Tri This: Race Day

Yesterday was race day, my first sprint length triathlon. A half mile open water swim, followed by a 10 mile bike ride and a 5k run. I chose this race in particular for its smaller size (limited to 450 entrants in both the sprint and shorter super sprint events) and because it was a women’s […]

Tri This: One Year!!!

One year ago today, I began my triathlon training adventure. I had been inspired by a report in my local newspaper about a sprint/mini-sprint race held at a rec center the previous weekend. I looked at the distances involved and thought “I can do that”. More importantly, I wanted to do that. Starting out, my […]

Tri This: 11 months in

I’ve been training as a triathlete for eleven months now. I’ve done two mini sprint races, one in August, and one last January. I finished the first one with a painful 2 mile run, but given that I’d started from zero in running, finishing was my goal. January‘s event was a reverse and time driven indoor […]

Homeowner Triathlete

I’ve been encountering some schedule and fitness issues recently. Last week, we finally got a few days of badly needed rain. This messed a little with training plans. While I saw one hardy runner out in the downpour, I was not so inclined. And while I might consider running in the rain, forget biking. Too […]

Tri This: Ten Months

Ten months. Wow, I’ve been at this triathlon training project for a while. And I’m still at it, and have my first sprint-length race, complete with open water swim, in late June. The big change for me is that I am now following a training plan leading up to this longer (for me) race. I’m using […]

Tri This: Taking the Plunge

Well, I finally did it. I signed up for a sprint triathlon this summer, with an open water swim. Its the TriBella Women’s Triathlon, to be held at Cherry Creek Reservoir on June 23. Thirteen weeks, but who’s counting? I am. Time to get serious, or more accurately, more disciplined, about my training. I’ve been […]

Tri This: This Year

Well, its the first month of 2018 and many folks are making resolutions and plans. So I’ll chime in here with a few of my own for triathlon and fitness, along with some race options that I am entertaining for this year. I started this tri-training project last June Tri This On, with an original […]

Tri This: Month 6

Six months. Half a year. Goll-eee. A mini-milestone. I’ve been training at triathlon for six months. Six months seems like a long time and yet it feels as though I am still finding my way. Its easy to notice significant progress, particularly with running. Given that running for more that 2 minutes was really hard […]

Tri This: Tri-angles

I wasn’t a huge fan of geometry and trigonometry in high school. My issue was with the proofs; whatever I was being asked to prove seemed obvious to me and hence a “waste of time”. I now recognize that the discipline and logic involved are indeed fine tools to have at one’s disposal. Despite my […]

Tri this: Month 5

I’ve been at this triathlon training project for five months now. The newness has worn off, and as I mentioned in Tri This: Month 4, one of my current challenges is finding the rhythm of training that works for the long haul. I’ve been working out regularly, 5 or 6 days a week, and I’m noticing […]

Mirror, mirror

Mirror, mirror, on my bike Tried some out What do I like? As I mentioned in New Wheels, I got a new bike a few months back. It’s a great bike, I’m having a lot of fun riding it and am really appreciating the upgrade. Like most bikes, it didn’t come with any accessories, so I’ve […]

Tri This: Month 4

Four months. That’s a significant length of time. I started this triathlon training adventure in June, and at the time, it had a bit of that summer vacation excitement. Something special, different from the usual, and something time-limited. I’m recognizing this retrospectively, even as my original plan was for my first triathlon to be next […]

Season of Change

That’s all of them, isn’t it? It is said that change is the only constant, and I do find it especially true these days. Autumn is my favorite season, with the brilliant colors of changing leaves and bright blue skies. Here in Colorado, the weather also fluctuates wildly this time of year. It’s not uncommon […]

Tri This: Month 3

I began my triathlon training adventure on June 12. I’d been pondering it for a few weeks, my curiosity having been reactivated by an article in the paper about a local sprint length event. I recall reading it, looking at the distances involved, and saying out loud “I can do that”. More important was my […]

