Valentine's Day for Triathletes

So, this post is a little late... ok a lot late, but I have had a busy week and I still wanted to post this ok??

Being a pro triathlete is a tough life, and that means dating one is a tough life too. In fact, the only benefits I can think of are that we look good naked and you get to tell all your friends you are dating a professional athlete! (Just leave off the "tri" at the beginning to avoid the awkward "what's that??" conversation)

Yep, aside from the top tier, you're basically just a scrawny dude who trains full time like an NBA player, but has the paycheck of a hobo who can occasionally sell a crack rock for a few hundred bucks. Do they cost that much? I don't know, I'm trying to correlate with a prize purse here.

So if you're unfortunate enough to be dating one of us, you can certainly tell people whatever you want, but really you're dating a bum who works at a bike shop and works out like an exercise bulimic. Yeah sure, you may want to go out on a Friday night, but... well... your significant other has to get to bed since he/she has a long ride in the morning... sorry...

Now, I obviously wouldn't be writing this if I was single. This poor girl had no idea what she was getting herself into when she started dating me, and I didn't either. I sort of felt like the dog who always chases cars and then finally catches one... what did he think he was gonna do?? But, its been a learning experience for both of us.

I'm still new to this, but I have learned the best way to avoid problems is to COMMUNICATE up front! She wasn't exactly thrilled the first time she came to visit me only to find out I had a 3 hour bike ride and a 5k swim on the Saturday she was hoping to spend together... This is crucial in any relationship, but I think it is particularly so when I am working 30 hours a week and training 30 more hours a week.

In a nutshell, communicate, be open, be realistic about your time, and make sure you have your priorities in order! Not that I'm Dr. Phil here...

See? Dating triathletes isn't ALL bad...

FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!

Race Schedule

So here it is, finally! My triathlon race schedule for the year, that is. It is going to be nice to actually have a plan, and have a coach to walk me through that plan as opposed to just flying by the seat of my pants again like the last two years. On the other hand, it is a bit scary knowing this dictates a lot of what I will do for the next, oh 6-8 months of my life!

Keep in mind, this is still fairly tentative, but I wanted to get something relatively set so I could share it with y'all. If you'll be in the area or know of anyone in the area at any of these races, let me know! I would love a couch to crash on. (Warning: I am gassy, and I tend to drool, and I consider a pool workout bathing)

Here are the links to the home pages of the race series that I am focusing on. You can find any of these big races on there.

-Clermont, FL, Mar. 3rd. This will be just to get my feet wet with the draft-legal, ITU style of racing. Also, it will be a good way to figure out where I stand. And a nice little b-day vacay after! Thanks, Anna!

-Mazatlan, MEX, Apr. 21st. This will depend on a couple things, mostly budget, but again, an ITU Pan-American cup race.

-Kansas City 5150, May 20th. Non-drafting, olympic distance race. Hopefully score some prize money here, gotta pay rent right??

-Dallas, June 2nd  Key prep before rebuilding to Buffalo, and it looks like a flat, fast course! Again, ITU race. (In my best Bart Scott voice) CAN'T WAIT! 

-Boulder 5150, August 8th. Gotta get some of that local flavor in, and hey if I can score some prize money I am not gonna complain.

-Kelawna (Can) Aug. 19. ITU race, and a good last-chance to qualify for Elite Nationals if I haven't already. 

-Buffalo, Sept. 15 Nationals. ITU elite nationals. Gotta qualify if I wanna be legit. 'Nuff said.

If I don't qualify for Elite Nationals, I will look into the 5150 championships, or some other big race around the same time. 

Also, I am hoping to do the Omaha Triathlon, Loveland Lake to Lake, a couple other local races that will act as a fast brick workout, and a fun, half-iron distance race in San Diego at the end of September with the Kompetitive Edge team. 

Well, on that note, I should get a workout in... FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!!!

Salmon Risotto

If you're like me, you're looking out your window at snow falling and the foot that has already accumulated and longing for those 90 degree, 90% humidity days back home in July. My dad always says "you know its a good ride when your water bottle is 96 degrees, but its still refreshing!" Well, Dad, looking out the window I don't think we will have a ride like that in a while.

Did I mention I can cook? Well, its not that so much as I am fearless to the point of being stupid in the kitchen. That's really all there is to cooking, just do it!

I have no sway with the weather gods, and even if I did I am not sure I am ready to be done with my powder days at Breckenridge yet. However, this recipe tastes like summer, and who couldn't do with that right now?

Mmm... I can almost smell it.

This is the same recipe, made with quinoa... ok seriously my mouth is watering...

Here is how to make it:

2 cups arborio rice (or quinoa!)
4 cups veggie or chicken stock
1/2 cup white wine (I love vouvray, Remi Pannier is my favorite)
1 onion
2-3 salmon filets
1 bag frozen peas
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 lemon, zest and juice
Garlic, salt, pepper

Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper and sear over medium high heat until rare (about 3-4 mins on each side). Set aside.

Chop the onion pretty finely and sweat over medium heat in a large pan in olive oil. Add the rice totally dry and stir until the edges are translucent. Add the white wine and stir. This will absorb within about 20 seconds, so have the stock ready to go - heated in a pot - and add about a half a cup to a cup.

Keep adding the stock a little at a time, as soon as the previous addition has been absorbed. Don't forget to stir! With one of the additions, add the garlic, salt, and pepper and maybe some italian herbs. With the last addition add the juice and zest of the lemon and the frozen peas.

Do you smell that???

Now stir in the parmesan cheese. Finally, Break up the salmon into bite-sized chunks and stir in. Put the lid on, and let everybody hang out for about 5 mins over low heat. Garnish simply, maybe a lemon slice and some parsley.

If this doesn't make you think of summer, then you probably live in Antarctica and don't even know the meaning of the word. Since so many people ask me how to make it, I figured I'd post it for y'alls! (You're welcome, Arianne.) Dad, we may be stuck on our trainers, but we can at least eat like summertime!

This is my adaptation of a recipe I got from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook. If you know me, you know I don't follow recipes, but rather use them as inspiration, which I hope you can do with this! FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!