141 miles for my 43rd birthday

 

Over the past few years, I've celebrated my birthday with some type of cycling. Last year I was joined by Karel and my friends Garrett and Alvi for a 101 mile ride (with scenic views) and a little over 10,000 feet of elevation gain. 

A few weeks ago I started to think about where I wanted to go for my birthday ride and I wanted to do something I've never done before. I was chatting with my friend Garrett and I asked him about riding to and on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Garrett is all for epic rides so he is a great person to consult when it comes to creating routes. Several of my cycling friends have ridden on the parkway but they usually start from the Flat Rock/Dupont/Brevard area. I asked Garrett if he would create a route that included the Blue Ridge Parkway from our area. 

The first route he created started from Marietta (~10 miles from where we live) and included a loop around/on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was exactly what I was looking for. However, I didn't want to drive to Marietta to start the ride so starting from home would add an additional 20 miles, which would make for a 137 mile ride. This got me even more excited because my longest ride on the bike was 131 miles so this would also be my longest ever ride. 

However, I was told that a few miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway were closed due to Hurricane Helen (September) so we needed to revise the route. Garrett came up with the finalized route which got me super excited. Almost 140 miles and we were going to ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And based on the route, I'm turning 25 😁.

With my birthday on a Saturday (May 31st), I didn't want to do this ride alone. Knowing that my friends would also be riding on Saturday morning, I sent out a few group texts and I was so delighted to see that almost all of my riding buddies were in for my crazy birthday ride. Because not everyone was able to do the entire 137 mile ride, Garrett created a "short" route (which ended up being close to 80-90 miles because most of my friends live near downtown Greenville). 

I sent out the invites and we planned to start the route at 7:30am with the goal to finish the ride by 4:30pm. 

We planned 4 bottle refill stops:

• Mile 25.8 (Caesar's head overlook) - unfortunately the water was running there
• Mile 45 - Downtown Rosman gas station 
• Mile 88 - Country store gas station (Back)
• Mile 114 (gas station Hwy 11)

I packed my pockets with sport nutrition powder (I brought along 5 individual baggies, each with 90g carbs. Two bags of Never Second berry and 3 bags of Infinite Fructose. I also brought along a granola bar, packet of PB crackers and a Never Second gel (which I never consumed). At the gas stations I had a few sips of Coke, a few Pringles, a bag of Haribo gummies and the granola bar and PB crackers that I brought with me. I also consumed 7 bottles of sport nutrition + 1 bottle water. 

Karel and I woke up at 5:45am and left our house on our bikes at 7:15am. 

We rolled to "the rock" around 7:25 and met up with everyone. Ten people showed up! 

We started the ride around 7:40am and made our way to Caesar's Head (CH). For those of us doing the long ride (Alvi, Seth, Yannick, Carley, Karel and me) we made sure not to take any pulls but instead, let those doing the short loop do the work. One of the riders had two flat tires so he decided to turn around. 

When we got to the base of CH, everyone did their own pace. When some of the short route riders went on ahead, I was thinking to myself "We are doing an ultra, don't go out with the half marathon athletes." The weather was perfect, I started off with light arm warmers and gloves and took them off before the 6.5 mile climb up the mountain. It took me 43:39 to get to the top. Karel's back was really bothering him (he has serious disc/nerve issues which have been getting worse over the past year) so he was feeling worried for the rest of the ride. I told him he could turn around with the short route riders but he wanted to do the entire ride with me. 

We took a picture at the lookout and Carley, Alvi, Karel, Seth and I continued down the other side of CH while the rest of the group reversed the route and continued on with their ride. It was a great start to a long day ahead. 

27 miles down, 113 miles to go. 

Once we got down to Cedar Mountain Cafe, we met up with our second group of friends who were joining for the next part of the ride. Sarah, Camillo, Tim and two of their friends joined us for the next 71.6 miles. This group started in Flat Rock/Saluda so they were also collecting a lot of miles today (130+ miles). 

We started to make our way to Rosman which I was super excited for. I've always wanted to make the turn in that direction and we were finally exploring new roads. The terrain was very smooth and somewhat flat and we enjoyed a pretty fast pace (21 mph) for the next 18 miles. We made a store stop at a gas station to refill bottles and stock up on snacks. The mission for us was to fuel a lot! 

The scenery was very beautiful and once we got onto 215, we started our climb. For the next 26 miles, we went up and up and up. Over 2 hours of climbing and we accumulated over 4400 feet (with only 665 feet of descending). The first 11 or so miles were gradual and it was my favorite type of grade - I could keep a nice rhythm and there were a few quick downhills to enjoy. Then the grade picked up and it was a little more of a grind. We made a turn on to the Blue Ridge Parkway and I was so excited to be in a new area. I've ridden on the parkway twice in the past but this was an entirely new experience for me and I was really happy to be with my friends. 

The views were stunning. It was very windy (not Lanzarote windy ;) and getting colder. We reached ~5000 feet and we still had 1000 feet to go (and over 3 miles). We thought about turning around but we all decided we would go to the highest point and stick to the plan. There's great power in being with a group and with it being my birthday, I think everyone was up for the adventure. 

Ten of us (Seth wasn't in the picture) reached 6053 feet which is the highest elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway Motor Road.  Mission accomplished! 

We bundled up and started our descend. The 8 miles on 215 hwy was incredible. It was the most enjoyable descent with sweeping turns that required no or little breaking. I averaged 31 mph on the 8 mile descend. 

We stopped at the Balsam Grove General Store around 90 miles, which was a true delight. We were all in need of refueling our bottles and getting some food but the owners of the store were so nice. I highly recommend stopping at this store if you are cycling around the Balsam Grove area of NC (outside of Rosman). 

Throughout the ride, I wasn't focused on the mileage of how far we had ridden or how far we had left. I kept my computer screen on the navigation so I only focused on the segment I was in. I completely lost track of time and by the time we stopped at the country store, I realized it was getting close to 2pm. 

We had such a great group. No one ever complained and everyone was in good spirits. There was no weak link and everyone supported one another. 

Eight miles later, we said good bye to our second group of friends and it was down to five of us for the rest of the ride. Karel started to feel better so he and Yannick did some of the pulling. 

It was nice to make our way towards Rocky Bottom as we were back to familiar roads. We descended on one of my favorite descends and made our way to our last store stop at the Holly Springs gas station. 

I was also feeling very strong so I pulled for some of the long stretch on Pumpkintown. My good friend Carley was riding really strong and she ended up with over 150 miles on the day! 

