#coeursports

[2-fit-2-quit-blog1]

So excited to try my new Tri shorts! Love the personal touch of the hand written note. Thanks Coeur! #coeursports #feltbicycles #f2cnutrition #wahookickr

[iacoatings]

Repost throwback from @trinywillerton • On my way to look for Monty and Nigel... 🐶💕 #coeursports #newtonrunning #imboulder #triathlon #cycling #usat #alchemybicycles #alchemy #boulder #flatirons #iforgotmygloves #sram #whiteindustries #iacoatings #shamacycles#girl#me#lifestyle#pink #me (at Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAP50bMgZ2H/?igshid=6mwi4aq7tuq7

[newwaveswimbuoy]

Credit to @relentlessruth : What a super morning for a long swim! The water was like glass. How lucky am I to live by such a great place to swim??!! posted on Instagram - https://newaveswim.com/2LGFpQE

[katorx]

When you get a new @coeursports aero too, but triathlon season is over, you rock it on a road bike ride! #coeursports #bikelove #bikeiowa #triathlon #trekbikes

[rachelerobfit]

Post #swim noms while I map out tomorrow's run route. Don't judge 😆. This morning's pancake (it was bigger than my face) & some electrolytes. #nom #skratchlabs #coeursports #usatf #igotfit

[michelelash]

Two finishes, one podium, 3000 feet of climbing and no regrets. I had a lot fear and reservations going into this weekend because of the amount of hills on the bike and for the Olympic swim. I didn't feel ready for this at all. Proof you're always capable of more than you think you are. . . .#whitemountainstriathlon #heartandcourage @coeursports #triathlon #hardcoeur

[multisportperformance]

90 Seconds To Kona

I wasn’t born for endurance events.  I was the chubby kid with a pretty smile, the girl who battled with self confidence, the one you picked last for your team in PE.

When I raced my first Ironman in 2001, it was just to see if I could finish.  I had a Schwinn Super Sport that I bought from the local bike shop and that served me well for the first three Ironman’s that I raced.  I was never fast, but did see results and the goal was always just to try to improve.  I found that for me endurance sports were a great way to shed some weight and keep it off.  It gave me confidence, a great group of friends, goals and was just fun.

In 2014, I was given an opportunity to race at the Ironman World Championships because I had done twelve races.  The Legacy Program allows for athletes who will probably never reach the top levels to get an opportunity to race the biggest race in the sport they love.  

Kona is amazing.  I was hooked and wanted to go back.  Although I am a coach, I hired one to push me harder than I would have pushed myself.  I spent the next two years coming close to qualifying - getting on the podium, but always coming up short.  

I was chosen to be on the Coeur Sports Team, which has given me the opportunity to be surrounded with super supportive women with the same collective goals.  Coeur also has the the best gear around and our coaching company, Multisport Performance, decided to use them for our custom kits!

  Like everyone, this year has had it’s own set of struggles and the race schedule has changed based on some family things.  If you like data, you can clearly see the indecisiveness of the year compared to the peak from last years race. 

Ironman Coeur D’alene was on our radar as this is the last year of the event.  When I showed up I was told I was #24, which is pretty cool.  We did a home stay for the first time which was amazing.  Peewee and his old Navy buddy were able to tell war stories from back in the day.  It was a quick turn around, but it couldn’t have been more perfect.

The swim was awesome.  The bike is super hilly and it got really hot!  My Argon 18 bike felt amazing and rocked it, but I did not do a great job with my nutrition, hydration and electrolytes and felt it at about mile 103 of the bike.  I had enough events to know that it was a bad feeling.  Going into T2 was rough as I got a sick to my stomach/dizzy feeling and my heart rate was super high.  My running has been strong and after I was told I was in 4th place, so I figured once I started running, I would be good!

Yeah, I was wrong.  I felt terrible.  I started walking before the aid stations, through the aid stations, I knew I needed to do damage control and fast.

For as bad as I was feeling and as slow as I was running, no one was passing me.  I made sure to get in some calories, caffeine, hydration.  The race course was three loops of over 8 miles.  After the first loop Peewee told me the first place girl was running 8:30′s (ugh) and the second place girl was kind of far ahead but the third place girl might be within my reach.  I just had to hurry.  

There was no hurry in me though.  I was still working on getting in some fluids, keeping the core cool, getting some calories in.  It was a shame because my legs weren’t hurting at all.  I had a little chat with God and we talked about leaving it in his hands.  I found peace and I was really good with whatever the outcome.  

As I started loop three, Peewee told me the third place girl was through the park already, but to try to pick it up because you never knew what might happen.  Then he caught me on the back end and told me he was wrong and Jerry said I was only 90 seconds behind her.  90 seconds and just over 8 miles - now that was doable.  The calories I took in earlier started to kick in and I was able to pick it up a little.  90 seconds.  You can find 90 seconds!  I stuck my head down and ran.  I stopped talking to the other athletes (sorry!), I stopped talking to the volunteers (sorry!) - at that point the best I could do was a thumbs up.

