It is hotter than a habanero pepper in Death Valley! Yeah, yeah, that's stupid, but I was trying not to say hotter than the you know what in the you know where. Fill in what you will...
I did a 3 hour ride last Sunday with a couple of friends, and I did not fare well. Usually, I'm okay in the heat, but I haven't been riding much, and it got to me. I was nauseated and felt out of sorts the rest of the day into the next day. Amazing what being fried like an egg can do to a person!
I'm coaching a few people. I don't really discuss who I coach. You know, I may do so in a conversation or something, but I really don't make a habit of it. I kind of think it's confidential in a way unless the athlete doesn't mind that it's not so much, but still I don't ever discuss aspects about the athlete that I deem to be personal. I sort of view a coach and athlete relationship like a doctor and patient relationship. Maybe it's from working at the hospital for so long, maybe it's because I know how people like to gossip, and maybe it's just out of sheer respect for my clients.
I've been busy moving lately. I'm just moving across town, but I HATE moving. I try to get rid of as much stuff as possible. I donate. I sell. I plead with people to take stuff! I had a garage sale last week. What a joke! Hardly anyone showed up because it was like 105 degrees, and you know how those people are; they don't come with paper money, man. They want to pay 50 cents for everything. Anyway, $7. Yeah, that was the profit on the day. I won't ever do that again. I'll just have the Salvation Army truck pick up a load next time.

Here's another email: (cool name this guy has, huh?)

Hi Andrea,

Just thought Id write a quick note to say that I enjoy reading your journal entries. It takes courage to lay out your thoughts for others to read.

I have somewhat followed your career since you began racing duathlons and I was hoping you would be our next "Kenny Souza" of the sport. You have a great personality and presence that duathlon could use.

Im sorry about the injuries that have plagued you and wish you the best in your training and racing.
Good luck at Powerman AL! Tear it up!
If your ever in "hoosier" land feel free to give me a ring:)

Sincerely,
Andreas



Okay, it's me again. I forgot to tell ya'll that I'm part of this mentoring program. The Toronto Star wants to interview me about it. Read below:

this is nicholas keung, a journalist from the toronto star. i was referred to you by GLAA's brian osler for a story on the mentoring program.

i have a good sense of the issues from speaking with both tyler hoffman and brian. will be interviewing renemonteagudo and eric anderson in the next couple of days.

i wonder if you'd be interested in being part of the story and see how you can contribute to enrich the story.

essentially, we want to explore the issue of homophobia in the pro sport arena - any personal experiences and stories would be very much appreciated. we would like you to share you story of growing up being gay and pursuing a career in pro sport, the challenges, fear, isolation, loneliness and anxiety that you have to overcome to where you are and how this program can help make it easier for those to come. after all, that's what prompted the project.

please kindly email me or call me to let me know if you are interested in helping me out. let me know your day time/night time contact numbers and your availability next week.

the story is being planned for our sport section. there really isn't a deadline, but the sooner the better, since the mentoring program was launched in june.

thanks for your attention.

My heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by someone dying doing something they love. This past week an Olympic rower and National team cyclist for Australia was struck and killed while training in Germany with her team. Several other team members were hit and are in critical condition. I don't want to single this one incident out because unfortunately there are several like the guy from Portland last week who was doing a criterium race (or practice race) and struck a pole. He had his helmet on, but it didn't matter.
Accidents happen. Some are unavoidable, but some aren't. Please, please, please use your common sense out there. In this case I'm referring to a club ride I attend most Tues. and Thurs. nites. I ride with the faster group, and we tend to get a bit frisky, and pretty soon the ride simulates a race. I'm fine with that AS LONG AS PEOPLE AREN'T STUPID. We don't have a rolling enclosure yet some people like to ride as if we do. Passing/attacking in the left lane on a flat is one thing. You can see the cars coming and can make adjustments, but passing/attacking in the left lane as you're cresting a hill is downright stupid ESPECIALLY out on country roads were people like to drive NASCAR-like. I know most people make some of their dumb decisions based on exhaustion; nobody wants to get dropped, but I'm here to tell you that I'd rather get dropped than dropped dead.

On a more positive note: here's a lovely email from a fellow competitor in Ironman New Zealand. She sent me this after reading my Ironman New Zealand Aftermath journal.