For 73 miles and 5:03 of riding, we averaged 14.4 mph and accumulated almost 8000 feet elevation gain. Thankfully, the major climbs were done so we were able to get our average speed up for the rest of the ride. We ended up averaging 16.8 mph for the entire road but for the last 68 miles (3:20) we averaged 20.4 mph. Because our stops were a little longer than planned, we ended up modifying the final route and made a direct route home on Pumpkintown and then from Marietta straight to Travelers Rest and then on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. 

The final crew (And Yannick ran off the bike) 

We made it home shortly after 5pm which made for a long time on the bike. But I've never been happier. I'm so grateful for amazing friends who showed up to make this birthday extra special. 

And a big thank you to Garrett for creating my "25th Birthday Route."

As for the evening, we had pizza from my favorite place: D'Als. 

Enjoy delicious homemade Carrot Cake (thank you George for making it for me!) 

And celebrated my first birthday in 16 years without Campy but my first birthday with Sunny. 

View this post on Instagram

 

The birthday ride

My birthday typical falls on a race weekend. For the past few years, I've participated in Ironman 70.3 Blue Ridge a few days after my birthday. This year, with no races planned, I wanted to do a long ride to celebrate another year of life. Of course, I had to swim on my birthday (as it is my favorite sport) so I started off my birthday weekend with a 4600 meter swim with our masters group at Westside Aquatic Center. 

I have a great group of cycling friends but sadly, several of them had other plans this weekend (like cycling 200 miles from Spartenburg to Beufort - talk about like-minded friends) but Garrett and Alvi were in town and agreed to ride with me and Karel for a birthday ride. 

Garrett is the master of planning epic cycling routes so I told him to come up with a route that included a lot of climbing in the mountains and great views. 

The route including Ceasar's Head, Sassafras, Table Rock Overlook and Paris Mountain. We wanted to include Pretty Place but it was closed for an event. 

We left around 7:30am and didn't return home until after 2:30pm. It was the perfect day. 

101 miles, 10600 feet of elevation gain, four climbs conquered (Caesars Head, Sassafras’s back side, table rock overlook and Paris Mountain) and 6:22 hrs of laughs, smiles, and amazing views.

A few notable moments during this ride.....

• I had a huge PR up the 6.31 mile (1988 feet) climb up Ceasar's Head. We didn't plan on going hard but when I get to a long climb, I can't help myself but to go as strong as I can up to the top. Karel started off with a steady pace and for the first 2 miles, I felt like this was going to be a PR for me. We just did 2 times up Ceasar's Head on Wednesday during our mid week longish ride and I had a PR of 40 minutes and a few seconds. I felt like I could go under 40 during this ride as the weather was a little cooler and I was fueled by my birthday carrot cake. My legs felt amazing and I kept saying to myself in my head "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done." There were a few times when I questionned if I could hold the pace behind Karel's wheel but for the most part he paced it really well and after riding it so many times during the past week, he knew where we could pick up time. We didn't even talk about going for a PR today but it just felt right. I went 36:16!! I was in shock. A 4 minute PR at 42 years old. 
• Karel and I have ridden most of this route a few times and it was really cool to feel how much my skills and fitness has improved on the bike. Certain descends were no longer scary and certain climbs were not as intimidating. 
• This was one of those rides where I felt amazing all day. These workouts don't come often or easily. On Wednesday I felt super sluggish and tired. I fueled really well (I went through 6 bottles, the first 4 each had 80g carbs from Infinit Fructose, the fifth bottle had 60g carbs from Never Second C30 Berry ad the last bottle had 50g carbs from Sword. I nibbled on a Clif Bar throughout the ride and had PB and honey crackers from the gas station around 4.5 hours. My energy level was constant and my legs felt relatively fresh throughout the entire 101 miles. 
• At 5:36 and 91.3 miles into the ride, we could have made a left turn into our neighborhood. Instead, we turned right and rode toward Furman to top off one bottle before one last climb up Paris Mountain (2.18 miles) up Paris Mountain. It would have been so easy to just go home and call it a day but when you have a mission and accountability from others, you finish what you planned. 
• I love riding my bike and I am so thankful to Karel for sharing his passion for cycling with me. When we met almost 18 years ago, I was scare to ride a bike. I had no skills or fitness. It wasn't until we moved to Greenville in 2014 that I was forced (by our terrain) to improve my skills and to get stronger. We have a great cycling community which makes it easy (and fun) to ride outside. We also have several different group ride options (and events) which gives me so many different opportunities to continue to improve on the bike. My birthday ride was a lot of fun. Garrett, Alvi and Karel made it so much fun and I laughed so hard it hurt.  
• And after the ride, I ran my favorite loop, which took me ~51 minutes (~6 miles). Thank you body. 
  
  It was a great birthday. I'm looking forward to a great year ahead. 

It's my birthday - living life with purpose

 

Today is my 41st birthday. I'll admit that I had a very hard time with turning 40 but now that I'm 41, I'm ok with being out of my 30's.  I remember moments of my chilhood as if it happened yesterday. Playing outside with my neighborhood friends, taking road trips with my family and staying up late during sleepovers. High school and college had a lot of highs and lows but I remember specific moments as if they happened yesterday.  As I reflect on all these memories at the age of 41, I realize how fast life is flying by. Sadly, I am also reminded of this quick passing of time because my dad lost his 10-month fight with cancer on May 28th, 2014 - four days before my 32nd birthday. For the past 9 years, my birthday month brings me back to the hardest day of my life and the passing of my dad reminds me that tomorrow isn't promised.  My dad always told me that 'it's not the years in your life that count but the life in your years."  My birth day always makes me think really hard about how I am living life. My birthday makes me think about life and death.  When a person has a health-related fatal accident doing something he/she loves, it's not viewed as a tragedy. But when the person has a fatal accident due to an outside factor, it's viewed as a tragic way to die and can make you think twice about how you are living your life. The purpose of life is to live it to the fullest.  I'm reminded of a quote that reads "Don't be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live." - Natalie Babbitt I've heard that the 40's are the most unhappy period of life. I'm not letting this statistic get into my head. My 30s were hard. I spent most of it without my dad and I worked really really hard building my business. My dad often told me that I needed to get a hobby besides triathlon. Although he was always very proud of me and my triathlon success, he never got to see that I turned my passion into a career. A career that was built on my values, strengths and passions is now allowing me to live a meaningful and purposeful life.  In celebration of my birthday and living the past 9 years without my dad, here are a few questions to help you live your life with purpose. Remove the fear and worry of what others may think as you answer these questions:  Is your life aligned with your purpose? What are your values and beliefs?  What are your passions? Who were you born to be?  How can you help others with your strengths? Cheers to 41!

