Officially Training for Ironman 140.6

Miscellaneous

Well if you couldn’t tell already from my new blog header then I am officially making it public knowledge now — I signed up for my first 140.6 and will be competing in Ironman Lake Placid on July 23, 2017!!

I announce this calmly now, but when I registered back in August I was a hot mess! I’ve carried the 140.6 dream deep in my heart since starting triathlon nearly four years ago. Then while training for Ironman 70.3 Ohio, I noticed how much fun I was having and I knew the time was right to think about a full Ironman. I felt challenged, inspired and so much joy as I pushed on towards my goal of 70.3. It was early August then and I was nearing the end of my training for the half Ironman. I was shocked to find myself so desperately sad that it would soon be over. I knew it was a sign that I was ready for 140.6.

I started doing research and very quickly stumbled upon Ironman Lake Placid. I was looking for a mid-summer race that had to be within driving distance of Cleveland. I also wanted my first 140.6 to be a large, iconic race and for it to be scenic and challenging. Lake Placid fit the bill for everything I was looking for. For two weeks straight I did research about the race. I read every race report and blog post about Lake Placid that I could find. I was so consumed by the idea that I could hardly sleep. Could I afford it? Could I handle the training? Would I survive the hills? Am I in over my head? Am I an idiot?

I was legitimately obsessed and I couldn’t stop thinking about competing in Lake Placid. Finally after countless late night talks with my husband and long conversations with my friends and mom — I felt confident enough to register. The whole time I was registering I was shaking and sweating. I felt sick to my stomach, but also so excited that I wanted to scream and laugh at the same time. I was nervously laughing as I typed in my credit card information. Then I had to take some deep breathes to finally be able to hit “submit” on the screen. After I did I ran around the house laughing and screaming like a crazy person!!

(I was later told that my emotions while registering for a full Ironman were pretty common — LOL. I guess registering is one of the scariest parts!)

With the excitement of my first 70.3, our 1-year wedding anniversary and a 10-day trip to Italy, I hardly had time to process everything. Then when we got back from Italy it was full marathon training time and now after a crazy few weeks I am just starting to wrap my head around everything. I have been researching training plans, coaches, prep races and everything in-between and I can feel the excitement starting to grow again.

Right now I am on week 3 of 6 for a weight training program. I’m enjoying taking some time off cardio/endurance training and having fun remembering why I fell in love with lifting weights like when I first got into fitness. It’s nice to not be obsessed with weekly mileage numbers, although I know I will be again soon!

My tentative plan is this:

Finish my weight training program, which will take me into November
In November join (another) gym and start taking an endurance spin class 2-3 days a week (this will help keep me honest in bike training over the winter). Also I’ll buy a new bike and an indoor bike trainer and start using that. (All while keeping up with regular running and workouts)
In December I will get back into the pool (swimming is my least favorite discipline and I wanted to take some time off after 70.3 — trust me I needed it mentally) (Still keep up with regular running and workouts)
In January I’ll start 29 weeks of training to get me to July 23. (Actual training plan is TBD)
I will throw in key training days and prep races including a (possible) spring full marathon, a few 100-mile rides, a few long brick workouts (80-mile bike and 20-mile run), one 70.3 distance and a few Olympic distances to even it all out

This summer I learned that I’m decent at hills. I wouldn’t say “I love hills”, but I would say that I think I’m pretty decent at riding them. Nothing beats the challenge of getting up a massive hill and proving to yourself that you can do it. Lake Placid has a challenging bike course, but there’s something about it that excites me. I’ve read the race reviews and honestly I’d rather have hills than riding flat. I loved Ironman 70.3 Ohio, but it was SO flat that I grew bored at times. In a few longer rides I did over the summer I knew where the hills were and my excitement and nerves grew as I neared it. To me hills help pass time. Also the swim at Lake Placid is supposed to be second to none. It’s in Mirror Lake and one race review said it’s the closest thing to swimming in a pool because the water is so clear. Not to mention the Lake Placid course in general is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL! (I’d expect nothing less of upstate New York in the Andorak Mountains!)

It’s gonna be crazy, but it’s gonna be such an amazing journey and I’m excited about the challenge. I know there will be low points as well as great high points.

Right now I am focusing on getting in great workouts, building as much muscle as possible and doing a lot of research. I’m so thankful and grateful to be able to afford to train and compete in this race. Here’s to another crazy Ironman adventure!