Hey Andrea,
My name is Jess was 4th chickee in the end at IMNZ said hang on in there to u on the run (and yes that last bike on the rack was mine too) laughed when read that in your race report didnt laugh when read the rest man u had a tough day and were such a star a friend of mine got encouragement from you on the run course she was a young girl number 1292 and u smiled at her and she said something like man its tough and u said something like girl keep going you're doing better than me youre running.
I saw u near the end and did try cheer for u but admit I did cover cover man hands to cover my grasp of air when I saw u, I dont know u but I felt for you, and felt bad as you had looked so strong when I came past your earlier.
We read your race report we wanted to know you were going to be ok. You probably think it's a bit weird getting this email from someone you've never spoken to. Maybe it's silly just wanted to let you know that we're glad you're ok and that at the end of your race report you talked about the net races =0) you're one tough cookie and also wow that you managed to give positive energy to other racers out there I dont know if anyof them have contacted you but I know that Rachel number 1292 really appreciated it and remebers the excact words of encouragement you gave her and I am sure alot of other athletes out there were helped by your encouragement. I know the day didnt pan out as you wanted and it didnt let you show us or entertain us with your physical speed but you showed incredible mental toughness and good sportmanship I seriously doubt I'd have the "balls" to do what you did.
Anyway, Andrea I'll shut up now as am probably embarassing you, just thought sometimes words of support from friends or loved ones we kinda feel like they would say nice things because they love/like us etc maybe somehow if you know that you inspred a couple of strangers that would mean something.
Anyway you, hope you're enjoying some recovery relaxation and that you won't ever have to rely on your mind keeping your body moving like that again, hope you are ok physically and mentally. And if you're still in New Zealand there's a couple of girls in Hamilton that be delighted to treat ya to a bite to eat ....you're probably back state side though please just know that you inspired alot of people by your gutsy performance and incredible sportmanship.
See ya at another race
All the best
Jess Draskau Petersson

I shaved my head last week. Yeah, it was just time. I was contemplating the haircut thing, but then one day I'd had enough, so I went into my bathroom, grabbed the dog shears, and shaved my head bald. I lived through the Sinead O'Connor comments the first day. Now, my hair has some fuzz on it, so I'm not totally bald. I was never TOTALLY bald. I mean you could never see your reflection in my head or anything!
The new do feels glorious. I love it. I've shaved my head like this before a few times, so it's not a big shock to me. People tell me now what a beautiful head I have. Interesting compliment since I never hear it unless I have a shaved head! I guess people can't really see your head unless there's no hair on it. Hair is like clothing. It's alright sometimes, but it's really fun to be naked too!

Here's another fan email:

To Andrea Ratkovic:
I just wanted to say that I thought you did awesome on Saturday at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. If I would have had the courage to approach you Saturday I would have told you that! You are an amazing athlete so I had to look you up. Your achievements are admirable and you make me feel sedentary :) Best of luck in your upcoming races, I am definately in your corner!!
Sincerely,
Kristen J. Garcia

Sweet woman. She sent me 15 tulips shortly after I arrived home from this race in California.

I'm blown away by the outpouring of love I receive from people daily. How wonderful it is to check my email and find these beautiful gems one of which is copied below.

Dear Andrea,

I was so surprised when you posted your email address on your blog last week because it had never entered my mind that I could actually write you. So, I pretty much took it as an invite to do so. I hope you don't mind.

I have been reading your blog for about a year and a half now and and think you are pretty much nothing sort of miraculous. You have totally been an inspiration to me. You know, come to think of it, I am sure you are an inspiration and a source of strength to many, many more women than you could fathom since most of us 'lurkers' just read and go on with our endeavors, never to write you or let you know how you motivate us.

Well, I am here now to speak up for the silent majority and say, "You inspire us!" Don't stop.