Happy 76th birthday dad

 

This picture fills me with a lot of emotions. First off, Campy is just over a year old. Look at the golden pup! Secondly, my dad - so positive and a lover of life - was only five years away from being diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer - which sadly ended his life 10 months later. 

It makes me so happy that Campy is still here. At 15 years old, he is 76 in human years - which is what my dad would have been today. But I'm sad that my dad didn't get to experience life after the age of 67.

What would you do if you only had five years left to live? I often think about this. My dad was waiting for retirement to travel with my mom. He was just a year away from making that decision. While he loved his job as a VA optometrist, he also had a lot of other hobbies - running, working in the yard, fixing things, making things, listening to music, collecting stamps, taking pictures, and so much more. I wonder if my dad knew that he didn't have a lot of years left, if he would have done things differently. 

Five years is an interesting length of time because it's still long enough to accomplish a lot but short enough that it feels like there is an urgent timeline. 

When my dad passed away, I realized that I didn't want to wait to live life. Though I grieve every day and I miss my dad tremendously, he helped me recognize that I needed to change the way I do things and think about life. It made me realize what's important in life and to chase the things that bring me joy. 

Happy Birthday dad. Thank you for teaching me to live for the present. 

Goodbye 30's .........

 

When I reflect on the past ten years, I can't believe how much happened in my life. I learned a lot. I made mistakes. I struggled a lot. I celebrated milestones and achievements. I did a lot of things for the first time. I cried. I worried. I stepped out of my comfort zone. 

Life is hard. Life is short. Life is uncertain. 
Life is exciting. Life is fun. Life is amazing. 

Age is just a state of mind. You are as old as you think you are. 

I worked incredibly hard in my 30's.

Now that I am 40, I guess it's time to ask myself "what's next?"

40 things that happened in my 30's. 

1. Started my business Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition. 
2. Moved from Jacksonville, Florida to Greenville, SC. 
3. Bought a house and two cars. 
4. Paid off the house and two cars. 
5. Traveled to Europe 4 times. 
6. Raced in Europe 4 times. 
7. Wrote three books. 
8. Did a lot of public speaking. 
9. Wrote articles/quoted in various magazines (Triathlete, USAT, Runner's World). 
10. Traveled to Napa, San Diego, Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Florida and Laguna Beach as an Oakley Women Ambassador. 
11. Lost my dad to cancer. 
12. Dealt with the passing of our cat Smudla, my grandpa Joe, our friend Lukas and my best friend Laura. 
13. My grandma Kitty and Karel's dad passed away from COVID. 
14. Survived a pandemic. 
15. Raced in 13 Ironman distance triathlons. 
16. Finished my first Xtreme Triathlon (3-day event) and won the event, along with Karel. 
17. Won my first Ironman as overall amateur female (IM Chattanooga '17). 
18. Rescued our cats Ella, Sylvi and Asher. 
19. Raced in 4 Ironman World Championship events. 
20. Placed 5th at the Ironman World Championship (2022). 
21. Celebrated 10 years of marriage.
22. Learned how to gravel bike (and crashed twice). 
23. Learned how to mountain bike. 
24. Participated in 3 trail running events. 
25. Celebrated 30 years of being a vegetarian. 
26. Became board certified in sport nutrition (twice). 
27. Celebrated 10 years of being a Registered Dietitian. 
28. Karel broke his hand. 
29. Wrote a monthly column for Triathlete magazine.
30. Worked with over 300 athletes for nutrition. 
31. Coached over 150 athletes for long distance triathlon. 
32. Traveled to Arizona, Canada, New York, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, Czech Republic, Austria, Utah, Virginia, Georgia, Hawaii and Alabama for races. 
33. Karel became a US citizen. 
34. The Trimarni coaching team placed in the top 5 Tri club for two years in a row. 
35. Held over 15 group triathlon training camps. 
36. Campy celebrated his 14th birthday with us (going on 15 in October). 
37. Celebrated 30 years of competitive swimming. 
38. Learned/learning how to look after my mental health. 
39. Took up string art. 
40. Got three tattoos and two more ear piercings. 
    Bonus: 
41. Ate a lot of pizza. 

I had several people ask me if I was doing anything BIG for my BIG 40th birthday. 
To be honest, today will just be another day for me - with the addition of enjoying my birthday tradition of carrot cake. 

However, that doesn't mean that I won't celebrate. 
Birthdays are not just an age celebration. They are life celebrations. 
I don't need a big celebration. I will celebrate the small things that are big things. 

Since my dad's passing in 2014 (3 days before my 32nd birthday), I quickly learned how short life can be and how quickly life can change. I promised myself that I would never take a day for granted. This meant not waiting for the perfect time to start/do/finish something. Although we do have an exciting trip to Europe planned in August (a trip that was supposed to take place in August of 2020), I will continue to do things that make me happy and make me feel alive. 

I am grateful for every day - and every year. I never want to take life for granted. 

I will continue to celebrate the life I am creating for myself. 
Cheers to 40 years on this earth. 

Thank you for being in my life. 💞

Happy 14th Birthday Campy!

                                     

It's a special day. It's Campy's 14th birthday. I cherish every extra year that we have with him and I never take a day for granted. 

We adopted Campy in 2008. We were in no position to become dog owners but a series of events brought Campy into our life. Since day one, Campy has given me unconditional love, support, meaning and joy to my life. Although he can be overly judgmental and mistrustful of strangers, he's incredibly loyal. Even though he is fully dependent on us, I depend on him. On our worst days, he is always there to give support, to lick off falling tears and to cuddle through sadness and heartache. 

Campy is not moving as fast as he used to. His golden fur has turned white. He recently lost his hearing and he enjoys sleeping much more than he did during his younger years. But he hasn't lost his spark. He is still overly protective of me, he is always up for a long walk, road trip or adventure and he loves to show off his "big-dog" attitude. Like his mom and dad, Campy loves to be outside in nature. 

Dogs are the ultimate example of unconditional love and Campy has taught me so many important life lessons. I look forward to making many more memories together to ensure a long life well lived. 

Happy 13th Birthday Campy!!

