Welcome to my Blog page, I hope that I will keep you interested and amused at my adventures through life as a Scuba Instructor, Ultra Triathlete, Wife and step mom! Contrary to belief I do other things besides train all day and also get to do some fun things and enjoy life.

July 12th 2011

I was up at 3.50am, to the sound of Buster crying, I almost leapt out of bed in a drugged sleep, Hammer had not left his side all night and know Buster needed me I took him water and carried him out side so he could relieve himself. He is at the moment resting again this is going to be an aweful day for both myself and Al as today we know in our hearts it is time to let Buster play in doggy heaven.

July 11th 2011

Well a little late in going for a scheduled bike ride but by 9.30am after vacuuming and polishing the home I did indeed set off for a beautiful Mount Baldy ride. Even though the ride went well my heart was heavy with the thought of Buster our lab of 17 years, he has told us it is time .....and my mini pinscher HAmmer has not left his side. When I returned home I cancelled my run to be with Buster, Al had done a great job of looking after him as he was hot and crying Al put him in the shade and pampered him. When I arrived home I brought him in side and it is truly amazing to watch Hammer just protect Buster not allowing the other dogs to mess with him. I am a little bit of a mess...

July 10th 2011

What a day, woke up not feeling too grand, we were going to Big Bear, my plan was to run when AL and Montana stopped to shoot Archery at Cherry Valley. The Archery range was very quiet when we arrived and very hot, dusty extremely hilly etc. We also brought along Cookie and Hammer so I took Hammer for a short 2 mile run but seemed like 10! As the short hills were leg breakers and very very dry !

After my run I watched Montana and Al shoot a little target practice..

Hammers first view of Big Bear Lake met with approval!

July 6th 2011

I was up at 4.50am on the way to Shaws Cove we were in the Ocean by 6.30am, although the Ocean looked Pancake flat it was surge and vis could have been better but saying that Scuba diving even on a bad day is better than the best day of work in a job you are not happy in!! I had two students Nicholas and Rachael they did really well and their final dive they showed me they were confident scuba divers! Saw some cool critters but my favourite is always the Garibaldi fish!

After the dives and filling out log books both students cleaned and hung up all their gear and still there was a whole day left to play!! It was 98 degrees outside so I brought in Buster but he had an accident in the house and he is so old could not get up so rolled in his pee and poop not pleasant and I ended up having to wash the whole kitchen floor and giving buster a complete bath poor thing I felt bad for him he was such a great athlete himself when he was in the field retrieving birds etc...I am going to be late for a bike ride I want to join in at Bonelli but I needed a shower myself after all the cleaning up I did!!

Here Montana is helping her daddy at therapy, it is a long process with ALs ACL and his detached femur, so sad this happened to him it is Summer and he is in a lot of pain, crutches therapy and tomorrow the ortho. Hope he comes back healed and stronger than before, I miss my husband when I am scuba diving but I know he will heal well!

July 4th 2011

Here in the USA it is officially Independence Day, now as I am British I guess it would seem odd for me to celebrate this holiday but I do and I chose to cycle 50 miles in the local Foothills as part of the annual SCVELO ride. Weather was HOT HOT HOT! and company was great, We cycled over the ridge to the Mount Baldy Post Office and met up with the Inland Infernos tri group. I had a really nice day! By the time I arrived home the girls had gone back to Rancho and Al was home alone. I was actually STARVING! after a protein drink I ate a slice of pizza, I did not feel good and a few minutes later ate chilli vegetarian of course. I had a migraine headache and was pretty miserable, I laid on the sofa with Hammer next to me and tried to watch Salt a pretty good Russian spy movie, my headache would not go away until midnight! YIKES along time to feel so miserable! I even went with Al to Dave and Jodis casa to watch fireworks but came home early! AL is looking as maybe getting his broken femur healed. I do so hope so he is miserable in the chair all day.

July 3rd 2011

Was up early and left the house at 8.30am and decided to ride my Cannondale up Glendora Mountain Road, I decided to ride down the backside it was such a pretty day sun was HOT HOT HOT and no traffic on the closed mountain roads I had a really nice ride. In the afternoon after relaxing Al the girls and I went to our new home to celebrate Germans 53rd birthday, spent the afternoon in the pool and Hammer had a good time too

Here is Hammer enjoying a little RnR

Here Hammer is modelling the latest scuba fashion and Ocean Potion Suncare!!

July 1st 2011

Up at 5am I swear I have never felt so so tired! But I had to do a two tank dive at Shaws Cove today with two students, we loaded up the cars and were out on the road by 5.30am and scuba diving at 6.45am! Had a great morning with Rachael, Nicholas and Daryl, the Ocean was perfect for Open Water Students, visibility was descent too. Saw some cool marine life and a huge Sheep head crab!! By 10.30am we were having breakfast and heading back to home! The sun was brutal and when I arrived home I had to clean the gear and do laundry put on some dinner!! As it was our anniversary of 4 years AL, the girls and Jeremiah all went to Red Robin to have a drink and dessert and Jeremiah paid the bill oh yeah!

June 30th 2011

Thursday managed a pleasant bike ride and also Montana and I went with Al to his physical therapy at Casa Colina, they put a 10s unit on his bad leg today. In the late afternoon I cycled to Bonelli for a brick workout but had to cut it short as I needed to fill scuba tanks and get gear ready for diving in the am!

Here is a hawk top of GMR just beautiful that's why I ride!

June 28th 2011

A beautiful day indeed, decided to sleep in rather than swim, and wake up when I wake up. At around 8.30am I spent a nice 2 plus hours running at Glendora Mountain Road and had a blast with Hammer my mini pin, he loves to play in the water sprinklers! Had a lot of little things to take care of today and also washed Buster very very well, he is such an adorable Lab, but so old and his hips are now not working well....Gave Buster Lots and lots of love!

Here Hammer and Buster relax after a nice bath!

June 27th 2011

Monday and amazingly enough I was not sore from that wee bike ride I did on Saturday!! Decided to go for a 25 mile recovery ride and check out my feet, the right foot is still tingling possible nerve related. Glendora Mountain Road was beautiful today and no traffic making it extra special. Swung by Incycle to pick up some new cleats for my new bike shoes. On evening spent an unusual time in Kohls just cruising around the isles, lots of things I would love to have but do not really need!!

June 26th 2011

mmm home at 4.40am! golly I was super tired it was not funny!! How Brent drove the car home I will never know! I showered took all of a few seconds to remove surface grime and stink and then closed my eyes, I never heard Al leave and when the dogs started barking as they needed to go out to poop and pee I still was hardly awake then!! Good news I was not sore just extremely tired! I had a good protein breakfast and lots of good French Pressed coffee I watched 3 movies and wondered what happened to Al.. he was on crutches helping at an archery event! So the whole day was spent relaxing although I did do two loads of laundry and cleaned behind the fridge and oven!! On the evening was treated to my favourite food Dominoes Pizza with Pineapple and mushroom, garlic crust and garlic cheese bread... must say life is rather good!!

June 25th

A LONG LONG LONG day race report to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here I am at mile 60 plenty of good Hammer products to see me through this ride!

June 24th 2011

Phew how time flies, been very busy here in the Wiscovitch house hold! Al has started physical therapy on his left leg, and is very painful, I have been tapering for a wee 300 mile bike event tomorrow and Hammer Cookie and Buster are still going strong, although Buster seems to have slowed down and is more a day to day thing.

Here is Hammer posing on number one podium after smoking the trail and chasing all the Mountain Bikers at the Knobby Time Challenge!

Al at his first PT appointment at Casa Colina.

Last week on 18th June I joined a few friends for a two river beach loop ride to see what we could learn about ourselves! As we had all been bamboozled to do a 300 mile bike event next week. Brent learnt we can not do 23 miles per hour for 300 miles!! And we will take a change of clothe for mile 140! and plenty of butt cream!!

June 13th

A beautiful day in Southern Cali the sun was out and I managed a very very nice canyon ride then I helped AL with paper work. And pampered Hammer!

June 12th

What a day relaxed in the morning keeping AL company made a healthy Banana Bread and just played with the dogs. Buster is not having great days his back legs are going and I am just trying to keep him comfortable. Today I bathed him and Hammer wanted to give hammer love too!!

Here is Hammer relaxing in front of an award winning landscape. It is special as was designed by Al

June 11th

Alarm went off and it seemed as if I had just closed my eyes!! I checked on Al he was stable and promised not to go out, I grabbed a nice breakfast and with Als blessing cycled over to Bonelli for an Olympic distance triathlon. It was a fun morning, I was calm and collective, a little tired but happy to be surrounded with triathletes as I just love this sport. The gun went off and a rather long 1.5km swim followed in the murky lake, on exiting had quite a long run to were my bike was. The 3 loops on the bike went smoothly and the 6.2 mile run was okay too good enough for the podium! At home Al was in the recliner, we watched a few movies and in the evening we went with our friends Dave and Jodi for italian food in San Dimas.

June 10th 2011

Friday is going to be the new official Monday!! Golly gosh I was so so tired I could hardly open my eyes today! Al took the girls back to Rancho and I slowly started my day, coffee and lots of it, then I became busy washing clothes, cleaning etc then I did an overhaul on my bike changed tires cleaned chain etc worked on web site and put away all the scuba gear. In the late afternoon I managed a quick spin around Bonelli Park and bought a new computer mount from Incycle. thinking I would like to do the tri in the morning. Al is still in a lot of pain and my night was spent giving ice packs etc... I hope he gets better soon.

June 9th 2011

Swam early and survived a bike ride, felt tired but my plan was to relax the rest of the day we had the girls so they could help with Al, on the evening was out monthly dive club meeting and was a huge success we had a VERY good turn out, Chris Fuller from Aqua Lung did a great job of showing the new line of products and we also watched a slide show from Jimmey Stilley in Hawaii and a cool slide show of my diving class at Catalina Island and Lake Perris!!

June 8th 2011

Was pretty tired from yesterday so in the morning after taking care of AL I caught up on paper work, I took Hammer for a quick run then cycled to Pasadena to help with the Brooks promotion at the Rosebowl. An interesting day for sure!!

June 7th 2011

Had a fun day, helping AL with his broken femur, did shopping went swimming and in afternoon taught two young children the PADI seal class. Was a nice day as AL was able to socialize while I taught diving and took his mind off his femur for a few hours.

June 5th 2011

What an action packed day! I ran early with Hammer just a 5 mile run but felt refreshed. Al was not feeling good today so Montana stayed home with AL and made sure he rested and plenty of ice packs, Cheyenne went to Lake Perris so she could watch and help with the scuba class I was finishing off. The Kramers took us to the Lake. We met up with Ryan, Marcelo, Chuck and Curtis. Always a fun day at Lake Perris it looks so beautiful and calm, sun is always shining, you cannot wait to get in the water and then the visibility hits you!! I had 4 students and considering the awful vis. all did a stellar job with navigation and skill work! After the class we were approached by a life guard and asked if we could recover a lost clipper tool they had dropped while repairing the buoys. I told him I could not promise anything but I would try. Obviously I could not take all the new Open Water divers with me even though they wanted to go as the item to recover was in a boating lane and zero vis! So I took Ryan and let Adam go with us. It was really bad vis so I opted to go back to the surface and let Adam go on the patrol boat I then told Tyan the plan for searching and we went back down to 23 feet. I had Ryan hold onto my octo we kept close together I navigated and Ryan was an extended arm woo hoo Ryan felt the clippers we surfaced triumphant!

June 4th 2011

Scuba Show at Long Beach, I managed a small swim practise and bike ride before making breakfast for the Wiscovitch clan. Mike was kind enough to collect us all and bring along a wheel chair Al is not a happy camper and I feel so bad for him. It could not have happened at a worse time!

Show went well but AL was visibly hurting. We did get some fins and new hoses for the regs and saw a lot of friends and members of the dive club.

June 3rd 2011

Just a quick blog, today we have a new handicapped license for the Truck, Montana and I made breakfast, Al still not that happy.... At 11am I was free to cycle up Mount Baldy really enjoyed my 4 hour bike ride today in the Foothills, I felt refreshed and so much happier.

June 2nd 2011

Well quite an eventful morning, I managed to get a small bike ride in went swim at Covina Masters and cycle home to check on Al, we had an appointment today at 1.45pm with the Orthopedic surgeon, sure hope everything goes well for Al. I lost most of the morning and never saw the bike! I also washed Buster and cleaned the back yard. Went with Al to Orthopedic with the girls too. They drained 80cc of blood from his knee, going to be a long 8 weeks of recovery, Al is to say a little depressed. New brace and wow he just laid on the couch while all that blood was drained. We took the girls to eat and back home I managed a little ride up GMR!

June 1st WHITE RABBIT!

Wow June 1st already, I was so tired today it was not funny! I woke up hoping that ALs Femur would be fine but alas it is still fractured and my husband is in a lot of pain.I felt so tired I could hardly open my eyes! I flopped out of bed and helped AL with an ice pack etc... it is also National Running day to day and a visit to Als primary doctor in the am. They recommended he get a MRI Al drove home and I decided to run for 90 minutes on local trails.

Felt great to run and just soak up the rays of sunshine all too soon I was at home and again checking on Al, I decided I had no time to ride my bike today so caught up on some unfinished projects a little later in honor of running day I offered to run with Steve a friend of ours who is preparing for a 13 miler meanwhile AL went for an MRI.

We had a quiet evening Al is quite upset and wears a brave face.

May 30th Tuesday

I woke up really really early as I wanted to get a swim in so I could look after Al. Swim went well, felt good to be in the pool and I cycled straight home. Al was still in pain and we made an appointment to see the doctor on Wednesday. So we had a slow day of sorts I went for a short bike ride. On the evening we had the Kramer family come over for a surprise visit, we enjoyed their company.

May 29th,

Up very early AL is still in a lot of pain, I woke up the students and we all walked down to the dive park for dive number 3. What can I say it was topped off with a swell shark egg purse and a huge Horn Shark. Weather starting to get bad and by 9.15am all the gear was packed and we were on our way to the Ferry, Al was in much pain and we needed to get him to hospital.

As soon as we arrived home AL and I went to the Emergency Room at San Dimas Hospital and bad news Al has a fractured Femur. Def. not good. He was put on crutches and his whole leg immobilized. We went and purchased painkillers and ate ice cream Feel so bad for AL. Back home I cleaned ALL the scuba gear while AL rested his left leg, on the evening Dave and Jodi came by and gave some moral support.

May 28th 2011

Up at the crack of dawn, loaded up the truck, the girls were taking the mountain bikes and I had a scuba class of 4 students as well as 3 divers plus Al. One of the students travelled with us and the other two groups took there own cars.

For memorial weekend it was light traffic to Long Beach, we were told at the ferry that the Ocean and wind they might delay the 6pm Ferry until later that was okay.

At Catalina Island it was unusually windy, by the time we had all walked to the dive park a little bit of sun was peaking out. I opened an account for tank refills and all the students suited up for the water.

Dive one was more a pleasure dive and getting the students comfortable, the Ocean was a little choppy but not too bad. As we suited up for the second dive we discovered that we had 40 minutes to get to the ferry which was leaving at 11.45am and was the last ferry leaving...We did not have time to get to the Ferry so rolled the dice and hoped that there would indeed be another Ferry.

On dive 2 Al had a nasty accident on the dive step exiting the Ocean, as the waves had become stronger and he was whipped up like a piece of kelp and literally slammed into a steel pole, really hurting his quad and knee. We all exited the water I was responsible for a 10 year old student diver and after two attempts got him up to safety. I aborted the 3rd dive as the Ocean had changed we had to scramble for a place to stay and change our ferry tickets as well as look after AL who was in so much pain and could not walk we called  DAN who offered to airlift him to the mainland, we thought that would not be good taking into consideration the wind. SO we stabilized his leg and ICE. I was a little upset as the ferry people did not tell us they were going to cancel the Ferry just it would run later....GRRR but we did find a nice condo and when all shared out the cost came to $131 per group.

May 26th 2011

Well woke up to seeing my precious grandbaby sleeping like a princess, nice sight I have to say, I was able to catch breakfast and cleanup and get her toys out. It is a joy when that little girl first wakes up always a nice smile on her face and so excited to greet the day. We made cookies, walked the dogs played with Hammer read books cleaned the floor I just love seeing life through this 3 year old princess.

May 25th 2011

Truly been a sad week but as I wrote somewhere else, I have cried and totally lost it, now I am learning to dance in the rain and sit out the storm in style and then I hope to enjoy many rainbows.!!

Last weekend I had the chance to take a day out of the problem we are facing and cycled up GMR to watch the amgen tour it was pretty cool.

In this photo taken by Demi Hechenova of SC VELO bike club are two great American Cyclists, Chris Horner took the overall yellow jersey of the Amgen Tour meanwhile in this Photo he lets Levi take the Mount Baldy Stage win that my friends is teamsmanship.

Below is a picture of Montana and her daddy Al at her 6th grade graduation, She is very excited to be going into 7th grade when she returns to school after Summer Break.

May 18th 2011

Sometimes the simple things in life that do not cost any thing are the most memorable. Here is Hammer my mini pin with AL and I after running a very hilly 5 miler. There is something so pure and natural about my day that day, an escape from the every day problems and being pulled by Hammer..

May 16th 2011

Wow what a weekend I had, after last weeks Amgen pre ride mountain stage I had taken a day or two to recover and catch up on paper work, I had planned on Saturday to do a triathlon at Bonelli park and was fortunate enough on Monday evening to interview Bill Fulton on his thoughts when he first produced the Los Angeles Tri series on April 17th 1983! I spent a few hours with Bill and Anne and was amazing the history they shared with me, wow what an article it will be that is for sure.

On Wednesday evening it was the Chamber night at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The dive club had a table there and Montana and Cheyenne joined us for the event, always a cool event at the Aquarium.

On Thursday was our monthly dive club meeting and also more importantly was Montanas 12th birthday! I spent the afternoon making a nice birthday cake in the shape of a fish! It was very much appreciated and I really enjoyed making it.

Friday was supposed to be a day of rest I could not find any one to be a relay team at the tri, I was a little frustrated but determined to do the triathlon. I cycled to Pasadena in the late morning as I had promised Kool n Fit I would help with the booth at the expo for the Pasadena Marathon. ...Well things happen and I ended up signing up with the compliments of Kool N Fit for the marathon on Sunday YIKES! A Tri and marathon all in the same week. I stayed at the expo for a few hours and finally called it a day, I called Al I was a little tired so I began to cycle home and I met him in his Dodge.

Saturday morning was the Bonelli triathlon woo hoo so much fun now it had moved to the North Shore.

May 7th 2011

woohoo race day again!! Not sure how tired my legs are from last week but I signed up have my race number 1543 on my bike and helmet and its time..... a long day in the saddle but in a strange way I really had a fun day with 10,000 plus feet of climbing in my local stomping grounds! Not sure how well I did as I treated the day as a good training day, I did find out 56 miles into the ride that the ride did not end at Baldy but at Claremont! making a total of 90 plus miles not 75! That the downhill was much much harder than the uphill, and the final 4.3 mile climb to Baldy was quite an experience.

In the afternoon we celebrated Montanas 12th Birthday with family.

May 6th 2011

DId not do much today I cleaned the house and cleaned the yard with Buster and Hammer, and was a guest speaker for a Girl Scout Troop in Claremont! This had to be the highlight of my week, to talk to young girls in the Girl Scouting movement and show them all my awards and my Queens Guide award when I was their age! Then I discovered I was able to compete in the Tour 75 mile bike ride in the am. I was home by 9pm and prepared my bike and riding clothes for the early AM, we also had the girls and Cheyenne wanted to go to the Bike event and help Incycle and Montana was going to go with her daddy to an archery competition!!

May 5th 2011

Did an easy swim in the early am and a rather hilly bike ride locally, I spent the rest of the day helping Al and get ready for the girls on the evening. I love my life but sometimes find myself stressing alot needlessly!

May 4th 2011

Today is Chamber night and Al and I fully endorse this fund raiser, this year we had been so busy with the San Dimas Stage Race and other issues we did not do a great job of marketing the event which is held as a dinner at the Aquarium of the Pacific so this year we only had 10 of our club members. But we all had a nice evening and Montana and Cheyenne also went. On the Tuesday afternoon I had taught two junior open water students at a pool in La Verne, they had done really great and I really love teaching Junior divers! As they are so eager to learn and fun!

April 30th 2011

Oh my what a day I had today!! Awake at 4.30am and was up and ready for race day!! A wee 50 mile run at Lake Hughes!! 39.5 mile of single track and 10.5 mile of fireroad! I finished in 10 hours and 55 minutes had a fun packed day. race report is up on the Rudy Project news! it was a great day out on the trails and faced my fears with single track downhill!! I travelled with good friends and came back with good friends!!

Spent the 1st of May relaxing and doing race reports and playing with Hammer my mini pin!

April 27th 2011

Well have to say Easter in Cali was quiet! Compared to when I lived in Boqueron Puerto Rico. All was eerie quiet in the morning, the girls left to have Easter at their moms home, Al and I decided to watch old Westerns! we then took Hammer and Als mountain bike to the top of GMR and did a trail 4 miles down, single track and sketchy in parts, black clouds and low fog and no one else on the trail kinda spooky! Al was all smiles on the descent I was too busy watching were I put my feet! On the way back never heard a peep out of AL as going up hill was quite a challenge! Hammer and I smoked it!! In Afternoon shared Easter at Tammy's home and coming home we brought a passenger...Abigail our adorable grand-baby! Oh boy what a night Hammer and Cookie went crazy and Abby ate 3 boiled eggs at midnight!!

Having Abbey for a day is certainly entertaining and a lot of work! Good job I am a triathlete and understand sleep deprevation! I let her have a bubble bath, we washed and blow dried cookie dog and took all the dogs to the park and made daisy chains! She just never stops. In the afternoon I put her in the baby jogger and took her to Bonelli park what a workout that was, at 3 years old getting bigger and heavier! We chased road runners, white cotton tails and squirrels we ran and played on the swings life is good through the eyes of a 3 year old!!

This week I have had a nice training week, I cycled up to Crystal Lake a nice 25 mile climb with two friends Mr pain freak and Mr Bonk! I had forgotten how much fun it was to cycle with them always cracking jokes. The climb was as always long and long!! The highligh was watching a Sheriffs chopper making a rescue, As always I came a little too close to the landing and took a picture the next minute I was slammed against the canyon wall cover in sand and debris! If anything it was an amazing experience!! We all suffered to the top, I had to get home as it was Easter Saturday and I promised Cheyenne I would shop for a dress with her. and then we all made rice krispie nests (just like my granny Burrows made every Easter)

Life is alright a few little problems but cannot dwell on negativity have to keep moving forward.

Today Hammer and I took our friend Ultra Ray to MArshal Canyon we had a lovely 12 mile run some great water crossings a run in with a huge bees nest and I mean huge and Ray managed to twist his bad ankle.

Watched American Idol with Montana and enjoyed my 5 minutes of fame with the triathlete article!!

April 18th 2011

Today is my 47th birthday and I feel tired, grumpy and unattractive!! probably because I need rest after a hectic week of non stop activity so plan on hitting the jacuzzi tub later in the day! Al had to leave early but came back and we enjoyed a nice brunch together in Glendora Village, I love the restaurant as it reminded me of English bed and breakfasts! I also enjoyed a nice mountain bike ride with Al and it was overcast and drizzle most of the day. On the evening the girls came over and I spent my birthday evening at an SC VELO meeting!!!

