Last Trail Run On The Mainland

This week was a little strange. It had everything from that the other pre-race leaving weeks had, you know.. lots of work, organizing, last minute errons, phone calls with friends / family, and of course some training too. It also was the week Kyle took a young man named Billy Myers on a hunt out in New Mexico. This wasn't just any hunt though, it was Billy's "HUNT OF A LIFETIME" and that was with some of the money that was raised by Camo Cares, a charity event that Kyle & his partner at Wired Outdoors, organized to help these kids with life threatening illnesses. Billy has leukemia and he and his family are battling to keep him healthy and beat this nasty disease.

Any time I'm tempted to think "it's all about me" I am promptly hit with the reality that it most certainly is not, not even close. Here this young man is, facing such scary things at such a young age (17 yrs old) and he just keeps on fighting and living his dreams. I'm so thankful that Wired Outdoors, Kyle's company, decided to start bringing awareness and raising money to help these kids. Make a Wish doesn't cover these sort of things, so until an organization like Hunt of a Lifetime came along to pair kids up with hunters like Kyle and Jason, there was no outlet for these kids to make this happen. Most of their families are so overwhelmed with medical bills they couldn't dream of taking their child on a hunt, nor do they have the time, means or sometimes the knowledge to travel and know who to talk to about it.

I had talked to Kyle the night before and he was a little disappointed after their first day of hunting. Billy was feeling pretty weak with all of his medications and they hadn't seen any Elk to even get close to Billy taking a shot. He asked me to pray, and pray hard, that tomorrow would be the day for Billy.

So the next morning I woke up, and I decided rather than it being "all about Kona" or what I would probably normally think about a week out from a big race.. that I would do something else.

I ran.. I ran through the forests and the leaves. Up the trails I knew well just before the light of day.

I felt an strange calm come over me about the day.. Billy and the hunt... Kona.. all of it. I lifted up my thoughts and really just trusted the silence of the forest. As weird as that sounds!! I don't know.. I was just in my own little world and it was a place where the hustle and bustle of all this other stuff that clouds our vision doesn't exist - not who's wearing what, who's sponsoring who, time, heart rates, the race... none of it was there. It was me BEFORE of all of this..

Just me...

the road (or the trail I should say)...

And it was good.

I had a very strong feeling that today was going to be Billy's day. Shouldn't we all get that once in awhile.. a day where it's "our day"! Where the world lifts us up and sends us positive vibes? What if we really did have a day where all our friends and families were thinking about us and wishing us well and praying for strong positive outcomes. Oh.. wait :) I do. It's next week... So I realized, today was Billy's day and just as the sun broke through the cloudy morning sky, I thought of all of us who were rooting for him and how we came together. That my friends is why life is so good. We DO have the power to change things to make things different and we have to believe their are reasons to stop, listen and have in our hearts something good and positive toward others. It's one very small thing we can do, it doesn't cost a thing and it really does work.

Billy got his elk that day.. and I got a whole lot more than I ever thought I could out of that one little trail run.

It was a good day.

Way to go Billy.. we are all so proud of you and so happy to get to be a part of your day. You're amazing and you're going to kick this cancer in the pants :) I know it.

5 Days and Counting - Almost Kona Send Off Time!

Things are getting crazy around here and I like it. How insane is it that Kona is finally just around the corner! Can you believe it! Can you feel the energy!! I know I can!! I'm beyond excited - not just for the race! I'm excited about the weather, the energy of the island, the town of Kona, eating at some amazing places, seeing friends and of course, swimming in that crystal clear water and even throwing a little shin-dig afterward!

Life is truly good and at this point, there isn't too much that could bring me down. Not even two of our friends cancelling at the last minute could do it (although it did for a few minutes). I believe that we only have so much energy, so we should spend it wisely on things that are positive.

I had been fighting some sort of sinus thing for almost two weeks and low and behold I finally beat it this weekend. Or should I say, the Nedi-Pot beat it. I had been resisting buying one of these forever. I had heard they worked so well, but I just didn't like the thought of pouring some dang solution INTO my nostril and having it come out the other side. Like really?? You want me to do WHAT?? Finally, I'd had it. A week of sore throats and feeling run down and by Friday night I'd reached my limit. Honestly, I was amazed at the progress the next day after one use. I hopped on my bike and banged out some really tough intervals on the trainer. Yes, the little Nedi pot has me a believer!