Most faithfully and Sincerely,
A Quiet, but Huge Fan Of Yours,
Janeice Dean


My friends are going to Aransas Pass or Port Aransas this week (in Texas). In case they didn't realize, there is a hurricane headed their way. I advised that they not go, but they said the condo. people down there wouldn't give them a refund unless the island was evacuated. Morons. I told them to call the Chamber of Commerce which they did, and the Chamber people said, "Oh yeah, come on down. Everything's fine." Morons. I've been through several hurricanes when I lived down in Corpus Christi, TX. The idea is to get people to move to higher ground and away from the coast. You don't invite them into a potential diaster area. It's all about the money for those folks down there at the risk of the tourist's lives. I think that's pathetic.
Granted, Hurricane Emily is not suppose to pack a direct hit on Aransas Pass or Port Aransas, but given the strength of this storm anything within a few hundred miles' radius will be affected.
I dropped off some pet supplies to the Animal Rescue team here in Norman yesterday. I packed up lots of blankets, water bowls, dog bones, etc. The team is going to south Texas to pick up the pieces with the pets. Many shelters don't allow animals, so people are sometimes forced to leave their beloved pets behind to "ride out" the storm. Plus, there are always those animals that were homeless in the first place. Humans have the Red Cross and all sorts of organizations. Pets have no one to help them, so some volunteers here have created this animal rescue team. They were leaving out of Posh Pets of Norman. Good luck ladies! I wish I could have gone, but I have to work at the hospital tonight and tomorrow night and Friday.

The following emails are from a wonderful man whom I met at Ironman New Zealand. I was checking my bike into transition for Ironman New Zealand the day before the race, and there were loads of people taking pictures smashed up against the fence where I was. They weren't all there for me, of course, but they were there to see all of the pros. Anyway, Jim hollers out "RAT!" I quickly turn around, and he introduces himself. He'd been reading my website journals, so he knew a bit about my Achilles tendon problems of which he has the same. We have kept in contact since New Zealand.

(March)Hi Andrea; hey thanks for getting back to me! It was so cool getting to chat with you in Taupo. It turned out really good for me as you were the one person I wanted to meet! We didnt get to Taupo til Friday afternoon and after checking into the motel I went down to have a look at the bikes; its just so cool seeing all those bikes there ready to go! It was sorta late afternoon by then and it seemed like most had racked their bikes already. Timing was on my side, then, as not long after I got there you arrived. There was a heap I wanted to talk with you about, but I figured you probably had lots on your mind with the race. Loved it when the guy who went with you while you racked asked if you'd done IM NZ before, and you went 'Nooo, Ive never done an IM before; this is my debut!' As I walked away I wished I'd asked if we could get a photo together. The only triathlete I DID ask for a photo was with Siri Lindley, who walked right by me the next day at T2! What a lovely person she is; I loved watching her light up the 10k run while she was competing! I saw you ride through town beginning the second lap and then again leaving T2. Then when I saw you again heading out to 5 mile bay, you were walking, and I tell you, my heart did bleed for you. I knew that your achillies must have been hurting like hell. There were not many people where I was standing and you walked right by me, and it just didnt seem appropriate to shout out 'keep going' or somesuch, so I said nothing. My instinct told me to walk with you a while, and after reading your journal following the race, I really wish I had. It wasnt til the Sunday evening when I got home that I saw you had mentioned me in your journal, and I gotta say, Andrea, that was a BLAST! Also the fact you speak of Siri so fondly was cool too, in light of my meeting her. I just really hope your achillies gets good and you can get to Kona. My achillies is BAD! Ive had 50 physio sessions now, been to 2 specialists and yesterday went to the doctor who referred me to a specialist again. This time I think they will operate, which Im not crazy about, but if it fixes it.......
I can ride though; sometimes it feels better after a ride, sometimes worse, so I dont know. It doesnt help that Im on my feet on concrete all day, liftin heavy boxes and up and down ladders. Hey, I will sign off now Andrea; thankyou once again for gettin back to me, Oh, I want to say also, I have read a lot of athletes journals, but none compare with your writing; it is awesome! Hope to hear from you again. Cheers, Jim.


(June) Hey my friend, hows it going? Andrea, thanks for the email, and the advice on the achilles.Like you, Ive taken the orthotics out; HATE them, and now just got a slight heel raise in each shoe. Ive been in Auckland for a few days holiday and have been for a couple of runs. Hell, it felt good out on the roads. Been so long. The neat thing is the achilles was no worse after; it still hurt, but has done for 2 years. Also, like you, I just gotta accept, I think, that this is how its gonna always be. Good days and bad.
You are fantastic; fastest bike split at Worlds. My God, that blows me away! As does the fact that you reply to my emails. There is nothing that inspires me to get out on my bike more than reading youve kicked ass again somewhere. I just read again the story on you by Phil Marques. I read it first just before I met you in Taupo; one day I want to hang out with you! You are very cool, I think of you often.


Jim.

Yesterday I was talking with some people about cellphones when this one guy said that he used to race homing pigeons. Evidently, there's big money in that venture. Some of the pigeons themselves can cost in the $3,000 range. Anyway, he said back in the day if he was going to be late for work he would just write a note, attach it to the pigeon, and send it home to his wife to deliver the message! Is that a kick in the pants or what? You know you're a redneck when... just kidding.

