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,…

  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…

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…

One of the biggest excuses people have to not exercise is that they don’t have the time.  And, it is certainly true that there are times in life when you really don’t have the time.  For me, it was when my twin boys were young.  Then, I didn’t have time to sleep, much less go for a run.  But more typically, I could come up with good excuses for not having time, when I really did.  I just had things…

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…

I have been doing triathlons for almost 10 years now.  Training and racing has helped me through some difficult times–unexpected job changes, divorce, kids going to college, moving, death of a much-loved cat, helping an ailing dad by having him live with me and parenting teenagers, just to name a few.  And it’s made me feel healthy, happy and energetic.   I love the focus and discipline and the goal-setting and achievement it brings.  The work I put into my…

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…