Every time I go to a wedding I think about how I really want to buy a decent flash so I can take higher quality photos... someday =)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wedding photography
Every time I go to a wedding I think about how I really want to buy a decent flash so I can take higher quality photos... someday =)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Sidetracked (Today I became a triathlete)
Haven't been taking many photos lately, one of many reasons is that I have been training for my first triathlon! So for entertainment purposes an account of the race follows (will get back to photography soon!)
2 days until the race: I pack. I re-pack. I take everything out and double check it and pack it a third time. I bring an extra swimsuit, extra shirt, and more water bottles than one person could ever possibly drink during a sprint.
1 day until the race: Got to hang out with my "brother" all day! =) Went to Hawk Island to check out the course. It's a beautiful park and I can't believe I spent five years at MSU without knowing it existed! I was so excited to meet Jef Mallett, author/creator/illustrator of a great comic "Frazz" and author of the book "Trizophrenia: Inside the minds of a triathlete". He gave me a great pep talk and signed my Frazz swim cap with a message that said "To Anna: P.R. Bound! Relax and have fun!" Just an awesome, fun guy with tons of great advice to share.
I probably ate more this day than any other day of my life. Here's a list of some of the things I ate: Belgian waffle. Strawberries and cream. Jelly beans. Jimmy Johns. Dairy Store ice cream. Kraft Mac and Cheese. Baguette. Asparagus. Ham & Turkey & Cheese Panini. Elf fudge cookies. More ice cream.
It may not be the most scientifically calculated meal but I felt GREAT! So excited! So ready! So...unable to sleep!
RACE DAY:
The day began with me snoozing my alarm for half an hour (similar to most days). I'd slept very restlessly and wanted to sleep in but I got myself going!
The first lesson I learned was to bring less stuff, especially if you don't have a minion to carry it for you. Anyway, once I got to the transition zone, I set everything up obsessively and tied my gigantic watermelon balloon on the rack so that I wouldn't lose my bike (the ballooon was a HUGE hit with the nearby triathletes). The I got renumbered, listened to the pre-race talk, warmed up a bit and waded in the lake to feel the water.
"After today you will never be the same. When you leave today, you will be a triathlete, and your life will change forever."
THE SWIM
K and I did an individual start, which happens after the group starts. Great photo op! After they had closed the transition area, I realized that I hadn't taken my inhaler-oh well! As soon as we got in the water I was in shock. It was much, much colder than just wading around. My chest tightened up and I had to concentrate just to keep from having an asthma attack. I thought a lot about breathing out and swam the entire way with my head above water, rotating between backstroke, breast stroke, and freestyle. Kept trying to put my head under and ended up gasping for breath so I decided to just play it safe and try to save that energy for the rest of the race. Next time I will make sure to go all the way under before the race, and take my inhaler!
400 meter Swim Time: 10:12
When I got out of the water my entire body felt like jelly. I was in a daze until I noticed that the loudspeakers were playing "Bicycle Race" by Queen-one of my most favorite songs! I decided that yes, I DID want to ride my bike (ride it where I like) and got myself jogging into the transition.
Transition 1 Time: 4:02
THE BIKE
I have never gotten into my cages so easily. Thank goodness! I started off the bike easy, getting my bearings and taking in some good breaths to clear my head. As we went along I got more and more excited and as I got excited I went faster and passed more people than I got passed by! Always a good sign. The Blue Streak (Thank you to CK for naming my bike:) ) rode like a dream, so responsive, so much lighter than that steel framed road bike... I started whipping around corners a with confidence, which was good until the I got to the one and only left turn, took it way too fast and skidded out a bit... Glad I didn't fall there! Halfway through the bike my toes went numb on both feet. My main thought on the bike was that I wish I had had a bike computer because it would help with pacing. I was disappointed when the bike was over!
10.? mile Bike Time: 38:18 (Somewhere around 16mph average, not bad but not as good as I was hoping)
Getting off the bike I was so ready run. I had some water, checked my shoes and went to run.
Transition 2 time: 1:37
THE RUN
Soon after I started running I realized that I had NOT saved enough energy...and had not had enough water/gatorade. Longest 3.3 miles ever! The run was slow, dragging, and kind of boring. My toes stayed numb until after the first mile and my fingers went numb during the third! Never a good feeling. Anyway, next time I will remember to charge my ipod, or try to make a friend in order to keep me motivated to have a good pace. Ended up walking a bit but still averaged a little over a 10 minute mile.
Had a strong sprint finish so I came in looking good for the camera! (haha, as good as one can look with swim cap/helmet/run hair) More brick training is going to be important to cut down this run time.
3.3 mile Run time: 35:27
I'm done! Got my finisher's medal, hung out to see K get her award for first in her category (you rock girl!!) and proceeded again, to stuff my face ;-) The endorphin high lasted about 2 hours and then the fatigue started setting in.
I drove around MSU today just to take a look at campus. It's so beautiful there in the summer that I almost couldn't stand it. I miss my alma mater soooo much! You know no matter where I go I will ALWAYS be a SPARTAN!! <3
Met up with the friends to get lunch at Peanut Barrel. Love how easily you can get outdoor seating when the students are gone. If you were wondering, a burger and fries makes an AMAZING post race meal (at least for me)!
Just for fun, here is the list of everything I've eaten since the tri: half a banana, donut, bagel, frozen thin mints, recovery gatorade, apple, burger, fries, Elf Fudge cookies, rice krispies, stuffing. Not the healthiest day but I'm not too worried about that right now!!
So that's the tri! Tons of fun, and lots of room for improvement in the future!
