Getting to Know You!

[Lise]

Getting to Know You!

OK, I'll give it my shot!

Real name: Lise (pronounced Lisa)

Where do you live? Chicago, IL

Explanation of your handle: It's my name. I wasn't feeling creative enough when I signed up. "Run like a dachshund" because I love those dogs--they run with the purest joy. They have no idea their legs are only 3 inches long. It's a good luck charm for me to see at least one dachshund on every long race I do.

Explanation of your avatar: I wish I could figure out how to find an avatar of a dachshund.

Age (general or specific) 45

Occupation: Certified Nurse-Midwife

Favorite bike: Don't know enough to have one yet

What's in your stable? Marin Larkspur City bike. Great for riding around Chicago. I've done two international tris, three sprint tris, and a metric century on it. That said, I'm getting a "real" triathlon bike next spring.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 23mph, in the Lake Zurich triathlon last 8/14.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Hmmm, I do not know how to add a picture...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Definitely not revealing it here!

Most memorable moment on my bike: A sprint tri this May. I was dripping wet, freezing cold, underdressed, and I rode harder than I ever have in my life. I felt so strong.

Most fun ever had on a bike? It's a toss-up between riding to swimming lessons when I was 7, and riding all over Chicago on my 45th birthday, just doing what ever I wanted to do.
...................
I found this site and first posted on the triathlon board--here's some of the info about me from there--

I'm 45 years old, did my first triathlon 2 years ago. I was a an active kid, then life happened, and I became completely alienated from my body. By 40, I was "crippled" (my perspective) with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis. I was 30# overweight, and going through a nasty divorce. I made some new friends, and tagged along when one did the Accenture Chicago Triathlon. I saw old people, fat people, a woman in a clown suit, and thought, "I wonder if I could do that?"

You know the answer, of course! NO! Not in a clown suit! But YES! In regular tri gear! My first tri was completely un-researched. A friend and I did it together. We picked the Lake Zurich triathlon , an international distance, because, well, we didn't know anything. We didn't know there was such a thing as a "sprint" distance. So we swam across Lake Zurich, rode the hills of Lake County, and ...walked 6.25 mi. We were dead last across the finish line, but the organizers put our picture up on the website with congratulations to all the first-timers. I was bitten by the tri-bug when I did it again the following year.

This year I've done two sprints, one international distance tri, a metric century ride, two 5K runs, a 1/2 marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. If you're going to have a mid-life crisis, turning into an athlete is not a bad one to have. I'm doing the 8K Turkey Trot on, you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day.

Mostly I am tickled pink to be an athlete. There's still so much to learn. This is the first winter when I'm seriously committing to training all winter. My goal is to do a 1/2 Ironman. After the 100K bike ride, I was sure I had no desire to do the Ironman. Kudos to those of you who do!

Biking is far and away my favorite part of triathlon. On the bike I feel strong and free. It is one of the best feelings in the world. My mom started biking when she was 60 years old, and at 70 is still going strong. We have a tradition of adult-onset athleticism in our family!

Best wishes to all--I'm looking forward to reading more posts and getting to know you all, too! Lise

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Lise! My parents have had dachshund for years usually minis and they are just too cute. I found you a pix of one - you need to save it to some type of photo place - someone else here can probably tell you better - and then you have to resize it to use it as an avatar! as for attaching a photo:
when you're posting, scroll down and you'll see a "manage attachments", that's what you use to put photos in posts.

[Lise]

Thanks, CorsairMac! Just seeing a dachshund lifts my heart. I'll work on the picture uploading skills! Take care, Lise

[Yasmin]

Getting to Know You!

OK, I'll give it my shot!

Real name: Lise (pronounced Lisa)

Where do you live? Chicago, IL

Explanation of your handle: It's my name. I wasn't feeling creative enough when I signed up. "Run like a dachshund" because I love those dogs--they run with the purest joy. They have no idea their legs are only 3 inches long. It's a good luck charm for me to see at least one dachshund on every long race I do.

Explanation of your avatar: I wish I could figure out how to find an avatar of a dachshund.

