Why?

I'm now over a month out from Ironman Boulder. It already feels like a lifetime ago. I'm turning my training focus to my 50k (31 miles) in 14 weeks. I'm a little scared but it's that fear that drives me, so I'm also excited. This will be my longest run race to date! My training plan's longest run is a trail marathon, which I've also never done...looking forward to spending some quality time up at Cougar Mountain getting ready!!

I've reflected a lot on why I love endurance racing the last couple weeks. Whenever people ask, I have such a hard time articulating why I keep signing up for these long races. Why I push myself through grueling training plans when I could just be brunching, day drinking, shopping, sleeping in, Netflix binging ... all things that sound fun. But doing those things doesn't fill my tank. It doesn't build a fire in me. Living that life makes me feel empty. Unfulfilled. Bored. Sad.

So that's why I am always training. I am always hunting that next thing to find that point I thought I couldn't break past - and then keep going. I love that pain that burns in your quads, in your calves, in your back, in your core, in your shoulders... where every step hurts, but you keep going because that's the moment you know you're growing. That's the moment the rest of the world stops and quits. That's when people think their body can't keep going. But that's the moment I am searching for. When your lungs are burning, your hammies are screaming, the path ahead just keeps climbing with no end in sight... that moment that instead of stopping I keep going. Even if I think I have nothing left in the tank, I know that I always do. I tell myself that I'm an athlete, I can overcome this, I won't stop. No climb is too long, too steep, too hard. As long as I put one foot in front of the other, I'll make it to the top, make it to the end. 

Having that mindset essentially makes anything possible. I have no doubt that in the future I could run a 100 mile race. Sure, I can't even comprehend training for that yet and have building to do, but if I put in the time, I am sure I can check that off my bucket list too.

BUMBERSHOOT 2016

Last weekend was Bumbershoot, Seattle's music festival! It was an AWESOME weekend. Highlights: G-Eazy (currently obsessed with him), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Fetty Wap, Halsey, Bishop Briggs, Jai Wolf, Gryffin, Ryan Caraveo, Third Eye Blind, Jojo. Billy Idol. 

Fall running <3

Other news - I've become an ambassador for one of my fav brands - Love the Pain! They're an endurance sports brand (www.lovethepain.com).

Loooooove my new gear, thanks LTP!

The weather has already changed to Fall here in Seattle - which most people from here complain about but don't actually mind. I don't mind gray days. I like Fall - running in Fall is ideal temp for me. I don't mind some rain - I feel like it cleanses the city, and me when I run in it.
Well, happy Fall Seattle. I'm looking forward to cooler temps, leaves falling all over my trails, pumpkin flavors in way too many things (basic white girl bs), football, and all these tourists frequenting my neighborhood less!!