Update for the past month...........
Since it's been a while since we last posted I thought I'd do a bit of filling in. Since about the beginnging of Nov we have been slowly packing to move from Cary, NC to Durham, NC while we search for a place to finally settle (for a few years atleast). We did Thanksgiving at Becky's Grandparents in Lancaster, PA with a quick stop through Philly, PA to visit our dear friend Dustin and his little pal Dooley. Had a blast at both places.
Then it was off to sign the lease on our new "home" for 7 months, the rent is only $600/month. Then it was December already....and we all know how that month goes. Becky's folks came up to help with the move, and Megan (Coombs) Anderson still owes us from the time we moved her while she was in CT, so she and Nate and baby Grace helped a ton. Then Becky had the opportunity to visit San Jose, CA for a training class for GSK. So she left and was able to meet up with Leslie Jimison (who is attending Stanford) while she was out there for some IN N OUT Burger...ya'll west coasters know what I"m talking about....yum!
Then she headed back for the fiacaso that is 18Dec06, Fitz left at 5:30am for his flight up to NJ on business, and Becky did her normal alarm starts at 6am, but snooze is hit at least 3 times. So, she finally gets up and is heading out for a run (looking for her keys so she can lock the place up), and can't find her keys. So she quick calls Fitz to see if he knows where they are.....(now the story gets good)....He response was "Oh, F**K!" they are in my bag here on the place with me. Becky is trying to stay calm, since there are no extra keys now, and says well just give them to a cabbie, to which Fitz responds...we are taking off for NJ. So, for now Becky is patiently waiting for the keys to be overnighted to her from NJ so life can resume a normal form.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Here is my race report from the Ironman, Fitz and I will post photos as soon as we find time. But in other news, we recieved an offer on the house and are currently looking for an apartment near my work to inhabit. And after much debate, and tears; we are going to return Sophie to the Rescue where we got her back in January; she is not able to get along with any other dogs and this puts me on edge. I would have to say the wise Joe Carpisassi put it best when we said "A dog is suppose to make you happy, not put you on edge," so soon we hope to have a new doggie running around with us, one we will have raised from a puppy.
Enjoy the Race Day Coverage: and to see my finish, www.ironmanlive.com click on athlete splits, then my number 1729 and scroll down to "watch me finish," I'm the one in the pink hat.
I managed to sleep a few hours the night before the Ironman, but I was up at 3:45am (Hawaiian time, which is 9:45am EST) to eat a bagel with peanut butter. While trying to calm my nerves I listened to a little O.A.R., and reminded myself that I was ready to go. Gathered up all of my race day things (clothes, shoes, special needs bags, goggles, swim cap, etc.) and started walking down Ali’i Dr. with my family waiting for the bus to pick us up. During our walk my dad kept stopping in the middle of the street to write encouraging words with chalk. On the bus and to the King Kammahuahua Kona Beach Hotel tennis courts to get body marked. While there they weigh you in, 122.2 lbs, mark you and send you on your way. Next to transition to load food/drink on my bike and just check that all is well. While in the transition area, I notice that everyone is pumping up their tires, and I start to get nervous because I don’t know how to pump up my tires. Then I find my family and a wall to sit on and I just sit and mumble about how everyone it pumping up their tires and I’m not, and should I, but I don’t really know how… and on and on. Finally 6:15am rolls around and I head in to transition to check my bike one last time (and I don’t touch the tires), hit the port-o-johns, and head for the water.
I know from past races that I really should swim a bit to warm up, so I ease in to the water and head out. I notice the water is a great temperature, and is looking calmer then the past few days, but still rough. After the pros head off at 6:45am, we are told to swim up to the start and tread water. I think I might have been a little eager beaver since I was one of the first people out treading and we still had over 10min until the start. The race started before 7am due to everyone being ready to start, the gun goes off and there is mass chaos. I have never been hit more times in a race then in Hawaii, it was rough. I was able to swim with a couple of packs of people and I thought I was moving along really well. I checked my watch at what I thought was the turn around (33min), and I remember thinking, “well I might just break 1:05, since I’m heading back in and it should be easier, right”…..WRONG! I’m not sure where the waves were coming from, but I ended up out of the water in 1:10:49…..
