I love it when a plan comes together!

Although it pains me to admit it, in all of the Operation 30 travel and work madness I've sort of fallen off the fitness wagon. No big deal in the grand scheme of things as I'm clearly entertaining myself with fun activities, but the fact of the matter is that the Alligator Creek triathlon is only eight weeks away and the St. Louis Rock 'n Roll Marathon is 18 weeks out (phew! but still...). This time if I'm trying to do better on the swim and improve my time significantly in the marathon, then I needed to get going on building up my base and training! Thank goodness that's exactly what I was able to do while in Kansas City this past weekend. Relying on some Hal Higdon and veteran athlete expertise, I mapped out my plan in Excel and it is now officially documented in my Google calendar...



While I can't say I was ever a huge fan of the A-team (mostly due to timing and the fact that it was popular before I had even reached kindergarten), I have to agree with Colonel on his favorite catch phrase, "I love it when a plan comes together". That's exactly how I feel now that I have this huge piece completed.

Luckily, this isn't my first rodeo so I know what will help to motivate me to stick with my training schedule:

1) New gear - namely work-out clothes and tennis shoes, and possibly a new bicycle
2) New tunes - significant iPod updating will happen this week
3) Visual reminders - print-outs of my training calendar and inspirational quotes will be posted in strategic locations
4) Friend support - people holding me accountable by asking me how training is going and being understanding when I likely won't have "just one more" or be out late when I have a long run the next morning

The trick this time is going to be learning to balance everything I've chosen to consume my life at the moment while still hopefully having time for sleep. (Not off to a good start if this post is any indication. As always, it's a post-midnight update.)

No time to over-analyze things, which is good. I've committed to it. I have a plan. Now it's time to make it happen!

Troo Roo

Holy craziness - it's been a busy month! I just got back from another whirlwind trip involving some other Operation 30 items. This time the theme was music, and I got to experience a lot of it...

#10. See Dispatch in concert - check!

Anyone heard of Dispatch? Or some of their good songs...The General? Outloud? Elias? Passerby? Well, if you haven't, you should look them up. I didn't start listening to them until after they had broken up in 2002, but once I did they quickly become one of my music staples. Therefore, when I heard there was a reunion tour for Dispatch this year, I jumped right on the pre-sale bandwagon.

Luckily my brother, Alex, shares my interest in Dispatch and was easily convinced to be my partner in crime for their Chicago concert. So we took Megabus from St. Louis to Chicago last week and made it happen. It was his first time to Chicago so we took a quick walk on The Magnificent Mile and ate dinner at Harry Caray's on Navy Pier before heading to the concert at Millennium Park. Although the view from the lawn was somewhat lacking (and there were no screens to compensate), it was a pretty cool venue! No complaints at all on the set list either. I heard every song I was hoping to sing along to. I wish I had more time to see them again on their tour, but I'm hopeful their reunion tours will continue and I'll have other opportunities in the future.


Alex and me at the concert


Sweet panoramic view from our spot on the lawn

After Dispatch in Chicago, it was immediately off to my next adventure. My brother and I parted ways as he headed back to St. Louis and I headed to Nashville, Tennessee. Why, do you ask? To BONNAROO, of course!

#9. Rock out at a music festival - check!

This one has been a long time coming. I've wanted to go to Bonnaroo for quite some time now and have some friends who have gone regularly. So when I added #9 to my list, I was 90% positive it would be Bonnaroo. Plus, it was the 10th annual. How could I miss it?

So after a somewhat rag tag ride from the Nashville airport to Manchester, Tennessee, I met up with my friends who had driven there early that morning in our rented RV, "The Chateau". It wasn't really until the next morning that I got to fully explore the extreme set-up that is Bonnaroo....700 acres of multi-stage musical fun with 80,000 people for four days. Awesome, right?? RIGHT!


Arch at the main entrance and the flair at the What Stage (not to be confused with Which Stage, This Tent, That Tent, or The Other Tent)

I learned (thanks to Wikipedia) that Bonnaroo officially means "a really good time". And that it was, for sure. I could go into detail on the specifics, but instead I'll post my top ten 2011 Bonnaroo highlights below. Note, I'm specifically leaving out the $7 showers and hour-plus of wait-time for those of us that are more concerned about hygiene. :-)

10) Hardee's grub and AB brews...the Chateau was hooked up!
9) Glow Sticks and Girl Talk...No better way to spend 2:30am-4:00am on a Saturday
8) Paint Cans at The Chateau...great conversation starters for unsuspecting passersby the RV
7) People watching...nuff said
6) The 40ft high "Big Ass Water Slide"...a good way to cool off in Centeroo
5) Frank, our RV rat mascot
4) What Stage...where My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, and The Black Keys played
3) Eminem...someone I probably would never see in concert otherwise, but what a show!
2) Which Stage...where Ray Lamontagne, Mumford & Sons, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Amos Lee played
1) My awesome friends who made the entire experience a ton of fun


Some hightlights: Ray Lamontagne, Mumford & Sons, and Eminem


The Roo Crew: Diane, Lugge, me, Ortbals, Amy, Jackman, Lindsey, and Shelley

Two great experiences on the Operation 30 list complete. Good stuff!

Timestamp:

I Want to Ride My Bicycle...

11. Go on a winery bike ride...check!

That's right, another week and another item checked off the list. In a way I feel as if I'm celebrating my 30th birthday for a year straight, which is pretty awesome! Just yesterday was the long awaited winery bike ride. After polling the crew and picking a date earlier this year, we were locked and loaded for June 4th - a bicycle ride along the Missouri River on the Katy Trail to the wineries in Augusta, Missouri.