Age (general or specific) 45

Occupation: Certified Nurse-Midwife

Favorite bike: Don't know enough to have one yet

What's in your stable? Marin Larkspur City bike. Great for riding around Chicago. I've done two international tris, three sprint tris, and a metric century on it. That said, I'm getting a "real" triathlon bike next spring.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 23mph, in the Lake Zurich triathlon last 8/14.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Hmmm, I do not know how to add a picture...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Definitely not revealing it here!

Most memorable moment on my bike: A sprint tri this May. I was dripping wet, freezing cold, underdressed, and I rode harder than I ever have in my life. I felt so strong.

Most fun ever had on a bike? It's a toss-up between riding to swimming lessons when I was 7, and riding all over Chicago on my 45th birthday, just doing what ever I wanted to do.
...................
I found this site and first posted on the triathlon board--here's some of the info about me from there--

I'm 45 years old, did my first triathlon 2 years ago. I was a an active kid, then life happened, and I became completely alienated from my body. By 40, I was "crippled" (my perspective) with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis. I was 30# overweight, and going through a nasty divorce. I made some new friends, and tagged along when one did the Accenture Chicago Triathlon. I saw old people, fat people, a woman in a clown suit, and thought, "I wonder if I could do that?"

You know the answer, of course! NO! Not in a clown suit! But YES! In regular tri gear! My first tri was completely un-researched. A friend and I did it together. We picked the Lake Zurich triathlon , an international distance, because, well, we didn't know anything. We didn't know there was such a thing as a "sprint" distance. So we swam across Lake Zurich, rode the hills of Lake County, and ...walked 6.25 mi. We were dead last across the finish line, but the organizers put our picture up on the website with congratulations to all the first-timers. I was bitten by the tri-bug when I did it again the following year.

This year I've done two sprints, one international distance tri, a metric century ride, two 5K runs, a 1/2 marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. If you're going to have a mid-life crisis, turning into an athlete is not a bad one to have. I'm doing the 8K Turkey Trot on, you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day.

Mostly I am tickled pink to be an athlete. There's still so much to learn. This is the first winter when I'm seriously committing to training all winter. My goal is to do a 1/2 Ironman. After the 100K bike ride, I was sure I had no desire to do the Ironman. Kudos to those of you who do!

Biking is far and away my favorite part of triathlon. On the bike I feel strong and free. It is one of the best feelings in the world. My mom started biking when she was 60 years old, and at 70 is still going strong. We have a tradition of adult-onset athleticism in our family!

Best wishes to all--I'm looking forward to reading more posts and getting to know you all, too! Lise

Hi Lise. Happy that you've joined the site. I'm also a "newy" but absolutely love the girls & the support that comes back at you.
My mum used to breed long-haired dachshunds in England when I was a baby, so I know what characters thay are. I am also a late starter at cycling (& running)...although I swam as a child. I'm now 49yrs & have run for 10yrs, cycled for 7yrs ( I know...geez she must be tired!) Good on you & keep making goals. Yasmin.

[Lise]

Good heavens, girl, sit down! Take a rest! I do wonder about the running and cycling for seven years simultaneously... Yeah, I love the doxies. We had a miniature black and tan smooth coated girl named Schatzi. She was with us for 19 years. I knew a guy whose mini-doxie died when it was 23 years old. The guy's father was devastated when the dog died. He chastised his son, "It's because you smoke!" "Dad", the guy replied, "He was a dog! He wasn't going to out live you!" But...one does get awfully attached. Now I have two cats, Ariel and Isaac, who love to be as close to me as possible when I'm around, but can fend for themselves when I'm at the hospital for a 24 (+?) hour call shift. I'd love a dog, but they're not feasible for the single midwife.

Thanks for welcoming me to the boards! Since you swim and bike and run, do ever do all three at once-ish, in a triathlon?

Take care, Lise

[laughlaugh18]

Real name: Cathy

Where do you live? Los Angeles, CA (San Fernando Valley)

Explanation of your handle: 18 is my favorite number and laugh laugh is something I try to remember to do lots of, no matter how bad the day.

Explanation of your avatar: Maybe I'll figure one out someday.

Age (general or specific) 49 last month

Occupation: Attorney

Favorite bike: Don't know yet - one that fits my 5'2", finicky, bad neck, bad shoulder, bad knee, I-may-not-look-49-but-I-sure-feel-it-sometimes, princess-and-the-pea body.

What's in your stable? A (5'7") friend's hand me down Trek 820 mtb, which I can ride for about an hour before my body starts squealing (see above). I've been so frustrated by the bike-shopping experience that I'm taking some time off from the quest.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Wha'? Bikes can go fast? My brakes are my friends.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Here's a picture of me visiting the Christo Gates in NY last February. Snow is cold! (I'm a native Angeleno)

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Does most frequent count? "I've been working on it; I'll have it to you by tomorrow."

Most memorable moment on my bike: Not too much to chose from yet - my first ride in 30 some-odd years last August. A 12 mile round trip on the bike path from Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach with friends to meet another friend for breakfast. I was amazed that I stayed upright, let alone survived and even enjoyed it. Hmm, I thought, it's execise and it's fun. What a novel concept for a life-long couch potato (yep, I happily sat and watched (thanks to Tivo) every day of the entire Tour de France on OLN, both the morning and evening editions).

Most fun ever had on a bike? I grew up in a hilly area and had a Schwinn 3 speed. I don't really remember biking being fun back then. Here's to newer and funner memories!

[laughlaugh18]

Wow, that picture's big. Sorry if it's too big. I'm still figuring out how to work these things!

[azurs]

--

Real name: Anne-Marie

Where do you live? Québec city

Explanation of your handle: handle ?

Explanation of your avatar: avatar?

Age: 44

Occupation: Social Worker

Favorite bike: The next=buy it in 2006 and now my minelli that i will use in winter for go to work maybe.....

What's in your stable? stable?

Fastest speed on a road bike? .No idea i dont make bike for performance

Biggest lie you’ve ever told? ""that i am heterosexual but it was i long long time ago…..

Another picture of yourself or your ride? .?

Most memorable moment on my bike when i feel zen in the road

Most fun ever had on a bike? Last summer in the parc de la mauricie

Bye!!!!

[Trek420]

welcome to TE

we have a lotta Canadians here, eh? (not me tho)

[Yasmin]

Hi Yasmin,

We also have a sweet Russian Blue that we adopted 8 years ago from a shelter. She has the softest fur, the cutest face and a very interesting personality.

Welcome to the board.

Something really sad happened yesterday. One of our (feline) children was killed by a Brown Snake (2nd deadliest snake in the world). We have a contained cat enclosure outside & the snake must've come into here. Minsky had only been outside for 1 hr. We're devastated. Now we're down to 3...
Yasmin.

[Yasmin]

Welcome to the board Lise! My parents have had dachshund for years usually minis and they are just too cute. I found you a pix of one - you need to save it to some type of photo place - someone else here can probably tell you better - and then you have to resize it to use it as an avatar! as for attaching a photo:
when you're posting, scroll down and you'll see a "manage attachments", that's what you use to put photos in posts.

What a cute little honey, CorsairMac. Made me smile just looking at the picture. Regards, Yasmin.

[Yasmin]

Real name: Linda

Where do you live? Prescott, Arizona

Explanation of your handle: It is the name of the street where my house is(that I love but am NOT living in but I will live in again). My boys and I also like to call it "Mad Gazelle" or, when it fits, "Mad As Hell."

Explanation of your avatar: Like so many before me, I have yet to get one, have one, know what one is!

Age: 45 and counting

Occupation: Accountant (hence the counting)

Favorite bike: Well - the one I have! And, like so many other things, I just don't know any better!

What's in your stable? Just my old Schwinn tank.

Fastest speed on a road bike? Where? When? Lordy . . . I have no idea. I know my slowest speed, though.

Biggest lie you’ve ever told? "I would LOVE for you to come visit for Christmas!!!"

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I really, really, really hate pictures. But I'm learning to lighten up.

Most memorable moment on my bike? So far . . . . . just doing it every day is amazing me. I don't really have a very good memory, so I try to live in the moment.

Just wanted to say "Hi" Linda. Sorry it's late but I do not view this site in an organised, methodical way so I didn't catch you 'til now. Hope you enjoy the site & support as much as I do.
Regards, Yasmin.

