California 70.3 - 2010 Season Kickoff

I decided to head out to California for a race which I had only done once, back in 2007, California 70.3 (yes, formerly "Ralphs Half Ironman"). Derick luckily made the trip with me, as we were fortunate to have a place to stay in La Jolla with some friends. I felt strong going into this race, yet a bit nervous as it really was a 'dust off the cobwebs' approach having not raced since last November. While the finish was a bit bittersweet, I am overall extremely pleased with the race and how I executed it from start to finish.

We got in on Thursday, as the race was on Saturday so we had a day to unwind (though it never seems you fully have downtime before a big race!). I took Thursday off of training which I frequently do, and did my short 20-30 min spin and 10-15 min run on Friday AM. I have to say, I felt pretty sluggish and heavy-legged on Friday. I completely brushed it off, as I have learned that you can feel spectacular or you can feel horrible the day before a race and it rarely equates directly to how you will perform. I then went to the Nytro shop in Encinitas to meet up with Cary and Chris Brown of Quintana Roo, as they had a tent there to 'showcase' so to speak the new CD0.1. It was great to meet them, a few other QR athletes and of course get my ride tuned up a bit for Saturday. It was also pretty cool that there was a Zoot tent next to them, which allowed me to meet Dave who works with Zoot out in CA and chat with him a bit as well about the fancy new kicks they have around the corner for 2011.
Friday seemed pretty busy as we then went to the expo up in Oceanside (where Jake from Zoot surprised me with a big box of goodies! even some kickass gloves with a hula girl and pineapples on them), did the pro race meeting at 4:00 and the grabbed some dinner on the way back to La Jolla (about a 20 min drive). I like to keep myself relaxed the night before the race, so I indulged a bit in a little cerveza... as you can see, Derick's was the big mug, mine the little. :)Saturday was a crazy early wake up call, 3:25! But wait, there's more! I actually woke up at 1:25 AM and jumped out of bed, threw on my hoodie and started to head downstairs for bagel and coffee when Derick said, "What are you doing, it's 1:30?" My fancy Blackberry Curve did not want to change from Texas time, so a 3:25 alarm was actually 1:25 CA time. Luckily I was able to fall fast asleep again for 2 hours. You probably think that is ridiculously early, but I like to give myself about 3 hours prior to the race start to eat, drink coffee, and really wake up. With a 6:43 start time, this led to a 3:30 wake up call. Painful, but it is nice to get up and get it going. I got to the race site with plenty of time to spare, set up (taking all of about 6 minutes), did about an 8 min jog simply to shake some nerves and warm up and then decided to suit up about 30 min prior to start hoping the Zoot wetsuit would help keep me warm. When we waded into the 59-degree water, I kid you not... it felt warm. Either they were low on the temperature, or the air was so chilly it made the water seem warm by comparison (I vote for the latter). We were off right at 6:43!
I felt awesome from the start of the swim. No mental struggles with the suit (I sometimes feel that 'suffocating' feeling especially starting the season), but I attribute this to having practiced twice in the Pure Austin Quarry, which was all of maybe 58-F. I also attribute feeling strong, confident and relaxed in the swim to the past 2 months training with Texas Longhorn Aquatics. It took me 3 years to buy into it (literally, I did not want to pay for it) but I feel it has been completely worth it, thanks to Whitney and the many lanemates!
I fell into a nice rhythm and exited the swim within a minute or so of the leaders, Leanda Cave and Pip Taylor. I had a mediocre transition and was off on the bike. This course is challenging and beautiful. I actually would compare it to (at least this year) some of the views I saw at Ironman Canada. Gorgeous, expansive hillsides and some nice long challenging climbs. I felt strong out there, but did get passed by a few women which did not surprise me; though it did motivate me a bit. Even though they passed me, even if I lost sight of them, I tried to realize that I could still lessen the gap. I pushed the hills very hard, recovered quickly and also pushed the flats. My 6 PowerGels went by quickly and I found myself grabbing a 7th one from an aid station (paired with simply water). I exited the bike in about 2:39, which was a 16 min improvement upon my 2007 bike split... WOW! Might I add, upon downloading my power file, I was 20W higher than I had ever been... thanks to training of course but also to my QR CD0.1! This thing rode like a dream.
I was excited but I knew I had my work seriously cut out for me, as I could not see many (any?!) women ahead of me going onto the run. As with the bike, the run course here is beautiful. You head out along the water for a few miles, then run into some neighborhoods, thus it is very spectator friendly and the crowds were fantastic. It is 2 loops, so you are only ever about 3 miles away from transition. I was able to move from 9th off the bike into 7th after lap 1, but I could tell that the women ahead of me were running strong. I kept on top of my nutrition, sipping on the gel flask I had (with 4 green apple PowerGels) and tried to keep pushing into lap 2. I was able to pass one more woman at about mile 9, and I could SEE 5th place for the last mile! PAINFUL! I pushed as hard as I could muster, but I fell about 20 seconds shy of 5th (and 39 sec shy of 4th)! However, when all was said and done, I had executed just about the perfect race for me... 3rd out of the swim, a huge PR bike split and a 1:21 on the run, good for 6th overall among an extremely strong field.