70.3 Training Week 12 & a Trip to Philly/DC

Miscellaneous

Well we made it through another week of training! I knew this week’s mileage would be down compared to the last two weeks – giving our bodies a little break – which was nice. I also knew it was going to be challenging to fit in all my training since we were going to Philadelphia and Washington DC over the long weekend.

I had a lot going on during the week and our long weekend trip was pretty exhausting. We were up super early everyday to get in all of the sightseeing and events we had planned. At one point from Saturday morning to Sunday night/Monday morning we were up for 20 hours straight! I feel like I was scraping the bottom of the barrel a few times – squeezing in super early or late workouts and just barely making it and falling into bed exhausted after everything was said and done. I caught myself again this week asking “How do people train for FULL Ironmans when I’m barely hanging on with one arm training for only a half?!”

Training week 12 went a little like this:

Monday – First rest day in two weeks and I felt like the laziest person in the whole world
Tuesday – PM, 10-mile spin and a slow 5K (working on getting my legs more used to running off the bike)
Wednesday – 1-mile swim in the AM and a 19-mile road ride with Cleveland Triathlon in the PM
Thursday – 40 minute circuit training with my coworkers during lunch and a 1-hour spin in the PM
Friday (left for vacay in the PM) – 8-mile run super, crazy early
Saturday (Philly) – Meant to workout – didn’t
Sunday (DC) – Meant to workout – didn’t
Monday (Memorial Day in Philly) – Meant to workout – didn’t

So as you can see Friday, Saturday, Sunday were complete busts during our trip. I woke up Monday feeling cranky and fat (LOL). I woke up at 4:45AM to fit in a quick 6-mile run before my 8AM meeting and felt more like myself afterwards. The good news is we walked over 5 miles every day on the weekend, so it’s not like we were laying on the couch eating bon bons. Still my mileage was WAY down (which I expected), but it still hurt to see.

I’m trying not to let it get me down and I came out swinging this week too, so I think I’ll be OK. I also am planning on doing a pretty long (maybe even the full distance, but haven’t decided yet) indoor training session on Saturday morning. I’m planning on doing all three disciplines and practicing my nutrition. I’m thinking about wearing my wet suit in the pool at the gym too, but I’m a little nervous I’ll get yelled at or people will stare. I guess who really cares though, right? And it’ll be good to practice in considering I haven’t worn it since last July!

Despite the lapse in mileage this past week, I feel pretty good. I’ve got a solid plan this week and my first race of the season is next weekend on Saturday. (The Greast Western Reserve Triathlon – Olympic distance.) We also had a complete blast in Philly and DC and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I’ll leave you with a few pictures. Happy training week 13!!

I’m Coming for You – Ironman 70.3 Ohio [Aug 21, 2016]

Miscellaneous

I signed up. With shaking hands and my stomach in knots I officially signed up to compete in my first Ironman 70.3 triathlon!

This has been my goal and my dream since I started doing triathlons two years ago. I knew I had to give it some time though and first learn the basics of the sport. I’ll be the first to admit that I still have A LOT more to learn about triathlons, but I do feel confident that I know enough about the training (and especially how much training) I’m going to have to do. I’m actually pretty excited to start a 25-week training plan for the race – remind me of this once I get through the first couple weeks though 😉

Overall I am super nervous, but also really excited. 2016 is going to be the year I can say I am competing in an Ironman and I already get goose bumps just thinking about crossing the finish line.

Here’s to my “A” race of 2016 and special thanks for early registration from Cleveland Triathlon Club! (The event is already sold out.) This is going to be a race to remember!

Learn more about Ironman 70.3 Ohio.

2015 Cleveland Triathlon Review

Miscellaneous

Well – I survived my first Olympic distance triathlon! I went through a whole range of emotions on my first long distance venture and (thankfully) lived to tell about it.

This weekend was the Cleveland Triathlon taking place right in downtown Cleveland. The weather was sunny and about 80 degrees. (Perfect in my books.)

I was surprisingly very calm on race morning. I thought I’d be freaking out about the swim, but I kept telling myself that it was going to be OK and that I just had to take my time. At one point I told my fiancé “I’m just taking a little dip. I’m gonna relax in the water. Maybe even backstroke if the mood strikes me.”

After a few failed attempts at parking and roads being blocked off, we got there with about 45 minutes until my swim started. This was actually an ideal time to get set up and wait to start. The past couple of races I’ve done I’ve seriously been just standing on the beach for 1.5 to 2 hours before my swim started. With the Cleveland Triathlon, transition never officially “closed”, which was nice. Also race packet pickup was the day before, so there was no rushing around trying to get all that situated.