So last Friday found me at 6.30am in Monrovia and my friend Lori picked me up and the next thing I knew I was making friends with 10 new running buddies as we would all run a relay from Huntington Beach to Coronado Island in San Diego, it was quite an adventure and I already knew what I was getting into! We each run a portion of the course at a time, yet my legs seemed a little long and some quite difficult, On my second leg of the run I found myself running at Midnight up Fallbrook, with a little diddly headlamp! Brr cold and steep, pitch black and did I say fun!!! LOL. Ragnar Relays are growing in popularity and we all had a great experience as we covered 203 miles in a van with little sleep and comfort. Finish line was on the beach and beers were awarded although I do not drink, the only glitch was we did not think about who would drive the vans back to Monrovia from San Diego!! So we all ate in the birthplace of California! and the long journey began, thank goodness for Lori my new hero as she took over the wheel and we arrived safely in Monrovia at 10pm at night.

But there is no rest for the wicked and I quickly found myself at 11pm at night preparing for the team triathlon in the morning of the 17th April at Bonelli Park!!

This has to be the highlight of my tri career!! As I formed a team with me swimming, Daryl Bowman a very fast time trials from SC VELO on the bike and .......my dog Hammer running!! LOL was a tri to remember, I swam with the men, dangerous stuff as I was battered around on the 500 meter course, on exiting the water in one piece I ran up to the transition area gave my timing chip and Daryl took off, he was so fast I lost a little time in TT as I did not know he was THAT fast!! I put the timing chip around Hammers' neck and he already had his race number on, we took off Hammer was so excited he chased down all the men and had a blast half mile out Daryl joined us and we ran across the finish line together. We placed first in the relay teams!! And Hammer my dog even had a medal placed around his neck quite a hoot.

In the afternoon I was so grateful to be home, it was quiet as AL was spear fishing I cleaned up and sat in my fave chair with Hammer next to me we both fell asleep!!

On April 7th I did a presentation for Cycling Connections on Hammer products Solids and Fizz, then a detailed presentaion on heart rate training with Polar monitors. It was an exciting session and I enjoyed the questions and answers.

April 5th 2011

wow how time flies, March is such a blur, the San Dimas Stage Race was a huge success with 950 cyclists competing over 3 days Al my husband an excellent race director, he had a good race committee and of course I was his right hand to go to person as assistant race director. Over those 3 days AL and I managed to get 7 hours of sleep Monday was spent sleeping ALL morning! the 28th March was such a peaceful relaxing day with Hammer my mini pin next to me all day!

I have been busy and before the SDSR I had completed a marathon in Corona and ran with a good friend Andy, amazing scenery and good company, I also finished a 50 mile run which started out in a full down pour of rain!! and ended with sunny skies before turning into night fall!!

Two days a week see me awake before the birds start chirping! and I swim at a Masters group in Covina, Brrr the bike ride in pitch black can be cold and spooky!and the first stroke in the pool awakening then everything if fine! Great way to start the day off.

Also I am back on my bike and trying to get power and distance back!!

Cannot complain, life is good.

March 17th 2011

Happy ST Patricks Day!! How I miss Boqueron Puerto Rico on this day! They always have a parade and fire potatoes into the sky over the bay of Boqueron. Instead I have spent the morning working on sponsorship and expo area as well as a guest speaker at a local school, being a speaker at the school was a good experience it never ceases to amaze me the questions the kids ask!

San Dimas Stage RAce is coming along well, the sponsors are sending the products the race is filling up we are past 900 cyclists and still counting, boxes of products have over taken my home! Permits for the Michelob beer garden are approved, and yesterday all the banners for the start finish line were finalized.

In the afternoon I had Vanessa over and we finished off pool work at Mikes pool, with the daylight hours increased more hours in the day to do things!

On the evening I ran to the SDSR meeting! good turn out and positive attitudes!

TRIATHLETE PHOTO SHOOT

Earlier in the week I had Triathlete magazine take photos for an article they will be running on me in the May issue of Triathlete, all very exciting! The photographer was fun to work with and we went down to our local park for the shoot! I had all 13 of my ultraman awards and had a blast but I do not see my future as a model!! Earlier in the day I had visited my friend in Uplands who is also a photographer for the shoot and had a nice time chatting about bike racers etc....really excited about being in the magazine!

SUNDAY DAY LIGHT SAVING 13TH MARCH

On Saturday I had had a FULL day as I had ran 18 miles with lil olde Hammer in the trails up at GMR, he had fallen into the water in the trail on monroe and getting home had been challenging, then I had cycled 25 miles to watch Al in his second Archery tournament, on the evening we had people over and by the time I had with AL put all the gear together for diving Sunday I was truly exhausted I did not want to be late for the early morning start to Shaws Cove I text ed my students about the hour forward change changed all my clocks and my cell phone, set the alarm for 6am and went night night

Sunday, could not believe my alarm was ringing, I put my hand out to turn off the alarm, Al put on the tv, I thought it was weird as it said 5am instead of 6am, and told AL that they had not set the clock on the tv. I was up, made breakfast and the clock on the stove said 4.15am???? how could that be, then I discovered my cell phone accounted for the extra hour! I was really early today!

That said I had a great 3 dives with Al as my divemaster, Vanessa and Zach as my students and David a friend who came along, despite the tsusami warning on the Friday it was not that bad, vis was a little shadey but the students loved it never the less, we saw some Californian sheep crabs and other interesting critters! We did not get home until late 3.30pm, but what a beautiful day.

March 15th 2011

As I write this my eyes are heavy and just super duper tired! I have had a hectic two weeks and what with Spring in the air more day light hours when do I sleep!!

Have not been riding my bike much as been really busy with sponsorship and expo for the San Dimas Stage Race as well as assistant race director Al is Race Director.every week has been a meeting, and then permits and USA Cycling etc etc etc... what I have learnt is there is a LOT of behind the scenes organization that the racers do not see!!

Scuba Diving has been fun and had a few new students also I have been super busy teaching CPR/AED and up dating all my PADI materials.

Life has been fun as I have spent time with Abby my 3 year old grand baby who I think is adorable!! She spent two nights with us  a total 24/7 watch, we made chocolate heart cookies and made so much mess I never thought we would get the kitchen clean again!! But the joy Abby brought me with rolling out cookie dough, mixing it with her hands and eating the raw dough totally out weighed all the work cleaning up! Hammer and Cookie were mini vacuum cleaners as they licked the floor clean of crumbs!

March 2nd 2011

Were did February go!! Have been super busy helping my husband Al with the organisation of the San Dimas Stage Race which will begin on the 25th March for its 12th year! I also had some great running events in February, On super bowl Sunday Al took me down to the RoseBowl were I ran the 13.1 mile trail run, Hammer my mini pin had a great time socializing and Cookie the Yorkie is doing better at these events. It was a good day as I took first in my agegroup and Hammer and I received my prize together!

I then spent a few days with my precious grandbaby Abbey, who is growing so fast it is quite scarey! We made cookies together and had the whole family over for Superbowl, The next Day Monday was spent with Abbey! We ran to the park and played on all the cool new play stations! We did not get home until dark so Al came and rescued us and took us for Mexican food and hot chocolate! Having Abbey sleep over is always a hoot as Hammer sleeps on top of us protecting her!

Have been to the dentist 5 times in February, what with complications of 6 new crowns, a root canal etc I am beginning to get anxious when someone says dentist! But the School of Dentistry at Loma Linda is top notch and my dental student Scott is super nice. As I write this I have a 6 tooth bridge and waiting for the crowns to be finished so I will look like a million dollars!

Inbetween dental school I have also been scuba diving on a 3 day trip to CAtalina Island were I enjoyed very much teaching classes and had some great memorable moments!

I did two long runs in Feb one was a trail 27 miles in Corona, very very beautiful, I ran with my ultra running friend Andy, it basically was 11 miles up 5 miles across and 11 miles down! Weather was warm and not too hot just a great run. The second run I did was a 50 mile run...... probably not the wisest thing I have done as did not have the training in but I finished and had a blast doing so.

Al is very passionate about Archery and hunting, so our back yard has been turned into a 3d shoot out! I did go and support him at his first Archery Competition that certainly was different and while AL shot 3d targets I was BBQing hot dogs and hamburgers for the Participants!

Have been trying to make the swim practises it has been super cold in the mornings and cycling to the pool is definitely a chore!

Life is not boring at the Wiscovitch Household plenty of things to keep busy!

February 4th 2011

WOO HOO what a February after having the front tooth worked on today feeling a little better. They cleaned out the root and nerve of my infected tooth and slapped on a temp crown...now to get through the weekend in tact!!

Despite the throbbing pain and thank goodness for pain killers I decided to run yesterday with Hammer and went to a nice off road I like running, only to see a black car on the off road and a weird guy changing his pants!! I became anxious and told Hammer be good in a loud voice,then this guy got out of the car apologized for changing and told me I was forbidden to run Gordons Loop!! WOW total shock, I ended up taking Hammer up GMR and down Colby was a nice run although I felt a little sore from Yoga class which I have started again!

YOGA

Who could believe an activity as lame as yoga could kick my butt!! I am telling you YOGA is the best thing you can do as an athlete and if you try to concentrate on each pose and do it to the best of your ability you will feel the advantage in your next run bike or swim!!

Busy week helping AL with San Dimas Stage Race and also Montana was quite sick and spent the day with us on Wednesday, some sort of stomach flu!

Going to run in the Rose bowl half marathon on Sunday so hope my dental woes do not affect me too much!!

February 1st 2011

Well what can I say what a month January has been I am considering February as the new 1st of the year! It has been a month of dental woes and lots of pain. Highs and Lows. Typically January is one of recovery and I had wanted to do a long ultrarun on Catalina Island, but cost of dental care kind of put a damper on that idea. I ran a lot with Hammer my mini pinscher he is such a cool little dog and a huge heart! We have done a few 13 to 15 mile runs, and lots of 5 milers. Cycling I have been doing base training and swimming trying to get a little faster in a chlorinated outdoor pool.

Running with Hammer can be quite a fun activity, especially if he sees another dog or runner in front of us he just has to be the alpha runner and we have had some great adventures, exploring local trails on Glendora Mountain Road, or doing well known trails at Bonelli park in reverse, we always have plenty of water and Hammer gel to get us through the runs. As soon as I put on my pink fuel belt Hammer knows it is time to run! I have also began to use my Polar G3 GPS unit and having fun with that too.

As for dental issues lets try 6 more crowns, complicated by an abscessed tooth on my upper teeth, oh my so much pain but I do see light at the end of the tunnel, I have been through 18 months of dental procedures from simple fillings, to tooth extrusions, extractions, bridges, crowns, veneers, infections, cracked teeth and still not finished. prior to that I had 3 titanium dental implants and a gum graft on my lower jaw! This week I was subjected to cold and hot treatment to test out nerve feelings in my teeth, but the most discomforting procedure is the electrical pen, this is where the dentist zaps the tooth and when you feel the electric jolt the dentist can decided if the tooth is healthy. Unfortunately for me I had the electric treatment on my front right tooth and felt NOTHING!! Way not good and prognosis a dead tooth and bacterial infection in the bone! Sigh antibiotics and another root canal!! The best part of being sick was Abigail my 3 year old grand daughter who when found out her gran ma Suzy was sick found me a pillow and blankets and sang to me!!

Life is good the weather is not that bad here in Southern California and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

January 30th 2011

This past weekend we only had Montana so early Saturday I swam and did a little cycling despite an aching tooth, and spent the rest of the day with Montana, AL took her to the archery range and we both took her shopping for some cool new clothes. Sunday was spent scuba diving at Shaws Cove, was not really cold and the 3 students all did a great job, I actually had a great time scuba diving and saw some cool critters!!

January 26th 2011

Wednesday was going to do many things but had a horrible headache and toothache. I ended up helping Al do garden work oh my what a workout! Shovel, pick, hoe, roots, stones rakes! gotta say who needs gym membership when you have a garden that needs work! Hammer wanted to go for a run so we did an easy 5 mile run and I worked on the San Dimas Stage Race.I did get a few miles on my bike only 16 but did feel better for the exercise. I have developed a facial twitch, I think due to all the dental work I have had done.. I am lucky to have the work done but wish I did not have all the pain associated with it!

January 25th 2011

Up so early! and cycled to the swimming pool, brrr cold cold cold!! but needed a little exercise and actually had a productive swim workout!! Back home I had a lot of Internet work to do and although it was a beautiful day not much time to work out! I did get to finish a lot of work with my new Polar Monitors and learnt how to use the G3 accessory!

January 24th

Monday Monday! not a great day today, after the deep dive yesterday my teeth were REALLY hurting so kept close to home, and played with the dogs most of the day and enjoyed the sunshine in my own back yard!

January 23rd 2011

Up so early as we were scheduled to meet at DANA Point today to do some research diving, Life gets interesting when you are Suzy! I cannot say I was super excited about diving to 125 ft to take soil samples but I found myself at 9am at the bottom of the Ocean pitch eerie green blackness with my scuba buddies Mike and Chip! Al was safety on the boat, he certainly did not miss anything not diving!! Was quite funny as Chip as trying to get his video to work and mean while Mike and I thought he had finished and we started to ascend! Soil sample taken we moved the boat to a shallower spot for a relaxed dive. I dived with Chip, water as a tad cold for sure and limited vis but still enjoyed the dive. Al was sick so as soon as the dive was finished we left the guys to clean the boat etc and went home. Green Bay Packers were playing to AL relaxed and watched the football, I had tooth ache took a few pain killers and then walked the dogs and cleaned the scuba gear. An amazing sunset.... life is good!

January 22nd 2011

A sad morning as I left at 7am to cycle to Rancho 20 miles away to participate in the memorial ride in honor of Kevin a 44 year old master cyclist who lost his life on the Glendora Mountain Road. I certainly did not expect to see in the region of 300 cyclists!!I recognised a lot of the cyclists and the group even though huge was for the most part controlled. By the end of the ride after coffee and getting home it was 12 noon and I had finished 70 miles on my bike!! It was pretty cold when I set off in the morning and by the time I arrived home the sun was out and AL had his brother and friends over shooting bows and arrowsin the back garden. I took the dogs for a walk  I took them to their favorite shop petsmart! and then relaxed in the afternoon, on the evening AL and I went out for dinner, planned an early night as scuba diving in the am...

January 21st Friday 2011

Al took Montana to school in the morning she had a terrible cough, I decided to clean behind the stove! and turned into a 90 minute cleaning session. After I had pampered all the dogs and done a laundry I decided to go for a long run with Hammer my min pin the King of toy dogs and our household!! Had such a nice run, we ran through puddles, over hills, after rabbits and covered a descent 13 miles or so!! Sorted out clothes for goodwill. My teeth still really hurt taking ibuprofen for the swelling.

January 20th 2011

Up early to swim with the Masters swim group in Covina, brrr it was sure cold in the early hours, 5.30am is an insane time to swim yet after I have cycled there swam and taken a hot shower at home feel invincible for the rest of the day!! Yet today was different as my mouth was still swollen and my gums still bleeding, so I did an easy 3000. On the evening was the third meeting of the San Dimas Stage Race committee, and I had a lot to do to prepare all the race binders etc... so on a whim I decided to meet a few friends and cycle up GMR knowing I had no time to go across the ridge to Baldy, was an exceptional day and my legs had a snap to them, but I still had bleeding gums and a new hole I discovered that morning! At 12 noon I met Susan and Tammy  have not seen them since before xmas! Then it was home and help AL with the race committee information. On the evening we all met at the coffee shop, Montana was staying with us always a pleasure, after the meeting we went to my fave shop Cost plus and managed to purchase xmas crackers at 90% off original price! and British candy! On the evening we caught up with next great baker, American idol and a few other recorded programs. I was exhausted and tired and was soon asleep with Hammer by my side.

January 14th 2011

Wednesday.... a super duper LONG day, my dental woes were on the high to priority list, my top lip was really swollem, the gums were bleeding and peeling and I felt miserable. I ended up staying ALL DAY in the house doing paper work etc my mouth was truly a MESS.

January 13th 2011

Swam early and really enjoyed the work out, I even managed a nice 15 mile bike ride. Today AL was going fishing and I had the dreaded dental chair... but as always the case a different hand was dealt and we ended not leaving our home until 12.30pm as the phone company decided to turn up after we had waited all day yesterday!! AL dropped me off for a 4 hour appointment and left me for what was probably the most PAINFUL treatment I have had in the 18 months I have been a patient!

January 15th 2011

Buster was sick but no abnormal bowel movements, which was a good thing. We brought him in the house and I cleaned up the vomit I brushed him and gave the other dogs a little food. and Buster white rice. Then I took Hammer with me on a nice 15 mile run with new friends I took them to Walnut Creek and Bonelli Park, Hammer had a GREAT time and I think my running buddies enjoyed the new terrain to run on. It was a wonderful day in Southern California today and AL spent the whole morning with friends shooting archery in the back yard. Montana had a nice evening at a sleep over and came back in the morning too. On the afternoon late we all went to Hollywood with Cheyenne and her boyfriend Kevin, Montana and our friends Jodi and Dave. Good evening and enjoyed the Hollywood stars.

January 14th 2011  Buster Buster Buster

Well woke up with good intentions to go run after making coffee, as always I went out to check on Buster and could not find him in his kennel,but what I did find was a yard full of unscoopable poop and a foul smell. I panicked and went back in the house to get a flash light I could not believe the mess. I was in tears, I found Buster at the back of the house covered in poop crying I brought him into the house and it is not even 7am yet and I am giving the old dog a bed bath I was distraught. Al took the girls to school and after I made sure Buster was clean and smelling like he normally does went into the battle field to attack the unscoopable poop of which there was a lot of. Two hours later of hot water, bleach and oxy clean I had scrubbed the yard clean and added new top soil to the boarders of the yard, washed and sanitized all his bedding. I decided today was not a good day to leave him alone and Hammer Cookie and I stayed with him all day. The weather was in the 80s and I could not believe I was on my bike spinning for 90 minutes but I love Buster and he really needed me today by his side. The whole day was an emotional roller coaster with Buster and I made him white rice on the evening!

I also made a very nice pasts dinner for Al Cheyenne and Cheys friend.

January 13th 2011 DISNEYLAND

Woke very early to go swim at Covina, finally the weather is heating up although the pool was slightly cold. I was excited today as I was going to Disneyland with Tammy and Abbey! I cycled home to get ready from the pool and as always I check on Buster and feed Hammer and Cookie, Buster had been sick and bowel problems, so before showering I had to clean the kennel out and his bedding, and then clean up Buster, I just love this Lab Retriever to bits! Before I knew it Tammy had arrived with Abbey and we made great time being as Disneyland at 10am sharp! Nine Hours later we would be putting a sleeping Abbey into the car that nine hours was filled with fun tears and laughter! Abbey was so excited to see all the Disney characters and the high light was taking her to the Biperdy Boberty Boutique were we parted with a lot of dollars for Abbey to be dolled up as a Tinkerbell princess with photos in her carriage it was all too cute and she made an adorable princess!! Then we spent time doing the attractions sometimes more than once, and we had our photos taken with Mickey. Minnie and Goofy! Abbey was VERY upset that Mickey did not have a kitchen and told him so! She tried to hard to keep awake and see all the excitement and literally fell asleep eating a lollipop!

On the evening I had a dive club meeting which went very well.

January 11th 2011

Decided today was a cycling day I felt good and woke refreshed swimming was cancelled due to the heater breaking down so I cycled up GMR what a gorgeous day, snow peaked mountains and sunshine but it was in reality freezing. But that did not matter I had so much fun looking at the great scenery. On the afternoon I had a dentist appointment, Al Jeremiah and Josh went float tubing. My dental appointment was short as I really needed a 4 hour slot so I spent the rest of the day looking at life through the eyes of Abby and gosh she is too darn cute carrying her lap top, and then putting on her pink helmet and riding her new bike. On the evening we all enjoyed a nice dinner together.

January 10th 2011

What a day I only ran today as I was super busy sorting out all the paper work I have in boxes it was crazy I managed to get rid of 2 trash cans full. A cleansing of the home and mind!! I had a pampered evening home alone!

January 9th 2011

Today we are going to Abbys 3rd birthday party and Al went to shoot some archery so I went crazy cleaning and found a cell phone while walking the dogs around the block. And was able to call the last number and tell the owner I had his phone. I ended up setting off for a run late in the morning. I took Hammer and we ran 13 miles. It was wonderful and liberating to be running trails. Unfortunately as we were running up GMR to the trail head there was a lot of commotion and ambulances, police, fire brigade etc... I was to find out later that the local cycling community lost a great master cyclist and was saddened as I also knew him and his wife. You just never know when your calling card comes in.

My run went well and Hammer was truly pooped!! In the afternoon, Al, Jeremiah and I went up to Tammy and Josh to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Abby with the cup cakes and presents. It was nice to see Montana there we had hoped we could have picked her up, but was nice that she was there. The kids had a great time and Abby had Christmas all over again! Afterwards we ended up at the Bass Pro Shop!!  PLEEESE!!!

January 8th 2011

An interesting day I had planned a great day of exercise and ended up cycling to the outdoor pool and swimming and when I cycled home was FREEZING! so I warmed up and instead of a run with Hammer who was not too happy about that I made 50 chocolate cup cakes for Abbeys birthday party tomorrow. In the afternoon I had Tammy come round with the baby and we all decorated the cup cakes, what a mess we had frosting everywhere which Abigail just loved to eat up! On the evening we all went out to eat with Jeremiah. Was a really nice evening.

Sometimes it is good to relax with family and Abby is certainly a fun person to be with!!

January 7th 2011

Girls went to school and I snuggled with Hammer he just loves hugs first thing in the morning. I took both Cookie and Hammer for a walk  after which I took down the remaining Christmas decor!and decided it was time to take a day and ride my bike, and that is exactly what I did took plenty of Hammer Nutrition, and cycled one lap around Bonelli park with AL then I went my own way and rode Azusa Canyon, I stopped before the climb to help a cyclist with a front flat tire lol no spare tubes nothing! So I stopped to help and went on my way and really enjoyed the Foothills, it was a little chilly but the view was spectacular and the dam was full of murky water from all the rain SO CAL has experienced! By the time I descended a cold Glendora Mountain Road I had completed 55 miles!! with no pressure and only saw two cyclists the entire time! Spent the evening with Al and my dogs!!

January 6th 2011

Decided to brave the cold and cycled at 5am to the Covina pool for a Masters swim session! really happy I made the effort always feel better after a cold swim! Cycled home and had breakfast. then instead of cycling early I helped Al with organizing the San Dimas Stage Race and waiting for the Staples package to arrive! Inbetween cleaning all the sheets vacuuming and washing all the floors and packing up Christmas decor. Today is officially 3 Kings Day and it is when you should always take down decorations! In Puerto Rico everyone is having a feista! In the late afternoon I managed a small bike ride to spin out my legs. On the evening was the second meeting for the San Dimas Stage Race, Cheyenne and Montana were dropped off at the coffee shop. After the meeting I helped Cheyenne create a nice poster for her boyfriend Kevin and then watched Cake Boss with Montana! AL was really tired!

January 5th 2011

Wednesday and it was a LONG DAY I felt very depressed nearly all day!! I could not get any motivation and really want to sign up for some races but cannot afford to do that at the moment! Helped Al with getting supplies for the SDSR meeting, and did a few e-mails for the SDSR race. AL suggested I do an Ironman in ST George!! It is not until May 7th but I do not have $550.00 at the moment. I discovered AVON were a sponsor so there may be a way I can do this IM!! I guess I am not great with cold weather and just had a difficult day as felt like all I have done this week is clean!! Buster is a lot of work and Hammer and Cookie love attention too!! Before I knew it the day was over!! I scrambled to run a mile with the dogs just to save my day!! And hope tomorrow is more productive!

January 4th 2011

I woke up at 4.30am!and made my way to the pool for the first swim of 2011! Golly it was pretty cold thankfully we did not do anything too demanding. I cycled home and began preparing a HUGE breakfast of Hash browns and eggs I was starving!! I was supposed to go the the dentist for dental surgery but had to cancel and ended up at Bonelli park were AL and Jeremiah went float tube fishing!! They looked like ballerinas in their get up! I had Hammer my mini pin with me so we went and ran for 8 miles while the guys floated and fished! We had a blast it was muddy from all the rain and the trails were not accessible so we ran on the different paved roads followed a cross country team and chased geese! By the time we went back to the lake it was getting dark and VERY cold. The guys caught NO fish!! But was a nice day!

