Get Over It

OK, You're a Runner. Get Over It.

Running a marathon is hard enough without also patting yourself on the back every step of the way.

The above is a link to an article written by Chad Stafko. I cannot even recall who originally shared this with me but my first reaction was...WTF? Is this guy trying to be funny or just a d-bag? In this little article, Mr. Stafko talks about runners and the stickers, tee shirts, etc. and equates that it is all done for show and attention. 

Really? Really?? *shaking head*

I drive a Big Rev3 Blue station wagon adorned with stickers. Distances.

13.1     26.2      70.3    140.6 

proudly displayed on the back of my ride.

I have a TRIATHLETE sticker. A Rev3 sticker. A RAGNAR 2013 sticker. I have a  pink SWIM BIKE RUN sticker. A runnergirl sticker.

Are these stickers there for YOU? 

No. They are there for me.

My little visual checklist of accomplishments. 

I am very well aware that more than 50% of the population of the area where I live does not even KNOW what any of these stickers symbolize. Or what they mean to ME. Or the obstacles that I have overcome to earn those silly little stickers. 

Or how these numbers have taught me that I am strong, I am determined and I have the ability to challenge myself push myself to reach goal after goal. 

A paragraph from the article reads: 

Why would someone want to get up at 5 a.m. and run 10 miles adorned with fluorescent tape to avoid being struck by someone who has the good sense to use a car for a 10-mile journey?

I have a theory. There is no more visible form of strenuous exercise than running. When runners are dashing down a street in the middle of town or through a subdivision, they know that every driver, every pedestrian, every leaf-raker and every person idly staring out a window can see them.

Let me assure you Mr. Stafko, I do not run for drivers, pedestrians, leaf-rakers or anyone watching out their window. I can also assure you that any of MY friends who run are not doing it for these reasons either. 

I run for me. I run for the way it makes me feel. I run because it literally saved my life.

I run for my family. I run for my daughter. I run for my mother-in-law (who cannot). 

I run for freedom. I run for therapy. 

I run because I can. 

Running has brought so much INTO my life, that I cannot imagine a life without running or moving. 

Perhaps that writer was trying to be funny, sarcastic or controversial. Who knows what his intent is here...but should he be dissing on people who are UP and MOVING in a country were the obesity epidemic is out of control?  Mr. Stafko, I encourage you to celebrate your support of the sedentary with that 0.0 sticker and rock on.

I will continue to adorn my ride with additional distances I conquer. 50k, 50 miles, 100 miles...you name it. I love seeing the stickers on cars out there. I love the camaraderie that is there in the running and triathlon community. 

If you don't like it, that's ok too. Because I don't do it for you.

What are you thoughts?

Do you "stickerize"?

Brag away, I want to hear from you!

Three Kona Things Thursday

How much KONA can I fit in one post??

Hmmmm-I have lots to say....

Coach's feet post Kona -ouch...but this has got to be the best picture ever!!

Kona Thing #1

First and foremost, CHRISSIE!!

Yes, as in Chrissie Wellington. As you know, we are bff's.

Yes...we are. Do I have to put up pics again??

And you probably know that she freaking KRUSHED IT IN KONA.

Now, on any given day she is an animal. A powerhouse. Just an insanely talented athlete.

This woman is made of pure guts.

Well, if you had any questions just how tough this gal is then listen up.
Remember that "little bike crash" Chrissie had just before Kona? Well, there was some pretty good road rash but she did not disclose the extent of her injuries. (read about it HERE)
but here's a line from the article that will sum it up for you-

"...doctors discovered tearing in an intercostal muscle and her left pectoral...The swim that sent Wellington to the hospital five days before the world championship was her final session leading into the race. She missed several swim workouts that week."

yup, she came from 12 back to fight for the win.

Kona Thing #2
I have to give a big shout out to several ladies who kicked A$$ in Kona over the weekend.

And how about my super awesome amazing COACH Sonja!!

photos courtsey of Sonja Wieck

Hello!! Sonja totally rocked it in Kona and finished in 10:08:44-and just check out that finish photo!!
She's amazing-I love her spirit and energy.
Swim- 1:06:42
Bike- 5:26:36
Run- 3:30:16

I am so psyched & honored to call her Coach!

Then there is Maine great, Angela Bancroft.

This summer she did Lake Placid in 10:19 and then went on to finish Kona in 10:26:00
Swim- 1:04:41
Bike- 5:37:15
Run- 3:34:57
I am so proud of her-she is such an inspiration to me.
If Sonja was not my coach, Ange would be sitting at the top of that very short list.

Then there's Mary-IronMatron- another Maine connection and awesome lady!
Mary finished Kona with a smile and executed her day as planned. She finished strong with a time of 11:21:19. Congrats Mary!!

I enjoyed following the Pro's and those triathlon buddies who were competing in Kona on Saturday!

Kona Thing #3:

I am sure most of you are aware that like the prestigious Boston Marathon, Kona is the "mecca" race for triathletes. And like Boston, you need to qualify to race unless you (Boston) run for a charity or (Kona) get a slot via lottery. This week WTC CEO Andrew Messick announced that you can now get a Kona slot if you complete 12 or more Ironman races. The more IM's you do, you will move to the top of the lottery list.