The Swim
Olympic was the last distance to go, which is ironic because every other race I’ve done the Olympic distance has been the first to go. We walked out in a line onto the pier right at about 7:45AM. There were maybe 200 of us in the Olympic distance. The race director made a couple announcements and soon the line was moving forward to start. Your chip started when you crossed over the timing mats and then you jumped in and began your swim. In my head I had envisioned that moment as utterly terrifying, but when it was happening it wasn’t bad at all. I jumped in as far away from people as I could manage and plugged my nose and held onto my goggles. The water was 72 degrees and felt fine.

This was my first race swimming in a wet suit and I could feel the added buoyancy, which probably added to my confidence. Once in the water I swam away from a few people around me and tried to breathe very calmly. I also made sure my strokes were firm, but calm and together. A fellow swimmer at a recent swim clinic told me that she tells herself not to kick hard in the beginning because that’s when her panic sets in. So I took that advice and chugged along with firm, but steady and slow kicks.

I’m not sure how I did it, but I can honestly say my swim was the best leg of the triathlon that day. I felt strong and confident, especially on the down and back course headed back towards the dock. I didn’t have any moments of panic, nor did I even have to resort to backstroke. I was cool, calm and collected the entire time. Now don’t get me wrong, I still felt relieved when my hands hit the ladder to get out, but I had envisioned this swim to be completely terrifying and was surprised to find that it really wasn’t! I finished in 27 minutes.

The Bike
I was excited to be able to ride on the Shoreway in Cleveland. This is the stretch of highway that goes along the lake from the muni lot almost into Lakewood. The course is four miles in each direction and is a giant loop. My excitement lasted about four miles one way…and then I was bored out of my mind! The course is significantly hilly too. You don’t really notice it from a car, but having to ride the loop three times – you definitely notice it. At mile 8 I started talking to an older guy who was really funny. In fact, he offered to hook me up with his son who is my age, but stopped offering when I told him I was getting married next month! I was laughing out loud talking to him and it was a welcoming distraction from the boredom of the course. Eventually I lost him and continued on by myself.

One thing I did notice – the Shoreway is incredibly dirty. In fact it’s straight up gross. I couldn’t even tell you how many dead animals I saw on the side of the road. It smelled bad too, almost unbearable in some spots. At one point I thought I saw a dead porcupine – which I THINK turned out to be a bent broom.

At mile 20 I was tired and annoyed and wanted to be done. I was at an hour and 25 minutes and ready to get off the bike. I was quickly approaching the last loop turn around and excited to be headed back out. For some stupid reason, I remained in my aero bars while approaching the turn. I realized too late that I had no access to my breaks to decrease my speed around the turn and instantly toppled over, knocking out a row of cones with me. My left knee slammed into the ground while my feet stayed glued into my pedals. I didn’t feel much pain and got up quick. Luckily I had crashed directly in front of a volunteer section. Everyone rushed over to me and helped get my bike off the course. Thankfully I had crashed without any other bikers around me. A few bikes passed after the volunteers helped me off the course, but I was grateful I hadn’t caused anyone else to fall.

My knees were both scraped up and looked way worse than they actually were with gravel and bike grease mixed into the mess. My chain had popped off and my handle bars were a little titled, but the volunteers were so awesome and helped get everything back situated. They offered to call someone to come get me too, but there was no way I was going to stop. Like I said, it looked way worse than it actually was. I was out for almost 10 minutes, but finally (with shaking hands and legs) got back on my bike. By this point my knees were both throbbing and I was aware of the pain, but there was no way I wasn’t going to finish. I finished in 1:36.

The Run
Anyone who has ever ran a marathon knows the deep, dark, despairing moments of miles 21 and 22. When you still have 5-6 miles left and are utterly exhausted beyond measure. Both marathons I’ve ran I’ve cried during miles 21 and 22.

The run on this course wasn’t AS BAD as marathon miles 21 and 22 – but it was a close second. My back and knees were absolutely killing me on the run, more than likely from my crash. I was openly moaning and whimpering on the course, not caring who heard me and what they thought. I’ve never had knee and back pain like that. My back hurt so bad at one point it hurt to breathe. I heard my watch beeping at every mile I passed and I made the mistake of looking down to see one mile I ran at a 10:30 pace and I wanted to die.

This picture cracks me up. Had to stop for a quick bathroom break before heading out on the run!

