Look what we stumbled upon....

Between studying, olympics, a horrible comedian and my friend Jacquie's visit this weekend I looked out the window and saw this giant inflated rat race.

I couldn't resist.  Jason and I walked across the parking lot to a free festival put on by Father Mac's Charity which funds Haymarket Rehab Center.  I've always been very impressed by Haymarket since I took a tour during medical school.  I've had several patients who went through detox and rehab for drugs and alcohol here.  Some actually work there to help others in similar situations.  Haymarket is not only a rehab center but it provides people with skills needed to obtain jobs and get back on their feet again.

  I couldn't believe how great this free festival was.  There was a zip-line going down an entire city block.  A rock climbing wall.  Several large inflatable things for kids to jump on, slide down, race through.  Pop shot, football toss, soccer kick.  A train that kids rode up and down the street.  Free ice cream cones.  Trampolines.

AND FREE PONY RIDES (if you weigh under 120lb....damn)

What a fun thing to stumble upon on a Sunday afternoon.  Too bad none of my friends with kids could come over and join us.  Maybe next year.  

FitFluential

A few months ago I joined twitter.  My plan was to follow my favorite bridal magazines and Chicago restaurants.  I was really enjoying the deals and notices about happenings in the Chicago area.  I had no intention of being more than a twitter voyeur. 

Slowly I started following more and more athletes.  I was inspired by people posting their workouts and healthy habits.  At the same time, during my triathlon training, people at my gym who learned that I was a Gastroenterologist started coming to me with a variety of GI problems they encounter during training and racing.   I started to see the bigger picture and the potential of twitter.  I felt I have something unique to offer the community of endurance athletes with my training as a marathon runner, Ironman and most importantly as a Gastroenterologist.  Then something fantastic happened.  I was accepted as a FitFluential Ambassador.

FitFluential is a nationwide network of highly influential fitness enthusiasts sharing their journey both online and offline through multiple social media platforms, according to their website.  Fitfluential has 600+ ambassadors worldwide who reach over 100 million people each month.  I'm thrilled to help deliver the positive messages of health, wellness and balance.

(and working on these elements in my own life)

My goal is to help keep the movement going on twitter and provide my followers with GI related health tips which could help them achieve their own fitness goals.  I'm already amazed at the connections I have made.  If you are interested in getting my tweets follow @V10kate.

As for my blog.  I don't have any intentions of this changing from personal photos/stories for my family and close friends.  You may find an occasional fitness/health/product review posts but otherwise no change! 

Tri del Sol Race Report

 On Tuesday I decided it was time for me to get a triathlon under my belt for this year, if I am really going to do Steelhead Ironman 70.3 in a month.  I've always wanted to try a race near my parents house called Tri del Sol, so I registered.  4 days before the race, because why not?

I was really impressed with Tri del Sol.  It's held at a YMCA overnight camp called Camp Manitou-lin, where I was a very homesick camper more than 2 decades ago.  Body marking and packet pickup inside the mess hall, which meant real bathrooms.  Plenty of real flushing, clean toilets.  And even more in a cabin near the swim start!!  The race was put on by Gazelle Sports and nearly flawless.  Intersections were well marked and safely supported.  Swim start was wave start making the 400+ person race less intimidating for nervous swimmers.  The course was challenging with rolling hills throughout the bike and run.  

The things which make this race unique:

1.  Several races.  Duathlon, 2 different kids triathlons, relay race, elite race, age group/clydesdale/athena and the most inspiring my team triumph

Truly a race for everyone.

2. The setting of a YMCA camp.  Running by cabins and fire pits.  Nostalgia.

3. No finisher medal.  Instead finisher aluminum water bottle.  So useful.

4. One mile from my parents house (applies to me, maybe not you!)

So.  How was my race?  Most of you know I don't race competitively.  Many people might claim that.  I honestly mean it.  Every race I've ever done feels like my first.  Go out, do my best on that given day and somehow dig deep to cross the finish line.  I think this mentality was born when I did a couch-to-ironman in one year.  Each race was my longest.  

