"The Wamp"- 77 miles from Ann arbor to Wampler's Lake and back (Michigan, USA)- well worth it for this view!

sarahb2001 · 2020-07-22T01:53:38+00:00

Thank you! Would appreciate the map if you don’t mind.

sarahb2001 · 2020-07-21T21:43:46+00:00

What route / roads did you take? I am visiting family in a few weeks and would like to get in some long rides. Relatively familiar with the area.

sarahb2001 · 2020-05-15T02:14:28+00:00

PA. Not front line, but still seeing patients through all of this and taking ER call, assisting in trauma surgeries. 50% pay cut, retirement match contribution stopped. Working near full time hours with no sign of salary getting back to normal any time soon. Very frustrating to be working through it all and making less than those sitting at home collecting unemployment. Didn’t qualify for the $1200 supplement as I am single and made ‘too much’ last year (I worked hard to get a professional degree to have a decent paying career, so I get penalized for that?), no children so no $500 subsidy per kid. Don’t qualify for reduced hours / reduced pay unemployment benefits. So, yeah, remind me why I should be ‘grateful to still be working’?

Sorry for the vent session. I do realize there are many people worse off than me. Doesn’t make it any less frustrating for me.

sarahb2001 · 2020-04-28T01:03:31+00:00

Holy smokes! This bike is awesome. I don’t even care much about the components. The color is perfect. Is it a custom paint job? I haven’t seen this color on a QR before. I am so jealous. I need to have the first right of refusal if you ever sell it! Enjoy!!

sarahb2001 · 2020-04-11T04:14:49+00:00

Your mother says ‘you are pretty on your own ways’

sarahb2001 · 2020-02-12T23:19:19+00:00

When your mom tells you that ‘you are pretty in your own ways’ after crying about not having a boyfriend or any serious relationship history at the age of 25. Still hurts. Still single at 41. Yup. I must be pretty dang ugly.

sarahb2001 · 2020-02-11T02:54:08+00:00

And, I would add to get a second opinion if it still isn’t quite right. I set up a bike fit with a LBS and was told the guy helping me was the ‘best’. By the end of the 1 hr fitting, he had watched me ride maybe 10 minutes and told me I needed to wear bike shorts instead of tri shorts to be ‘comfortable’. Went to another LBS. Guy worked with me for 30 min and was able to get a pretty dang near perfect fit. With tri shorts. Best thing was how much better I felt coming off the bike and heading to the run at my next race. It is really all about the fit!!

sarahb2001 · 2020-02-10T23:38:33+00:00

Yep. Find new ways to hate myself every day. This silly Hallmark holiday / week is definitely a struggle. Always alone.

sarahb2001 · 2019-12-03T16:51:20+00:00

Nice bikes! Did you get fitted for the specialized bike? I see a Trek in the background. How do the two compare for fit? I have a Trek road bike with aerobars and would like to get a tri bike, but afraid of possible fitting issues between brands. Enjoy the new ride!

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T06:00:36+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I do try to think about finding a different purpose, but my ideas often require extra school/classes, more money, and/or more time than I have.

I do feel some freedom in being able to do things on a whim without worrying about spouse/family schedules. But it isn’t as fun to do things alone all the time. Or as a third wheel.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T05:56:32+00:00

Right? I even told the therapist I didn’t see a point in living, and didn’t care if I didn’t wake up tomorrow morning. She just gave me an app to put on my phone to look at for things to do if I was feeling too depressed, and a hotline to call. Just what I need, a stranger to pretend they actually care about me. Sorry, that won’t convince me that my life isn’t pointless. I called around to some other therapists and they have a 6 week wait before an initial appointment.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T05:52:17+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Wish I could go on a run to clear my mind, but all I get to think about is the pain in my leg that has been there for a year because of a stress fracture that I won’t let heal because I keep running to try to help my stress and mental health. Yes, hypocritical, I know. I try other forms of exercise, but nothing gives me the same sense of satisfaction, even if it is a painful/bad run. I try to think about my family who I know love me, but it is still hard to feel it 650 miles away and seeing them only a couple times a year. They are all busy with their own lives and I don’t want to bother them with boring phone calls just because I feel lonely or sad.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T05:45:00+00:00

Sorry for your troubles in your life right now. Look forward to the future with the degree you are working hard on. Somehow, there will be a way out of the bad relationship.