January 2nd 2011

Brrr it was cold and overcast and the word was rain! Yup MORE rain so I decided it was time to get my road bike and clean it and put on the computer and take my Cannondale for a nice spin! Did I mention COLD! Oh my I was dressed as if I lived in Siberia my legs felt sluggish but I decided I just needed to ride and ended up doing a very pleasant although extremely cold 32 miles! At home AL was shooting arrows. We took Montana and Cheyenne to the movies and dropped them off at their moms home and we went back home to help Jeremiah finish his wood floor!

January 1st 2011 (1/1/11)

Midnight the seconds tick and the most wonderful gift Abigail fell asleep in my arms at exactly 30minutes before midnight!! We spent the evening at Marlenes home, unfortunately the girls could not make it but they came over at 9.30am and we had them for a nice New Year Days Breakfast and Jeremiah and PC joined us. Hammer, Cookie and Buster all went for a walk with me and Montana to the local park they had a great time. It was a really cold day and my workout was helping AL help Jeremiah with his floor in his apartment. and I took time to make Mr Chubbs their mini pin comfortable in his garden quarters. In late afternoon Montana and I went with Marlene to watch Burlesque, Cheyenne felt tired and slept on the sofa. On the evening we all enjoyed Pizza, I was exhausted from working for 5 hours on the back house!

WISHING A SAFE HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 31st 2010

Thank goodness the last day of 2010 is here!! In reflection it has not been a bad year! I have my health and a great husband plus an adorable grand child Abigail.

In my profession as a triathlete I have managed to keep busy and did Boston Marathon and Ultraman Hawaii despite injuries in February which side lined me for 4 weeks and dental surgeries which put a hold on quality long distance training, I raised a nice amount of Money for the Crusade Against Breast Cancer through AVON of Puerto Rico.

Scuba Diving was also busy spent a few nice weekends on Catalina Island and also a few day trips out of Long Beach and made some new friends through Scuba Diving.

Family, well being a step mom has not been easy and I am learning I am not alone in the world when it comes to being a step mom, it is like I am damned if I do anything and damned if I do not do anything!! So I love both the girls and wish they could spend more time with us, unfortunately we never seem to be able to do that and at Christmas hardly saw them! But I had my grandbaby Abby over for 4 straight days and a great Christmas with Als family. I also had my parents from England stay with us in Hawaii and in Glendora which was nice.

The economy is hitting a lot of families hard and we are no different so learning to love and appreciate what we have and what we can afford and not worry about what the Jones are doing!!

November 22nd 2010

Al my hubby arrives in the evening with my parents!! Busy Monday, managed a nice swim, and spent morning at Lava Java with a huge group of Ultraman Athletes. My swim was good able to work on my technique a little still last swimmer out. Saw Jane and Virginia at the Pier. It had rained a little but Ocean was beautiful my lower back is causing me great grief but will be okay I know that!

Back at Chetts home I feed the cats check the plants and talking to Jon (Ocean Potion in the Caribbean) Cory Foulk very kindly gave me a lift to the Air Cargo at the airpost to pick up the Ocean Potion products from Oahu, wow 4 boxes full to the brim!!

Went and cycled a few errands and checked out my parents condo at 4pm, WOW is all I can say, right on the Ocean so I spent the next 2 hours cycling between Chetts and the Condo making sure everything was good.

Needed a lift to the Airport and at 6.30pm Gary Wang kindly took me, I was 2 hours early but it just flew by! Saw Rick Kent arrive and lots of other athletes picking up there crews before I knew it it was 9pm and touch down, AL and my parents had arrived. Gave them nice leis, and too late to eat so took them a little shopping and dropped them off at the Condo. Al and I went to Humpys! were they were still serving food and ate nachos and hummus!! So happy Al is here!!

November 18th 2010

Up early beautiful Wednesday; and ran down to the pier to meet Gary Wang, Jason Sissel, John Callon, Amber Monforte and Martin Raymond. I had lost my swim suit (rather left it at Hapuna) so did the Coast Guard Buoy swim in my yellow bikini it just did not feel right!! I should have swam in my wetsuit! I was as I expected last out of the water but I did have a beautiful swim and enjoyed being in the warm Ocean and seeing many colorful fish.We all met up at Lava Java and caught up on what each had been doing. I did a llittle shopping and was looking for a swimsuit... I eventually found one in Bike Works in town... extremely grateful to John (one of the store managers) for giving me a smoking deal on a TYR suit!

November 17th 2010

Up early and met with Cory Foulk and Laurie Beirs in town. After loading our bikes we headed out to Hapuna Beach, we had planned on swimming 5 laps and then cycling to Hawi and back. But due to Mother Nature giving Hapuna what is normally a flat beach huge walls of waves we opted to jog the beach instead and play Baywatch! Which was certainly a sensible idea and the surf was pounding!

I changed into cycling gear and we took off for a leisurely bike ride to Hawi and back around 34 miles round trip. It felt great being on the bike in Hawaii. There was hardly any traffic and just 4 miles out side Hawi, Cory took us to a small fishing port which also boasts a wreck for scuba diving. Here we turned around and headed back to Hapuna Beach. Was a really nice morning in good company. Back at the house I worked on Ocean Potion stuff and before I knew it I was getting sleepy!! So I watered all the tropical plants and made sure the cats were fed across the road before dozing off.

November 16th 2010

Chett left at 5.15am in the morning, the house is suddenly VERY quiet! I am very excited about being in Hawaii, I spend a little time un packing all my gear I put my bike together as I had planned on riding with Mike (Airline Pilot) at 10am, but changed the time to 9am, I realised I had only a hand pump and pumping up the tires would take a LONG time. So I made a quick call to my friend Chuck, who lent me his floor pump. By 9am I had cycled to the Kona Coffee place on the Queen K, and had 100% Kona coffee with Mike, we then cycled to the Western Cemetery I turned around to head back to Kailua Kona and he continued to Wiakaloa. I was going to help with the coolers and Hammer Heed stickers but there was enough volunteers already. So I visited with Tom and Gordana, saw Ron and Capi at Unison , got into a little pickle with a woman driver...At 3.30pm, my friend Chuck came over and took me grocery shopping on the evening I ended up at the Kona Brew Pub, with Chuck, Valerie, and his friends from Seattle.

November 15th 2010

Travel day, last minute packing and had time to get my hair done at Als sisters. Her friend Evelyn worked wonders on my locks. Marlene put on the movie the Cove... could have done with not seeing that poor dolphins. Luckily made the airport with PLENTY of time which after an hour in check in dwindled. I used to love traveling but know it is a painful experience as it seems the people that work at the airports are not happy people!! Due to my bike box being 10 pounds over weight I had to begin juggling my luggage so my bags weighed 70pounds for the bike box and 50 pounds for the extra bag and that my friends cost a whooping $175 just for bags, and mental stress. I finally made the 75 pound weight and was really stressed that it was not 70, and in the end I had to show the assisitant an article in the AVON magazine so I could catch the plane! After that hiccup it was plain sailing through the x ray etc... then at the gate I bumped into Karlyin Pipes Neilson! This lady is a World Class swimmer and was so cool to catch up on her adventures, as she was returning from Paris!

On the plane Captain Michael (who is a Hammer Nutrition athlete) came up to say hello and then truly the highlight was being put into first class!!! Yeah! I sat next to Pipes Neilson really felt truly blessed!

Flight went well, and touch down in Kona wanted to cry and laugh, gosh I love this island!! Chett was a little late in picking me up, but that did not matter, was great to see him, however fleeting as he left for Thailand the next morning and left me housesitting his plants and cats!!

November 14th 2010

Sunday and after a really hectic weekend I am unwinding and trying to pack my gear and clothing for Hawaii tomorrow.

On Friday I had my last session of ART & ran a little with Hammer the Mini pin! On the evening as I was preparing for the 6000 meter swim at Covina Aquatics I discovered much to my horror that the Tour of the foothills a 100 mile cycling event was indeed taking place Saturday and NOT Sunday! Geez how on earth did I get the dates mixed up! So I canceled the swim, and Al took me to get my number etc at registration as I was the Honoree ride leader! Then we called his sister to see if she could take me Saturday morning early to the event.

Saturday at 6am we loaded my Cannondale bike and I was on time for the 6.45am introductions of the 3 race leaders! NICE! The 100 miler was a Tour of sorts although you always get the cyclists who think it is a race and cut red lights and have little cycling manners! But for the whole, the route was well marked and the cyclists I interacted with were polite and friendly. The aid stations had plenty of water and Heed. At around mile 86 to 96 the winds in Fontana were not kind! And I had to walk my bike a mile or too before I could cycle without getting blown over the road into traffic! But finish I did and even managed a lift home.

On the evening I spent a nice time with my friend Threse from Florida and my husband Al. I really enjoy Threse company as she is also a Step mom and I like to hear her advice.

November 11th 2010

Wow cannot believe November is here it seems as the year has flown by yet again!! I have been very occupied and been lazy about updating my little blog, But this is a huge month for me as I prepare for my 13th Ultraman Hawaii, without the good friends and Sponsors it would not be possible, I am leavig on the 15th November thanks to Ocean Potion Suncare and AVON of Puerto Rico, staying at a good friends place in Kailua Kona, Hammer Nutrition have supplied clothing and nutritional needs, Polar Monitors looking after my heart, Brooks USA making sure I look good on the 52 mile run, Triall3sportcases protecting my Cannondale Bike, Aquaman Wet suits aiding the 6.2mile swim, Rudy Project looking after my eyes and brain! It has just been over whelming the support I have received.

I have had such a fantastic few weeks, mostly in the local Foothills, I have experienced the wild life really up close in their natural habitat! Black Bears and cubs, Bob Cats, Tarantulars, deers bucks, snakes, falcon, owls and foxes! Phew thats alot of wild life!! And all while riding my bike in the mountains!! Yippee I am really grateful to have witnessed these animals in their natural habitat the best one was the bib cat they sure are pretty.

Training has been going well, just maintaining my fitness with 40 mile bike rides, hills, 12 mile runs and having Hammer my mini pin keep me company. Swimming only 3 times a week at Covina Masters, the mornings are now getting cooler.

Did not like the clocks gaining an hour my days are still out of sync!!

Volunteered at the Mount SAC for the mountain bike race were a racer was honored, Yoshio Garcia was struck by a car in Feb of 2010, in a coma and feared the worse, yet he he was on a Mountain Bike finishing his loops he raced pro before being hit and here he was in the expert class. It was very emotional giving him the award for comeback kid, he still has a way to go with balance, speech etc but he thanks God for his second chance on life.

Been scuba diving and managed to injure my back not cool. Had 3 sessions of ART

October 25th 2010

Have had my grandbaby Abby over night and all day!! I love having this little girl over as she is always so happy and loving full of smiles and hugs, is not tainted by opinions, Abby just loves to eat, play and sleep!! We played in bubbles (think huge bubble bath/ jacuzzi!) quite a mess but certainly priceless.

Took Hammer my mini pin with Abby and the baby jogger we ended up staying out for 6 hours we were all tired and very hungry after running around Bonelli Park and sorting out t shirts for Ultraman Hawaii!! Back home we made chocolate chip cookies and AL was hunting at the top of GMR.

My Long Beach Marathon was a personal best and I felt comfortable and totally elated at my time of 3 hrs 26 minutes

Took a week off, just swimming and a few runs no cycling. Life catches up sometimes and I have to give in and knuckle down on chores.

Scuba diving has been important this week, have 2 open water students complete all pool work and enjyed a dive at Shaws Cove on Sunday.

Hammer my mini pin is totally spoilt no news there but we have a new running harness and I bought cookie and hammer cool looking halloween kits!!

October 16th 2010

Excuse me I am not very savvy when It comes to up dating my blog page. These past two weeks I have certainly been busy.

At the moment I am relaxing for tomorrows marathon and have a heat pad on my shoulder as I somehow managed to hurt it , no not swimmers shoulder but for all purposes it may as well be as I cannot swim only kick in the pool at the moment!

I raced a half iron distance tri at Magic Mountain on the 10th October which I thought was an excellent course a LOT of Hills and then some more! I actually took forst place in my division and good for 6th female over all very grateful to Hammer Nutrition who kindly let me race. My husband and Montana took me to Lake Castaic while I was racing they tried to catch fish, we had to leave Hammer at home to take care of Buster and Cookie he would have had a great time chasing Canadian Geese!

On the 8th October I found myself in a Beauty Salon!! Yup that is correct I went with Als oldest daughter Cheyenne as she had her first date for homecoming dance. I nearly collapsed at the cost of doing nails!! Geez I can think of a whole lot of things I could buy instead of giving the Beauty Salon $100!! And the bad thing is Cheyenne does this on a regular basis! And I presume many other 15 year olds!! Golly gosh if they put that money into a jar they all would have a lot of dollars for other things down the road.

We had our monthly dive club meeting and I also gave a few scuba lessons this past week. Busy washing and walking the dogs doing a little archery and now helping with the Mountain Bike race at Bonelli Park on Sunday (Tomorrow)

I also went to Long Beach Marathon Expo yesterday as Kool n Fit comped my entry for which I am extremely grateful and went with my friend Angelica who bless her heart has 5 children!! I love the expos but they can also be really tiring!

October 6th 2010

Well my day has been spent at Loma Linda School of Dentistry were I had my front teeth worked on and am now sporting temp teeth ... I hope they will last until I get back from Hawaii in November. Then I will have all 6 teeth taken care of and hopefully have that million dollar smile. So today has seen me sleep and sleep some more I am feeling better and tomorrow is a new day.

On the plus side of things I was picked up by my son in law Josh and Abby came along too! It is hard to have pain when you have an adorable grand kid who only wants to hug you and tell you she loves you!! We went home and for an hour we played with Hammer and Cookie, and made a mess with play dough. All she wanted to do was make chocolate cookies with grandma Suzy!! After Abby left I had to lie down and take some ibuprofen it felt like I had been in a boxing ring.

Life is good I have my health and a great husband. Going to Hawaii in November and Ocean Potion and Avon are on board to make it the best ever 13th Ultraman event!!

October 4th 2010

What a great weekend, cooler temperatures and my husband AL went Lobster fishing! So I was home alone if you can call 4 dogs and 2 cats home alone!! As Jeremiah went on a trip up Northern Cali and I was left with his dog Mr Chubs plus 2 cats. Today I elected to stay at home and allow my body to recover from the run so Jacuzzi and walking the dogs were the order of the day! Trying to sort out accommodation for Hawaii and airfares etc...

On the Saturday I had a good day and went to a Boy Scouts group and taught an Emergency Response Course. My friend Jodi went along and helped to. Very rewarding morning as I used to be in the Girl Guides in England! Then we went for a 26 mile bike ride, Jodi motored along and I hung on for survival! Had a great work out. Spent the rest of the day playing with the dogs and cleaning up. On the evening I relaxed as in the morning I was going to run very early!!

On the Sunday morning I was up before the sun at 4.30am, by 5am I was meeting new friends who I joined for a 21 mile run from Mount Baldy Village to  La Verne.

What a fantastic experience, watching the sun rise over the Valley and stumbling in the darkness as I tried to navigate the trail with my headlight!! I was out of my comfort zone but what a blast! To be out on the trails as morning broke the skies cleared, I saw deer tracks and was busy looking out for other wild life. I enjoyed this run and had my camera to capture the moments! A great group of runners of all experiences, it was about 40% uphill and the rest downhill. At the base of the trail head I realized I had lost my headlamp, and it would be later found by my friend Jodi on her mountain bike!!

Today it was all about learning to dance in the rain than waiting for the storm to pass!! When finally the last few miles were done through Marshall Canyon it was time to take my tired body home to recover with recoverite and my compex unit!

In the early evening I had invited a small group of friends over to share fish tacos which my husband had caught out on Dana Point. A good evening was had by all.

October 1st 2010

September has already passed it seemed to fly by! I was busy with the dentist and preparing for my 13th Ultraman Hawaii competition. I did a few competitions and also taught some scuba diving classes.

October is officially Breast Cancer month and as I raise money for the AVON Crusade against Breast Cancer an important month for me and I try to compete in many races during this month.

Ultraman Hawaii is in November already Aquaman sent me a fantastic new wetsuit to use for the 6.2 mile swim, Ocean Potion are on board to make sure my sun tan looks great on Alii Drive!! And Hammer Nutrition are going to support the event with products!! I have been trying to swim twice a week at Covina Aquatics and although not the same as Ocean swimming at least I am doing some constructive training! For every mile I swim bike and run in Ultraman I will be raising money for the Crusade Against Breast Cancer!! So when I feel pain and want to quit I will keep on going forward! My husband Al is my crew chief and surprise surprise this year my parents will fly in from England to support my efforts!

Boy Scouts of America have a new volunteer!! I will be teaching the scouts CPR and First Aid in October, this means a lot to me as I was a girl guide in England and achieved my Queens Guide award which is the highest award you can obtain and I was a Young Leader so very happy to be able to help the Boy Scouts of America.

In September I also ran with Montana Als youngest daughter in her first 5km run at Disneyland, and she did great. The next event was also special as Abby ran her first 100 meter sprint with me and Montana at Disneyland. This is not Abbys first competition as last year we won the baby jogger division in a local 5km at San Dimas.

I also raced at Bonelli in September not my greatest race and times I felt like quitting but I kept on sluggishly moving forward to pick up enough ummph to win my age group so that was a nice surprise.

Weird weather was Californian style during September. I cycled in triple digit 110 F heat and that was comparable to racing in a hot Sauna with a hot hair dryer blowing in your face. Then just as if it was a distant memory 3 days later I was running late afternoon and was caught in a thunder and lightening show with rain and beautiful fragrant forest smells!!

Finally the new passion I took up is Archery as my husband Al is wanting to tick off the bucket list and shoot deer in 2011, I cannot see my self doing that but I can see my self shooting a Bulls Eye!!

August 28th 2010

As August nearly ends so does my Dental surgeries, It will be soon 14 months since I first walked into Loma Linda School of Dentistry to discover I was close to having teeth extracted and dentures!! 14 months later and many trips for 4 hour appointments I am on the road to full dental health. It has not come without a cost that being not able to travel and compete in competitions, training took a back seat and of course money was a factor as even though I was going to a Dental School I still had to pay! I have been through extractions, crowns, gold bridges, extrusions, root canals and cavities to name but a few things the most important lesson learnt was that if I brush and floss correctly and visit a dentist once every 6 months for a clean, the investment I have made in my dental health should be a long term one!

So now I can start looking forward to my 13th Ultraman Hawaii Competition and letting all the companies and my husband know how much I appreciate their support in my Ultra Racing and continue to raise money for the AVON Crusade against Breast Cancer.

I also have been doing a lot of Scuba Diving at Catalina Island and really enjoying the Ocean and the aquatic life, great company etc... I also started Masters swimming and finally have a structured swim workout to do every week.

August 15th 2010

Been a great week, life can be so much fun when you allow it to be!! We celebrated Als birthday last Sunday, unfortunately he caught a virus which has left him sick for 7 days! He needs rest so I have been busy but also scuba diving and dentist again.

I also started riding my bike again in the canyons and running trails again.

August 11th 2010

Oh My!! A crazy month was July!! After feeling tired and chest pains I went to the doctors and was told that I had a heart problem and was not allowed to swim, bike run or scuba dive!! To say I was shell shocked would have been a huge under statement!!

Cardiologist was a scary experience, luckily Al and I knew the best Cardiologist in town!! Demi Hechanova!! A cyclist and very good friend of ours, he was equally shocked that I would have a heart condition, so after resting 2 full days and a visit to the cardiologist and a few more tests and questions it was revealed I was putting my body under a lot of stress and what it really needed was more quality rest and sleep!!

I had been getting up at 4.30am to squeeze in workouts and teach scuba diving as well as try to cycle and run and go to the gym!!

Needless to say gym membership has been canceled and learning how to take power naps in the day! I am just obsessive compulsive it is not a good trait and cannot sit still!!

4 days after being given scuba diving clearance, swim, run and bike I was on a plane to Montana as a guest of Hammer Nutrition and able to enjoy a few quality days of cycling with the Hammer family through the Glacier National Park and through Cherry Orchards and around huge lakes!! The change was great for my mind. Unfortunately on the way home I found my self on the side of racial profiling as Homeland security decided I needed to be questioned and screened for 70mins!! When finally everything I had said was verified true they let me go a free person!! and was told they were only doing their job to add insult to injury they then confiscated my huckleberry honey bears and ironically I could buy them again at the gift shop go figure!!

Back home in Sunny SO CAL, I had a day to recover before Catalina Island, What a great trip that was, a day and 4 students to finish off open water skills! Al and I had a good time with good company scuba diving always is refreshing, challenging, exciting and the best of all I love to scuba dive!

So during July and August I have been working on doing less getting more quality sleep and trying to get my self into better shape for my 13th Ultraman Hawaii.

July 6th 2010

What a great weekend! We had the girls for a few days, they went hiking and Montana decorated a super flag cake to recognise the 4th of July, and Cheyenne helped her daddy make the dips and BBQ. I ended up doing 2 days of cycling in the Foothills, up GMR and across to Baldy! Roads are closed to traffic and I saw coyotes, I did the July 4th Ride with the SC VELO cycling club then a day later took two new female cyclists on the same route.

But for some reason today I woke up REALLY REALLY tired and lethargic, it was all I could do to wake up and go swim!!

My heart rate would not elevate and I felt like my heart was racing at 190 bpm!! I cycled home really easy and a little depressed I felt so awful! I took a siesta and watched the Tour de France unfold with all its drama. My husband is the best and made me a great Breakfast. He suggested I go to Zumba class and try to snap out of the "FUNK" so off i went but did not have the zeal I normally have. So spent the afternoon catching up on paper work and looking after Hammer and Buster!!

July 1st 2010

I planned a great day despite it being my 3rd wedding anniversary today!! I was up at the crack of dawn for a nice swim workout and then did an hour of Zumba, Montana was so cute as she remembered it was our anniversary!! The girls spent the best part of the day with Al while I met my friend Tammy and we cycled an easy 40 miles, I was able to clean the house and get a few presents before Al came home and also plant some tomato plants! On the evening we all went to a pizza place in San dimas with our friends Dave and Jodi, the girls enjoyed the evening and everyone was happy.

June 30th 2010

Wednesday and we had the girls on the evening so we went to our fave place Cost Plus better known as World Market and Al and I purchased chocolate and coffee. I did not go to yoga as I was totally wiped out from swimming and my legs were so tired!

June 28th

Finally Monday!! Yippee, I do not know how I made swim practise today but I did and Christine was easy on my workout as I was truly tired from the long weekend. I plan to do nothing else today but relax and recoup my energy level. I was very excited to get some very positive feedback from the tri group, made my day!

June 27th 2010

Sunday, I had thought I would stay in bed all day today, but my plan went very wrong as Al had planned a hiking trip up at East Fork with the grand baby and our friends  Mike, Kellie and their kids! Gosh I was so tired after yesterday but i ended up having a great time in the mountains. Abby was a delight!! Loved getting into the river and playing, we only hiked about 4 miles round trip but we ALL had a great time. On the evening I was a guest speaker for Inland Infernos triathlon group, and it went very well. Afterwards Al and I went to Corner Bakery for dinner.

June 26th 2010

The alarm went off at 2.30am!! Wow I am really doing this, my bike is ready AL I had to do was get coffee. At 3 am Paul arrived to take me down to Malibu were we were both going to ride the 200 mile Grand Tour, I was at first going to ride the Highland version, but Paul belonged to a great group of 11 cyclists so I opted to join them instead.