“We’re changing how our lottery works,” Messick explained. “For athletes who have done 12 or more Ironman over their career – and who are still racing – we are going to make sure that they have a chance to race Kona.

“It might take a little bit of time to cycle them all in but we feel that you should have an opportunity to race Kona once in your life if you’re a serious triathlete, are serious about the sport, are dedicated and are loyal but you just happen not to be fast. I believe that being a long term triathlete and demorating by doing twelve or more fulls…you deserve it as much as people who are super quick.

“We’ll start by the people who have done the most and start ticking them off every year and eventually we’ll get through all of them.

I get it. I really do. I have no issue with those who run the Boston Marathon as part of a charity team. I can see how this gives those triathletes who have a ton of money to spend on 12+ races who are dedicated to the sport a chance to race Kona.It just reeks of another way for the WTC to make even more money (well, they are a business and Ironman is a brand). Remember Access Ironman??

But for ME personally-
these feet will not run from Hopkington to Boylston Street until these feet run fast enough to qualify for it.
and respectively,
these arms will not stroke

these legs will not pedal

and

these feet will not run

the hallowed grounds Ali'i and Queen K until I qualify.

I might be 99 years old but...that is how I feel about it FOR ME.

(feel free to ask me again when I am 60 and still gunning for a Kona slot!! lol)

Speaking of an insane amount of Ironman races...

I have someone to introduce you to very soon.

He is on a mission and looking to break another world record.

Not for his own sake but to help a great cause.

Find out why he is Tri'ing to Give a Dam.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you enter my Tough Chik giveaway yet?

There is only a couple more days to enter-

make sure you check it out

I'm getting lucky-IM NOT so lucky

The Getting Lucky part!
It appears that I have been blessed with a bit of good luck this week!

First, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I won a pair of Yurbuds from Holly's blog Rust Belt Runner! You might want to head on over and see her by the way-she has two awesome giveaways going on right now: Drymax Socks and RoadID. Even if you have BOTH of these products, the holidays are right around the corner and I am sure there is a runner/athlete in your life that could benefit from either :) Just click on the product to bring you right to that post!

THEN! just a couple hours later I read that I had won a GoHeadband from Denise's blog, Happiness...One Mile at a Time. It's was HER birthday and I was getting a "gift"!! I have yet to find a headband that will stay put so let's see if GoHeadband will do the trick! Keep your eyes open for a full review soon!

I was lucky enough to sneak in a quick bike ride before dinner this week~only a hair over 9 miles but ahhhhh-the weather was perrrfect and it was nice to be out. I was also able to jump into the pool this week and get a couple quality workouts in the gym (meaning Lola was not getting kicked out of the kid's club at the Y for hitting the boys).

I was a lucky gal when I stumbled upon this delish recipe for Pear Bread by Aimee at I Tri to be Me. This bread looked and sounded so good, I had to make it right away! I am so glad I did too. This bread is moist, yummy, vegan and easy to make. The recipe makes 2 generous sized loaves so you will have plenty to enjoy!


More luck-hubby only had meetings today so 1)he's local and 2) he gets home at a reasonable hour! This means that I get to run in this warm fall weather when he gets home. NO JOGGER! Yay me!


Maybe I should consider picking up a lottery ticket this week??


I am pretty excited to be heading to the Trader Joe's grand opening celebration tomorrow morning and then running the Back Bay with Jana and the kids. Maybe this lucky streak will last until tomorrow and I will win some cool stuff at TJ's.


In reality, I think I am pretty lucky all the time. I have an amazing family, a few really great friends and my life is good. No, not good. GREAT.

Now, for the IM not so lucky...


IM as in Ironman, not I AM. All the triathlon world is buzzing about the Access Ironman program that was announced by the WTC yesterday.

If you have not heard about this yet-here is a quick summary.
Pay $1,000.00 per year to join. Get a membership card (is it laminated??), Lava magazine and a couple other paltry perks. Oh and you get to attempt to register for the IM events before the general public (but you still get to pay the full fee of the race).

For those of us that struggle to find an extra $1k per year for tri gear and race fees alone, this certainly is a bit frustration. It just makes the dream of completing an Ironman just a little bit further out of grasp.

This announcement has a lot of people talking about Revolution3, Great Floridian*, and other smaller events.

*Speaking of Great Floridian Big congrats to KC (140 point 6 miles) for totally rockin' 140.6 and finishing 5th OVERALL FEMALE~ Check out her race report!

IronDiva and Mauricio kept the humor alive with funny videos.
Heather at Run Faster Mommy fires off this "letter" to the WTC.
Big Daddy Diesel puts it all into perspective and points out a BIG 13.1 mile flaw in the IM Boulder-Bling!

While this does not effect my immediate future in triathlon, I will do 70.3 and 140.6 SOMEDAY. When that day is I cannot tell right now but it is something I will be striving for at some point in my life. I really don't care if it is Ironman. I want to push myself physically and mentally to challenge those numbers-not the brand. As far as I am concerned ANYONE who tackles 70.3 and/or 140.6 is a rockstar.
Who knows what the future holds--Maybe WTC/Ironman pissed off so many people with this Access Ironman program it will be easy to get into an IM event by the time I am ready.