The Beach and the Big Chainring

I just wanted to share something my dad wrote reflecting on the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday: So what do we do now? We still don’t know who set the bombs. Or why. But we do know this—no marathon can ever be safe. Twenty-six miles. Thousands of runners. Hundreds of thousands of spectators. If every TSA agent in the world had descended on Boston this morning, they couldn’t have prevented it. Evil is like that. It only takes one twisted mind, one person who thrives on the  suffering of others, and suffering will follow. So what do we do? We pray for the victims and their families. We honor them and the heroes who helped the injured. We hunt down the person or persons responsible. We vow not to let this stop us from pushing ourselves to our limit and experiencing the joy of honest hard-work and achievement. I could never qualify for Boston, but I do love to run. When my mind gets stuck and I need creativity, or when I’m frustrated and need to pray, or when I just want to ...

     Sometimes I have so much to say, but instead I just sit here and stare at the blinking cursor.  I don't know where to start, and that's kind of a weird feeling because I always have something to say.  Is it weird if I write it in list form?  Ok well, since about 5 people read this blog (that's generous, I know...moving on), I'm going to assume you all agreed to a bulleted post: Spring.  This weather.  I literally could not be happier.  Rides outside without a million layers.  I may even have to start breaking out the sunscreen.  (I'm not going to rant on this right now, but sunscreen, people, wear it.  When I swim, bike, or run outside, I wear 45+.  No skin cancer for me, please).  And running in shorts and a tank top will be happening today.  I'm a summertime girl through and through.  All smiles.   My bracelet.  Oh my goodness!  My amazing friend  Erin  Leigh, also of...

     Tomorow morning, I'm putting on my big girl pants.  Actually, if we are going to get technical about it, tomorrow morning I am putting on my big girl bicycle shorts.  But that' really a matter of semantics.      When I started running, I did it by myself.  I trained for my first half marathon and then my first marathon alone.  And I loved it.  Because, if I'm being completely honest, I like being by myself.  I heard and read about people involved in great running groups.  But truthfully, that never appealed to me.  I like being by myself.  Running was my time to think.  I think best when I'm running.  I solve life's problems when I'm running.  I clear out my head and get a fresh perspective when I'm running.  If I'm trying to talk to other people, or trying to speed up to keep up, or slow down so I don't ditch them, I'm thinking about that and can't get into my running zone.  So ru...

     As March Madness is winding down, I'm sure you've heard someone say "survive and advance" at least once in the past week.  And I throw the phrase around a lot, not just in March.  It's not that I don't want to do my best, or that I don't want to work hard.  It's just that sometimes, all you have in you is enough to get past that day and move onto the next.  Whether talking about March Madness or a workout in training, it signals that it might not have been pretty, but you got the work done.  You did what you needed to do to move on.  Sure, you didn't blow the workout out of the water, but you're still in the hunt.      This past week has been a great week of training.  I've seen significant progress in my running.  I was hitting all my heart rate zones on the bike, and nailing my swim paces.  I take pride in making sure that all my boxes on Training Peaks turn green.  If a box turns red it haunts me. ...

Ithaca When you set out for Ithaca ask that your way be long, full of adventure, full of instruction. The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops, angry Poseidon - do not fear them: such as these you will never find as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare emotion touch your spirit and your body. The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops, angry Poseidon - you will not meet them unless you carry them in your soul, unless your soul raise them up before you. Ask that your way be long. At many a Summer dawn to enter with what gratitude, what joy - ports seen for the first time; to stop at Phoenician trading centres, and to buy good merchandise, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, and sensuous perfumes of every kind, sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can; to visit many Egyptian cities, to gather stores of knowledge from the learned. Have Ithaca always in your mind. Your arrival there is what you are destined for. But don't in the least hurry the journe...

     Yesterday was one of my favorite days in a long, long time.  The things that I accomplished as well as the things I learned watching others accomplish big, BIG goals will stick with me for a very, very long time.      The back story.  Several months ago, one of my very best friends, who had been contemplating running a marathon for a while decided she was going to do it.  But she wasn't going to do it the normal way, she was going to do it for a cause and accomplish some major things along the way.  Those major things being sponsoring the education of 26 girls in Nepal.  Here's a post by my friend, Erin Leigh, about the race, about the money she raised, and about She's the First, the organization the money went to.      I don't know about you, but if you are like me, when one of your best friends is about to accomplish something huge like this, especially if it's endurance sport related, you have to be there...

       I have a confession.  I'm scared.  Like really scared that I'm way behind on my training.  I have a coach, and he assures me I'm not behind on my training.  At all.  But here's the thing, I joined this Facebook group (I know, I know, nothing good ever happens on Facebook) for Ironman Florida, and those people, well, they're crazy, I tell ya!  They are out there doing 4-5 hour rides on the weekend and running marathons and swimming 2-3 miles/workout.  And I'm, well, not.  My coach has me focused on shorter workouts right now, building speed.  But I'm scared that because I'm not doing these long workouts now, I won't be able to do them come November.        My coach says we aren't doing the long workouts right now because we are trying to prevent burnout.  I get it a nine month training plan (as it would be if I started race-specific training right now) would burn me out, no doubt about it. ...