 

I can't believe that my lovey, my buddy, my snickerdoodle, my golden nugget, my chihuahy, my Campy camp is turning 13 today. 

For the past 12 years, I've been spoiled with unconditional love from my furry best friend. To celebrate another year added to his lottery-winning life, I thought I'd share 13 fun facts about Campy: 

1. Campy loves to sleep under blankets and he loves pillows. 

2. Campy loves road trips. 

3. Campy does not mind being carried around like a baby. 

4. Campy is very gentle around cats, puppies and kittens. Strangers (humans), not so much. 

5. Campy suffered from seizures in the summer of 2015. He was put on phenobarbital and takes 1/2 pill in the morning and in the evening. He has been seizure free ever since. 

6. Campy was attacked by a dog off the leash in December 2018. He handled it like a champ. 

7. Campy is not a big eater. He doesn't care for dry dog food but loves dry cat food. 

8. Campy loves being warm. He loves to sit outside in the summer and by the indoor fire in the winter. Campy despises the snow and does not like to be wet. 

9. Campy loves to be active (and outside). He used to run with me but now we go on long walks and hikes. 

10. Campy has traveled to many cycling and triathlon events all along the East Coast. 

11. We found Campy online at Petfinder.com. His original name was Sparky. 

12. Campy is my therapy. We have been through so much together. 

13. Campy loves toys ("bears") with squeakers. The process of taking out the squeaker is his favorite hobby. 

Since I have a bazillion pictures of Campy (around a million of him sleeping), I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. For more pics, you can check out #campyslife on Instagram. 

Happy 44th Birthday Karel!

 

Karel and I have a unique marriage. We work together, train together, live together and travel together. Although we have a lot in common, we are also very different. But like any relationship, each person evolves overtime and you learn how to live with one another, and for one another. 

Over the past 14 years, I continue to make a big deal of Karel’s birthday - he could care less about becoming one year older.

Although getting older can be rough (he reminds me every day how "old" he feels), it’s a beautiful thing when you can add another year to life and grow older with someone that you love.

Through every setback, tear, heartache and fear, Karel has a unique ability to turn my worries into laughter. If you ever get to spend a few minutes with Karel, you'll quickly realize that he has an extraordinary sense of humor. He is also never afraid to speak his mind. Athough Karel's personality makes him one of a kind, he will constantly go out of his way to help others.

Happy 44th Birthday to my caring, dedicated, supportive, speedy, whitty, hard working, open-minded, croissant loving, always in need of just one more bike, one-of-a-kind husband.

Here are a few fun facts that you may (or may not) know about Karel: 
(Karel had nothing to do with this list so this is my fun facts that I'd like to share about Karel ;) 

• He came to the US in 2000 with only a backpack and a goal to pursue the American dream. 
• As a lifelong competitive cyclist, Karel did not ride a bike from 2000-2004 so that he could work 3 jobs a day in order to make it in America. 
• We met on a group ride (on my birthday) in the Clearwater area. We were set up by mutual friends. Karel's English was not very good and I did most of the talking in the early months of our relationship.
• He can get sucked into watching music videos for hours.
• His Netflix is filled with gangster/mob shows and drama and action movies/shows. 
• He enjoys learning about history. 
• He has a brother (Jiri) who is 11 years older. Jiri has three young adult kids. Jiri loves off road running, bike touring and being adventurous. He is not competitive like Karel. 
• His dad rode a bike up until his mid 70's - and still raced! 
• His sister (10 years older than Karel) passed away from brain cancer in 2002. 
• He was the GM of two Trek bicycle concept stores from 2008-2014. 
• He raced as a cat 1 cyclist from 2007-2012. 
• He eats mostly plant-based but doesn't put a title on his dietary style of eating. 
• He loves croissants, bread, chocolate, ice cream and pastries (but nothing too sweet). 
• He likes to cook and enjoys trying new foods (he doesn't have any food allergies and will eat pretty much anything). 
• He loves gadgets and trying new things. He will quickly tell me/you if he doesn't like something. 
• He doesn't care of quinoa or sweet potatoes. 
• He loves animals - especially cats and kittens. 
• He has never chased a race weight. 
• He has a special compartment in his stomach that no matter how full he gets at a meal, there's always room for dessert. 
• He became a US citizen in 2018. We had a very difficult (and expensive) immigration process that lasted almost 10 years. 
• Czech is his first language. He taught himself to be fluent in English. 
• All of Karel's family lives in Czech. 
• He crashed on his bike when he was a teenager (doing a silly stunt in front of his friends) and had a major surgery around his eye. 
• He has never broken a bone 
• He started wearing glasses two years ago (his arms weren't long enough to read).
• His hobbies include building bikes, working on bikes, anything electronic and fish (we have a 50 gallon fish tank with fresh water African cichlids. 
• He does not like to be late. 
• He is an amazing triathlon coach. He truly understands the sport and has the ability to know what an athlete needs to work on in order to improve (and what workouts will help). 
• He is very witty but also very compassionate and helpful. 
• He would choose pasta over pizza. 
• We both enjoy watching cycling, formula one, triathlon and sport documentaries. 
• Karel learned to swim in 2012 when he decided to become a triathlete. 
• I am the planner in our relationship and I keep us organized during our races and travels.  
• He has very strong morals and values. 
• He loves coffee. Not for the pick me up but for the taste. And he’s really particular on the type of bean and style. He always travels with his travel espresso machine. 

Say hello to my furry farm friends

I'm a 28-year vegetarian and based on the pictures I share on social media, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I love animals. I can't help myself when I see a dog, cat or farm animal - I just have to say hello. Truth be told, I've been known to have great conversations with my furry friends (#noshame). I even rescue spiders and ants from our house so that no creature is ever harmed.

While there was a lot to do around the Jehovah Raah Farm during my birthday trip, I couldn't wait for the moment when I could be with the animals.

Located in Candler, North Carolina, Julie (the owner) uses the fiber from the animals to spin into yarn. On the farm you will find Alpacas, (Suri and Hucaya), Angora Goats, Angora Rabbits, Shetland Sheep, Scottish Highland Cattle, Llamas, Honey Bees, Road Island Red Chickens and Black Spanish Turkeys - all freely grazing around their little piece of heaven. Julie even taught me how to spin fiber into a wall hanging on a large floor loom.

As you can imagine, my phone is filled with pictures of animals from the farm but here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Celebrating my birthday at Jehovah Raah Farm

For my 38th birthday, I went off the grid and to a farm.