Tri This: Race Week

Race Week. For this first timer, there’s a bit of charge to those words. I’m doing a triathlon. On Saturday. I’ve been training less than three months. I just returned Tuesday from a week away. Relax. Its a mini. Swim 300 yards, bike 11 miles, run 2 miles. I can do all of those things. […]

Tri This: Month 2

Its hard for me to believe, but I’ve just finished the second month of my triathlon training adventure. My original plan was to start training, review my experience monthly, adjust training plans accordingly, and decide whether or not the process was one I wanted to continue. All of that still applies. The big surprise to […]

Chasing Isaac, Cheering Isaac

Isaac is a local kid. I first became aware of him many years ago when as a toddler he would come into Vic’s, my local coffee shop, with his mom and older sister. At that point, he was just an engaging little boy from the neighborhood. Fast forward a decade or so, and Claire, his […]

Brickwork

A “brick” workout turns out to be running after biking, so named because one’s legs feel like bricks for the first mile.

Knock, knock, who’s there? Isabelle

Is a bell necessary on a bicycle? I say yes.

At home in my body

Over the past several weeks as I’ve intensified my physical activity with my triathlon training adventure, I’ve been surprised and pleased to notice a change in my relationship with my body. I’ve gotten stronger and I’ve lost a little weight, but it’s basically the same 61-year-old body I started with. Yet, I am so much […]

Other people’s rules/need to know

There it was on my third grade report card: “If Stephanie is interested in something, she’s among the best in the class, and if she’s not, she doesn’t do it”. So busted.

The Cloud Effect or, Its Always Something

Years ago, a client and I came up with a concept we named the cloud effect. We had worked hard together to help her get through a pair of daunting tasks, flying on an airplane and having surgery. Both times, the preparation worked well, and both times an unexpected challenge arose, involving clouds. We concluded […]

Tri this: I’m in!

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve entered my first triathlon. Its the Mini Haha (mini ’cause its short, haha ’cause its fun–their words, not mine) put on by the Broomfield Recreation Center. Its a mini-sprint event, with a 300 yd swim, 11 mile bike ride, and 2 mile run. As its name suggests, its a fun […]

Too many variables, same result

The result: pain in my low back and pelvis. Again. Last week was a good week. I saw my sports medicine doctor on Monday, and we got some things figured out and loosened up. I was able to run two miles twice without pain during and after. Very encouraging. Last evening, I noticed I was […]

Running haiku

cool morning post rain quiet birdsong, sun rising I run with pleasure

Spiky Beauty

The seasons have clearly changed here, going from the lush greenness of late spring/early summer to the more brown and sparse landscape of hot and dry midsummer. With that, I’ve noticed a change in the plant life. Green leaves and blossoms are morphing to drying grasses and the spiky plants, with their protective armor seem […]

intimidated

A few weeks ago, I was looking at a listing of local triathlons, curious about what was available. As I suspected, there are quite a few, from low-key sprint races put on by parks and recreation departments to a full Ironman. Perusing the listings, I was surprised to find myself intimidated and overwhelmed at times. […]

Moxie, you tempt me!

I laughed when I read that today’s daily prompt is Moxie. Moxie is also the name of the fabulous bakery about a mile from my home. https://www.moxiebreadco.com Its only been open a few years, and has already made quite a name for itself, locally and nationally, including being named one of the best new bakeries the […]

Tri training, month 1

First off, I am really pleased that I completed this first month of training. I showed up, I trained, I learned. Overall, I feel stronger and healthier, with more energy and enthusiasm for life. As I write this, my SI joint is aching, (see Tri this: P.I.T.A.) reacting to a slow walk to the post office (about […]

Tri this: P.I.T.A.

Pain In The Ass: Both the experience of being injured and where it hurts! A few weeks ago, I made a mistake. I rode my bike with my swim bag slung across my body, messenger bag style. I’ve done this before, riding the short distance from my home to the rec center where I swim. […]