The Shoreway felt like a desert. No air, no shade, nothing to look at except for more highway in front of you. I was miserable. Somehow I made it off the Shoreway and onto East 9th. We ran past Mall B and around the Browns stadium and even through the back part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At about a half mile to go, I finally found some energy and ignored my stinging knee and back pain.

The finish line was SUCH a welcoming site and I sprinted in as fast as I could muster. The fiancé was waiting there for me with a giant smile on his face. I got my medal and zombie mood took over. I couldn’t stand or sit or function. Finally after about 5 minutes of being disoriented we ventured over to the food tent area and I was shocked to find there was basically NOTHING to eat. A half a banana, soggy water melon and dried out oranges. That was it. And the fruit clearly looked and tasted like they had been sitting out for hours. All I wanted was maybe a protein bar? Chocolate milk? Pretzels? Anything?! I couldn’t believe after all the money I spent on this race, there was practically nothing to eat at the finish line after racing for 3 hours and 18 minutes.

In zombie mode right after crossing the finish line.

My other complain – the T-shirts. Most smaller races I completely opt out of the shirt. I have WAY too many medium cotton race shirts with local sponsors all over them. The only time I take the race shirt is when it’s a tech shirt or it has a cool design. The Cleveland Triathlon race shirts were terrible. Dark blue cotton with “Cleveland Triathlon” and the date on them. Another disappointment.

Overall the race was fun. It was a perfect swim venue and I really liked the down and back swim course, however…not worth the price you pay. AT ALL. I was excited to race downtown, but almost the entire race is on the Shoreway and it’s really not all that “downtown”. Also the “swag” bag – not good and the t-shirt really made me mad. Also where did all our money go if they provided very little food for us post-race?? Like I said, it was a fun race, but not worth the money!

Portage Lakes Triathlon 2014

Miscellaneous, Running

Welp. I did it again. I conquered a terrifying swim and finished it with a bike ride and then a run. This past weekend was the 2014 Portage Lakes Triathlon in Akron and I competed in the sprint distance – 1/2 mile swim, 13.1 mile bike, 5K.

Like many other triathletes, the swim was the most terrifying part for me. The entire race got postponed 30 minutes because fog had taken over the swim course and you could barely see the first buoy. The sky was overcast with dark clouds and it was only 48 degrees, however the lake was a warm 70 degrees. It actually felt better to get in the water than to just stand around shivering on the beach waiting for the start (which of course didn’t help my nerves).

Fog covered the entire swim course.

Around 8 AM the fog began to clear and the first wave of the mini triathlon went. I kept hinting to the fiancé that a “mini” might be good for his first triathlon race. He has terrible knees issues, but kept complaining that he wanted to be out there competing the entire time.

The race had a beach start (different from my first race in that we started already in the water and there was far less panic and splashing going on). I was near the front because I told myself that I needed to be more aggressive. The siren went off and basically all hell broke loose. I fought to keep my spot as we bounded toward the water, arms and legs splashing everywhere. I got hit in the head and back a couple times and did my fair share of hitting too. The first couple times I accidentally hit someone I stopped to scream “Sorry!” but then realized it was slowing me down and wasting my energy. It was still considerably crowded by the time we hit the first buoy, but then we had another problem…seaweed. Now I wouldn’t consider myself a girly girl who is terrified of unnecessary things, however this seaweed freaked me out! I later told my fiancé that it felt like a movie or video game because it felt like the seaweed was wrapping itself around my arms and legs and I couldn’t get away from it. The more I panicked about it, the more I began to sink. I tried treading water, but of course I was STILL over the stupid seaweed. I flipped over on my back for a brief second and out loud I said “CALM DOWN. YOU’RE FINE. RELAX.” At the time I didn’t care how crazy I sounded talking to myself because it began to work. I flipped over and put my head in the water, telling myself that I just needed to get around the buoy and everything would be better. And it was. Around the first turned it cleared up, the seaweed was gone and I found my stride. I began to make a rhythm in my head from my stroke (something I did my first race) and it gave me something to focus on. “Arm-Arm-Leg-Leg.” Around sixteen minutes later I was out of the water – and incredibly happy to be done with it!