Not to dwell too much on a long day in the saddle it was not without its drama and excitement, as one of the members decided it would be cool to crash at mile 62 on the railway tracks and in doing so take out another member! Within minutes of responding with basic first aid I was joined by what seemed like an army of Paramedics!! Luckily road rash aside we all continued to finish this epic ride despite this little hold up! The company was great and I enjoyed the other cyclists making the day not seem as painful as double centuries can be!

June 25th

Up at 5.30am and went to Catalina Island with Al, Mike  and a few friends to scuba dive. I now know what a maraca feels like! the crossing was to say the least a little bumpy! I do not know how but somehow in between being bounced around I did manage to sleep on the out and return crossings!! The diving was GREAT!! Did I say GREAT!! Al and I had a fantastic time, we saw so so much despite the bloom in the water. There was a large Bat Ray and he would not leave us alone! we also saw a Leopard shark and Black Sea Bass and Al also managed to catch his dinner!! We arrived home at around 9pm, I was to say slightly tired!! and had to be up early the next day!!

June 22nd,

4.30am.... grrrr, the alarm clock is not my friend!! But dragged my self out of bed and ended up at the pool were I discovered speed drills and kicking, not my fave combination!! Cycled home, Montana was still sleeping so I quietly took a shower and rested on the sofa and decided at 10.30am to go to Rumba dancing!! Nothing like good loud friendly music to get me alert! Montana went home and I did nothing else all day as Buster out Yellow Lab is not well, just old age but I love that dog so so much, I brought him into the house, had to vcall out a friend of mine Donna as he had eaten some raw hide which was now stuck in his teeth. I cried a little and both Hammer and I spoilt Buster and then we gave him a nice bath.

June 21st,

First day of Summer and I was up at some unearthly time 4.30am to be exact as I decided I would join the Covina Aquatics Masters Swim group, it started at 5.30am, so I needed my java! and then cycled in the dark to the pool. It is a new group and there was a few of us how braved the early start. Christine is to be the head Coach for the group. By 7.15am the pain was over... I felt like I was finally going to make progress as a swimmer!! Cycled home but could not sit back for long as I had scheduled a LONG ride to Crystal Lake which I could not afford to miss, 60 quality miles of climbing, thankfully it was overcast so was not as bad as it could have been. on the evening Al made pasta for me and the girls. I was REALLY tired!

June 20th FATHERS DAY

I managed to get an early morning run in, alas, Hammer my mini pin capped out at 9miles, so his daddy (AL) came to the rescue on Fathers Day to pick up my tired baby!! I ended up running 3 more miles, then I was all about Al, the kids gave him his presents, and it was off to a Car Show all day, so happy I ran in the morning as walking around a car show all day is really difficult!! We also shared the day with Josh and Tammy and Abigail who as always steals the show!!

June 19th 2010

Saturday and up early ended up not leaving until 12 noon for a long ride in our local Foothills! As Montana and I assembled the cake globe, and base of the cake, we also covered the cakes in butter cream. They need time in the fridge to firm up. I rode up Glendora Mountain Road a BEAUTIUFUL day!!and along the ridge to Mount Baldy caught a wicked suntan! All in all 50 miles and great day, even had the privilege of watching 400 motor bikes in the canyons!!

Back home it was time to finish off the special cake. Montana at 11 years old shows a LOT of potential as a cake decorator! She had the plan of the globe already on paper, Tjhe globe was all blue, then she made the countries in green, and out of marzipan little figures of scuba divers, jelly fish etc... it was amazing.

June 18th 2010

Decided not to swim, felt a little tired. So went to yoga saw my friend Therese and on the way home discovered the kids were there, alas my day ended!! Instead of a bike ride I ended up with Montana making Rocky Road fudge from scratch, pumpkin roll and making her daddy a special earth day/Ocean cake! I took both girls to Kohls and am happy that we have some beautiful gifts home made and store bought!For Fathers day!! I managed a brief walk with Buster and hammer and Montana to the park.

June 17th 2010

All in all life is good the weather I am happy to report is hot hot hot!! I love the sunshine and the heat! My Cannondale and Williams Wheels are happy as finally I have the urge to ride the Mountains and Foothills of Southern California. I have a 3 week break from Dental woes and lots of great things planned for the summer!

I rode with my friend Tammy today for an easy 60 miles along the River bed and Monrovia after swimming and Zumba Dancing!!

Yesterday was like Christmas as I received new Brooks gear for running and for the Avon Crusade against breast cancer, Monday saw me cycle to Seal Beach and back which felt great and even caught a suntan!!

I have been busy doing Open Water Scuba certifications and learning to dance Zumba!! Hammer and Buster are fine, although Buster is deteriorating but is in no pain and still loves to eat and wag his tail.

June 14th 2010

Nice day for a relaxed 85 mile bike ride to the beach and back!

June 13th 2010

Yippee Scuba diving on the Oil Rigs was a great experience fantastic day on the boat with great friends and an amazing dive club!

June 11th 2010

A day of shopping and not much else!! Found out that AVON will keep on sponsoring my efforts to raise money for the Crusade against Breast Cancer, and I can go to Montana in July!! That Brooks are sending news shoes and Hammer sending new tops for a photo shoot!! Al and I took the girls back to Rancho, Montana cracked me up as she took her shoes for training for 5km. We had breakfast at Dennys!! and spent the day at REI, Sport Chalet and Kohls! ending up with grocery shopping. On the evening we went to Britnis graduation party were she is now 18 years old and going to Mount SAC collage. Nive evening!

June 10th 2010

I am really happy today I have a wonderful husband who cares about me and I love him more than I can say in words. We had the girls all day, I went to the gym and did weights, swam and dance class!! Was a fun day, in the afternoon we went to Sport Chalet and had a dive club meeting on the evening. Montana was really excited as wanted to sign up for Disneyland. finally her mum said okay and I went on line to sign up Montana and myself for the 5km. We actually practised today and ran 2 miles. I love the fact that this is her idea!! The dive club meeting was light due to a Lakers game but still a nice time.

June 9th 2010

I swam a little early in the morning and went to cycle with my friend Tammy, but best plans go astray! As I rescue Mr Chubs off the road and PC is her usual do not care self. I decided to ask her about the cat litter and be more responsible as I thought it was disrespectful to dump her garbage into my trash cans which happens a lot. I was so  upset with her she is selfish and needs to grow up and take a little more responsibility. Finally got to cycle and we met another friend Susan and ended up only cycling 20 miles.

DENTIST

Yahoo finally at Loma Linda today I had my gold bridge put in, and the good news is Scott was graded on his  skill man ship and past with flying colors so I know I have a good bridge. Then Al picked me up to get home just in time for two open water students. Was a nice evening. Montana asked about the 5km run, I told her I would happily pay and take her but to check with her mum first.

On the evening we had a meeting with our family/neighbours, they are young and do not get it!! when they move they will discover that they need to be more organised and get their own drier, repait their vacuum cleaner and take out their own trash! And there will be no one watching out for their dog !! They have no idea how good they have it!

June 8th 2010

Gotta love Tuesdays! I decided to go to my dancing class and swim at the gym, in the afternoon I had a private scuba class with one of my students who needed extra help and time in the pool. Al was in San Diego with Josh and Dave and I met him at the pool at 4pm. After 3 hours I had a VERY happy student and I was pleased she never gave up!

June 7th 2010

I sorted out the scuba gear in the garage, laundry and took Hammer for a painful run!! Al took back Montana and I cycled to see my friend Theresa. On the afternoon I had scuba class theory and it went really well.

June 6th 2010

Woohoo marathon day! I was up at 5am and Mike was able to navigate right to the starting line with no traffic! I was really grateful for that! I was in corral number 6, pretty close tot he start, I had only been there a few minutes when the American Anthem was sung and before I knew it I was running the Rock n Roll marathon!! My plan was simple to keep moving forward and enjoy myself, take photographs and not suffer too much!! AT mile 6 I needed the dreaded porta potty! Then back to running, at some parts there were so many runners I could not see the road in front and then the half marathoners left the road and it opened up. The highlight of the run was running around Fiesta Island and before I knew it I was running down the finish Chute! in 3 hrs 38 mins and 59 seconds! I was happy had not expected to run that fast!

Meanwhile Al and Montana were stuck in horrible marathon traffic and I had to wait another hour before I met up with them and Hammer was pleased to see me. Montana wanted to see my medal and asked when she could do a run and wanted to know about Disneyland as every expo I take her to we always see the Disney medals!

Al went to the dive shop and we purchased some amazing deals for scuba diving, it was a long drive home and we all just flopped in front of the TV! Actually Montana and I played scrabble and Al slept!!

June 5th 2010

This day will go in the history books for sure as I had a run in with PC, who shares a home on the property. Today is trash day, and I went to put out garden trash but when I went to use my trash can my neighbour had dumped her cat litter and garbage into it and left it in the back! I was pretty hurt as that is irresponsible. Simple their trash they are responsible not to mention they had put out their trash on the curb.

Okay that over, Montana made Pancakes from SCRATCH! We had to get milk from the market then she produced without ANYHELP chocolate chip pancakes!! Not Bad! I ran 5 miles with Hammer and put all the scuba gear away. Then Montana, Al, Hammer yup the mini pin and I went down to San Diego! As I was running the marathon in the am. Was a good trip down the coast, and at the expo I saw Angie from Brooks and my friend Mike Rouse who does Ultraman every year unfortunately I never got to say hi to Kimmie as she was busy in the 70.3 tri in Kona. Thankfully Mike was able to give us all great hospitality. Al took us to Ocean Enterprises and then we could not find a place to eat and ended up at Applebees...YUCK.... service was pleasant but food was so so. Back at the Rouses we were met with their 2 resident Westminster dogs!! adorable!!Had a quiet evening preparing my gear etc and AL talked with Mike.

June 4th 2010

Well what is new, my legs are aching from Zumba classes, my behind still hurts after cycling 200 miles so what better activity to do than scuba dive. Today Al, Montana, Mike, Josh and I all went to Huntington Beach, I to dive (and snorkel with Montana) while the guys wanted to catch dinner namely halibut. Mike had heard that the sand flats at Huntington were rich hunting grounds....mmm if that was the case we were the ONLY boat that knew about that! The morning was overcast and on the cool side. When we finally reached our destination we dropped anchor, Montana and I played cards and when AL and Josh went in the water we went and snorkeled a little. It was not long before the guys broke the surface and were extremely disappointed in ZERO vis!! WIth that news we decided to take the boat out and head over to Dana Point, needless to say it was going to be a LONG day on the ocean. After we had the boat back in the water and watched sea lions playing. We all dived and the guys caught dinner for at least a few nights! I was trying to frighten the schools of fish away from the hunters but my efforts were in vain! Montana and I played more dominoes and did not get home until 9pm!! After getting Montana In and Out burger! I was REALLY tired and needed to get gear out of the truck and get ready for the Rock n Roll marathon!

Tuesday June 1st 2010

White Rabbit!! A new day a new month, a beautiful Californian Day. After doing things I went to the gym to swim and some how ended up in a Zumba class.... what a total hoot, I was a baby elephant in a class of gazelles! Too funny, but wow what a work out! Afterwards I went for a short swim and sauna. Back home I was still sorting out photos! not an easy job and going down memory lane was depressing as I LOVE Puerto Rico! And then 12 years of Ultraman Hawaii!! I finally rode my bike to look for Covina Aquatics. The evening was long. I was a little unhappy, for why I have not a clue, other than I was frustrated with training, but needed to rest from that ride Saturday, and have a marathon to run on Sunday!!

I took both dogs for a walk, and AL and I went to shoot some Pool!! so funny I cannot play that game and it showed!

May31st 2010 (Memorial Day)

A holiday and i planned to fully recover today and NOT do ANYTHING! well, I washed both dogs, sorted out thousands of photos, watched Cake Boss and had my friends Jodi and Dave over for a fish taco evening. Al is feeling a little better and was just a nice day to be lazy.

May 30th 2010

I could not believe it when the alarm went off at 5.30am! YIKES! I crawled out of bed and fell on to the floor! After a cold shower and cup of strong freshly brewed coffee I was ready to go with Al to Rancho Cucamonga for the Nutrition Clinic using Hammer Nutrition products and beginners bike ride.  Even though it was a holiday weekend, we had a good show of interested people and finished with a 14 mile bike ride! I now believe i could not do the Tour de France as I could hardly sit on the saddle... but at least i was not sore!

The rest of the day was relaxing and nice and quiet.

May 29th 2010

5.15am and there is little fanfare as about 50 of us set out from the hotel in Palmdale for a wee 200 mile bike ride. I will spare the detail as I will write a report. I will say that on a long ride of 60 miles is NOT enough training for 16,000 feet of climbing in a span of 200 miles. Despite my toes being frozen for the first hour or so and then surviving the climbs, the last 50 were the worst! I had kept on Hammer products for the majority of the ride, had socialized and had a nice time... but when I stopped at that last station I made a mistake I would pay dearly for by drinking Hot Chocolate. With only 20 miles to go I felt awful and would retch until every last drop of drink had left my system, I felt tired and sleepy. What possessed me to finish I have no idea! A huge thanks to Frank Neal, he was a trouper. I normally finish a double in a faster time than 16 hours and 30 minutes but better than a DNF! I did not get home until midnight I was SO tired it was not funny!

May 28th 2010

A new day, I opened up my e-mail and what great news, AVON would like to do an article and a feature on my sponsorship with their company, I am VERY happy, I immediately call Jon with Ocean Potion to share the news.

I took Hammer for a nice 7 mile jog in the South Hills, I was not so stressed out about the 200 miler if I could not make it, so be it, I certainly did not want my husband to sacrifice a Saturday as he was working in the morning. I had a lot of work to do, sorting out high def. pics for a poster for AVON and Ocean Potion. Then the phone call came from Frank, he could take me to Palm dale, share expenses and bring me back!! WOW amazing! I checked everything on my bike, packed a bag and prepared the Hammer Nutrition bottles. Then in the afternoon it was back to photos and also packing 30 bags for the hammer Clinic on Sunday morning.

At 6pm Frank and I were on our way to Palmdale which was cold and very windy with some heavy duty gusts! I would be lying if i said i was happy, if anything nervous but needed to start somewhere!

May 27th 2010

I woke up today light headed lethargic and just did not feel right! I had stressed out last night as I could not get to the 200 mile bike event on Saturday at Palm Dale as it started at 5.15am! really early and Al had to work!

In the morning I stayed in the home, took out all the trash and watched a bees nest being taken out of the front garden pampered the two dogs fed the goldfish.

Then I caught up with AVON and the Crusade against breast cancer, my Lap top crashed!! lost were all my reports for the Inside triathlon magazine covering Ultraman! and my photos! I was calling Frank Neal (the Data Guy for triple Crown)to see if I could get a lift to Heartbreak 200 as well as catch up with Hammer Nutrition for the clinics and Polar Heart rate Monitors for the new GPS sensor! Took  my computer back to Frys, so now I am working on a dinosaur! but at least have web...Actually went to sleep at 4pm for 2 hours! I just felt awful. I decided I needed Pizza!!YUM!

Life in general is good, I was sleeping early, I hope that I have sent enough photos and reports to AVon and Ocean Potion.

May 26th 2010

LOL, I am so tired after yesterday!! But I still managed to run oer to the gym and swim for 90 minutes and get back home, wash all the scuba gear from the nights class and bullet proof my home from the roving feet eyes and hands of my grand baby Abby who is coming to spend the day with me! before I knew it Abby had arrived, looking as cute as ever! with a high ponytail and a beautiful smile, but I knew better than that as she could be a little devil! and during the course of the day Abby had me laughing, scolding and very tired!! We started the day by going to see grandpa Al at the yard, Abby showed traits of being a tomboy as she rolled in the dirt and played with pebbles and rocks! Then we went back home to play with Hammer and Buster and eat ice cream with fresh strawberries.

The highlight is always for me putting on her apron so we can make home made chocolate chip cookies! I think that Abby probably ate more dough than I baked but we sure had fun and made a nice mess with flour and yes i let a 2 year old crack the eggs!!

After cleaning up Abby wanted to take her baby stroller out, i love it when she does this gesture as she is telling me to go for a run! As usual Abby falls asleep within 3 minutes of running, i stop by INCYCLE really quickly to get a new inner tube for the buggy, It is such a beautiful day that I decide to run to Bonelli park! Abby wakes up as I am running by the lake, I hear her laughing and singing! After running for 9 miles I ask her for the swings! She is all smiles and we spend an hour on the slides she is extremely head strong and plays her cute card one too many times, eventually running into the mens public toilets!! I could have died of shame!! I had to go in and get her out of the cubicle. I take her into the women's toilets were credit is duly given as she actually uses the toilet! She is too funny, eventually after peeling her off the loo and washing her from head to foot she runs out into the park naked!! Geez!! what did I do to get a grand daughter like this!! Eventually fun and games aside I manage to get her back into the buggy with clothes! Life is good. We jog home and stop for bean and cheese burritos, Abby has a healthy appetite! Finally nearly home we go past the water plant, i tell Abby that is were the moon is sleeping!! Abby thinks that is funny and shouts wake up Mr moon!. At 8pm, Abby has been collected and the house is quiet i am VERY tired! I do not eat very well. Cheyenne came over with her friend. they watched American idol I was so tired I fed both dogs and Hammer and I retired early!

May 25th 2010

Woke up so early the birds were not up and Hammer stayed in bed!! I had a hearty breakfast and went to the gym to try out the new pool water!! That's right pool had been drained and new water and chemicals added. I managed a few miles and did some fin kicks too! Then I was so busy in the garden cutting down over grown branches and IVY. I decided to ride my bike up Glendora Mountain Road, a little...well okay a lot windy!! But I was on a tight time frame as I needed to be at a scuba class at 4.30pm. Only one student came to my home the other two went straight to the pool!! No problem, by 6pm all the gear and students were together at the pool. They did their waterman ship assessment then the fun began as they experienced their first taste of bubbles under the water, the weird sensation of breathing air under the water!! One of the students had difficulty in mastering the sensation the other students seem to catch on really quickly. I did everything I know to encourage the new student to keep trying and hope to see that person again at the pool next week! It was a long evening and home late.

May 24th 2010

Monday and I have the Dentist at 1pm, but cannot make it until 2.30pm due to Als work schedule. So I run with Hammer on the trails and take a spin around the lake at Bonelli, Al gets home and we head to the dentist. As I am late the impression for the bridge cannot be completed but the teeth can be prepped and cleaned and filled for the impression next week. Feels weird to have the temporary bridge.

May 23rd 2010

For the 4th time Montana is celebrating being 11 years old with the Wiscovitches!! I invite my friends Angelica and Theresa with their children and we make a nice BBQ and lots of cookies, pasta salad etc... In the morning i manage a nice 14 mile run with hammer at Bonelli Park before getting busy ni the kitchen. All the family came for Montana, and her best friend Katie was able to make it.

May 22nd 2010

Saturday and the girls would be here at 1pm, Al and I caught up on grocery shopping and post office etc.... When the girls arrived they helped put away groceries etc, I went for a nice easy bike ride when i came back the girls had gone to see their brother Josh at the tattoo shop to give him a long horn sheep mount Al had caught in California in his hunting days!

May 21st 2010

May 17th 2010

Lazy lazy morning, it is cloudy and drizzle. I caught up on e-mails. I did a small bike ride and then off to the dentist for 1pm. As usual I was slightly late, I gave Scott a signed and mounted picture of a shark having his teeth cleaned  by a scuba diver titled Deep Cavities!! Done by a famous French artist i had met at the Scuba Show. He began work today on prepping the teeth for a bridge.

May 16th 2010

Had a great morning at the Bonelli Triathlon, swim as always was a little longer and made a nice error when I ran out of transition with my bike minus my helmet!! certainly a first time for me and did I mention I have been doing tris since 1993!! A little brain freeze!! I finished 5th in my highly competitive grouping, really happy with my time of 2  hrs 36 mins. I spent the rest of the day being uncharacteristically lazy! I lay out on the sofa with my two dogs by my side and watched Hoarding. Late afternoon my husband called he had caught dinner while spear fishing off Dana Point! So I decided to get up and prepare all the components for fish Tacos, our only set back was no filet knife! So guess the Sheephead will have to wait to Monday! I also spoilt Hammer and Buster as it was Hammers first birthday yesterday and I took him to pet Smart and purchased fresh wet food for him and Buster and two bones for each I had two very happy dogs.

May 15th 2010

Today is the scuba show at long Beach, so I needed to catch up on some posting applications etc and managed a nice flattish hour bike ride. At 12 noon Al, Joel and I set off for Long Beach. It was as always a long afternoon spent walking around the different exhibits I was excited to meet the famous Blue artist and also Megan from PADI. I also saw Honu divers and Jacks Dive Locker as well as a booth for Puerto Rico!! A pretty good day. On the evening as I was preparing for the Triathlon I had in the morning I discovered I did not have a new speed sensor and the battery had died. Not that knowing my speed would make me any faster but I was angry with myself for not being prepared. I watched re runs of Cake Boss as Al packed the truck for his fishing trip with his son Josh and friends Mike & Chip.

May 14th 2010

Friday was a slow day I had a really sore neck and could not work out why. I also decided not to do yoga but went instead to the 24 fitness pool to swim and was very disappointed to discover the Chlorine levels to be so high again. I could only survive 60 laps of the pool, I mentioned it to a pool guy who told me that is how Corporate wanted it!! Then I saw the lintus paper they use and the purple was off the charts!! It was aggravating to deal with this as I pay gym membership for the pool use and too much chlorine like the pool is at the moment is toxic for the tooth enamel, skin and respiratory problems. Back home I went for a small run with Hammer and then Al and I went and purchased the bands for his spear gun, on the evening after a nice meal with our friends Dave and Jodi we took our new pillows back to Kohls! I do not care how firm and scientific they were they were causing me to get head aches and Al could not sleep and through out his back! Wow all because of a pillow!!

May 13th 2010

Thursday was a great day for whipping the unconditioned body back into shape! I ran a few miles early morning then cycled 45 miles with a friend from Orange County who had never done Glendora Mountain Road before!! Fun Day!! Lots of climbing and the sun came out. On the evening we had a scuba meeting as La Verne Eco Dive Club meet every second Thursday of the month. Had a good guest speaker called Diver Kevin and did an awesome job on his dive trip to Antarctica!

May 12th 2010

Wednesday and today is Montanas 11th Birthday. I swam early in the morning, the pool again was awful with chemicals. I did Yoga afterwards I felt awful my skin was itchy and had pink eye from the chlorine levels and on top of that my silver earrings had turned black! I must have taken 4 showers and still smelt of chlorine. I jogged to Dr Boltons office with a copy of the new Endurance News article and he also commented on my chlorine state! After research at Home I took a copy to the manager of the 24 Fitness Club I was not swimming until Friday I needed to get out the toxic levels I had in my body. On the evening I managed a nice small bike ride and then we took Montana out for her birthday to Legends and bought her Roxy slippers which look like Yeti feet and Roxy jacket which we split in half with Tammy and Josh. Montana wanted a jacket that was not a hand me down! That kid cracks me up sometimes!!

May 11th 2010

Tuesday I swam early as I would like to be able to survive the swim at Bonelli, but the chlorine level was super high! It was all I could do to swim 20 laps then my mouth would be burning from the chemicals,It was a miserable experience but I survived! I had the dentist in the pm, and was just to take out the stitches from the surgery and to actually put in my first gold crown! Gosh was so happy, the crown fits great and now looking forward to getting my bridge complete.