It was a bit frustrating to see the times and realize how close I was to top 4, however I see things in the big picture and this was a great start to the 2010 season. I felt strong, controlled and most of all I truly enjoyed racing. I think that is the most exciting part about it all is that, somehow after competing virtually my entire life (I think I started swim races at age 4?!) I still love to compete! I love stepping up to the line, looking around me and realizing that any one of us, on any day, could come out on top. The nerves get to me as they do to all of us, but ultimately it is so exciting to know that we are in control of what happens out there. The days like I had on Saturday are sometimes few and far between, when it all just feels good, and it feels 'on'. That said, the outcome was not quite as good as I had hoped (I always try to win, no matter who is there!) so I guess therein lies the drive to get back at it again in a few weeks.
I have to give a big shout out and THANKS to a few people who have helped me out over the past few months: Chris McCrary at Katalyst Multisport for believing in me, the entire gang at Zoot Sports, Quintana Roo for the awesome ride, PowerBar for fueling me with my favorite gels and bars, Xcis Software in Houston for the support, the endless help from all the Austin gang at Jack and Adams, Karen for her excellent needling abilities (acupuncture), AJ and Advanced Rehab, Jamie and Andrea at Hill Country Running and Cecilia of 3 Cosas for the massage work. And of course my family, and my husband Derick for not getting too frustrated at the constant 6:00 AM alarms (who am I kidding, he does not even hear them...!)

Here's to a great 2010, thanks so much for stopping by!

Do What Scares You - Part Two

What else scares me? Swimming in a full wetsuit. Added to that is swimming in a full wetsuit in very cold water (cold being under 60-degrees). Added to this can be swimming in a wetsuit in water which is too warm (too warm for a wetsuit to me is anything over about 72-74 degrees). Picky, aren't I?!

How can swimming in a full wetsuit be scary, you ask? Well, I guess it is the swimmer in me but I feel most at ease and relaxed when it is just me, my stroke and the water. I like to 'feel' the water. A sleeveless suit is not so bad, since my arms are free to do their thing naturally, but then you put on a full suit and it feels like your entire body is stuck in this thick mass. Now I will point out, I am using the Zoot Zenith full suit and if there is any that feels good it is this one. The sleeves are significantly thinner than the suit, and the various panels on the suit make it feel very smooth in the water. But to me, it is still not 'natural' to have a wetsuit on so I have to prepare for these swims. I tend to feel very clausterphobic after putting on a wetsuit, and so I have to get over this 'suffocated' feeling. The suits fit me just fine, but it is more a mental challenge than anything.
So, to prepare for the first (likely full) wetsuit swim in two weeks (California 70.3 in Oceanside), I have officially been IN the Zenith twice this week. The first time was kind of a cheater way to do it, but if you are without an open water training option, a good thing to do. I simply took it to the UT Masters Swim workout and I used it for the 1000 yd warmup, then I took it off (and when I did so, hot water came flooding out of the suit! the water temp was probably just under 80F). But, it at least got me in it and reminded me of how it felt to swim in it. Another advantage to practicing in the suit a few times before a race is that you will fatigue differently... not significantly MORE, just differently, than swimming without it. You may notice a bit more fatigue in your shoulders, since you swim stroke will be slightly altered. Today was the biggie though, I am embarassed to say, I have rarely ever practiced for a cold water race by training in my wetsuit prior. Stupid, I know, but at least I am being honest with you. :) Today I took to the Pure Austin Quarry, which is probably one of the most amazing open water swim venues you could find. This is a quarry that has buoys around it marking off approximately a 750-meter loop. Right now, the water is a chilling 59-F. But it was a beautiful day, sun was shining and despite the brisk air temp of the low 60's, I sucked it up and ventured on down there. I think that from the time I put on the suit to the time my entire body hit the water was at least 15 minutes; you know, mental preparation... But once I got in, it actually felt pretty good. My goal was to swim at least 3000 meters in this, and I was such the over-achiever that I did just about 4000. Despite the numb feet and hands, I did warm up about 45 minutes later, and the reward for the swim was a 20 min bask in the sun on the deck, with noone around, in complete solitude. It was actually an invigorating little swim!

