Random Post & Timex Ironman Watch Giveaway!

The insaneness of this week calls for something to be done. What that something is, I'm still deciding. Maybe it's the fact that I've had to deal with some people that are not only less than pleasant, but that also seem to have some complexes where they feel bullying and passive-aggressiveness is the way to get what they want. So, enough of spending one more second on people of that nature. Someday they just may regret the negative vibe they put out in the world, but for today, I'll just move on with my life and not let it get me down one bit.

The 23 hours of scheduled training has been a little tough to fit in, but I'm making it, slowly but surely. Every day up before the crack of dawn is a victory!

A quick tribute to my friend and training partner Jason J. who will be doing Ironman CDA this weekend and we're on to our giveaway! Jason is one of those people that when they enter you life, you are never quite the

same. We've known each other for about two years now and it has just been an amazing blessing. He's got a heart of gold and would honestly do anything for anyone that needed it. That's what stuck me about him so much at first, he's smart, sensitive and just an all around good guy. We've not been able to spend quite as much time together lately due to heavy training schedule and living about 30 mins apart, but I know he's more than ready for this weekend. So Jason (and Kiet, and Michelle and everyone else competing this weekend), this is your time. You've worked so hard for it! Don't let anything stand in your way!!! I'll be thinking of all of you and sending positive vibes your way!

Ok!! On to the fun stuff!!

My photos are just not loading right lately, so hopefully, you can see up in the right hand corner a brand new, in box Timex Ironman Running Watch that will be going to some lucky person! It is compatable with your ipod and in general, just really cool!

All you have to do between now and July 1st is enter one or more of four ways!

1. Follow my blog

2. Post this give-a-way on your blog

3. Follow me on twitter

4. Post the give-a-way on your twitter

5. Like Fuel Your Passion on Facebook

Be sure to let me know what you've done be leaving a comment!

Best of luck everyone and no matter what the world throws at you - remember!!!

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

The secret of many a man's success in the world resides in his insight into the moods of men and his tact in dealing with them.
J. G. Holland

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
Samuel Smiles

Can I Get a "Re-do?"

Most of the time in life, we do not get a Re-Do. Trust me, there are plenty of times I've wanted one! Especially when I decide to open mouth, insert foot (which actually seems to happen pretty often). We try to realize the important moments when their happening and capatalize on them, but we all know how tough it is. There are times when you screw it up, no matter what it is, and you don't get another chance. Whether it's the opportunity to apologize, talking to a friend about something tough, or even just making a big decision on a deadline. Sometimes you just have to do your best with the information you have, say a prayer, make the choice and move on.

Since last week I've of course spent a lot more time thinking about the fact that we are about 1/2 way through the triathlon season at this point. I've had two mediocure races (for me personally) and I feel like I've put in sooo much more time and effor than those two race results are showing.

Luckily, in triathlon, there's often more than one or two races per season for most of us. We get the chance to test strategies, hone in our nutrition plan and practice different pacing strategies. Even so, for the amount of time we spend, 5-6 races a season isn't THAT much to really get a chance to see how all our hard work is coming together. We get a FEW re-do's, but really, not that many and almost NEVER on the big ones.

Which brings me to my real topic. The game-dayers. You know them.. they're the ones that race really solid normally, but that when it comes to the really, really BIG races, they find a way to show up physically and mentally prepared no matter what. Things may not be going perfectly for them either, in fact, most of the time it's not (but you wouldn't know it to look at them). They are calm, they are cool and they have just the right amount of energy. They realize that coming into the race prepared yet with a healthy respect is key to their performance. They don't talk a big talk before (most of the time :) they just quietly go about executing their plan and when issues arise, they adapt, and they move forward.

I bring them up because I saw a few of those performances at Eagleman 70.3. Many of us would love for race day magic to show up on our door and bestow upon us a day where the wind is light, the current is strong (in the right direction), our equipment works perfectly and our legs show up. However, so many times (in fact more often than not) that isn't the case. As a coach, my responsibility is to physically and mentally prepare you to have "THAT" race. However, as an athlete the job remains that you must put the pieces of the puzzle together that day to the best of your ability. When you aren't getting race day magic what do you do?? Well, that's simple, you make some. That's what three athletes I saw do during that race. They needed a little race day magic, but when they didn't get it... they made it. They were willing to do whatever it took (within the safety of their own mind) and squeeze out every last drop until there wasn't a shadow of a doubt that they had used everything. I gurentee if you asked them, none of them would say the words "well, I felt great." They just didn't! However, when push came to shove, they wanted it more and they had done everything they could to put themselves into the position to take it.