May 10th 2010

Monday Monday, up nice and early I vowed to do all the paper work I had allow to pile up and my tardy e-mails, It was 5.30am! I planned on starting swimming today as well. My teeth felt good and I sat down to register for the Rock n Roll marathon and crummy I had missed the deadline by 6 hours I was so angry at myself, I had known about this event for 2 weeks but had misplaced the e-mail and with dental surgery etc just had not been on top of my e-mails. I went swim, I felt like a lead brick with arms! patience I told myself I will get my gills back. I was supposed to meet a friend to ride at 9.30am but it was cancelled. and from there my day went South! I guess I was frustrated about my tardiness, and tried to fix my error luckily my persistence paid off and because of very good sponsors Brooks USA came through with my acceptance code! But I was chained to my computer for the best part of the day as I helped my husband do financial report for the San Dimas Stage race, what we grossed, what we spent, etc etc etc God Bless all that have clerical jobs I was not cut out for it at all! Finally at 6pm I managed a small ride of 20 miles while Al went to the meeting for Board members only. I came home and had a crazy moment going through papers throwing away stuff I did not need trying to cleanse my life of clutter of which I have plenty!

Mothers Day May 9th 2010

Had a brilliant day, up early for a 3 mile quick run with Hammer then my student showed up with his mom and sister and we all headed down to Laguna Beach to make two scuba dives at Shaws cove. There was a little swell going on but visibility looked great, and best of all the sun was shining.

We made two very nice dives, the first one was the easiest for my student as we just dived and had fun, I had my husband go with us and we went to look at Shelly of Shaws it looks like a bronze statue and pretty cool to find!

On the second dive there was a little  skill work to do then play time as we explored the small wall and came eye ball to eye ball with a huge bat Ray! then we found an octopus in a crevice, and lots of marine life. Really enjoyed my day at the beach.

After the student left with his family Al and I enjoyed Husky Burgers! We spent a lazy late afternoon watching movies we watched Old Guys! Oh my gosh so funny!!

May 8th 2010

Today I was first awake, and as the girls had promised me a beautiful homemade breakfast for an early Step mom day I took Hammer for a run to Wilson Creek. I always enjoy this run and as we were not going to LA I needed the 5 mile run with water crossings to start my day off right!

As I opened the front door I could smell breakfast, Montana had already made my coffee in my French Press, Cheyenne was helping her daddy crack eggs fruit was cut, cards to open flowers too! My how lucky I am!!After we had all had a yummy breakfast, the girls and Al cleaned up the kitchen we all did a few household chores then we took Cheyenne to her Aunt Marlenes to choose a dress for her friends sweet 16th.

Before we knew it it was 1pm and we were on the road taking Montana to her last soccer game of the season! Arriving 30 minutes early so she could warm up, Als ex was there so I kept a healthy distance and sat in the beautiful sunshine. The game started and we thought that her team would win, but then the other team scored an amazing goal! To give Montana's team credit the other team had to work hard very hard to win that game. Cheyenne was suffering terribly from her allergies I felt so sorry for her and hoped she would be alright for the evening party. Montanas best friend was on the winning team so we took a few photos then we took the girls to Montanas restaurant of choice that would be In and Out! then to INCYCLE in Rancho Cucamonga. We took the girls back as we were going to take Cheyenne to her friends to change, unfortunately her mom wanted her to do chores and we could not wait that long. So we left both girls and headed home for a quiet evening and to pack the scuba gear for tomorrows dive.

May 7th 2010

I was the second awake, my poor husband had not slept a wink with Abbys kung foo expertise while sleeping, I was also sore from being cramped up! I tidied up the house before Abby woke and began making a Banana Bread, when Abby woke she came walking into the kitchen ALL smiles and happy! We pulled up a chair and she helped me make the Banana Bread when I say helped she probably ate more batter than I put into the baking tins!

Then I taught her how to fry two incredible edible eggs!! That was fun! After Breakfast the day was on red alert, as Abby wanted to be in EVERYTHING! there was no time to sit, have a quiet moment or do any work, this little girl was on a mission to live life on the edge! We played with the dogs; took them on a walk of the nieghbourhood! Did gardening, watched the creept crawlies in the grass, did yard work I personally was pooped! In late afternoon we (Al and I )took Abby to Marshal trail with the infamous baby stroller! Gosh I worked so hard pushing that thing up hill for 2 miles on the off road, the sun was quite hot and Hammer wanted to fun faster than I coujld push the stroller!! After 2 miles we turned around and dare I say going downhill was harder and more challenging than up hill! Finally back in the car park, Abby had had a great time in the wilderness and her mommy was waiting to take her home. Al I and hammer all climbed into the truck and went to pick up his girls we only had them one night this weekend as our plans for having a day in LA were changed due to Montana having her last soccer game Saturday and Cheyenne really wanting to go to a sweet 16 party. After we collected the girls we took them out to Legends to eat and then rented two movies from Block Busters and had a nice quiet evening watching movies and eating popcorn.

May 6th 2010

Al took the girls to School I caught up on tardy e-mails and spoiled Hammer and Buster. At 9am my girlfriend Tammy came over to ride her bike. We decided to go to Monrovia as if would be easier for Tammy as she is suffering from MS and it is not behaving this condition of hers at the moment! We had a really nice bike ride and after the ride was over and I freshened up Tammy dropped me off at my fave plave the dental chair of Loma Linda. Scott said he did not want to take out the stitches for a few more days! But the hole in my sinus cavity had healed that was good news! Then he took off an old crown I had and discovered a rotting tooth underneath! Luckily for me with little complication the tooth was saved and prepped for a new gold crown. WHen it was time to leave that chair of doom and gloom the good news was that all my teeth had either been extracted, extruded, had root canals or had the decay removed, I wwas getting closer to having crowns bridges and veneers made! And I could also go scuba diving on Sunday!

At 5pm my cool daughter in law Tammy collected me with my adorable angel of a grand child Abby, who is going through the terrible two years! I had volunteered to look after Aby for the night to give tammy a well earned break! I really enjoy having Abby over, she is a delight and not much of a problem. Smiles alot and loves our dogs Hammer and Buster!! In the late Afternoon early evening Abby took her first Bronco drive, it was a hoot as she screamed in joy at the wind making her hair all messy! Then on the evening Abby shared my Chinese meal, for a two year old her tastes are weird as she happily ate tomatoes, cabbage and Broccoli!! Before long we were all sleeping Al and I had a little piece of the bed while Hammer and Abby took over!!needless to say niether Al or I slept well!!

May 5th 2010

Decided that it was time to renew my faith in Yoga again! I had not been since January due to injury upon injury. Was happy to go and that hour kicked my butt! I would be really sore on Thursday!! After Yoga I caught up with my friend Theresa over a coffee as she is moving to Miami! In the afternoon I wrapped up Montanas birthday gifts an electric scooter and of course her bedroom door with bright paper and ribbons. My 11 years old is getting big fast! In the afternoon Al and I went to marshal Canyon and I ran with Hammer and Al mountain biked.  It was a hot afternoon and Hammer kept asking for water after 2 miles we crossed Al and finally we had ran 5 miles. Back at the truck Hammer past out in sheer blissful stupor! We had to go and pick up the girls at 3.30pm from Rancho Cucamonga as we were taking them out with us on a special fund-raising evening. Montana did not want to wait until her official birthday and loved her electric scooter and surfing room! AT 5.30pm we left for the Aquarium of the PAcific in Long Beach as we had including the Wiscovitches 22 La Verne Eco Dive Club Members at the Chamber evening, we also made a donation of a $1000.00 collectively to become gold members of the Chamber evening with all proceeds going towards the Hyperbaric Chamber on Catalina Island. Both Montana dn cheyenne seemed to have a good evening, they were able to look at the aquariums and have a nice dinner. None of us won any raffle prizes but a memeber of our club won a spare air cyclinder that was good enough. Back home the girls went to bed they had school in the morning I caught up with American Idol!!

May 4th 2010

Today I decided to ride my bike, I need to get some quality miles in so I set off for a nice 45 mile ride, I went to Monrovia and up Glendora Mountain Road the sun was out and I caught a good suntan!  At home Al wanted to go for a 13 mile ride around Bonelli and asked if I wanted to join him, so I added a few more miles for my daily tally. I felt remarkably good!

May 3rd 2010

Monday, was still not allowed to swim I decided that I really needed to get out of the house so I took Hammer for a great trail run at Bonnie Cove and took a path I had never been down before! we ended up doing a 6 mile run! Thats the beauty of running discovering new trails and routes! We came out at Maunea Lau street! It was really hot and luckily there was a water fountain for hammer. At 12noon I had a lunch date with my friends Susan and Tammy. I spent the afternoon touching up Montanas room with photo before I knew it it was time to go to Montanas open night at School. Al and I were very proud of Montana as her Bow and arrow Al helped her with was the best in the class and made the wall and the Montana State project I had designed and helped Montana with made the wall also!! We stayed to watch her sing, Cheyenne sat with us. We left with little fan fare, and bought chinese food to eat!

May 2nd 2010

Cannot believe I was talked into getting up at 5.15am to join my husband, Mike, Ron and Conrad on the boat at Dana Point! Well I guess it was better than staying at home again! It was a pleasant day! Would have  liked to have gone scuba diving but with a little sinus problem that was not going to happen!

I ended up having a nice day on the Ocean, although I would have rather been scuba diving I had spent the day in good company and saw sealions as well as help chart depth for the Ships to Reefs project.. Had lots of fresh ocean air and caught up on my book. Back at the dock the guys cleaned the boat and did not get back home until 5pm! YIKES! I had so wanted to decorate Montanas Room with the Surf Board wall paper. I called my friend Jodi who was game enough to come out and help hang wall paper. Montanas room looked really cool with the surfing motifs it was a job well done.

May 1st 2010

I am going out of my mind with this dental issue I have,Day 4 and I still look like a lop sided chipmonk!

But it is okay there is little pain so at least I know I do not have an infection....or at least I hope I do not have one! LOL, taking anti biotics and no more narcotic pain killers. I truly feel lousy! On a more optomistic note I have been busy cleaning windows and blinds, cleaned our Lab Buster and walked Hammer around the block. Catching up on e-mails and letters but not the same as riding my bike, running and swimming!

Here is my condition from the web!

Sinus exposure and oral-antral communication: This can occur when extracting upper molars (and in some patients, upper premolars). The maxillary sinus sits right above the roots of maxillary molars and premolars. There is a bony floor of the sinus dividing the tooth socket from the sinus itself. This bone can range from thick to thin from tooth to tooth from patient to patient. In some cases it is absent and the root is in fact in the sinus. At other times, this bone may be removed with the tooth, or may be perforated during surgical extractions. The doctor typically mentions this risk to patients, based on evaluation of radiographs showing the relationship of the tooth to the sinus. It is important to note that the sinus cavity is lined with a membrane called the Sniderian membrane, which may or may not be perforated. If this membrane is exposed after an extraction, but remains intact, a "sinus exposed" has occurred. If the membrane is perforated, however, it is a "sinus communication". These two conditions are treated differently. In the event of a sinus communication, the dentist may decide to let it heal on its own or may need to surgically obtain primary closure—depending on the size of the exposure as well as the likelihood of the patient to heal. In both cases, a resorbable material called "gelfoam" is typically placed in the extraction site to promote clotting and serve as a framework for granulation tissue to accumulate. Patients are typically provided with prescriptions for antibiotics that cover sinus bacterial flora, decongestants, as well as careful instructions to follow during the healing period.

April 29th 2010

Still have a swollen face, a little throbbing but no head ache. Caught up on all my e-mails and mailings I need to send. Day 2 is not that bad, I have lots of paper work I need to finish!!

April 28th 2010

WOW my face is pretty swollen, I take my medication and ibroprofen the whole day was pretty much a blurr, head aches, sleeping caffiene headaches. By 5pm I was feeling a little better I was super scared of getting an infection so I am actually doing what the dentist said, resting, liquid foods and salt washes. On the evening Cheyenne and Montana came over. We went out for frozen yogurt, my extraction site was bleeding a little and the Dentist Scott did call and check up on how I was feeling. Not sure I like this resting thing! Than Goodness I have a great husband and two dogs that give unconditional love!

April 27th 2010

Up at 8am, spring cleaned the bedroom as Montana still is suffering from bites, not that I think for one minute they are in our room, but will do it as I love Montana, spent 2 hours vacuuming and polishing, managed a 20 mile bike ride around and up Glendora Mountain Road then it was off tot he University of Loma Linda for my 4 hour dental appointment!

The Dental Chair of Doom and Gloom certainly held up to its reputation today!! the good news was that my tooth extrusion had been a success pulling up the tooth a few millimeters so now the tooth could be secured so it could take root again and be prepared for a crown in 3 months. Then my rear back molar the one I had chipped was worked on. By the time all the decay was out it was not looking promising and when the tooth began to bleed only more doom and gloom followed. I tried so hard to keep positive and up beat! but the prognosis was even if the root canal was done to save the tooth I had no bone structure on one side of the tooth so it was being held in only on one side, I probably realistically would loose the tooth anyway in 5 years, so rather than spend $2000 on saving a tooth which was doomed I opted to have it extracted... Scott went through the procedure telling me the ups and downs of the extraction mentioning the sinus could get a small hole in it!! That caught my attention so I asked about that, it was in rare cases that happened, and usually the ole would heal by its self. Being a scuba instructor that would not be a great scenario!

Three of the professors all agreed to extract the tooth, so Scott began the extraction, he had to cut the tooth in 2 pieces as it was playing stubborn. and just my luck I had a hole in my sinus. Lucky for me I am at Loma Linda School of Dentistry and the oral surgeon professor took one look at the extraction site and decided to do gum surgery immediately to help heal the sinus and prevent infection

It was getting late but the professor proceeded to do the procedure any way. First he squirted saline water into the extraction site to confirm the hole and it came out of my nose! I was actually laughing at how bizarre this was I could go to Vegas and do a freak show I thought! reality was I needed to get that healed QUICKLY as with that hole I could get a sinus infection and also no swimming, running scuba diving etc.. no sneezing coughing etc... this was serious and I was in an excellent place to have the care and attention I needed. Within 30 minutes I had my gum snipped re stitched and hole closed. I had pain killers and antibiotics. No solid food for 4 days, I looked like a chipmunk and descent swelling had begun.... but the best thing of the whole episode it cost $72!!! WOW with all that had happened to me in that dental chair today if I had been at a private Dentist it would have been around $3000 bucks!!

Al picked me up, he could not believe my bad luck and I had to be at Glendora Sport Chalet to see 9 new scuba students! I kept my appointment and then went home had soup and it was lights out in my Vicodin induced sleep!

April 26th 2010

Monday time to take a well deserved day off!! I stayed in the home all day, just played and fustered over both dogs Hammer and Buster, spring cleaned the kitchen area and made a really delicious banana bread!! caught up on little things keeping busy all day and watched AVATAR kinda sad movie but excellent story line despite making me cry!!

April 25th 2010

A very lazy morning. I spent it cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry. At 12.30pm Al, Marlene and I went for a 25 mile bike ride, probably not the smartest thing had a huge headache but felt good to be out side!! On the afternoon we all went to an Italian Place to meet Susan a good friend who had organised a nice meal to catch up with us the girls, Susan, Tammy, Jodi and my self.That night I helped Montana with her homework project on the State of Montana, gotta say looks pretty impressive. I was falling asleep as Montana stuck the last bear claw onto the project. She only has 3 letters to add data too and thankfully does not need to be in until Thursday. AL helped her make a bow and arrow for another project... they turned out really cool!!! Cheyenne had her hair cut and styled by Marlenes friend while we were cycling. All in All a pleasant Sunday.

April 24th 2010

We have been up all night!! We actually caught a few zzzzs on one of the runners relatives floor shared with two adorable slathering pooches!! Our exchange would be at Santa Monica Pier, at an unearthly time of 2.30am!! Once our runner was off it was straight to the point of exchange at El Segundo Beach, I was not sure how my right quad/ Achilles tendon would hold up, running at 3.30am to Manhattan Beach was definitely a first for me... a little eerie with my headlamp illuminating just enough of the path which in some parts was hidden by soft sand! I was just getting warmed up when my 7 something mile leg came to a halt. After we all had finished our legs it was off to my favorite place Corner Bakery in Orange County. I was hungry and enjoyed a breakfast Panini, then to Huntington Beach for our exchange the final one of vans. There was so many vans at Huntington Beach, this relay was huge! I was lucky to have my foot taped by an ART specialist we took the baton from van 1 the sun was out life was good as now we are on the final 36 something miles to the finish line at Dana Point. I only had to run 8 miles I was happy, the weather was warming up and I actually over took a few teams, with a sigh of relief I was able to give my baton to the next runner. Time to relax and cheer on the remaining team members.

When our final runner was on her last leg to Dana Point all the vans went to the finish, parking was a joke!! So Tina and I dropped off the runners in the van and found parking. The finish was beautiful on the beach down a LONG down hill. Felt great to cross the finish line in I think about 31 hours or so.

There was free pizza, coffee, drinks etc really a nice setting AL came and collected me with the girls and Hammer. That night I was sleeping before my head touched the pillow!!

April 23rd 2010

Oh my up at 6.15am!! What was I thinking!! So early!! Anyhow we had Starbucks coffee lots of caffeine!! and met all of the team members. There would be 6 of us in the Escalade, and 8 in the van. After sorting out the vans, decorating the vans, team Bruiser set off to Ventura were the Ragnar Relay began. We had to check in, and receive a safety talk. I had not realized how big this event was!! 280 teams were registered, 12 man teams and only a few 6 man teams. the object was to tun 3 times each covering 202 miles until getting to DANA Point!

It was a long day as I was in vehicle 2, we went and had breakfast then set off to the exchange point were we spent 4 hours sitting around waiting for our runner number 6! Then we were on the road, I was runner number 8, my leg was 7.5 miles mostly up hill with an elevation gain of 915 feet. Which I was not complaining about as up hill did not both my quads it was the down hill, after we had all ran our legs, it was time to exchange the baton to the 1st vehicle and we set off to eat and freshen up.

April 22nd 2010

Good News I ran 5 miles VERY easy with Hammer I think I remember how to run after all that down hill at Boston!! I went to swim for 20 laps of the pool and then waited for the girls of Ragnar to pick me up. We left at 2pm for Carpentaria were we stayed the night at a not too bad Motel 6. There was 12 of us, we actually went out and ate in a nice Italian Restaurant were they sand belated happy birthday greetings to me. Tina was driving her white escalade and we were the oldest females in the group.

April 21st 2010

Wednesday, and I sleep until I wake up! Nearly fell over when I stood up!! that plane flight was a difficult one. Recovery was my main objective today and also cleaning all my gear etc... By midday I was feeling a lot better and managed a mile jog! I cancelled a dental appointment to check on my extrusion and began getting ready for.... yup thats right another race! I was leaving Thursday for the Ragnar Relay. SO spent the afternoon packing tail lights, Hammer Nutrition for the runners and reflective gear and first aid kits! I hope I will feel better for the run!!

April 20th 2010

Woke up with quads telling me to stretch! Today in the afternoon travel back to CA, had a pleasant day with Kathy she took Jodi and I to her local YMCA, I did not feel like swimming but did sauna and steam room and enjoyed the kids water chute! The airflight was long especially after doing a marathon, my legs wanted to be elevated! Seemed a long time before we landed in LA! Were my husband brought my mini pin who was so darn happy to see me it was like he was stuck with glue to my side! His little tail never stopped wagging!!

April 19th 2010

Boston Marathon Day!

April 18th 2010

Happy birthday to me!

April 17th 2010

Arrived at 5.45am at Boston and met Jodi at luggage! My friend Kathy was a total sweetheart and picked us up, a huge smile and really excited to see us! It was really cold, overcast and raining lightly! Our first taste of Boston was the toll, were the guy was sleeping!! So funny as he woke up all shocked and took Kathy's money! Then the second thing was Dunkin Doughnuts for coffee!! They are the East Coast equivalent to Starbucks coffee!!Kathy was a great hostess and her husband Brian also. Their home was in Millis a really quiet town compared to LA!! surrounded by nature hardly any cars etc...

April 16th 2010

Friday and this would have been my grandas birthday he would have been 91 today! It was also the day I was to travel to Boston. In the morning I made the house so clean!! vacuumed and polished fed the dogs cleaned the yard and jogged a little with Hammer. By the time it was 6pm I was ready to go to the airport. Al drove us (Jodi and I) and Dave and also Hammer went along. Jodi and I were on different flights but arrived in Boston around the same time.

April 14th 2010

Wednesday and I am trying to get ready for Boston and I have a scuba class in the evening. Hammer and I went for a run to Walnut Creek he sure loves to run. I packed all the scuba gear and on the evening I found myself at the pool teaching Holly and Ryan confined water! The dental procedure was a little uncomfortable when I put in the regulator biting down was NOT an option! I had fun in the pool hovering, fin pivots, emergency superman swimming no mask swims etc...

April 13th 2010

Dentist day is here woop!woop! I swam a few miles in the am and then the dreaded dentist chair. Today apparently I was really lucky to have a famous dental professor perform an extrusion procedure! (I would have thought lucky would not be in the dental chair!) A few students gathered to watch as a gold rod was drilled into the base of the tooth structure and a rod went across three teeth, then a band was attached and the theory was the band would pull up the tooth and I would have enough tooth structure to have a crown made!!

I was sent home with pain gel and wax! It felt really weird!

April 11th 2010

Wow!! Tri clinic day we had 30 clients and more showed for the bike run portion! We arrived at 7am and the clients arrived 8am. It was an action packed 4 hours of A to Z tri stuff. My husband talked about bikes fit and riding styles etc.. I covered nutrition using Hammer Nutrition products and Dave and Jodi covered transitions running etc... The day was on the cold side and the lake was actually warmer than the air temp! Cycling around Bonelli was cold and the sun made an appearance for the run. I put Hammer on the leash and he ran with the group it was a crack up to see this little dog running so fast!!

After the event was over we went and ate at the Bakery in La Verne, Montana enjoyed potato soup, Al had meat ball sandwich and I had pasta!

April 10th 2010

We had the girls for the weekend. Al and I decided to go with Hammer to Bonelli and I ran 6 miles and Al rode the mountain bike. There was an off road tri and run event in the park today and it was a beautiful sunny day. In the afternoon I went with my friend Jodi and we rode our road bikes. Then it was getting the truck loaded for the Tri Clinic in the morning. While I was out with Jodi, the girls were making me each birthday cakes as my birthday would be next weekend while I was travelling! I must say Montana made a great looking cake using Angel cake, cream strawberries and chocolate! While Cheyenne made a chocolate cake and decorated it with bananas! I am pretty lucky to have two cakes!!

April 9th 2010

Oh Yeah scuba diving today, just Al, Jimmy, Byran and myself we set off at 6.30am for Laguna Beach the truck fully loaded! When we arrived at Divers Cove there looked like a lot of surface current so I asked for Shaws Cove instead. Shaw's is typically more sheltered and we thought that it would be great for a dive. There was no waves and seemed unusually flat.

We suited up. Al took out the buoy and with Jimmy tied up the anchor. Then Byran and I descended I noticed immediately that Byran looked like Mary Poppins holding onto hew umbrella in a hurricane situation, As soon as we hit 20 feet, Al and Jimmy joined us but the current was bad, so I called the dive. We all ascended and I made the call to go back to the Shore. Byran never once showed panic and asked if that was normal! Nope I replied we all sat on the beach, we all wanted to dive so we waited for nearly 2 hours! Our friend Tony Z arrived and was pumped at going diving We watched more divers diving we saw a seal teasing us to get back in, finally we entered the Ocean again. almost as a reward for getting back in Al and I gave Jimmy, Tony and Byran a great dive! We saw Octopus, huge sea hares, lots of Girabaldi just a nice dive. The guys were all in awe and had a great experience.

We returned back to civilization! reality checked in, cleaning all the scuba gear etc, and relaxed a bit.

Late afternoon we went to collect Chey and Montana as today is our Friday with the girls.On returning Hammer and I ran 4 miles back home while Montana and Cheyenne went with their daddy to get gifts for my birthday!!

On the evening we watched movies ...