I tried finding the ladies 45-49 on their calves but couldn’t figure out if they were on their first loop or second loop.  Just keep running.  90 seconds!  Find 90 seconds!!! As I rounded the corner to the finish, I wanted to be done.  I didn’t take time to high-five the crowd, I didn’t take time to fix my race belt over my belly for the picture.  I knew that the video was being recorded and I didn’t even care - I needed 90 seconds and everything would be okay.

I ended up beating her by 30 minutes.

Finishing is always a blessing.  We are so fortunate to be able to do what we do.  Now it was time to see what the slot disbursement would be and if it would be enough to grab a Kona slot.

There were only 41 athletes in my age group so there were only two slots available to the first and second place winners in my age group.  I watched as my other Coeur teammates who were on the podium either got their spot or got a roll down.  I was the only one left and it didn’t look good.  There were so many emotions.  I tried to be good with whatever the outcome, justifying the cost, being gone from home, etc.   Time to get on the podium to get my award.

I congratulated all the ladies and felt dumpy standing next to second place, but being on the podium is amazing.  Then she turned to me and asked me if I was going to Kona.  Ugh!  At this point, I wasn’t in the mood - I said, “No, you are in second place - you are going to Kona.”  Then she replied, “No, I can’t take it.”  Whaaaat?!  Tears.  Hugs.  Could it be true?  Could I finally be “good enough”?

YUP!  After waiting to make sure it wasn’t a bad joke, I gave all my money to WTC for the entry and we high tailed it to the airport to get home.

I want to make sure to thank everyone for your support.  I love my Multisport Performance family - I truly wanted to make you proud.  My amazing friends who came through big time, my Coeur sisters, Laura - my coach, Heidi - who is the reason my legs could kick it in the last 8 miles, Breaththrough nutrition, roka, my awesome Argon 18 bike.  Thank you Jerry, for being a great friend, training partner and keeping Peewee updated with the 90 second goal!  Mostly, my husband and kids who deal with me on a daily basis and love me unconditionally.

I did it!!!  I’m going to KONA!!

[crazigirl007]

Sunday Runday - complete with blustery run, Nico snuggles, and poor man's normatec w/ my @coeursports socks + dot leggings to feel fancy.

[stampycapp]

Repost from #stampycer @wvhillrunner - 2nd run post-marathon and it felt great! Calves were just a bit tight afterwards, but other than that I feel a lot more ready for Saturday than I thought I would! #run #runner #postmarathon #halfmarathontime #coeursports #heartandcourage #strava #stravarunning #mizuno #mizunowave #mizunorunner #stampyc #stampycer #wvhillrunner #strongereveryday #garmin #run4life #run4lifeusa #ambassador @run4lifeusa #runclub #wolfpackrunclub http://ift.tt/2rCFxry

[2-fit-2-quit-blog1]

Throw back to a couple weekends ago when I crushed my half ironman*... Love that I managed a smile and a Shaka. *it was actually a duathlon due to the cancelled swim... but that actually gave me a more competitive edge since I spend so little time swimming and so much time biking and running. #shakarunner #findyourhappypace #findyourpodium #imtraining #imfinisher #ironmantri #santarosa70.3 #3athletewadj #throwback #cantwaittodoitagain #f2cnutrition #feltia2 #coeursports https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWy4UxlE8e/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rdtkew646khi

[newwaveswimbuoy]

Credit to @fit4you_coach_nicole : Missing swimming under sunny skies and in beautiful clear blue Caribbean waters... posted on Instagram - https://newaveswim.com/2U67SRn

[fmlcorvuscrow]

A few other favorites from Ironman Chattanooga! 6th in my AG with a debut ironman time of 12:33:56! Can't wait for the next one!

[michelelash]

#tbt to last weekend's #harvesttri, a much needed great start to the season. I've had a difficult time this winter with training, coming off of #imaz mentally and physically exhausted. I've battled a few injuries along with my body just not wanting to cooperate. This spring, my fitness is at its lowest in years. I came as close to quitting this sport than I ever have. BUT, I put all that behind me and pushed best I could coming up with 4th in my AG, and more importantly, reigniting the fire. Huge thanks to my coach @amberdferreira who believes in me more than I believe in myself. . . #heartandcourage @coeursports #hardcoeur #triathlon #triathlontraining (at A.D. Makepeace Company)

[ganipinero]

Don't know who #sarahcameto is? Don't worry, you will. #scameto #professional #triathlete #ironmantri #roka #purplepatch #coeursports

[momonthemove]

Loving my new @coeursports Tee I got today!! #ispeak140.6 #ironmanboulder #coeursports

[2-fit-2-quit-blog1]

Bad to the Coeur. Happy Friday Eve😉 #shakarunner #findyourhappypace #findyourpodium #backtotraining #tritraining #marathontraining #futurebostonmarathoner #pedalforthemedal #chasingdreams #crushinggoals #f2cnutrition #coeursports #hardcoeur https://www.instagram.com/p/BmQ9bCjF-Eh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zuov6tmqoebw