A week or so birthday my birthday, Karel and I saw on social media  that our friend Dane and his wife Celia celebrated their anniversary on a farm. I didn't consider the idea of visiting a farm, but I couldn't stop looking at the pictures of the cute farm animals. Oh do I love farm animals.

A few days before my birthday, Karel mentioned that we should go to the same farm to celebrate my birthday. What a great idea! Yes that's right. This trip wasn't my idea. It was all Karel.

It wasn't more than an hour after Karel mentioned it on an evening walk with campy that I was on the phone with Julie (the owner) to book our trip. The entire process of booking our stay was rather easy - I called her and told her when we wanted to come and that was it. We paid the $125 for our stay when we arrived. Originally we wanted to stay on my actual birthday of the 31st but she had someone visiting that weekend. So we decided to stay Monday until Tues as a belated birthday gift.

Julie was incredibly thoughtful in the days leading up to our visit. She texted me to make sure I was well taken care of during our stay. I mentioned to her that I was a vegetarian and she wanted to make sure I was ok with a hide that was in the Sheppard's croft (the guest house on the property) or else, she would be happy to remove it. She wanted to give me fresh eggs and asked if I ate eggs. She made us fresh cinnamon raisin bread for our arrival. She even asked me about my favorite colors (all shades of pink) so that she could gather yarn and fiber for a weaving project.

Over the years, I’ve learned that experiences are better than things. Experiences become part of who we are. We then become a sum of our experiences. Self-identity should not be tied to possessions but an accumulation of the people you’ve met, the places you’ve been, the lessons you’ve learned and the experiences you’ve had.

Experiences provide genuine connections which make them worth so much more than any object. Sharing our experiences allow us to bond with others in a deep and meaningful way.

I wasn't sure what to expect from our farm trip but we were certainly off the grid with no internet. I welcomed this temporary change and embraced the full experience of farm life.

Since I took a bunch of pictures, I thought I'd break down our farm trip into different segments. The first is a look inside our stay at the Sheppard's Croft at Jehovah Raah Farm.

Made of wood! 

A "bed" of roses (literally)

The Sheppard's Croft (where we stayed)

The bedroom and floor loom (Julie taight me how to use it and made a beautiful wall hanging!)

The kitchen - a step back in time. 

Another view of the kitchen. 

A beautiful wood table outside in the back. 

Art or function?

Love the repurpose of materials! 

How cool! 

More antique stuff in the kitchen. 

The coffee grinder wasn't used. Karel brought his travel espresso machine 😉

The front room. 

Shower and bathtub. 

Art in the bathroom. 

More art. 

Fiber from the animals. 

Soap dispenser. 

Wood table and llama flower piece. 

Outside the house. 

The Sheppard's Croft

Homemade cinnamon raisin bread. We polished this off in 24 hours. Oh so yum!

The backyard view of the house at sunset. 

38 years old: Another journey around the sun

And just like that. I am 38 years old. A birthday is much more than an occasion to receive gifts. It's a chance to celebrate and to give thanks. It's a special occasion to rethink life, to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and make plans for the future. A birthday is a transition from what was to what can be. It's a spiritual refresher.

37 was a difficult year for me. I wrote about (most of) it in my 2019 Year in Review blog.  

"Life can be difficult, unfair and tough to understand. If I had to use a word to describe our 2019, it would be strength. We had to find strength to experience the highs and we had to find strength to get through the lows. Triathlon provides us with many life lessons but in 2019, life hit us hard. Throughout the year, there were several occassions when our hobby of triathlon was put to the aside in order to deal better with the hard times. As athletes, it can be difficult to stay positive, hopeful and focused during stressful, sad or difficult situations. Uncomfortable feelings can leave us with doubt, anger and anxiety. Struggle to balance stressors appropriately and health (mental or physical), joy for sport and motivation can quickly diminish. There were times throughout the year where it was difficult to start a workout. There were even times when we debated about not starting a few of our races. With each workout or race, our strength was tested. And life presented us with a lot of moments to see how strong we really are."

And here I am. 38 years old and experiencing a new normal of life that is sometimes filled with uncertainty, stress and worry. But yet I've lived another year and I have another opportunity to live life to its fullest. As I do every year on my birthday, I will take stock of my life, the people in my life and most importantly, express gratitude and thanks for the opportunities and experiences I've been given, the memories I've been able to make and my health and well-being. A birthday is not just a day but thousands and thousands of days put together. 

As I celebrate the coming of age in another year of life, I'll share my answers to 38 "this or that" questions about my favorite things. 

1. Almond butter or peanut butter? Peanut butter 
2. Pop music or rock music? Pop music
3. Stuffed animals or dolls? Stuffed animals
4. Morning or evening? Morning
5. Breakfast or dinner? Breakfast
6. Summer or winter? Summer
7. Road trip or plane ride? Road trip 
8. Snow or water? Water
9. True love or $10 million? True love
10. Book or movie? Movie 
11. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla 
12. Free coffee or free Wifi? Free wifi
13. Comedy or drama? Comedy
14. Reading or writing? Writing
15. Singing or dancing? Dancing 
16. Flowers or trees? Trees 
17. Phone or computer? Computer 
18. Gold or silver? Silver 
19. Adventure or relax? Adventure
20. Blueberries or strawberries? Blueberries 
21. Wing it or plan it? Plan it
22. Watch or play sports? Play sports
23. Pasta or pizza? Pizza
24. Ocean waves or rain sounds? Ocean waves
25. Babies or old people? Old people
26. Time machine or magic wand? Time machine
27. Shorts or pants? Shorts
28. Amusement park or nature park? Nature park 
29. Crushed ice or cubed ice? Crushed ice 
30. Serious or funny? Funny
31. Outside or inside? Outside 
32. Pancakes or pastries? Pancakes 
33. Pretzel or chips? Pretzels
34. Luxury hotel or Airbnb? Airbnb
35. City life or beach life? Beach life
36. Loud or quiet? Loud
37. Proactive or procrastinator? Proactive
38. Life is good or life could be better? Life is good 

Bonus questions:

• Dogs or cats? Dogs
• Netflix or amazon prime? Netflix
• Sensitive or tough? Sensitive 
• Open minded or close minded? Open minded
• Indecisive or decisive? Decisive
• Idealistic or realistic? Realistic 
• Hair up or hair down? Hair up
• Dinner out or dinner in? Dinner in
• Gifts or experiences? Experiences
• Speak to animals or speak every language? Speak to animals 
• Farm or zoo? Farm
• Jeans or dresses? Dresses 
• Neutrals or colorful? Colorful 
• Sunbathe or get in the water? Get in the water
• Socks or barefoot? Barefoot 
• Speak my mind or choose my words? Choose my words 
• Twitter or Facebook? Facebook
• Neat freak or organized? Organized

Happy 73rd Birthday Dad!

