Adventures with an Average Ironmom

It's been a fun filled summer so far. I've been getting back into a solid fitness routine and have the sore muscles to prove it. Business is good and I have graduated two more interns from our Pro Elefit program, who are just waiting to take their NASM CPT exams. I passed my own NASM exam last week and can't be more excited.  I have my degree from University of Oregon, have had my AFAA certification 10 years while I've honed my craft. But this certification and test requires such critical thinking it was still very challenging. I'm glad I passed on my first try; many don't. The plan is to become a NASM Master Trainer within the next 2 years. It will take a lot of studying, training, and some travel, but I'm up for the challenge. And I am looking forward to launching my new online coaching service next month. Stay tuned for details! My pre-pre training for Honolulu marathon has been going great. I'm getting in my short runs and even escaping outside whe...

Maybe it's spring fever, maybe it's things are finally back on track and almost business as usual. Whatever the reason I am feeling intensely motivated to do a personal spring cleaning of sorts. It started with the desire to get back to my best shape ever. It's true training for Ironman makes your body lean, increases cardiovascular endurance, and gives you a regular routine that your body needs to be fit. But the long hours of cardio left me short on strength work and flexibility training, not to mention getting the actual recovery and family time I need for the balanced "best shape ever" that I'm looking for. And to be honest since Ironman I've been off track, even for a recovery season. So beginning tomorrow I am going to begin living my own advice, to Be Elefit. Be Elefit is a program I've created at Trunk Trainers to get down to the basics in feeling good every day, being well and enjoying life. There is so much advice out there, and much of it ...

Lavaman Waikoloa was my first triathlon ever. It holds a special place in my heart and I've raced the course many times. This year, I was able to attend doing something I love just as much as competing: coaching my athletes and supporting my friends at the best Olympic distance triathlon in the world. We started the weekend with the expo, and I was able to host a booth for Trunk Trainers representing the my Average Ironmom Kelsie identity and inspiring the triathletes to reach for the stars. Jason came with me on day two, an exceptionally rainy affair and we made friends with other vendors and saw people we have not seen in a long time. It was tricky spending so many hours entertaining a 5 year old at an expo, but with the help of Cindy Coats and later my brother we managed to survive. I love a good expo and I'm inspired to start actually writing my book soon so I can go on my 50 states tour, racing around the country family style and attending expo after expo to share my st...

Last week was intense, even for an Ironmom. It had nothing to do with training, or even business. It was centered around an ongoing issue at school that finally caused a major problem. It started with loitering and litter, which put a student into a dangerous situation, and resulted in bullying and uncovering a greater issue of vaping, alcohol, and drug use that should not be happening amongst our students or on our campus. When we moved to Hawaii we had heard rumors the school system was a little rough, especially the one we were in. Figuring we would move before having children, we were not worried about it. Ten years and two children later we are obviously still here, growing roots deep within this community.  Most of our son's preschool classmates go to another school nearby, but with geographic exchange closed due to saturation, and no spots open at the charter school, we turned in kindergarten enrollment paperwork along with a thick volunteer application at Kealakehe Eleme...

Every time I got on my bike to train for Ironman I was nervous. I have never been a cyclist, and in fact, have never had a ride I could completely relax on and enjoy. Nobody would ever accuse me of being a risk taker in the first place, and propelling oneself on two wheels alongside a road in a town notorious for bike accidents is not my cup of tea. The risk of an accident was always there, and being a mother and business owner I was always aware of it. I had so much responsibility if something were to happen to me I had to be extremely careful. But to train for a race it is necessary to get on and ride. You can't do triathlon without the middle leg, and doing triathlon is fun, rewarding, an d addicting. Why do I bring up the bike now? I haven't actually even been on mine since October (it still has the stickers from the Big Day). It's to remind everyone to BE SAFE. There have been 3 separate bike accidents in Kona in 9 days. The first one was a good friend of ours...

It has come around again. Birthday time! I love birthdays. It feels like a personal New Year's Day, spurring goals and dreams, assessments of the state of the personal union and declarations of what the year will bring. I've been working hard at Trunk Trainers since Ironman to create programs from the inspiration that fills me from such an awesome year 33. There were lots of lessons learned, ups and downs, and huge personal growth, as well as growth of my company. I am excited to grow our team, and in doing so being able to spend more time with my beautiful family. I keep asking myself how long it will take to tie up all of the loose ends in my life that were a byproduct of doing Ironman. The answer? A little longer at least. I have a feeling that it is much like your body getting back to normal after having a baby. I tell women, "it takes 9 months for your body to change and prepare to have the baby, it will take at least 9 months for it to go back." Hopefully i...

This year has flown by so fast I can hardly believe it. Talk about an awesome life I have. My amazing family allows me the freedom to be me, while making my life full and rich with limitless potential. My work is never work, but an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of already incredible people. I got the chance to do something I have dreamed of for 10 years by competing in Ironman. None of this could happen without the most loving and supportive people for whom I am completely and entirely grateful. My Family I have the best husband EVER. He has sacrificed so much for our family and allowed me to stretch my entrepreneurial legs creating Trunk Trainers Inc., my personal training company. We serve the everyday person in our community and beyond. This makes me responsible for a lot of people and takes a lot of hours for the company to be successful.   Hours upon hours he spends with our two boys while I am working or training. He has sacrificed his job...