The Blog

  • Today is the Day

    I’ve been busy. I’ve been traveling. I’ve been sick. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t ready. It isn’t finished. I’m not perfect. I’m not ready. I’m not finished. Today is the day. Why? Because today I have a reason why it shouldn’t be the day. Today marks the anniversary of my dad’s death. It has been…

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  • When “maybe,” is the most powerful word you can say.

    Over the years I have enjoyed pretty good health. Part of this is due to what some might think is a too-literal response to the, “your body is a temple,” part of the Bible, and part is due to good genetics. I admit, I’ve been reluctant to take medicine and expose myself to chemicals, apart…

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  • For the Love of Swimming

    I’m pretty sure there are about 5 people who came into the sport of triathlon through swimming. The rest of us fall somewhere between hate and tolerance of the first leg of our race days. I came to triathlon through running causing me to be a, “just get through it,” swimmer for years. Admittedly, I…

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  • Kona, Boston, World Championships, and the value of choosing your own adventure.

    As athletes, we are drawn, almost obsessively, to the races that carry the weight of history and the magic of inspiration. We watch them on tv, we talk about them, and we dream about them. Often, we sacrifice hours, energy, and money to qualify for them. Monday, I watched the 127th running of the Boston…

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  • The Coach-Athlete Relationship: A Match Made in Training Peaks.

    I have had a triathlon coach since 2014. I had been racing for 5 years and made the decision to chase a big goal, Kona.  I’d had good results on my own but I felt like the next step would require more. At first, I don’t think I understood what being coached meant. I assumed…

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  • Thank you, Chelsea.

    IM World Championships Last October at Ironman World Championships, Chelsea Sodaro won over the hearts of triathletes by becoming the first American woman to win the iconic race. Being 18 months post-partum, she instantly inspired moms everywhere. Clearly, Chelsea’s athletic ability is impressive, however, her candidness in discussing her mental health struggles demonstrates a strength…

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  • Ironman, Not Ironload: Navigating the Curse of the Irish.

    Hemochromatosis is a word I had never heard until the winter of 2014. I finished my triathlon season with a good, but not great, race at IM Wisconsin. I spent time resting and attempting to recover, but I wasn’t bouncing back.  Weeks post-race, I still felt tired and generally ill. As a triathlete, this troubled me.…

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  • My First Triathlon. A trip to the past.

    In the fall of 2008, I decided that I would do an Ironman. I hadn’t done a triathlon previously nor did I know anyone who had. When I came home and announced the plan to my husband, Jeff, and my 2-year-old daughter, Claire, I was met with requests about dinner. Over dinner, Jeff said, “can you swim?”  That’s…

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  • What you really need to complete your first triathlon!

    Getting into the sport of triathlon can be overwhelming! A google search can lead you to believe that you must take out a loan just to purchase the necessities. While it is true that triathlon might become a line item in your budget, if you fall in love with the lifestyle, it is possible to dip your…

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  • Winter Training: How to stay hot when the temps plummet.

    We are almost there, but the worst could be yet to come in the Midwest. For all you southerners enjoying the near-perfect running weather, outside rides, and open-water swimming, you can skip the following 400 words and land on the part where I suggest the margaritas you are already drinking. For the rest of us, we…

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