Back to reality

Wishing I was in my favorite hiding spot in Maui

No sooner did I get my last blog done did I get the stomach crud! Boy was I sick for a couple days. Ick. I tried to pretend I was well and ran my regular workouts on Weds (tempo run) and Thurs ("long" run) and this was likely not the prudent thing to do but I didn't die. Tried swimming Thurs morning and was met by a massive wave of nausea and had to quit. I think I'm in the clear now although 3 pounds lighter. I had a great weekend of riding - necessary since I had been off the bike nearly 2 weeks! Did some tempo on Sat, nice easy-ish ride yesterday with L&L on the beach then a ride in the hills today with good group. Solid three days and I didn't suffer too badly. I have been seriously questioning my fitness here less than 7 weeks from IM Rhode Island 70.3 but I'll probably be ok, not great. Anyway, back to reality now and routine is found again. The Dane is already back in Vienna for the week - I miss him so since we were attached at the hip for our entire trip. The week will go by fast though and he'll be home. Still dealing with the niggly hamstring (only right side now, used to be both) but just running through it all now. At my age, there's always something hurting!
kia kaha

Back home

view from terrace
view from terrace
Willy, the Dane and me

The week went by like a flash and I wish I could have spent more time. But, the reality is that I have to return to work which will be tough. I was an awesome trip and meaningful in so many ways. Mostly, meeting the Dane's family and getting to know each other was fun. They are really nice people and seemed to embrace me very well. We're loosely planning to head back over the the holidays, I have to check how much vacation time I have! I have some more pics to share, these are from the terrace of the Dane's parents home, beautiful views! It was a little chilly but refreshing compared to being back in FL. Poor Dane got sick (?food poisoning) the night before we came back and is still not well but is a trooper. I felt so bad because I couldn't do anything for him except grab more barf bags on the plane. Anyway, safe and sound back home. We did get up to swim this morning which was ok despite being out of the water for 10 days! I will dive back into training mode this week and hopefully get some good sessions in on the bike. Thanks to everyone for the emails. The video is our hotel room in Copenhagen, cute 300 year old place!
kia kaha

Back in CPH

Last city of stay, Copenhagen. Trip comes full circle. We are off to in-laws for grill out and watch end of today's Giro stage. Exciting. A couple videos on from the drive from the airport. Pretty cool that I can do this from my camera! Enjoy...

hello from Zurich

view from our hotel room in Zurich


Wow, what a beautiful city this is! We are only here for a day but really saw a lot just roaming around. I will put up some photos but they don't do it justice. I feel more comfy here than Vienna because it's easier to get around, more similar to Copenhagen. I liked Vienna just found it really confusing to get around. So much so, I ran on the treadmill which I hate to do but better than getting lost in a city where I cannot read signs or speak good enough German! Luckily, I had one of Anders' employee's wife to give me the guided walking tour. We really have had incredible weather also. That will likely end when we return to Copenhagen this afternoon where it will be chilly (for us, spring for them). Back home on Sunday, boo hoo. I has been a wonderful trip and I cannot wait to come back to Europe.
kia kaha

We inadvertently stumbled upon the changing of the Royal guards while still in Copenhagen, video below. Really cool, loved the music!

In Vienna, the weather is beautiful and what a magnificent city. Did a lovely walking tour while the Dane was working. Did a run on the treadmill today which I hate but was afraid of getting lost! Ran 41 minutes since it's my 41st birthday, felt it was appropriate and plenty boring! Probably the longest I've ever done on a treadmill! Off to Zurich tomorrow, the Dane has business there and I am a handy travel partner. Enjoy the photos!
Kia Kaha

side track through Copenhagen

It's late, we're tired and supposed to be in Vienna tonight. But, we're still in Copenhagen which isn't so bad at all. I have pics but cannot download but found an adapter for my camera battery and it's charging as we speak. Anyway, another day in Copenhagen, which turned from summer to winter in one day (well, Florida winter) then off to Vienna tomorrow. Cool sites today and people watching. More tomorrow, I'm tired and have major allergy issues here!
Kia Kaha