In to T1, I knew I had to change fast, so in and out in under 4 minutes.
Off on the bike, sporting my aero helmet. The first part of the bike is a 8 mile loop through town, I really got pumped seeing all of the people cheering. Then up Palani Rd and out on the Queen K Highway….and you just keep going. I notice that my computer is not working so I am relying on my math skills to try and determine my speed…not the best idea. I was also concentrating on my nutrition and fluids, since I did such a horrible job with that in IM FL. I had my plan and I stuck to it; salt every 30 min, food every 35 min, plenty of Gatorade and water. I even managed to get bottle at every aid station. Off the Queen K and on to Hawi….there is where the head wind came in to play, up the hill to Hawi, then a tail wind for 5 miles. Back on the Queen K, and here is where I lost my focus for a few miles (like mile 70-85), I had convinced myself that there was a head wind, and so I slowed down. Then between mile 85 and 90 I just told myself to go and I did. Off the bike I saw I was at 7hr 15min, I was going to really have to work to break 11hrs total.
In to T2, I managed to get one foot out of my cycling shoe, but not the other, so I clicked the other out bent down too it off and handed it to the volunteer. Off and running to the tent, and it was a LONG run to transition. Less then 3min and I’m off and running
The marathon always my nemesis….I felt great out of transition and once again stuck to my nutrition/fluids/ice in my hat plan and it was working. Out to the little blue church on Ali’i Dr and head back. Then at mile 9 I notice my knee starting to hurt, I had IT band pain at the end of my final long training run, but I thought it was gone….nope. This was not the place to start walking, so I did a quick stretch and hoped I could just finish. I passed this lady who was cheering “just keep running, just keep running” not exactly what you want stuck in your head for an entire marathon, but it did have a good beat to try to run with. Up Palani Rd again, and out on the Queen K, I think there must be a ton of people around me named Becky because all of these people are yelling “go, Becky!” Then I realize they are looking up people’s numbers in their programs, so they really are cheering for me….sweet. Through the lava fields, I starting to think that under 11hours is not possible, but can tell I am holding close to 9 min miles. In to the Natural Energy Lab, and turn back to head back to town. This is when I think I might be loosing my mind because I think I see Peter Reid…. “The Peter Reid” handing out water at the mile 19 aid station. As I run by, this Peter Reid or the could be look-a-like offers me water and being such a tri-geek, I reply with some corny comment like “From you, I’d be honored” (Later I find out it was actually Peter Reid, and I had not lost my mind). Up the Hill and back on the Queen K, at mile marker 24 I see my under 11 hour dream fade….10:59 with 2.2 miles to go. So I muster what I have left of strength and want to break my IM FL time of 11:34:22. I think to myself that I can do that, and I will be really happy since very few people (other then pros) have their best IM time in Hawaii. Then last mile is the worst, it is actually 1.2 miles which is really, really long. Back down Palani Rd. I have now resorted to that “weird, my IT band hurts, hubble run,” but I’m moving. Finally, I can hear the crowd…and I try to correct my stride enough so I look normal…I can see that if I go I can be under 11:20….pushing, pushing….ahhhh 11:19:36.
Time to retire from competing for a few years (maybe three) then come back and go under 11 hrs in my third Ironman. Thanks to everyone for their support and good vibes on Saturday, it was a great day and I hope you each have a chance to live your dreams.
Until 2009…. ”swim like there is no bike, bike like there is no run, and run like there is no tomorrow”
Enjoy the Race Day Coverage: and to see my finish, www.ironmanlive.com click on athlete splits, then my number 1729 and scroll down to "watch me finish," I'm the one in the pink hat.