The game-dayers are like that. They're the ones you see collapse at the finish line, puking and rallying and on the podium. The more time you spend in the sport, the more you learn how to harness the power of the game-dayer, but it won't come easily. On the contrary, it will hurt more than you thought you could humanly withstand, but in the end, you'll have found a new place that you never thought you could go before (and that you know you will go again).

It will take time, but don't give up hope. Keep searching for that place, keep pushing until you find it and when the opportunity comes don't leave anything out on the table.

Just like EMINEM says...

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

I'm 31 years old. I'm by no means "young" in terms of age, but sometimes I still feel very "young" in the sport. Some people my age have been at it for 10+ years or more already. I only have about 5.5 under my belt. However, I don't have forever left either. I'll be getting better for about the next 3-6 years and then who knows what will happen after that (or even before that for that matter!).

There is one month and four days until Ironman Lake Placid. I'll be honest, I don't even feel remotely prepared right now. However, I trust my coach, I trust my plan and I know I will do not only the work but every little thing I can do to set myself up to pull something truly amazing out during that 140.6 miles (or I'll go down trying). Either way, I want to be a big gamedayer on that day like my friends from Eagleman. That's my NUMBER ONE GOAL. So, you mark my words, and be sure to ask me how I did with my goal on July 25th. I'll tell you strait up if I did it, or if I spent the day "wo-is meing" my way through. If I squeeze out every last drop, then I'll be happy. If I follow my plan to the best of my ability, then I will be a winner regardless of the outcome.

One month four days. Here we go.... Here we go..

Eagleman 70.3 - Lessons Learned

There's so much to say, and so little at the same time! So I'll let the exceptional pictures Kyle took do the talking.

Every race I learn so much and Eagleman 70.3 was no different. It was my first chance to test swimming in open water this year, my chance to deal with extreme heat and see how I faired, and most of all, to hopefully really screw things up so I can get all that out of the way for the rest of the year (which I excelled at beautifully)! Kyle and I traveled down on Saturday and had a wonderful pre-race dinner with all those from Pittsburgh. All told, there had to be close to 35 of us doing the race from the area and 9 Ballou Skies athletes were in the house to represent.

I felt a calmness about the race. I had a plan and I intended to stick to it. Oh.. sometimes we make plans my friends, and God has a little chuckle :) All in all, I felt great going in and excited about the day to come.

My swim was slow (and didn't even CLOSE to show how very hard I've been working in the pool!), but everyone's seemed to be slow! I was very thankful I didn't know my time once I saw it later in the day.

The plan was to push the bike and see where we ended up. In all honesty, I had good sections and bad sections just like everyone else that day. At about mile 30 of the bike I started feeling a tad bit nauseous for no particular reason.

The Mark Allen Fluid Energizer from Infinit had never let me down before even in the hottest conditions. I took a few minutes an assessed the situation. I decided to switch to water / gels to help settle things down, so I would wait for the next aid station to grab it (which seemed like a very long time coming, and it was). In hindsight, I should have kept drinking anyway, even if I threw it up later.

The lesson here is dehydration hurts much more than loosing a little and starting over! By the time I switched to water, I only had about 15 miles left and I was at least 24oz short of my hydration goal for the bike.. aka.. a recipe for disaster on a hot humid day. I've had this happen two other times in my career (in terms of massive dehydration on the run, not exactly the same reasons) so you would think I could get this down! I finished the bike with a 2:32, not exactly what I was hoping (really wanted to go under 2:30!), but I was on to the run.

However, what I did next WAS the result of those experiences and lessons learned. Other times I've ended up with 6 liters of IV fluid a med tent and a whole lot of scary for myself and my family (and a Kona spot). However, today was not the day to put myself in that position. My Kona slot was already mine and I wanted to finish the race standing, not in the ambulance. During mile one of the run I was still feeling pretty good. I passed Liz and we had a nice exchange. By mile three, I was toast, overheating, high heart rate, felt dizzy and like general crap. My pace dropped off and I knew I was in trouble.

