Adventures with an Average Ironmom

 There you go marathon training: 7 miles. The truth? I didn't feel like running at all today. But it's a really busy week and this was the only day to get in my long run. I ended up running on the Malino Mile. The .2 mile lap that is my dead-end street, with the boys playing in the driveway with the hose. I knew if I didn't get it in today, my momentum would be gone and I'd pay for it later. I would get it in this week...but by squeezing it in. Today was the day. So I found an old pair of headphones (mine were at the gym), tuned on my Mountain Climbing Music (yes, I was in THAT MUCH need of motivation) and started running. One of the earbuds didn't quite work but gave out enough static for me to keep thinking someone was trying to catch up to me. Not ideal. A few times Evan or Jason was there chasing after me to ask one of their 20 questions, so it really kept me on my toes. It wasn't pretty, fast or fun. But it's done. 7 miles in 1:29. That's a 12:29 pa...

  With races opening up again and deferral registrations being activated it's time to start training for a marathon! Honolulu Marathon has reminded me I registered in 2020. So while I didn't plan on competing this year, I cashed in my deferral chip and will be toeing the line on 12-12-21 in Honolulu! While my 10 marathons in 2020 to celebrate my first ever Portland Marathon (on 10-10-10) was a bust-boo COVID-I was still able to get a marathon accomplished on 10-10-2020 on the IM course here in Kona.  Plus, the boys and I ventured off to Portland for a fun bike ride around the city to celebrate the race this past Mother's Day. But now, it's time to get back in the saddle and lace up my tennis shoes. I've been walking for most of the year but it's time to run. My Go Big Fitness goal for 2021 was to accomplish 2021 miles walking or running. I'm adapting that goal to hit 2021 miles walking, running and riding so that I can train for a 4 hour marathon instead (wh...

It's funny how the smallest events can give huge perspective on life. Five feet. That's the height of the rock retaining wall at Anaeho'omalu Bay in Waikoloa, Hawaii that wraps around the brackish fish pond that is so yucky, nobody ever goes in it. The beach is right above it, and there is a stone's throw to the ocean if you were to stand on it. This strip of beach is the site for the finish line of Olympic Distance Lavaman Triathlon, the first triathlon I completed ever in 2008. It's also where my boys and I were setting up to film "The Sandcastle Workout", part of our Big Island Series. This group of 35 workouts for my personal training company Trunk Trainers , is one of the ways we are bringing a little sunshine into the living rooms for our online community who might not be able to go to a gym or who are stuck at home. Waikoloa is always so windy we've dubbed it Waika-blowa and this day was no exception. It was so windy, that as I was setting my ca...

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...