Dear dad,

Happy Birthday! Wow - I can't believe you would be 73 years old today.

I can't help but remember all the times I used to forget your birthday (until mom would call me to remind me). I was quick to make you a last minute gift but I never rushed to find you the perfect birthday card to reflect your love of tools, cars, carpentry and electronics.

It's been nearly six years since you lost your 10-month fight with cancer and each year since, I've kept note of your birthday so that I will never forget it. Although a day doesn't go by that I don't think about you and wish you were still here, your birthday makes me miss you a lot more than usual.

Over the past six years, I've missed sharing my accomplishments with you. You were always my biggest fan and supporter. Can you believe I wrote three books! You always told me that I would be an author one day. You always believed in me. I still remember all the times in high school, college, graduate school and beyond - you were the best proofreader for my articles, homework assignments and papers. 

While I know you would be so proud of my athletic, career, business and personal accomplishments (probably bragging to your veteran patients at the VA as you always did), I have really missed your guidance, words of wisdom, positivity and optimism and answers to all my questions.  At times, it's been really hard to navigate life without you. 

You were always a phone call away - and sometimes I'd call you two or three times a day just to say hi. Sometimes I'd have nothing to talk about but I always enjoyed hearing from you. 

And now more than ever before, I wish you were here in my life to help me sort through all my thoughts and emotions. While I am doing just fine, life was always easier with you in it. 

You were always there for me. You knew what I needed and could always make me laugh and smile. You always had a smile on your face and never complained. I don't think you ever had a bad day.

I remember you always telling me that it's not about how long you live but how you live your life. I am keeping with your motto and making the most of every day and seeing the best in every opportunity. 

Like you, I love being outside, physical activity and animals and I try to see the good in every situation. Although some days are harder than others, I want to be like you - always waking up excited for another day of life. Every. Single. Day. 

Thank you for the lessons you taught me and the memories you gave me. You were always the best storyteller.  

Although you are no longer here with me, you are still a big part of my life. I think of you often and will often say "dad would love this."

Everytime I travel, you are there with me making sure I don't get lost and that I am safe. When I race, I can hear you cheering from above. And when I am sad, stressed, anxious or worried, you somehow help me find a way to get through even the toughest situations. Nothing has been as hard as losing you so in some ways, I feel like you have prepared me for the rest of my life. 

Life is going on without you and I am committed to making the most of it. No matter what's going on in the world, I am constantly reminded of your zest for life. 

You taught me the importance of being kind and patient, as well as the importance of giving back and helping others. You were such a great mentor, role model and leader - often called the nicest person ever. If I can live up to half of your incredible reputation, I'd consider myself lucky. 

Like you, I'll keep smiling, laughing and loving life. You could always see the good in every situation.

I'll continue to take pictures wherever I go. Like you, I can't help but smile when I see a camera. 

I was so lucky to have you as my father for almost 32 years. You gave me so much to remember in those 32 years. 

Although your life was cut short from something out of your control, you showed tremendous strength, courage, optimism, humor and positivity. 

I feel so lucky to call you my dad. You were always my biggest supporter, best friend and inspiration. I loved living life with you in it. 

You always encouraged me to chase my dreams - no matter how crazy or big. I am thankful for all the things you prepared me for in life.

I can never thank you enough for being an amazing example of an amazing human being in my life.

Happy birthday dad. I am so proud to be your daughter. I hope you enjoy a bowl of pasta with meatballs and a big slice of chocolate cake (your favorite). Yes dad, even though I'm a dietitian - I approve of your birthday meal. 

Love, Marn

73 questions for my 37th Birthday

1. What are you most excited about these days?
That it's summer and the weather is warm! 

2. What’s your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving.

3. Favorite season?
Summer. 

4. Where does one go on a perfect road trip?
To a race. 

5. What is the best activity when home on a rainy day?
Writing. 

6. If you could switch lives with someone for a day who would it be?
Campy. 

7. What is the best thing that happened this year?
I signed a contract to write two more books!

8. What’s your New Year’s resolution?
I don't set resolutions.

9. What’s your favorite exercise?
Swimming.

10. Best way to decompress?
Talking Campy for a walk. 

11. What’s your favorite country to visit?
Europe.

12. Last country you visited?
Europe.

13. Country you wish to visit?
South Africa.

14. What’s your favorite ice-cream?
Mint chocolate chip. 

15. What makes you smile the most?
Animals. 

16. What’s the coolest thing in the world?
Nature. 

17. What is the cutest thing in the world?
Baby animals. 

18. How do you know if you’re in love?
I never get tired of being with that person. 

19. If you could go to any concert past or present, what would it be?
The Beatles.  

20. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Homemade or personalized gifts are my favorite but today, Karel gave me the gift of a baby gorilla adoption as part of the Ellen Fund. Here's a video of our gorilla adoption. 

21. Favorite fashion trend of all time?
Scrunchies. 

22. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Charlotte's Web. 

23. What was the movie that made you cry?
I can't remember. 

24. If you could make a documentary, what would it be about?
Animals (but it would be a happy documentary). 

25. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Go back in time to relive certain moments of my life. 

26. What is the skill still unmastered?
Skiing. 

27. What is the best thing that happened to you today?
Celebrating my birthday!

28. Do you like surprises?
Yes. 

29. If you could do a flash mob where would it be?
Any public space where people need to laugh/smile. 

30. Do you like cupcakes?
No. 

31. Do you usually bake cupcakes?
No. 

32. What’s your favorite desert?
Carrot cake. 

33. Is there a desert you don’t like?
Pie. 

34. What’s your favorite bakery?
Anywhere in Europe/Czech. 

35. What’s your favorite food?
Blueberries. 

36. It’s brunch, what do you eat?
French toast. 

37. You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it, what would you eat?
Pretzels. 

38. Favorite color?
Pink.

39. Favorite superhero?
Super Grover. 

40. What do you usually order in Starbucks? (or in your favorite café)
I leave that to Karel. I share whatever he gets. 

41. Who is the last person you texted?
An athlete of mine. 

42. What’s your favorite activity to do in your hometown?
Ride my bike. 

43. What’s the next book you plan on reading?
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. 

44. What do you love in your pizza?
Mozzarella and basil. 

45. Favorite drink?
Water. 

46. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Dark chocolate

47. What’s your favorite band?
I like all music with a good beat. 

48. Favorite solo artist?
Pink. 

49. Favorite lyrics?
Not sure. I like quotes a lot though. 

50. If your life was a song what would the title be?
Don't waste a day. 

51. If you could master one instrument what would it be?
The harp. 

52. If you had a tattoo where would it be?
I have one tattoo on my ankle but if I got another one, it would be on the inside of my wrist. 

