shoot on Thursday for their upcomming advertising campaign. Even though it was December 14th, living in Austin, I adorned shorts and a tshirt for my run. The air outside was thick and warm and by the end I had worked up a sweat. Arriving back at my house, I hurriedly went inside to prepare for a quick shower but had to return back outside to wait a few minutes as the heat was too much to bare. I took provisions in my packing, aware that my trek up north would be a shock to my Texas blood. Oh how right I was! Once on my way, I arrived into Chicago. As most people do, i enjoy people watching in airports, with my ipod in my ears I sometimes feel like I watching a movie with no dialogue, only a soundtrack and images of people walking…..I especially enjoy the various angles people try to use to find out “what I do”. In Chicago I was contemplating a muffin case, deciding between a pumpkin or a blueberry. A voice behind me erupted, “Girl, if you keep staring at that case, you’re gonna lose the aerobic capacity you’ve gained from whatever yoga, aerobics, joggin….straight through osmosis! So…..what is it you do to keep that figure anyway, because God can only do so much…...!” If only he could imagine….... Once onto the plane to Burlington, Vermont various accoutrements I had only seen in the J Crew catalogue surrounded me. Passengers were swaddled in all sorts of wooly, fleecy outfits covering all parts such as ears, necks and heads, parts we Austinites only really need to cover when we feel the need to get in the holiday spirit or to feel “cute”. Touching down in Vermont the steward’s voice came over the mike. “Welcome to Burlington, the temperature is 8 degrees.” 8 DEGREES! Say what? I began wishing I had brought more cute wooly fleecy things. Once in the safety of my trusty little rental Nissan, heat blasting, directions in my lap and required night driving Starbucks in the plastic cup holder, I set off into the night up north to Montreal. The drive was lovely as I was surrounded by grass pastures glowing with snow and French Christmas carols blasting on the stereo. Franc and his wife Celin met me with double kisses at their door and I was welcomed by a healthy warm meal and little black ballet slippers! to wear around the house. We spent some time going over the new Guru campaign for next year and I was getting very excited when I saw the ads that are to be coming out soon…we went over the details of the ads my picture would be taken for the next day, making sure I was comfortable with everything, etc. Celin gave me a fleecy jacket and one of those bank robber masks for my run in the morning. As I got ready for bed I felt excited about the photos shoot but a little nervous thinking about what the 75 degree! difference my run the next morning would feel like….. Day 2, 5 am Brrrrloweegee!!! A blast of cold air shocked me from my lack of sleep as I stepped outside for my run the next morning feeling more like a mummy than an athlete. I thought of Natashca Badman, as I often do when I am tired and started off onto the snowy road…..after about 20 mins I was warm but my eyes were watering and my hands were getting numb. My tears turned to icicles that clicked together when I blinked. A story of a deranged ice princess came to my mind, possessed by an exercise bug, running herself into and ethereal icicle state buried in a snow bank. The only way she could be identified would be through the DNA in her eyelashes…..I turned around. Canadians are so tough! Franc and Celin were waiting for me with coffee on the burn when I got back, we had a quick breakfast of fruit, toast, jam, and nutella and we headed into the city for the shoot. The photos were set up to be taken in two sessions that day in two separate locations….the first one being a beautifuly funky night bar called the Ballroom. Montreal is fascinating to me in that everyone is English- French bilingual and will change from French to English and vice versa so fast it makes your head spin. The advertising agency in charge of the campaign offered a production entourage including photographer, stylist, make up artist, graphic designers and various other equipment people. It was amazing after each shot the way everyone played into their role discussing details such as lighting, my expression, etc. They would gather around the computer in a bilingual huddle and pick apart my pictures. It seemed synonymous to an operating room in that everyone had their special job and role, or maybe it was all the bright lights they had in there! Frank was with me the whole time, making sure I was comfy and telling jokes. French and English discussions of each series of shots took place and small changes were made accordingly. The Ballroom was quite freezing and the little top i was wearing provided little comfort. I was giving off a forced stiff look in the pictures. One of the Cossette guys graciously offered me his huge wooly coat. “Jacket off!” Click click click…..”Jacket Jacket!!” or so it went for several hours. We breaked for lunch and changed locations for the second part of the shoot, into a studio setting for an action shot. Once makeuped and number painted (we chose the lucky number 7), we discussed the fact that I needed to look sweaty and glowy for this shot. I asked around for a jump rope and there happened to be one so for the next three hours, I jumped rope, posed for shots, waited for the team to discuss the shots, jumped rope some more, etc etc. I was happy for the extra exercise but needless to say my shoulders were sore the next day from all the jump roping!! This shoot was much more exciting in that it required a simulated running movement and was complete with fan, water “sweat” spritzer. Such a peculiar series of events- sprayed, fanned, sprayed again and fanned all the while wearing a pound of natural looking makeup and perfectly placed “tousled” hair. Happy with the accomplishments of the day, Franc and I bundled up at 8pm and met up with Tony and Rob, the rest of the Guru team, for a delicious Italian meal. After several bottles of wine split around the table, we quickly became the loudest table in the place. At the end of the meal they surprised me with a large chocolate birthday cake with a beautiful white chocolate covering labeled “Bonne Fette Desiree!” or Happy Birthday! etched with a tiny chocolate bicycle. Exhausted from our long day but happy and satisfied, Franc and I bid our goodnights and drove back to his house, arriving at midnight where I prepared for my 3:30am departure for Burlington. I cannot tell you how good it felt to lie down….....

