A year ago, I was an anxiety-ridden, flat-tire-fearing, lake-plant-freaking woman about to begin her first triathlon. Annalisa and I had registered together and had tackled our training programs with zeal. I trained hard, but was still terrified at all the things that could go wrong, terrified of failing after all that work.

The day of the tri was everything I had hoped it would be...fun, challenging, fulfilling and emotional. I cried when Annalisa crossed the finish line, and got choked up watching the cancer survivors tough it out on the course. My husband, step-father and mother were there to cheer me on, getting up at an unreasonable hour to see me. A friend from work, Joan, was there too, participating in the race, and our friendship planted it's deep roots. It was an amazing day.

Sunday, almost exactly a year later, I stood on the same beach again, watching the waves of swimmers head out every few minutes. As the sun beat down, I chatted with my new race-day friend, D, and found myself feeling relaxed. Instead of fretting about the plants in the lake, I was marveling at D's ability to run the Pike's Peak Ascent. We talked about marathons, triathlons, training and children and I was struck by this easy, instant friendship.

I cheered in Heather and Joan as they exited the swim, and then made my way in to the chute to start my swim wave. D sidled up next to me and wished me good luck, and I returned the luck to her. I tried to move closer to the front. At that instant, I felt the pang of anxiety...the butterflies were agitated. I took a deep breath and smiled.

As the wave took off, I was immediately boxed in on all sides.

Gah. I hate the swim.

After working for *months* on my freestyle stroke, I had to resort back to breast stroke. I couldn't get a clear path, and when I did, I was so stressed, I couldn't catch my breath.

Why do I do these things? I wondered. WHY!? And I want to do an Olympic distance someday? HAH!

I made it to the shore, and hit the ground running. It was easily a quarter mile to my bike, if not farther. As I ran past the racks and racks of bikes, I noticed that some clouds had rolled in, providing relief from the building heat.

Transition One went well and I was quickly out on the bike course...the course that I love. The course felt more crowded than last year, and I was frustrated from time to time with bikers not sticking to the right so they could be passed. On the plus side, I passed at least a hundred people, and was rarely passed myself - usually playing leapfrog with those who did pass me. I pushed hard. I was LOVING the bike and didn't want it to end.

But it did...and Transition Two was even more smooth than T1.

Then the run.

With legs like molasses, the road felt like it was sticking to my feet. PICK UP YOUR FEET! I heard the voice in my head shouting at me.

I passed a lot of people of the run but I was never passed. I couldn't understand it...it felt like I was running in oatmeal. As I approached the final turn for the finish, I felt my chest tighten up and I had to force the breath in and out. I was so excited to be done...to have completed my second triathlon...to see my new and old friends at the finish line.

I found Heather and Joan after the race and we regaled each other with our race stories. We took pictures with our goofy grins and our shiny medals. I found my race-day friend, D, back by our bikes and we swapped stories too. She gave me her email, so we could meet up at another race.

Results-wise, I took 4:09 off my time from last year, faster in all three events *and* the transitions. Last year, I was 61/338 for my age group..this year I was 26/337 and placed 104/1981 overall. Not too shabby.

Another amazing day.

Tuesday was my weekly 30-30 brick - 30 minutes on the bike, followed immediately by a 30 minute run. I determine the 'effort' level based on how I feel that day. Some days, I push on the bike and take it easy on the run, other days, it's the opposite.

This week, I had the advantage of having a few extra minutes, and decided to use them to tackle The Hill that I've been inching my bike up for the past month. Each week, I'd get a tiny bit further, but could never quite make it past that 'sticking point.'

I made it one of my goals this summer to make it to the top of The Hill that truly defines Beaver Hill Road. Bonus points if I could do it seated.

I got to the base of the hill, grit my teeth, grabbed on to the handlebars for dear life and pushed/pulled my way to the top. I *almost* made it without having to stand up in the pedals...but in order to get past the 'sticking point' I had to pull out the big guns - dropped down in to Granny Gear and stood up.

It was just the trick to get me there.

It wasn't pretty. I was averaging between 6-8 mph going up The Hill.

But the best part? Heading back down The Hill, passing by the speed limit sign that read '25 mph' and checking my bike computer...I was cruising by at 30 mph. Sweetly terrifying and satisfying all at the same time.

I was having an IM conversation with my friend 'Johnny' Monday morning. He runs, but I don't think he'd call himself a 'runner' just yet. Somehow, the conversation veered this way:

johnny: what the hell is with Nike selling a pair of sneakers for $89.99 that "simulate running barefoot?"
johnny: Just RUN BAREFOOT!!
johnny: It's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Dianna: LOL
Dianna: that's the name of the shoe.
johnny: "Free?"
Dianna: it is.
johnny: Are you f@#!ing sh*%^ing me?
Dianna: Nope.
Dianna: Nike Free.

He really had no idea that Free was the name of the shoe. I felt like we were about to embark on an Abbott and Costello 'Who's on First?' tangent when he sent me this next message (Note: Stephanie is his fiancee):

johnny: After someone told Stephanie about this shoe and I voiced my skepticism, the lady at Lady's Foot Locker tried explaining to me the physiology of the foot and how this shoe was the best thing for your foot.
johnny: I offered her a pair of socks that simulated wearing ... no socks.
johnny: She was nonetoopleased.
johnny: Stephanie hit me and told me to stop.

I tried to explain the purpose of the shoe, but didn't get a chance to discuss the full advantages of running barefoot and training in lighter, less restricting shoes...things unraveled just a bit.

Dianna: i think the point of the shoe..if i may...
johnny: Of course ... the distinguished lady from Connecticut has the floor ...
Dianna: is that if you want to simulate barefoot running - which is allegedly a more efficient way to run - but don't want to cut up your feet on the pavement etc... then these shoes are for you.
johnny: What happened to runners always "toughing it out."
johnny: Gonna let a little chunky asphalt and some broken glass and dirty HIV needles stop ya?
johnny: Grow a pair.

