Reflections

 2013 was a BIG year, huge.  A ton of gains were made, plenty of tears to go 'round, a couple of AG wins, 2 trips to the big island, and the granddaddy of them all, crossing that Kona finish line.  What you'll see I didn't mention, injury, burnout, DNF.

I attribute this to several things...my coach and my (gr)attitude.  See I really wasn't supposed to q'fy for Kona.  No where in recent years has anyone qualified for Kona in Arizona with a 10:50 finishing time (in my AG).  HOWEVER, don't take that to mean I don't think I didn't earn my spot.  Oh it was earned for sure, I fought for that finish.

"Sometimes opportunities float right past your nose.  Work hard, apply yourself and be ready.  When an opportunity comes you can grab it." - Julie Andrews

Sometimes opportunities float right past your nose. Work hard, apply yourself, and be ready. When an opportunity comes you can grab it.

Julie Andrews

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/julieandre393020.html#uVbTIosYJbTxIJvT.99

Sometimes opportunities float right past your nose. Work hard, apply yourself, and be ready. When an opportunity comes you can grab it.

Julie Andrews

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/julieandre393020.html#uVbTIosYJbTxIJvT.99

Sometimes opportunities float right past your nose. Work hard, apply yourself, and be ready. When an opportunity comes you can grab it.

Julie Andrews

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/julieandre393020.html#uVbTIosYJbTxIJvT.99

After I took the slot, talking with Michelle, she mentioned to me..."things will be different now".  I had no idea what she meant until training ramped up.  Not because she coached me any different (that I could tell anyway ;)) but because I knew I had to step it up.  No more missed workouts, no more late nights, no more half assed workouts.  I was about to step onto the biggest stage of my life and I wasn't going to let any 'what if's' cross through my mind on October 12th.

So I worked hard.  Missed VERY few sessions, ate well, slept well, basically said goodbye to my social life..that is unless I saw you at the pool, on the bike, or while running...oh and if you came to my house to watch the game and didn't mind if I fell asleep in the middle of it.  Bless my true friends who stood by me.  xoxoxo

Consistent training and fierce focus got me across the finish line...my FOURTH ironman....in KONA.  What a deal. 



And guess what I've done since?  Hmmm...REST, REST, REST.  Mostly for the mental side.  I decided before Kona I would be taking it easy the rest of the year, doing what feels FUN (surf class), and not beating myself up over a missed workout until after the 1st of the year (there has been a LOT of those).  I've said 'yes' to social events.  Only the past couple of weeks have I gotten back into the pool...last week was my first week of 3 swims.  Ha!  I have been keeping up with my long runs as the first race of the year is a 1/2 marathon with a full in April.  It's been NICE.

Big things are in store in 2014.  *teaser*  I have a first go of my race schedule.  Ironman Cozumel is happening.  Potentially this will be the year of 2 IMs...in true BSC style.  Stay tuned...

this may have contributed to the tears...

Before I forget (although I highly doubt I'll forget this EVER), I should document that this was the song that was playing when I crossed the finish line on October 12th, 2013.  Pretty darn perfect.  :)

Kona Camp 2013!

Until I have some time to jot down my thoughts on Kona Camp 2013 (I'm racing this weekend!!)...check out my coach's write up on it!  It was definately epic.  And yes, some of those tears were mine.  :)

Many memories were made and as coach mentioned, there were friendships made that will last a lifetime. 

Summer Mood Board

Can you tell *someone* is getting excited for the beach?!  I totally dig these mood boards I'm seeing out on the web lately.  I'm no graphic designer (obvs.) but here's my summer mood board.  Bets are that my winter mood boards won't look too different.  I'm a land locked beach bum, sigh.  Good thing I leave for Kona in less than 2 DAYS!  *squeal*

**I'd love to give credit where credit is due, but I didn't keep track.  None of these photos are mine.  :) Ok this last one is mine.  My sweet pirate nephew photo bombing Robert and I...LOVE!!

Deep thoughts on Destination Training...

Ok, not really deep thoughts, just some thoughts... I've been meaning to write this post for a couple of weeks now, so the enthusiasm has dissipated a bit.

Swim * Bike * Run * Eat * Sleep * Eat * Repeat

Who doesn't love a good solid training camp?  Away from distractions of home and work....it's brilliant. 

This year I have 3 camps on my schedule.  2 'organized' and 1 was a big block away from home with a fellow BSC'er and a solid schedule from coach.

CAMP (ish) #1 - Kelly and I hunkered down in the great state of Texas this March in prep for IM Texas (her race).  We had a long winter and she needed some solid saddle time in the 'heat'.  We supplied our own nutrition, SAGs, schedule etc.  Not your typical camp but destination training nonetheless.  You can see the numbers here.

CAMP #2 -  End of June, IM Wisconsin preview camp...Madison, WI...another solid weekend.  Away from the hub bub of home/work/etc.  There were 4 of us from the KC metro that traveled up north to escape the heat of Kansas to enjoy some cheese curds and build more saddle time on the beautiful hills in Madison!  Becky is racing IMMOO in several weeks and it was a good opportunity to preview the course.  It's tough, BTW.  This was put on by a triathlon club (I won't name names) so it was supposed to be a brainless operation.  Ya know, marked courses, SAG support INCLUDING nutrition/water out on the courses, encouragement for all athletes, etc. etc. etc.  I don't want to bag this group, but details that can make or break an athlete during a heavy training weekend were not provided to all athletes...I'll leave it at that.  Overall it was serious bonding time with good friends and major time in the saddle and on the legs.  Coin in the bank, hay in the barn...it all adds up.  :)

CAMP #3 - Well...it hasn't happened yet.  ~2 weeks I'll be headed west.  It's bound to be the most bat shit crazy of them all by far (um, a 10k swim @ camp?!).  It's the one I've been looking forward to for a year and a half now.  I'm pumped!  Coach Mama Simmons Kona Camp!  It'll be fun in the sun with some of my favorite people (some who I have never met, but I positive they'll be my favorite ;)!!! I'm excited to 'preview' the course prior to October and WORK HARD. 

