They Call Me Seashell

I went back to my Dr last night to review my final test results and got the all clear on resuming normal training life as long as I keep on making the modifications I am to my lifestyle and monitor my BP keeping an eye on it. I have one happy heart and now with my Boston Heart Diagnostics results in hand, I am very aware of where I need to focus my lifestyle efforts. If you have never heard of the Boston Heart test, it is a blood work diagnostic which reviews your risks for heart disease and assesses your overall heart health identifying specific areas in which you can improve your markers.  It is also very impressive and paints a wonderful picture of your risk for heart disease. I chatted with my coach today and we are on track for a stellar rest of the training cycle to IMFL in November.  I am one happy Seashell! With this set back, I am starting a little late in my training but being only 7 weeks in I have more time in front of me than behind me which is a good t...

When I compare my self of today to my self of 2012, when I was in peak condition, I feel like I have failed myself.  I promised myself back then that I would never be back here - unfit, overweight and unhappy in my body. Yet, here I am - unfit, overweight and unhappy in my body - and apparently my body is not terribly happy with me either. At this point I would normally hide myself from pictures and people.  However not now.  I am accepting the me of today, and am putting myself out there for the entire world to see, to bare witness on my transformation and to hopefully continue to inspire others to grab a hold of their health and take ownership of their lives again. Exiting the swim - HOLY JELLYFISH!!! Husband Mike and the other half of Team Mathletes really enjoying the ride Running to the finish - it was HOT, HUMID and I negative split the run by executing smart! Team Mathletes - 40 minute 70.3 relay PR!  BOOM! I am on a continual jour...

I am returning from a long hiatus in the sport and I sit here thinking... wow. This is so much more difficult that I remember it being. And I do not mean it in a sarcastic funny way.. I mean that the struggle for me is real. This is going to be a hard fought return. However, I have the opportunity to see this as a re-do. When I left the sport to focus on my personal development I was at an all time high for me. Happy Ironman finisher, 2015 TeamUSA Long Course World Championship Qualifier (declined my spot due to school), and overall having the time of my life feeling fit and fabulous setting PRs all over the place. I felt and operated like some form of well oiled machine. I was in the zone and figured that I could keep doing something while in school, only that never happened. I decided to reach for the stars instead of digging myself a hole. My healthy lifestyle came to a screeching halt. Now here I sit, tired, out of shape and overweight looking at how far I have slipp...

I realized that I am growing stronger every day.  Not just physically but mentally. This week I missed one workout day due to time (a swim/run on Tuesday), but got in my 3 hour ride on Saturday, my 2 hour bike ride after a long Easter day up north on Sunday, my swim on Monday, my bike ride on Wednesday, and my long run last night.  Tonight is a race rehearsal swim at the pool with Yvette, and then Saturday is my RR bike and run with Yvette and Vickie. The mental part is that I have been able to get in the workouts even when I have felt tired.  I knew that my body would be OK I just needed to start.  This is the key lesson: PUSH THROUGH THE SUCK! This was my mantra last season as I hurriedly trained for MiamiMan Half Iron.  I realized that the first bit always sucks.  Starting every workout is tough, not just physically, and in doing so you have the opportunity to shine only if you give yourself the chance.  Pushing through the suck ...

RUN TEST Last night I ran my 5k TT and while it was not the fastest 5K I have ran, it was certainly not the slowest. 33:11 was my time for a pace of 10:42 and a vDot of 27. I left the OS last year with a 33, so I am hoping working to get back there and then some over this year. THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON AHEAD I posted over on the journey about my revelation in training.  As to not repeat the entire post here, I will link to it should you want to read .  In summary - this girl is moving forward in 2014 with CONFIDENCE!  I added a new section to the left column of this blog with my mantra for 2014: BE FUCKING FEARLESS.   That blog post from Elizabeth Waterstraat is exactly my mindset for this year and beyond.  I am done being fearful.  I am going to be fearless.  After all, what have I to lose?  Nothing!  Why did it take so long to realize that?   Time to be the squirrel. I WANT THE NUT.  And if I miss i...