[Yasmin]

ROFL - it's a lonely thankless job but Somebody has to do it! (hears little tiny violins playing in the background)

Actually I spend most of my day here since my job doesn't keep me busy enough to fill 8 hrs so I just happen to be the one to "catch" most of the newcomers first. Plus I've been a newbie before where no one even noticed I was there and man can that be discouraging - especially if someone is a first time poster and is already nervous about it. Besides - I just LOVE to chat! (I know that last part was hard to tell )

But thanks for the compliment

I've gotta tell you Kathie (CorsairMac) that your contribution (especially for new people like me) is really lovely. You must have a big heart sifting through & finding the time to make everyone feel welcome. Just wanted you to know how nice it is to be on the recieving end.
tlkiwi...I don't think you miss anyone either. Good on you girls. You really set the culture & make it feel like home.
Kindest regards,
Yasmin.

[Yasmin]

Good heavens, girl, sit down! Take a rest! I do wonder about the running and cycling for seven years simultaneously... Yeah, I love the doxies. We had a miniature black and tan smooth coated girl named Schatzi. She was with us for 19 years. I knew a guy whose mini-doxie died when it was 23 years old. The guy's father was devastated when the dog died. He chastised his son, "It's because you smoke!" "Dad", the guy replied, "He was a dog! He wasn't going to out live you!" But...one does get awfully attached. Now I have two cats, Ariel and Isaac, who love to be as close to me as possible when I'm around, but can fend for themselves when I'm at the hospital for a 24 (+?) hour call shift. I'd love a dog, but they're not feasible for the single midwife.

Thanks for welcoming me to the boards! Since you swim and bike and run, do ever do all three at once-ish, in a triathlon?

Take care, Lise

I've toyed with the idea of doing triathlons but have had a run of injuries in the last 2 yrs (lower back, Rt. ankle, Lt. knee). The limiting factor is my back (Left sided L5/S1 facet joint for those with anatomical knowledge). However, I haven't completely given up on the idea. At present I am in training for a cycling event in Victoria, Australia Jan 06: the "Audax Alpine Classic"...200km which includes 3,600m of vertical climbing in mid summer. Hence, cycling has dominated my existence the last couple of months. I wanted to do this gruelling event before I turned 50 (20th July 2006). Sometimes I think I must be going a little crazy, but if you only live once, why not? Regards, Yasmin.

[Yasmin]

Real name: Cathy

Where do you live? Los Angeles, CA (San Fernando Valley)

Explanation of your handle: 18 is my favorite number and laugh laugh is something I try to remember to do lots of, no matter how bad the day.

Explanation of your avatar: Maybe I'll figure one out someday.

Age (general or specific) 49 last month

Occupation: Attorney

Favorite bike: Don't know yet - one that fits my 5'2", finicky, bad neck, bad shoulder, bad knee, I-may-not-look-49-but-I-sure-feel-it-sometimes, princess-and-the-pea body.

What's in your stable? A (5'7") friend's hand me down Trek 820 mtb, which I can ride for about an hour before my body starts squealing (see above). I've been so frustrated by the bike-shopping experience that I'm taking some time off from the quest.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Wha'? Bikes can go fast? My brakes are my friends.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Here's a picture of me visiting the Christo Gates in NY last February. Snow is cold! (I'm a native Angeleno)

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Does most frequent count? "I've been working on it; I'll have it to you by tomorrow."

Most memorable moment on my bike: Not too much to chose from yet - my first ride in 30 some-odd years last August. A 12 mile round trip on the bike path from Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach with friends to meet another friend for breakfast. I was amazed that I stayed upright, let alone survived and even enjoyed it. Hmm, I thought, it's execise and it's fun. What a novel concept for a life-long couch potato (yep, I happily sat and watched (thanks to Tivo) every day of the entire Tour de France on OLN, both the morning and evening editions).

Most fun ever had on a bike? I grew up in a hilly area and had a Schwinn 3 speed. I don't really remember biking being fun back then. Here's to newer and funner memories!

Hi Cathy. Another 5' 2" 49yr old. Super! Yeah, I can relate to the physical groanings thing. When you eventually find the bike of your dreams that fits you, your body will thankyou for it. I've got 3 bikes ( 1 trek 2300 road, 1 trek 7200 hybrid & an old Shogun MTB). When I rode a larger bike a short distance, my body screamed at me. Good luck with the hunt. You'll know when you've found the right one.
Cheers, Yasmin.