This race was different.  For the first time ever, I went out to win.  I registered in the Athena category- for women who weigh over 150 pounds.  Let's be honest.  My scale hasn't seen under 150 since I was 15 years old.  I looked at the last few years finishers and thought- I could do this.  I could potentially place top three.  Sure.  The average bike mph was about 5 mph faster than I usually go and the run was 1 min/mile faster- but this is a MUCH shorter race than I'm used to.  I might be able to pull it off.

I was so very wrong.  But I pushed harder than I have ever pushed in a race.  I swam the 0.5 mile swim in 14:48, once again having trouble staying on course.  I need to learn to swim in a straight line.  The bike was tough.  Hills are my enemy.  I pushed and tried my hardest to keep my mph above 18 but the uphills killed me.  My final time for 18.7 miles was 1:11 about 16mph.  3 mph faster than usual, but not fast enough to place.  I knew this going into the run, but I wanted to give it a shot.  My legs took forever to loosen up.  I couldn't feel my toes for 2 miles.  But I ran.   I ran the entire thing.  Usually I walk the aid stations and uphills.  Yesterday I ran.  And my finishing time was 50 min for 4.5 miles.  

 11 min/mile pace.  

Overall I finished 7 out of 13 Athena.  12 out of 30 for my age group.  

I am proud of how hard I worked and that I pushed myself to go as fast as possible.  I raced.  

But in the end, I like the way I treat triathlon historically better.  I go out, I have fun, I go long, long distances.  I don't go fast.  I'm one of the last to finish.  I am the person you route for after you have cleaned up from your race.  I cry at the finish line because I am so proud and exhausted.  And I like it that way.  I like being a "back of the pack" triathlete.  I like enjoying every moment of the event.  Sure, I set goals, but the goals are individual to me and the given race and my level of fitness that day.  

You might say, I'm not a competitor.   No matter how I place or how my times improve, I hope I never become a competitor and maybe that is hard for some people to understand.

So- that will be the last time I race for a place.  Not because I was so far off from getting a podium finish.  Because it is not the role this sport has in my life.  This is something I do for fun, to keep active and stay healthy.  And that is the way I'd like it to stay.  

And how could you not feel proud and happy when you come across your number one fan Dad and other number one fan Mom behind the camera?!?  Shouting, waving signs like you are leading the pack.

And then.  I rush back to Chicago for a booze cruise/fireworks to celebrate this wonderful girlfriend's 35th birthday.  

Overall, a great race.  A wonderful time with my parents.  A crazy fun evening with friends and fiance.

From Bachelorette to Bridesmaid

My dear friend Andrea flew in from L.A. for my bachelorette weekend.  I picked her up from the airport early Friday am and before we met with the other girls she gave me a box with this note on it.

 You've already read my post about her last week, so you know that the words "highly sought after, valuable and timeless" are perfect adjectives to describe our friendship.

I am so thrilled that someone so precious to me (like gold, get it?) has met her match.  I can't wait to stand by her side and help her celebrate her marriage to Peter.

What was in the box?!  A cute little gold emergency kit and these fabric swatches.  Andrea is having her bridesmaids pick their own dresses within the color palette.  

So if anyone sees a great gold dress for me, send me a link!!

Bachelorette Weekend: It's All in the Details

From the moment we arrived to Sleeping Bear Dunes, I was blown away with the details and effort that went into planning this weekend.  My sister (Matron of Honor) is amazing and I will be forever grateful for how special she made this weekend just for me.  

Dani and my mom had a car load of food/drink and all of my favorites.  They had prepared taco salad dinner (MEXICAN-my fav!!) and surprised me with reservations for massages and cocktails overlooking a beautiful Lake Michigan sunset.

You may recall, I invited my bridal party with a cute little saying " I Mustache You a Question" Shortly after, my bridal party was nicknamed "The Mustache Crew" thanks to Andrea's creativity.  This weekend the theme continued with adorable water bottles from my sister, which came in handy on the hike and by the pool!  

Mustache hats for everyone made by Andrea kept our faces shielded from the hot sun!

My love for Mason Jars and mustaches combined for individual cocktail holders for each of us!

Annie prepared a hilarious question answer for me to earn bachelorette gifts and my sister got Jason to respond with heartwarming and embarrassing comments! 

Jacquie put together a playlist of songs and each of my friends contributed songs which were special to us, including some throwbacks from elementary with Natalie!

