Seattle Ironwoman

It's horrifying to type this out but... my Ironman is 3 weeks from yesterday. SHIT. That's so soon! I'm getting asked "how are you feeling?" and "do you feel ready?" to which I've been responding with analogies that I think are real like "well the hays in the barn" (is that a thing?) and "I've made all the big deposits in the bank" or something like that. First off, are these even real analogies? Unsure, but no one has challenged me yet so I'll go with it. But, what I MEAN remains true. Am I ready? I've done every workout I was supposed to. In the last 6 months I've missed two swims and one lifting session. I've raced only twice leading into this - the first was terrible and the second was great. My hamstring has been mostly good. I've been seeing what I'll call an "ironman versed chiropractor" who does mostly ART and graston type work on my body every couple weeks to try to stay tuned up.  ...

A couple weekends back I got the opportunity to race Ironman Coeur d'Alene 70.3. This was my first time to Coeur d'Alene (I haven't spent much time in Idaho at all...) AND my first time toeing the start line at an Ironman branded 70.3 where I wasn't injured! After a REALLY shitty first race of 2019, I'm not going to pretend I wasn't worried leading into race weekend. I have had great training most of this season, I've put in all the work (I am a super diligent athlete and I don't miss workouts), and I always put some pressure on myself to perform. I totally understand that we all have bad days (I mean, I was 1/1 on bad races so far this year), but there's a mental component and I just did NOT want to live in a negative mindset all year racing. I knew this race would be a confidence builder into my full Ironman in FIVE WEEKS, or it would do the opposite... I got to race CDA with my #wattiefam, and was stoked for a fun weekend! I also didn't w...

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...