It was time to walk the aid stations. I hated to do it, but I was in such poor shape to keep running without trying to get in extra fluids would have been a recipe for disaster. During each station I drank at least two glasses of water and a Powerade Endurance. Liz reminded me of the trick (ice down the bra over the heart!) and that was a lifesaver. Thanks Liz! She looked great when she blew by me so I hoped she was on her way to a Kona spot - and darn it, she was!

I talked myself into running aid station to aid station. Yes, we've all been there.. not so fun. I exchanged words with a few competitors about the heat and decided there is no crying in triathlon.. so I would just be sucking it up and finishing no matter what, even if I had to walk the whole half marathon. Ryan Ballou never quits.. and neither does this girl.
I saw Beth and she was running so tough. Jocelyn too. Each and every thought was trying to crush out the negative voices and replace them with positives "you're friends are right there, they're hurting too - if they can do it, you can do it!" I kept shuffling until finally, around mile 7 things started to turn around. I could feel life coming back into my body and while it still hurt, it wasn't nearly the dizzy awful shuffle it was before. Never did I glance at my watch after mile 2, not one time.. I didn't want to know! It was for the better! I saw my teammates, slapped fives and thanked volunteers - hey, I had time! It became about enjoying the experience and not forgetting about why I loved this sport in the first place. Finally, right before the finish a girl yelled out "I READ YOUR BLOG" coming the other way out of transition and I smiled from ear to ear. I yelled thanks even though I was dying and it just gave me the strength to not be a sour puss about my race and be thankful to just be out there. We are truly blessed to be healthy enough to race. That's for sure.

Speaking of that..

The real heroes of the day are below.. The Challenged Athlete Foundation.
They may not wear a cape, but these athletes are REAL HEROES and their helpers are angels. Did you know that they announced Ryan Ballou and Ballou Skies before the race AND that one of these athletes DID have DMD? How amazing is that.... coincidence? I think not.
My heart just swells when I see pictures like this. I know.. sappy, but I don't care. How could I even remotely be dissatisfied with my race or think about myself when I see these pictures. These kids are amazing and what an experience...crossing the finish line is a victory.. for them, and for me.. every single time.
The courage in their little finger is more than I will ever be able to muster and I'm so thankful that we have the opportunity to share the course with them.
I gave a thumbs up each time, but that was little compared to their helpers, friends and family who love them and support them every day. Thanks to CAF for making dreams come true and for showing us the real meaning of the sport. Thank you Ballou Skies for teaching me that even a not perfect day, is still the best day ever to be out there living my dreams and supporting this great research.
On July 9th I will be doing a bike ride to benefit the charity. If any of you would like to place a one time donation or a donation per mile, please let me know. We'll make it happen. Great job to everyone who was out there on Sunday and racing all over the world. Hats off to Joe and Beth for chasing those Kona slots and getting their ticket to the big dance. You both inspire me to never quit on my dreams which are very much alive!! I'm not giving up!! I have not yet begun to fight!!
Lastly, a big shout out to my athlete Tom who completed his second half ironman to date at Eagleman 70.3 on Sunday. He had a bit of cramping at mile 10, but otherwise NAILED it and executed a perfect race. Way to go Tom! You have a long and happy road ahead of you in triathlon and I hope to be part of the journey.

Kyle - you are my biggest supporter and my life. I'm so lucky that you've decided to weather this crazy journey with me and make me laugh so hard I cry, comfort me in times of disappointment and remind me how lucky I am just to get the chance love you with everything you do for me.

To all the friendly faces - Mary E, Jen H, Liz, my fellow Pittsburghers and friends - you are my heart and soul and one of the biggest reasons I'm in this sport. Seeing your faces made me want to go on and push harder. The female camaraderie between some of us is amazing and I'm just so thankful for it each time I race. We are warriors together ladies... warriors.

Thanks to my sponsors who never give up on me and see me though my mistakes, learning experiences and great days! Thanks to my blog fans like that girl - whoever you are! You made my day!!!!!!!!

Trust Yourself

After my first Half Ironman at Eagleman 2007 - Can I just say this is Jocelyn and Jeremy married couple (who at the time were Jeremy & Jocelyn BF / GF) in the background and I didn't even KNOW them yet! Now, we are best of friends and even Ballou Skies Teammates!! Who would have thought!