53. To be or not to be?
To be. 

54. Dolphins or koalas?
Dolphins. 

55. How do you like your coffee?
Not too strong with a little milk. 

56. What’s your favorite curse word?
I don't curse - I leave that to Karel ;) 

57. What color of dress did you wear to prom?
Purple. 

58. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds. 

59. Cheap shampoo or expensive?
Cheap but good ingredients. 

60. Blow dry or air dry?
Blow dry. 

61. Heels or flats?
Do running shoes count? 

62. Pilates or yoga?
Pilates. 

63. Jogging or swimming?
Swimming.

64. One thing you can’t live without?
Being outside/nature. 

65. What’s one cause that’s dear to your heart?
I have three - animal rescue, mental health and body image. 

66. Who would you want to shoot a love scene with?
There are a few male professional triathletes that I will leave nameless....Love you Karel :) 

67. What’s your favorite sport?
Triathlon. 

68. Do you have a morning beauty ritual?
Put my hair in a poof on the top of my head. 

69. What’s your favorite thing to wear?
Sweatpants and a hoodie in the winter. Shorts and a tank top in the summer. 

70. What’s the priciest thing you’ve ever splurged on?
Not sure but probably something travel related like comfort seats for a long plane ride. 

71. Do you play any musical instruments?
Not anymore but I played the piano for over 8 years. 

72. What is your favorite book of all time?
Goodnight moon.
73. What is something you always travel with?
My computer. 

Celebrating 36 years of life

Today I start another 365-day journey of my life. Although a birthday means that your life is one year less, we should never take a day for granted. We must make the most of and celebrate every day of life. Because it's not the years in your life that count but the life in your years, I look forward to many more adventures, experiences and learning opportunities in my near future.

In honor of my day of birth, I thought I'd share 36 interesting facts about myself. Enjoy!!

Life goals

1. Write a book
2. Be in the audience at the Ellen Show
3. Visit all the continents in the world
4. Break 10-hours in an Ironman triathlon
5. Remain in good physical and mental health for as long as possible
6. Help an Olympic athlete with daily/sport nutrition

Bucket list travel experiences

1. African safari
2. Grand cycling tour (ex. Tour de France, Giro, Paris Roubaix, etc.)
3. Swim in the San Alfonso del Mar resort swimming pool in Algarrobo, Chile. 
4. Visit Oregon, Montana and UAE
5. Do more international triathlon races

Favorite foods

1. Blueberries, cherries and bananas
2. Mushrooms, arugula
3. Pancakes, french toast
4. Trail mix (nuts and raisins)
5. Yogurt

Favorite animals

1. Dogs/Cats
2. Cows, Pigs, Goats
3. Turtles
4. Dolphins/fish

People I want to hang out with

1. Pink
2. Obama
3. Ellen Degeneres
4. Sebatian Kienle 
5. Bono

Life-changing experiences

1. 1995 - Japan exchange program (Toyata city, Shizunai, Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya)
2. 2004- Work-service project in Philippines (Cebu, Manila, Bagong Silang) - 2+ weeks no running water or electricity
3. 1996 - Becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian
4. 2004 -Moving alone from Lexington, KY to Davie, Florida for graduate school
5. 2005- Earning my MS in Exercise Physiology. 2010 - Becoming a Registered Dietitian
6. 2006 - Meeting Karel (blind date on a group ride)
7. 2006- Finishing my first Ironman
8. 2012 -Starting my own business (Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition)
9. 2014 - Losing my dad to cancer
10. 2014 - Moving to Greenville, SC

Favorite quote

"Live life like you don't have a tomorrow."

Celebrating more than 32 years of life today

I started early....whipping up a delicious Trimarni creation!

Wow! I have been living for 11680 days!

Today celebrates 32 years that I have been on this Earth. 

32 years of growing, learning, overcoming obstacles and heartache, laughing, loving, traveling, making memories, crossing finishing lines and experiencing life. 

Today is not only my birthday but also the day when I met my life partner, Karel. 

Meeting Karel on my birthday not only made it easy for us to remember the first day when we met (which resulted from us being set-up by mutual friends on a group bike ride) but it's very special that I will always be able to celebrate living another year of life with someone who I get to share the rest of my life with. 

And if you know us well, we sure do love to experience life with our gift of good health. 

I could fill this blog with hundreds and hundreds of words about all the experiences and memories I have had over the past 32 years as well as dozens and dozens of pictures to capture those special moments. 

But I would not be able to experience life if it was not for the most amazing parents who brought me into this world and raised me to the best of their abilities. 

I love my family!

With a very heavy heart, this birthday is the first time I celebrate another year of life without my dad. 

The most amazing man I know, Dr. James A. Rakes, O.D., F.A.A.O., passed away on Wednesday May 28^th, 2014 at the age of 67 years after a heroic 10-month fight with a rare cancer. 

I realize that this will be recent news for many but my super healthy and active day (who never missed a day of work for a sickness and ran 3 miles every day for as long as I can remember) started his battle with cancer a few weeks before Karel and I went to Lake Placid for our Ironman last July (Karel's first Ironman). I am not quite ready to use my brain and heart to give my dad the Trimarni blog (from his daughter) tribute that he deserves so for now I want to share the obituary that my brother and I put together about our amazing dad. 

(I have personalized this obituary specifically for this blog post)

My dad was an Indiana University graduate where he completed Optometry school and continued his residency at the University of Kentucky. He recently retired from the VA hospital as the chief optometrist of the VA eye clinic in New Port Richey, FL. He was a Primary Low Vision care provider and optometric physician.

My dad touched many patient lives in his almost 40 years of working for the VA hospital as he was extremely dedicated to his work, his research, his teachings and helping others. As the director of residency and extern programs, he guided over 100 optometry students to excel in their field.  He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and was on the Indiana University adjunct faculty.

