Triathlon - Live from La Quinta

Turkey-Free Thanksgiving & Other Updates

November 25, 2012 · by Debbie · 20 Comments

Wow, this week has rushed by. So much to do, so little time to write. Here is a quick update, then hopefully I can return to more regular posting. Hopefully. It’s a busy time of year.

Last Sunday, the day after the Native Foods Pre-Opening Party, I had to drive to San Diego to drop off the glider I had purchased for Nathan and Sarah. Their baby, my grandson, Samuel, is due any day now and I want them to have the glider in place when they bring him home. We had a nice visit, a lot of it spent walking to encourage Samuel to hurry up and be born. Sarah looks beautiful, feels pretty good, and is totally ready to have the pregnancy over with.

I am thankful that my son has found such a wonderful woman, and that their baby boy will be here any day now. By the way, for my Paleo readers, Nathan and Sarah both follow a Paleo diet and have started a new blog, Rock Like Grok, to share their recipes as well as their new parenting adventures.

I finally decided on Tuesday that I would cook Thanksgiving dinner even though Nathan and Sarah wouldn’t be traveling for obvious reasons, so it would just be Alan, myself, and, briefly, my son David. It always sounds attractive to be taken out to dinner on a holiday instead of cooking a huge meal for three, but a Turkey-less, vegan Thanksgiving dinner is hard to come by around here unless you prepare it for yourself.

In any case, starting Tuesday I started shopping for everything I needed (along with about 99% of the local population!). My menu: cornbread stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. I decided to try Trader Joe’s Turkey-less Roast, not really necessary with all the scrumptious side dishes, but it appeals to the traditionalist in me. Fortunately, this year I didn’t have to hunt down the vegan marshmallows, I was able to go straight to Harvest Health Foods, where I finally found them last year.

Of course I was working Tuesday and Wednesday while doing all this. I managed to make the cranberry sauce on Tuesday evening, and planned to bake the pie on Wednesday after work. Best laid plans…

When I left work on Wednesday, I had to go with Alan to pick up the U-Haul truck that he needed to haul all the equipment for the Palm Springs Turkey Trot, which would be on Thursday morning. I wanted to pick up a few more things from the store, but first we needed to go to the high school to pick up some tables and chairs for the event.

Off track here for a moment. We almost had a dog rescuer moment at the U-Haul place again. Ironically, we were discussing how we found two stray dogs there a couple years ago as we were pulling up. At that moment we saw two (different) dogs, no collars of course, playing on the lawn. It’s a terrible place because it’s right next to a busy road. We tried to get them to come to us, but they ran away. At least we got them away from the road.

Alan drove the truck home while I finished my shopping. My plan was to go home and make my pumpkin pie. Instead, we had to head to Palm Springs, where we had early packet pick-up for the race. Palm Springs is about a 45 minute drive at that time of the afternoon. We spent a couple hours at the base of the Forever Marilyn statue, gave out a few t-shirts and goodie bags, signed up a few more people, and finally headed home, where I threw together a quick dinner. Even so, bedtime was a late (for us) 10:00, the night before we had to wake up at 2:30 to head back to Palm Springs for the race. (I actually slept until 3:00 since I didn’t have to be there quite as early as Alan.)

When I talk about “us” putting on the Turkey Trot, I really mean “him,” my husband. Alan started planning months ago, with help this year from a friend of ours, Molly (who puts on the Run for Ike). All I really do is find a few volunteers and work the “day of race;” coordinate the volunteer assignments, handle registration, answer questions. Alan, of course, is the race announcer and in charge of the music, so in addition to setting up the course, he is starting the race and there at the finish line to call in the runners. I did find the time to take a couple pictures.

We had a good crowd, about 700 runners, and everything went great. There was prize money this year, so we had some really fast runners (the winner’s time was 14:55!). This was our first year doing the Turkey Trot in Palm Springs (it’s been in Palm Desert for the last 13 years), but it was a great venue. The area around the Marilyn statue was perfect for registration and the award ceremony. We were done by around 10:00, spent a few minutes talking with the Sav-a-Pet volunteers (our race beneficiary). They adopted out three dogs! Success! Obviously I was busy if I didn’t think to take any dog pictures.

After we finished, I drove the car home, while Alan and one of our former cross country runners (long graduated, living in Long Beach, but always comes back to help), took the stuff back to the high school. I had a pie to bake! Though after it was done we had to hurry out to return the U-Haul (no roaming dogs this time, thank goodness).

Until a few years ago, my sister and I would spend our Thanksgiving together, in my kitchen, catching up, as we prepared dinner. Now she lives in Texas and can’t make it out until Christmas. So I did the cooking. You know what? There is just as much work cooking for three as there is for eight. Oh, in case you feel that Alan should have helped. He did, big time, by doing all the clean up. For me, that is the perfect trade off.

By the time we sat down to dinner, Alan and I were both exhausted. I was so tired I didn’t take any pictures of dinner, Alan was so tired he didn’t even have any dessert. Both are pretty prime examples of how tired we were. We did have some pie for breakfast though, and I managed a quick picture.

I had to work on Friday, but I got off fairly early and managed to remember to take a picture of my Thanksgiving sandwich:

I tried to finish this post on Saturday, but between my computer randomly turning off (hopefully getting a new one this week!), shopping (for myself…not quite ready for Christmas shopping yet), and a friend’s 40th birthday party, it didn’t get done. We had another early Sunday, waking up before 3:00 to drive to San Dimas, where Alan is announcing the Turkey Triathlon. Damn I’m a good wife! I’m finishing the post on my phone while he works (for the second time, having somehow lost all my new work when trying to upload).