Moral of the story... Do What Scares You! I know that I will be a bit intimidated the day before California 70.3 and well, I don't even want to think yet about Ironman Coeur d'Alene in June, but the only way to tackle the fear and have any hope of getting over it is to get out there and do it. Make the best with the situation you have, we are so lucky to have this facility in Austin but if you do not have it, throw on the suit and swim in it a few times; even if you only do the warmup. It is often times the mental edge you will need on race day, simply knowing that you have faced the fear a few times prior to your day of competition. And it is empowering to do these things, especially on your own,
Happy Swimming!

Do What Scares You

I was talking to a friend the other day, who happens to be a fellow professional triathlete. We were talking about training (I know, boring, but we frequently talk about nothing to do with training) and she mentioned that 'swimming scares her'. Now, she did not mean getting into the pool and swimming back and forth scared her, but rather, the idea of the race, and the distance of the race day swim scares her. Likewise, I said back, "Long rides scare me." And I mean this 100%, though it is a bit embarrassing to admit. I am sometimes scared to go out on a long out and back ride, really any more than say 80 miles total, because that is 40 miles OUT in one direction and while I know I am likely good for the duration, the 'getting back' seems a bit daunting to me. What if I bonk and cannot get all the way home? I mean we all know that usually when we bonk, more food is what we need. However, have you ever had those days where more food did not equate to more energy? I know I have, when I am truly just worn out, and every pedal stroke just seems harder and harder.

The last week I have put in 2 pretty long rides (75 or so miles) which I have done solo, on a simple out and back route. While I enjoy the company of others, I also thoroughly enjoy tackling these rides on my own, just me, the open road, and some music in my ear to keep me company. Doing them solo allows me to push the intensity if I am feeling strong, yet dial it back if I am not feeling so great on the day. I can feel good about it without comparing myself to others. It also forces me to hold myself accountable for the workout. It is a little bit easier to have that company next to you, knowing that all you have to do is keep each other going. It is a bit harder when you have your own head and your own thoughts with you for 4+ hours on the bike. If you are feeling strong, it is great. If you are feeling tired, it can be tough mentally to keep going, and to put in the duration that you know you need to for the day.

What scares you? I know some people I have coached are scared to bike up hills for fear of falling over. It is a totally valid fear! When you are clipped into the pedals, and it gets steep, it can be a scary feeling to actually stand up on the pedals and maneuver the bike. I know many who are simply scared to push themselves to the limit; scared of 'blowing up'. I guess for me this has always come rather easy, in the avenue of athletics... I am enjoy pushing so hard that I may blow up in a workout or in a race, because I know that the reward can be so great if you don't blow up, and if you do have to stop (as we all have), then you realize where the limit is; and you may even go somewhere you have never gone before. That is exciting. That being said, I do lack confidence in pushing my limits in other areas (mountain biking being one, even skiing...I have a protective mechanism that kicks in and I like to play it safe).

I guess the underlying message here is, don't be afraid to do what scares you. It does not have to be every day, but think about those things you want to do, or things you want to try, but you realize you don't because you are just too scared. It is normal to be scared, but that is what makes life interesting, going after things sometimes knowing you may or may not get them. Risk = reward. You cannot have much reward if you are never willing to take a risk. I know that if I ever want to be successful at the longer distance racing, I have got to get over my fear of long rides. Last summer, I did a handful (as in, I can count on one hand) of 90-100 mile rides solo. While it was daunting leaving the house that day, knowing that I had 5-6 hours ahead of me on my bike, alone, on unknown roads and quite a ways from home, finishing the rides and the satisfaction I took from having done them solo was so rewarding. It boosted my confidence in my cycling, the weakest of the three disciplines for me. So, without sounding cliche or preachy... get out there and do what scares you! I guarantee the reward will be worth it; whether you come out successful or not, you will be stronger for having tried.

Austin 1/2 Marathon: Eat your Spinach & Take your Ice Baths...

