Best in the West 2019

School has started and I'm working on getting back into the regular swing of things.  But before we officially end summer one more thing has to happen.  The last big triathlon event for our 2019 season.

The Best in the West 2019.

The name does not lie, it really is the Best in the West!

The Best in the West is three days of events at Foster Lake in Sweet Home, Oregon.  There is everything literally an event for everyone, no matter what your comfort level is something for you to try.  I love that!  I also love how all weekend long it is one big celebration of the fact that people are out there being active!

Because my husband is a little bit crazy he signed up for four events!  He did a 25 mile bike ride on Friday.  I would have done that as well but it was my first week back to school so I didn't think taking a day off would be a good idea.  Joe dropped me off at work in the morning and drove up with the travel trailer and got it parked.  Then he went on his bike ride, came back and got the trailer all set up.  He came back to town to pick me up from work so we could head back to Foster Lake and settle in for the weekend.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early.  Joe was going to help with parking starting at 5:00 a.m. before he started his Olympic triathlon (Event #2).  I was volunteering at the body marking for the races that morning.  My shift started at 6:00 a.m.

I love doing the body marking.  People are kind of all over the place.  Some are really excited and some are really nervous.  A lot of people are both.  Some are focused and don't say much, others chatter away the whole time.  I got to help people figure out where to put stickers on their bike and helmet, how they should rack their bike and lots of other things.  I loved being able to joke with people, help them out and start their race day with a smile.  Seriously makes me just grin from ear to ear all morning long.

I was able to get done in time to watch Joe come out of the water and head up to the bike transition.  We had a lot of teammates racing that day too.  Rebecca and her husband were doing the aquathon, which is a swim and bike.  Cathy, Kellie, Ryan, Kristin and Katy were also doing the Olympic triathlon.  Kristin was the overall female winner, Rebecca got second overall for women in the Olympic Aquathon and Ryan also got second in his age group.  Kari came out for the day and hung out with me cheering for all of our teammates.  It's pretty fun to be part of such a great group of people.

Ryan, Coach Kristin, Rebecca, Katy, Kellie, Joe, me, Kari, Cathy and Coach Jon.

It was a long day but so much fun!  Joe and I headed back to the trailer for a quick nap.  It wasn't long before Joe's Aunt Nancy was there.  Well, she is my Aunt Nancy too at this point.  lol  Nancy did a seven mile walk event in San Francisco last spring with a bunch of girlfriends.  She had a blast, got her t-shirt and her medal and was hooked.  She looked at the events on the Best in the West website when I posted on Facebook that we had registered and signed up for the 5k.  So when she came to get her packet we had her come over to the trailer and have dinner with us.  We had a great evening talking and visiting.

Soon Nancy left to go spend the evening in her hotel, I think she was looking forward to an evening by herself.  Joe and I finished getting things ready for the race the next day we headed for bed as well.  It wasn't long after we went to bed that the rain really started coming down.  And it didn't stop all night long.

We got up Sunday morning to take part in the Sprint Triathlon (Event #3 for Joe, Event #1 for me).  Now it was my turn to get my body marked.  I was starting to get really nervous and wondering if I should just bail on doing the event at all.  My consistency with working out hadn't really improved much since Tri at the Grove.  I was totally going into this race with idea of just having fun but I was really battling the disappointment in myself for not doing what I needed to do in order to do my best at the event.

Then my teammate Kelli spots me.  Big hugs and excited chatter.  I seriously adore this woman!  She was talking about how great I was going to do and I confessed how I was feeling about the day.  She immediately stopped everything and prayed with me.  Such.  A.  Blessing!!!  Just what I needed to adjust my attitude.

Time to put on the wetsuit and start getting ready to get this race done. 

Kari, Kelli, Logan and me warming up before the race.  We listen to our coach!  ;-)

Kelli, Kari and I, pre-race smiles

Joe had pushed the bike ride on the Olympic triathlon the day before and had decided to take the Sprint a little easier.  I mentioned that it would be fun to do the race together and he was all over that idea.  This made my heart smile, big time.  I seriously love my husband for so so many reasons!

Unfortunately he was in one of the first waves to head out on the swim and I was in the very last wave to start.  He had a very long wait in transition for me.  A very very long wait.

But not because I was slow.  Just because I started so long after him.

I had a really great swim.  I mean really great for me!  I did the swim in 14:10!  That's an average pace of 2:12 per 100 yards.  I am pretty sure that is the fastest pace I have ever done in a race.  I felt relaxed and smooth the entire swim.  Was a little disoriented because I was with lots of people the entire swim and usually end up off by myself by the halfway point.  Not this time.  ;-)

Finishing the swim with a bunch of other people!

