Hot Chocolate 5k

Kim and Annette with friends at start

This was a super fun race!!  I wasn't sure how much I would want to do as far as races after IMAZ, so I signed up for this 5k as a way to stay motivated and because the swag promised lots of chocolate!!  It was good and cold at race start.  I was happy to find Annette and another friend who had come up from Tucson (yay Hue!). 

Yummy finisher swag!

The race started on time and things were well organized--especially with 7,000 runners.  I have been working on getting over the cold I've had since before IMAZ so this was the first run I'd done since then.  I felt pretty good--a little congested, but no coughing fits.  I happily finished in under 30 minutes.  It's so nice to do a race that doesn't take up the entire day!  I look forward to more short races (especially sprint triathlons) this season. 

My favorite fans

I have signed up for a bunch of races already in 2013 (the discounts were too good not to get signed up!).
January:  Polar Dash 10k, Awesome 80's 10k, PF Chang's Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon
February: Runner's Den Road Races (5k and 10k challenge), Ragnar
March:  Phoenix 1/2 Marathon
April: Marquee Sprint Tri
May: Medcity 1/2 Marathon
September: Nathan's Olympic Tri
October:  Soma 1/2 Iron Tri

I'm thinking I need to get some bike rides planned too!



Here's to a great 2012!

Race Updates

Holy cow--we're just a little over 90 days out from our Ironman AZ adventure! I am getting nervous and freaked out, so it was time to look at the race schedule and see how things line up for the BIG race.

September:  Trifamily race in Peoria, Nathan's Olympic Tri
October: Tour de Scottsdale?, Soma 1/2 Iron Triathlon
November: Women's Half Marathon, IRONMAN!

It's crazy to think that I'm only a few races away from Ironman.  Annette and I have been trying to get caught up on the bike rides (she's doing better than I am!!).  I've been getting regular strength training in each week.  I was fortunate to be in a cooler climate over the weekend and got some solid runs in as well.  My new goal is to get 3 runs/3 swims/3 bikes in each week--with one of each of those being a "long" workout.  I think if I can keep up with this training schedule and the strength training I should feel pretty good.  It will be nice to get some races in soon so that I can see where I am at and what adjustments I need to be making. 

On a sadder note, Kate will not be joining us if Ironman this year.  I am hoping she updates us with a post soon and keeps us in the loop for what she'll be doing to rehab her injury and if she's eying IMAZ 2013.  :)

MN Color Run 2012

Here's a picture from the Color Run that I did in Minnesota back in July.  It was a fun atmosphere...but not much of a run.  I'd recommend it if you're not looking to run so much as to hang out with 10,000 people on a race course. 

Kate's update

I posted about my lack of motivation a while ago. I stated I didn't have the "Eye of the Tiger" that I know I need to do this Ironman.  I decided to skip my 70.3 and relax.  Once I made up my mind I tried to do fun activities.  I did a 5k with a friend and took a nice relaxing bike ride this weekend.  I dug it.  Ron, my husband, is also trying to work out with me more.  (Ron = more fun)  So far this has helped me. 

Two interesting things happened this week.  (1)  I get to be a part of a tri group that I have been wanting to train with for sometime.  I'm pretty excited about it.  (2)  When I went on the ride with Ron and my friends today, Ron said I seemed much stronger on the bike than I used to be.  Ron hasn't ridden with me in a while so this was nice for me to hear.  He is a great judge of my skill level.    Both of these things were good to hear!

The other great thing that happened is that Ron and I cleaned out 3rd car garage (seperate individual stall that we use for storage) to make room for another machine.  Ron wants to get an elipical but we didn't have room.  We now have room and have added a nice TV and DVR box.  We figure the cost of adding the TV and cable is still less than a gym membership for both of us.  I'm excited.  Hope it works!

SO, I'm more motivated.  I am going to do the Marquee Tri with the other Ironmoms.  Kim is doing the Half and Kristin, Annette and I are going to do the OLY.  I feel really good about that.  Normally, I would have signed up for the Half and beat myself up about not being ready.  I know I can do this.  I may be slow, but I can do it. 

We are a couple weeks out from our OLY!  This is going to fun!

2012 Race Calendar

It's time to start thinking about the 2012 Race Season. I already have quite a few races planned. I am not nearly ready for my first race (the PF Chang's full marathon), but my husband is "running" it with me so I think we will take it easy and walk/run the course to stay injury free).