The bike course was beautiful and I would have liked to just cruise and take in the scenery, but I kept telling myself “No this is a race.” During my last triathlon, I felt like I was taking a casual bike ride and kept forgetting I was “competing”. Not this race. I hit the ground running (well, biking), powering down the open road and giving it my all on hills – which can I say – the hills were UNREAL on this course. Another runner told me that the course was hilly, but good Lord! By about the 8th hill I groaned out loud “COME ON” (since there was no one around me at that point). The bike course took me way longer than I had anticipated and I got to T2 already disappointed with my time. I forced myself to keep going. I normally run a 5K around 25 minutes, but because of the hills I cramped up around mile 2 and finished the run in a stupid 31 minutes. I met a really nice runner on the trails though and we ran together for a good chunk of it. Sometimes that’s all it takes to push you and I think that if I had still been running alone I would have been even longer on the run.

The straight away into the finish was glorious because my whole body hurt and I was fighting a major leg cramp. I honestly couldn’t wait to be done! There was another woman a little ways ahead of me and when I saw my family standing there cheering for me, I made up my mind that I was going to pass her (mainly because she looked like she could have been in my age group!) The girl’s family was standing close by mine and both parties started screaming loudly as I came sprinting up behind her. The girl’s family was screaming “Hurry up she’s going to pass you!!” and my family was egging me on. I did end up passing her by just a hair at the finish line and the announcer said into the microphone “Don’t worry you guys aren’t in the same age group!” It was actually really funny and the girl and I laughed about it afterwards.

I had terrible leg and stomach cramps for about an hour after the race. Not sure if it was my nutrition (I may have had a few beers at a friends house the night before) or if it was just a challenging course. I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed with my time, but I tried telling myself that this is only my second triathlon and I’m still just a rookie. I actually PR’ed my swim time on this race though, finishing in 16:41. (I was 17 something at my first race.) I still need to work on my transitions though. It took me almost 4 minutes in T1 and almost two minutes in T2. T2 should only take me about 30 seconds! I’m not sure what I was even doing. Watching TV? Painting my nails? Seriously though, my time was ridiculous.

So that’s the wrap on triathlons for 2014 – one indoor race and two outdoor sprints. I’m already thinking about doing an Olympic distance at some point next summer. I think it might be my goal to compete in 3 triathlons during the season. I’ve also decided that this winter I am investing in a wetsuit and I’ve made it my goal to join Cleveland Triathlon Club in the spring. I only want to get better and more into this sport so I have to get out of my comfort zone. Another goal for next summer – find someone to race with! The friends I’ve asked all basically said “Hell No.” I can only image racing along side someone would help, however I’d never be one not to do something because I was afraid to do it alone. (Stay tuned for finding a racing partner.) Next race is my absolute favorite of the ENTIRE season – The 2014 Akron Marathon on September 27! I feel like it’s soon going to be Christmas morning soon. And don’t worry, I have one of my best friends to run this race with 🙂

On My First Tri…

Miscellaneous

I paced back and forth on the edge of the beach. My transition area was set up. I knew the courses. My pre-workout and energy gel were taken. My swim cap was on.

The only thing left to do was get in the water and do what I had come there to do – compete and finish my first triathlon.

One hour and 46 minutes later I was crossing the finish line in the pouring rain and listening to my family cheering me on from somewhere near by…

The Swim:

Nerves filled my entire body as I wadded into the water. It was 7:34 AM.

“Three minutes until start for women’s sprint distance!” boomed the announcer on the beach not far away from us.

I made light conversation with a few of the girls around me. I stretched my arms. I adjusted my goggles. I took a deep breath in.

The siren suddenly went off and splashes took off all around me. STAY CALM. I told myself.

I cruised through the majority of the swim, not even winded by the time I finished. I had a few moments of panic around the deepest area of the swim. My foot kicked seaweed at one point and I felt my engagement ring start to wiggle and slide around on my finger. Why didn’t you take your ring off?! I screamed at myself as I struggled to kick away from the seaweed. My mind suddenly flashed down to what could possibly be at the bottom of the lake where the seaweed came from. I thought about how far away from the shore I suddenly was and how no other swimmers seemed to be around me. I felt my heart rate quicken rapidly and my chest grew tight. Suddenly I heard myself say out loud “Come on girl…” I treaded water for about 10 seconds and it helped calm me down. I jammed my ring on as tight as it would go and I was ready to keep going. I was half way done and I knew I could finish strong. I picked up the pace and swam in. I powered into the shore and swam until my fingers grasped the sand on the beach. I flung myself up and sprinted out of the water. My mind and heart were racing. I had just finished the scariest part of the race. I was back on solid ground. I had survived. My eyes darted around the crowd gathered on the beach for my family, but I couldn’t see them. No time to waste though. I sprinted up the grass and into the transition area.