The rain was getting harder at this point so we were going to have a soggy bike ride.  But it still doesn't compare to the Oregon Dunes triathlon of 2017!!  If you were there, you know what I'm talking about.  It wasn't freezing, or hailing, or dumping cats and dogs.  It was just a warm fall rain.  Very doable.

I headed up to transition to get ready for the bike ride.  Joe was all ready to go and waiting for me.  We left transition together.  I found out later he had waited 25 minutes for me to finish.  A friend told me that he was finishing the swim before I ever got into the water.

We took off on the bike ride.  Even though we were together we couldn't ride side by side because of USAT rules so Joe rode behind me and let me take the lead.  We were still able to talk and joke while we were riding.   I had a lot of fun on the bike in spite of the rain, or maybe because of it.  I was working hard but not feeling like I was struggling.  I know I can do that route faster but all things considering I was able to put in a solid ride for me.

Playing bikes in the rain with my favorite guy chasing me.  😁

The only scary moment was right after we did the turn around and were heading back.  When you go around the turnaround it is a bit of a straight stretch and then you go around a corner that veers off to the left.  We were nearing the corner and we see a car come screeching around the corner.  That was a bit scary but it got down right terrifying when the car started sliding on the wet rode and losing control....while it was coming right at us!  I'm hitting the brakes on my bike and trying to decide which way would be the best direction to try and avoid the car when it regained control and went speeding past.  That got the heart rate going.  Scary!!

We got back to the transition and got ready to start the run.  I had a decent transition and headed out with Joe.  My goal was to do the run faster than I did the run at Tri at the Grove.  That was a flat course so in order to do this run faster on a hilly course I was definitely going to have to run more.  I figured I would fast walk up the hills and trot down them.  It worked pretty well.  I felt good overall but the last half mile or so I was having some pain across the tops of my toes.  I had been having that most of the summer but was hoping it wouldn't happen anymore because I had new shoes.  It took longer for the uncomfortable feeling to start so that was a plus.

As we were heading back to the finish line we passed our fabulous friend Erin.  Erin is part of the Posse that keeps all things Best in the West running and organized.  A very important part!  Erin is the smiling face that keeps the packet pick up and registration areas running and organized.  Over the years we have gotten to know her as Joe was racing.  When I started racing too Erin was so encouraging and supportive.  She was also great at flicking both Joe and I crap and I loved it!  It always makes me smile and always makes me feel like I really am a part of this crazy triathlon community.  Now it was her turn.  She was doing the Super Sprint.  Her first triathlon....and her last.  She says she is going out on top.  She loved being able to go through the experience but doesn't see any reason to do it again. lol

When we saw Erin we both started shouting and had to run up and give her big hugs!!  So proud of her and all the things she had to make work right to do this race.  I loved being able to see her during the race and give her back some of the encouragement she has always shown me.

Soon we were heading past my favorite aid station.  It's my favorite because it is really really close to the finish line.  lol  We got on the trail and headed down to the lake.  Our teammate Rebecca has a friend named Gerritt who was competing in the Sprint and uses a wheelchair.  A special arm crank one for the bike and a different one for the run.  We had passed him during the bike ride but he had caught up with us and passed us during the run.

As we were heading down the trail we see a woman holding onto the back of his chair.  Gerritt told us that he didn't have any brakes on this chair and the hill was pretty steep with a sharp turn at the bottom.  Joe run up and took the chair from the woman and helped him get down the hill.  I had run ahead but once the guys were at the bottom of the hill it didn't take long for Gerritt to go whipping by me.  He had a big ole smile on his face so I'm okay with him kicking my butt.  lol

As we approached the bridge that's when you start hearing the people shouting and you know the finish line is so close!  We were greeted by our teammates cheering for us and as we turned the corner to go across the finish Joe and I held hands.

I loved finished together.  I loved playing triathlon together.  Maybe if we do that again I can be a little faster...going to have to work on that.

Finished...together! ❤

But there was no time to enjoy being done because we had signed up for the Mixed Team Relay and we needed to get things set up, get body marking and get our timing chips.  It was a little frenzied trying to get it all set up and be back by the lake for the race briefing.

There was a bit of a pause in the race briefing as Erin came in to finish her Super Sprint Triathlon.  We all had to cheer (very loudly) and a bunch of the Posse members ran with her to the finish line.  Way to go Erin!!!

Erin probably doesn't like this picture because her eyes are closed but I absolutely LOVE her smile!!