I managed to sleep a few hours the night before the Ironman, but I was up at 3:45am (Hawaiian time, which is 9:45am EST) to eat a bagel with peanut butter. While trying to calm my nerves I listened to a little O.A.R., and reminded myself that I was ready to go. Gathered up all of my race day things (clothes, shoes, special needs bags, goggles, swim cap, etc.) and started walking down Ali’i Dr. with my family waiting for the bus to pick us up. During our walk my dad kept stopping in the middle of the street to write encouraging words with chalk. On the bus and to the King Kammahuahua Kona Beach Hotel tennis courts to get body marked. While there they weigh you in, 122.2 lbs, mark you and send you on your way. Next to transition to load food/drink on my bike and just check that all is well. While in the transition area, I notice that everyone is pumping up their tires, and I start to get nervous because I don’t know how to pump up my tires. Then I find my family and a wall to sit on and I just sit and mumble about how everyone it pumping up their tires and I’m not, and should I, but I don’t really know how… and on and on. Finally 6:15am rolls around and I head in to transition to check my bike one last time (and I don’t touch the tires), hit the port-o-johns, and head for the water.
I know from past races that I really should swim a bit to warm up, so I ease in to the water and head out. I notice the water is a great temperature, and is looking calmer then the past few days, but still rough. After the pros head off at 6:45am, we are told to swim up to the start and tread water. I think I might have been a little eager beaver since I was one of the first people out treading and we still had over 10min until the start. The race started before 7am due to everyone being ready to start, the gun goes off and there is mass chaos. I have never been hit more times in a race then in Hawaii, it was rough. I was able to swim with a couple of packs of people and I thought I was moving along really well. I checked my watch at what I thought was the turn around (33min), and I remember thinking, “well I might just break 1:05, since I’m heading back in and it should be easier, right”…..WRONG! I’m not sure where the waves were coming from, but I ended up out of the water in 1:10:49…..
In to T1, I knew I had to change fast, so in and out in under 4 minutes.
Off on the bike, sporting my aero helmet. The first part of the bike is a 8 mile loop through town, I really got pumped seeing all of the people cheering. Then up Palani Rd and out on the Queen K Highway….and you just keep going. I notice that my computer is not working so I am relying on my math skills to try and determine my speed…not the best idea. I was also concentrating on my nutrition and fluids, since I did such a horrible job with that in IM FL. I had my plan and I stuck to it; salt every 30 min, food every 35 min, plenty of Gatorade and water. I even managed to get bottle at every aid station. Off the Queen K and on to Hawi….there is where the head wind came in to play, up the hill to Hawi, then a tail wind for 5 miles. Back on the Queen K, and here is where I lost my focus for a few miles (like mile 70-85), I had convinced myself that there was a head wind, and so I slowed down. Then between mile 85 and 90 I just told myself to go and I did. Off the bike I saw I was at 7hr 15min, I was going to really have to work to break 11hrs total.
In to T2, I managed to get one foot out of my cycling shoe, but not the other, so I clicked the other out bent down too it off and handed it to the volunteer. Off and running to the tent, and it was a LONG run to transition. Less then 3min and I’m off and running
The marathon always my nemesis….I felt great out of transition and once again stuck to my nutrition/fluids/ice in my hat plan and it was working. Out to the little blue church on Ali’i Dr and head back. Then at mile 9 I notice my knee starting to hurt, I had IT band pain at the end of my final long training run, but I thought it was gone….nope. This was not the place to start walking, so I did a quick stretch and hoped I could just finish. I passed this lady who was cheering “just keep running, just keep running” not exactly what you want stuck in your head for an entire marathon, but it did have a good beat to try to run with. Up Palani Rd again, and out on the Queen K, I think there must be a ton of people around me named Becky because all of these people are yelling “go, Becky!” Then I realize they are looking up people’s numbers in their programs, so they really are cheering for me….sweet. Through the lava fields, I starting to think that under 11hours is not possible, but can tell I am holding close to 9 min miles. In to the Natural Energy Lab, and turn back to head back to town. This is when I think I might be loosing my mind because I think I see Peter Reid…. “The Peter Reid” handing out water at the mile 19 aid station. As I run by, this Peter Reid or the could be look-a-like offers me water and being such a tri-geek, I reply with some corny comment like “From you, I’d be honored” (Later I find out it was actually Peter Reid, and I had not lost my mind). Up the Hill and back on the Queen K, at mile marker 24 I see my under 11 hour dream fade….10:59 with 2.2 miles to go. So I muster what I have left of strength and want to break my IM FL time of 11:34:22. I think to myself that I can do that, and I will be really happy since very few people (other then pros) have their best IM time in Hawaii. Then last mile is the worst, it is actually 1.2 miles which is really, really long. Back down Palani Rd. I have now resorted to that “weird, my IT band hurts, hubble run,” but I’m moving. Finally, I can hear the crowd…and I try to correct my stride enough so I look normal…I can see that if I go I can be under 11:20….pushing, pushing….ahhhh 11:19:36.
