March 2010 - I had set my mind to do the Malibu Classic in September 2010 but I had no idea how to put all the parts of a triathlon together. I needed some help and wanted to train with other people. I went to a triathlon store to get some advice when I ran into Coach Pete. I know he thought I was crazy with all my questions but after talking to me for 30 min., he convinced me to sign up with Team in Training. So not only did I sign up for a triathlon, I was raising money for blood cancer.
One other problem - I couldn't run because of a knee problem. So I went to the doc to figure out what the problem was. I found out I had a cranky IT band so I spent a few months in physical therapy and had my last session the week before my race.
Fast Forward to September 2010 - On Sept. 12, 2010 I completed my first Sprint Tri. I was manhandled in the waves and lost my goggles, I managed to get through the bike without falling, and I had to walk a lot of the run because of my knee. It was a hard day but I was hooked!
I went on to do the LA Sprint Tri in October and somehow got convinced to sigh up for a Half Ironman in July. How that was gonna happen I had no idea - I had never even run a 10k before! I decided to come back to TNT as a mentor for the next season. Over the next few months I did my first 10k, my first Olympic distance triathlon in Hawaii, and did a Half Ironman in July 2010. This was all in the middle of finding out I had black toxic mold in my apartment that was making me sick and caused me to develop allergies to most foods. So training was a bit tricky but I found ways to work around it. I found an amazing group of people in TNT so stayed a part of the team throughout all my training these past 2 years. I went on to be a captain and now a coach for the tri team and Ironteam.
Over the past 2 years I've done things I didn't think I'd be able to do. I've done 3 Half Ironmen, a few 1/2 marathons and my first full marathon this past October. If you put in the time and training and set your mind to something, anything's possible.
I always said I'd never do a full Ironman. That's for crazy people. Who would want to swim 2.4 miles, get on your bike and go 112 miles, then run a full marathon (26.2 miles), and only have 17 hours to do it? That's not normal and there's no way my body could do it. It took 2 years and many races for me to believe that I could do it if I had the right training. So on June 25, I signed up for my first Ironman - Ironman Coeur d'Alene that will take place on June 23, 2012 in Coeur d'Alene, ID. I know...I'm on the crazy train!
I'll be training these next 8 months with over 50 of my friends and teammates, and will be coaching with TNT another season and get to race alongside some of my participants. It's going to be a busy few months and one of the most physically & mentally challenging days on June 23, but I know I'll cross the finish line even if I'm crawling.
Check back for updates and to keep track of all the crazy training these next few months on my road to becoming and Ironman!
"The only limits
in life are those you impose on yourself." Author unknown