At this point, I was totally cracking up.

And I knew that I had to blog this conversation.

(Names were changed to protect the innocent. Running Chick is not responsible for the opinions of others that are shared on this blog. It's all in good fun people.)

What is it, other than injury/illness, that can bring Running Chick to a grinding halt?

Is it nasty weather - pouring rain or driving snow?

Nope. She's hardcore.

Is it sleep deprivation?

No. She says she can sleep when she's dead. Train today. Sleep tomorrow.

Missed wake-up calls?

Nah. Her body wakes her up in time if the alarm clock fails her.

The dread of 20-milers run all alone?

Heck no. It was boring, but she's beaten that obstacle too.

Well, what about feeling overscheduled and overextended?

See above response to 'sleep deprivation.'

Getting attacked by legions of mosquitoes and horse flies?

Two words, people: Bug spray.

A lack of clean running shorts/socks/tops etc?
You don't want to know the answer to this one. Ignorance is bliss.

What then? What could it possibly be?!

*drum roll please*

A broken watch. Specifically, a dead battery.

Seriously. A broken watch *almost* derailed my workout today.

I woke up, put on the watch and noticed that as I was fastening the strap, the display was getting lighter and lighter...until...nothing. Blank. Completely dead.

I stared blankly back at the watch. I faltered. What to do? I have a speed workout...how can I time my intervals without a watch? Should I do my 'mid-distance' run? No....I need to work on my pace for that one too and I don't even have a regular watch to keep track of time.

Should I go back to bed? Or study for my exam? Or wait, go back to bed?

Quick glance outside - no rain. Hmmmm.

Guess I'll do my brick today instead.

Off with the running shorts, on with the biking shorts...and out the door for my 30-30 brick (that's 30 minutes on the bike and 30 minutes running).

Phew. That was a close call.

I have been remiss with this blog lately. I'm moderately sorry about that fact, but not entirely apologetic.

I've been busy.

No, really. It's true.

See, I have this plaque in my kitchen that reads: What would you do if you weren't afraid? It reminds me to not let life just pass me by - that I need to be an active participant, even if that means doing something ew, scary and outside my comfort zone.

Apparently, it was time for me to shake things up and do something risky. Some of you may remember that I made a comment a while back about considering a career change. Well, I decided to 'put my money where my mouth is' and took the first steps towards making it happen.

One of those steps involves taking an introductory chemistry class. (Sadly, I have already taken such a class, but it was too long ago to be considered for my new adventure. Sigh.) So here I am, spending each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night in class or lab, between 3-4 hours each night. For eight long weeks. On class days, I leave home at 7:00 a.m. and arrive back home at 9:30 p.m.

I'm about to start the sixth week of class...and it feels like mile 18 of the marathon. The part where you know it's almost over, but you've still got some of the toughest parts to get through. Yeah, just like that. I am full of chemistry. I just want it to be over so I can get on with my summer.

I'm also training for a sprint distance triathlon (which happens in two weeks...three days after my chemistry final exam). Oh, and I'm training for a fall marathon. But not just 'training' for it - I've got my sights set on my Boston Qualifying time (3:45) and my coach is really helping me to make that a reality.

And then of course, there's my 40-hour work week. I cannot begin to fathom what it would be like to add children to this mix, as I can hardly handle two dogs and a husband. I marvel at those of you who manage to balance it all.

For me, this insanity has meant:

-getting up at 5:00 a.m. during the week to run or bike/run
-shopping and preparing the entire weeks worth of food on Mondays
-packing breakfast, lunch *and* dinner 'to-go' three days a week
-packing my swim gear for lunch time swims
-packing my yoga gear for lunch time yoga sessions
-sacrificing my gardens and the cleanliness of my house
-neglecting my family, friends and the RBF
-dreaming about chemistry formulas
-getting about 6 hours of sleep each night
-eating foods I should *not* be eating

Maybe now my neglected blog makes sense. I hope to resume a more regular schedule of blog posting, reading and commenting (oh how I miss making comments!) in August.

Just stick with me until then. And feel free to drop by with some coffee - I take mine light and sweet, with Splenda and some cinnamon.

Where is all the oxygen? I know it was here...just a second ago...filling my lungs.

But now? Not so much.

My chest is pushed out, my chin is up...I'm sucking air in. But my lungs are failing to notice.

There's the quarter mile mark. Current pace: 5:26 mpm. Yikes. Too fast to hold on.

Would it be bad if I just stopped here? Stopped running and just walked the rest of the way?

Yes. That would be bad. Save your first DNF for when you really, really need it - hopefully never. Today is not that day.

Half-mile mark. Push up the tiny hill.

Current pace: 7:07 mpm. Too slow to PR.

Still wondering about that oxygen....

Almost there. Stay on target....there's the finish line...right....tthhhheeerrreee.

Phew. Done. One mile, 6:12 pace on a perfectly measured course. Another Boom Box Mile in the books.

Coach predicted that pace dead-on for this race. Amazing.

I didn't reach my 'gold-medal' goal performance of a sub-6, but realizing that last year's course was a little short makes me feel a little better about that.

And the Running Chicks, April-Anne and Michelle, both showed up for the race, last minute and unexpected, which made the day even better. Plus, we all took home some 'hardware' so there were smiles all around.

But no more short distance races for this Running Chick for a while, especially in the heat and humidity. Up until the moment the Running Chicks arrived, I was truly dreading the race. I couldn't even talk 'running' with my other running friends. I was way too nervous but not excited enough. I didn't like that combination.

I think it's time to focus on what I seem to be built for - endurance.