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Training on Long Island

Man am I spoiled.  A few weeks ago I was training in this!  Now this!!

Honestly, I don’t really care. I still get out the door, get the job done, have fun, and try not to complain. I have come to the point where just getting out the door is an accomplishment and I treasure it. Everyone knows my rule with complaining about the weather. You can complain, but only for one season and you can pick which one. Summer or winter but it can’t be both! The kidos and I have travelled to Long Island where we will spend a month! We are really enjoying some quality family time and I have discovered that Christmas shopping really is a part time job. It is hard work, especially here in New York where just finding a parking spot is a real accomplishment and you better make sure that you aren’t stealing it from someone else because you know what they say!!! “Don’t Fu&^k with New Yorkers.” It is also true! All kidding aside, I am having a wonderful time here with my family. I love living in such a beautiful city but I sure do get lonely at times.So, I have spent the past few weeks trying to decide what I will train for next. What will 2009 hold for me! Well, Kim and I have decided that I am skitzo (as we call it in NY!) and I have issues making decisions haha!. I told her I was training for Boston, then an hour later I told her I was training for Ironman China! So I told Kim that she will decide for me and what ever she decides would be best , I will go for it 100%. This is scary for me since I have a feeling as to what she will say hahaaaaa It will be a fun year!! We head to Tucson Feb 1st for a training camp and we are really looking forward to some warm weather. Happy Holidays everyone. Enjoy, be happy and healthy and get your ass out the door and train!!!!

Ford Ironman Arizona

Still Pluggin Along

Things are going great here in Boulder. We had a few days of close to record breaking warm temps so of course I was in my glory. However it is now back to normal temps and the hats and gloves are back out. Winter has always been my least favorite time of the year. Anyone who knows me knows that the only thing I hate more than the cold would be snow and ice! Kim and I have decided to head to Tucson for a few months this winter and enjoy training in some sunshine during the winter months.   Kim has been in Boulder for the past 3 weeks training for Ironman AZ. Once again, we had a blast training together. I’m sort of in the off season, so I’ve been just jogging and trying to work on my strength at the gym.  My goal is to lift the amount I did when I was in college for the old school exercises such as squats, bench press, and walking lunges. Fun fun. That was 13 years ago. Oh God, ok, now I am feeling quite depressed and old….So, here are a few pictures of more epic training in boulder. These are pictures taken from the Boulder Blue Stem Trail, South Boulder Creek Trail , and the famous Mesa Trail. 

Epic Running In Boulder

Today was one of those runs where you never want it to end. When I am training hard for a race, I tend to run the same familiar trails everyday. I know the footing, the turns,the elevation,  everything about the trail. I don’t get lost and I know exactly how far I will run. Today, I decided to try something new. I headed to South Boulder to run a mixture of the most popular trails here. Dowdy Draw, The Ditch, Marshal Mesa, and who knows what else I ended up on. I printed out a map with a 12 mile loop and brought it with me. As I left the car, I looked at the map and said ,”Screw it! Let’s have fun.” I chucked the map and did what Kim and I loved to do together when we were kids ” Be explorers of trail blazing” that’s what we called ourselves. We would hang out in the forest for hours. It was a great run. Just about 2 hours of nice easy running. There are endless trails here in Boulder and the beauty is amazing. As I ran these trails today, I couldn’t help but to look around at the scenery. I felt so grateful that I am able to do what I love everyday, in such a beautiful place. There is always something new to explore. As you can see from the pictures, It was another cloudy shitty day here in Boulder!!!

Training is going well. I am entering into a big base build phase where I will be banging out many many miles. Mostly aerobic running and hill work. perfect for the trails!  

USA 10 Mile Championships

My race a few weeks ago seemed to have been overshadowed with my excitement for the Hawaii Ironman. The race went very well and I finished 3rd behind Kara Goucher and Katie McGreggor. It was my first big race in a while and I was so excited to race it hard and be in the mix. I felt very happy with my race plan. Training at altitude, I was a little unsure as to what pace I would be able to handle. As a result, I feel I went out a little slow. By mile 4, I was in 5th place. 3rd and 4th were running together 15 sec up the road.  By mile 6 I was still 15 seconds back. We were running the same pace. I knew the last mile was all downhill and didn’t feel I had the leg speed for a final kick, so I decided I had to surge and catch up. I surged at mile 6-7 and caught up to the girls. Then the race started and it was really exciting. Everything I love most about racing. Surges, matching surges, real racing, no time trials. I surged, they surged with me. It was great. Then at mile 7.5 I threw in a big surge and broke away a little. I decided this was it. Surge and keep surging! I just went as hard as I could and told myself to get to mile 9 because then it is downhill for the finish. I tried not to look back, but I really wanted to bc I knew she wasn’t far back! My last 3 miles were probably around 5:30 pace and I was really happy about that. It’s great to be back and look forward to some great races this winter. I had a wonderful weekend and it was great to catch up with some old friends.What’s next? Not sure yet. I’ll decide in a week or so. One thing I know is that I will be training someplace warm this winter, hopefully with the sis!!!!  Thanks for reading 