April 8th 2010

All up early, Al took the kids to school and I took Hammer for an early 5 miler! At 9am I had my scuba student show up as I had cancelled the dive on Monday I offered to go back into the pool again so he could have extra pool time and test out a different BCD and wetsuit. By midday we had finished and had the rest of the afternoon to prepare for the dive club meeting that evening and get the gear ready for the am dive. Before I knew it AL and I were heading out to the scuba meeting at I Hop! As luck would have it I won the $50 gift certificate!! for Sport Chalet! and we discussed the Ships to Reefs project and Ron Springer was available to answer questions! We got to bed really late and had to be up super early!!

April 7th 2010

Spent the morning very frustrated I really wanted to go for a bike ride when I saw a text from Als ex wife and it was about Montana, poor girl, her guinea pig had been infested with mites and everything Montana had been in contact with needed cleaning. For those who do not know me my husband calls me a clean freak! so it really was not an issue just time was an issue. Picture a beautiful sunny day and a pile of laundry! grrr... So I set to work cleaning all her bedding, mattress and clothes, I put her clothes basket in the sun and it was not until 1.30pm I had everything either clean or in the hot drier. My Cannondale was calling me I put air in the Williams Wheels Yahoo I was out of the house. My small bike ride quickly turned into a 50 mile ride. I ventured out to the San Gabriel river bed, Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were filming at the lake side! Could not get close enough for a picture! Then 20 miles out on the trail I was questioning my safety at returning the same route as there was homeless people under the bridges and kids smoking dope! I called Al he told me to pedal faster! I would be okay! Back at home I had time to make all the beds etc and Al and I went for a quick ride/ run at Bonelli park! I took Hammer Al rode the Mountain Bike and we had a great workout! Hammer is a stud! He just loves to run. On the evening we had the kids over Chey and Montana.

April 6th 2010

Wow tell me I am in California still! After yesterday rain drizzle and very cold weather we have a glorious day sun is out and just a beautiful day! Hammer and I take to the trails we actually ran to Bonelli Park! This is probably Hammers biggest run to date! 13 miles! YIKES! he had so much fun stopping to hydrate when necessary etc.. when we made it back home I gave Hammer a rinse down and then proceeded to spoil Buster, he was washed and dried, the yard was hosed down, and made clean, all his bedding cleaned, he was a million dollar dog! his tail was wagging and we went and ran 3/4mile with Hammer. Had the doctors today to check on my foot it is getting better. On the evening met Jodi and Dave for dinner at Corner Bakery to discuss the tri clinic and how to get more people to it!

April 5th 2010

Was planning on a two tank dive at Shaws Cove but the weather said something else!! Overcast and raining with chances of Thunderstorms. So at 7pm I called the guys to cancel the dive we would plan later in the week. SO Monday, Monday!! did a lot of paper work etc and swam at the gym. Not a nice day weather wise! So I started on Tax papers! not my forte and by midday rain and cold not a problem I sneaked in a few miles to keep my sanity!

April 4th 2010

Happy Happy Easter. Gosh up so early as I need to make some rice krispie nests for the Easter festivities. My gran showed me how to make these scrumptious delights! as well as marchmallows and butter I add a secret ingrediant I have to improvise as there is not a Thorntons Toffee shop here in the States! by the time it is 9am I have over 70 easter nests with 3 cadbury chocolare eggs in each. I have wrapped 3 baskets one for Cheyenne, Montana and Abby. I start to get nervous about the Easter event and need to run. So Hammer and I get out for an 8 mile run we keep it simple up the road to Bonelli and into the park, down the off road back to the road and down Walnut Creek Hammer is going crazy as we go through 3 small water crossings, he is only small so he has to swim the first crossing! He looks like a little Beaver!! He makes me laugh and I feel like a million dollars, sweaty smelly and wet! LOL we get back home and the girls are already at the Park with Abby and Tammy and Josh. I go home to take a shower and change into warmer clothes as it is slightly overcast.

Easter went well, I played with Abby the Easter nests were a HUGE success, Tammy & Josh brought the badminton net and Tammys brother brought the Volley ball stuff. My friends Jodi and Dave enjoyed the festivities and a good day was had by all.

April 3rd 2010

Put all the scuba gear away! there is so much more to scuba diving!! the cleaning and storing of equipment as well as the fun part of diving! then I run 10 miles with Hammer it is a really nice warm day. Then work out what we need to make Easter happen in the am! We have a lot of people wanting to play and Abby Easter egg hunt!

April 2nd 2010

Today I have a scuba session in the pool and Al is going to try out his new DUI dry suit. I swim early and run a little well actually Hammer and I ran a 13 miler!! Pool session went great, washed all the gear at home and AL and I discussed Easter as on Sunday we have the girls, it is also Gabys 15th Birthday in Puerto Rico and as she is like a niece I need to get a card off to her. We shower and go to the store to get Easter gifts, and baking stuff!

April 1st 2010

Yahoo! White Rabbit! Aprils fools day and yeah! April is here! Gosh I love this month.. it is my birthday April 18th, and yup am Aries and the Wood Dragon in Chinese Astrology. In England crocuses and daffodils are peeping through the frost and snow here in Glendora CA my husband is taking the kids to school, I run early with Hammer and we go to Bonnie Cove then I get busy with Income Tax papers for Als business. On Thursday evening we go to Coates Cyclery to spend the evening with Jodi and Dave at Coreys appreciation night.

March 31st 2010

Wednesday morning, it starts off slow doing paperwork for the San Dimas Stage race, it is a beautiful day outside and Hammer is looking at me as if to say well.... are we going to run!! LOL I put on my trail shoes and Hammer almost does a back flip in happiness!! I decided to run to Bonelli and the trails are great over grown with Mustard grass Hammer has a great time. I have 19 days left to Boston marathon and my left foot is still a little problem. I enjoy the jog and when I get back home it starts to rain briefly! In the late afternoon Al wants to ride his mountain bike around Bonelli so after my ART appointment for therapy on my foot we both go I cycle around the park on my road bike. I am lacking strength and speed but it feels good to be on the bike again! On the evening Al had to go and get the kids from Sams Club we are happy they are both wanting to be here!

March 30th 2010

Abby is sleeping soundly, Hammer is sleeping at the foot of the bed, Buster the other dog is sleeping next to the bed and there is just enough room for Al and myself! then Abby wakes, in a happy mood and waddles out of bed I was not fast enough and before long I am greeted by Abby writing in pen over her scrap book! not a big deal she is just personalising it! but the table... oh my!!

She ate a healthy breakfast, is a funny kid loves boiled eggs and tomatoes!!

Then we walked over 2 miles to the fitness club and Kohls, we bought a nice dress and chocolate! Then we called granpa to pick us up! After Abby had eaten pasta and tomatoes, we went and brought out the baby stroller, Abby loves this stroller and we ran to the post office on our way back we stopped at Gladstone park and both played on the swings and slide. This little girl knows no fear! At home, we fed Buster and Hammer and then Josh and Tammy came to collect her. The house is seriously quiet without her and Hammer can relax once more!!

March 29th 2010

My what a day, I was up early as I could not sleep, my left foot was bothering me and I was edgy, so at 5.30am I found myself sitting with an ice pack for 20 mins, and adding pages to Abigail's scrap book. I decided to call Tammy and see if Abby could visit,a little later I decided to take Hammer my mini pin for a small 5 mile run to see how my foot felt. I had my new orthotics and took off, at 2 miles I was experiencing discomfort, I tried to change the way I hit the road and pain disappeared, before I knew it Hammer and I were on our way to a 9.5mile running loop! We had so much fun and I was SO happy! I could almost smell Boston! Was the first quality run I had done in weeks!!Back home, I had time to shower and change and Abby came over to spend the night with us!

I love my grand daughter she is a demon dressed as an Angel! I think the correct expression is terrible twos?? Joking apart she is adorable and a pleasure to look after and a FULL TIME job I may add. She loves playing with Buster and Hammer and likes to play on the rocking horse Montana painted her out in the garden! When Tammy left Abby was fine she is at the stage were she just loves to draw on EVERYTHING such as the settee (sofa)  walls and table!

March 28th 2010

Today Sunday we planned on going to Redlands Bike Classic with Jeremiah, he has had a rough week and we hoped he would be fine at the Crit he was racing in. We also had both girls Montana and Cheyenne with us, and sorted through our challenges carefully and methodically. They are ALWAYS both welcome in our home! And we love then Both VERY much!

I ran a little with Hammer I was upset and crying, more from frustration than anything and then Al said we had to leave for Redlands he came and collected me from the trail head!

We left Hammer behind and took off for the bike race. It was not Jeremiahs best performance but he will be back!! We spent a quiet evening at home as we dropped he kids off at there moms house.

March 27th 2010

Saturday, we have Montana with us, Al is busy fixing his work truck, it is 8 years old and seems to be needing repairing every other day! At 12 noon Al takes Montana with him and I go for a nice 45 mile bike ride near Baldy area. Just feels good to be on the bike and riding again! It is also the Oceanside 70.3 today so I am excited for a few of my friends who are also racing today.

On the evening Montana and I cook for Jeremiah, Montana is a treasure as she prepares menus, and sets the table very professionally. Everything is nearly ready when Chey arrives. My heart jumps as I have been having problems just as EVERY step mom has and was not prepared to see her, we sort through issues and finally after apologies are made and accepted my pasta is burnt! But we eat any way.

It has been a hectic 15 days, have had little time to breathe!! Not sure were to start so will begin with dental work.

My mouth was sore for a week!! I had to go back to the chair of doom and gloom the next day after the extraction and ended up in the hurt box again as I had complications with my upper molar and it needed pins in it to make it stable enough to support a bridge! At the moment I am enjoying a vacation away from the dental chair!!

March 24th 2010

Oh my what a great day!! I swam 2.5 miles, ran 9 miles with Hammer in morning and evening and road my bike across the ridge to Baldy!! Yahoo!! I was so tired on the evening I fell asleep in my clothes!!

SAN DIMAS STAGE RACE 19th MArch to 21st March

We have been planning this event for the last 3 to 4 months, and finally on the eve of 18th March we had packet pick up. Everything seemed to go smoothly, what the racers did not see was the packet party held at our home on 17th March (St Patricks Day!) trying to organize 1000 race packets, correct numbers, starting times and swag bags took alot of volunteer man power from SC VELO!!

Then it was Friday and we had the 3.8 mile Time trial up Glendora Mountain Road, with VERY little sleep Saturday was the Road Race and Sunday the grand finale of the down town crit. Some of the best cyclists in the World came and did not fail to give a great show. Weather was perfect and on 8 hours of sleep AL and I are exhausted!! Took a FULL week to recover and we had some great press in the cycling media and locally. We had over a 100 children in the kids free race and now time to focus on my health and fitness!!

INJURIES

I have had x rays, digital scans and finally fitted custom made insoles. I have started running again and taking it day by day! My ankle still feeling instable and still putting an ice pack on it. The orthotics seem to be working fine, and I am jogging a few miles again. I even cycled today for 40 miles and felt good to be on the bike!I also cycled across the ridge to Baldy this week and put in a long triathlon day on Wednesday to see where I am fitness wise! I was exhausted on the evening but did not have any delayed muscle soreness and my body loved me for swimming biking and running.

Issues I am working through include my mental and physical well being and also my family. My husband has been my rock and solid I have had the 5 stages of injuries as it affects athletes, ironically the first issue is DENIAL! yup, refusing to believe you could possible have an injury! The second issue is ANGER! well hey why did it have to happen to me!! so to speak. The third level is bribery, this is where you make your sport doctor home made cookies in the likely event he will tell you what you want to hear! You are fine and can resume training! Then it sinks in and you reach the 4th level of DEPRESSION, were you try to hide your self and reminisce how you used to be an athlete, And finally the level I have now reached a level of acceptance and re structuring my training and therapy!

March 12th 2010

Just want to reinforce life is good, and not to dwell on the negativity, sure I am injured and depressed! But I still have a wonderful husband I am busy working on the San Dimas Stage Race, and my sponsors have been great, this week I came home to open a box of tires etc from Serfas and then after my dental stuff came home to a Profile Design box of goodies for my bike and a great looking wet suit! As well as a new racing uniform from Brooks USA! YEAH! My dogs Hammer and Buster are keeping me focused and I have a wonderful grand baby!!Life is good!!

March 12th 2010

Hello California I am ALIVE!! After two days of Dental woes..followed by stitches, extractions, gum work & pins...as well as my left foot problems and other personal issues I woke up feeling relatively good!

The dental woes should be made into a book I swear! It is getting to the point were I could star in my own reality TV! This week I had two 4 hour appointments at the Loma Linda School of Dentistry, As I sat in the dreaded chair, I listened carefully to Scott as he explained the procedure for today, he would be removing the silver filling from my far left molar, ..it was a dicey tooth to begin with, as he put the clamp around the tooth the most comical thing happened, the clamp turned into a flying bungee cord and came flying out of my mouth followed by my silver filling in two pieces! Scott had never seen that happen before and it would save me the pain on the drill!! Then the worse news followed, the tooth was badly decayed and looked like peanut butter! As he began cleaning it up and using a drill he so fondly calls Mr Bumpy! more bad news followed, you need a root canal! I groaned ! Gosh just my luck. As he went to inform his teacher I fumbled around wallowing in self pity!! Scott came back with MORE news, that if they performed the root canal, I would need a build up and the tooth lengthening in total $2000 to save that rear molar!  And no guarantee it would last more than 5 to 10 years...or I could have the tooth extracted and prepped for an implant!SO I agreed to the extraction as long as it was done right at that moment! So left the School that day with 4 stitches and some of my gum removed  that! A day later I fund my self back in the chair again! and this time Scott would work on the top two left molars directly above the extraction site... mmm fun, it went from being 2 routine cavities and prepping for a bridge to a complicated procedure which resulted in my back molar having pins in it to make it stronger so it would be stronger for a bridge! f

I Just wanted to cry! It seems everytime I sit in the dental chair of doom and gloom I hear great news that I need this procedure and that procedure!What with my stress Fracture and personal issues I am feeling sorry for my self! On top of all that my mouth and gums are sore, i have a splintering headache and just want to lie down in a dark room and close my eyes! On the evening we had a scuba club meeting, I really could not imagine going with the way my gums were and fresh out of the dental chair! I laid down on the settee and started to cry! My husband AL told me I should go along to the meeting I really wanted to go as there would be the Aqualung speaker.. So I went along and during the meeting I had to leave I was cold clammy, and a splitting headache, my friend Jodi and Dave took me home i was white ashen and just wanted to lie down. I missed the guest speaker and Al finally came home at 10pm. He had had a great meeting and Chris Fuller from Aqualung had been a fun guest speaker! I was still not feeling good.....

March 7th 2010

Oh my gosh what a week I have had. First off I foot is not healed and still having problems with my left foot. To the point were only swimming is pain free! But that is okay I am positive it is soft tissue and hope and pray it is not a stress fracture, and if it is I will still go to Boston! Then last Sunday was a family meeting for everyone out there who is a step parent we are damned if we do and damned if we don't! I basically was knocked down and then ran over with a bus! It seems that nothing I do is right for my oldest step daughter and it really is hard for me to take ALL the blame and continually keep being put down. What with that and injury you can only imagine how happy I am at the moment!

But I do have the greatest husband I adore him and he is my rock, I have plenty of things to keep me busy and positive! I am putting together a scrap book of my beautiful grand daughter Abigail, I am looking after Buster our Yellow Lab who is 15 and Hammer our mini pin of 9 months. San Dimas Stage Race is filling and very busy with the race bible and sponsorship.

Life is good and am focusing on the positive things in my life and putting my faith in the good Lord who knows I am good and have tried to make right. I am extremely lucky to be able to teach scuba diving, present clinics on Hammer Nutrition and be a professional Pastry Chef!!

February 28th 2010

In the morning I was guest speaker for INCYCLE San Dimas and would be doing a presentation on Hammer Nutrition. Then my husband would lead a beginners bike ride around Bonelli Park. It was a beautiful morning and I was quite surprised to see so many new people wanting to learn about Hammer Nutrition.

February 27th 2010

It is raining so hard it is not funny! Both dogs are hesitant to even go outside for a bathroom stop! I am for some reason up at 5.30am, I just cannot sleep I think because of my foot and lack of exercise! I decide I would like to go to the gym and do the cardio machines for zero impact on my foot, I last an hour, watching the news about an 8.8 earthquake in Chile, then I swim for an hour. It is a miserable day and the mountains are hidden with low clouds. At 1pm I have 3 new scuba students and we mange to get the first 3 exams out of the way. On the evening, Montana decides that a video would be cool, and chooses Twilight zone! Really quite good. I wanted to watch the Olympics but was sleeping as soon as my head toughed the pillow!

February 25th 2010

Thursday woo hoo, a big day for me. I had a hearing test... well no news is good news and my hearing basically sucks, and for $7000 hearing aids that really are not going to improve anything drastically are a waste of time and money right?? Still was pretty depressed as I hear vowels predominately and consonants I struggle with. Lost my high pitch frequency. But it is okay I can still see, smell, touch and taste! WHY do you ask at 45 do I have this well, I have had problems since 1991! and in 1993 was refused my Australian Residency due to the "applicants hearing loss!" It is because of my Anorexia Nervosa and damaged my nerves and hair follicles, in the nerve sensors of my ear! After that we went to Sees candy and bought dark chocolate truffles to cheer me up! I really do have a great husband he is also my best friend!

In the afternoon, AL then took me to the podiatrist Chris Bautista, an SC VELO club member and excellent foot and ankle doctor. He diagnosed my foot problem as Sinus Tarsi Syndrome, and gave me a nice needle of cortisone, with instructions not to run on the foot for a few days..

On the evening we had an SDSR meeting for the bike race, it went very well, we ended our evening at Red Robin.

I am happy I have the answer to my foot pain, and as for my hearing.... well what else can I say, except I have lived with this loss for 20 plus year!

February 24th 2010

Woke up early, had a nice surprise as Jon Foster from Puerto Rico called because Luly Lopex was celebrating 30 years of triathlon involvement in Puerto Rico and my picture was up on the screen as part of Puerto Rico Triathlon History! It was a good day to be put on a speaker phone, as being injured it gave me a rush to think i am part of that beautiful island. AL took Montana to school. I stayed in and rested my foot, still no cycling or running or swimming!Worked a little on the San Dimas stage Race.

February 23rd 2010

Today is National Pancake day!! But Abby Al and I stay at home I make a nice breakfast of eggs, fruit and potatoes, today Abby will go home, but not before I discover the true joys of a 2 year old! She managed to open a bottle of nail polish and painted her clothes and face with pink polish as well as the sofa! What can you say! you just have to say Oh MY! and then spend30 minutes trying to get the polish off her body with remover!! Then she is out side with both dogs and suddenly I find her giving me a poopy nappy and managed to stand in it too!! The day just keeps on full of funny moments and Abby is all smiles. I am depressed as I cannot run and think I have damaged my left foot from that long run on Sunday... Abby senses my unhappiness and gives me an Abby hug! I really am grateful to have a grandchild I can spoil & Love, It is so special to have a 2 year old blow you a kiss and talk to you!!In the afternoon Abby and I went to the bike shop with Al we had a great time playing in the show room, then we bought ice cream and waited for Grandpa and Jeremiah. At home Abbys parents had arrived from Vegas. We all went out for dinner and said our goodbyes. My home is very quiet, my husbands stress level has gone down! He is putting his new Cannondale Bike together, Montana is with us tonight and wants to make cookies, and then Angelica comes round with her 3 children. I sleep well after I watch American Idol with Montana who had her hair cut today!!

February 22nd 2010

I woke up first, my left leg is still not right! drat, well still can rest a day or two...Abby is sleeping peacefully, and Hammer is resting beside her. Buster because he is old is sleeping next to the bed... I get up to clean up the toys, do laundry and clean the bathroom from yesterdays bubble bath! Al has to go out into the field early, Abby wakes and we clean and vacuum, she is so adorable and funny... keeps taking off her nappy as soon as she poops or pees! we feed Hammer and look after Buster because he is 15 years old needs special attention. Breakfast we all go to Corner Bakery when Al comes back. Abby is as cute as a button. The whole day is full of Abby surprises, as it is not raining I tape up my foot and we walk with the baby stroller into Glendora Village, I take Abby to the Blue book shop for children, the old fashioned candy shop etc. On the way home I take Abby to the Gladstone park and we play on the swings and I discover the joy of a slide!! She is a hoot to play with a great play date!. On the evening I dress Abby in her pjs, as we go to San Dimas for a photo shoot for the SC VELO bike club! Everyone thinks Abby is an angel..... how deceiving!! When we get home Abby and Hammer sit with AL and we all fall asleep in the chair watching TV with Buster snoring on the floor!!

February 21st 2010

Sometimes in life we do things we know we will regret later and today was one of those days. As I have been battling foot problems, quad problems etc... so I decided to get up and go for an EASY long run....ha ha ha easy mmm, well I set off I felt really smart in my Brooks gear and ravenna shoes, I set out to Bonelli Park, I kept checking my Polar Monitor, 2 miles, 3 miles, I shuffled around finding the right footing so my foot would not hurt, then I realized that I had ran 9 miles and no where near home! YIKES! by the time I was on the road home I had logged 17 miles! and my left foot was NOT happy!!

I took my recoverite and a huge ice pack on my foot, My grandbaby Abigail was spending 3 days with me! So I would have plenty to occupy my mind! In the afternoon Abby and I went with Al to a meeting to discuss the sinking of a boat at Dana Point. Hammer came with us and Abby andI took over home made cookies!! LOL making cookies with a 2 year old is an experience. I gave her eggs and she squeezed her hands so tight the yolk exploded every where!! Then try to put the dough onto the baking sheet while Abby is eating the dough!! Was quite a day. After the meeting Abby and I had a HUGE bubble bath and we had dinner and watched the Olympics with Buster and Hammer.

February 20th 2010

I have the best husband in the world, as he woke me up at 7.45am and told me to get ready for a 25 mile charity ride! I looked at him  and said are you crazy! but he knew if I did not do that charity ride i would be depressed for the rest of the day. By 8.30am we were both at Coates  Cyclery waiting for the ride for Yoshi, a cyclist who had an accident and was now in a coma. The rid  went well and my foot did not bother me that much, after the ride we all stayed for a mexican feast and fundraiser. Back at home we worked on the San Dimas Stage race. Al was bushwacked from the ride as he is battling asthma problems, and there was a few short climbs that tested his lung capacity! We watched the Olympics and on the evening Dave and Jodi came over also!

February 19th, 2010

It is Friday and on my way to see the doctor for one last treatment on my foot, I cycle the Monrovia Loop, and end up at the doctors. David Bolton actually cracked my foot!!I went home not sure whether doing the 200 miler would be a good idea as the doctor thought it may make the foot worse all those extra miles in the saddle. I went home it was about 3pm, I was a little depressed as I knew deep down that I should not do the event but really wanted to do the event. I iced my foot, and tried to keep positive. I ran for 3 miles, while AL was mountain biking and we took Hammer, then reality set in. We had to go to Frys to take back my lap top that had crashed, I was miserable as I knew I would have to cancel my race. I started to cry in Frys and Al tried everything to reason with me. I thought of what the ART had said and finally agreed to not start the 200 miler. I was depressed and unhappy but at the same time knew it was the right thing to do.

February 17th

Have a great morning, although lacking sleep and not  grabbing breakfast I make the gym for Yoga, swimming etc.. As soon as I get home I try to do too much as it is my girlfriends birthday, I make a cake and some cookies, andcall Al as need to find out what we are going to cook for tonights celebration. At 2pm I find myself lying on the sofa, I feel tired and a huge headache. I feel like that until 5pm, when I finally cave in andrun 8 miles, still do not feel super great. Evening was spent with Dave and Jodi and we all watched the Olympics

.