Mixed Team Relay has two men and two women.  Our team was myself, Joe, our teammates Kathryn and Logan.  Our name was Pure-ly for Fun!  Which is good because I was the first leg and that meant we were starting off behind everyone.  lol

The water was a 250 meter swim and you couldn't wear a wetsuit.  The rain had let us some and the water wasn't really too cold so that was fine.  I got out to where we were starting.  There was 10 teams all together.  We got started and at first I wasn't too far behind.  But when I got around the buoys I started struggling.  A little bit with some choppy water and also I think with just being tired from just finishing the sprint.

I have never felt safer in the water then I did the second half of that swim.  I was the only one left in the water and I had most of the water safety people right near me.  I saw a paddle board, a kayak, a jet ski and the sheriff's boat.  I think there might have been more farther out. lol

I took off to get on the bike.  The bike portion is just 3.5 miles so it is super short out and back.  My goal was to get back into transition before someone from the second person on any relay team was out on the bike.  Didn't quite make it.  My coach, Jon, was zipping out of the park on his bike as I was finishing.  I was close.

Now I had a new goal.  To finish the half mile run before Jon finished the bike and then passed me on the run.  I did manage to do that, although he wasn't very far behind me.  lol  I tagged off to Logan and he headed out.  Kathryn was next and then Joe was the anchor.  It was a lot of fun and wow, most of the people on the teams were FAST!!!

I was SO tired when I got done.  It was a very full day.

Last time over the bridge to the finish line for 2019.

Done and still smiling!

Got to have a picture with my awesome coach!!

Logan out of the water.

Logan heading to the finish.

Logan finishing up Leg 2!

Kathryn finishing the swim!

Leg #3 coming into the finish!

Smiles for miles!

Joe finishing up Leg #4

Finishing strong for the team.

Congrats on Event $4 Joe VV

Awesome Teammates: Logan, Joe, me and Kathryn

I am off the ground, I promise.

This one is better! lol

Probably my favorite picture of the entire weekend!

The only disappointment was that in the chaos of trying to switch from Sprint mode to Mixed Team Relay mode I don't know what I did with my Sprint finishers medal.  I am a little sad about that because I totally earned both my medal for the Sprint and for the Relay!!

Two races and one volunteering.  Busy!

Finn loves the camping/triathlon life!

Aunt Nancy rocked her 5k and came in 2nd in her age group and we picked up her bling for her since she had left before we were done to head back home.  I can't wait to see it displayed somewhere.  I'm thinking we need to get Nancy a medal holder for all the bling she has been getting.

Our friend Mark did the Duathlon (bike & run), came in 2nd in his age group and had a lot of fun.  Mark and his awesome wife Jodie stayed to cheer for us during the Sprint and the relay.  Kelli placed 1st in her age group and Kari got 3rd in hers for the Sprint Triathlon.

Overall it was an amazing weekend.  The rain didn't get in the way of having the best time.  We decided to go ahead and pack up the trailer and head for home since we would have to unpack and dry out a bunch of stuff.  We felt bad for the Posse because they had a lot of packing to do in the rain, which had started really dumping again after the relay.  They were going to have to pack it all, then take it home and unpack it so it could dry out and then pack it again.  That doesn't sound fun.  But like all things they did it with laughter, hijinks and shenanigans.  One of the many reasons that I love these events and the people that run them.

Here is the link to all the events that Best in the West puts on throughout the year.  Lots of triathlons and running events.  If you check it out, I bet you can find something that sounds fun.  http://www.bestinthewestevents.com/

Shout Out Time!

• Thank you Best in the West for all the free pictures.
• and the food.
• and the medals.
• and the fun.
• and setting everything up and making all of us feel like we won.
• and being the very best way for me to start and want to keep doing triathlons. 
• You pretty much rock!!
• Thank you to Ron & Rebecca, I "borrowed" some of your pictures off of Facebook.  lol
• Thank you to all the awesome Pure Endurance teammates for just being awesome.  I love being a part of this team!
• Thank you to my coach for understanding this "season" and taking me where I am at.  I've got some plans for next year Coach.  Can't wait to start planning for them! 
• Thank you to the best part of me, my very own partner in our own hijinks and shenanigans.  Joe, your patience with me this year has been extraordinary.  I love you so much!!  Can't wait to see where our adventures take us.  

