On this day, I turned 40… and as if father time was playing a dirty trick on me, I woke up at 5:30 am with intense back spasms like I’ve never felt before. I was panicked. I got out of bed and could not even slightly bend over without intense pain. I thought to myself, “why now? why now?” I took some ibuprofen and got out the laptop and started googling chiropractors in Sonoma County. I had the numbers ready to call when they opened, and tried to go back to sleep. I layed there thinking how this could have happened… then it came to me. I bought a new large bagpack for the trip and wore the over-stuffed thing all day travelling the day before… I never wear bagpacks… and the last thing my coach told me to do was “Don’t do anything different!”. I’m such a numbskull.
Anyway, I woke up an hour or so later with everyone else and told them my predicament. Monica had me do several back and hip yoga poses (pictured), and then Kara worked her magic by cracking my back and doing some deep tissue therapy on the newly 40 year old spine. They were life savers! I felt much better (and less panicked that I had really screwed things up for the race).
At 8 am, Team 303 and I drove out to the swim area on the Russian River to check it out. There were athletes there in wetsuits practicing up and down the current. We then drove the first half of the bike course where we discovered how hilly and winding the roads were through the the wine country. We stopped at a vineyard so the girls could do a tasting and enjoy the excellent views.
We made our way back to Windsor where the Race Expo was taking place. I bought my Vineman souvenirs and we sampled all the giveaways before we got in line to register at 2pm. It was starting to get exciting seeing all of the athletes gather for the first time. We got all of our bib numbers and timing chips and sat for the pre-race Q&A where we learned essential information for the transitions on race day.
We returned to the house at around 4:30 to a kitchen full of ladies wearing matching birthday aprons scurrying around, drinking wine and chopping vegetables. It was a hilarious sight. They had all been swimming in the river that morning and returned to prepare for the birthday dinner. With help from all the aproned ladies, my mom had put together 3 enormous pasta dishes (beef, chicken and veggie) for the party. We all sat down and I raised my glass to all my friends for making the trip and being there for me, not only for the weekend and the race, but for all the training this last year. I have great friends… and they were all very well fed on this night.
When dinner was over, the cake was presented and we all had some delicious chocolate goodness. Then I got the coolest gift ever… Carissa had made a compilation DVD of videos from a dozen or more of my friends from Dallas who couldnt make the trip. She pushed play, and I was so touched to get well wishes from my friends in this unique and creative way. I will post the video here when I can convert it.
With a full tummy and a smile from ear to ear, I hit the sack at 9:30 to get a good nights sleep for the 4:30 am wake up call. Goodnight!