February 16th 2010

This is crunch time today, I cancel my appointment at the ART as we are really busy with the race plans, later in the afternoon I have a scheduled run I decided to do the miles but not the intensity...it feels good, my quad is not hurting, so I tell my hubby that maybe I will be alright to do the miles on Saturday.I sign up on line, and that evening I help Al with the mountain bikes and then we catch a bite to eat at Red Robin

February 15th 2010

Today is Presidents Day, and the sun is out I decide to ride 56 miles in the Foothills, to see how my quad holds up and my left leg feels. I dress warmly as in the Canyons it can get cold! It really was a beautiful day to be a cyclist! Snowcapped mountains, clear running streams, a pure slice of heaven, had I taken more Hammer fuel I would have been out there all day! I have so many problems at the momentso it felt good to be cycling surrounded by nature, with the burn areas becoming green hawks in the sky, just a nice day. When I returned home I helped my husband with the San Dimas Stage race. I felt good and a little confused about my 200 mile bike event next weekend.

February 14th 2010

Had wanted to do a 13.1 mile run and ended up missing out still resting my injury. I decided to go up GMR on my bike, it was a lovely day with snow capped peaks. As soon as I arrived home I had no time to change as AL needed to get to the Crit for Jeremaih by 1pm! So we quickly put my bike in the back of the truck and off we went. It was unusually warm, we arrived in plenty of time watched the race and then left did a really quick run at Bonnie Cove while AL mountain biked it!

February 13th 2010

Decided to test out my quad on a 6 mile loop near Mount Baldy, took Hammer and boy did we have fun, a 2.5 mile uphill,  and Hammer just tucked his ears in and went full steam! Gosh was a beautiful day and my leg did not cause me too much discomfort! AL and Joel decided to mountain bike the trail. I had wanted to do a 100 miler at Palm Springs but had decided againest it because of my quad muscle. Al and I decided to go out into Glendora to eat and celebrate early Valentines day!!

February 8th 2010

Well woke up with pain still in my quad!! As Abby had spent the night I had already committed to my play date! And boy did we play, we had the bubble baths of all bubble baths!! It was super funny! I nearly lost her in the bubbles, she thought it was so funny! Meanwhile HAMMER the resident mini pin could not make out what the white foamy bubbles were!! What a great Monday, besides being injured Abby certainly made the day fun... it was not without a few devilish moments but on a whole my grand baby is an angel.. well in my eyes anyway!

February 7th 2010

Woo Hoo race morning!! And Superbowl Sunday here in the USA! Not being the greatest fan of Superbowl, a 13.1 mile run seemed a perfect way to start the day. I did not really warm up as was worried about my left leg!! We arrived nice an d early, not to re write my race report, I managed to tair a lower quad muscle and hobbled to a 1 48 time, still good enough for 1st place in my cat, would have placed 2nd overall!! There was no Ice so I missed the awards and went home to rest the leg. It would be two days before seeing a doctor ART David Bolton, who advised no running swimming etc so I actually believe it or not did exactly that!

I spent a beautiful afternoon with my grand baby Abigail, and with friends Dave and Jodi.

February 6th 2010

Had a stressful week, sometimes life's realities catch up with our lives, one minute we are cruising towards our goals, laughing smiling and thinking how great life is then BOOM we are on an all time low, stressed out and depressed! I believe it happens to every one so do not expect sympathy! Yet it affects my running, cycling and health. I do not concentrate as I such and there fore more suspect-able to stress related injuries and maladies!

I had spent time in the dental chair of pain, I swear I think I am getting dental phobias I am so traumatised my needles and drills! The plus side was I got to spend time with Abby before going home to lie down and take pain killers!!

I had a great week of mileage just hiccuped in the middle with step parenting problems! It probably will not be the first and not the last! By Saturday I was feeling better, my husband and I went tot he Rose Bowl in Pasadena to pick up my race number as I was racing (Thank You Hammer Nutrition) on Sunday a small 13.1 mile run which I would use for Boston training.

I decided to run 5 miles to loosen up for the event in the morning, yet half way through I hurt my left foot and ended up limping home, crying a mixture of frustration, pity andstress all rolled into one scenario!! My mini pin Hammer could not understand why I was first of all walking but also crying!! At home a gave my feet 100% love, spa, cream, massage. Al ordered Dominos Pizza, my favorite pre race, post race food available!

February 2nd 2010

Woke up tired, not because I was not rested but drugged, as a tooth which is being treated caused me great pain last night and I ended up taking 5 Ibuprofen and pain killers. Took me until 1pm to feel good about the day! I took my bike for a spin as Jeremiah and Al had given the bike some love and cleaned the Bottom Bracket and lubed the chain. Then I decided to do a wee 9 mile run, with 4 miles at a hard pace...

February 1st 2010

Today was a rest day in regards to training, so while Al took the girls to School, I swam a mile at the 24 Fitness gym, andat 10am met my friend Susan and brushed off the cobwebs off my beautiful cannondale synapse and took it for a spin up GlendoraMountain Road! Spent the afternoon working on San Dimas Stage Race and looking after andspoiling both dogs Buster and Hammer. On the evening I enjoyed Cake Boss.

January 26th 2010

It has been pretty depressing the past couple of days, I am still with a hacking cough andfeel very lethargic! I am guessing I am in dire need of a HUGE sunlamp one that will create the illusion of being in Tropical faraway places! But besides the down side, I helped my step son Jeremiah with his Elite training Camp for Team Williams Cycling. The guys are strong andhe has a great team for 2010. I started my 12 week count down for Boston Marathon! I cannot believe we are less that 12 weeks away were has January gone!! Also began working on the Triathlon Clinics we will be hosting at Bonelli Park and very happy to say that Tri Swim has come on board to join in on the fun.

The good News is the 5 days of torrential rain is behind us here in SO CAL may be a few drizzles in the day but training can resume!

January 21st.

It has been a while since I wrote anything, truth be said I have had a busy month. I started back at the School of Dentistry and continue to get my teeth fixed. I went in for a temporary crown last week and ended up with a root canal!! were is the justice!

Two weeks ago I went to Santa Monica and raced a 13.1 mile marathon and was pleasantly surprised to place 3rd in my age group with a time of 1 hour 37 minutes and 27 seconds!

In January my grand daughter Abigail turned 2 years old. I had fun baking a sponge bob cake for her and taking her to Toms Farm.

Since 17thto presentwe have been slammed with rain tornados mud slides and flash flood warnings! Not the weather to be seen running or cycling and my gym membership at 24 fitness had been put to good use. Swimming and Yoga. But do not ask me to do the treadmill again 4 miles was my first and last time on that thing. It should be in a torture chamber.

My husband has been suffering from Asthma, but seems to be on the road to recovery as the weather improves so does his health.

Buster and Hammer have been keeping each other company in the house!! SO every morning I have had to vacuum dog hairs and clean floors!

BIG news is that with my friends Dave andJodi Ruby my husband Al we are going to put together a series of triathlon clinics at Bonelli park.

And finally Al and I are busy getting the San Dimas Stage Race ready for the 11th year of cycling at its best!

January 2nd 2010

Well the New Year has begun! A beautiful warm day in So Cal I went for a nice 10 mile run in our local trails andenjoyed an evening ride around Bonelli Park with AL. I started sorting out all my news clippings from Puerto Rico I have a LOT! and is bringing back a lot of fun memories of when I competed as a Puerto Rican Triathlete! from 1993 to 2007! That's a long time! Sure miss Boqueron andmy friends on the island! Good thing is I can go back and visit! Truly feel blessed that I have had such a good life!! If I had to die tomorrow it would be okay! I have already lived all my dreams which are possible!

JANUARY 1ST 2010

Woo Hoo a New Year, New Beginnings, New Races and New Resolves. Being Healthy and Happy are my first resolve. This year sport wise would like to improve on my swimming! Which when you are as slow as I am any improvement is a blessing!! I am going to make the most of my days and not let the computer take over my day! Try to do yoga 2 times if not 3 times a week. Do 3 200 mile bike events, a 300 mile bike ride, a double iron race and Ultraman! Also do Boston Marathon andsome Disneyland runs.. for the medals alone! Still figuring out which bank to rob but sure it will sort its self out!

Hammer actually ran today for 5 miles in the trails at Bonny Cove he is a great runner!!

In 2009 Buster became the good ole age of 15! Not bad for a yellow lab! We also bought a new mini pin called Hammer who is adorable. My grandbaby Abby can decorate cakes with me and loves to run with me in the local trails! we actually won our first 5km race together. AL and I went to Hawaii for my 12th Ultraman Hawaii,andI started Dental treatment.

I hope 2010 will be a banner year!

December 24th Christmas Eve

Today we celebrate Christmas as we have Montana and Cheyenne for Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day. We were all up very early. AL took Cheyenne and Montana to St Louise Church were the church always does a Xmas Breakfast for all the people that work there. Cheyenne and Montana liked to go and spent the early morning at the Church and delivering all the presents for Als clients. While they were at the Church, I made the mashed potatoes, Sweet yams, brussel sprouts. Before Al left to deliver presents he did the Turkey and the veggie/meat stuffing. Meanwhile I also made large Brandy Snaps and baked the Santa Clause cake. We had all the family at 1pm, knowing this I sneaked out for an hour run! Felt totally good!!

Cheyenne helped fill the brandy snaps with double cream and dipped in Chocolate, Montana surprised me by decorating the Santa Cake really nice job. We even had Abigail trying to help!!

By the time all the family had gathered the turkey was complete and all the veggies and gravy etc done! My friends Jodi and Dave came over and there was All Al,s family with Marlene, German Laura and kids with Josh and Tammy with Abigail and Jeremiah and PC,

Christmas festivities were the order of the day! I lit all the candles and the Wiscoville village, opened gifts played secret Santa, and also Taboo which I am happy to say Jeremiah, Laura and I won!!

It was a long day and evening. Abigail looked adorable in her new dress and matching Santa hairpiece! Everyone had a god time and there was not much food left! The girls opened lots of cool gifts andMarlene must have spent a Kings Ransom in gift cards and xmas treats!

December 23rd 2009

Needed to go for a long run ran about 9 miles, when I arrived home everyone still in bedclothes! and I had my friend Martha and her two daughters coming over at 12 noon. I was a little upset as I spend so much time making sure when the girls have friends over everything is clean and perfect for them yet I seemed to be a one man show today. Felt a little hurt, and we also had Savannah the half sister of the girls over. Then everything came together and everyone started to help. Turned out to be a nice day. Savanna helped decorate cookies and made marshmallows,

December 21st 2009

Day was spent actually relaxing indoors and started my antibiotics to clear up my infection! Still no voice (probably a good thing)

December 20th 2009

Awful night I tossed and turned woke up congested and sore throat and lost my voice! Not Good. The whole day was a fuss. Need antibiotics I definitely have an infection.

December 19th 2009

Felt a little better so thought it was a good idea to go run! It felt good to be out side but would pay the price later. At 6pm we had the Dive Club Christmas party at our home. We were busy all day making cookies, marinading meat, preparing the house, Cheyenne and Montana were great helpers.

The party went well, a LOT of the dive club members came along and by 9.30pm the last person was leaving and my cousin and husband arrived. I cleaned up and put food away and started with a sore throat. By 12.30am I excused myself needed to sleep.

December 18th 2009

Al woke me at 6am! Yikes!! we went to the gym to begin my weight training. I was not well, did the weights but felt awful and spent the whole day at home sick

December 17th 2009

Thursday started with a sore throat, I took a shower and tried to refresh myself. I kept busy doing Christmas stuff and shopping for Als customers. By 2pm I had caught up with letters and presents, I managed a beautiful trail run and then went grocery shopping with Al. We were both exhausted!

December 16th 2009

Felt really good.... not to sure if i was drugged up but I went for an easy 6 mile run and even a nice bike ride! I had to go back to the dentist to have a temporary crown made. On the way home Al stopped to pick up the girls, I made a batch of cookies and Cheyenne and Montana decorated cookies. I went to bed early as was not feeling too good.

December 15th 2009

Woke up with a nice sore throat and throbbing back molar! Started a late morning with Kona Coffee!! My day progressed with walking Hammer and Buster and before I knew it I was sitting at Loma Linda School of Dentistry with Scott drilling away at my painful tooth! 4 hours later with a number face my tooth was a sixth of its original state the pain had gone and I had a spanking new temporary! Back home I had soup and chocolate truffles! and a pain medication so powerful I felt Great!! I am itching to start training again but need to recuperate fully before I attack the gym!

December 14th 2009

I have the best husband, we have so many Christmas lights up it looks like day time in the night time! 25 boxes of lights out side the house, two Christmas trees and a dancing polar bear with two penguins as side kicks! I spent the day doing Christmas stuff in doors I just love Christmas! At 3.45pm I had this crazy idea to bike ride... woo hoo have not been on the bike since Ultraman, felt weird and exhilarating! No speed or Heart rate, just rode my Cannondale until it was dusk!. At 6pm I was ready to attend the first committee meeting for the San Dimas Stage Race!

I also had my race report for Ultraman Hawaii published today on xtri, the link is http://www.facebook.com/l/29153;www.xtri.com/features_display.aspx?riIDReport=6130&CAT=3&

December 11th, 12th & 13th

What a great weekend!! Abigail came over at 2pm in the afternoon yippee a whole weekend with this angel of a grand daughter! Always smiling! There is never a dull moment when Abby is here! It is pouring with rain and Abby at 23 months takes me to the garage, she is laughing the rain is coming down and she wants to go in the jogger.We spend 90 minutes getting very wet! Its late I get her into warm clothes and we play yet at bedtime she turns into a crying monster, AL lays down the law and Hammer is traumatized! Finally peace.

On Saturday the rain is coming down in buckets, Abby and I play with the dogs, she helps me do laundry then we both go to Kohls. She is a sweetheart and I love her smile. I buy her a cool dress and we chose a snowman cookie jar and fruit bowl. Then I swear that little tyke walked to Sams Club, we bought photos there then we walked a mile to see GranpaAl! Walking a mile in a torrential down pour witha 23 month old toddler was amusing! She kept looking up to the sky andcatch rain in her mouth then run in the puddles. Had a wonderful day of Abby, bless her we went out to eat at Corner Bakery chocolate cookies for main course and pasta for dessert! She slept like a baby that night falling asleep on the sofa in my arms!

Sunday was the best I woke first and was able to get cleaning done. Then Abby woke in a great mood. We played with the snowmen, and dancing penguins, we took the dogs for a walk then she asked for the jogger and we went on a 3 hour journey.. I have not ran since Ultraman and I took Abby and the baby jogger to Bonelli Park! we played on the trails and I began to get tired! It also began to rain lightly so on the way home we stopped at Trader Joes and bought Muffins to eat then Al came and rescued Abby andI. Abby made cookies with me then her mommy collected her. The house is quiet without Abigail and Hammer and Buster are recovering!!

WOW HAVING A BABY AROUND THE HOME IS NOT EASY! I WAS EXHAUSTED AFTER HER VISIT!

December 6th 2009

Still a lot of teenagers sleeping in the front room, they finally had lights out at 4am!! Oh to be young! By 11am they had all been collected not before serving up a healthy breakfast of doughnuts! Today Al and I are busy, we took the girls Cheyenne andMontana to the SC VELO club BBQ, I am so very very tired!! In serious need of some valuable sleep! At the BBQ, I was presented with two awards! the first was the club Ultra athlete of the year!! andthe secondwas most valuable board member for all the hard work I did with Sponsorship in 2009 for the San Dimas Stage Race! AL also had 2 awards, the first as a Race Director andthe second as a valuable sponsor to SC VELO. That evening we all went out to Legends we were falling asleep at the table!

December 5th 2009

Wow read eyed flight from Hawaii to California, cold and raining! Overcast sweet! Very busy on the 4th spent day cleaning and looking after the dogs Buster and Hammer. Today is my Step Daughters 15th birthday celebration at our home., there are cakes to make, a fire pit to be assembled, chairs to put out, balloons to put up. 20 teenagers with sleep over optional should be a long day! I made crinoline ladies out of Red Velvet Cake, (Cheyennes Favorite) Al did the BBQ and spent time and $$$$$ making it a great memory for Cheyenne.

November 27th 2009

It is the Big Day! ULTRAWOMAN number 12. I am having a light breakfast of toast and Kona coffee, everything is ready all I can do is my best! My left foot was bothering me yesterday hoping it will be fine by Sunday! Already two athletes have had injury, Juan from Argentina, who has 8 stitches in his foot from stepping on lava, is still going to race, andCJ ONG, who ripped off his big toe nail, so not good! But CJ will not race both are veterans of Ultraman.

I am nervous (as always) hoping to make the 320 miles safely.

November 26th 2009

Had a great nights sleep, which was good as tonight I will not sleep well. Today was the pre race briefing after Thanksgiving breakfast at the Outrigger. As always, I arrived there at 9am and there was everyone there with their crews, finding a place to sit was a challenge! I saw Raffa my Puerto Rican swim escort great guy and very patient! then Al and I ate, I am guessing a breakfast of champions as i think Lance Armstrong eats rice and eggs for breakfast. There was no bread but I ate well and enjoyed my coffee. It was a LONG race meeting and AL and I did not leave there until 12 noon!! Oh my Gosh!I saw old friends and new rookie athletes. It always amazes me how many local people come out to support this event year after year! This is my 12th year and there was people I recognised that had been crewing for just as long! I said hi to Alexandre from Brazil, Miro from Slovenia, Sheena from Canada, I saw Peter from Switzerland, Ulli from Germany, Shanna returning champ from Texas, Jason who won the ESPN award for disability athlete. Cory was there for his 17th year, it was amazing the energy in the room. Kimmie Rouse who crewed for her hubby was also doing her first Ultra. The race brief was long andAl got talking with Matthew who crewed for me in 2005 and is an accomplished scuba diver and boat captain .

After AL and I left we returned back to the house and relaxed until 3pm. Then it was time to hit the Walmart and Safe Ways to get food and water for the epic journey of 320 miles. Chuck invited us to Thanksgiving but i was getting nervous and needed to prepare my gear and car. So Al and I stayed back I made pasta and helped Al organise the crew van. We sat down at 7.15pm to watch Witch Mountain and eat. I started to get very nervous the movie was great and by 9.45pm I was in bed thinking about the 6.2mile swim 79 degree water and hopefully no jelly fish!

November 25th 2009

Woke up with my hubby next to me, yup life is good he is a tower of strength and we had a lot to do today for the Ultraman event. I had talked to Jon Foster my Ocean Potion connection and good friend. Ended up Al and I driving out to the airport to pick up all the Ocean Potion goodies for the athletes swag, then on the way back, stopping to have my bike checked at Bike works. everything is working order we then went to the out rigger hotel were the sign in was and Il oaded all the athletes coolers with Ocean Potion! I was tired and VERY hungry, I had missed my swim and breakfast. So we decided to go to Buns in the Sun and have coffee 100% Kona!! and sandwiches, did a little chocolate shopping at Longs, then back to the house to take out my bike, and load up the scuba gear cause we were going to go scuba diving. But as things go in my life we were working on a tight schedule, and we went to see Chett Glenn a VERY good friend of mine, an incredible artist, massage therapist and he gave me a Thai Massage. We chatted about his art show then decided to hurry on to the Outrigger for the 2nd time that day to sign up and dot and dash the final paper work and pay for hotels etc added to the Ultraman costs!We met Timothy Carlson there and after we had done parting with money we went on to Mile marker 4 to take timothy scuba diving. Unfortunately it was not too be as the ocean did not want to play, so Timothy after bravely attempting to enter the lave strewn beach sat on the lava and waited for Al and I to finish our dive! it was not a great dive as visibility was poor but still felt good. When we exited Timothy was already changed and taking photos. We did get some killer shots! Timothy has to be the best Triathlon reporter on the planet! We took him out for dinner and re visited the Vietnamese place. Afterwards we bought ice cream. It was a nice day full of adventure and Ohana!

November 24th

Hubby flies in tonight yippee! Ready to go running when my friend Ezra called wondering if I wanted to ride my bike to Western Cemetery and back to the Kona pool at 9.15am, wow I thought cool, so I managed to run 30 minutes, changed and met Ezra, who had been my runner for several years and is now a mommy we had a great bike ride, it was leisurely and fun. After I left Ezra, I went by Lava Java and saw Gary Wang and Sheena, as it is his 42nd birthday i stopped to buy him coffee, then I zipped up the mile hill took a shower and ate changed into my swim gear and there was a call from Alvin's Signs, Alvin would be able to help me with Ocean Potion logos for my uniforms, I hurried on to his shop, I met his parents, they are my Puerto Rican Connection! Alvin was great, I helped him with the cyclist caution signs and he put Ocean Potion logos on to my running tops and bike! I was so grateful, I gave him Yaucono coffee and then missing my swim cycled really fast to the airport were Al landed at 5.30pm. I was so happy to see him. I had REALLY missed him and felt great to hug him. We ate at the Balie Vietnamese restaurant he likes and I must admit the Tofu lemon grass was pretty darn good. then Chuck called and we went to the Brew Pub were we had dessert a liloki cheesecake yummy. Then all the Ultra people came in to celebrate Gary's Birthday. We said hi to Steve King, Rick Kent, Michael Lee, Timothy Carlson. Then I found out Juan from Argentina had 8 stitches in his foot after standing on lava in the swim OUC. Back at Chetts we relaxed and chattered. Life is good my husband and best friend is here. Time to focus on the competition.

November 23rd 2009

Yikes Monday already and could not sleep. Wide awake at 5.30am this was not good and I felt tired!I  decided to put my day on hold cancelled all my activities, I met my friend Chett at Java on the Rocks, had a great 100% Kona coffee, and then had a Thai massage. My body was grateful for the rest and relaxation. I called my friends Tom and Gordana as I still had not connected with them and they have flu! Miss them as do enjoy their company! After freshly made juice I walked back to where I was staying and was greeted by the Fed Ex van which had 3 boxes of Ocean Potion goodies! Then the afternoon went slowly, I went into Kona browsed around and purchased Macadamia Dark chocolates! Spent the evening catching up on e-mails.

November 22nd 2009

Sunday, and Chuck had offered to take his boat out and do some Mahi Mahi Fishing. We set off a little late, with my racing bike in the back. At the Marina, put my bike into Zodiac office and then to the boat, slight problem the gate would not open, finally the gate opened andwe prepared the boat. Chuck had a friend going along. The day was pleasant, I caught a great suntan but no Mahi Mahi. Lots of spinner dolphins that made my day:-) At 12.15 I left the boat and Chuck went out by him self, I went to the Queen K and met a few of the Ultraman family and we all cycled to mile marker 82, the scenic point. There was 14 of us altogether and was sweet! it was anything but slow and the guys pushed the pace. Nice to see Cory on his fixed Shwinn!! On the evening a few of us went for a Mexican meal at CJs place. A nice evening, lots of good food and fun time..on the way home the Kona sky was full of stars. I was really really tired..

November 21st

Saturday and I had a wonderful day in Kona. I went down to the pier at around 8am and swam for half a mile, ran back to Chucks house, and dressed for a nice bike ride. Chuck joined me for Alii Drive and the King Kam, he did great considering he had not been on his bike! I left him at the top of the King Kam and enjoyed a ride to City of Refuge. The road conditions were not the best I have witnessed, as there was a lot of road works being done and there was loose tarmac on the bike path. But soon I passed the work in progress and was flying down towards City of Refuge! I just love this particular ride as it is off the beaten path, the 4 mile road to Captain Cooks is single lane andon one side is the Ocean andthe other side is the burial ground of ancient Hawaiian Warriors. At Captain Cooks I took lots of photos then began the 4.5 mile climb up Napapoopoo road to the highway and cycled back to Kailua, I decided to see if Chett was home and good job I did he was home andwecaught up on what had been going on in our lives. I arranged for a Thai massage on Monday. It was good connecting with old friends!