This week is devoted to seeing some great friends and teammates at our Ballou Skies send-off dinner where I recieved this AWESOME little pineapple from Matt & Kristen! Thanks guys! Knowing my team and Ty & Ryan Ballou will be there for the race just means so much to me and I couldn't be more thankful to represent Ballou Skies for my 140.6 mile journey.

Speaking of my journey, it hasn't been all roses - but really, who's has? If you would like to read a little article that was posted on the Training Peaks Website, just click the link below. I was thankful they decided to share my story and I'll be sitting on a panel for them on Wed. at the Expo in Kona at 10am so if you're around - please stop by!

http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/posts/2011/9/27/athlete-spotlight-kim-schwabenbauer-talks-kona.html

5 days and counting till I head out! So excited!!

Peace out boyscout!

Fall Into Good Eating Habits with Healthy Foods!

The warm days of summer are coming to a close and sweaters, football games and changing leaves are just around the corner. Cooler weather is the perfect time to switch gears to seasonal foods to make hearty soups and other piping hot dishes that provide ample nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

It doesn't have to be hard to incorporate great fall foods at the peak of their freshness, ripe for the picking! I've listed a few of my favorites below that will hopefully give you some ideas on how to fall into good eating habits with some great seasonal foods!

1. Apples

Although the obvious choice, sweet, tart, golden delicious or braeburn, apples are a wonderful fall food that can be eaten raw, top a salad or baked into a delicious dish. Don't peel that apple though, the precious flavonoids and heart-healthy fiber lie in the skin! Four grams of fiber makes a medium apple an "good source" of this nutrient and apples are also packed with potassium, calcium, vitamin C and folic acid.

2. Root Vegetables

Root vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, parsnips, beets, rutabagas and turnips, also abound this time of year. They add a hearty favor and a big dose of nutrients to any dish. Carrots contain beta-carotene, a compound that may reduce heart disease and some types of cancer. We tend to eat a lot of potatoes in the fall, but something you may not know is that fresh potatoes have MORE potassium than bananas and tons of vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are a great choice because they contain extra vitamin A and I love to make them quickly and easily in the microwave. You can buy them pre-wrapped with cellophane and after 10 mins in the microwave and it will be hot and ready!

3. Brussel Sprouts

When I was a kid my Mother used to make me sit at the table until I would eat all of my brussel sprouts. I have to admit, I never learned to love them, but I had to hand it to the women, she just wouldn't give up. Now that I'm older, I am amazed by this power-packed veggie. Just a few of the health benefits include a very good source of folate, good source of iron, and 1/2 cup contains more than the daily recommended intake of vitamin K. Combined them with a savory sauce to compliment their flavor and texture. Here's a great recipe for brussel sprouts with prosciutto and walnuts from www.health.com.

4. Squash

I love summer squash on the grill, but it just wouldn't be fall without the sweet taste of butternut squash soup. Winter squash contains health supportive-carotenoids and fiber. There are plenty of ways to use this awesome vegetable, but you will need a little refresher on the preparation. For instance, for butternut squash soup, you will need to cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. Brush oil over cut sides of squash; sprinkle cut sides with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place squash, cut sides down, on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until squash is tender. Cool slightly. Scoop out squash pulp from skins; discard skins. In addition, cooking light shared a great article for using this great veggie!

5. Pumpkin

Whether your carving faces for decoration and roasting the seeds or making pumpkin pie, fall just wouldn't be fall without pumpkins! This derivative of winter squash is a great source of antioxidants such as vitamin C, A and E. It also contains a host of B vitamins and of course contains loads of fiber as well. Pumpkins can be roasted, pureed or baked and is a great way to get into the fall spirit while reaping the benefits of this nutrient power house!

These are just a few of the great fall foods that can not only add some flavor and color to your diet, but also some excellent nutrients that will help you lead a healthier and happier lifestyle. Don't be afraid to try something new when it comes to fall foods. You certainly can't go wrong and do be sure to wash all of your fall produce thoroughly to ensure all chemicals are removed before cooking.