Oh, beautiful Denmark. We slept until almost 10 am (but that's only 4 am my time) this morning. Took a beautiful run through Deer Park (cannot type it in Danish) and it was truly invigorating! Nice dirt trails with people everywhere having picnics. Saw the King's old hunting palace and green grass and trees as far as the eye could see - I wished I had my camera! I will post pics when I can hook up the camera to the Mac Book. It's a holiday here now and nothing is open. We had lunch with the in laws and it's Dane's older sister & BF at the world's oldest amusement park right outside of Copenhagen, called Bakken. Not far away. just at bus ride (although we ran through there today). It was lovely and the weather wonderful. However, the temperature has taken a bit of a plunge and when the sun goes away, it's like winter in FL!! I brought appropriate Florida winter clothing though! We will be having dinner at the hotel here with the Dane's old high school friends which will be fun. Truth be told, we completely invaded their apartment last night when we couldn't find and open restaurant late (after my power nap) had wonderful cheese and wine and got back to the hotel late........(really late). We have dubbed this the Danish cave (the Tavanese will get this!). Yada, yada, yada we woke up late. It was fun meeting the people who have known the Dane for so many years. We have had a lot of fun and it's really cool to see a different culture and see where the Dane comes from. More later.
Kia Kaha

happy mom's day

I'm blogging from beautiful Denmark, land of the Dane. We have absolutely gorgeous weather, the Dane's family is shocked it's this warm so "early". Anyhow, I'll get pics up as soon as I find a converter and can charge my camera battery. I just had the nap of my life and feel refreshed after long travel and lunch with the in-laws - who, by the way, are very lovely people. More later, just wanted to tell my mother happy day to her (since I cannot call).
kia kaha

This one's for Bri........

I'll get to Bri's questions in a bit. First I want to jot down my weekend of training. Rode in the hills on Saturday with the group, had no idea how long this was going to be but we went out like banshee's and I knew I was in for it. The Dane proceeded to blow the group apart throughout the entire ride, myself included going off the back a few times. Luckily, there was some regrouping every now and then because I would have been seriously lost! So, 76.7 miles later, I'm running a nice relaxed brick with Linda M., thank goodness she remembered her "jogging shoes" this time. My brother and his wife arrived for the weekend and there was some eating and drinking to do the rest of the day. Sunday brought another ride, just three of us though, 55 miles then a 35 min brick at an uncomfortable pace! I was dead. Spent the remainder of the day at the beach with more eating and drinking. Needless to say, it was a fun weekend. I was supposed to race St Croix this weekend but glad I didn't after seeing the blazing times for my AG!
Anyhow, the rest of you can stop reading if you like. Bri has to endure this entire paragraph since she asked:
Grew up "all over" as military child, but mostly in Colorado Springs. Played all sports in school but started running in 7th grade and never looked back. Only qualified for State in the high jump (I was pretty good at it) and relays. Got a smarty pants scholarship to Missouri Baptist College and ran XC and track there. Transferred after 3 years there to Southeast Missouri St U and ran there as well. Never really excelled while in college, injured a lot. Began swimming a bit my last year in college mostly as rehab. I had a bike but didn't ride much, used that as rehab as well. Did my first tri after college, an Olympic distance race in Pueblo, CO and could never recall having so much fun "racing". I nearly drowned but enjoyed it none the less. Figured I wasn't going to be going to be participating in the Olympics so tried to figure out what to do with my life. Went to school part time and worked, picking up my pre med requirements. Went off to medical school in '93 and my triathlon career, such as it was, went on hold for a while. Came to FL in '97 for residency and never left. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in '98 and thought I'd never be active again - this was indeed a challenge. Anyway, had a good doc and got put on good meds and can function now though not as before. Met the Dane on Sat morning group ride and had a very secretive crush for a long time. Little did I know, he felt the same. We had a platonic, training relationship for many years. Yada, yada, yada, now we're happily married. I work for the VA so my hours are stable but the work is hard. The only things we really watch on TV are cooking shows, nature shows, some reality shows and sports. Takes me a year to read a book because I read in bed and last about 30 seconds usually. Haven't traveled much but hope to change that. Going to Europe next week with the Dane and can't wait to see some of the areas he travels to regularly. So that's the outline of 41 years of my life. Hope I got to the highlights Bri!
kia kaha