November 20th 2009

Arranged to meet Sheena for a swim I ran to the pier at 8am and no Sheena, but Peter Jochen and Ellis were there and Gary Wang, So after waiting we all swam to the Coast Guard Buoy, the water felt great and I was happy to be in Kona. The guys were much faster but Gary waited for me at every buoy! Saw a turtle and LOTS of pretty colorful fish. Very pleasant swim and nice company. After the swim, I decided to head back up to the house as Chuck was going to have a mahi mahi dinner tonight and had invited friends so we went grcoery shopping and I madesome caramel slices. It was nice as in the afternoon Janine came round with her twin boys, beautiful kids and full of life. After they left we had 6 guests and a pleasant evening.

November 19th

In the AM, I went for a 5 mile jog to loosen up, I saw a few more Ultraman contestants Peter (Switzerland) Michael(Slovinia) Sheena(Canada) I said my farewells and continued on. When I arrived back at Chucks Ocean Potion and my friend Jon had been trying to reach me. Good News, Ocean Potion will be the official suncare company for Ultraman and they will also be off setting some of the cost! That was a HUGE relief I know God has my back! and that I am blessed to have a big brother like Jon Foster. I called my hubby with the good news. Then I invited Chuck to join me at Lava Java were I was meeting my friend CJ and his wife Clar, we took the motorbike! and Chuck bought me breakfast. The small group turned into needing two tables and extra chairs! great morning. At 12 noon I went with Cory to a white sand beach opposite the Western Cemetery, we swam for 500 meters and caught up on what we had been doing sport wise.

At 2.30pm I was back at Chucks and loading my dive gear into his truck, as Janine had offered an afternoon of scuba diving aboard the Konu divers boat!

2 Tank Dive (Manta Ray Dive)

The afternoon was magical. the dive was on the Honu boat, very large for 6 divers! Janine looked after me very well and Bo was the video/media diver. The first dive I last over an hour and saw the garden eels, Janine has a great eye and spotted Hawaiian Turkey fish, black long nosed butterfly fish etc... The second dive we had 7 manta rays show up in the night and was a spectacular show. Chuck came down to the boat and picked me  up, Janine met us back at Chucks and we had veggie pizza. Chuck has been an incredibly nice host!

November 18th 2009

Still cannot believe I am on this beautiful magical island! I am getting ready for another blessed day. It has been an adventure so far. When my flight touched down m friend Chuck was there to pick me up, his home is in Kailua Kona and my room was spacious. Felt good the warmth of paradise, even at 9.30pm it was a lot warmer than California! In the morning, I put my Cannondale Synapse together and its new William Wheels it looked fast and screamed at me to take it out for a ride. I met Michael (a fellow Hammer Nutrition cyclist (andpilot) andfriend) on the Queen K after a nice coffee I cycled to mile marker 82 with Michael, he continued and I took photos at scenic point to send to my hubby Al. On the return journey, I gave some precious water and endurolytes to another cyclist andthen I took my time taking in all the sounds and sights of the Queen K, the lava, the ocean, the lava formations, the volcano back drop, I could even see Maui, it truly was magical. I was stopped a few times by friends welcoming me back to the island, I saw Cory (who this year did Iron man on a fixed gear bike!) and my friend Kevin who runs a little with me every year on the course of Ultraman. Getting into town I was very hungry I had not planned on being out so long so stopped at Lava Java to chat with other Ultraman athletes, Gary, Sheena and Ellis.. By the time I rolled into my home stay I was tired, I took a shower andclosed my eyes, gosh feels great to be in Hawaii so peaceful andquiet. I caught up with phone calls and e-mails and went for a 4 mile jog into town. Chuck had worked all day on the zodiac and we chatted for a while before calling it a night!

Hawaii Bound 17th November 2009.

IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY, I TRIED OUT MY NEW WILLIAM WHEEL SET IN THE MORNING, And NOTHING COMPLICATED JUST A FEW MILES. THANKS TO MY HUBBY AL AND JEREMIAH THE SHIFTING IS PERFECT AND THE BIKE HANDLES WELL. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY! I CALL PUERTO RICO AS WAITING ON A FEW SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS. PACKING THE BIKE DID NOT TAKE TOO LONG, I QUICKLY MANAGED TO FILL MY TRIALL3SPORT CASE, WITH BIKE 4 WHEELS, BOTTLES, WETSUITS ETC… I THEN PROCEEDED TO FILL ANOTHER BAG FULL OF CYCLING CLOTHES, BROOKS RUNNING SHOES ETC.. AND BY THE TIME 1.30PM CAME AROUND I WAS READY TO GO TO LAX. AL TOOK ME DOWN EARLY AS YOU CANNOT BE SURE OF THE TRAFFIC SITUATION, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT I ARRIVED AT LAX WITH 3 HOURS TO SPARE… THIS WAS A GOOD THING AS HAVING A BIKE BOX IS NEVER EASY! I CHECKED INTO TICKETING, THE TELLER WAS NOT TOO FRIENDLY, FIRST TOLD ME MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED! THEN AFTER WE CLEARED THAT UP, I WAS CHARGED $20 FOR MY FIRST BAG, $30 FOR MY SECOND BAG WHICH WAS MY BIKE CASE AND A $100 ON TOP OF THAT FOR IT BEING A BIKE! OUCH!!! THEN I PUT MY FIRST BAG ONTO THE SCALE AND AS IT WEIGHED 57 POUNDS WAS TOLD TO PAY A WHOOPING $50 MORE FOR THE EXTRA 7 POUNDS! OH MY I WAS NOT TOO HAPPY SO I SAID I WOULD TAKE 7 PUNDS OUT OF MY BAG AND THE TELLER WOULD NOT LET ME PUT IT INTO MY BIKE CASE! SO I TOOK OUT HAMMER HEED AND PERPETUEM WHICH CAME TO EXACTLY 7 POUNDS AND PUT IT INTO MY CARRY ON LUGGAGE SAVING ME $50! THE AIRLINES DO NOT EXACTLY MAKE IT EASY TO TRAVEL ANY MORE AND FEELS LIKE DAYLIGHT ROBBERY THE WAY THEY GET YOU AT THE CHECK OUT! AFTER THAT EPISODE I HAD TO TAKE THE BIKE TO A SPECIAL BAGGAGE PORT AND MY OTHER BAG TO XRAY! FINALLY FREE OF MY LOAD I MADE MY WAY TO GATE 48 AND STOOD IN THE XRAY LINE FOR 50 MINUTES BEFORE EVENTUALLY GETTING INTO THE FLIGHT TERMINAL. THANK GOODNESS I WAS EARLY I CANNOT IMAGINE STRESSING OUT PLAYING AROUND WITH VALUBLE MINUTES! I HAD A STARBUCK COFFEE AND WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE BOARDING CALL. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I SAW THE CAPTAIN OF THE HAWAII PLANE NO OTHER THAN MIKE A FELLOW HAMMER NUTRITION CYCLIST, WE EXCHAGED FRIENDLY BANTER AND TRUE TO FORM HE LOOKED AFTER MY EVENING SNACK ON THE PLANE!

I AM GETTING EXCITED I LOVE THE ISLAND AND CAN ALMOST SMELL THE KONA COFFEE. WHAT BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN HAWAII OVER THANKSGIVING!!

November 14th 2009

A great day as I went with my friend Tammy to do the Tour of the Foothills. 65 miles and great company. It always amazes me how many inspirational people I meet while on my bike! I ride with Tammy who has MS, I met a woman on GMR that is a 5 year survivor of Breast Cancer, I met another lady (in the pool) who had a horrific accident with her back and is learning to swim against the odds.  The ride went well, although there were a few accidents that could have been avoided such a pile ups etc.. cyclists cutting red lights, cycling in the middle of the road or wearing i pods! I also met another triathlete out on the course and was from Texas, after a little more small talk we found out we knew the same people a small world for sure! When I finally arrived home I decided to break down the swimming pool in the front yard, and played with Hammer and Buster. Al went to a father daughters dance. Meanwhile Abby my grand baby was running a fever of 102!

All in all a nice day.

November 11th 2009

A special day today to remember all the people who bravely protect.

Life is good andeven with the challenges which ges thrown on a daily basis the minutes still tick by!

This past week has been full of beautiful memories and some not too good. Like to start with good memories and that would be on Saturday Al and I have been working hard on out land out back and ended up on the evening having 9 children, 7 adults toasting marshmallows and hot dogs over an open fire! Hot Chocolate and singing songs! Then we all camped out in tents.. next time I must remember to put air in my air ground sheet!Hammer our dog had the best time, loved the heat and slept in my sleeping bag!

Have done plenty of cycling on my new Cannondale Synapse, and also been running, did one long swim of 4,000 meters! in the swimming pool at the gym.... a labor of love!

Hammer yesterday decided to get bit by a spider, the reaction was not good, and within 2 minutes I watched our beautiful min pin meta morph into a bloated lumpy creature and his eyes became slits! I immediately started walking to the vet and Al met me on route. The cost of that spider bite was a kings ransom and after spending ALL day was released in the evening.

My friend Tammy who has MS, is now battling with a sick daughter, Tammy always shows so much strength and shared a phrase with me which I in tend to make my own!

Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass, It"s about learning to dance in the rain!

My hubby is still sick!

I had a great 60 mile bike ride in the Canyons today. No traffic hardly any cyclists. Had a nice time. Tried out the new Hammer Nutrition clothing and enjoyed the tranquillity!

November 5th 2009

Yikes how the days fly I will soon be in Hawaii, this past weekend, I did a great bike ride my new Cannondale Synapse really enjoyed the MountBaldy road! Then a box of very valuable Hammer Nutrition items arrived andIam know back in business with taking Anti Fatigue Caps, Race Cap Supremes and Endurance Amino!

Trick and treating (which I do not do in England) went well I dressed as a maid and my grand daughter Abby was a pirate she was so darn cute her candy bag was double of everyone elses!

I have been busy cross training and doing garden work to get our back garden ready for a campfire! Not easy using a pick axe great upper body workout though!

Yoga, Running, Swimming and biking ......

October 30th 2009

That darn head cold!! Sudafed became my best friend. Over the weekend I managed a nice long bike ride through to Mount Baldy, it was difficult due to my sinuses wanting to explode but thinking of Hawaii kept me turning the peddles. On the Sunday Al and I went with the girls and the La Verne Eco Dive Club to Catalina Island. Montana had fun snorkeling and trying to see the dolphins that had been in the bay, but I could only manage 2 dives as my sinuses were still not 100%. All this week I have been babying my cold, I have been to Loma Linda twice for dental work, and also have the tickets for Hawaii!!I had Huge problems with Cheyenne, it seems everything I do for Cheyenne is never good enough, always seems to do things I suggest with a grudge! It is difficult being a step mom as everything you do is either wrong or not good enough I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I do not!

OCEAN POTION came through and have my entry fee and car covered! This is huge, I pulled off the airfare with air miles and AA air vouchers. My friend Chuck has offered his home and help this is positive. Now I have 4 weeks to get ready for a 6.2 mile swim! As I have not been swimming due to the dental work!

CANNONDALE Synapse 2010 road bike is now in my possession, it is 3 cm smaller than I originally rode andisa dream bike, I have the best husband and very grateful to Mark from Cannondale to be able to have this great bike for Ultraman Hawaii. Serfas sent cool looking tires, Profile Design sent bars, and Hammer Nutrition sent new clothing as well as Polar Monitors making a gift of a team RS800 monitor....Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii!!!

Swam 3 miles today the first in a few months! Yoga has helped and now it is just about keeping fit!

October 19th 2009

Life is like a roller coaster of emotions, one minute you ride that high and next you are on a low! I cannot believe I have a head cold... it is so bad I had to cancel my diving today at Catalina Island! Had a miserable night of tossing and turning on Catalina... but the high was dive 2 on Tuesday, I still cannot believe I saw a Cormorant diving for fish as I was scuba diving at 50 feet, so cool! and totally not expected. I had Tammy my daughter in Law diving with me, the dive its self was spectacular! Abby enjoyed the ferry trip and josh enjoyed a dive with his dad.

On the weekendIhad returned to Toms Farm with Al and did the time trial again, AL did great andshaved off 90 secomdsfromhis original time I managed to shave off 1 second. I was mad at my self as I really did not push my self, and was still hurting from falling at Bonelli park the day before.

Weather has been great but now I am all buggered up and feeling awful

On a high again I will book my flight for Hawaii tomorrow as I have a place to stay and crew for Ultraman I just need to look after my health.......

October 13th 2009

Yup today is the 13th and it feels like it to! Despite a wonderful Long Beach Marathon where I put in a smoking 3hr:36:48 time, good enough for 4th in my age group and 57th woman across the line ! I am now stressing about Hawaii withless than a few weeks away I findmyselffacing my worst nightmare I MAY NOT GET THERE! As with the sliding economy dental bills etc it is looking bleak! I am going to give everything I have in the next week to make this a reality to be at Kona for the 25th Anniversary of Ultraman!

October 6th 2009

WOW been a while since I wrote but have been pretty busy! I competed in the San Dimas Run andsigned up as a team withmy grand daughter in tow.. we took first place in the baby jogger and I took 3rd in my age group! Was really sore pushing the baby jogger but lots of fun!

My teeth are taking a vacation as the school of dentistry has been closed for 2 weeks, so I have been able to swim, bike and run! The nice thing is since my abscessed teeth have been treated I no longer have any allergies to the chlorinated pool, am not getting head aches on long bike rides and feeling pretty good! and that is just two teeth! Imagine how I will feel when I get all my 14 crowns done, and every tooth has been treated!

The time trial went well at Toms Farm enjoyed the challenge, also did a successful Hammer Nutrition talk at Cycling connections, The LAVA RACING clinic went well, we had 15 clients and spent 4 hours covering topics related to pre, post and race triathlons and managed 20 miles of swimming, cycling and running!

On the first weekend of October, I was signed up for 200 miles at Hemet, but at the last minute I decided to help my friend Tammy complete her quest of the first century. Her MS is rearing its ugly head at the moment making a 200 miler a little difficult with that said we were in the saddle for 8 hours and 38 minutes a long time to be out on a flat course, but my friend was strong up until the last 15 miles or so! So with light hearted conversation Tammy finished with Susan and I and was able to celebrate her 18th Wedding anniversary with her husband Dan!

This past Sunday after the Hemet ride. I went withmyfriendJodi to help withthe Steamboat triathlon, I did a team relay swimming and running while my husband cycled. Had a great day. My husband was really tired as he had spent all day Friday and Saturday at Catalina island hunting Lobster!

September 20th 2009

wow wee! What a weekend I have had! By Thursday evening I had tried to ridemyTime Trial bike, without much success as my mouth was still sore! On Friday I was feeling a lot better and tried again to ridethebike but had difficulty with the shifting! My new Shimano tri shoes felt great! Early Friday we took Hammer and Mr Chubbs (remember mini Pin pups) to the vet were we left them all day to get declawed, de tailed.. I felt terrible when we picked them up, all bandaged and groggy. I made home made millionaire short bread caramel and prepared the dive gear for the AM>

SATURDAY was Project Aware Clean up day and we (AL and the L Verne Eco Dive Club) went to Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach to clean up under and above the Ocean! Lots of plastic andglass bottles but the worst offenders are the cigarette butts too many to count! The high light of the morning was watching two seals be released into the wild after being rescued andnear death!

SUNDAY Al and I went with friends Jodi and Dave to Toms Farm and we did the Time Trial, I decided at the last moment to ride my road bike and put on my Profile TT bars, worked out well, I took 3rd, Jodi 2nd, Dave took 1st and my husband..well what can I say with only 4 rides in him this year took 7th! Had a nice afternoon walking around Toms Farm. At home I did work in the back garden and was pooped! So played with Hammer changed his bandages, took both dogs Buster and Hammer for a long walk and finished off the evening at Golden Spoon yogurt!

Life is good!

September 16th 2009

Maybe I would rather be riding my bike, at yoga , running a trail yet I find myself elevated on a sofa after I had a back toothextracted there is a rather large hole and a few stitches with instructions not to do anything strenuous for the next 24 to 48 hours! After the pain meds stop my head spinning I might be able to do a light stationary bike work out ....mmm, so I am busy catching up on e-mails and have Hammer our mini pin sat snuggled next to me!

I would rather have good dental health at this moment than be out side! Who knows after all this dental work I might even get faster!! Now there is a thought!

September 14th 2009

Well what can I say a great 101 mile bike ride on Saturday with good company! Tammy my friend who has MS completed this ride, while my other friend Susan and I rode with her keeping her cool and trying not to elevate her heart rate as when Tammy gets over heated and heart rate rises the MS comes out to play and we did not want that. It was a long time in the saddle including rests and cool downs a total of 8 hours and17 minutes! I was totally pooped! Sunday I madehome madeSalsa with my step daughter Montana and took out new min pin 15 week puppy out for a walk withour 15 year old Lab! Quite a sight! I even managed a small bike ride with my husband around Bonelli Park!

SEPTEMBER 9th 2009

Well decided to test run my new Ravenna Brooks running shoes, an easy 4 miles, worked up a descent sweat, ran home grabbed my gym bag and left the house to do an hour of Yoga..... not being a delicate flower and more like a clumsy elephant I slowly plowed my way through the hour its amazing how you can work up a sweat just stretching! I decided not to swim and did a little stationary cycling, had to get home so I could take over Dog duties....Hammer already had chewed a much prized wooden turtle Al had bought me as a gift from Hawaii.

Then the call came to go to LomaLinda for dental treatment to finish the root canal, basically there went my afternoon, on the evening the girls Cheyenne and Montana were so excited to meet Hammer, Montana has her hand in a splint! and I helped her with Geography of the USA! I am tired and frustrated about my training.. but I guess my dental health is really important.

SEPTEMBER 8th 2009

We have a new addition to the Wiscovitch family, a Miniature Pincher called Hammer. He is a smart andIhopewill be a good friend to our aging Lab Buster who is 15 years old.

Went for my first bike ride today, really felt quite good although upset I could not ride GMR due to fire closure, I rode the Monrovia Loop.

Its a funny thing when you feel your world is collapsing due to health issues which are out of your control, you think nobody cares then I get home andboom two large packagesare waiting to be opened, like Christmas I open the the cartons to find 2 pairs of Brooks running shoes, the Ravenna and Launch, the boxes are perfect for Hammer (think minitiature pincher) to play in and I now have a great excuse to go for a run and try out the blazing hot Mantis Green shoe...the new Brooks Infiniti, HVAC and Equilibrium gear is super hot and the Run Happy Tangi Ez T a winner... watch out I am running in super cool gear!

I am just about to head out when I see the arrival of the Endurance News Letter from Hammer Nutrition, I quickly flip open a few pages to discover my article on Challenges we Baby Boomers face as we get older and see a great shot of my Grand daughter Abby!

Life is good, the depression lifted and now viewing the world through rose tinted glasses again.

SEPTEMBER 7th 2009

Labor Day Monday! For the first time in 4 days I think I may be able get on my road bike which has sadly been hung up by its hind wheel sulking that I have not given it any attention... then my world collapses as I am told I should wait until Tuesday for the medications to ease off! Oh well, will just wait for my husband to get home he is buying a miniature pincher !! that should be fun when I have an eight week old pincher puppy and Buster 15year old Lab together. Also missed the Mount Baldy run to the Top....next year!  think I will just go for a wee walk. So I ended up doing a 6 mile walk on a favorite trail of mine much to the amusement of my husband who told me an easy walk is a mile around the block!!

SEPTEMBER 5th 2009

Its is late and finally I can sit up, I have been is pain all night and day with my teeth, at the moment I am the Painkiller queen! I personally hate dental pain and today it had cost me a whole day and night of training...sure hope that smile will be worth the pain! Thank goodness for my husband who has had to endure my misery and crying! At 3am I found myself raiding the herb and spices looking for cloves and garlic! I tried ice packs and just wanted the pain to disappear! I have a slight throbbing pain and dull headache.. but the pain has finally receded!

SEPTEMBER 4th 2009

Not a happy camper, I am bothered by dental pain today and am missing my yoga class. But the good news is that last night I was a guest speaker for Cycling Connection group in Rancho Cucamonga CA, It was a packed room of 60 people and I did a presentation on "The Finish Line" explaining the importance of Hammer Nutrition. It went really well, but now I am needing some powerful pain killers as I had a root canal done on Wednesday and my face feels like I have been several rounds in a boxing ring! I am hoping I feel better later!

SEPTEMBER 1st 2009

It has been a long day after yesterdays dental treatment I felt awful, my gums were bleeding and I had an awful headache. I felt better that I had Abigail to watch for 3 hours kind of disassociated the pain! So today I slept until 10am! Began my new ritual of cleaning my teeth! worried about the station fire. Air quality is not good so work outs limited to the gym, and with my dental issues trying to get key workouts in on my weak sport swimming, so recovery days from dental treatment I can water run and do stationary bike! Buster our lab is enjoying being in the house as it is too smokey for him outside.

AUGUST 30TH 2009

Another triple digit day! We had the girls today, I managed a long bike ride the heat is uncomfortable, made salads and cookies. A little nervous as tomorrow I start my dental treatment. I hope that my headaches and sinus troubles will disappear when I have my dental work complete. I had just thought that I was having head aches and felt tired as I was lacking in B vitamins and iron, turns out I have a couple of teeth which are affecting my overall health! Not looking forward to having teeth extracted and root canals but if is makes me healthier I am all for it!

AUGUST 29th 2009

Another hot day, I took my step daughter Montana to a few yard sales, then I decided to run... it was already 11am, and another day of 104 heat! The fires in the local canyons near by are nearly contained but the air quality is not the best! I ran 14 miles (The last mile I walked) so HOT! jumped into the cold pool to cool off!

Thinking about dental work needed and cost involved, while running today I ran into a friend from Puerto Rico Hetta! could not believe what a small world we live in:-)

On the evening we took our 1971 Bronco to the Flashback car show in Glendora with friends Jodi and Dave who went in their "Thing"

AUGUST 28th 2009

It has been a long day, yesterday was triple digit heat 106 to be exact! I managed a nice run, but went easy as the local fires have made the air quality rather poor for running. My friend Tammy came down from Victorville and we decided to cycle 20 miles up Baseline as the canyons were closed. It was was really hot and Tammy unfortunately suffers from MS, at mile 27 at the top of Euclid the MS decided to make its self known and my girlfriend went from cycling to hardly breathing, paralyzed and blind! I had cycled ahead and when I realized she was not behind me went back for her! Fortunately a lady stopped to help me, and we were able to get Tammy breathing again and my husband AL came for us both. Not a great thing to happen and my friend kept saying she was fine!

Well if Tammy had not had an MS attack, we would have climbed Euclid and Shinn and my rear derailleur would have broke! As when we arrived back at my house and were unloading the bikes I was missing a screw which held my derailleur! I guess things happen for a reason!!

AUGUST 26th 2009

Well it has been a long week so far, not to dwell on the negative but Monday saw me at the Dental School of Loma Linda were I was given the schedule of work needed on my poor teeth. 14 crowns, and 4 root canals is no joke, neither is the cost and timei nvolved. My husband was more surprised than I as I have a huge dental history due to parts of suffering from Anorexia Nervosa for 10 years in my teenage years.

I managed to swim at the local 24 fitness pool, my allergies to chlorine still affecting my sinuses! Done 2 small bike rides but cancelled the long ride to Crystal Lake as the Local Canyons are on fire. Running well but now the air is smokey!

Did a local dive at Lake Perris... mm I always say there is no such thing as a bad dive but Lake Perris comes pretty close! Vis was about 1 foot but enough for my student who urgently needed to finish his skill work and obtain the ranking of Open Water Diver.

So I am now relaxing it is 103 degrees, I can hear the helicopter over head going on its mission to the fire and hoping I can get a long bike ride in tomorrow.