One Year From Today

September is one of my favorites months and unfortunately it is flying by! I spent last week learning all about my field of work that I am passionate about and have a LOT of fun (meaning lots of dinners out, drinks and little training)

Good thing I don't have any A races for a while but it's time to get back on it since exactly one year from today I will be having a blast competing in Ironman Lake Tahoe. I love that it is on the first day of fall.

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As for fall, this is my favorite time of year to run, nice crisp temperature, not too cold, no lingering ice like there is in the spring. The turning leaves make it especially fun to run and ride in the mountains. Time is short before we start getting snow in the mountains and even here in the city so I need to make a quick list of all the things I wold like to get done before winter settles in.

I have been having some fun on pinterest

Anyone out there sad to see summer go?

It's Almost Fall

Ok maybe technically it's not almost fall and the weather here in Denver is really trying to remind me that is is still summer.

See the seasonal average? 85 would be a lot nicer than the mid nineties we have been having.

Regardless fall is my favorite season and sometimes it feel like we go straight from summer to winter, so I am going to start celebrating fall/harvest now. I also heard that Starbucks is bringing out their Pumpkin Spice Latte today (is that true?!?)

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While I may still be wearing my summer clothes and sweating it out on my bike

my house will smell like pumpkin spice and I will be happily watching football while recovering.
What is your favorite season?

September is Runnerd Month - With Candice

Candice over at I have Run put together a fun little event/contest/giveaway

From her site:

Here are the rules:

• Leave a comment letting me know you are going to participate.
• Post a photo that reflects the word of the day somehow. You can post on Instagram, Twitter and/or Facebook. Your images should be running or training or health/fitness related.
• On Twitter, make sure you include the hashtag #runnerdphotoaday with each post.
• On Facebook, be sure to follow the Runnerd page and include @runnerds in the comment for your picture.
• On Instagram, become my friend (ihaverun) and include @ihaverun in your comment.
• You will receive one entry for each picture you post (up to 30 entry possibilities). I can only count the entry if it is linked back to me somehow, otherwise I won't know about it.
• I am ordering the Runnerd prizes this week. There will be at least five prize winners, selected by Random.org at the beginning of October. I will post the list of prizes once I know exactly what they are.

To receive extra entries, you can invite others to join the Runnerd Photo-A-Day fun before it begins on Saturday. You will receive one extra entry for each place you post (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and/or your blog). That's up to 4 extra entries total. Be sure to let me know you shared the Runnerd Photo-a-Day love so you get the extra entries!

Be creative. We don't want everyone doing the same thing with their pics. If I absolutely love your pic and post it on my blog during the month, you'll get an extra entry.

And don't worry if you miss a day or don't start on day one. I want this to be fun!

And now for the list:

September 1 - time

September 2 - sweat

September 3 - up 

September 4 - inspire

September 5 - kitchen

September 6 - fun

September 7 - reflection

September 8 - show

September 9 - ready

September 10 - strong

September 11 - watch

September 12 - food

September 13 - logo

September 14 - looking down

September 15 - book

September 16 - friend

September 17 - run

September 18 - how you feel

September 19 - in

September 20 - technology

September 21 - circle

September 22 - first

September 23 - grow

September 24 - new

September 25 -word

September 26 - red

September 27 - favorite

September 28 - song

September 29 - personality

September 30 - runnerd

Should we start with Runnerd??

I plan to participate, do you? I don't think I will be able to do it every day with a full time + job, grad school, training and presenting at my industries biggest annual conference.

13 Months From Today....

Exactly 13 months from today I will be toeing the line of Ironman Lake Tahoe

I am so excited for this race and to get back into Ironman shape. It's not time to start officially training yet but I have a general plan to get myself into the best possible shape in 13 months, plus a few mini goals along the way.

