Kelly Liljeblad

Ironman CDA!

Whoo, things have been so busy since I got back to Boulder. I had a solid training cycle in Tucson and continued plugging along here in Boulder. I am very excited to be in taper mode. I thought it would never arrive! Needless to say I am officially in what I call the “Oh Shit” phase. You know, you spend months and months preparing for a race. You are tired all the time, and can not wait until the taper. Then the taper comes, and you are like “Oh Shit, I need more training. I’m not ready. I need more time!!!!” Funny how the “Oh Shit” phase works.

I had a very hard time training for this race. It was not easy. I had to juggle a lot of other responsibilities. Yes, I compete as a professional, but I certainly don’t live the lifestyle of the typical pro triathlete. I work 2 jobs, and am a full time student.  There were many times where after a 7 hour workout, I would eat my dinner in the car and rush off to work and give massages. I would think,”How on earth  am I going to get through this night!”  Then I would come home, and hit the books. It was so incredibly challenging for me and I just kept feeling like I was being tested.  There were many times when I thought that I couldn’t handle the training and maybe I shouldn’t do the race. But then I thought about all the age groupers out there who work full time, have families, and they do it, with a smile of their faces!!! I have realized through this training cycle that the pro’s are definitely not the heros. Don’t get me wrong, they are to be admired and commended, but it is the age groupers who I really find inspirational. Those who juggle so much and still manage to complete one of these crazy races. I want to congratulate all the age groupers. I will be racing for all of us out there next Sunday!.  Thanks for giving me the inspiration to finish this journey  I am really excited for this race. It will be my first triathlon in over a year. I plan on punishing myself to the max but also enjoying every minute of it because I know the finish line is the best reward! 

Special thanks to Coach Kim for putting up with me throughout my preparation and being supportive of my absolutely insane mountain climb long runs haha. We’ll see if it works!!!!!! Kim will be with me all week. Thank goodness, because how am I going to pump up my tires by myself! (I’m sort of kidding)  

Also want to thank Kim for lending me her Cervelo, race wheels, wetsuit, aero helmet, etc… ok you get the idea. Thanks sissy!!

Ok guys and girls, get your ass out the door and train

Bye Bye Tucson!

  It’s hard to believe Kim and I are leaving Tucson this weekend. Time has flown by and we had an absolute blast making new friends and training like crazy.  The training here has been great and I only hope all the hard work will pay off. Kim heads to China this weekend without me. It was a hard decision, but I have decided not to race. It’s just to much money to spend to go to a race where I will not be at my best. I’m hoping to hold on to this fitness and shoot for some fun 70.3′s and possibly Idaho, although I don’t know how I can do all this training without the sis. She dragged my ass to the pool so many times when I didn’t want to go! Thanks sis! I return back to Boulder this weekend. Looking forward to some runs on Mags and also taking the kidos to the Boulder Res for a swim.  Here are some fun pics from our trip. I also want to say thanks to the best homestay host in the world. John, thanks so much for EVERYTHING!! especially the incredible wine      Getting ready for hill repeats on Gates pass.         Post Run Cactus Trail       Taking a break from Training!!!            Little critters having fun on trash night. They think they hit the jackpot!      Fun in the pool,  Group swim with Sam McGlone and Coach Cliff English!!   Thanks Cliff and Sam for some great training and fun times!  GOOD LUCK IN CHINA SISSY!!!!! 

Tucson Here We Come!!

The word is in. Kim has made her decision and has informed me last week that I am racing Ironman China with her. OK sounds like a hoot to me. I guess it’s crazy hot there in April, so I am digging  a little heat exhaustion. It will give me some flash backs of the good ol days in Houston where I ran my afternoon runs with temps in the 100′s!   The holiday binge eating and drinking is now over and I have been training hard the past 2 weeks. I had such a wonderful time with my family on Long Island. It was some good family bonding, along with lots of great movie watching. By the way my eyes still hurt from watching Marley and Me. Needless to say I made a fool out of myself in the movie theater.  We are having crazy warm temperatures here in Boulder. Today I ran a long run in shorts and a t-shirt and got a little sun burn on my face. More sun to come as Kim, Pre, Aggie, and I are headed down to Tucson for 3 months prior to Ironman China. Kim and I always have a blast training together. We can be in the middle of an interval, going all out, then start laughing at something. Gotta keep it interesting I guess. We are pretty whacky together. On another note, I am very happy to be a part of the Trakkers team for 2009. For those of you who  do not know, Trakkers makes a GPS device which delivers GPS technology in real time. Friends and family members will be able to follow an athletes progress on race day in real time simply by going to the web page. It is truly an incredibly much needed product! Check it out at Trakkersgps.com.    Here are some fun photos.                                                                    Kramer kicked my ass yesterday in Boulder, but I made him stop for a photo!             Here’s a pic of the kidos taking care of Aunt Kim at our last training camp together in Boulder. Funny, I have the Queen bed, but for some reason they always slept on her, I  mean with her!         And finally, here’s a pic of the kidos ripping apart their christmas present. Better the bear than the tree!.  Aggie is sporting her Princess pillow, which Pre ate an hour later. Now for the funny story of the day. So, I was running on Montauk Highway in Long Island, and I swear I nearly fell over when I saw a sign (right next to a little pond off the busy highway) which read, “Caution, Wildlife Crossing” Being a Boulder girl, I started laughing hysterically as I saw a cute little baby duck and her momma ever so slowly waddle across the street. AHHAAAAHAA . Later, I told my mom about what I saw and she replied,” Yeah those things are viscous!”  It was hilarious!  Ok guys and girls, get your ass out the door and train! 

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!!!!