The Mosque has been under construction for the past 14 years, can fit 10’s of thousands of worshipers at once, and I lost track of how much marble and gold has gone into building it.

Driving up to the Mosque

Before entering a dress code must be followed. Men had to wear long pants, or if they were wearing shorts were given a white robe to put on over top. While women are given a black robe, and head scarf, and asked to cover their hair. As foreigners we were quite fortunate to be able to see this amazing building, and have a chance to wander the halls and outdoor courtyard.

Trying to figure out how to wrap the scarf so it does not fall off every 2 minutes.

Lucie Zelenkova, Caroline S. and me, quite a change from running around in bathing suits the day before.

There were flower and nature motifs all over the walls and the floors both inside and in the outside courtyard. The colours of the flowers against the white marble were brilliant, and it was amazing to think just how much work and thought went into each little component.

The outdoor courtyard used for prayer.

There is a clock in each room with the 5 different prayer times that change daily, as well as the time of the sunrise each day.

Inside the largest of the prayer rooms.

There was too much information to remember, and it made me wish I was more informed about the history and culture of UAE. Often I just fly to places, not fully even knowing where on the globe I am. I was glad to have a chance to see a tiny bit of Abu Dhabi, that I would not otherwise see from my bike, or my running shoes.

Steps leading to the Tawanthai hotel were we are staying

Shoes, shoes and more shoes

So the other day we had a run right after our swim, and instead of our regular flip flops, or bike shoes, we all left our run shoes by the front.
After a nice, toasty warm swim, since the outdoor pool is heating up just like the weather, everyone jumped into their run gear as fast as they could to head out onto the run. I was a bit slow, wrestling into my gear, so when I got to the shoes I realized mine were gone. This is what happens when you have a team, lucky enough to all wear the same Avia run shoe, and somehow all the girls seem to wear size 9 shoes. Not sure how that happened, since we are all not the same height, yet somehow 5 or 6 of us wear size 9. Mine were gone, that much I knew, since I had put them in the corner, and that corner was now empty. A couple of the girls were already off and running so I started to go through the leftover shoes trying to find a substitute. Amy managed to prevent me from stealing her shoes, which looked pretty comfy just then, Baywatch had very frayed laces which made her shoes easy to identify, which meant one more pair was left over. They definitely were not mine, but it was that or run barefoot. I slipped them on, and headed out for our little jog. Poor Amy had to listen to me whine how these shoes were worn in all different spots them mine, and were not quite right.
I figured out part way into my run that Bella had the same shoes, and was a quick change artist after the swim. So when I got back to the hotel and saw Bella I asked her if perhaps she had grabbed my shoes by accident. She laughed, and said no wonder her run felt funny, the shoes were all weird and worn out differently. Besides, she wears one shoe half a size different than the other, so my pair which are both the same size definitely must have felt odd. Mystery solved, and both of us were reunited with our own worn in comfy shoes.

Now of course we all just got outfitted with the same Louis Garneau helmets and cycling shoes, so it is bound to be even more exciting. I was complaining one afternoon about having to put on my sweaty helmet that had not dried out yet from the previous workout. James just laughed at me, and pointed out that if it is someone else’s sweaty helmet it is even more gross to think about. Of course Maki solved that problem with the help of Mickey Mouse- or actually a Mickey Mouse sticker on her helmet. No stealing that one.
I am about to pack up my shoes and helmet in a couple of days as I head to Abu Dhabi for the new long distance triathlon held there. I have had a great stretch of training for the past few weeks, so am keen to see how it comes together in a race. And I have never been to that part of the world, so yet another first coming up.

Wandering through the streets of Singapore

The cuisine in Singapore is varied, everything you can probably think of. Not sure how but we ended up eating some Indian food Saturday, which was only the second time I have tried it I think. We kept asking if the dishes were spicy, “no spicey, and only little spicey” were what the lady answered. Hmm… guess spicey is all relative, just like fast and slow. I think the only thing that did not burn my lips off was the steamed rice. It did not make for a very good long run the next morning.

Caroline enjoying some Singapore spice

We stayed at the TBB apartment while there, which was super. Very comfy, convenient, a nice pool, and running trails just outside the door. The one odd thing was the “fireman lift”, right beside the sign that says no using the elevator during a fire. Of course the building did have 35 stories.

Sign above one of the three elevators at the apartment

Now I am back in Krabi, ready to settle in for another little stretch of training before heading to Abu Dabi for a new triathlon race there. That should be a very interesting trip I am sure. But first I need to get in a solid week and a half of training. Fast and spicey, all relative, so I need to make my slow quite spicey.

1) 13 hours from Toronto to Narita

2) watched 4 full movies, 1/3 of a boring movie and 1/5 of a movie I had seen before

3) started and finished reading my book- 304 pages

4) spent some time in the United lounge in Narita, where only 2% of the people were not on a computer.

5) spent $8 on dental floss- had something very painful stuck in between my teeth, after 3 hours and a headache finally found some dental floss. Mental note- next time have mine in my carry on.

6) was the 2nd athlete to arrive in Krabi- the Wongstar was the 1st.

The volcano from afar

A nice, sharp, ice pick, along with my backpack.

All dressed up, and ready to go. The green thing is what you slide down on.

Yes, an ice pick- that’s when I started to rethink this adventure. We left at 6 am, and an hour later were at the base of the volcano which is about 1400 meters. A short ski lift took us up to 1800 meters where the snow line began.

The top of the volcano is just over 2800 meters, but going straight up is too steep so we would zig zag up, taking a route about 3-4 km long, and were told it would take about 3-4 hours. A short lesson on how to us the ice pick on the high side of the hill as you hike, how to use if if you fall and need to stop your slide down the mountain and off we went. One of the guides led our group, sometimes following preexisting footsteps, but whenever we caught up to a group ahead of us the guide would just veer off, and start a new path to get around them and up faster. It was very sunny, and hotter and hotter as we climbed up, and very slow going. Every 30-40 minutes or so we stopped for a short break, trying to find a way to sit without sliding down. Reapplied sunscreen, had some water, or a bite to eat. This definitely was not as easy as promised, but the steps were nice and small, and the pace was not quick.

Now it is starting to look steep eh?

We made it to the top a bit faster than expected, which was nice. This volcano is still active and even from far away you can see the smoke at the top, and at night a glow coming from the center. Once we arrived at the top the snow is all melted from the heat, and you can hear a deep rumbling deep down. We couldn’t see far down enough into the volcano to see any lava, but could see the smoke and just the area around the top show the heat coming off the core. It was pretty amazing, as were the views down and all around.

Looking into the volcano.

Some of the group, including 3 Canucks, at the top of the volcano

Now the fun part, going down the volcano. I was told we would slide down on our butts, and that it was a slow day, since the snow as very wet, and it was warm. Had it been colder and icier the slide would be much faster. I figured since we zigzagged on the way up it would be the same on the way down- but no- it is just a straight line down. We had another lesson on how to slide down- how to sit with your feet together, and arms close to your body, hold the ice pick properly so you don’s stab yourself or someone else and how to use it to control your speed or stop. I was pretty nervous on the first slide- it looked so steep! But the first one was easy, then we stopped, walked a little farther across, and picked up another slide down. We did that about 4 or 5 times. A few times someone would go too quick and fly out of the track, and then have to stop themselves with the pick, and get back onto the slide route. It was like a childhood dream come true, and the guys were trying to outdo themselves seeing who could get the most speed. It was so much fun. The way down is much, much quicker and more fun than the way up.

It is not very often that I do any touristy stuff when I go to races, but Pucon is a kind of race you have to plan to stay a few days after, and take advantage of the amazing things you can do there. As I was leaving the next day people were heading out white water rafting, and then later on to the hotsprings. So yes, it is a great race, super organization, great challenging course, and definitely not to be missed.

I was lucky enough to be staying at the race hotel, Gran Hotel Pucon, directly on the course. I have never stayed this close to the transition and swim start- less than 200 meters to either, incredible. Lake on one side of the hotel, and a volcano on the other side. During my little swim I took a few photos of the beach, and the volcano behind the hotel. If the beach were not so packed you would see that it is actually black sand- or lava rock I think. Awesome.

