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Silverman 70.3 this weekend with Operation Rebound!

posted: November 5th 2009 | posted in Blog, Race Preview, Training, Travel | No Comments »

Quick update.

Vegas baby! Tomorrow I am happy to announce that New Balance is sending me to Vegas to race the Silverman Triathlon with Team Operation Rebound.

www.operationrebound.org

Operation Rebound provides unparalleled sports opportunities and support to our troops and veterans of any branch of service and first responders who have served honorably and have suffered permanent physical injuries.

This is an amazing group of hard core individuals and I am really looking forward to getting to know each and every one of them.  How can a double leg amputee guy ride a bike for 56 miles? How can a guy with one arm swim open water for 1.2 miles? One answer, a big big heart. It is truly an inspiration and I am happy to represent New Balance and run the final leg of the relay. I’ll post pics and notes from the weekend.

On a training note, things couldn’t be better. I am enjoying being back in Vermont and getting some sea level air. My speed has been progressing slowly, but my strength and endurance have been developing quite rapidly.  I am really excited for 2010 and my return to distance running. It’s been great training 2 hours a day instead of 4-8! I actually have a social life and that to me keeps me in balance.  I will be starting my 2010 season off at my favorite race venue. Houston!  Always a special place for me with lots of great race memories. I’ll race the half, they aim for Grandmas marathon in June.

Lastly, I want to congratulate all of my athletes. On Track has had some incredible race performances in 2009, and I am very optimistic about 2010. We will have a strong contingency at the Boston Marathon this April. Keep at it guys and girls. I’m proud of you.

Now, get your ass out the door and train!

Fun in the sun!! Life is sooo rough……. :)

posted: October 10th 2009 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Travel | No Comments »

Here are some pics from our amazing week in Kona.

The sun feels so good! Here we are taking a break from the surf.

Kim and Scotty chilling

Meg loving the pacific

Kim relaxing after a year of Ironman Training. Mom reading her slut novels!

me ripping it up in Kona…….

In my dreams!!!!!!!!!!

And lastly, my kiddos after a long hike w/ friends Dabbs and Tricia. I miss them soooo much!!

Adventures in Kona

posted: October 8th 2009 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Travel | No Comments »

We are having a great time vacationing in Kona, while Kim does absolutely nothing to prepare for the race. Stay tuned for some video from the Big Island. On day one my niece and I decided to have a synchronized swimming competition. I am pretty sure I won.

The final

Good times!

Fall is here

posted: September 28th 2009 | posted in Blog, Training, Travel | No Comments »

I forgot how pretty it is here in Vermont during the fall months. This is the best time of the year to be a runner. One of the things I missed most while I was in Colorado is running in the forest during a New England fall. The smell of fall in the air, crisp cool air, the smell of a forest, and the sound of the leaves crunching under your feet. It’s my favorite time of the year and I am happy to be back feeling good and running every day.

Dr Radnay did a great job with my ankle surgery and Brian cracked the whip with my physical therapy sessions. So far so good and I am hoping to make a return to racing in January at the Houston Half Marathon National Championships.  It’s a great race with a lot of excitement and I am really looking forward to participating in a few months.

Along with Fall comes Kona! We head to Kona this Saturday for a 10 day trip. Kim has been in Tucson preparing for the kona heat and her training is going very well with training partner Sam McGlone. I’m just jealous because they are having way too much fun without lil ol me! grrrr….. They train great together and I made them promise to put on a good show for me out there.

I’ve been loving Vermont. It has been a great move for me. Work is great and I am  having a blast with my athletes.

Now get your ass out the door and train!

Here are some pics from my last run with my favorite training partners. (sorry Kim , you’ve been replaced) We ran at Niquette State park.

Ironman CDA in the books!

posted: June 25th 2009 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Racing, Sponsors, Travel | No Comments »

What a fun week! I have to say a big thank you to Kim for coaching me for this race and for taking such great care of me the days leading up to race day. Thank you Kevin and Cindy (Nancy !) for welcoming us into your beautiful home. We truly enjoyed our stay and getting to know you both!