What a great weekend for running in Austin! As the saying went for the race (appropriately suited for a Valentine's Day event), "Run Austin, Love Austin". This was actually a pretty big weekend for Derick and I, as it was his first full marathon; likewise this was this MY first full marathon back in 2008. The weather was spectacular, albeit a bit chilly at the start (probably low 40s). I am guessing that the many volunteers had their hands full of clothing that was stripped off of runners those first 5 miles. Soon after the gun, the sun came out and it made for an awesome day to run; be it 13 miles or even 26.

As for my race, I did not know what to expect, but as with any race, I intended to give it everything I had and go into it shooting for a best time. That is kind of how I approach any race I do; always an opportunity to PR. While I had been battling a bit of a cold the past week, it is hard to say that it did me any disservice, as I ended up feeling almost entirely normal on race morning and physically my body felt strong and responsive. In all honesty, the rest probably did me good and allowed me to run on fresh legs. The downside to this was, 13.1 miles of hard running on up and down terrain left me completely trashed post-race. I took out miles 1-3 strong but not too hard and cruised down 1st street (a 3-mile downhill stretch) in a few 5:45 miles. I was joined here by Jack & Adams own Adam Reiser, who was running the full marathon! Though we did not chat, it was nice to have Adam by my side for a few miles. As I approached mile 7 or 8, my hands got warm and luckily Jamie Cleveland was nice enough to pick up my gloves as I saw him cheering and left him a little gift when I went by (thanks Jamie!). It was about here where I realized my body was going to start to hurt. We hit Lake Austin Blvd, a long flat stretch and I decided that PowerGel I haphazardly tossed in my pocket would come in handy. I slurped this down and prepared for the hardest part, miles 11-13. I was still under 6-min pace, which would put me in at around a low 1:18, which would be a best time (I have done a 1:18.30 three times!). But, I knew the hardest part was yet to come. And that it did. The hills on Enfield and then 15th street on this course are just as bad as they say! But, I tried to welcome the pain, enjoy the ability to be out there competing and of course keep the mantra going "You can do anything for 2 miles... you can do anything for 20 minutes..." Positive mental talk can be invaluable; even if you do not fully believe it, it helps immensely. I could see Desiree (lead woman) a little ways up, and I knew I would not catch her, but I sure as hell would try! I finally saw the Capitol, which means less than .5 miles to go. That was a welcome sight! Finishing along Congress is an awesome feeling, the streets lined with spectators, and the energy of downtown Austin. While I was pretty pleased with today's effort (a 1:18.57 and 2nd woman), I was more interested in what Derick was doing back on the course when I finished.

SO...I proceeded to run back to Jack & Adams (about a 1.5 mile painful jog) to get his backpack (post-race clothing) and then jog (waddle?) back to the finish. I got back about 2:20 into the marathon, right as the men's winner was finishing (in a phenomenal time) and anxiously awaited Derick. I saw Gilbert Tuhabonye come around the Capitol, on his way to a 2:34 finish and an incredibly tough spirit at the end, and then waited a few more minutes, when I then saw Derick. It was SO GOOD to see him! I knew it was not the marathon debut he had hoped for, but I was so proud of him for sticking it out, despite battling some cramping and the inability to take in his gels. I think he realized too once he finished how hard it really is, and likewise, how proud he was to have pushed through a pretty tough day (that being said, his 'falling apart' still resulted in a 2:41 and 10th overall for the men).

It seemed for some reason, friends and others out there either felt great yesterday or felt rough but most all endured and finished. I just want to send out a huge congrats to all of our many friends who took part; and of course the selfless volunteers and spectators who cheered us on. Every time we get up to compete, we never know what to expect. It is not so much about the time we can post or the place we can finish, but how we deal with what our bodies give us on race day (or in turn, do not give us!). A big shout out to Desiree and Dave Fuentes, who both took the wins for the half marathon. OH, and how could I forget. The title of this blog. When you finish a race and feel completely sore, trashed, cramped up and useless at the finish line, I highly advise going home and taking an ice bath. Speaking from experience. I know that is is much more pleasant to go home, take a hot shower and watch the Olympics on TV :), but your body will THANK YOU the next day if take an ice bath; and, you can take a nice warm shower afterwards. I was walking very funny for a good 4 days, even that first run back (5 days post-race) was pretty painful. So, do not be like me and take that ice bath post-race! It takes some time to do, but is well worth it the next day and week. Trust me!

Do as I say, not as I do...