Run from the Lion

[update: November 26, 2005]

have rediscovered the joy of running over the last several weeks. After months of running on legs tired and broken down by long hours in the saddle, I have been realizing what it feels like to run free again. With very little biking in my weekly routine, it has been amazing to feel the change in my legs. This morning my day began at 5:15am and as I stretched in bed my ears pricked up to the sound of torrential rain. Unable to remember the last time I had awoken to this strange sound due to the dry, summer-fall here in Austin, I began to contemplate retreating back under the covers, delaying the 18 miler I was previously looking forward to. Once out onto the roads I was thankful for my running coach, Gilbert, labeling Paul a “wuss” for thinking of delaying the run and encouraging us to get out there and get the run done. Running in the darkness towards the hills of Mt. Bonnell (known to Gilbert as “Mountain Bonnell”) I had the pleasure of running the first few miles with a small group of talented men, including Paul and Gilbert. Fat raindrops pounded on top of our heads and dripped down off the brims of our hats as we hurdled puddles and streams on Town Lake Trail. Once out onto the roads we ran in silence. My form felt fluid and in my mind I felt extremely lucky. Lucky to be in such great company and lucky to be so healthy and alive. Gilbert, who is originally from Burundi, often times will sing to us while we run, either to boost moral, clear out the trail or both. The song has the most beautiful rhythm, perfectly in tune with the rhythm of our feet and we all take part in the chorus by chanting “Ngwe” (young-way), “Ngwe” (young-way). This morning the singing began in the early miles of our run and made for a prefect combination of darkness, raindrops, fast running and “Ngwe”....

Here are the lyrics to Gilberts’ song about how the Gazelle wakes up everyday knowing that they must escape the Lion.

Lyo Ngwe (The Lion)

Ngwaho Irabarya(It will eat you)

Ngiyo aho Inyuma (coming from behind)

Ingo tuyisige (Lets hurry)

Ngiyo aho Imbere (Waiting upfront)

Ingo tuyifate(Lets catch it)

Lyo Ngwe Iyo Ngwe Iyo Ngwe

Break Time

[update: November 07, 2005]

It has been a little over three weeks now since my DNF in Kona at Ironman HI. During this time I have managed to take a much needed physical and mental break from regimented training. I have been trail running with friends and Pandora and swimming in a nearby freshwater pool. It has been so lovely to take the watch off of my workouts and to do what purely feels good and is fun. I have had some exciting times with my great friends here in Austin- during the past few weeks I have experienced a highly creative Halloween costume party, a barn and ranch hoedown complete with hay bales and two-stepping (who would have thought…..?), a night of karaoke dressed up as a pink dragon for Halloween and the wild annual Irongroove end of triathlon season party. Yesterday I attended the Austin Celtic Festival with my friends Paul and Ian where we watched men in kilts chuck weights and chowed down on fried turkey legs! I have to say the turkey leg was a first for me…..needless to say it has been great fun to let go of my training diet a little as well!

Admist all of the fun, I have also managed to do a good bit of reflection and planning in preparation for next year. I was extremely sad and discouraged after my hard day in Kona. From the initial firing of the canon I felt worn out. On the second half of the bike a sumo wrestler insisted I cart him through the lava fields. The first five miles of the run I came back to life a little and I actually felt good but in ensuing miles was struck with a terrible nausea and sickness. I could not stop the negative thoughts that kept flowing into my mind. I pulled off the road at mile 11, dizzy, confused and sick. At that moment I wished so badly for a crater to open up in the road and swallow me up, out of shame.

The feeling after a DNF is horrific. To want something so badly, work for it as you’ve never worked before and to lose it all in the execution, it can feel completely heartbreaking in every way. Financially, physically and mentally it is a huge blow. I felt I had let down my agent, family and friends who had all come so far to watch me compete. I was ashamed, angry, embarrassed and on top of it all- exhausted. I had DNFed at mile 20 during Ironman Canada 6 weeks prior after coming within 45 seconds of the lead. I was desperately hoping to correct my wrong with a right in Hawaii. In retrospect I was too hasty in the entire reckoning process. My racing had become an insidious cycle of desperation and in the process I ignored the signs of fatigue and overtraining my body was begging me to notice. I thought that by training harder and racing more often that I would achieve my desired results…...

Amazingly, in the past weeks I have let go of almost all these negative feelings and am actually beginning to appreciate the mistakes I have made. I love what I do and feel completely fortunate to lead this lifestyle. I love pushing my body beyond its limits, traveling the world to races and being around people who share the same passions, hopefully inspiring others along the way. However I realize how much I still have to learn about Ironman training and racing. I am learning about the delicate balance between patience and perseverance. This break has brought me clarity and I feel ready to get back into shape, race only 2! Ironmans next year and to approach the new season with a feeling of optimism and renewal.

I could never revive the way I have without the undying support and love of my friends, family, coaches and sponsors. I am so thankful to have such a loving network surrounding me. The support I receive before and after my races is incredible. I promise you I will pull through back into the sun. Thank you all so much!!

Lastly, I would also like to congratulate once upon a time Boulder training partner, Bella Comerford for her 3rd win at Ironman Florida yesterday! She continues to inspire with her toughness and intrepidty. Way to go Bella!