Time to retire from competing for a few years (maybe three) then come back and go under 11 hrs in my third Ironman. Thanks to everyone for their support and good vibes on Saturday, it was a great day and I hope you each have a chance to live your dreams.
Until 2009…. ”swim like there is no bike, bike like there is no run, and run like there is no tomorrow”
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Kona Bound we are......the condo is fine for us to inhabit. And we leave tomorrow morning at 6:10am bound for Hawaii. Feel free to check www.ironmanlive.com for number 1729 on Saturday the 21st starting at 7am hawaiian time. And we are off with thoughts of cool lava fields and easy trade winds.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Well, to anyone who has checked the news within the past few hours you should have seen that there was a earthquake of 6.5 magnitude 10 miles north of Kona (aka IM HI race site). We are waiting to see what will happen with the race. As of now there is a landslide on the bike course and structural damage to many buildings. Since we have already paid all of the money for all things relating to Kona we will be going no matter what, but will have to see if the race will go on. We will let you know how the race and/or vacation goes. Send us good vibes.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
As of 3:44am, Becky’s bike has made it to Kona, HI; it is amazing to see where a package goes when shipped. We are still not even close to being ready to go, but the bike is there. There was a concern that Becky’s competition would sabotage and have her bike thrown in the Pacific Ocean between Canada and Hawaii. We are hoping that Fitz does not have to travel Monday and Tuesday before we leave early Wednesday morning for Hawaii. So far the weather looks good for the week we are there, small chances of rain most days, and moderate temperatures (in the 80’s). Hopefully, we can keep our sanity for the next few days and then there is no turning back. And as always send Becky cool lava fields, and light trade winds.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
With all of our friends moving far and wide....and even the close ones being hard to reach, we thought we would start a blog so everyone knows what is going on with the small Fitzula family. To start with here is an update:
So, as most know Becky is "Hawaii Bound" in 11 days. October 21st is the finale for her Ironman racing for a while, which will be very nice for those of us who want a semi-normal and not revolving around exercising. We have been feverishly making plans of what to do in Kona so far we are doing a little of everything....snorkeling, kayaking, hiking the volcanos, puddling jumping to Oahu for Pearl Harbor, and the punch bowl, and of course a full day of relaxing.
Also, our house just recently went on the market (yesterday) and we have already had three hits. Who knew so many people wanted to live in Cary, NC? We are planning to move to an apartment for 6 months to a year to see if Becky likes the new orgainzation that GSK had created and moved her to. If she does then we will look for a place locally with lots of land, and is not then we will follow the motto, "go west young man, so west" and make our new home near Boulder, CO or San Diego, CA (look out Karen).
So, as most know Becky is "Hawaii Bound" in 11 days. October 21st is the finale for her Ironman racing for a while, which will be very nice for those of us who want a semi-normal and not revolving around exercising. We have been feverishly making plans of what to do in Kona so far we are doing a little of everything....snorkeling, kayaking, hiking the volcanos, puddling jumping to Oahu for Pearl Harbor, and the punch bowl, and of course a full day of relaxing.
Also, our house just recently went on the market (yesterday) and we have already had three hits. Who knew so many people wanted to live in Cary, NC? We are planning to move to an apartment for 6 months to a year to see if Becky likes the new orgainzation that GSK had created and moved her to. If she does then we will look for a place locally with lots of land, and is not then we will follow the motto, "go west young man, so west" and make our new home near Boulder, CO or San Diego, CA (look out Karen).
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