I hope you've enjoyed some ideas for great fall cooking! Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite fall food or recipe! I would love to hear your comments!!

The Big 3-2

I'm not sure what it is about Birthday's coming around that leave me introspective these days. I guess it's a combination of getting older obviously, and then at the same time, not really being at the same place as other people who already have children and things of that nature in their life.

The truth is, I really hadn't given a lot of thought to where I would be at 32 years old! At times, I'm sure I thought I'd be in a big house with 2 children doing the thing and completing my, I don't know what you call it "life plan" I guess! The good news is that at 32 years old, I love my life and even if it does meet my 20 year old expectations, it meets my definition of a place where I am really at peace with who I am and the person I am striving to become. I certainly am no where close to reaching that person character-wise, and sometimes I still do some really dumb, silly, ridiculous things.. but maybe I have to get some more of that out before I'm ready to have those little kiddos running around! Naaahhh who are we kidding.. I'll still be doing dumb things even if I have those little rug rats!

At 32 I was trying to think of some things that I've learned and I came up with a few:

1. My family, friends and those I care about come first, always.. and if they need me, I best drop everything and be there. They are the most important thing in my life and it should always be that way.

2. It takes a LONG time to master things - 10,000 hours by some estimates, so I had better learn to be patient with myself and those around me at times. Patience IS a virtue and one I need to work on big time!

3. I'm pretty versatile / adaptable, more so than I thought. I used to worry about what people thought of me and the fact that my life / thoughts / ideas / structure / goals / priorities didn't match theirs. Now I realize there is enough room in this world for all of these and I don't worry so much about what they think. Whatever!

4. You have to cherish the small things - a note from a friend, your health, time with friends etc. etc. because they are such a blessing in my life.

5. I'm a work in progress. The farther I come in this journey, the more I realize I still have so far to go. The people being brought into my life these days are very good people, big hearts and they care about me so much.. I need to learn from them because they are so wise! Most of them are between 50 yrs young and 80 yrs young and they are some of the hippest, most interesting people ever!

6. Life is hard, but it's supposed to be that way. Everyone says bad things happen for a reason, well, I believe sometimes they do, and sometimes the reason is strait up a spiritual battle. What you do with those things is what makes all the difference. I've seen people crumble this year and I've seen people find inner strength because of their faith and inspire hundreds if not thousands of people. It rocks my world... life needs to be hard because it sorts through and remolds our character constantly. This is a good thing.. not that it makes it any easier!

7. Helping others should never be about me. Any time I start to get all "oh - I did a good thing" I have to remind myself that I stink and that one little thing really was nothing in the scheme of things.. remember the goal Kim, remember the goal. Fighting my human nature is a life long battle, but I don't intend to give up any time soon.

8. The hardest things in life are also the most rewarding. Seeing athletes struggle and toil, trying to keep them on course, believing in them, investing in them, never giving up.. watching them work and work.. then one day, it happens.. they have a breakthrough! They are SO happy! Seeing this happen spills over and teaches them, and me, about LIFE and about how it works.. if it was easy, everyone would do it.

9. It's ok to rest. I don't do it enough, in fact, I don't do it NEARLY enough. The times I finally llet my mind go and let the man upstairs do his thing are some of the best times ever. They renew me, lift me up and remind me just what a gift this life truly is...

10. I'm never giving up on my dreams. I believe God blesses us when we are doing his work and when we are striving, despite all odds, to continue. Whatever it is that you're doing, if you're doing it for the right reasons... NEVER EVER give in to those negative thoughts that tell you - you're not good enough, you don't deserve this, just give it up and let it go. Perseverance is necessary and in time, will be rewarded (even if its just with a lesson that we needed to learn).

If you've made it this far, make it a little farther with me!

Kyle and I are really trying to save money this year, well a combination of that and between river leases, propane, car repairs etc. etc. that we just don't have a lot of extra floating around! We've decided to go basically "no gifts" for Birthdays etc.

