Seattle Ironwoman

I'd apologize for the lack of posts this year, but: I don't know how many people keep up on this I'm busy I'm not sorry 😏 Life comes in waves, and 2019 so far has been really busy. A lot of travel, finally a lot of training (seriously thankful), but at the end of the day, very manageable stress life levels.  I feel so fortunate to be able to train this year. Losing most of last year, not being able to run, I am constantly reminding myself to just appreciate every run, even when it's track sprints... Every time I think something like "but I'm so sore, I'm so tired, I don't wanna...." I remember that it's a privilege to be able to move my body and do the things I do! The last couple months have had some really fun triathlon upgrades! I got a new Roka wetsuit that I'm pumped about - I've been swimming in a really entry level suit since I started in triathlon. Of all three sports, swimming is the one where I feel like I...

My gut instinct to describe my 2018 season is "fail". I DNF'ed my first triathlon, wasn't able to race the ultra trail ragnar in Zion, and I didn't toe the start line for Ironman Chattanooga. Really, nothing this year went the way I thought it would! I didn't get to run at all for half of this year and am STILL battling this lingering hamstring injury. It's not in my nature to be negative for too long - I am hard on myself but never dwell on it for too long. In reality, reflecting on the few short course races I did get to do - I placed higher overall in each race than I ever have (despite having NO run fitness). My run times were terrible (to be clear, I was thrilled to just be ABLE to run, it was a gift to get to a finish line), but my bike and swim were way better. I have a whole new relationship with my bike. Even though I felt cursed this season and was so upset every time I re-strained my hammy (which happened like 4 times), maybe in the long term ...

I'm almost 5 months into a hamstring injury. I injured it running downhill on Jan 31st. Two weeks later I tried to run on it and restrained it. I've managed to continue to agitate it and restrain it a couple other times. I know injury and recovery are never a straight line, but this has been pretty demoralizing emotionally. I miss running so much.  This injury has been really hard on me. I think it's because this was supposed to be my year to RACE HARD and see what I'm really made of. I got a coach, got power on my bike, and had a taste for some SPEED after finally getting quicker last year (and getting on some podiums)! It's taken some time to get over that idea - the idea of what this year was "supposed" to be. In reality, all I had to do was change my mindset, focus on the positives. I went to Victoria earlier this month for a half Ironman. I had initially wanted to place in my AG and get closer to AWA status. But, instead I DNF'ed. I went into ...

I started writing a post about my 2018 goals, races, travel, all the awesomeness that 2018 should be, but it's hard to dream about racing as I'm currently battling a hamstring strain.  Three days into training with my coach (I am working with a coach 1:1 this year! more info later), fully knowing my knee has felt off for a while (and having it all taped up), 36 minutes into my 45 minute run cruising down capitol hill I got instant sharp pain from the back of my knee up my hamstring. UGHHHHH. It was the kind of pain you can't run through. I've now been a non-runner for about 5 weeks. FEELS LIKE FOR-FUCKING-EVER since I last ran. I know injuries take time but I have almost no patience. I'm taking out my frustration on the bike and in the pool and I cannot imagine how I would be feeling if I didn't have those outlets. I'm going to PT twice a week and finally got cleared to do short and easy running intervals (20 seconds of running, 1min40s of walking), which f...

Quick Summary: Swim: good. PR by 1ish min. Got punched in the eye. Bike: good. PR by 45 minutes. Didn't get a flat, hit my goal time, really enjoyed it. Run: hard. PR by 1 hr 15 min (in Ironman racing). Was proud, but know I can improve here. Best Ironman race without a doubt.   I put together all three legs of the race which was my main goal. Am thrilled with how race day went! To all my friends and family that supported me throughout training, sent texts and messages and love all day - I am so grateful and humbled to have you in my life. Knowing you were tracking and watching all day helped me keep going all day. I love you all! Ironman Arizona Race Report Night before:  Slept three hours. Morning of:  Woke up with a massive headache. Super cranky. 3:45 am wakeup in mountain time is toughhhh. I ate my standard English muffins with pb+j, 2 cans of cold brew coffee, and some nuun. Isaac and I were able to walk to the start line which was only 0.7 mi...

IT'S RACE WEEK for Ironman Arizona. I can't say I'm enjoying tapering, but I am looking forward to heading to AZ! For the first time - I feel like I'm heading into this race prepared. I did 3 - 100+ mile rides. Last year, I went into Boulder having gone 82 miles as my furthest ride. This year, I ran 16.5 miles as my longest run (did that 3 diff times), but on one of those days ran a second time and hit 21 miles running for the day. I swam about the same as I have for every race. Maybe next year I'll actually try to get faster at swimming... :) I know what I can control on Sunday, and that many things will cross my path that I can't control. That's the part that makes it an adventure. KNOWING that things will not go according to plan is really the only certain thing about racing a full ironman distance! This year I've had some success racing - I did two triathlons (olypmic and 70.3 distances) and got first in my age group and top 10 overall for the wome...

Light at the end of the tunnel! Only one month until Ironman Arizona! I haven't hit serious burnout on this training cycle, probably because I took 3 weeks worth of vacation during the 6 months of training (without biking or swimming those weeks!). What I'm looking forward to the next few weeks is being DONE with 6+ hour trainer rides. The weather has gotten too cold/stormy to ride outside. I'm a fair-weather cyclist and have no interest in freezing my butt off outside. However, 6 hours on an indoor trainer is a major mental strain. When you ride 100+ miles outside it's hard, but you have downhills/flats you can coast, scenery to distract you, and a lot of movement in and out of aero position.  6+ hours on the trainer is sweaty. It's uncomfortable. You ache, you sweat a lot, you doubt yourself... a lot goes through your mind. The setup. Towels underneath and all The mental breakdown of 100+ miles on the trainer: :30 - Warmed up. I can do this.  I'm an I...