Tri-Dogmom

What a great week last week! Lots and lots of good stuff people.... Ironman Canada - officially registered. OMG. To go along with it Shane & I also hired a coach! We're so excited to have a plan, and someone to help us reach our goals (which aren't exactly determined yet). Although we've been racing triathlons for 6-7 years, we've never planned a year form start to finish. Never worked with a coach for anything other than one specific race at a time. To say we're excited doesn't do it justice. I met our new coach, Lori-Lynn Leach after a track workout with our friend, Karen. We headed for "coffee" after the workout and Lori was in town for the week working with a couple of her athletes as well as visiting. Lori was giving the IMAZ athletes all sorts of nutrition and racing advice and I really liked what she had to say. Not to mention she lives in Canada and has done the race MANY times. After an hour phone conversation with her, Shane &a

We're approaching the 3rd week of 2010, and after a bumpy start with the loss of my grandfather things are really starting to go the way I had hoped (more on this to come). After taking a year off of Ironman racing, I was feeling ready. Even Shane is fired up. Ironman St. George was too early in the year for us to commit to, not to mention the intense course. We'll save that for the Supa and speed pants to own! I will resume my position of Iron Sherpa in May. Arizona is not really my thing (although I know better to say NEVER). Just like Coeur d'Alene, I've had Canada on my mind for quite some time. I know the course is going to kick my trash, but I'm rested, I'm ready. Bring it. Shane & I are working on a training plan (with help from our soon to be new coach!), and a race schedule. I can't wait to start working, and hurting and prolly eating a lot. I'm scared to death of the summer training, but I will just have to get used to 4ams again. So - her

While the new year started out with a fantastic weekend in Seattle (saved for another post), unfortunately we came home to a very sad ending. I received word while still at the airport in Seattle that my grandfather was not doing very well. My parents had moved him from Spokane to stay with them in October, as he was not in good health. Fortunately with weddings and ironman and our summer adventures in the Pacific Northwest, I was able to spend time with Grandpa in his final years. He was a trooper. One of the hardest working people I've ever met. He built everything he had, including his beautiful home on the Spokane river, from ground up. He never had a penny of debt or IOUs. A lot of my early memories were with my grandparents. Every Holiday spent at their home or ours. Weekends with them picking fresh raspberries and playing with grandma's makeup and jewelry. Fishing in Montana on Grandpa's boat. Asking for fresh peas from his garden, then cursing myself when I had to g