This morning I received the best gift of all from him.. and it didn't cost a thing.. but it must have taken him so much time.. and to us, that's the most valuable thing of all..

I hope you enjoy the VIDEO he made me about a big part of my life these days! It meant so much to me and trust me, we have been through SO much together that it means even more.

Courage

I've been thinking a lot about Courage lately. I think about it in the early mornings when the sun is just beginning to rise, in the late day when I my legs are weary and I don't feel like going out for my next workout, and when I watch the sun slowly fade into the distance from the last hill repeat on my bike.

There's plenty of time to think out there. One of the wonderful things our sport provides is a chance to feel the wind against your face and either embrace the sound of your breath as you run through the darkness or just think about life, solve the worlds mysterious or reflect on your day.

I'm not sure why I've been thinking so much about courage, except that it's one of the things that ties us all together as athletes. Every person who has ever stepped foot on a starting line knows what I mean.

Races are tests of ourselves. Even if it's a "train through" kind of situation or even a 5k "fun run." There is a clock and by the time you are done with whatever the distance, you will have a time in place, forever stored on athlinks :) It's only you out there (unless you are doing a relay of some sort) and the only person to either blame, thank or otherwise, is yourself. No one can make that part easier or more complex.

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

I rather like this part of racing. I was thinking about it the other day and I love how when we are all beside each other it doesn't matter what kind of car you drive, if your house is clean, if you have kids or a spouse or if you make a million dollars a year. The usual measures of "society" just don't exist on a race course. It's you, and it's the clock. Everything else really is pretty arbitrary.

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
Maya Angelou

Where does courage bind us? That simple, it's the common thread between what it takes for us to start this journey in the first place and to agree on this date in 5 days, 2 months or 1 year we will be in this particular place, at this particular time, doing ____ THIS (whatever it may be). Sure, you can back out, but it takes courage to commit to the training to get there and it takes courage to step up to the starting line itself.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
Mark Twain

To be quite honest, I don't think that part gets any easier with time folks. If you're anything like me, the goals just get loftier and the stakes get higher. That's the fun of it you see. Without that, you wouldn't need to muster the courage to get there...it would just come easy and who wants that!

When Branden, my MTV athlete, changed his goal within the first two weeks of our training I kept asking him if he told his parents. This went on for a full day or two until I finally got to the root of it. Telling someone else made the goal real, and once it was real, there was a fear involved that he may not reach it. That fear came from the fear of disappointment. For the first time, Branden realized that this is the fear we all face as athletes and that it will never change. If you don't invest in that dream or goal, then there is no real hope of achieving it. The courage to tell someone, to invest is what makes these goals possible.

All I know is that this journey of Ironman Hawaii really started in 2009 when I was trying to force the issue and ended up having a horrible season that ended with a broken collarbone. In 2010 things started to turn around, but yet it was not my year to stand on the starting line. After qualifying at Ironman Cozumel in November of 2010, I knew on October 8th, 2011 that I would be standing in Kailua bay in Kona, Hawaii to do one thing, and one thing only - to race my heart out.

Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.
Napoleon Bonaparte

What I didn't know would be the journey that would take place in between. Where I would face plenty of lows this year, train at a new level, face many more fears and learn so many more things about myself and why I love every dang thing about this sport. It took courage to hit the register button and it takes courage every day to get out there at 5:00am and attempt to make my dreams come true. I'm inspired by other peoples courage all around me... it wells up in me when I see an athlete do their first triathlon because I know just how much courage that takes. When my Aunt Dena looked cancer in the face this year and used her faith to beat it down with a stick, always believing, always knowing that she could beat it.. and then, one day she did. That's courage my friend.. in the flesh. When I watch athletes just like me crash and break ample bones and the world build them up and they recover to doing what they love... once again, I'm amazed by their courage.

Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.
Dale Carnegie

It's no small feat and it's one of the reasons I just smile when people make fun of me or tell me that I'm just wasting my time investing in this sport and everything to do with it. Courage can't be bought, it can't be quantified and I find it because I believe in this journey and what it can do for me and for others.. it's worth it to me a million times over and if I had the chance, I'd do it all over again.