I'll end with a great memory from one of my friends about his first tri, which pretty much sums up my experience:
"i just remember the first one thinking "god why am i doing this to myself", and then immediately after the finish line thinking "god i wanna do another one"
Finished!!
:D
2 days until the race: I pack. I re-pack. I take everything out and double check it and pack it a third time. I bring an extra swimsuit, extra shirt, and more water bottles than one person could ever possibly drink during a sprint.
1 day until the race: Got to hang out with my "brother" all day! =) Went to Hawk Island to check out the course. It's a beautiful park and I can't believe I spent five years at MSU without knowing it existed! I was so excited to meet Jef Mallett, author/creator/illustrator of a great comic "Frazz" and author of the book "Trizophrenia: Inside the minds of a triathlete". He gave me a great pep talk and signed my Frazz swim cap with a message that said "To Anna: P.R. Bound! Relax and have fun!" Just an awesome, fun guy with tons of great advice to share.
I probably ate more this day than any other day of my life. Here's a list of some of the things I ate: Belgian waffle. Strawberries and cream. Jelly beans. Jimmy Johns. Dairy Store ice cream. Kraft Mac and Cheese. Baguette. Asparagus. Ham & Turkey & Cheese Panini. Elf fudge cookies. More ice cream.
It may not be the most scientifically calculated meal but I felt GREAT! So excited! So ready! So...unable to sleep!
RACE DAY:
The day began with me snoozing my alarm for half an hour (similar to most days). I'd slept very restlessly and wanted to sleep in but I got myself going!
The first lesson I learned was to bring less stuff, especially if you don't have a minion to carry it for you. Anyway, once I got to the transition zone, I set everything up obsessively and tied my gigantic watermelon balloon on the rack so that I wouldn't lose my bike (the ballooon was a HUGE hit with the nearby triathletes). The I got renumbered, listened to the pre-race talk, warmed up a bit and waded in the lake to feel the water.
"After today you will never be the same. When you leave today, you will be a triathlete, and your life will change forever."
THE SWIM
K and I did an individual start, which happens after the group starts. Great photo op! After they had closed the transition area, I realized that I hadn't taken my inhaler-oh well! As soon as we got in the water I was in shock. It was much, much colder than just wading around. My chest tightened up and I had to concentrate just to keep from having an asthma attack. I thought a lot about breathing out and swam the entire way with my head above water, rotating between backstroke, breast stroke, and freestyle. Kept trying to put my head under and ended up gasping for breath so I decided to just play it safe and try to save that energy for the rest of the race. Next time I will make sure to go all the way under before the race, and take my inhaler!
400 meter Swim Time: 10:12
When I got out of the water my entire body felt like jelly. I was in a daze until I noticed that the loudspeakers were playing "Bicycle Race" by Queen-one of my most favorite songs! I decided that yes, I DID want to ride my bike (ride it where I like) and got myself jogging into the transition.
Transition 1 Time: 4:02
THE BIKE
I have never gotten into my cages so easily. Thank goodness! I started off the bike easy, getting my bearings and taking in some good breaths to clear my head. As we went along I got more and more excited and as I got excited I went faster and passed more people than I got passed by! Always a good sign. The Blue Streak (Thank you to CK for naming my bike:) ) rode like a dream, so responsive, so much lighter than that steel framed road bike... I started whipping around corners a with confidence, which was good until the I got to the one and only left turn, took it way too fast and skidded out a bit... Glad I didn't fall there! Halfway through the bike my toes went numb on both feet. My main thought on the bike was that I wish I had had a bike computer because it would help with pacing. I was disappointed when the bike was over!
10.? mile Bike Time: 38:18 (Somewhere around 16mph average, not bad but not as good as I was hoping)
Getting off the bike I was so ready run. I had some water, checked my shoes and went to run.
Transition 2 time: 1:37
THE RUN
Soon after I started running I realized that I had NOT saved enough energy...and had not had enough water/gatorade. Longest 3.3 miles ever! The run was slow, dragging, and kind of boring. My toes stayed numb until after the first mile and my fingers went numb during the third! Never a good feeling. Anyway, next time I will remember to charge my ipod, or try to make a friend in order to keep me motivated to have a good pace. Ended up walking a bit but still averaged a little over a 10 minute mile.
Had a strong sprint finish so I came in looking good for the camera! (haha, as good as one can look with swim cap/helmet/run hair) More brick training is going to be important to cut down this run time.
3.3 mile Run time: 35:27
I'm done! Got my finisher's medal, hung out to see K get her award for first in her category (you rock girl!!) and proceeded again, to stuff my face ;-) The endorphin high lasted about 2 hours and then the fatigue started setting in.
I drove around MSU today just to take a look at campus. It's so beautiful there in the summer that I almost couldn't stand it. I miss my alma mater soooo much! You know no matter where I go I will ALWAYS be a SPARTAN!! <3
Met up with the friends to get lunch at Peanut Barrel. Love how easily you can get outdoor seating when the students are gone. If you were wondering, a burger and fries makes an AMAZING post race meal (at least for me)!
Just for fun, here is the list of everything I've eaten since the tri: half a banana, donut, bagel, frozen thin mints, recovery gatorade, apple, burger, fries, Elf Fudge cookies, rice krispies, stuffing. Not the healthiest day but I'm not too worried about that right now!!
So that's the tri! Tons of fun, and lots of room for improvement in the future!
I'll end with a great memory from one of my friends about his first tri, which pretty much sums up my experience:
"i just remember the first one thinking "god why am i doing this to myself", and then immediately after the finish line thinking "god i wanna do another one"
Finished!!
:D
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