Category: Picnic

Packing List:

Welp. Paul is sick. I’m getting better, but he’s currently on hot shower #2 for the day. Many fingers are crossed. In the meantime, we’re preparing as if we’ll move forward.

That means we’re making sure we have everything we need from gear to snacks to a support crew (as mentioned, this is a supported attempt). At this point, we both feel like we have our packing dialed. We’ve been getting pretty consistent with what gear we’re using over the past several weeks (going with the adage “nothing new on race Picnic day”).

But, just to be on the … Continue reading

4 days and counting…

Today is Monday. It feels kind of like the Monday before Thanksgiving, where you know you’re about to get a long weekend and you really don’t want to be working. You’re already day dreaming about pie and stuffing, and you’re mentally just not in the game.

That’s how today feels.

I’m also feeling super anxious. I’ve been battling allergies that turned into a cold (or something?) for the past 9 days. Yes. NINE DAYS. I can’t even tell you how the number of mugs of tea I’ve had. BUT. I’m thinking I might be on the upswing. ???

On the … Continue reading

Tapering is hard

For the past few days we’ve been tapering (essentially doing shorter workouts and taking more rest).

I’ve never had to taper before. I don’t usually train that much for things. I once trained for a marathon, but my knees chronically kinda suck. I trained fine for a while, but when I got to the 13mi long Saturday training run I had to limp the last 2 miles home. So, then I just stopped training and several weeks later just did the marathon.

(And by “just did the marathon” I mean: I ran 6mi, my knee exploded in pain, I popped … Continue reading

?‍♀️ Baby shark do do do-do-do-do

You’re welcome ?

So today was open water swim, take two. We’ve had pretend summer for the past few days, so temps have been in the 80s. That’s a really good thing for warming up the water (though, the extended forecast says we return to low 60s and rain next week…).

We’d been planning to do a swim in the Willamette as a closer option to the Columbia, but the sun really helped the shallower water here and it got a little “too hot”. The water during our Picnic attempt will probably average around 57 degrees (we hope, it’s currently … Continue reading

Chafing.

I’ve been one of the lucky few who typically doesn’t have chafing issues. Not while running, or biking, or anything else. I sweat PLENTY so not sure what’s up, but I’m not sad about it.

That being said, turns out something rubbed me the wrong way on the swim this weekend. Best guess? I accidentally left my necklace on under my wetsuit and maybe it wedged up?

Either way…. this thing hurts.

? A Three Spooort Day ?

So, we have a tentative date for The Picnic. And going by said date, Saturday was to be our last BIG day before we started tapering.

It only seemed fitting that we take a go at all three sports (swimming, cycling, and skiing) in one day to see how it felt. We couldn’t quite figure out a route that would let us do it without driving, but, oh well.

This was also the chance to test our new wetsuits on an open water swim. We drove out to Hood River with the intent to be in the water between … Continue reading