So many people I know are racing this weekend. It's time.. Stand up and be courageous. Be thankful and most of all, enjoy every last minute of what you are about to do because so few have the courage, fortitude and health to be able to stand at that starting line. Now is your moment - capture it.

Apology

Sometimes we write things in haste. Actually, let's be honest, most of the time, I write things in haste. I live a fast life. One that leaves the house before 5:30am most mornings and doesn't return home until 8:45pm like last evening. This life isn't for everyone, in fact, sometimes, its even a little too much for me, but for now.. it's the only option I have to keep everything going at the same time.

This fast life sometimes leads to me trying to throw together a blog in about 7 minutes. Let it be known, I do not think this is the best approach. In fact, let it be known I even think this is a poor approach, but that sometimes it is the only option I have. The other option is not to write for a couple of weeks (which probably, at times, should be taken). Sometimes I over do it. Sometimes I write down my thoughts and feelings so fast that they come out wrong. This can lead to hurt feelings and bad blood. It's never my intention, but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

I do wish that sometimes people would give me the benefit of the doubt. However, that's another story. My friends who know me well, know that I am not a mean or malicious person. They also know I have a tendency to forget to run things through the filter that everyone else seems to have between their brain and their mouth. This leads to me coming off as a very sincere and honest person, but can also lead to me coming off as a jerk at times because the true meaning of what I am thinking is clouded by the poor use of language to get my point across.

My point here is that if there is anyone reading this blog that I have offended in the past, or will offend in the future, you should come to me, and I will discuss it with you and admit when I am wrong and need to say "I'm sorry, that was the wrong way to do things, please, accept my apology." I put myself out there, and the very nature of doing this leads to these type of situations. This blog is public. People from my company read it - yep, I know you do. Family reads it, my Dad reads it, and my friends read it. People I don't even know read it. Sometimes they form opinions on reading only. That's a risk I take. I'm willing to do that. For me doing this my way, because it is my blog, is important.

Do I wish I had more time to make it grammatically correct and go over it a few times to make sure the actual take away portrays the meaning of my post - yes. Does that mean I will have time to do that most of the time. Nope.

Kyle has said many times, if I don't have 30 mins to an hour to write my blog, and check it, then I should not write it. Part of me agrees with him. Part of me just can't subscribe to that method. I'd never write. Ever. Or I wouldn't sleep.

I'm only writing this to let people know, I'm doing my best here. If my best isn't good enough for you, then feel free to stop reading my blog. I'm fine with that. If you care about me as a person, and I've ever offended you with something I've written - come to me, don't talk about me behind my back or say harsh things - I'll discuss it with you and I'll always say when I have made a mistake. I care about the people in my life immensely, and if my words impact them in a negative way I take that seriously. Never would I want something to bring someone down or make them feel badly. I try not to be prideful or boastful... and I don't believe I am better or above making a mistake. I make plenty of them, and I try (remember I said TRY) to learn from them most of the time.

I'm so very fortunate to have people in my life that support me and love me, that build me up and allow me to slowly become the person I am meant to be. These people know my heart and love me regardless of all of my flaws and mistakes. How lucky am I?

I have a feeling my last post might have done some damage. If it did, I am sorry. It was not my intent. I do not even remotely believe that there are better swimmers at Pitt Masters / they are the best swimmers in Pittsburgh than at my previous masters swimming at the YMCA. That was not even remotely what I meant. I loved the group at the Y and I enjoyed ever bit of my time with them. They made me better and now I am ready to have a coach on deck and take that to the next level because that is what I PERSONALLY need and feel I would benefit from. However, let's be adult about this shall we. If you have time to talk about it, you have time to come to me. So please, do, and I will let you know my thoughts and feelings.. always, honestly and without sugar-coating. Triathlon and my circles of friends are small.. and I realize that sometimes helps, and sometimes, bites you in the arse. It is in our nature to talk about things, and it is not necessarily in our nature to forgive or to love. However, it doesn't stop us from trying to do these things.. and without them, there really is no purpose or meaning in our life. At least that's what I think.

That's all I really have to say on this matter. I felt the need to speak out about it and I hope it is taken in the right vein.

Thanks,

Kim