Month 13: Strength and speed focus, I think I have forgotten how to run other than the ironman shuffle - train for sub 2 hr half marathon

Month 12: Bike Base - Hopefully run a sub 2 half marathon (I am not terribly hopeful that this can happen this fall, if not I will try again in the spring)

Month 11: Run Base - 5k focus

Month 10: Swim Base - break 25 minute 5k

Month 9: Overall Base

Month 8: Build Capacity

Month 7: Build Capacity - try to break 2 hrs (again?) in a half marathon

Month 6: Build Capacity - Maybe run a marathon =)

Month 5: Build Capacity

Month 4: Build Capacity - Sub 7 hr half ironman(ish) distance at Pacific Crest, the bike is 62 miles long

Month 3: Peak

Month 2: Peak - Break 6:30 at Boulder 70.3

Month 1: Peak/Taper - Ironman Lake Tahoe - I would like to break 15 hrs, but will reassess closer to the race

I wanted to do three half ironman in preparation but between Pacific Crest and Boulder I don't think I can squeeze another one in. Anyone know good ones in late July and late August?

Have you ever started prepping for an event over a year out? I haven't before but when you have to sign up 15 months in advance it starts to seem more normal

Fall Planning

Is anyone else sick of summer and ready for it to be fall already? I know as a triathlete I shouldn't want summer to be over because that means the end of triathlon season but it has been HOT here in Denver and I am ready for cooler weather.

Something that always gets me excited for the next season is race planning. My goals for the fall are low key, nothing crazy big, focus on getting lean and preparing to start Ironman Lake Tahoe training in January. I know it's not technically fall yet but please bear with me....

Rattlesnake Triathlon: August 18-19 still deciding on the sprint or olympic

Lead King Loop 25k (hint hint honey, I want to do this for my birthday) - Sept. 16

Oktoberfest Sprint Triathlon - Sept 22nd

Boulder half Marathon - October 21st going for sub 2 hrs!

Anthem Turkey Trot - 5k or 10k

and the winter distance series that I have done for the past two years will take me into 2013 with a 5k, 5m, 10m

That's it for the plan, a lot of repeats here so I will have to look for something fun and new to do as well.

How far out do you plan your races?

What's Next?

One of the most frequently asked questions after people hear you have done an ironman is "are you crazy?" closely follwed by what's next?

For the rest of this season I am focusing on half distances (both  half ironman and half marathon) then in October when I officially go into off season I will focus on form and speed, that I feel I completely lost in peak training for Ironman CdA.

Luckily I do have a good answer to the question of what is the next big "A" race:

I am SO excited about Ironman Lake Tahoe!!!

I have already started working with coach on a plan and will start officially training in January. I am glad to have some time off before jumping into Ironman training again but am also looking forward to it.

Ironman Coeur d’Alene Race Report – The Run

This was was by FAR my favorite part of the day. It was a party from mile 0 all the way through mile 26. You can read about the swim here , the bike here and the prep here

I had a great time, honestly this is probably because I didn't feel the need to push myself. I chatted with Cory, other athletes and volunteers the entire way. I was really worried that I would get off the bike and feel terrible starting a marathon in the late afternoon but I was SO excited to be off the bike with seven and a half hours to complete the marathon. At this point I knew I would make it and it actually felt really good to be running!

 The run was two out and backs so we got to see all our friends a bunch of times and we knew what we were in for. I liked that there were no surprises.

 There was a long steep hill right before the first turn around, I will admit that I walked most of it both times. As we made our way back into town I made sure to thank every volunteer and high five the local college kids that were out partying and supporting everyone. The locals are so nice and set up their own aid stations.

 The half way turnaround is back in town where I got to see my family again, so nice to have them out there!  The second lap was more of the same, I felt tired but good. I was confident and having a good time. The only uncomfortable thing was that I got the chills but when I put on my long sleeve shirt I got too hot. But since a little temperature unbalance was the worst of it so I am not going to complain. It was a very long marathon (5:50: something) but the miles ticked by quickly to me, and soon I couldn't believe it was the last mile. We ran into town, rounded the corned and just had a long down hill straight away to the finish. I could hear Mike Reilly calling out peoples names and announcing them as Ironmen. At this point I felt like I could fly, it's the most incredible feeling in the world.

I was busy looking for my family and soon I spotted them in the crowd. I love this picture because you can see my mom and the sign she made us. She was SO excited to see us finish, moms are the best!

I was so excited to be done that I didn't hear Mike Riley announce our names, I am bummed about that but I still enjoyed every second.

Puffy and Happy!!

We were headed down the shoot, given blankets, medals, finishers hats and shirts. Part of me couldn't believe that I made it and was officially an ironman. 

Aftermath to come later.