I'm still sore from my crash the other day, but my road rash is healing up quite nicely thanks to a new found product called Scab Dab---how original and to the point. They also have some stuff called Nip Stick. You put it on your nipples to ease chapping and burning like if you've just gone for a run or whatever. I think this would come in handy for dudes. The stuff is made by Indigo Wild. You can look at all of their products on indigowild.com. I love their stuff espcecially since it's not tested on animals. Everything smells so good too.

Here's another fan email:

Dear Andrea

Wow I was almost glad to see that message in one of your journal entries "Do NOT email me at my websites which are andrearat and andrearatkovic with a dot com on the end of each. I do not own those websites and are not responsible for their content."

I have written to you several times at those addresses and have never had a reply .. I was just thinking that you were heaps busy and with travelling you didnt necessarily want to respond to fans emails ..they must get on your nerves after a while!! But when I read that comment I thought that you probably never got my emails.

My computer crashed for a while so I have only just come upon your journal again and am catching up on your posts. I actually wrote to you several times before came to Australia. I am such a fan of yours and was hoping while you were here I could get an autograph and maybe a picture but I couldnt find anything in the media about your itinery which was sad for me. I am in Sydney.

I love reading about your exploits and you are one amazing woman ..and beautiful and sexy to boot too! I was wondering if at all possible and if you get a free moment if there is any chance you could send me an autograph ..I will post my mailing address just in case. Meanwhile I wish you all the success in the world and keep healthy!! And keep posting so I can follow your wonderful career. I wish the Aussie media would have been more aware.

With best wishes
Karen

Just beautiful...

I'd like you to rent the documentary PROMISES. It's wonderful, and at a time when there is so much fighting between the Jews and Arabs I find the film to be necessary for a clearer understanding of what's going on over there. Honestly, I think you'll enjoy it.

I did a criterium this past Sunday here in Norman, OK. Not many women showed up which is unfortunate. I guess they were scared off because it was suppose to be 55 min. long. Well, don't tell me those women don't ride MORE than that in training! I mean come ON! In addition, the race was open women which means that all categories were racing together. I know that can be intimidating for beginning riders. The race organizers, in my opinion, should have had a 1,2,3 race and a 3,4 race giving the category 3 riders a choice in which race to compete since some are more advanced than others. Whatever race you sign up for prior to the start is the race you must finish in. I would have had the 3,4 women go 30 minutes and the 1,2,3 women go 50-55 minutes. You can still race them all together, but have different numbers and/or colors of numbers for the 3,4, so you can tell them apart within the race.
Women supposedly have a higher pain threshold than men do, so women suck it up!! I used to get dropped or pulled all the time in criteriums when I first started racing because I sucked in the corners, and I didn't like riding that fast with so many people around me. In road races, though, I was fine especially if there were hills! But, you know, I just stuck with it. Yeah, I got dejected some times, and there was even a tear in my eye sometimes, but I just stuck it out. I used to get dropped in the practice criterium up in Oklahoma City! I kept going, though. People encouraged me just like I'm encouraging YOU!
Women are always griping about there not being enough racing for them or enough money in the races. Well, you have to show up to prove that you're out there! I always try to support local events. I was suppose to work on Sunday from 3p-9p, but the race started at 4, so I just called my boss and asked if I could come in late. He said that I could. So, I rode a for a couple of hours and then did the criterium.
I crashed during that race. I can't blame it on anyone because I was by myself. I don't know what I did differently in that corner, but one time I just went down. I went down hard. It felt like my back wheel was on ice. Maybe I hit some hot tar or a piece of hay from the hay bales. Who knows? I have some road rash on my left arm and hip, and my back and pelvis are really sore. I'm going to see a massage therapist tomorrow to hopefully get realigned.

I'm going to put copies of emails I receive in these blogs. It amazes me how many people contact me. I'm humbled by it, and it touches me deeply. These people say that I inspire them. Well, they are the ones who inspire me...



To Dear Andrea Ratkovic,

Hi! I am a 36-year-old woman living in Mumbai (India). I work in a newspaper called Mid-day as a journalist and looked up articles on you while surfing the net on the triathlon. You are a super achiever and such a tremendously talented athlete.

I went to your website later and read up on you. India does not have a great sporting tradition and triathlons are relatively new to this country though there have been a few competitions here and I have enjoyed writing about them for our sports pages.