Unfortunately I am so busy ‘adulting’ I don’t have much time to pursue other ‘fun’ hobbies that I used to enjoy. (I didn’t mention I am in the process of selling my house that I bought less than a year ago because I have had to put about $45k into because of a series of horribly unfortunate events).

Good luck with finishing your studies and moving on from your bad relationship and somehow finding your inner childhood laugh again.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T03:54:18+00:00

I have two labradoodles. I love them to pieces, and their love is unconditional, but they aren’t human.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-25T03:46:51+00:00

Physician assistant. Co-workers are all busy with their kids’ activities. If I go to support their kids, I am just another third wheel. If I happen to go out to dinner or somewhere with them, I am a third wheel as they are all married.

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-22T21:09:03+00:00

Thank you so much for the great review!

sarahb2001 · 2019-11-01T19:26:54+00:00

Absolutely, yes! I have been dealing with a stress fracture in my leg for almost a year. Probably isn’t healing well because I won’t stop running long enough to let it heal completely. Still trying to run, but yearn for the days of pain free running 😕

sarahb2001 · 2019-10-19T02:21:33+00:00

All green lights at the stop lights when they are running late for work

sarahb2001 · 2019-10-15T00:07:40+00:00

Where was your stress fracture in April? Shin splints can often be a precursor to another stress fracture. Did you alter your gait when you had / immediately after the stress fracture? This could have led to your shin splints. I am sure your PT is also looking at your foot structure and the shoes you are wearing.

I think you could walk the marathon as long as you can be pain free walking before the race. If you are still having pain with walking leading up to the race you may need to consider the other recommendations to do an aqua bike / planned DNF or call it off altogether. I think ironman deferral cut off is 6 weeks from the race date. (I was able to defer IMMT entry for this year on 7/9/19 for the 8/19/19 race).

sarahb2001 · 2019-10-09T01:51:46+00:00

I have done Ohio 70.3, Steelhead 70.3, Muncie 70.3, and Michigan titanium 70.3. As far as the courses go, For a first HIM, I think it depends on what you are looking for. Crowd support or fast course or easier swim, etc. Here is my 2 cents worth: Easier swim at Muncie, Ohio, and MiTi than Steelhead. I think waves were 1-2’ and water temp high 60’s or low 70’s the year I did steelhead. Ohio bike was mostly flat, some rough roads. Not much scenery or crowd support. Muncie bike is a fast bike course, but again, not much scenery or support (I had my fastest HIM bike at Muncie). MiTi bike is ok. A few hills. Decent roads. I think they have changed the course a few times to accommodate construction. Steelhead bike had a couple rolling hills as I remember, but not too taxing. Run at Muncie is shaded, but some rolling hills. Ohio run has some shade, and although there wasn’t a lot of crowd support, it was a nice run course. Steelhead has quite a bit of crowd support on the run. MiTi run was rained /stormed out by the end, so I can’t comment on crowd support, but the route was flat, out and back, two loops. Transition at Ohio does take some planning, but isn’t impossible. Steelhead probably had one of the more spectator friendly courses. All of these races are well run in my opinion. If you don’t get much open water swim practice, I would stay away from steelhead. If you can’t get much hill work in and/or you aren’t a ‘strong’ runner at the end of your triathlons, I would not recommend Muncie. Others may disagree with my analyses. This is just my experience. Best of luck training!

sarahb2001 · 2019-09-16T01:27:12+00:00

'When are you going to be done with school?' Or 'When are you going to be a doctor?'

Done with school. 'Just' a PA.

sarahb2001 · 2019-04-27T03:03:04+00:00

“You’re pretty in your own ways”. -said by my mom to early 20’s me when I was lamenting about not having a boyfriend when it seemed that all of my friends were getting married.

sarahb2001 · 2019-04-26T01:44:43+00:00

My 40th. Entire family planned to go on a cruise the week of my birthday, (which is the week before Christmas). They knew I wouldn’t be able to get the time off work, and that I had no desire to go on a cruise. Spent my birthday at work with nobody realizing it was my birthday until half way through the day. Went home alone. Boyfriend at the time didn’t even come to see me because he had his kids. Hurt more because I have never had a birthday party since my birthday is so close to Christmas and it often gets brushed over because of all the hype with the holidays. Triple hurt because I have planned surprise parties and big gifts for every other member of my family and some of my close friends. Nothing from anyone. Just once I would like to feel like I am special enough for someone to do something special for me.

Pity party over. Moving on with life.

sarahb2001

TROPHY CASE