I wasn’t unhappy at all that my youngest son, Geoff, chose the University of Colorado at Boulder as his college of choice. From our first visit, we both fell in love with Boulder for its beauty and its celebration of the outdoors. Whenever I came to visit Geoff, I took the opportunity to bike, run and even swim with a diverse community of triathletes, including pros, newbies and everybody in between.   So, it was pretty easy for me to…

I consider myself an Ironman after racing at nine Ironman triathlons and earning an invitation back to Kona this year by winning my division at Ironman Brasil. But earlier this month, I also became an IronGirl. And that race has been a major highpoint of the year.   IronGirl is a sprint distance triathlon (500 meter swim, 20k bike and 5k run) for women run by the World Triathlon Corporation, the same folks that bring you Ironman (3.8k swim, 180k…

I was still swimming, and it was dark.  The sun had set and everyone else in my training group had finished and changed and were into their post-swim run.  But, I wasn’t alone.  Patiently swimming right at my side into the night, saying “you got this, girl”, was John Sarich.   Johnny was with me when I first entered triathlon as a non-swimmer, lapsed casual biker and 4-mile max runner.  As a coach for Boca and then for TryFitness, he helped…

In November, 2011 as I hit the road and skidded along on my helmet, arm and shoulder, I thought that it could soon be over for me.  And, oddly, I was okay with that, but worried about my kids and Rick.  I knew I wouldn’t be feeling any pain, but that they would have to deal with the aftermath and sorrow.  My crash, all my fault, also took down my friend Rose who was riding right behind me and couldn’t…

Right before an Ironman, or any big race, comes what is called a “taper”.  This rest and preparation period is designed to allow your body to absorb the months of work it has done and rest for the big event.  It’s also a time to prepare mentally for the challenges that will arise on race day.   The taper period involves less time training.  Instead of 20-30 hours per week spent swimming, biking, running and strength training, during a taper…

I have two physical features that seem to make me stand out–big calves and big hair.  My calves have always been big, but add in the training I do and they’re bigger than ever.  But let’s talk about my hair.  I have naturally very curly (aka frizzy) hair.  I have no idea where this came from–perhaps my Mexican indian or Scottish heritage?  My hair does not signal “business executive”, so I have struggled with dippity-do, japanese straight perms, straightening chemicals…

  I have always told myself to take chances and never look back or have regrets.  I haven’t consistently done this because other people are often involved, but it is my overall perspective.  My life so far has been a little haphazard because of this strategy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  This strategy was reinforced early in my career when an older client asked me over cocktails if I would choose to have a life that resembles…

I am often struck by how upset people get about other people, everyday things that happen in life, and notably health and political views.  I’m seeing it all of the time–swearing, nasty posts in social media, being pissed about a cyclist passing without a shout out, and even going off in a huff because of a misunderstood remark.  Maybe they’re having a bad day, but if that’s the case, it sure seems that there are more people are having more…

        Here it is, Mother’s Day, 2013.  And yesterday, I celebrated the 18th birthday of my youngest son, Geoff.  With him leaving home very soon, I will now become a mom of a different sort.  My older boys have already left home and while their departures were hard, I still had one more son to mother on a daily basis. Soon there will be no more day-to-day asking a son to pick up his clothes, do his…

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…