I’ve completed 6 ironman swims and 8 half ironman swims well within their cut-off times since I started participating in triathlons almost 10 years ago.  But when I enter a swim race, I prepare myself for frustration and even embarrassment as I exit the water behind almost everyone.  Wouldn’t most people think that an “ironman” would be a decent swimmer?  But I am consistently back-of-the-pack out of the water.   My performance in last Sunday’s Outrigger Canoe Club Invitational Swim,…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbRn1mRGpEM I was so excited to be competing in the Ironman World Championship in 2009.  However, the day did not go quite as I had envisioned.  I thought for sure I would finish one way or another, but that was not to be.  I was heartbroken.   As time passed, I came to understand that my attempt to finish actually inspired many people.  And that maybe trying and trying to finish was perhaps a better result than just finishing.  How…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SS_zonQW-w Not much has changed in the 4 years since I was training for the Ironman World Championship.  I still swim, run, and bike and strength training continues to be an important part of my regimen.  I’ve now included more frequent massage, use a foam roller and incorporate more stretching.   Nutrition and supplementation play a bigger role than they did back then.  I better understand how important good nutrition and hydration are to my health and better performance.  I…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBoRiZV1HCY I continue my journey on the way back to competing at the Ironman World Championship.  As you may know, I qualified at Ironman Hawaii 70.3 in 2009 when the first Hawaii finishers in each age group got an invitation.  As you may also know, this resulted in a memorable experience at the World Championship.   After I qualified at Honu, I was asked by Jaime Ubongen if I would be interested in being featured in a television program that…

I have been a small fish in a big pond and a big fish in a small pond.  Now, I am a bit of a fish out of water.   Since I started working at the age of 19 as a “Girl Friday” at a copier company in Walnut Creek, California, I’ve had a non-stop career.  My career began in the 70’s when women were taught that they could have it all–a career, a family, an incredible love life–all while…

When little Isabel sang at the end of the service, that was it for me.  The tears I had held at bay throughout the ceremony, even when her mom Ui and her hula halau performed a spiritually beautiful hula, couldn’t be held any longer.  Today, Isabel and many, many friends and family said goodbye to her loving dad, Eduardo Pires Torres de Sa. The chapel was packed and overflowing, and I recognized many of the people I have met and…

My youngest son, Geoff is leaving tonight to spend 5 days in NYC.  Without me.  Without another adult.  Unless you count his 18-year-old friend as an adult, which we know the military does but the bars don’t.  This will be his first solo trip.  Maybe because he’s my youngest, I tend to think of him as being younger than 17.  But, he is smart, capable, mature–and ready. Geoff having T1D (Type 1 Diabetes) puts another hurdle on my path to…

Maybe there will be some things I share with you that will be interesting or helpful.  Maybe not.  You will decide that for yourself if you follow my blog that comes to life today. I will be writing about triathlon–what inspires me, what my training is like, my racing experiences, the products I use and the ups and downs I experience on this particular journey. I’ll also share my experiences in community service.  I have always believed it’s important to…