January-PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Full Marathon
February-Ragnar Del Sol
March-Phoenix Half Marathon (I was going to do the full, but there's no full course in 2012)
March-Tri for the Cure? (I am hoping I can do this, but I have a conference at work that day, so we'll see)
April-Marquee Half Iron Triathlon
May-open
June-open
July-open
August-open
September-Nathan's Olympic Tri
October-Soma 1/2 Iron tri
November-Women's Half Marathon November-Ironman AZ!!!!!
December-Recover!!!

I am hoping to fill some of those open months with a full marathon and some shorter tri's. Here's to a year of racing and prepping for Ironman AZ!

IMAZ 2012! One year and one WEEK away!

Ladies - Are you ready?  We are one week away from signing up for Ironman AZ!  Exciting!  I'm volunteering at the swim exit.  I'm so excited to see everyone tackling the my weakest sport.

Here is my update: 

I am currently unemployed!  Well, I'm actually in between jobs.  Leaving my last position was hard but a great opportunity became available.  I'm going back to practicing law.  My office will be near the Ironman bike course turnaround.  I think it is the most beautiful part of the Valley!  I will also have Fridays off and can use the day as another training opportunity.

I have two weeks off and it has been awesome. I have organized the house, updated my wardrobe, taken the kids to Disney and hit the spa!  This week, I'm taking my mom to the spa, cleaning the garage so I can leave my bike set up on the trainer, getting aero bars on my new bike, getting a make up lesson, and working on vegetarian cooking!  

I have been keeping my weight off thanks to a healthy diet and staying busy but my exercise level has remained very low.  I went on a run tonight and it felt great.  Although I have not been running much I had a better time than I have had in months.  Now just to continue!  That has been the biggest challenge for me lately.  My life is distracting me.  I have two races on the books that I have paid for - PF Chang's Marathon in Tempe, AZ and California 70.3 in Oceanside, CA.  I need to make them a priority.  (After my family, new job and home responsibilities of course.)  

I'm so excited to be tackling this race with a group of people I know!  It will be such a different experience than the first time.  Let's get Fired Up!! 

PS - Annette, you need to get your key board fixed so you can resume your blogging!

Upcoming Races

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's already the middle of October!  That means that the 1/2 Iron distance triathlon is just a little over a week away.  I would be lying if I didn't say that I was a little (a lot) nervous for it.  It will be my longest tri and a good indicator for how much training I will need to be ready for the Ironman in 2012.  Since I enjoyed a little vacation this past weekend, I decided to add a short tri this weekend to get me back on track.  I am also doing a trail run with some friends on Saturday--I need to get some distance in to get prepared.

Here are the races I am looking forward to in the next couple of months--
Sunday, Oct. 16-Seville Maxi Tri (300 yd, 15.4 mi, 2.8 mi)
Sunday, Oct. 23-Soma Tri (1.2 mi, 56 mi, 13.1 mi)
Sunday, Nov. 6-Women's 1/2 Marathon (13.1 mi)
Sunday, Dec. 4-Rock n Roll Vegas 1/2 Marathon (13.1 mi)
Saturday, Jan. 14-Rock n Roll AZ Full Marathon (26.2 mi)

I have convinced Adam to give a tri a try--he's joining me this weekend for the Seville Tri.  He's also signed up for the full marathon in January...we'll see if he gets trained for that.  And, my friend, Danie, is making the trip from MN to AZ to run the WHM in November!!  She has been a rockstar with her running lately, so I fully expect her to kick my butt on the 6th.  :)

Red Rock Triathlon

Bike and run slightly slower than last year, but close enough.

I'm getting excited for all the upcoming events, such as...

Nike Women's Marathon

Ragnar Las Vegas

Volunteering for IRONMAN AZ!!

We're just over a year away!

Cooler Weather=A Little Running and a Little Hiking

I have to admit that I really don't like working out when it's this hot. So, over Labor Day weekend, the family and I took a trip to Northern AZ to cool off. With the significant drop in temperature, I had no excuses not to get up and go. I took a run along a beautiful trail and we did lots of hiking.

Now, it's back to reality (and the heat). It's really time to buckle down and get in gear for the Olympic coming up in just a couple of weeks (yikes) and the 1/2 Iron coming up in just about 6 weeks. I need to commit to getting in at least one long run, one long swim, and one long ride EVERY week. There's no time left for slacking!!