“Some days you win and some days you learn”

I recently heard a quote that resonated with us today. “Some days you win and some days you learn”. Well today was both for us. David had a difficult day today at the Tunnel Light Marathon. He knew at mile 19 that it was not going to be a BQ kind of day. So instead of pushing through and potentially injuring himself, he backed off a bit, and met up with me at mile 24.5. I was pushing really hard, I hurt really bad and was not sure how much harder I could push. He was a ray of sunshine when I saw him in front if me, he had amazing words of encouragement and he knew I had it in me to not only get a BQ today but a PR by over 3 minutes. He kept me motivated to the very end and despite how bad he was feeling, he focused all his attention on getting me to that finish line. He is truly the world’s best training partner, my best friend and an amazing husband and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

This race was about 2 things, training for Kona and qualifying for Boston. I was fortunate enough today that all the stars aligned, the weather was perfect, I felt good when I woke this morning, my nutrition was on target, and I didn’t have to stop at the porta-potty during the race.

David at Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon 2016

I was so tempted to stop and take a picture along the way as this course is unbelievably beautiful. Nice wide non-technical gravel trail with about 2200 feet of drop over the entire marathon. Along with the 2 mile long, pitch black, cold Snoqualmie tunnel, trees as far as the eye can see, several trestle bridges with amazing views, it is easy on the quads and makes for a super fast course.  What more could one ask for in a marathon. I highly recommend this race or even just taking a hike on the Iron Horse Trail on a nice day. There are a handful of opportunities to do this race and all are Boston certified.

https://www.tunnelmarathon.com/

https://cascadesuperseries.com/

http://jackjillmarathon.com/

Change Your Story

Kinetic Sports Rehab is one of my biggest supporters and the feeling is mutual. I am not just saying this to promote their business or get you to click on their site, I have no invested interest if you do or you don’t. I do know that I would not be talking about them if I didn’t believe in them and what they do. They focus on functional fitness in a way that I have never experienced before. A combination of sports chiropractic doctors (http://www.kineticsportsrehab.com) who do soft tissue work, along with rehab specialists that work with you on the floor. For me, this has been a winning combination.

My first experience with the staff there was after a 19 mile trail run that went horribly wrong. I was in pain, in tears and thought my days of endurance sports were over. They have supported me throughout my journey of rehab and the realization that I would be able to compete again.

Since I started with them several years ago I have accomplished so much, my qualification race that took me to Boston, the Boston marathon itself, my first 50 mile trail run and now my training for the Ironman World Championship race in Kona on October 14.

Why am I talking about this, because I believe that there are no limits. It is all about your mindset, your attitude, your perseverance, your commitment, your drive and your dedication to what you really want in life. I heard a saying recently that stuck with me, ” The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world  needs dreamers who do.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach. So as my cousin Deb would say, Go and Be Great!

Check out this amazing video that Nate Dietz (http://nathanieldietz.com) from Kinetic Sports Rehab put together. https://youtu.be/4QjHo6RCs8Q

 

In the beginning

Someone recently asked me how I got started in the world of endurance sports. Well, it has been quite the journey. I was not an athletic kid, and as a matter of fact, in high school I would do anything to avoid PE class. Fast forward 10+ years and this was me. I woke up one day, somewhere near my 30th birthday, and decided that being an overweight, unhealthy couch potato was no longer the lifestyle I wanted. So I joined the local YMCA, started walking on the treadmill, changed my eating habits, learned how to use the equipment and began to see changes. I started to loose weight fairly quickly but thought that if I could loose weight walking, I wonder how fast I could loose it running. So, I began to run on the treadmill. And when I say run, I really mean jog, and that lasted about 15 seconds until my legs and lungs were burning. But, I didn’t give up. I would do run/walk intervals and slowly increase the run portion of the interval until I could run an entire mile without stopping. From there I eventually ran my first 5K. I remember thinking there was no way I would be able to run the entire race without walking, but I did and I finished in just over 30 minutes. A very proud moment for me. That race is one of my most memorable experiences, even today.

So a 5K turned into a 10K turned into a half marathon and eventually my first marathon, The New York City Marathon, November 2004. My family was there to cheer me on along with the thousands of people that line the streets, but my body was not happy and I walked a good part of the race, from mile 18 on. Again, I didn’t give up there. I did run 2 more marathons, Las Vegas x 2, before turning to the world of triathlon.

My triathlon experience was very much like my road running, first a sprint, rather about 50 of them, then some Olympic distance races, then eventually a half ironman and then my first full Ironman race, Ironman Western Australia in December 2007. This was an incredible day and a huge accomplishment for someone who was a former couch potato.

Fast forward 15 years from that overweight, unhealthy, couch potato and here I am. 7 Ironman finishes, over a dozen marathons, including Boston, dozens of trail races, numerous local crossfit competitions and I am now training for the biggest Ironman race of all, Ironman World Championship in Kona on October 14.

This is my lifestyle now, I am proud of it and grateful that I get to spend everyday doing what I love with someone I love. So remember, it is never too late to make a change for the better, whatever that may be.