It's the BIG WEEKEND in Austin! Probably in the running and even triathlon world, the biggest event of the year; the Austin Marathon. It's pretty cool how much the entire town gets into this event. The fan support is incredible, it starts and ends downtown, and it is a tough, honest marathon course. That of course coming from someone who has done it a whopping once, but it sure put me in my place as my first marathon back in 2008. I'd say that it 'ate me up and spit me out' starting at about mile 20. I am hoping it does not do that to my husband, Derick, who is tackling it on Sunday (also as his first marathon!). I will hopefully do the half, though seeing that he so kindly passed on a head cold to me a few days ago which he had the week prior, I am crossing my fingers that a few days of rest here will allow me to run on Sunday. I LOVE to race, especially hometown races, however I am also fairly realistic and smart when knowing not to make oneself more sick. We'll see, for now I think it's a go but I'll make the final call on Saturday night. I did however hit a sneezing record for myself last night, at 9x. Just like Bueller.

The past few weeks, along with the help of Chris McCrary at Katalyst Multisport, we have nailed down a few relationships for the 2010 season. I'll be working again with Zoot, which I am very excited about, as their clothing and race shoes are second to none. I will also be partnering with Quintana Roo for my bikes this year. This is very cool, as QR was the first real 'brand' that I can remember back in my day of starting out with triathlon. They have been around awhile and they know the industry. The new QR CD 0.1 TT bike was recently called "The most innovative from any brand in the last decade" by Triathlete Magazine. I will also be working with PowerBar, which is the perfect fit for me, as PowerGels are what get me through the long, scorching hot rides here in Austin for 8 months of the year (did you know that their gels have 200 mg of sodium as compared to the typical gel of ~50 mg?). It has been nice to nail down these relationships, as well as get back into a routine of training. I finally started swimming with UT Masters last week, and I now see why it has the incredible reputation it has. Whitney Hedgepeth is an awesome, laid-back coach who writes these very unique workouts that fly by; and every one challenges you in a different way. Either in that the interval is touch-and-go, or it is a fast day and we are going off the blocks and throwing down times I have not seen in years. For me, it is fun to be around 'swimmers' again. Many of these guys are straight up badasses in the water; and the mentality and vibe of the workout is just 'different' than that of being around triathletes. Not better or worse, just different, in a refreshing way. It is also fun to connect with some other fellow triathletes in town who I do not normally see, as I train solo most of the time. Honestly I think it just gets me back to my swimming roots a bit. Now I just hope this translates to some more speed in the races.

Unfortunately, this past week has been a small bit of a setback in that I have been feeling a bit under the weather, but it happens and rather than try with all my might to fight it off, I have backed off on training, tried to get tons of sleep, upped the Vitamin C and let it run its course. I think that we 'have' to get sick every so often, because it builds up our immune systems; and, if we try to beat down every cold that wants to enter our bodies, I fear it will hit us even bigger later in the year. Best to get it out of the way! So I have tried to dial things back a bit and not let it get to me, which it does, but it could be worse. I plan to race on Sunday, toe the line and give it whatever I've got; hopefully the spirit of competition will overtake and I'll feel great.

That is about it for now. I am pushing forward with my Abnormal Psychology class through Texas State, and I have to say taking a correspondence class when it is 100% up to you when to study, not to study and do your homework, it is a little harder than I had imagined. I often find myself cleaning the house or painting my toes instead of 'studying'. Or I'll take the 'studying' to the TV and sit there watching some quality TV like the Real Housewives of Orange County, or Millionaire Matchmaker (have you seen Patty? she's a riot!). Guess I need to buckle down a bit more here in the next few weeks...

Thanks for stopping by. In the tone of 'do as I say and not as I do', be sure to take it easy at this time of year and listen to your body. Remember, it's ONLY February and the season is long...keep it all in perspective.

Music Review #2: Todd Snider

Derick and I are quite the social butterflies right now in Austin! Saturday night, despite he being at a bike race all day long (spectating) and me doing my first bike/run session in about 4 months, we ignored our slight fatigue and ventured out again for some live music. Since he was not hungry for dinner as he had eaten at Rudys BBQ (one of Austin's finest), I took the chance to have dinner at my favorite place, Polvos, and catch up with an old friend. That is putting it mildly; Lisa and I knew eachother in 2nd grade. She moved away, and she was (to me) lost and gone forever. I went to my 10-year high school reunion and ran into a friend who had kept in touch with Lisa. Long story short, she was now living in Austin (as was I) and we got back in touch. She had also lived in Colorado for a few years (while I had lived in Colorado Springs for about 5 years). To top it off AGAIN, she is now living about 1/2 mile from us in a house she bought, as did we. I could say Lisa is my long-lost best friend-meant-to-be, but it is really just a pretty crazy story. Best part is, Lisa loves margaritas about as much as I do! She is an architect and it is always refreshing to catch up with her and talk non-triathlon talk for an evening.

