Rest Day

Rest days are something you really need to stick to during your training. I know, why rest when you feel great and you know you can  run 10 miles, bike 50 mile or swim 1 mile today. But getting plenty of rest is important to your training. As you progress in your training your body will need time to adjust to the new demands being put on it to perform. Rest also helps with the soreness that usually starts to show up. Trust me, my body was hurting from my first swim on Sunday Night! So today I kept off my feet as much as possible. Hard to do when your job is security but I did. Drank enough water  and eat much better. Time for Sleep because tomorrow it's back to the grind!

Getting over that mental funk

Part of my training is to first have my fitness training which I know is needed to help me strengthen my core which I know is so important in my training to be able to perform better in my races and triathlon events. Today my fitness trainer kicked my butt. I felt so tired but I didn't realize that it was just mental. My mind was telling me it had enough and I needed to go home. Sadly I listened so I got in my car and was headed home but I'm so glad that I started remembering what my training was for today and said wait a minute! Your training today called for fitness camp and an easy 2 mile run. So I quickly drove to one of my favorite biking /running parks.

It wasn't easy but I got in my easy 2 mile run. So glad that I fought my mind telling me that I was tired. Working hard now is going to pay off later when I compete in my first tri - Denver Triathlon on September 22, 2013 and Denver Rock n Roll Marathon where I'm doing the half and have a goal of completing it in under 2 hours!

I do have a book recommendation that I friend suggest to me. I believe it helped my today. Please read "The Philosophical Athlete by Heather L. Reid you will get a wonderful understanding about the mental part of being an athlete. I know reading this book has be helpful for me in helping realize when negative energy is trying to stop me from pushing myself so that I can exceed my goals.

Keep up with your training. Learn to workout with a group but also push yourself when you are training alone. Thanks for reading and remember to wave when passing another runner. Show your support for their hard work. We are a family!

How Marathons can heal communities

Running can change the world. Check out these incredible stories of how marathons can heal communities on TED. Has running connected you with others?  

Click on the below link to get to story:

Marathons can Heal 

New Bike

Well today was very exciting for me. I met with my coach +Richard Kalasky at Treads located in Lakewood, CO to help me get fitted for a bike for my first Triathlon (Denver Triathlon September 22, 2013) and for my training program. If you are thinking of getting a bike please go get a free bike fitting before you get a bike. What a difference it makes when you have a bike that is fitted to you. After looking at a few bikes, we found a bike that was perfect for me as I start my challenge of competing in Triathlons. The bike is a Trek 1.5 cost $1,100 dollars.

Click on  Trek Bike link to see the bike.

 Trek Bike 

I got a different color. Black and white. Since I'm tall 6'3" they had to order the bike from CA so I'll pick it up next week! Pictures to follow. 

Colfax Marathon Ambassador Program

Are you the next Colfax Marathon Ambassador?

Are you an influencer who loves the running community here in Colorado? We’re looking for 15 dedicated runners who love the Colfax Marathon, are involved in our running community (both on the ground and online), and are ready to be part of our amazing team of Ambassadors! 

The Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon is seeking 15 Ambassadors to help get the word out about our 7 running events in May, 2014. We're doubling the size of our program - we have 15 returning members and will be adding an additional 15 this year to help us spread the word in 2014! We are happy to announce the return of ADIDAS as our Key Sponsor of our Ambassador Program.

If you’re someone who shares races on Facebook, tweets daily, has a blog, and rallies your friends for social events, then we want you to be a Ambassador! The application will be posted on August 15. Applications are due September 1.

Your role as an Ambassador includes:

Collateral Distribution throughout Colorado (running stores, local races)

Spreading the word about The Colfax Marathon events (local running clubs, social media, and blogging are all examples) and answering questions.

Participation in the 2014 Charity Partner Program - more than 100 charities raise funds through our race. Help with fundraising, coaching support, lead group runs, and answer the needs of our Charity Partner runners.

Race Weekend support- you must work the Health and Fitness Expo Friday May 16th and Saturday May 17th, 2014.

And of course run the event in your branded Colfax Marathon Ambassador Gear!

Be an expert on The Colfax Marathon! Click link below

colfaxambassador

When my running career started

Today I took a look in the mirror and finally told myself that it was time to really focus on putting more effort into my training. I have the best coaches in the world, +Richard Kalasky , @Carlos T. Hill, @Kristen Schuldt, @Debo Condo and a AWESOME support team of runners who are part of @O2EA Fitness and Endurance Training. 

My journey started back in 2012 when Coach +Richard Kalasky  invited me to a runner's meeting at what is now Run Colorado Run. This meeting turned out to be life changing for me. It seems I agreed to be a part of @TeamDetermiNation of Denver's American Cancer Society and running in The Phoenix Rock n Roll Marathon which will be on Jan 19, 2013. Okay, Me run a marathon 13.1 miles!!! I got home and said omg what have I done. 

As in most training I was involved by going to meeting and getting out on the weekends to be with the running group. But somewhere in the middle of the over 14 week training before the race, I lost focus. Did the training have ass and did most of my running on a treadmill. Even on a treadmill I never got to 13.1 miles.

Jan 19, 2013 came and wow my lack of training really showed as I struggled to keep pace and was so thirsty during the entire race. My body was in pain but I keep moving mile after mile. We I finally got to the 13 mile marker the leg cramps began and it was a struggle to get to the finish line. But something special happen during the race that I must talk about now. There were spots along the race while Team DetermiNation coaches were there to help keep our spirits up!!!! Just seeing them gave me a boost of energy that keep me going and yes at the end of the race some were there to help bring me home!!!!

Wow what a feeling it was to cross that finish line. My official time was over 3 hours but I finished my first half marathon!!! So now I was hooked!!! I told myself that I will have to improve my finish time for my next marathon. Colfax Half Marathon in Denver, Colorado was my next marathon challenge. I did work hard on my training program but still not at the level of dedication that is required for me to run entire marathon and not take so many walk breaks. 

I did a few 5K and 5 mile races before the Colfax to get me into learning how to train right. I did reach my goal of being under 3 hours in the Colfax Race. I was done in 2:38:44 it was almost an hour off my Phoenix time. I was so proud! One race that really challenge me was The Slacker Half Marathon which the course is mostly downhill. I did finish it under 3 hours but OMG my body was done. My knees were like butter but it was  crazy race.

And now my I'm preparing for another rock n roll marathon - Denver! My training started so and so but now August 14, 2013 I have stepped it up!!! The race is Oct 20th and I plan to complete the race at 2 hours are less!!! I joined Life Time Fitness so that I would have good equipment and no excuses for getting in my workouts!!!