I'm sure we'll have LOADs to report...stayed tuned!


To each their own on destination training camps, love them or leave them.  I'd definitely do my homework before forking over some $$.  Some of the better ones I've attended are the more expensive ones, but if I'm going to train away from home, I like having the logistics worked out for me every now and again. :)

Dreamin' Big

where has the time gone?!

I'm excited, scared, nervous, anxious, etc. etc. etc. Just like (almost) everyone else before their IM!

I am most excited to run across that finish line with a giant smile...no matter what the clock says (as long as it's 16:xx and change of course :)).  Seriously, I've had a ball this season.  An awesome new coach, close friends to train with, several PR's scattered around...I'll have nothing to complain about when crossing that finish line.  I'll have my family and friends waiting for me and for that I'm stoked.  I've not ever worked as hard as I have this year.  AND IT'S BEEN FUN.  *insert cheesy grin here*

All that being said, I still have big dreams, big goals, FAST expectations. why shouldn't I?   I've never heard anyone say 'Don't reach for the stars...they are waaayyyy the f up there....you're arms aren't long enough to grab one'.

To those who don't like MY big dreamin'.  I'll get my star.  It may not be on the 18th, but the 18th won't be my last try.  Thank you very much.  You've fueled my fire, you've motivated me that extra step closer to my star.  So if you don't mind, I'll keep dreamin' BIG.

. 

Is It Ever Going To Be Enough?

Check out my new fav running song from Metric - Gold Gun Girls...it's RAD.  You just can't beat the title.  AND it made me run ninja fast the last 3 miles of my 10 miler this morning.   

I wonder, is it ever going to be enough?  What is it? 

Wicked Week!

What a week!  B/t training, Christmas shopping, and work (that's in order of priority, right?!), it's been crazy.  Good crazy.  Let's re-cap day by day, shall we?

Monday - Work, BIKE 3 hours on the trainer.  What a mental challenge.  And a challenge for the rear end when it hasn't been on the bike that long since NOVEMBER!

Tuesday - VACATION DAY!  I took the day off to go Christmas Shopping and to get some solid training time in.  I started the day with a 4000 yd. swim set.  I threw in some shopping in between my swim and my brick.  What?!  A brick session so early (or late) in the season?  This one is fun as it's 20 or so on the bike, treadmill for 20, bike for  20, treadmill for 20, etc.  1:30 hrs.  I ended that last run with a 7:30 min mile!  It's such a good feeling to mentally push yourself for what you need/want to accomplish.  It only hurts for a little bit, right?

Wednesday - URBAN ADVENTURE!   Our team wraps up each base camp with an urban adventure course in Kansas City.  It entails a combo of running, bikeing, climbing, crawling, lifting, jumping, splashing, shoveling, planking, riddling (is that even a word?!), etc.  This was my first experience actually participating.  In four years with this group I am so miffed that I've never done it before!  I had a smile on my face the whole time!  It was the most fun I've had in a while.  I tried to capture some of the experience via camera, but they came out a little dark.  Boo.

Team Jolly!

This is the 'easiest' of the climbing.

Finish line - 3 hours after the start time!

Here's my pup Jasmine guarding our sand bags we had to make and carry with us!  The more we brought to the finish = time bonus!

Thursday - 4-5 mile run.  It was supposed to be an easy run b/c it was my REST day!  It did not turn out to be easy, as usual, especially with the group I ran with.  After my run I lifted 30 min with my trainer, Whitney @ Studio Alpha.

Friday - Swim - 2500 yds.  Pretty pathetic swim.  I was hungry and tired.  Hungry and tired for me = biiiiiiaaaaatch. 

My husband only wishes I was this 'nice' when hungry and tired.

Saturday - 10 mile run.  Woop Woop!  You know that feeling after a run when you nail your splits?  First 5 easy, ran with a friend to take my mind off how early it was and how COLD it was.  Last 5 miles, I really pushed it.  The purpose of the run was FOCUS.  So I did.  Here are the splits for 6-10...

6 - 8:52

7 - 8:37

8 - 8:10

9 - 8:12

10 - 8:00

My new fav quote.  

Don't quit. You are already in pain.  You're already hurt.  Get a reward for it.

Mega Training Week

So I get in the habit of posting, these will be short and sweet. :)

It's the off season! Why did I decide to tell my coach to "bring it on" this week!? My husband is out of town this week visiting his parents, I thought I needed to fill my time with a MEGA week. First thing's first. Monday = bike, 3 hours. I live in Kansas, it's December 12th. That means TRAINER SESSION! I have not been on my bike that long since Worlds in Vegas, November. Wow, I need more time in the saddle, my saddle is hurting!

On deck tomorrow, ME! That is the pool deck. A.M. swim session followed by an 1.5 hr. brick.

BRING IT ON!

2 x's a charm right?

I tried to blog once. That didn't work out so well, so here goes again! Even a blog deserves a second chance right? I might as well get started before I make it a New Years resolution. I read blogs most everyday, so I should have plenty of time to add to mine as well. So if anyone wants to read my story (or not), I'll do my best to capture balancing work, training, and somewhat of a social life.