The Bike:

Transition one took me a few moments to gather myself, try to dry off and get on the bike. I took off feeling the cool air on my wet skin. I was so happy that I had survived the swim that I did the first couple miles at a somewhat easy pace since I was so joyful and relieved. I didn’t drown!

I rode by myself the majority of the first half of the bike ride. Then suddenly out of no where I was getting passed by the half Iron Man distance bikers. I felt like they were celebrities – wizzing by me with high tech bikes and pointy helmets. I tried my best to get the hell out of their way. To them a rookie sprint distance racer was probably the equivalent of an annoying freshman to a cool senior.

The miles weren’t marked on the bike ride so I had to judge where I was based off the time on my watch. The bike course was filled with rolling hills, while the website boasted it was fast and flat! It wasn’t completely unbearable though and I powered through it with my thighs aching.

The bike ride was beautiful though, especially when the course opened up to view the lake we had just swam in. At 52 minutes I was back in the transition area and I saw my family taking pictures and cheering for me. The fiancé came running over snapping pictures and cheering “Great job babe! We thought you drown during the swim because you were so fast we missed you coming out!”

The Run:

The first five minutes of the run were absolutely brutal. I had done a good chunk of brick training and knew it wasn’t going to be a cake walk, but wow was it tough! I felt like I couldn’t even pick my legs up. Every step was a combined effort just to keep moving forward and not walk. It seriously felt like my legs were made of bricks and I wondered how I had ever run correctly in the past or ever would again.

Eventually, I found my footing and began to run more smoothly.

At mile one, I heard the rain before I saw it and felt it. The run was a down and back course with thick, dark woods surrounding the road we ran on. I heard the rain hitting the trees and it was delayed a few seconds before it started coming down on us. A couple runners around me started cheering and screaming. I started laughing because I knew it was only a matter of seconds before we were all completely soaked. And I was right. A minute later we were drenched and it was pouring down hard. My shoes instantly felt 10 pounds heavier. A lot of runners slowed down, but I tried to power through. I kept a good pace and finished the run in 29 minutes.

“And here comes Cassandra Beck from Chardon, Ohio!” yelled the announcer as I sprinted to the finish line. I heard cheers and saw my family jumping up and down waving at me. It was still pouring down rain and they were huddled under a pavilion nearby.

I had made it. I had survived. I was an official triathlete!

Thoughts On My First Triathlon

The biggest thing that I took away from my first tri was that I was well prepared – and it made a huge difference. I read an entire book about competing for the first time and I searched the internet finding all sorts of helpful newbie tips. I brought everything I needed with me plus doubles of everything. I knew the course. I completed all the training (and then some). I was strong. I was well rested. I ate right. I knew what to expect and I competed very well – winning first in my age group even. (OK so there was only like three of us, but still!) I aimed to finish in two hours and ended up cruising in with 15 minutes to spare. Despite the rain, I loved every single second of it and in my head I knew that I could have easily competed in the Olympic distance. I rode home in the car in the pouring rain with a giant grin on my face.

I still cannot believe I did it. I already found myself Googling more triathlons in Northeast Ohio to compete it too. Unfortunately, the three big races that I would love to do fall on weekends that we already have plans for. Who knows if I will compete again this summer? It may be too early to tell – but I am already visioning myself competing in the same race next year (The Great Western Reserve Triathlon), but the Olympic distance. The fiancé is giving it some thought too, saying that when he was on the sidelines watching he just wanted to be out there competing too. Who knows what this crazy life will throw at me and what insane dream I will have next. All I know is that I went for something that scared the complete living crap out of me. I got tangled in seaweed, practically peed myself having a heart attack, pedaled through when my quads were about to kill me and I ran through the pouring rain with aching leg muscles screaming at me to stop…and I loved every single flipping second of it.

Sprint distance rookie or Iron Man distance veteran, we are all in this together and I now understand the love and challenge of swim, bike, run!

She Writes & Runs

Stories from marathons, travel & everything in between.

cleveland triathlon

Officially Training for Ironman 140.6

70.3 Training Week 12 & a Trip to Philly/DC

I’m Coming for You – Ironman 70.3 Ohio [Aug 21, 2016]

2015 Cleveland Triathlon Review

Portage Lakes Triathlon 2014

On My First Tri…

The Swim:

The Bike:

The Run:

Thoughts On My First Triathlon