After a week of grinding hard with some distance and speed endurance..Sean and I played in and out the surf today..warm sunny day, no surf, no swell, but great to be on and in the water.

Training for Phatwater just started, 15km into the head wind and 15 km surfing home. awesome day to paddle.

40km is 40km..I guess somehow I tried to think it would end up being 30 km or it would go by fast cause its a lake along a beautiful city, or I am still trying to figure it out. Not sure why we thought it was a great idea to drive there, with the kids..oh camp along the way..sure, right. The tent and blow up mattress just took up space in the truck. At least I was smart enough to fly, but yes with a 3 year old..the 3 1/2 hour flight is about 2 1/2 hours too long at that age. Next time someone, anyone, hit me on the head and remind me that I staggered for hours after the race. I think I was crying too, but I don't remember.
Don't get me wrong, this was a great race.....but if you don't train for 40 km, after 20km it doesn't get any easier.
Ok, so the Friday of the demo day, we took all three kids to the tall ships on display at Navy Pier..this was awesome. We got to sorta scope out some of the race course and I had Pat check the mileage driving back to the finish line...and double check if we really were going to paddle that far the next day. Shouldn' t we be resting? Nope, 2 hours at the pier, then down to the demo day. I know Ocean Paddlesports is our business and demoing skis is the best way to sell them...so Pat goes off for a quick...humm...paddle while I demo all 10 skis we brought, get out and sell pfds and seat pads..all while Reece and Hayden are throwing rocks at..each other and Danica has to go poo poo for the 3rd time in the newly delivery port-o pots. I think she just liked going in there, but that's another story for the next day..she didn't like going in there then.

Ok, fine. Demo day over, dinner for kids...don't like that, don't eat this...ok more pretzels. Danica you sleep with mom and dad cause brothers smell and they stay up and watch tv. Kick, roll, poke, got a stuffy nose, gotta go pee pee...never slept from 2 am on. Great for a race day..yea.
I screamed at Pat to go find a starbucks. I got all three kids up at 5:30, race juice mixed, shit where is the sunscreen, forgot it at home. Down to breakfast in the hotel, don't like this, won't eat that..ok, pack the car, where is my COFFEE. I think I was crying, I don't remember.
Pat spilled the coffee all down his orange race shirt, we somehow checked out of the hotel, and got to the race start..all three kids waiting for the babysitter 7am.....mom and dad going to race 40km..will be back by 1 see ya bye.

So now really the rest is history. 40km was just like I thought. The first 20km really great with a nice tail wind and small easy bumps..the first 2 beach stops I was chatting and pleasant to the guys and gals at the water stations. Andy Howelll and I had a race going on back and fourth..and then....done done and done. The chip chop at navy pier got me swearing at the locals...the coast guard dared to tell me I was too far out and they got an earfull and really I tried to crack a smile for the photographer near the last 6km...there was a small downwind there, but really, I don't remember. I am sure I said a few choice things to the nice gal at the last beach stop..I dont' remember.

If I yelled at you to load your ski or started crying, please forgive me. I had to spend too much time in the port o pot with Danica, I think the smell got some brain cells. I have blisters on top of blisters and I have sworen I will never paddle again...but hey, Phatwater is Oct 9. What about that?

Lets take the kids and camp along the way.


This shot, taken at one of the last beach stops, says it all.
PIcture courtsey of Art Cipolla.

OMG! Now I am doubly glad I didn't go!!! Although, beautiful pictures ~ the one of you guys on the dock is really good.
And now I know why you are trying to get someone else (!) to drive the truck to Phatwater! :…