Back in the Saddle...Excited for 2015

On Tueday, February 17th I wrapped up my season coaching 9th grade girls basketball.  I love being part of the staff I am on.  It is a lot of fun working with high school athletes and trying to motivate and inspire their best on and off the court.  I officially started my training on Monday the 16th although since late December when my weight reached a 5 year high at 192 lbs. I began eating healthy and riding the bike 5-7 hours a week.  I have done a nice job of watching my nutrition closely coupled with working out regularly and I have managed to shed 31 lbs. over the past 9 weeks.  I weighed in at 161 this week. 

Week 1 was a great start until the weekend.  I came down with a nasty stomach virus that sidelined my workouts for 2 days and left me weakened and forced to drop my volume down.  My plan for now is just to ride and run along with attending my strength and flexibility class at Barre563.  I will begin swimming the 3rd week in April.  The kids are growing up so fast and I'm constantly trying to find more ways to make the balance of family, career, and training work to continue competing at a high level.  One thing I do to make this happen is wait on my swimming.  I've learned that my body can get into pretty good swim shape (by my standards) if I swim for 4-6 weeks at a higher volume.  Right now I am running and biking about every day.  My hope is to lean down by the 3rd week of April and then begin swimming but drop my running and biking down to 4-5 days a week of each with an emphasis on more quality. 

In 2015 I will again be donating all my race winnings to the iHope Foundation.  To date we have provided 8 students with an iPad and a $1,000.00 scholarship.  We are hoping to award 2 more yet this year.  The iHope Foundation provides low-income students that display outstanding character and work traits with an iPad while in junior high and a promise for a $1,000.00 scholarship upon graduation from high school provided they meet the requirements set for them through high school.  This past winter both students in our school who have been awarded in this year's 8th grade class made the honor roll which was very cool to see.  In a few weeks we will begin the corporate campaign for the foundation.  I will represent businesses during the race season that help build the foundation.  Last year I raced for 16 business supporters who contributed to the iHope Foundation.  My goal this year is 20.  If you'd like to support the iHope Foundation you can click either link on my home page to contribute to either the iPad fund or the scholarship fund.  For donors from Iowa if you donate to the scholarship fund the state of Iowa gives a 25% tax credit in addition to the federal tax deduction that all donations qualify for. 

My big early season race this year will be Challenge Atlantic City.  I raced it last year but did so without training for the Ironman distance event.  I raced often in June before this race and did it on a whim rather than something I was trained and rested for.  This year I'm training with that race in mind and hoping for a good result.  I loved Challenge AC and am super excited to be returning there. This week the training goal is 160 bike miles and 38 run miles.  I'm pretty sore from getting back into things but that is a feeling I've missed and welcome.  My disappointment from the pneumonia at Ironman Chattanooga to end last year fuels my motivation to work harder and do all the little things required to be successful.  If you are beginning your own journey remember that the path to success is paved with consistency.  Some days will be good, and others you will not feel so good.  Remember good results come from consistent training and work.  Thanks for reading.  DREAM BIG!!