Tri-Dogmom

“Everything you can imagine is real.”   ―   Pablo Picasso One of my favorite things about keeping a blog and the fact I've had it for as long as I've been doing Ironman is that I get to go back and see myself over the years.  I giggle when I look back at my posts from 2007, while training for my first big race. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”   ―   Dr. Seuss ,   Oh, the Places You'll Go! Oh how that quote could not be any more perfect.  This year I chose to push harder, dream bigger and have no regrets.  It paid off in so many ways, not just in results but in where I see myself going and what I see myself doing. Last year, I looked back at my two New Years posts.   The first one , I shared how my year that started out in tragedy pushed me to go after new goals, t...

Having your birthday on a holiday where basically everyone you know is busy celebrating with their family, isn't always fun.  But, what can you do, just like many things we can't choose, we most certainly didn't choose the day we were born. Thankfully I have some pretty awesome friends to join me on (some) of my crazy adventures, so the celebration started early with a birthday swim of 36x100.  This is the biggest group I've had join me for my bday swim, and we had a blast! I have to say, as much as some of us make fun of Facebook, it sure does make having a birthday pretty awesome.  Who doesn't like getting ~100 Happy Birthday wishes!?  Two of my favorite little notes came from my sister and my mom's best friend. "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Sister, Happy Birthday to you!   I am so happy you were born & I hope your day is filled with all the finest of Mexico, Hornitos, Jell-O shots, mas cervesas, dolphins...

It's amazing the amount of time I can waste when I'm not training 20 hrs a week.  So after the Ironman fog lifted, I had way way way too much time on my hands.  I was determined to take it really easy for 3 weeks, just light activity, one workout a day.  Let me my body fully heal and recover.  My bank account took the biggest hit, when it just happened to be black Friday MONTH and I had some fun spending some money on a few other things than swim, bike, run, race, eat..... Work had been pretty slow, year end stuff, not a whole lot of marketing campaigns starting around the holidays for a pharmaceutical company. Again, too much time and an endless supply of internet (although sometimes I could swear that I've reached the end of it)... Then something caught my eye on Facebook.  Someone had posted a link about shoes.  Most everyone who knows me, knows I LOVE shoes!  Red ones, sparkly ones, HIGH ones.... And while they rarely come out to play these day...

This year has been my most enjoyable, hard earned and successful racing season yet.  There are so many things and people that have contributed to every PR, podium and even training success. First and foremost my coach, Michelle.  This was our third year of working together, and she has continued to push, motivate and find the best in me.  I think one of the reasons I've always respected her as a friend and my coach is that I can relate to her.  Michelle works her ass off for all of her achievements, and while she may not have won the genetic lottery, she puts so much into her training, racing as well as her athletes.  I'm super excited (and always a little bit scared) to see what she has in store for me starting back in January! Second, my mindset.  This was probably the hardest thing for me to build, grow and change.  I think this is probably one of the hardest thing for a (not naturally talented) athlete to perfect.  Having the confidence in...

A few months before Ironman, while trying to figure out plans for next year, Michelle mentioned something about me being cut off, or needing some complete time off after the race.  At first the thought stressed me out.  I hate resting.  While I listen to my body 95% of the time, and shut down when needed, I've had such consistent training and am like an aerobic engine I recover really quickly. My tune quickly changed after I had my near perfect day on November 17th.  I think about that Sunday all the time.  The pure joy I felt for 10.5 hours is still so fresh in my mind.  It almost scares me to think about trying to top it.   I left it all out there with no regrets and for the first time in a long time I allowed my body to completely rest and unwind.  The first couple days I didn't sleep a wink.  My brain was fried, and my body ached.  I lost my appetite until day 3, which just happened to be when we were in Mexico with fresh s...

Having (nearly) the race of your dreams actually happen is almost unbelievable!  As I look at pictures from the day, I'm so happy to see that the pure joy I felt out there all day long came across.  The shock as I turned the corner on Rio Salado and saw the time on the clock - all I could do was hold back tears and hold my mouth open in awe.  That's what happens when you leave your garmin on your bike and try to do math while in the 10th hour of racing.... it does not work out so well! This was my 6th Ironman and first time doing the local race.  My first one was in my "home" of Coeur d'alene and while I've yet to nail that race, I'm still partial to it.  So much so I'm going back next year for my 4th time on the starting line.  I've also raced in Canada twice, having an epic day last year.  So, this year was all new to me having home court advantage as well as having the most amazing race day support and cheers.  I had no idea how incredible...

I can't believe I debated this race.  After racing Tempe Tri 4 weeks before and having a "good" race, I just wasn't sure I wanted to go do loop after loop around that lake again.  The bike makes me so nervous, I never swim well and it's usually freaking hot. Then, about 2 weeks before the race when the last price increase was about to happened I decided, oh why the hell not.  I've been training my ass off, why not go see what can happen out there, so I finally registered. The only little hitch in the plan was we were finally getting back to Mexico for some much needed R&R.  With a busy summer season starting early, our last trip was the first weekend in June.  I always forget how much I love this place, but am quickly reminded when we reach the guard gate of our neighborhood and I feel like 20 lbs just lifts off my shoulders.  I look to the right see the gorgeous water, open a Sol and breath the fresh sea air.  It makes me HAPPY.  Thankful...

Last year Michelle decided to start a training camp in the mecca of triathlon land, Kona!  Unfortunately, it was just a week or so before IMCA so I wasn't able to participate... but this year, I was NOT missing out.   And, regardless of the fact that this camp started out as girls only, Shane didn't care - he wasn't missing out either! It was absolutely everything I hoped it would be, and more and I don't think there is anyway to capture the experience or properly give justice to the epic 5 days, I'll do my best! Michelle's theme for camp is simply, "you are stronger AND capable of more than you think."  She is spot on.  For the months leading up to this camp I was terrified.  Not that I couldn't do the distance, or the volume, but of the epic swim adventure Michelle had planned for us.  In fact, this first came up at IMCA over dinner, when she announced that it would be EPIC, and part of the camp.  I'm not gonna lie, I was the only one at ...