“Some sessions are stars and some sessions are stones, but in the end they are all rocks and we build upon them.” – Chrissie Wellington
I thought I would talk about my racing history and how I came to the place I am now.
I am very goal driven and need a big race to work towards in order to stay motivated to work out regularly.
In 2011, I came across the Power90 DVD series. This is a knockoff of the P90X series by Beachbody, but shorter work outs. I expect it isn’t quite as intense either, but I haven’t done P90X, so I can’t be sure about that. I completed the entire 90 program along with a very focused diet. Not only did a lose quite a bit of weight, but I was lean and strong. I was in the best shape of my life.
In spring of 2012, I decided I needed a new challenge and set my sights on tough mudder. I continued doing Power 90 workouts and used the playground for some of the obstacle training and began running. I completed Tough Mudder in September of 2012. I wasn’t able to complete all of the obstacles, especially the upper body ones, but I did make it up the quarter pipe and through both electrical obstacles. I also managed the Artic Enema, a water obstacle with ice which requires you to submerge and go under a wall. I made it through, but if it hadn’t ben for the person behind me that wanted out, and basically tossed me over the edge at the end, I’m not sure I would have figured out how to climb out.
Since that time I am also deathly afraid of electrical obstacles in races. I didn’t realize this until I was doing the Foam Fest obstacle and there was an obstacle that looked like Tough Mudder’s electric eel – a mud pit where you have to belly crawl under wires that are electrified. When one person touches, everyone in the pit gets a shock because we are in the water together. We were at this easy, fun obstacle race (no electricity) and apparently by the time I got out of their mud pit belly crawl I was white as a sheet and my sisters couldn’t figure out was what wrong.
https://toughmudder.com/obstacles
Over the winter of 2012-2013, I focused on running and put my sights on the Grandad Bluff half Marathon. I ran outside almost all winter. I remember one day I came home, and my skin was beat red. At first, I didn’t know what the problem was, but then I turned the tv on and found out I had been running in 10-degree weather with a 10 below windchill. OOPS! Race day I was able to get my daughter and future son in low to run with me – even though neither had trained, but they were only 18 and 19. We all finished, but those two didn’t walk well for a week. I didn’t walk well either, but it was because I had a slight fracture in my foot. Based on how I felt during the race, I think I injured myself about 2 or 3 miles from the end. I finished in 2:53.
https://www.grandadhalfmarathon.com/half-marathon
After the foot experience, I decided to try a triathlon instead for 2014. I of course couldn’t start with a sprint, but I was lucky enough to have an Olympic distance tri right near where I live. Lots of early mornings in the pool that was a half hour away. Race day did not go so well. I had gut issues and was just feeling well. I hadn’t trained on my bike enough for the major hills we had to ride. Luckily, my entire family came out to support me and, since I was all alone on the course, were able to drive along side me as I finished my bike and the ran my 10k. y daughter ran a bunch of the 10k with me. I finished the race 45 minutes behind the person in front of me in 4:05. I was surprised a week or so later when I received a package in the mail with my medal – which said 1st place! Apparently, I was the only person in my age group!
I had fun with the tri and knew I could do better. There was another local tri that I had wanted to do for a couple of years. Instead of a swim, bike, run though we kayaked for 7 miles, biked for 15, and then ran on a trail for 3. I finished that in 4:11 – not much less time than my Olympic disaster, but a whole lot more fun.
http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Annual-Events/DamChallenge/
That tri wasn’t a big enough goal race for me though, so my big goal for 2015 was the Norwalk Rails to Trails Marathon. I managed to complete it and felt great afterwards with a time of just over 6 hours.
https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Norwalk/RailsToTrailsRun
In 2016, I switched things up and joined a team race, Ragnar Great River. Our team of twelve in two vans ran from Winona to St Paul Mn. over 200 Miles. My three legs added up to about 16 miles. This race had an interesting start too as two days before the race the area got a major storm and a couple of the roads we were supposed to run along got washed away so there were some detours and a part of the course was actually closed. My favorite part of this race – besides my first taste of peanut butter energy balls was my last leg which was a trail run through state park outside of St Paul. I had gotten a taste of trail running during the Kickapoo tri, but this solidified my love of trail running.
https://www.runragnar.com/event-detail/relay/minnesota#overview
In 2017, I was newly married and my husband, who had been a dairy farmer and thus had not had many vacations before, showed an interest in bicycle riding. I had heard of this little event called Ragbrai and signed us up. 411 miles over 7 days. It was amazing and even better because we got to do it together. Well, kind of together. We left together in the morning and he had the tent sent up by the time I arrived at the campsite.
For more on Ragbrai – listen to season 1 as I talk about my training each week to prepare. Episode 7 that season is the summary of the ride.
https://ragbrai.com/
In 2018 I was ready for a bigger challenge and looking ahead to 2019 and my dream goal for my 50th birthday. A half iron in 2018 and full iron in 2019. Season 2 covers that training and episode 29 is the race summary. Finished in 8:32.
https://www.dutrirun.com/page/show/845808-chisago-lakes-triathlon-july-28-2019
Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.
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