Adventures with an Average Ironmom

Earlier this year I was cooking up an Awesome Adventure that was going to be amazing! Get ready for this...I had decided to do 10 marathons in 2020 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first marathon of my athletic career...Portland Marathon on 10-10-10. I was 26 years old when I started Going BIG. That's right, it's been 10 years since my first Awesome Adventure and I wanted to celebrate! That's when COVID hit. Not only did all of my scheduled races get cancelled, but I had to make a quick transition from in gym personal and group trainings to a 100% online training service in a matter of days to keep my business running and survive total lockdown. My mission pivoted from maintaining my own training to helping my members and clients stay in shape during the absolute epitome of great-excuse-to-quit-a-fitness-routine: a global pandemic. I'm glad I'm an Ironmom and can make fast transitions. We successfully created a brand new branch of the Trunk Trainers Services...

After years of pushing, going bigger, growing and stretching I knew it was time to return to my true self. To reconnect with who I am outside of being a coach, and athlete, a boss, a wife, a mother. I'm tired. My body is inflamed. It's hard to rest and let the machine of a life I have created turn off in my head. But that's because I love what I do. It doesn't feel bad or wrong or negative to show up each day and change lives for the better. To accomplish a new big fitness endeavor. To make time for my kids, even at the end of a long day. I love my life, but positive stress is still stress and it was beginning to take its tole. I try and relax, but with so much responsibility it's really hard. So I started with baby steps. Whole food plant based diet beginning of June. How refreshing! After watching the documentary Heal on Netflix as recommended by a friend, I was re-connected with the body's amazing ability to heal itself with the right environment. Namely, ...

Seven years ago yesterday I earned the title "Mom" in my Average Ironmom title when Jason was born. Two years ago yesterday I was selected by drawing to represent the Big Island at the Ironman World Championship, where I would later earn the "AverageIron" in my title by completing the race in 15:24. And yesterday, I realized exactly why I do the things I do in life. I like to GO BIG. I give 100% in all that I do. I like to inspire. I want things to always work out the way they are supposed to, so that hopefully we can continue to enjoy this life without regret. To live with full expression of our selves, whatever that might look like, for as long as possible. Because people are inherently good. And interesting. Everyone is different in a beautiful and marvelous way and we have so much to learn and celebrate with each other, it is incredible. That is why it is especially sharp when a wonderfully fun, funny, hard working and good friend or neighbor is taken from...

I have a confession...before my race Sunday I had only ridden my bike once and swam once since Ironman 2017. The truth is, I almost sold my bike a few times. The only swim I did was last year before Lavaman to make sure my client would actually make a .9 ocean swim before her race. At least I'd been running...I did Honolulu Marathon after all in December (also with minimal training). Instead, I've been running my personal training business Trunk Trainers, and spending as much time with my boys as possible. But I signed up for Lavaman months ago and the hard to get spot was tempting to keep, even without training. So I haphazardly prepared for the day, excided to participate. My Sherpa, Al, is off island, so I had to get out to Waikoloa on my own accord. Leaving at 4:30am is normal now, with our new training membership option at the gym offering 5am classes everyday, but this time I headed north. The early morning trip payed off, and I got my favorite parking spot right acro...

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...