SO... back to the music... we had dinner, and Derick and I then ventured on to the Cactus Cafe, a great place to see music. It is also the Texas Union Ballroom; so it really feels like a 'show' vs. being at a bar. Our first (and only next to this one) show there was Brandi Carlile, who absolutely blew our socks (or my boots!) off. This time, we kind of splurged on Todd Snider tickets. Neither Derick nor I really knew any of his songs, but we both loved his sound. Oh, how to explain him... kind of Bob Dylan-meets-Bob Schneider (hear me out here; he raps a bit)-meets Tom Waits, but a bit more bluegrassy and less raspy; with even a bit of just good old country. To top it off, he is a great story-teller (many of which involve prison) and just plain entertaining. Maybe we have gotten more 'refined' in our music tastes, thanks to living in this kickass city, but it seems that both Derick and I can go to a show that we don't really know much about and enjoy it from start to finish. I'll keep my ramblings succinct this time; but if you do check out Todd Snider, give a listen to the following songs:

• Enjoy Yourself
• Tillamook County Jail (I told ya...)
• Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White, American Males

I am sure we may have different taste in music, but I bet that if you listen to these, you'll find yourself smiling. And if this isn't the point of good music, what is?

Willy Porter: Best of Austin Live Music!

Derick won on this one. It was about 8:00 pm on Friday night,, and we had debated going to see Willy Porter live at the Saxon Pub in Austin. We try to take advantage of the Austin live music scene, but by virtue of our (my?) lifestyle, we sometimes fall short (combined with the fact that it is not cheap to see good live music). Tonight we went to see decided to venture out. Saxon Pub is a small little bar, with a bit of a cozy, cabin kind of feel. I knew a few Willy Porter songs that I had heard from the CD Derick bought last summer. We had caught the song "How to Rob a Bank" when we were back in the mountains of North Carolina on a local public radio station.

Needless to say, he completely blew us away. While we do not see live music often in Austin, we have picked some damn good ones... Brandi Carlile a few times, Robert Earl Keen, Indigo Girls, James McMurtry, & Mason Jennings, to name a few. I was resistant to going out, seeing that it was 8:00, and I was crouched down on the couch with dinner, comfy clothes and a tasty beer. I have this weird thing that if I am not out by dinnertime, I usually don't want to go anywhere...anytime past about 7:00 and am then in for the night. But I rallied, figuring I had no real 'good' excuse to get to bed early tonight, knowing that it was better to spend a few hours expanding our minds than falling asleep on the couch to a mediocre movie. We headed to Saxon Pub around 8:30 and were in for a treat.

Succinctly, he was incredible. Absolutely raw talent. A hell of a good sense of humor. He plays a guitar like a mad man. It was just Willy, his guitar, his voice and occasionally, a harmonica. Willy was scheduled to play at 9, and, god forbid, he was out at 9:00! No 'opening band'. Don't get me wrong, an opening band is not a bad thing, but to me, 'no opening band' says that the artist does not think so highly of himself that he has to have someone 'open for him', thus making his fans wait even longer to hear him. Come on people, who does not like sleep? Big point #1 for Willy. He can improvise (he devised a song on a whim by topics presented from the crowd that included yoga, neopolitan, hula hoop, crack, & jack rabbit). My face hurt from laughing so much. When it came time for Willy to wrap it up (which he prompted after 75 minutes of straight entertainment), the eager crowd which had grown since the start cheered him onto more. Willy did not walk off stage, making us cheer him back, which again to me implies being highly fond of oneself and letting the crowd know it. After 30 seconds or so of loud cheering, he motioned 'one more?' to us and continued to stay on stage. He then did an amazing song about the midwest (he had me at 'Wisconsin') and how he was driving through Kentucky one night and encountered Jesus via a large truck; and he proceeded to have a deep conversation with Jesus, and his father. You had to be there...

I had to smile and appreciate my husband after this show; as Derick was correct in thinking that this was going to be a good one. From what Willy told us, he is originally from Wisconsin (hence his nice humble roots!) but seems to tour quite a bit (www.willyporter.com). If you enjoy a good singer-songwriter, and truly entertaining music, and a good time, check him out. You'll leave simply 'feeling good' about the world and you'll think twice about what 'fame' and talent really have to do with eachother. Because from my view, he is one of the most unrecognized talents out there.