The title of this blog is a phrase I often use with my athletes as they are preparing to race. I've been using it with myself for years now and it has a definite significance for me. You see, I've been racing for a long a time and I feel fortunate that one thing I do have, even if it's not in triathlon, is experience with the process of "how to race."

As many of my athletes are pretty new to this, I do a lot of "pre-race" coaching talking about this subject. People are nervous, I get that, I've been nervous... often times in the beginning so nervous I didn't sleep but a two or three hours before races. Nervous is good! Nervous means you CARE! If you weren't nervous, I'd be nervous as a coach!

However, in my beginning days my college coach would pull me aside as I was about to step up to toe the line with the best girls in the Big Ten. She would give me this same talk, just about every time, until I was a senior (I was a walk on from a VERY small high school and needless to say I was FREAKED OUT to be on a traveling team for a Division One School for my first TWO years). She would encourage me to think about all the hard sessions I had done, the days and weeks of miles, double days, hill repeats, and strength workouts where I couldn't think I could do one more, and then, I did. I found the strength well up from somewhere deep in my soul and I would always make it happen. She would tell me to remember those experiences, draw from them, and call them up on race day to give me the courage I needed to get myself to the starting line and then, finally to the finish line. The same thing is true for me now. Prior to any race I spend quite a bit of time thinking about the countless hours of pool time, hammering out 200's with only 2-3 seconds rest or intervals on the bike or finally, tough track workouts of 1200-800-400-200 TIMES THREE. This is what I need, to remember the times I did nail it so that I know, I'm ready (aka not thinking about the many times I did not, or missed workouts or whatever).

In college, when I was so worried I was running to the bathroom every 2 minutes, she would stop me look in my eyes and say "Fake it, until you make it Kim, Fake it until you make it." I would buck up and pretend I was cool and confident (as possible) and head out on the course.

When push comes to shove, you love to race, you're going to race and regardless of what might have gone wrong in your training. The facts are, at this point, it really doesn't matter. Really nothing else matters except for how you handle the chatter going on in your head. When those voices come that tell you "you're not good enough, you're not ready, you haven't done enough" you need to be ready to trust yourself.. to know that you ARE ready and that you will execute your plan, no matter what the course, the weather, the equipment throws at you.

This is the best advice I can give you is this when so many of you are getting ready to race this weekend. I did my first half ironman ever at Eagleman at 2007, and now I'm returning after my first Ironman at the World Championships in 2008, breaking myself at Clearwater, countless other half ironmans, sprints and olympics and then having one of my dreams actually come to fruition - winning an Ironman in Cozumel.

I never thought I would come this far in the sport, and I am certainly thankful for the many pieces of advice I have been given. If I can do one thing for you that helps you, it is to tell you - you are ready.. and you will succeed.. if you just get out of your own way sometimes. Enjoy the experience and never, ever give up on yourself. You're much stronger than you think you are (when the pavement is actually raidating heat up through your shoes and you feel like from head to toe you are actually ON FIRE), you absolutely MUST keep these things in mind.

The good news is, my friends, you are amazing, and your comments touched me so much. I read them all and it sounds like I'm not the only one who's even close to been through this funk that I experienced the last few weeks and I'm PULLING OUT! So thank you, thank you, a million times thank you!!

This week of rest was just what I needed. I feel so much better and I'm so excited to see friends and travel down with my hubby this weekend! It will be so much fun. Many of my Ballou Skies teammates will be there and it will be a great weekend to go out and leave every last drop on the race course. I can't promise anything else, but I do promise that.

If you're racing this weekend - go HARD and have fun!!

Rolling in the Deep.. Funk..

Lately I seemed to have picked up a bit of a funk. No, it's not a virus or a bug of some sort.. it's just well, a funk. Another friend asked me to define a "funk" and all I could say was:

A general feeling of semi-depression with a side of lack of confidence and motivation. Hummm...yep...that's a funk all right :)

In case you hadn't noticed (or hadn't been reading this blog very long), I'm generally a pretty darn happy person (with the exception of late 2009 / early 2010 when I was going through some pretty crappy stuff!). Besides that, I pretty much love my life, love to train, love to be busy and love spending time with my friends and family.. oh..and food, I loooovvvee healthy, yummy good food... oh..and summer. Anyway, I could go on and on about things of that nature.