I've got some things to work and some goals to readjust.  But my last shout out goes to my friends and family that have stood by my side this past season.  No judgement, no criticism just a lot of love and support.  I am so beyond grateful and am pretty sure that as crazy as I felt at times this past year, it would have been much more ugly without you all.  So for the people that hugged me when I needed it, cried with me when I cried, got me to laugh, reminded me of all the things I do right when all I can see is what I am doing wrong, prayed for me and prayed with me, old friends and new...Thank you.  I hope I will be able to do the same for you whenever you need it too.

Yosemite Backpacking Trip

My BFF, Faylene, has gone on a ladies backpacking trip with some of her cousins and other ladies for several years.  I have wanted to go along for several years. 

Last year I was supposed to go along but there were so many fires in Northern California that most of the park was closed and even if we had gone the smoke was so bad that we wouldn't have seen much.

So instead, Faylene, two other friends and I went backpacking in the Jefferson Wilderness in Oregon.  We had a great time and I got my first taste of backpacking.

This year there were no fires, no smoke and no reason that the trip couldn't happen.

Except for myself.

I almost didn't go. 

August got really booked up with activities and adventures.  Part of that was taking my youngest daughter to college right after we were scheduled to be back from Yosemite.  We were planning to drive and it was going to take a couple of days down and back.  Then, almost immediately, I would be heading back to work.  This is not a schedule that leads to me feeling rested and recharged before my summer is over.

I also had not been working out consistently so I was worried about not being able to keep up.

Towards the end of July I had pretty much decided I wasn't going to go.  But I hadn't said anything yet to Faylene because I knew she would be really disappointed that I wasn't going.

On top of everything else, I hadn't been able to get into my classroom to get things set up.  I moved classrooms so that I now have windows and a door to the outside.  Yay!  But that means sorting, hanging things on the walls, figuring out computers, moving whiteboards, etc.  I usually like to have everything all set up and ready before I officially go back to work.  We really don't get much time to prep and get ready for school, most of our first week is involved in professional development and meetings.

Needless to say, I was getting a little stressed about managing to get everything done and not be a complete basket case.  Which I have felt like I am already there most of the summer so I didn't see the point in making it worse.

But I still couldn't bring myself to tell Faylene.

We decided to fly to Costa Mesa to get Meighan to college instead of driving.  One of her friends that goes to the same college was driving down early and was willing to take some of her big bulky things.  We each would check two full suitcases when we went and she would pack all her clothes in those and then we would buy sheets and towels when we got down there.

This gave me more time between the Yosemite trip and the California trip.  It also meant I could fly home and have a day to recharge before I go back to work.

I still was really unsure if it was a good idea but I decided to go to Yosemite.

I worried about if it was the right decision right up to the day we left on the trip.

I worried about if it was the right decision the entire first day we were driving.

I literally sat in the back seat with my sunglasses on spontaneously crying throughout the day.

I was going to miss five days of hanging out with my daughter before she left for college.

I was going to not get anything accomplished in my classroom.

I wasn't physically ready to do this.

I didn't know all the other ladies (there were five more besides my friends Faylene and Wendie) and I could feel my shy side and insecurities growing.

I was very overwhelmed.

Even when I was packed up and in the car heading out on the trip I was still having second thoughts. 

We drove to Tahoe the first day to meet up with Faylene's cousin April.  We were going to spend the night in Tahoe and then load up April's backpack and head out to Yosemite the next morning.

I have never been to Tahoe and it was breathtaking.  Loved the drive around the lake to Incline Village to meet up with April.  April and her husband had made an awesome dinner together and we went down and ate by the lake.  Both April and Jon were so friendly and we had the best time talking and laughing at dinner. 

Having April and Jon greet me with giant hugs like they have known me forever helped some of my worries and insecurities go away. 

April lead us up to the VRBO she had arranged for us to stay at.  We unloaded the car and got ready for bed.  We were sitting on the porch enjoying the evening and chatting.  There was a little glow of light behind the hill and I wondered what lights those were.  A few minutes later Faylene said it was the moon!  We got to watch a beautiful moon rise.  Not quite a full moon but so incredibly bright!

The next morning we did some organizing.  We would be leaving some bags at April's house so that we didn't have to worry about trying to store things in a bear locker while we were backpacking.  We headed back to April's house and got a little breakfast and when April had her backpack ready we loaded up again. 

Because I had never been to Tahoe before Faylene stopped at a viewpoint so we could get out and I could take some pictures.  (She takes good care of me!) 

Lake Tahoe

The ant was dragging this feather.  He was very determined!

We were fascinated with the ant and the feather.  lol

This time it was destination Yosemite. 
We had a lot of fun talking and singing in the car.  The other three did a lot of remembering past trips and talking about the different places they had hiked to on their Yosemite adventures. 