We met at the Page Bridge Missouri River Crossing at a commuter lot by mile marker 42.8 on the Katy Trail at 9:45am. Darnell, Hille, Lugge and I geared up and were on the trail by 10:00am. It was the beginning of a pretty scorching day temperature-wise in St. Louis. The high was 98 degrees F! Thank goodness for the shade along the trail, the steady breeze in Augusta and the refreshing cooling effect of riding a bike 15mph.


Geared up and ready, then hit the trail!

After biking what turned out to be two hours and 25-27 miles, we arrived at our destination in Augusta at noon. First stop was the Augusta Winery which was just up the hill as we got in town. It didn't take long before the group was sampling wine in order to pick a bottle and then on our way to the outdoor garden which had a nice view of the landscape. I was so excited to have other (non-biking) friends meet us there. Soon-to-be parents, Jessica and Tim, came out and so did the always dependable Meena. They even had snacks, which was excellent thinking and very much appreciated after our journey!


First stop - Augusta Winery

Through the grapevine (get it?!) we heard that Steve Ewing was playing at Mount Pleasant Winery at 1pm that day, and as luck would have it that was exactly the time at the moment. As many of us were tried and true Urge fans back in the day and have been known to see Steve Ewing play regularly at his monthly Tin Can shows, we had to check it out. A quick Google map search showed that our hike would be a whole 157 ft away (ha!) so we packed up and re-located to Mount Pleasant for some Steve Ewing jams.

As usual, Steve's music was spectacular, and it was extremely hard to leave. But we had another 25+ mile bike ride ahead of us and had to fuel up (and buzz down) with more than just wine for the road.


My buddy, Steve

So it was on to the last stop in Augusta which was the Augusta Brewing Company. We grabbed some lunch and pitchers of their Blond and Hefeweizen. Overall, a pretty nice tour of Augusta, Missouri and an extremely scenic and fun-filled afternoon.


Last stop before the journey back - Augusta Brewing Company

I don't recall exactly what time we rolled out for the journey back (4-ish?), which is a good indication of my mental state at the time. About seven miles back on the trail we stopped at the biker bar in Defiance for a couple of beers and some Ray LaMontagne on the digital jukebox. At that point, I think we were all dreading the remaining 20-ish mile journey back. That, or we just wanted to extend the good times a little longer. Or, likely a combination of the two...


Biker Bar in Defiance

But - we made it back! Although it was the first time I've busted my bike out all year and I was nervous about my 28mm road bike tires lasting without busting, we did it! Albeit, we were all probably a little tired and a lot dehydrated at the end, it was a good time had by all.


Some highlights along the route

It was also agreed that 50+ miles was too long of a bike journey to include a winery stop. Riding four hours plus is nothing on RAGBRAI or at the MS150, but when there's some concentrated drinking going on (particularly in the middle of a hot St. Louis day), it seems the key is moderation...on the riding, that is.

Next time (and there will be a next time), we'll make the ride shorter and likely start from Weldon Springs. Oh, and I'll also remember to bring the music. :-)

Timestamp:

Lit-er-al-ly, Awesome!

Where to start? This past weekend over the Memorial Day holiday my boyfriend, Jeff, and I made more headway on my Operation 30 list in spectacular fashion. We headed to Phoenix for a whirlwind adventure: Tempe-Flagstaff-Grand Canyon-Sedona-Scottsdale-Phoenix!

Hanging near the Arizona State University campus in Tempe was great as a kick-off to the desert tour - lots of nice sports facilities and an overall pleasant and active campus and surrounding area. Flagstaff was a great break from the drive in both directions as we stopped to enjoy brews from Beaver Street Brewery on Friday and Lumberyard Brewing Company (same owners) on Saturday. Mmm...beer. :-)



The highlight of the trip for me was seeing the Grand Canyon in all its glory on Friday and Saturday. It was, as I imagine Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) would say on Parks and Recreation, "Lit-er-al-ly, the most spectacular hole in the ground I've ever seen." Beautiful rock formations and breathtaking views for miles upon miles. I probably took at least two hundred pictures just of the canyon!

We stayed at the Thunderbird Lodge on the South Rim on Friday night and woke up to watch the sunrise at 5:23am at Hopi Point. It was windy and a little on the chilly side, but awesome! After walking the Rim Trail and having breakfast, we took the shuttle to the Kaibab Trail and proceeded to hike approximately three miles and descend 2,000ft in elevation into the canyon to Skeleton Point.



The views as we got into the canyon deeper and deeper were exceedingly beautiful. We even had to get out of the way for a couple of mule caravans walking in the opposite direction. The only hazards were making sure not to step on any undesirable mule droppings and overcoming the mental imagery from the occasional glance from too close to the edge, realizing the severe consequences of losing one's balance and falling over. Needless to say, we conquered the challenge unharmed, but possibly a little wind-worn and dusty from the hike. Still, awesome!

#21 - Visit the Grand Canyon....check!

The plan for Sunday morning was to go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride in Sedona. However, due to the high winds in the entire region, all hot air balloon rides were cancelled that day. Bummer. I suppose you can't blame them for being cautious and I can't say I'd want to be in a hot air balloon during questionably safe wind conditions, but it was still disappointing. Rain check on #27. I'm officially checking into alternate venues.

Last but not least, we spent some time in Scottsdale and Phoenix. We did some good walking, ate a very nice dinner and went sight-seeing around downtown. (Lots of steps on the pedometer!) On our last night of the trip, we knocked off the first of my four stadium goal for #1 on the Operation 30 list. Chase Field!



It was a great game to watch as the Diamondbacks beat the Marlins 15-4. We were also lucky enough to score first row seats along the first base line at the box office that morning. Followed up by some Girl Talk playing at Sliders after the game, it was a great way to end a great weekend.

Timestamp as I post and prepare for some winery bike riding shenanigans: