Would you like a tomato with your bike tune up?

YES PLEASE! LOL!!

Yesterday, a plate of fresh home-grown tomatoes (sliced and peppered) awaited me at The Tuck Shop. I had emailed Gord telling him I would be coming over to see him immediately after swimming. I had wolfed down a nut/seed/raisin bar but was still hungry....

When I saw that plate of fresh tomatoes and two toothpicks -- I was in heaven! LOL!! We did a *cheers* with our toothpicks and dug in. Gord must have seen the look of hunger still on my face, because he disappeared into the house and brought out a heated Greek-seasoned chicken breast. YUM!!! That hit the spot!!

All that AND I got my race wheels, brake pads, and bike tuned up! A girl can't go wrong with that eh? :) :)

I returned from the Penticton camp on Sunday -- as usual, the coaches pushed me to my limits and beyond -- and I learned so much about myself.

I had a hard time emotionally at the camp though --- Friday we found out Kerry had committed suicide. Saturday I left for Penticton. Sigh. When I arrived in Penticton, everywhere I looked I saw Kerry.

I was the first to arrive at the beach for an easy swim. Usually, Kerry was ALWAYS the first one to arrive anywhere. I had to do a double take when I saw a big red truck with Alberta plates drive into the parking lot.

I dove into the camp sessions with gusto, but there were a number of examples where it was obvious Kerry's death was really impacting me...

For example: I showed up for our bike ride without my bike shoes. Everyone was forced to wait for me as I had to drive back to my condo and back to the meeting spot. Of course the condo was on the other side of town so they were all waiting 30 minutes for me!!!! I felt TERRIBLE!!!

Then, when I finally returned, I couldn't find a parking space...I finally found one and then ran over to the group....Only to realize I had left my helmet in the trunk. Sigh.

There are only so many times one can apologize and everyone was so good and I felt like such a total shit!!!

Ahhhh well. Thank goodness our camp was filled with kind, caring, awesome people. Thank you everyone for putting up with me!

Now, enough of feeling sorry for myself! As a good blogger friend emailed me....I might be down for a while, but soon enough, I'll pop up again like a cork. Thanks for that image, Ken. :) :)

Therefore, without further ado, may I present to you "Julie's highlights of Penticton Phat Camp 2010"

1. Volunteering at the local Olympic/Sprint triathlon as a kick off to our camp....I was paired with local team mate and good friend Tessa. We were in charge of blocking/directing traffic in and out of the Tim Horton's. As the race dragged on and there were fewer and fewer racers, we started taking pictures of each other *posing* with out neon vests and our traffic flags. LMAO!!!!

2. Biking for 3.5 hour (hilly!) with extremely sore legs....and realizing I could do it! You know how when your legs are sore from a previous day's workout and you can barely walk down the stairs? Well, my legs were that sore. I reached the section where coach Sara would tell me to do the longer or the shorter route. She told me, "I don't care if your legs are sore. Are you feeling woozy at all?" Even in the 35 degree heat, I was woozy free, so I trucked on the longer route. Couldn't believe I did it!!

3. Swimming so slow near the end of the camp, that my coach was worried about me out in the lake! LOL!!! When I get fatigued, swimming is the first thing that goes, and for me, it's like I am barely moving. LMAO!!!!

4. Complete and utter disappointment at the Pasta Factory in Penticton. I was totally craving a real proper spaghetti with meat sauce with melted cheese on top and what I got was the blandest most disgusting gut bomb ever. I went there again the next night and ordered a different dish -- still bland and gross. Ahhhh, Tomato Street, how I miss thee.........

5. The bike bottle rodeo. Coach Sara saw just how much work I need on my bike handling skills. LOL!! Good news, is that since I've been home, I set up my own bike bottle rodeo in the high school parking lot and PICKED UP MY VERY FIRST BOTTLE OFF THE GROUND as I rode by!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!! I can't wait to start picking up the little bottles next!!!

6. I couldn't believe I could push myself so much after doing Ironman Coeur D'Alene. I know I am fitter, but I had no idea that I would be able to do a proper camp 3 weeks after an Ironman. Man! This was a big eye-opener for me.

Well, that's it for now. I've got to repair some holes in my wetsuit, pack up, and then race the Calgary 70.3 on Sunday. :)

By the way, Coach Sara gave me the go ahead for the Silverman iron distance tri in November!!!!! YES!!!!!! :) :) :) :)