Rollin The Dice

As my friend Cam Widoff said” Lining up at Kona is like rolling the dice. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how fit you are. You still roll the dice that everything goes according to plan. And sometimes you get stuck with cat eyes .”Kim was very fit mentally and physically, more than ever. She had a tough swim. Her shoulder has been really sore all week. On the bike, for some reasons her salt tabs weren’t in her lunch box on the bike.  She posted about the 5th fastest bike split of the day and felt as if she was holding back. Starting the run, she could feel a little off. Her legs were really seizing up and cramping. Possibly because she didn’t have her usual salt intake.  Her belly started to feel bloated and yes, the worst followed. GI issues, a few trips to the porta pottie and lava rocks, and muscle spasms forced her to withdraw at mile 15. It was a very difficult day for Kim. As you can imagine, she is very upset, but is very experienced and mature about the situation and knows that this happens in Ironman. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s the excitement of the Ironman.  Kim had a great year and we are all very proud of her. She’ll come back strong at in the next one.Madam Pele through in some surprises out there yesterday.Thanks for supporting Kim.Kelly

Ironman World Championships

medical

Freakin Go Time For The Sista

Well we are here. The biggest race of the year for any pro triathlete. Kona baby and this place is kickin. There is so much excitement in the air here. It is great. What a love for the sport and love for testing one’s own mental and physical abilities.  I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world. Kim is ready to seek a little revenge from last year. Last year was painful to watch. Kim started the race with an injury which later she discovered was a stress fracture of the femur. I thought I was tough one year when I ran the world championships on a stress fracture (didn’t know at the time) but she raced an ironman with one. She also didn’t know til after the race. So, needless to say last year was devastating for Kim.I have to say, I have never seen her more relaxed. So many people freak out and waste way to much energy worrying. She is very calm and confident. I ran with her the past few days. Some nice easy runs and some nice quick strides.  Kim and I had a blast training together in Boulder this summer. I like to think that on race day, I will be pushing her just like I did all those tempo runs out by the Boulder Res.  Kim and I are so close. I am so lucky to have my very best friend be my twin sis. We share so much together. When she races, I swear I am right on her shoulder. I feel her pain, feel her struggles, and feel her glory. It’s unexplanable.It’s going to be a great day. The whole family is here to cheer. Brian, my bud from HS Tanja (T dog), mom, and Brians whole family. We are looking forward to some excitement.Another shout out for my bud Michael Lovato. The Lovatos are amazing people and I have really enjoyed becoming great friends with them. Also to my friends Fee Docherty, Alex, Brad Seng, and many others. I’ll be cheering.See you all at the finish line. PS no  Kim was not drinking in that picture, but we were!!!!

Kim Wins Ironman 70.3 Cancun

Here is her race report

Well after 6 weeks in Boulder, I wasn’t quite ready to go home, so I made a last minute decision to race the Cancun 70.3. The race went well and it was good to see that my fitness and heat tolerance is on track for Kona (see my homepage for a race report).  I am now home in Vermont.  The weather has been great and I got to do my last long ride under sunny skies and upper 70 temps.  I felt great and could definitely feel the difference biking at sea level.  It was nice to be able to drink out of my water bottle without gasping for air!   Late September is my favorite season in Vermont.  The leaves are starting to change, but it is still sunny and relatively warm.  I am home for just a few more days, then I am off to Hawaii for 2 weeks!

Funny, she forgot to thank me for all those tempo runs over by the Boulder Res!  ha Oh, and for cooking her dinner, keeping the fridge constantly packed (Kim eats more than you can imagine, sometimes I’m like “Wow you eating again !!”  ), giving her massages, and being her run coach. Don’t worry Kim, I forgive you. Just buy me a Kona Longboard lager and we call it even. Seriously though, I am so happy for Kim. She is on her way to a great race in Kona.  Go Kim! I’ll be joining her this week. Here’s a picture which was taken after a 13 miler with 2×4 mile tempo.  Check back for updates!!   

Ironman Cancun 70.3