In 1977, my dad married the love of his life, and best friend, Susie Rakes (Congress) and together they had me (who married Karel in October 2008) and my younger brother Aaron (who married Dana in September 2013). Me and my brother have always lived a very active lifestyle, just like their father.

My dad loved life and his family. He always had a positive spirit, a great sense of humor and the ability to tell the best stories. As a high school track and wresting athlete, he continued to stay fit through daily running and held a strong passion for astronomy, stamp collecting, corvettes, classic movies, anything electronic and the weather.

My dad will be greatly missed by so many for he was incredibly kind, loving, patient and supportive. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Borish Center forOpthalmic Research.

And the Cancer Survivors Park in Greenville, South Carolina.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In honor of my dad, who absolutely loved life, his job of helping others and his family, it is my wish for you to never wait in life to do what you want to do. 

There will never be a perfect time for something so don't wait until tomorrow to start something today. 

As you know, Karel and I made our recent move to Greenville to live an active lifestyle in a beautiful city as we continue to work hard to grow our business.  

We knew this move was risky as small business owners but even after 3 weeks, we do not regret this decision. 

You only have one life and there's nothing better than waking up excited to experience another day of life.

Dream really big and accept hard work.

Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live.

Have fun, laugh and smile as you make memories. 

Pick your battles and don't waste your breath arguing over something that is not important. 

Stand up for what you believe in, keep an open mind, be flexible and accept others for who they are.

See the good in every minute of your life. 

Live the life you have always wanted to live. 

I love you Dad, always and forever. Thank you for being my biggest fan, for raising me to work hard for success, for always being proud of me, for taking the best pictures at my races, for never having a bad day, for loving mom and showing me what it is like to have a great marriage for over 35 years, for welcoming Karel into our family and for always loving me. 

What a great year! Happy birthday post.

Wow.... 31 years on this Earth! Today I celebrate my golden birthday and I suppose it won't happen again until I am 131.
This past year has been filled with so many exciting memories from public speaking and traveling, to lots of writing, growing my Business and helping others reach personal health and fitness goals and most of all, living a balanced healthy and active lifestyle with a well fueled body.  I had some fun looking back at the last 12 months and picking out my favorite moments. I wasn't able to pick my favorite Trimarni creations (so many on this blog) so I left those out. However, I must add that with the right fuel, I've been able to live a healthy and active life and can't wait for the next 100 years!

Enjoy!

30 years of memories

Wow....30 years have gone by and I have to admit....I feel great!!


I've always been a positive person....ever since a young age. I always wanted to make sure everyone was always happy and I feel so uncomfortable with conflicts or around mean people. Realizing that age is just a number, I can honestly say that I don't feel 30 years "old" and I'm really happy about my life and who I am as a person.

I think this is going to be a great year.  A new age group, a new number for my age and lots of exciting opportunities.....and I sure don't expect to slow my life down anytime soon.


When I was born, my mom insisted that I was going to be a May baby and luckily, I came into this world with just a little time to spare on May 31st, 1982. If it wasn't for my amazing parents, I wouldn't be here today. They did an excellent job raising me and my brother and although they had their share of freak-outs during my teenage years, somehow I turned out ok and I believe that is due to their unconditional love and support...never pressuring me to be anyone but myself.

Like the goal of many of us - I was always encouraged to be confident and to do what I felt was best for me and to not compare myself to others. Thanks to the performing arts, piano, public speaking, competitive sports and higher education, I was forced to be confident in front of others and I think that helped me in so many more ways than I could believe.


Growing up, Iwas always outgoing, a bit on the talkative side (no surprise there!) and a go-getter. I love my parents and my brother and we have a great close family where there's lots of love and support...and lots of laughs.

Perhaps at times in my life I was hesitant to accept things that were out of my comfort zone but I didn't let that stop me from trying. My parents always encouraged me to never give up on what I wanted in life and most importantly, they sacrificed a lot for my brother and me to be able to be student-athletes from an early age, all the way through the end of college.

This is an incredibly special day for me because I have the opportunity to reflect on the past 30 years and remind myself of all of the amazing memories that I have created, the wonderful people I have met along my journey of life and all that I have accomplished in the past 30 years.

Luckily, I can think of more than 30 memories that leave me with a smile on my face so I'd like to give you 30 words that describe me and my life, over the past 30 years.... and a few pics that my mom dug-up of me from the photo albums.


1. Happy
2. Obstacles
3. Love
4. Priorities
5. Sacrifices
6. Family
7. Outgoing
8. Type-A
9. Writer and speaker
10. Endurance athlete
11. Educator
12. Motivation
13. Wife and doggy mommy
14. Vegetarian
15. Friend
16. Optimistic
17. Sensitive
18. Worry, stress and anxiety
20. Laugh and smile
21. Health
22. Student
23. Fitness enthusiast
24. Mentor
25. Respect
26. Relax
27. Reflect
28. Grateful
29. Honest
30. Creative

4 days old

My mom said I was the perfect baby - always happy!

I've always loved music

Future dietitian

Making creations

Performing in front of a crowd

Me and "chickey". I always loved animals.

No aerobars yet..just a little brother-sister bike riding

I could never get enough of being in the water

 

It might not be a Trek, but it's PINK!

Piano competition (pink dress of course)

Swimming competition

 

All grown up - I love these two guys!!

                                                                What a great family!

The best parents in the world!

I'm so proud of my brother and all that he has accomplished in his life. Go Blue! Aaron works for Ernst and Young now and completed 4 years in the business school at UM while being a Division 1 athlete (Aaron was Big Ten high bar champion as a Senior - I can't find the pic of him on the High Bar but he was also a great all-around NCAA gymnast)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

                             

On this special day, I also want to wish my best friend, my supporter for everything I do and my one and only love, a very wonderful 6-year anniversary. We met on my birthday in 2006, on a group bike ride (Gearlink Wed. night ride) thanks to a few people wanting to set us up. I didn't think I wanted a boyfriend at that time in my life, but somehow, I kept falling in love with Karel the more I got to know him. Karel, I love you so much..thank you for letting me be me and for being a great teammate.  You believe in me and because of that, I can set higher goals and be more successful in everything I choose to do in life. You take such good care of yourself and I thank you for that because I want to spend forever with you. I am so lucky to share my life with you and I look forward to many, MANY, many more years to come....riding bikes and eating yummy creations, of course....with Campy.