It's not training per say, because let's be honest, considering how much time I spend doing it, it does impact my mood a bit when it's not going well. I've had a few really hot as buckets runs which have left me wondering just how slow I can get when the heat climbs! I've had a few big weeks where I've nailed it (and definitely a few more where I most certainly have not). Finally, I've had so many things going on outside of training including athletes races, giving speeches, doing a TV interview etc. that have kept me a little too busy, probably more so than I would like.

On Sunday night I had just about had it, it wasn't the weekend, that was great.. but the funk was in full swing and I was just NOT feeling great. Something of a combination of just not wanting to communicate with my coach lately (sorry Justin - "yes, I'm still alive, I'm just going through..well, a funk" was my text message yesterday) and not feeling like working out (soo unlike me!). Maybe it was the mental gymnastics I had to go through in order to fit in about 85% of what I needed to do last week to get the workouts done. Who knows, either way, it was setting in hard and I think the best thing you can do when that happens is to treat yourself well, be thankful, pray for those less fortunate or going through tough stuff (and the list has been long lately) and do your best to get more sleep / try not to think about it.

I still got up Monday AM and swam, and luckily, it seems to be clearing up a little as I taper just a tad wee bit for Eagleman 70.3 this coming weekend. It's safe to say that no matter what you're doing, if you're stretched too thin, will eventually wear on you as you grind it out week in and week out. I've met VERY few athletes who don't get burnt out once in awhile (Beth S., my good friend being one of them, I wish I had her resolve or whatever it is that she does to ward it off!). Most likely, it's the combo of everything, working 40, some weeks getting up around 21 - 22 hours of swim, bike, run, lift time, and just trying to keep too many balls in the air.

Slowly but surely, I think I'm coming out, and I am starting, slowly, to get excited to race this weekend. On Sunday I could have canned it and not even have cared (again, WAY weird for me), but I'm eating well, taking it a bit easier this week (aka using the word "NO") and feeling a bit better.

Riding with the girls on Saturday was wonderful and is so much of the reason why I do this sport. It was just awesome to be out with them seeing the sights and getting in some good time!
Kyle and I had a great date night on Saturday which helped too! We rode the ferris wheel! Does it get any better than that!

Does anyone else have trouble with "The Funk" sometimes? What do you do to combat this motivation steeling, life sucking monster? Any good strategies or ideas?

Even the weather has been great! So that's not it either! No complaints from this chick!

I've been getting fit on the bike, but have decided not to change it up right before a big race like Eagleman. It just doesn't make sense. Coach is running these pics through silicon sometime soon to see if we are on the right track with my long femur!

Blue, five years old and still kickin. Blue's first half ironman race was Eagleman in 2006 (well, mine too!), so it will be nice to be back on the saddle again!

Somehow I've been chosen as one of the pictures in a "picture contest" for the Dick's Half Marathon from a few weeks ago.

They did this with the shot which was pretty cool! I'm not sure they are still voting but you can check it out!

Thanks for the thoughts as always! Keep up the good work friends!!

Friends & Family

Jocelyn and I

Jim and I at Clearwater 2009

Aunt Dena and I at Brian's Wedding last year!

Lisa and I at the Pitt 1/2 Marathon

All I can say is that it's a dang good thing that we have them. I don't know about you, but it seems like all over there is heartache, tough stuff and sometimes, even tougher stuff. My friends have been getting dished their fair share lately and my heart just breaks for them sometimes. The good news is:

They are strong people

They are more than capable

and with their faith rooted firmly where it should be, they can handle anything this world throws at them.

I'm a lucky girl to get to see their strength and just how amazing they truly are, both inside and out. Every time I get down because I missed ANOTHER swim workout or just don't feel great on a run I think of how many people in this world are going through things that are 100% harder so I better just buck up and stop feeling sorry for myself.

We're ALL balancing a million things and trying to keep things in perspective. I feel thankful that I can have friends that I know will be with me for life!

J and I in Aruba!

Barb, Heidi and I at NOLA 70.3 (Good Luck this weekend at Quazzy Barb! - you're going to do great!)

And lastly, I thank the world for animal friends. Who else would let you do this to their hair and just sit there still looking cute! A friend stopped by with their cutie dog and I got to hang out with Prince Jr. for a bit! SO freakin adorable!

Hope everyone is having a great week! Tonight is the big speech! Here we go!!