I think you are fabulous going through so many injuries and yet, conquering everything for your career. I am planning to run a 21 km half-marathon in January in my city, and training for it. have not done anything like that before and quiet nervous all the same. I am not a talented athlete/runner but Andrea, I have my own personal Everest to climb – finish the half-marathon in a respectable time.

Just wrote to you to say that you may not know it but you are an inspiration to so many like me, who just want to conquer their inner fear and reach some personal fitness goals.

I hope to read more about you, and also look up what you will be competing in next.I do hope you make a trip to India some day. We do not have the triathlons, but we do have the Taj! (one of the Seven Wonders of the World).

All the best for your forthcoming events. If you are inclined, do reply to this, it would mean a lot to me.

Best regards,
Ms Hemal Ashar

REMEMBER:  Do NOT attempt to contact me thru my websites (andrearat.com and andrearatkovic.com).  The site owner does not forward the emails to me.  You may email me at ratandrea@yahoo.com

I often wonder how I've been so blessed with the people who enter my life.  The men I've loved.  The women I've loved.  They have been the most extraordinary people.  Honestly, that's the only way to describe them.  I haven't had any abusers; although, there have been people who have abused my friendship.  I just had a 20-year old move out of my house who's obviously decided she doesn't owe me rent for the month of May.  She moved out in the middle of May ONE day after telling me about it!  She told me she would get her stuff out my house in a couple of weeks after she returned from a bike race in Canada.  Well, two weeks turned into like six!  I guess I could have had it removed and had a storage unit bill her, but I didn't. 

She's one of those "I'll be there on this day and call on that day" but never does.  She MAY show up and/or call two or three days later at HER convenience.  But, you know, I'm not going to make an issue out of it with her because she's chosen to do what she thinks is right, I guess, and that's on her.  That's HER karma--not mine.  It's not my place to judge.  I know that I took her in when she needed a place to stay.  I didn't make her sign a lease.  I didn't impose anything on her; she came and went as she pleased.  I was there every time she needed a shoulder to cry on.  I afforded her every courtesy that I could.  That's MY karma.

Speaking of---maybe it's my karma that enables me to drift through this time and space interacting with wonderful souls.  I must've been good in my past life.  I don't know the specifics.  I just know that I'm thankful.  I thank God all of the time for my good fortune.  I'm not sayin' I haven't had hard times, but I choose to see my cup as half full I guess.

I'm not training much these days.  I haven't run in over a week, and I haven't ridden hardly at all.  I feel pudgy.  I'm just going to work out for the sake of working out.  No goals really.  No time tables.  It feels weird.  I miss training for something, but I'm also enjoying the freedom of NOT training for something.  I'm enjoying working at the hospital more.  I've always loved my job as a radiographer.   

I recently went down to the Florida Keys to spend some time with my father. Prior to my going, there were 3 shark attaks off the Florida coast on the Gulf side. It was around the northwestern part of Florida. Naturally, my friends were a bit apprehensive about my going to Florida since the attacks. It brought back a memory to me. I was around 16 years old, and I was visiting my father at his home in northeastern Florida. (He still lives there but has rented a house for a month in the Keys each summer since 2003). I was about waist deep in the ocean when this large fish bumped into my leg. If you rub a shark one way it's smooth, but if you rub it the other way then it's a bit rough. Anyway, I couldn't run through and over the waves fast enough. I hit that shark with my open hand, and proceeded to hightail it back to shore. I swung my lower legs out to the side at the knees so that I could get over the waves faster. My heart was pounding. I made it to shore unscathed, but I'll never forget that day. I've swam with sharks before but never aggressive ones like the bull sharks. I say they're aggressive because they have one of the highest testosterone levels of all sharks. They also swim closer to shore, and now they are swimming even closer because the water is so warm. I have swam with reef sharks and nurse sharks and even a small hammerhead (small enough that I could have taken him!). I've swam with barracuda too. I guess at any time something could have gone awry. Afterall, the ocean is their home. It is merely a play place for us, and for some of us we make our living there, but it is not our home. We are land creatures. Just because we've done something a million times or been somewhere a jillion times, and nothing bad has ever happened doesn't mean that it won't.

My heart goes out to those affected by the recent shark attacks.  The folks didn't do anything wrong, and I don't mean to imply by the above journal that they did.  It sucks what happened to those people, and I'm sorry for it.