Tri-Dogmom

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 ...

I had a conversation this morning about how I should really pick my races a bit more strategically?  Or, I don't know, perhaps pick a more flat one?  Nah, what fun would that be :) I actually have a bit of history with Lake Stevens.  In 2006, fresh off my first half Ironman, just over a year past a 4 year injury and surgery to fix my IT band, Shane registered for his first Ironman.  I was still in the phase of HELL NO, NEVER (I didn't live by my motto of never say never back then).  However, it did happen to be the summer of my 10 year high school reunion in Spokane, and the following weekend just happened to be this new half ironman race called Lake Stevens. Funny, I had spent the summer actually living in Lake Stevens between my junior and senior year of college when I got a summer internship working at Starbucks headquarters and never once swam in that lake! Side note:  Do you know what it's like to commute 40miles each way in traffic with a POS ca...

It's been a while since my last post.  I've finally unthawed from the blair witch half marathon, and am now working on trying not to melt outside.  Oh how I miss our summer house in Flag last year..... It's officially been over a month since I cried (literally) over the freezing cold, so I'm now allowed to complain about the heat.... Truth be told maybe my epic meltdown in Ogden was a blessing in disguise.  I vowed to embrace the heat, at least for a month and I think I've actually done so! The past 6 weeks have been an epic training block!  Since we decided to sign up for Lake Stevens 70.3, which has a killer/hard bike course it was time to do the work.  That combined with a BATSHITCRAZY training camp coming up in August with a 10k Ocean swim = lots and lots of biking and swimming. This is what my training has looked like for the past 7 weeks since the Ogden half marathon... I'm super excited to get to Lake Stevens and see if this bike block will pay o...