It wasn't too long, especially after the long drive the previous day, before we were driving up into the mountains. 

All these breathtaking views and they were just from the car.  If it was this amazing, I couldn't imagine what I would be seeing when we hiked in!

We were supposed to car camp the first night and since we would get there first we were supposed to find us a camping spot.  The one that we were supposed to meet at was full but one just a little bit down the road we found two open spots right by the river.  Score!

Then we had to drive a couple of miles down the road in order to get cell service so we could let the other ladies know where they could find us. 

We had a few hours so the ladies decided we should go into the Yosemite Park so that I could see Tuolumne Meadows and also try and find me a National Park Token for my collection.  First we stopped at the little store to get some snacks and look around.  Wendie pulled me over to the side of the store that had the post office.  Yosemite is on the Pacific Coast Trail and the post office is where people can send packages for hikers that are hiking long portions of the trail.  It was fun to see all the different boxes and people's names.  I bet the hikers love getting those packages!!

Tualomne Meadows Post Office, Yosemite

Then we walked across the street and looked at the meadow.  It was so beautiful.  I couldn't get over how much there was to see and we hadn't even left the main road going through the park. 

Faylene, Wendie and April

After many stops at different buildings we finally found my park token at the visitor center.  I can't wait to put it with the rest of our tokens!

Mission Accomplished

While we were stopping at different places we found some of the other ladies!  We were able to tell them where exactly we were camping.  We went to the Visitor Center and then went to join up with them.

My uneasiness had returned.  I wasn't sure what to expect from these ladies.  Once again, I realized I shouldn't have worried.  Every single one of them hugged Faylene, then Wendie, then April and then me.  I felt so welcomed and a part of the group from the moment they met me.  Shay showed up a little while later and suddenly the whole group was there!  Eight ladies in total. 

Faylene, April, Shay, Pam, Me, Vickie, Juana and Wendie (from left to right)

We all brought food that we couldn't bring backpacking and had a shared meal.  Totally took advantage of the one night of car camping! 

I've been trying to decide how best to share about the trip.  I think I am just going to let the pictures do the talking for the backpacking.  So many stories and adventures, too many to tell.   

First night at Ellery Lake Campground.

Home away from home.

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Watching the sun set on the hills.

We saw a coyote on the other side of the river.

We also saw two Bald Eagles fly over us and land in tress across the river.

Backpacking Day One.

Good Morning!

About a mile of the trail looked like this.  Glad I had trekking poles!!

When I am on trails I watch the trail and my feet because I trip if I don't.  Since I don't enjoy falling down I try to pay attention.  However, when you are so busy looking at the trail you sometimes miss the views around you.  Wendie was behind me and every once in a while she would say, "Lisa, look up!" and I would stop and look.  And lose my breath. 

Backpacking Day Two.

I got sick the evening before and didn't feel any better when I got up in the morning.  I opted to stay in camp and just hang out while the rest of the ladies went on a day hike.  It was tempting to try and suck it up but I was pretty sure I would regret that if I did.  I hung up my hammock and took in the view.

The Kitchen

So glad I packed my hammock!!

It was not the day I had planned on or wanted.  I was very disappointed to not go on the day hike.  But it was the day I needed.  I had a lot of time to be still and I very much felt God's presence in the quiet stillness of the mountains.  My heart soaked it up.

The awesome ladies!  Sharing a yummy desert and trying to dodge mosquitoes.

Backpacking Day Three.

Putting our shoes back on after a creek crossing. 

I am beyond blessed to have this amazing woman in my life!

Close examination of a flower (it looked like an elephant's head!)

We met lots of people during our adventure.  I enjoyed chatting with people, hearing where they were from and what they were up to on their adventures.  We met one lovely retired lady the first night named Dori.  She was so funny and friendly. 

The consistent thing I heard was that people thought it was so cool that we were a big group of women backpacking together. 

I thought it was pretty cool too.

I can not even begin to express how much this trip meant to me.  My cup was filled in so many ways that it kept overflowing through my eyes! 

Juana, April, Vickie, Shay, Pam.  All my worries about fitting in and doing okay were a complete non-issue.  I was part of the group and loved getting to know all of you!!  I loved getting to know each of you better learning about the flowers, bees, sharing stories about our kids, singing Hamilton songs and just letting everyone be our true selves.  Such a gift!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Faylene and Wendie.  I love you both so much.  Thank you for being my friends no matter what.  I treasure our friendships beyond measure! 

I'm so glad I didn't let myself miss this experience. 

Can't wait to do it again.  (But is there a way we could do it without the mosquitoes?)