I had a suitable welcome to race week when upon arrival at the Spokane airport, I opened the car door and knocked myself in the eye, giving me a beautiful  black eye. I had blood streaming down my face and said to Kim , “Oh, That’s gonna leave a mark!.” It hurt a lot but we laughed it off. She said , “Let the beatings begin.”

We got there early in the week and this gave us plenty of time to goof off, practice open water swimming, and check out the bike course. I felt very confident at the beginning of the week but got nervous as the week progressed. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. First I find out that the weather on race day would be in the low 50’s with wind, thunderstorms, and a chance of hail. “Great” , I thought. I can run in anything, but the choppy ocean like lake, and wet roads on the bike is something that makes me very nervous. The bike course was technical with steep downhills and sharp turns on the descents. My handling skills are less than ideal for this kind of course. I just prayed for no rain on the bike. Bring it on for the run. I can handle any weather condition on the run. Then to top it off, they inform us at the pro meeting that it will be a land start. Oh how I love these, start in the sand in your friggin rubber suit, sprint in the water, and begin hammering the swim. Nothing like starting an Ironman with a heart rate of 200, getting kicked and punched while hyperventilating. What a great way to start the day with a full blown panic attack!  I remember standing on the starting line of the Miami Marathon with some friends who were all trying to get their olympic trial qualifying time and one friend said to me, “This is the worst feeling in the world. It’s so nerve racking!”  I looked at her and replied, “Oh honey , you have NO idea!!! The start of an ironman swim is by far the wost! No one is going to run up to you and grab your legs or punch you in the face, while you are gasping for air” ok you get my point.

The swim was very challenging. We were given a 35 minute head start on the age groupers. Well it was a 2 loop course, so the slower swimmers were screwed. Just as I turned to head towards the second loop, I missed a buoy and a lady in a kayak was yelling at me to go around it, so I turned around to go around it just as I heard the U2 It’s a beautiful Day song, (now every time I hear this song I’ll feel sick to my stomach) and I knew in 10 second I was screwed. The 2500 age groupers had started and I was about to get the living shit beat out of me. I was on the left and tried to get to the right of the buoy because I knew that once we hit that red left turn buoy, I would be stuck in a traffic jam around the buoy. There were so many swimmers that I couldn’t get left. I felt like Chevy Chase , “Big Ben kids, Just can’t get to the left!” I was so scared I actually had an evacuation plan and said to myself that if by chance I got pushed under the buoy, not to panic and just swim under it to the other side. There was a dead stop traffic jam at the turn buoy, we were actually just treading water trying to get around. I actually aqua jogged a bit around the buoy and actually passed some swimmers! A few minutes later and many kicks in the face, I lost my goggles, and had to stop to put they back on. It was brutal and I came out of the water in 67 minutes, 5 minutes off my goal time.

I got on my bike and felt ready to get some girls. Kim said to hold back the first loop and pace myself. I felt like I was riding strong but my pace was a little slower than planned. Because all the girls swam so much faster than me, I was ALL alone out there on the bike. There was no one. It was very lonely. I had a hard time getting in a rythem on the bike. I heard a jarring in my gearing and couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Seemed like we were either going up, down, or around a turn. I tend to do better on courses like Lake Placid, long climbs versus smaller hills one after another. My lack of technical bike skills definitely showed in my time. I found myself wondering how hard to push. I was worried about the run. I knew that the marathon would be a struggle off 2 days a week of running.

I got off the bike and didn’t pass a single girl, but I felt ready to run. I loved the run course. 2 loops and an out and back, so there were people everywhere. I felt like I was in a race unlike the lonely bike ride. I paced great in the run and am very proud of myself for pushing to the end. I had a bad patch from 13-18 but finished strong (maybe it was all the coke I was desperately reaching for) and ran the last 3 miles at about 7 min pace with the last one under 7. I thought I was in 9th place and 8th place was 1:50 up with 4 miles to go. I had to dig very deep to push on and go after her. I caught her with 2 miles to go. I was so happy because I wanted top 8 so bad. Well I crossed the finish line and found out that was 9th place! Damn it!! Oh well it pushed me to the limits. I ended up passing 4 pro’s on the run. It was a very challenging race for me. The swim and bike was such a mental struggle for me, and the run as usual was very painful. All in all I am happy and raced to a PR by 4 minutes. What a great sport and such a challenge.

