Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2013

                                                  I have decided on a goal...a BIG goal...
                     IRONMAN COEUR D'ALENE 2013
                                                         Anyone care to join me?!?!?!

My husband and I are going to Coeur d'Alene in a couple of weeks to volunteer for Ironman.  I will sign up for and complete Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2013!!  I am VERY EXCITED about this feat!!

Goals for Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2013:
1.  I am going to have a better and more enjoyable experience than Ironman Wisconsin 2011. 
2.  I am going to focus on improving my swimming, cycling and running legs.
3.  I will put even more emphasis on my nutrition, mental game and race day execution.
4.  Time Goal C:  Break 16 hours
     Time Goal B:  Break 15 hours
     Time Goal A:  Break 14 hours

Why Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2013?  That's easy...I want a new challenge and I need something that is going to take dedication and focus (since I am lacking both at the present time).  The swim is a mass beach start with very cool water temperatures, the bike has a few good hill climbs with what appears to be beautiful scenery and the run has a couple of good hill climbs with scenery from the lake that we swim in.  I am very excited about the challenge of this new race, getting the opportunity to race in a new and beautiful location and pushing my body to new limits!!

Fish out of Water

I have come to realize I am like a fish out of water flopping around and floundering for life.  Stress has me down and out at the present moment.  I have WAY too much on my not so large plate to try and juggle.  I know I need a solid schedule that allows me to get all of my workouts in (I feel better about myself when this happens) and allows me to have time to spend with family and friends.  I need to incorporate better habits into my life, such as going to bed at a more consistent time, eating healthier and not consuming as many unnecessary calories.  I also know that I need support and encouragement to get to the point where this better lifestyle is routine.  With the end of the school year so close, I am currently lacking motivation and am struggling with adjusting my lifestyle right now.  I am going to cut back on the number of hours I spend working part time, which will help tremendously, but for now I am that fish flopping around searching for the water. 

I will be starting anew next week with a new schedule, new habits and accountability.  I am planning to meet a friend twice a week at the gym for strength training early in the morning and I am planning to swim early in the morning the other three days a week.  I am only planning to work at my part time job only a few hours each week and taking a couple of days each week completely off.  I also plan to be completely done working by 1 pm so that I can enjoy my afternoons and evenings with my family and friends.  I plan to take control of my eating options and regain control of my life.  I am hopeful that in a couple of week, I will no longer be that fish out of water, but will have found my sea and am not just surviving, but am flourishing!!

Change of Plans

Well, some of the races I was planning to participate in this year have been changed.  Here is an updated list of races already done this year as well as where I am going until Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

I have already competed in the following events:
Marshalltown My Y Tri - February 2012
Magnolia Triathlon in Louisiana - March 2012
Fort Dodge 1/2 Marathon - March 2012
Drake 1/2 Marathon - April 2012

Upcoming races:
Madison 1/2 Marathon - May 27, 2012
Dam to Dam - June 2, 2012
Holiday Lakes Triathlon - June 9, 2012
Iowa Games Triathlon, July 8, 2012
Chisago Lakes 1/2 Ironman Distance - July 22, 2012
RAGBRAI (not the whole week) - July 2012
Peregrine Triathlon - August 19, 2012
Ironman 70.3 Branson - September 23, 2012
I am looking for a 1/2 Ironman distance race in April of 2013
Ironman Coeur d'Alene - June 2013

Schedule Change

This week my husband started his "new job," which means he goes back to the 5 am to 1:30 pm shift.  I am thinking this will be a GREAT schedule for us to keep (as we have done so in the past), but I am not acclimating to the 4 am alarm clock very well.  I am hopeful that by the end of next week I will be acclimated to the new schedule as it will be great to get my workouts in at the start of my day instead of always at the end of my day!!  I am also looking to cut back my hours with my part time jobs soon so that I have more time to focus on my training and our family life.  I am REALLY looking forward to these schedule changes to have a more "normal" life where I can get my workouts in and enjoy life!!

I am so excited to have the opportunity to take the dog for a walk, go for a leisure ride through the park with my husband and dog, or just relax and enjoy life if that is what I choose to do at the end of my day!!  Life seems to have taken hold over us lately and I am ready to grab the "bull by the horns" and get control of my life back!!

Ironman Coeur d'Alene...I'm comin' for ya!!

My husband and I have decided to take a 2+ week vacation to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in June where we will volunteer for Ironman Coeur d'Alene and sign up for next year.  I am very excited to have a big goal on the horizon with lots of room for improvement.  I am hopeful that with the next few 70.3 distance events ahead, that I can drastically improve my time.  We will see what this training year brings!!

Ironman Coeur d'Alene

New Year!!

The first month of 2012 was a HUGE success (anything is better than doing nothing...which is what I had done from September through December)!!

I have biked 216.7 miles, ran 40.5 miles, swam 11,700 yards and done some strength training so far this year.  I am starting to feel better about myself and my clothes are starting to fit better!!  I still have weight to loose, but that will come off.  We are eating better and I am watching my portions much more closely.  Nutrition combined with exercise will get the weight back off soon enough.

I am looking forward to this year's challenges and meeting them head on!!  Bring it 2012!!

I have a plan

I am so excited that I finally have a plan for the next year +!!  I am thinking I will be doing four 1/2 Ironman distance events in 2012, one in 2013 and a full Ironman in 2013.  I have also included some olympic and sprint distance triathlons as well as full and 1/2 marathons.  I am stoked!!  Now if I can just convince the husband that all of these races are necessary to keep me out of a slump and in a much better mood.  I feel better about myself when I am training and pushing myself to my limits!!  Here is the plan:

February 25: My Y Tri
March 31: Hy Vee 1/2 Marathon for JDRF
April 28: Drake 1/2 Marathon
May 20: Bluff Creek Olympic Triathlon
May 27: Madison Marathon
June 2: Dam to Dam
June 9: Liberty Tri 1/2 Ironman distance
July 14: Okoboji Triathlon
July 22: Chisago Lakes 1/2 Ironman distance
July 23-28: RAGBRAI
August 5: Omaha Olympic Triathlon
August 19: Big Pig 1/2 Ironman distance
October 28: Ironman 70.3 Austin
April 21, 2013: Ironman 70.3 New Orlenes
June 23, 2013: Ironman Coeur d'Alene

I know that seems like a lot, but I am looking forward to the challenge!!  Who's in?!?!?!?!?