Blog

Relative Performance (RP) is more important than Personal Record (PR)

Athletes are notorious for setting high expectations for themselves, especially in competitions. Most triathletes use time as their primary metric for measuring their performance in a competition. Going this route, though, can be misleading and often times disappointing, as finish time is only one of many elements in a race. Weather conditions, the course itself,...
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Turning 40 is easier – thanks to USAT

Last weekend I turned 40. For many, it’s a big milestone. For me, it seemed like just another birthday. I’ve always been the youngest among my childhood friends, so I’ve helped them celebrate 40 across the last few years. But when I really think about it, I’I’ve pretty much felt like I was 40 ever...
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If a 4-year-old was a triathlete

On Thursday, Sasha will participate in her first “official” running race (The SOME 5k Turkey Trot in DC). Now, let’s be honest, she won’t run 5k – and I would be surprised if she ran 5 blocks. But the goal is to have her participate with us, developing her own love of fitness and sense...
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Chis McCormack, I'm Here to Win, Embrace the Suck

Macca: “Embrace the Suck”

When a legendary triathlete like Chris McCormack or ‘Macca’ (two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship), who has a reputation for being arrogant and cocky, decides to write a book about his personal and professional life, it’s only natural to be a little sceptical. More often than not, such books tend to carry a lot...
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Motivation doesn’t happen at the garage

Greg posted Wednesday about motivation – he’s right. The wall by our garage is awesome. But let’s be honest: problems with motivation don’t happen at the garage or at the front door (on a related note, see the photo of the Ironman Lake Placid course poster that that’s hung in our foyer.) Motivation happens at...
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Motivation, Inspiration, Triathlon Medals, Race Numbers

Training Inspiration

We have a wall in our garage that we have started hanging our race numbers and medals.  It is fantastic.  Not only to reminder our accomplishments but also as a reminder that anything is possible. Our wall is located next to our garage door.  Every time we come home it is the last thing we...
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Doubling Up

Doubling Up – Time Management

In my previous post, I talked about how Planning is the key to training. Ironman is just as much a mental event as it is a physical one. But, you have to actually DO the training first. In my experience, the only way to pull off successful training is to get creative, and double-up training...
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Family Workouts, Jim McDonnell Lake Swim 2013

Plan Your Plan

The first question people typically ask after I say “yea, I’m doing another Ironman”, isn’t Why. It’s How. It’s a really good question. All endurance athletes I know – regardless of whether they’re marathoners, swimmers, triathletes, etc. –seem to struggle with how to get it all done within the confines of 24 hours. Let’s be...
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with greg

That Was Then, This Is Now

My husband has a great idea — what if we posted some old race reports? It’s been so long since my races, I wondered if I still had them. Gotta love cloud-based technology. My Ironman Wisconsin race report (from 2004) is below. So much has changed between then and now: the number of Ironman races...
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Triathlon Parents

How to Be An Ironman

Triathlon Training With Family/Life/Work Balance 140.6 miles. That’s all it is. You might drive that in an afternoon but for me it’s going to take a half a year or more of intense training. Swimming for 2.4 miles, biking for 112 miles, then a leisurely 26.2 mile marathon jog with every ounce of energy I...
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