Amanda saved a special "Veronica" bag for probably 8 years to give me during the party!

And it wouldn't be a bachelorette party without some embarrassing photos in a veil.  My mom provided a baseball cap with veil for running up and down the dunes.

I can not express in words how moved I am that these women not only took time from their busy lives to travel and spend the weekend with me, but how each detail made me feel so special and loved.

I've said it before.  I say it again.  I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Michigan Bachelorette Party at a Glance

This weekend we had my bachelorette party at The Homestead Resort in Sleeping Bear Dunes.  I'm still flying high after having the perfect weekend with wonderful friends/family, celebrating my single days exactly how I'd hoped.  Somewhere beautiful, where we could be active outdoors, but also relax and goof around together.

And that is exactly what we did.

We had lunch in Saugatuck along the way.

Once we arrived to the resort, we had wine and massages at the spa while watching the sunset.

After a morning run we hiked the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

We spent the afternoon with some poolside relaxation.

We got cleaned up and had a champagne toast and bachelorette gift opening (no photos please).

Then we wrapped up with a fantastic dinner in town.

I'm overwhelmed with the generosity and love these women bring to my life.  I'll be blogging more details this week, so check back tomorrow for more of the fun!

Summer in the City

 You just can't beat Chicago summers.  Since this is my last month in the city before our move to MKE (freak out a minute here), I'm determined to enjoy every single moment of it. 

This week I've been hitting the outdoor events hard!

Wilco at The Kane County Cougars baseball stadium with Jay's friends/familes.

Natalie Merchant at Ravinia with the girls, wine and cheese!

E.T. in Wicker Park with Jay and our friends Ben and Laurie.

Did I mention I love Chicago summer?

Crew Member Ste Marie

The next bridesmaid to introduce is Andrea Ste Marie - aka. Dre, Soul-sister.

Andrea and I were introduced by my childhood friends Mike and Patty E. when they discovered we were both skeptically pledging the same sorority (there were 70 of us, we hadn't met yet).  Once I met this tall, hilarious, swimmer-in-a-previous life, girl from California with a witch for a roommate, I knew we would have the time of our lives together; I wasn't disappointed.  We quickly signed up as roommates for the following year, with Crew Member Ryan and Juliet.  The following four years were filled with spectacular memories and personal-growth which can't be duplicated.

After graduating from University of Michigan, Andrea left the snowy winters behind and returned to southern California.  She successfully climbed the ranks in marketing at Fox Sports, ESPN and Disney.  Somehow she found time to further her education, obtaining her MBA from UCLA while working!  Andrea is far from one-dimensional; you will rarely hear her talk about her career.  She is a world traveler, adventure seeker, fitness enthusiast who loves her friends, family and dogs deeply.  I vividly remember sitting under a tree in front of Angel Hall on my very first cell phone, when she told me about her malignant melanoma diagnosis.  Andrea is an optimist and a survivor.  More recently she overcame two major back surgeries and completed her first (and second) marathon.  Nothing is an obstacle.

We lived in the same city for four short years, but our friendship is now 16 years strong and one of the strongest I have.  We discovered later in life that we are perfect travel partners, which is not something to take lightly.  We share so many interests beyond exploring the world, but most importantly our mutual love and respect for one another.  We embrace our differences as much as our similarities.  We have been lucky to follow parallel lives over the past decade, understanding and supporting each other's highs and lows along the way.  Most recently, Andrea got engaged to be married- so we are sharing this major life change too!!

I'm so happy to have her as my bridesmaid, soul-sister, friend-for-life.

See her verison of our friendship on her blog- The MF DRE

Boat Parade!

I've lived in Chicago for twelve years and love the city life; but, in my opinion Fourth of July is best spent the old-fashioned way in West Michigan.  Our 4th was complete with lots of time in the water (hello 100 degree weather), grilling, laughing with family and watching fireworks which rival Chicago (no exaggeration).

The highlight this year might have been watching the Payne Lake Boat Parade.  Families decorate boats in theme, complete with music and even throw popsicles to parade viewers.

Here are my favorite three.  Vote for yours in my comments.

1. Wild West

2. Island Fun

3. John Deere

Happy Fourth of July!

Engagement Photos: Sneak Peek

Can't wait to see the rest!