Race day came quickly enough, and I was a bit afraid of sleeping in. No need to fear that, since transition was directly below my window, and I could hear set up beginning at 3 am. It was pretty fun to have the race start directly outside the hotel, no need to worry if I forgot anything, since it would be just a few steps away.
I was not sure how I would feel during the race, I am just starting up to build my training up, and very slowly regaining a bit of fitness, so the main goal was to get in a good, honest effort. The swim was a wave start, with pro men and women starting 5 minutes ahead of the next wave. It was pretty uneventful, my first wetsuit swim since last August, in perfect water temperatures. I got on my bike in second place, but quickly caught the swim leader and settled into a nice rhythm. The bike course is rolling, with lots of very gradual ups and downs, and quite fun. It was going pretty well, except for my lower back tightening up a bit as the ride progressed. Getting off the bike I knew I was in a bit of trouble, I felt less limber than even after the toughest ironman bike ride. The run course at this race is what makes it really stand out. Within 200 meters of running out of transition the hills begin, and then keep going as you run up a peninsula for about 2 km, then back down, and onto a flat 3 km before running a second and third lap of the same loop. I am not sure what was tougher, running up the steep climbs with my hamstring feeling like it was about to snap, or running downhill and pounding the quads. I didn’t stay tough on the run like I needed to and was passed by a flying Amanda Lovato, and Heather Gollnick who was trying to win this race for the 3rd time in a row. But it was 2/3 or a pretty solid race, and a good refresher on racing.
The day after the race was the big adventure of climbing the volcano in the hotel photo- Villarica. Stay tuned for that one.

No, this is not a horror story blog. Although does remind me that there is a new vampire movie out that I would like to see.
I have been having some lower back achiness off and on for the past few weeks. So, the first solution whenever something does not feel quite right is a trip to the organgrinder.
Way back when I was just starting out with this crazy swim/bike/run idea I pretty much spent most of the year injured. It was the years of swimming, and no impact sports that made my body rebel anytime I made it work too hard on land. I did a 10 km in Waterloo, my university town, and a couple of km from the finish felt something go very wrong in my hip. Well 10 minutes after the race I could barely walk, and when I woke up in the middle of the night to go pee I realized that not only could I not walk, I couldn’t even lift my leg. So, I sat on the floor and started to pull myself along the floor with my arms, dragging my leg behind me. This woke Chris up and he looked at me, shook his head and asked what I was doing. Going to the washroom I said, but I didn’t factor in the travel time, so was getting a bit anxious. Well, by the next day I knew I was seriously injured. And after 3 months of physio, chiropractor, massage and doctors I was still walking with a limp and not running. Well, this is where the organ grinder comes in. Someone recommended that I go see Doug, and although I had never heard on an osteopath I was willing to try anything. As the dictionary tells me an osteopath is “a branch of medical practice that emphasizes the treatment of medical disorders through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles. ” I must say, very gentle, passive adjustments, no pain, no cracking or creaking noises. But somehow after 3 weeks of these adjustments I was running again.
So over the years any injury, or almost injury I have had were treated by Doug. During one treatment he was explaining how my liver, or spleen, or something was adhering to faschia connected to something, connected to something else which was giving my hip issues. When I later tried to remember the explanation or tell Chris what he did it basically sounded like Doug moved my internal organs around all over the place, and that fixed me up. So that’s how the organgrinder name came up. Of course the funniest part is that Doug is soft spoken, slight built, kind, most easy going guy you will ever meet. Not the massive giant, with meat cleavers you imagine when I say organgrinder, eh?

I usually have a few books floating around the house in various states of being read. I often start a book, and if it does not capture me I set it aside, and figure it is just is not the right time. This means that I am sometimes reading, or more like not reading, 2 or 3 books at once. Now the one book I just started that I will probably finish within a day or two is the Andre Agassi book “Open”. Definitely interesting right off the bat, I could barely put it down last night. I must admit I was not always an Agassi fan, but as his career progressed it was hard to not cheer for him. And now I makes me want to rewatch some of his matches. He talks about how tennis is one of the loneliest sports. A tennis player is behind a net, distant from his competitor, distant from the fans, and that might be why often the tennis players talk to themselves. It made me think about triathlons, where one minute you are swimming on top of someone, or inches away from cheering spectators, and the next you are in the middle of nowhere, without another person in sight, wondering if anyone would notice if you just curled up in a ditch and went to sleep. And I am sure most triathletes talk to themselves, or sing to themselves like I do while on the bike sometimes. And the magic race song that I sing in tough moments is….. top secret. But it does include jazz hands.