Four Corners Folk Festival

Here I sit at my computer with clean feet and hair smelling of shampoo instead of fire and sweat, listening to bands that just last night I was standing beside or dancing to.

The transition from festival to normal life is a painful one. It is no longer acceptable to walk down the road barefoot and start up conversation with anyone who happens to be near by.

Music is played from speakers and a pixelated list instead of on a stage with warm bodies singing along.
My festival friends are back in their respective homes, in their respective cities, no longer in a camp just a hop-skip away.

The world hidden behind my apartment walls seems unfriendly and far away; too noisy with hot air that smells like trash instead of pine needles.

To leave this life was easy, to come back a mere three days later brings tears to my eyes.

Each festival I learn something new about myself. I come away a stronger person, with more friends and memories then I arrived with.

I meet fantastic people, hear phenomenal music, and acquire a lightness in my heart and a twinkle in my eye.

 My stomach is twisting in a knot just writing about it.  The heartache for the next festival is beginning to set in, and it will remain until next summer comes around and I am caught up in a world of dust, jams and friends once again.

Pagosa Springs Four Corner Folk Festival, you have my heart always and forever.

Until next year.

Zoey

Race Day

Friday was filled with tension. Anxiety. 

I sat through classes repeating the list to myself; shoes, shorts, swim suit, bike, bike pump, goggles, towel, cap, watch, water, race number. The minutes ticked by and before I knew it the day was over. Terrapin and I made a big dinner of whole wheat pasta, avocado salad and quinoa and spent the night checking, rechecking and rerechecking our bags. Alarms were set for 3:45am, breakfast was planned out, and by 10:30pm sleep was upon us. 

I was up before my alarm went off. Clothes were on, hair pinned back, our bags run through a final time. We ate pancakes slathered in maple syrup and strawberries, guzzled down green tea and a few bottles of water, and set off to the far away town of Rio Rancho with Cake playing in our ears. 

At 4:55am we arrive, the very first girls out. We check out the course before heading to pick up our timing chips and get body marked. 5:30am transition area opens, and we rack our bikes and lay our towels out with everything we'll need. My nerves are finally calm; there are no more obstacles in the way of me and the race. After a few trips to the bathroom, light stretching and a small jog to warm up, it was 6:55am. Terrapin started in the 7:00am wave, I in the 7:10am. 

The gun went off and I started running. The course was sandy and hilly, but I felt strong and ran at what I thought was a reasonably pace. Time began slipping away and before I knew it I was running through transition, strapping on my helmet and running my bike to the mount area. The bike was on road with a moderate amount of hills, and I flew past anyone who was within 40yds of my little Bianchi. Too soon I could see the finish line, and I prepared to hop off my bike and run it back through transition. I racked my bike, pulled on my cap and goggles, and ran to the pool to swim the final stretch of the race. The water felt good on my hot skin, and I passed a few swimmers before settling into a comfortable pace. Before I knew it I was done, hugging Terrapin, her mother, and then my mother. I was so exhilarated from the race I danced around and jumped up and down a few hundred times before settling down enough to check the results. I looked at the list and my heart soared when I my name; first in my age division and 27th overall! 

Heres a post-race picture that Carlos Montoya took of Terrapin and I... I promise we are happier then we look at this particular moment!! I already am envisioning what my training schedule will be like for the next race, and can't wait to compete again and do so with a better time. 

Live. Love. Tri. You could say I'm obsessed.

This week has gone by in a blur of stress and excitement. Monday marked the first day of a new semester, and I have been going nonstop ever since. As a nanny working 20+ hours a week and training for a triathlon (which is this Saturday! *gulp*), on top of a 16 hour school schedule, I haven't had much time to myself lately. I covet those mornings when I am able to enjoy a cup of tea and flip through a magazine before heading off into the bustling world. I find comfort in those evenings when I have time to breathe in the aromas of fresh foods and cook something. In hopes of remembering these bright moments and reinstating some sanity in my life, I (hopefully!) will be posting more often.

           
                        
From top left: Coava coffee shop in Portland, OR (aka heaven...), coconut banana pancakes and earl grey tea, straight from the oven sweet potato fries, savory and sweet crepes for fathers day brunch

 A collection of some of of my favorite things: twinkle lights surrounding my bed; the abandoned train station in downtown Albuquerque; freshly made pizza; quinoa, cilantro, fresh salsa, black beans and water on a Keith Haring styled print; and preparing ingredients for sweet potato falafel on a bright Saturday morning.
Happy Friday!