running

I finished my Half-Ironman! YES, I DID IT!!

I really cannot believe it, but I can proudly share with anyone willing to listen that I finished a 1/2 Ironman!! 6 hours and 16 min of swimming, biking, and running (in heat that should only be beach weather!) but I crossed the finish line with a smile and my family cheering me on! Goal reached and still smiling!!

 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words .. so please enjoy a little of what was my race day and a fabulous finish on my crazy journey of my 1st 1/2 Ironman!!

Prior to Swim

Prior to swim with a few teammates, can you guess how nervous I was for my 2km swim?

Swim starts

I am 1 of 100 pink hats .. 39 mins later I was out of the water!

Krista on bike

Oh, I loved all 90km of this bike!

Oh the run

This was the hottest, hardest 21km run of my life - but never for a moment did I think I wouldn't finish!

Finish with a HUGE smile

My finish .. HUGE smiles from me!

 Post race

My very proud family .. the BEST support and cheering crew a mom could ever ask for!!

Posted by Krista running mama on 08/14/2011 - 19:15
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

That little voice

So you know that little voice in your head that questions your well thought out (or not so well thought out) plans – well mine is SCEAMING at me .. a ½ Ironman – WHAT WERE YOU THINKING GIRL!?! With just over a month to go to my big race, race is actually July 17th – I am seriously feeling like I am out of my mind and totally out of my comfort zone for signing up for this.

 

Where does this little voice come from, back in January I was over the moon thinking about this challenge for myself.  I still believe I can do this but if I am honest with myself, I am behind on my training. Based on my coach provided training bible, I should have proudly rode my longest bike ride (mere 100km)  the first week of June.  I however was enjoying a little vacation (without my bike) that week, but I don’t really think this is the entire reason. Honestly, I think I am a bit fearful of this new distance in this sport I love – I have absolutely no expectation of time, just to finish the race with a smile, so why is this internal voice making me lose sleep? Mommy's in Motion

 

Sleep is worth more than gold for a mom which reminds me, there was  no greater challenge than becoming a mom for me – and that same little voice was screaming when baby number 2 came just 13 months after baby #1.  So again, motherhood has taught me so much - I have discovered that I don’t always know what I have gotten into, but I do know I will find a way to figure out how to make it work.  And most importantly, I don’t have to figure it out alone -I have a huge support group, my family and my mommy friends always have advice or tips to support me. These same people are cheering me on thru this training, making it possible to fit all this training in and together we are making it work!

 

So little voice, let’s stop worrying so much, stop creating  stress when I should be having fun and remember the plan – all we have to do is finish with a smile … isn’t that what we should do every day!  

Posted by Krista running mama on 06/13/2011 - 23:25
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

A Plan is a good Starting Point, right?

I like to think I am a smart athlete, I know what it takes to succeed when a HUGE challenge is in front of me. First, find others to keep me motivated and secondly, get a plan!! So I did the smart thing and have joined a group with 20 other fabulous First Triathlon - my momstown buddiesathletes to train with for my first Half Ironman  – we are called the IronCanucks (lucky for me, my fellow momstown tri buddy Karen V, joined too!!). 

 

Workout buddies, check .. now, on to a plan. I have to build up my “base” fitness activities to start the actual 20 week training program that officially begins the end of February. What does this mean for my plan? 2 swim workouts, 2 bike workouts, 2 runs – oh and if you have time .. try to get in a yoga class for strength. YIKES .. you have to be kidding me, this isn’t even the actual training?!? Am always up for the challenge, let’s see if I can fit this into my already busy week (my plan):

 

• Mon – Yoga class after girls in bed, am unaware of how hard it is to leave the house with these winter temperatures at 8pm!!
• Tues – Run, hire a sitter to watch girls so I can run with my group at 530pm, crazy that I am now going to pay someone so I can run (so much for a cheap sport)!
• Wed – Bike (60 min spin class) & Swim, this is my big training night, Daddy has to get home early from work to make this a reality
• Thurs – REST, the most important part of any training plan, plus this is my favourite TV night!!
• Fri – Swim, have to pull in the favours for girls, MIL is going to have lunch with girls so I can join teammates at lunch at the pool (must find alternative plan when MIL heads south for March)
•  Sat – Run, 8am for my long runs (am actual already doing this one!)
• Sun – Bike, wake up before family and have a bike in basement to get  in my long indoor ride

 

My reality? – Over the past 4 weeks, I have actually followed the plan, ONCE and when I did .. I was so tired, I mean falling asleep instantly on Monday afternoon during an exciting episode of Handy Manny!! Let’s just say the following week I declared a “recovery” week and tripled my rest days! So the plan is aggressive, but it is just that, a plan – the good news is I know I can fit into my life with girls, hubby and work! I can do it!! Yes I can!! Oh but just remembered this is just “base” training …

Posted by Krista running mama on 02/17/2011 - 12:08
Labels:
ShareThis share this post