Tri-Dogmom

For as long as I can remember we used to call our long run days, Bubba day. Baxter would get to go for a long run and then snuggle with us on the couch as we recovered from training. It's all he's known. Running, training, the stupid bike rides where he got left behind for hours, to ending the weekends snuggling on the couch. Bubba Day. Although most people would say that pretty much every day is Bubba Day, I have officially declared every day until the end of his days BUBBA DAY! Last Saturday afternoon I was sitting on the couch recovering from a 7hour workout.  I had a big weekend planned, a sort of mini self training camp.  Baxter was sitting next to me and started to tremble.  It was odd, and concerned me.  I worried he was maybe sick, so I decided to try to feed him.  If he would eat then I figured he would be ok.  He ate his dinner and seemed fine so I prepped all my nutrition and bottles for the next day's ride.  A few hours later he st...

Marquee is kind of our local season opener! Nothing too exciting or different about this race, as pretty much all of our local races circle the same route, swim, bike run..... All in Tempe Town Lake, all loops on the bike around it with way too many turns and the same circles around the lake for the run! Let me back up a bit.  After camp I had a note in my training peaks with the race on it and a question mark. I wasn't really into doing the race, but I did want to support my local team, so I was on the fence. Rather than deciding myself, I let Michelle decide. She chose go for it, so we had a moderate week leading up to it where I could work on a bit of shorter speed work to wake up my legs from all of the long Ironman training miles. Then, I had a little mishap.....I was heading out on my bike for a Saturday ride and just feeling off. I hadn't slept well the night before and my allergies were driving me crazy! About an hour into the ride I got a really bad bloody nose and...

It seems like just yesterday I was sitting on my couch, legs in the recovery boots, shantini in hand with a smile on my face thinking about last year's camp. Just like the rest of life, it's flying by oh so fast. This past weekend I led a group of amazing athletes through a 4 day training camp where we trained ~19hours including 200+miles on the bike with 15000ft of elevation gain, 5500yards of swimming (OWS included) and 25miles of running (2 runs).  What is most impressive about this camp were the athletes attending it. I had athletes ranging from their first year in triathlon to 25 years of experience, as well as uber talented Kona and amateur title holders. Even more impressive than those stats was the GRIT these athletes showed. Executing a long weekend of training in RECORD AZ heat was mentally and physically challenging and each and every one of them nailed it and exceeded my expectations. The weekend started out with some serious travel obstacles which had my brain...

I have no idea how it is possible that the last 2+ months went by so incredibly fast.  Foras long as I can remember I don't think life has every moved so quickly.  Each week I pull up my training calendar, my personal calendar, my work calendar and I somehow manage how to plan everything down to the hour (give or take some flex) fitting in everything I possibly can.  Takeout lunch and dinner, over-priced pre-made juices and peanut butter have saved me more than once.  My wine fridge is over flowing because I don't have nearly enough time (or my husband's company) to enjoy it as often! Ironically, the busier I am the more productive and efficient I am.  My coaching business is taking off and I am BLESSED with such an amazing group of athletes to work with right now.  Each one different, with different goals, different bases, different schedules.  Hands down, if I could when I can make this my full time job, I would WILL do it in a HEARTBEAT.  Nev...

This past year has truly been one of the most amazing, fun, challenging and rewarding years of my life.  Doing things that make me happy and complete, healthy and young.  I've worked hard, I've played hard.  I've set goals, achieved goals, missed some and set new ones.  I can only hope and pray that 2015 fills my life with the same amount of love, laughter, friends, family, joy and happieness.  To each and every single person in my life that has helped make this year what it has been.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart. “Another fresh new year is here . . . Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest . . . To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!” ― William Arthur Ward I January we announced the my coaching busin...