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Footprints in the Snow

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The new training season has begun! My formal group run training, the Northville Priority Health Run Camp which managed and led by Gazelle Sports Northville  is now underway. We have had a few outdoor runs already, which is something that I had to get re-acclimated to (particularly because I hadn't run in the winter in a very long time). I had forgotten what it was like to run in the bitter cold, with snow and ice blanketing an otherwise drab colored ground. Our first run of the season was in 20-degree weather (with full sun, thankfully). Fortunately, I came prepared with enough layers along with my running spikes (I use Due North Everyday G3 Winter Traction Spikes, which have years and years). I've learned through past, not-so-graceful falls on my tail that slipping on unforeseen ice while running is not the most enjoyable experience. And if anyone would fall due to being a clutz, it would be me. We all began our run, a slow hour-long jog, and I quickly realized that...
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New Year's Day 2018. The ball has dropped (and I am the one who dropped it).

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Here we are, on a sunny yet bitter cold winter day. It's New Year's Day, 2018. I wanted to get those holiday cards out this year, but just never got to it. The intention is there, it is always there. Why does it seem like the older you get, the faster life passes you by? Looking back on this blog, for example, I posted on a regular basis, and then the posts abruptly ended in 2009. I haven't posted since -- I dropped the ball. Granted, that was a time of rebuilding for me. I had just gone through a painful divorce and wanted to re-focus on my family. Fast forward 9 years, and I can proudly say that I have accomplished my mission. I'm re-focused and blessed. My two beautiful children are growing up fast and make me proud every single day. I have a wonderful new husband who encourages me to be the best that I can be. I'm fortunate to have my health, and I have had the opportunity to participate in some wonderful activities (including regular running meet-ups with f...
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Lost on an Island

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Today signifies the first day of summer. At least for me. This was the first of a series of triathlons and run races that I have signed up for throughout the summer, and I couldn't have started this season on a better day. Today was the Motor City Triathlon, on Belle Isle in the great city of Detroit. I had signed up for the Olympic distance as opposed to the sprint distance, basically since I felt that I could pull it off even though I haven't trained a lick in three weeks. Other than still being somewhat in shape after having finished my half ironman in May, it's mind over matter, as far as I'm concerned. I awoke at four in the morning to a clear sky, a slight briskness in the air and singing birds; a good sign that this would be a great day for a race. I arrived on Belle Isle at around 5:30am and picked up my registration packet. The Motor City Triathlon had a set-up that I had not experienced before, a dual location transition area. I had to set up T2 first with onl...
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The Wind Beneath My Wings -- A Gulf Coast Triathlon Race Report

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Blink. Another Team in Training race season has come to an end. The phenomenon of how fast time flies has always intrigued me. We see this in our careers, in our children, in our pets, in ourselves. As I type this, I look over to my beautiful cat of 17 years, and feel like it was just yesterday that I brought her and her sister home. The past six months of training, fundraising, and preparing for this race didn't go at a snail's pace either. It's hard to believe that the half Ironman that the team and myself had been training for so hard all winter has now come and gone. This was a difficult season for me, and admitting that isn't easy either. At times, I felt almost defeated. There were even times that I actually wanted to quit. I'm really glad I didn't. In fact, this season taught a few things. It taught me that it's okay to lean on friends, to ask for help if I need it. It taught me the power of support, knowing that with that and God's love, anything...
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My full plate.

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"Update your blog!" I hear from Bananaman. It's a comment that isn't meant to harp or pester, but simply to nudge, as a good friend would do. I'll always appreciate those nudges, especially because these last six months have dealt me up with an extremely full plate as if I had just been served up a heaping dish from the all-you-can-eat buffet of life. Surely, with everything on my plate something is bound to drop on the floor. This blog is one, and my apologies to my dear friend Brian and anyone else who has checked this site so much more often than I have lately. Thanks for having patience in me, in holding me accountable. Moving forward, I can't guarantee that I'll keep my blog as updated as I once used to, but knowing that there is an occasional soul that checks in every once in a while does make a difference. Keep on me, and I'll keep on posting. At the very least, I'll do my best to try and squeeze this in between meals.
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Abducted by an Alien

One nice thing about training for a big race is that you can incorporate a lot of little races in your training program to help you prepare for the big day. A short while ago, I took advantage of a local race to do just that. The race is called the Martian Marathon, and I had signed up for the half. I must admit that I just chucked out loud to myself. Only two years ago, this girl could barely run a mile and a half, and my pace was about as fast as my dad's after his hip surgery. And here I am, choosing to sign up for a half marathon as a "warm up" fun event? HAHA. Ok, it's more than a chuckle now. I digress... My goal for this event wasn't to just get the strange looking shirt and medal at the end of the event. It was a pulse-check to see how well I've been training for my half ironman in May. My fastest (what a subjective word) 13.1 distance run was around two and a half hours up until now, with a 3 hour half marathon time when I competed in last year's ...
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Rechargeable Batteries are the Best Investment

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Do you ever have times when you just need to get away? It's easy to get caught up in the moment, or should I say the thousands of moments that comprise a day. Staying focused is a requirement, yet a challenge. Juggling everything gives a sense of accomplishment, especially when you are successful at it. But then there are those times of feeling overwhelmed, totally stressed, having the need to just get away. Often, I can address this need by taking an hour out for myself and submersing myself in music, or perhaps a hot bath engulfed with bergamot-scented bubbles. A good bike ride or run does the trick too, or just cuddling up with my kids on the sofa and watching a good movie. Perhaps sympathy has come into play for me now that I have reached the tender young age of 40. "You need to get away, just for a couple of days," my dad said. His translation? A vacation for one. Wow, that sounds nice, but totally unrealistic. All those thoughts come flooding back into my head again...
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