The Eggplant Diary, A Vegetable's Journey to Coeur d' Alene: Preamble

What a strange yet intriguing name for a story, you say? Well, this is a strange and intriguing story. There are so many twists and turns I may lose you at times, but stick with it. This story is about the "not so" charmed and glorious journey of our dear Fitbird Leader, Coach Canada, as she prepares, trains, and then races in her second Ironman in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Don't assume this is just another training journal leading up to a big race, with minor ups and downs and a few setbacks. I've written that before. I've lived that usual journey during my half ironman training as I prepared for my race last April. This is a different kind of story. This story is about perseverance, mental toughness, and beating the odds... and that's just getting to today ~ the night before the flight out. This story is still unfolding, day by day. Don't jump ahead and predict the ending, because just when you think you know what is about to happen in the life of Canada, the unexpected occurs. As I write this, I don't even know how this story is going to end. And that's what makes it so intriguing.

The writing begins tonight, but the publishing to the blog will come in spurts as time allows during the trip. I believe photographs enhance the story so until I am able to upload photos, there will be a delay in the publishing of the story online. Be patient and know that however this story ends, it will surely be enthralling!

Dirty Mama's Take Over the Spillway...

from the Times Picayune


June 12, 2010
Interview by Eric Trihardboy


New Orleans: In an unprecedented move, the Dirty Mama's (a subsidiary of Fitbird Fitness, a local triathlon training center) propelled themselves to a "Team Best" finish at the Norco Spillway Adventure Race in New Orleans this past weekend and racked up 187 points as they began to build up points to compete in the New Orleans Series Championship in November. The group of three women, two appearing to be thirty-something and one who is reportedly forty, but easily passes for her mid twenties, showed no fear of getting down and dirty, just as their name implied. Although they said it was their first time, rumor has it they they were bluffing, as their performance definitely said otherwise.

Bernard Thibodaux, a local fisherman, described his experience watching the Dirty Mama's compete. "Mawn, id be unbleevble. I never did saw such a ting. De tall one wid her hair up in de tail of de pony. Well she dun just kept at de paddlin, all de day long, in dat der hot sun. I saw dem go de wrong way down dat river. I fo tru tought dey be done. But dere dey came back  ~  bout n ar lader. Rosie like a baked yam dey were, but dey was still a paddlin."

Heatwave Race Report

My first Olympic Tri has been checked off of the "list". My performance lacked luster, but to reiterate, at least it was checked off the list...

As usual I learned a lot and found many areas that need improvement. There were a few things I did right, but more than a few that could have been better. Overall I enjoyed racing with my Fitbird teammates and seeing my coach back directing her flock. It was fun to watch many of my training partners compete in their longest event thus far and for many, their first open water swim. They all did great and I am so proud of them!

So here is my take on Heatwave:

Friday, Pre-Race:

Call and I headed up to Ridgeland, MS mid afternoon Friday just in time for packet pickup. It was being held at an awesome bike shop that had a great assortment of snacks, wine, and beer to indulge in while we browsed the store and got our race packets. The swag bag was great with two shirts, a cap, and a tumbler.