dreaming over the ocean

Over the past couple weeks, I have been able to think a little bit more about things that I love. and, here are a few more. i love tunnels/ canopies that are made my trees . (in fact, i love trees, in general) i love shooting a roll of film , not having enough money to develop it, and then d evelop it months and months later , only to find out what was on the roll, long after you have forgotten. i love stalking my competitors on athlinks.com I love the crest of a hill . No matter what. If it is cycling up one, and at the very top, rolling over the top, and feeling your heart stop pounding; or climbing a mountain, and seeing the view from the top; the top of a roller coaster, and the drop that follows. there has been a lot of happenings in the past 2 weeks. mostly all happening during the time away in alaska (and, sorta in chicago). My past two races have kinda haunted me for the last little while. I didn't have a great time in Alaska (despite it being a small part of a b...

So, i know I am due for a decent post. It will come later today. Meanwhile, check out Kelly's Blog, for a sweet REV3 Cedar Point Giveaway. Kelly is a Train-This coach, a momma, a teammate, a Aflac Irongirl Host, and pretty much, an all around amazing woman, with a blog worth following.

not doing a big post, just a few photos from the past few days (not my own, but one of the girls that I am traveling with!) Enjoy! The beautiful Hatcher's Pass. End of Nancy Lake Canoe Trail , with friends Old and new. 13 lakes, 8 miles, 6 hours, and two nice long lunches. Girls camping trip up in Denali National park. We hiked to the top of this. I think that it is "Igloo Mountain" Top of the Ridge: Christy, Gretchen, and I. Denali from Wonderlake campsite, during Summer solstice, at 1AM. The colour and reflection is called Alpenglow. more to come! Great time up in AK :)

Hello friends and Sponsors! Yesterday afternoon, I finished off the successful first year as a nursing student, and got excited about my upcoming summer break, which will be such a welcome time! This afternoon, my plane from Minneapolis touched down in the beautiful state of AK, with the other members of the Leukemia and Lymphoma's Team in Training. the time has come, and the money has been counted, and we are all here, ready to race: ready to remember all the people that we are running for. Today, during dinner with friends, I was able to really reflect upon the time I have had leading up to this race. I am so excited for it, for a number of different reasons. First off, with your help, I have been able to raise 5800$ A-fricken-Mazing. I just heard the other day that the 3 2009-2010 Montreal teams (Summer, Winter, and Spring) has (for the first time) raised more than 1 million dollars. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and donations. Without you, this journey ...

so, apparently, this is post #250. do i really have that much to say!?!? ;) so, today, I had a fantastic day... started off with a little brick w/o, then a little church going (where we watched a video for an hour! yesss!), and then a little coffee drinking, some swimming, going home, and then downloading my most recent sinister obsession: Dexter episodes. (and, to tell you the truth. it does give me a bit of the creepers. but... so interesting that it is so addicting as well.) when I was a kid, my first big sport was swimming. I swam from the time I was about 5. I failed my "colours" repeatedly, until I joined the Royal Glenora Gators Summer swim team, at about age 7. I swam with them until grade 9, and I then was in winter club for a year. swimming was my first love. I was dedicated to get up in the early morn and make it to our outdoor pool, even as a small child. I loved being fast at it. And, i was decent. Not amazing , but decent. I would win regionals, and...

so, i guess, this week should've been expected to be a little abnormal. not weird , but just a little abnormal. and, why is that?! well, it has been because it is *recovery week!* . and, I am thankful that it has been. I mean, we are looking at friday now. I am feeling ready to get "back in the game," but Mary still gave me a day off tomorrow. How many hours did I have this week? well... something like 4.5. amazing. so, what does that mean? I guess it means that I have been able to use this week to re-focus. After a long training block, and a big race, this recovery time is essential for not only your body to let out a deep breath, but also your mind. to say: "okay, what is on the plate next?" to look at race schedule. To look at school schedule, and life schedule. see what is going to happen. So, with that said, it is no wonder that recovery week as been a little a-typical. it has consisted of: late nights , because I don't have to get up rid...

I am in the last 100$ of my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society of Canada. Would you donate to my 1/2 marathon with Team in Training? CLICK HERE ----------------------- Maybe the only two decent photos, that my friend will, was able to get of me during mooseman. that's okay :) I was happy that he was there for the weekend with me, despite the fact that he has no interest in triathlon at all...

welcome to my site, all those who are google searching "mooseman 2010 race report." it is in the next post down. HOPE YOU HAD A SUCCESSFUL 70.3 or DUATHLON! --------------------- so, i was thinking the other day, for a variety of reasons. and, it essentially led into a mode of thought which stated "if i needed someone to know the most important things about me, what would those 5 points be?" and, this is what I came up with. in no particular order. the most important. so important that it doesn't have a number. because it is the route of all the other points. My faith. My God.... defines who I am. And (almost) everything I do is because of his work in my life. he is my stability. my path to success. my ability. he is my north star. onto the other points. one: AFRICA. The continent that makes my heart beat. the place which holds my passion. I want to spend long amounts of time there, and dedicate my life to serving the people of that continent. Proba...

It is long! Caution! Mooseman 70.3 6-June-2010 Swim 100/m T-1 Rank Bike Mph T-2 Rank Run Pace Overall 32:30 1:41 2:30 539 3:24:50 16.4 1:14 437 1:55:30 8:50 5:56:32 So, first off, I want to comment about how different this race was from the last 70.3 that I did, all the way back in April 2009, down in NOLA. What an incredibly different event! All together. Not only the way that I ended up running the race, but also the location and the technicality of the course. Before you judge my splits (aka: my bike time), know that in many ways, this was far harder than NOLA, in terms of the challenge of the course. Going into it, I knew that it was going to be exceptionally different. For two reasons: first, because I barely remember what it would feel like to run a 70.3, and the plan was actually there. The training was there, and the training was different. And that leads into point number two: This year, I am a coached a...

and right. I only have 500$ left to raise for Team in Training. but, this is due by Monday. Please help out, if you can . Even if it is just 10$, every little bit helps. click here: My fundraising page!

so, the big weekend is finally here. I am heading, in about 1.5 hrs, down to NH to participate in the first triathlon of the season. Yes folks, Mooseman 70.3 has arrived. am I ready? Coach says I am. I believe her. I believe myself. and yet, I feel like I have never done one of these before. I can't quite remember what it is going to feel like. and to know that I am pretty much supposed to race the entire thing on perceived exertion. but, the plan is: swim and don't worry about the time. bike, and go slow. run, and go fast. HA! I would also like to comment, that I am going to be camping. and, many people may question as to how you can sleep in a tent the nights before a 1/2 iron. why, my friends?! because, I have slept in tents for months at a time before. I love sleeping in tents. and, we will have to see what happens. if it works, and I am rested, well, I will sleep in more tents at more races. but, this is what it comes down to . and, not going to lie, there...

More to come!