We went down to the finish line later that night to drink some beers and watch the final finishers. Fun fun.

I have to thank my sponsors New Balance and Trakkers for their support. Thank you!!!! I just loved my new flats, 769, great Ironman racer.

And most of all thanks sissy for taking such good care of me all week long! I had a blast and maybe , just maybe , I’ll do another! Love ya sis!

Here are some fun pics of our weekend.

Looking back, it would be funny to see a picture of me getting swallowed up by the 2500 age groupers but Kim couldn’t watch it. She said it was too painful, and had to look away as it happened. She felt too bad for me.

Bye Bye Tucson!

posted: April 7th 2009 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Training, Travel | No Comments »

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!!!!!

Training on Long Island

posted: December 20th 2008 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Training, Travel | No Comments »

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!!!!

Freakin Go Time For The Sista

posted: October 11th 2008 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Racing, Training, Travel | No Comments »

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!!!!

Good Luck Kim

posted: July 16th 2008 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Training, Travel | No Comments »

It’s go time for the sista. We leave Thursday for the Lake Placid Ironman. Besides Kona, Lake Placid is Kim’s favorite race venue. It is so her type of course. Nice fast swim course, hilly as hell bike course, and  a gruelingly hilly run.  Lake Placid is a very special race for Kim. She has had some of her best races of her career on that course. Her places have been 5, 4, and 2nd respectively. So many memories, both good and bad on that course. One of the main reasons I came here to Vermont for 5 weeks was to train with Kim and support her in this journey which I know means the world to her. She is a true test of preserverance. She is the most mentally determined athlete I know. Last year was a rough year for Kim. She had a great New Zealand Ironman finishing 2nd to Jo Lawn. She was all set up for a great Ironman Lake Placid 2007. We were both planning on racing it and it would be our first time racing an Ironman together. Five weeks prior to the Ironman, while training on the course, Kim was in a very bad bike crash and completely severed one of her shoulder ligaments. She was in a sling for weeks and almost needed surgery.  That was it. It was over for Kim. No LP. Her heart was broken. I dedicated my race in lake Placid to Kim and believe me when I say that it kept me moving through my world of pain, toward the finish line. I raced for myself, but I finished for Kim. Here we are 1 year later and what a comeback! Kim is so incredibly fit. She is ready. I am so happy that I was able to run train with Kim. Her run times are phenominal and when I see her running on the course I know I will be with her in her mind every step of the marathon, just like in training. I am so proud of her. Last year was so frustrating and she never gave up. She did what she had to do. Rest!  One of the hardest things for a professional athlete to do. Now she’s back and more determined than ever! Here is a video clip i made for Kim. Check it out here. http://gallery.me.com/kellyliljeblad#100003 Also putting a shout out for the Green Mountain Multisport gang. Good luck  guys!

Boston Marathon!! What a proud coach I am!

posted: April 24th 2008 | posted in Blog, Family & Friends, Racing, Travel | No Comments »

This past weekend was the Boston Marathon. If you didn’t know that get out from under that rock!! The most famous marathon in the world. I am so proud of all my runners! You all did great and are such an inspiration to me. Everyone worries about missing a day of training, or falling off schedule. Well, the absolute truth is that no one ever runs a program with out missing days here and there. It is just impossible. I always tell my athletes to finish what you start, to never give up, and never regret anything. If there’s one thing I can’t stand or understand is when someone has the balls to say “Oh, I think I could have pushed harder, or I wasn’t even tired at the finish” Then they are upset about their time!! It pisses me off!! I tell everyone if they think they can go faster and the finish is 4 miles away, then DO IT!! Go for it! Now there are obvious exceptions to this , for example if someone simply has a fun goal to finish. Then you have to be smart. Ok, you get the idea. So, I will say that all my runners really ran smart races and stuck to their race plans. No could have, should have, would have. I really respect that. They didn’t all pr, but they all finished what they started and raced smart. I had 1 PR for the day! Chad Shepard of Vermont. This guys middle name is hardcore!! Other congrats go out to Courtney, Tania, Matt, and Shawn!!  To anyone who had a tough day out there in Beantown, check out this video. Keep your chin up and know that your day will come.  Cut and paste this and turn this shit up!!