It’s very pretty here at Bonelli park. I took a short run after it warmed up a bit and the race had started. It was quite a hilly run as it turned out, but fun anyway, even though I managed to take a tumble within the first two minutes.

Well, that’s how I spent my Thanksgiving week. How did you spend yours? I hope you were able to be with family, eat some great food, and maybe enjoy a fun family event like a turkey trot.

Filed Under: Family, La Quinta, Thanksgiving · Tagged: running, thanksgiving, Triathlon, turkey trot, Vegan

Ventura Bound

June 23, 2012 · by Debbie · Leave a Comment

I’m on my way to Ventura, where Alan is announcing the Breath of Life Triathlon tomorrow. I feel great today, probably a result of post-migraine euphoria.

Before leaving, I took Penny on a two mile run because we’ll be gone all weekend and I feel bad when she doesn’t get her run (and you should see the looks she gives me!)

After a week of feeling sluggish on the run, I felt fresh and fast this morning. Of course, these days for me that means an average nine minute mile. It was probably knowing that I had only two miles to run, but I pushed it from the beginning. It sure made Penny happy.

This is one of those typical Life of a Race Announcer gigs. Our accommodations are at the Ventura Motel 6, Alan will be at the venue by about 5 am, and I, after sleeping in a little, will run to the Ventura Harbor, where the race is held, and hang out until the race is over.

Sleeping in is an option I don’t usually have this time of year. Now that summer is here, and the temperature is up around 108, procrastination is not an option.

The forecast for Ventura is a high of 68. That’s 40 degrees cooler! I was pulling out all the fleece when packing this morning.

After the event tomorrow, Alan and I are heading to Santa Barbara to stay with an old friend of his (who he hasn’t seen in 30 years!). I’m sure the accommodations will be a lot nicer. We plan to take our hosts to a fairly new vegan restaurant in SB called Adama, which has received some rave reviews (thanks Happycow!). The menu looks awesome.

That’s all for now. Since I am writing this on my phone and just finished driving for 90 miles, we are now approaching Pasadena, where the temperature is a cool 73. Brrrr! (Believe me, that’s a happy brrrr.)

Have a great weekend! What are your plans?

Filed Under: Race Announcing, running, triathlon, Ventura · Tagged: breath of Life, running, Triathlon, Vegan, Ventura

The Desert Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon

March 3, 2012 · by Debbie · 2 Comments

Alan had another announcing gig this weekend, this time close to home. The Desert Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon is held right in our own backyard, Lake Cahuilla Regional Park in La Quinta. It is a nice change to sleep in our own bed (with our own dogs), with only a 15 minute drive to the venue. Even better because the Desert International Triathlon will be held tomorrow (Sunday), and Alan will be announcing that one too.

Sunrise is always beautiful over Lake Cahuilla

I accompanied Alan because I have a good time seeing friends and watching them compete. My plan was to wait until it got a little lighter (we were there by 5:30), then take a short run myself before the race got underway. My morning didn’t go quite as planned, though, because when I said good morning to the volunteer coordinator (a job I held myself for five years), she asked if I was there to volunteer.

The announcer himself.

So, I ended up helping out with registration for a couple hours. That is not a complaint. I love volunteering. It is a great chance to meet people and support the sport. One of the great things about a sprint distance triathlon (500m swim, 14 mile bike ride, 3 miles run) is that there are so many first timers. The shorter distance, the calm (but chilly!) water that is so shallow you can stand up in most of it, the flat roads, are all inducements for beginners. It’s also fun because you get funny stories, like the swimmer who put her helmet number on her swim cap, or the duathlete who asked where the run start was five minutes after the run start.

Michellie Jones, along with race director Greg Klein (center)

After the race started, I’d lost my mood to run (plus I didn’t want to get in the way on the course), so I wandered around, chatted, and took pictures. I also helped out at the awards ceremony, handing out the medals (or tiles in this case). One of the persons who earned a medal was Michellie Jones, a huge star in the triathlon world, who was second overall in the race. This triathlon superstar has over 175 wins in her long career, including the 2006 Ironman World Championships in Kona, and she is a gracious competitor, who frequently comes to the desert to race.

Two veterans of the Ironman world: Pam Galbraith and Bill Bell

There were a few other veteran triathletes competing. Pam Galbraith, who has completed 25 Ironman distance competitions (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run), competed in the duathlon and will be part of a relay in the International race on Sunday. Bill Bell, with 32 Ironman finishes was for a while the oldest man to complete the distance. Almost 90 now, he retired from the long distance in 2003 after having a pacemaker put in, but still enjoys competing in shorter races. Tim Reynolds, who has completed many Ironman races, and still enjoys competing in all distances. Tim raced the Sprint today and will also compete in the International race on Sunday.

Tim Reynold, finishing up

Perhaps my favorite finish of the day, though, happened long after the rest of the athletes had completed the race. We were just starting the award ceremony when word came that a relay team composed of a mother and her seven year old daughter (eight on Sunday!), was just coming into the bike transition area and heading out on the run. The awards were almost finished when we paused and turned everybody’s attention to the finish line to see seven year old Eva cross the finish line (along with mom, who stayed with her for the run). I loved the joy she expressed at competing, and for the finisher’s medal she received. She didn’t seem to mind all the applause, either.

Seven year old Eva being hugged by her sister after completing the race.

While Alan will be back on Sunday to announce the International race, I will be copping out. I’m going to be a little selfish (or one could say committed to my training), and stay home, take a run, go to yoga. Oh, and sleep in a little beyond 4:00 am.

More pictures from the race: