Chasing dreams

 Still dreaming big dreams

….and boy am I setting big goals to match those dreams. I’ve learned so much and have so much more to learn.  Nothing stays the same. Nothing. Everything changes and that’s ok.  More to come on those dreams, but an update on Team Andres.

Mitch #10 Boston College 

Riley chasing adventures

My boys are spreading their wings, chasing their own dreams and finding adventures.  Mitch is at Boston College playing hockey and learning what it means to be a student after a 2-year hiatus, Gavin is playing junior hockey in Canada and loving just playing hockey with no school work, Riley is being adventuress and adulting in Bozeman, MT, Wyatt is playing junior hockey in Colorado and I got Wes, my high school senior and baby boy, for one more year at home. Life is good.  Most importantly to me, Lee is still surviving me and we have all decided he cares the most about is our dog, Kona, whom he said he never wanted, but is now “his girl”.

Lee and the boys heading out golfing 

Wyatt and I in NZ 

Little guy doing
what he loves

One of the things I’ve learned is my boys have out grown me before I’ve outgrown them. I miss them, but more importantly I’m so proud of them. We have encouraged them to spread their wings, go see what else is out there, make new friends, live in other towns, states, countries. The world is full of opportunities and if you never take a chance you’ll never know your full potential.

Gavin #6 Selkirk Steelers MJHL

 

DREAMS….

Dreaming big dreams is the easy part.  The hard part is the day in and day out work that is needed for those dreams to come to fruition.  I’ve never let go of my biggest dream…being a world champion and standing on top of the podium on the biggest stage the triathlon world has to offer.  I’ve just put it on a shelf for a while.  I needed to let the fire in my belly build again, make sure our boys were all doing ok and navigating their paths into this great big world, and know the time is right again.

2016 was my last ironman.  I earned my Kona slot (IM world championships) in Whistler with an ok race.  Then ended with a heart breaking DNF at the world championships.  I haven’t raced a triathlon since then.  It took me years to be able to dig deep during a race or even in practice of going to that dark place where everything hurts and you just find a way to keep going.

2017 my focus was on getting my run back and I pushed the pace too quickly and too much and ended up doing some serious damage to hamstring at the 2018 Boston marathon.

Long story short.  I avoided surgery and have been rehabbing and working on my run form and strengthening weaknesses.  I’ve been taking it easy the last several years. I sure do love getting outside and riding my bike.  It was all the bike riding over the summer that got me thinking about my dream, which I have never let go ….I want to be a world champion on the Big Island and if it takes me until I’m 70 then I’m totally cool with that, but I’m not giving up on my dream!

My race sherpas, Gavin and Mitch
Boston 2018

Sometimes you just got to do the things that scare the hell out of you. Sometimes you just need to start even if you’re not 100% ready. Sometimes you just need to put yourself out there and be vulnerable.  None of us will ever know what we are really truly capable of unless we go for it. Do the things we don’t think we are capable. Give a little bit more when we think we are at our limit.

For me, life is about experiences with the people we love and getting to do the things that make us smile. We all need to go find our adventures. Life is too short to wait for them to come to us.  So here I go…a 3-year journey of chasing adventures, digging deep, and working hard to see what is possible.

Follow along, if you wish, as I document my training to getting to the top of the podium over these next three years.  Nothing in this life is a guarantee and who knows what tomorrow will bring.  One thing I know for sure is if I don’t even attempt at climbing this mountain there is no possible way I will ever get to top or know if it is possible.  I’ve never lived my life wondering what if…I’ve always been one to see something that seems impossible and say – “why not me?”

This is my hobby and I do have a full time job and a husband who is my best friend and 5 young men who have my whole heart, so this is all about navigating the training and racing and practicing what I preach to my boys…. dream big dreams, work hard, and anything is possible.

   

What’s next…

The TC 10 mile and then the Chicago marathon followed by the New York marathon 3 weeks later.  I’ve been rehabbing my hamstring and I plan to keep focusing on building a strong body and stay away from injuries.  My motto these last 5-6 months is “less is more” when it comes to mileage.  These last 9 weeks I’ve been averaging 35 miles a week.  I spend at least 2 sessions a week working on my explosive movements – jump roping, box jumps, single leg jumps.  I started out very basic and slowly built my way to where I’m at now.  I added at least 2 sessions on the turf at the high school football field doing barefoot running drills and strides.  These sessions are by far my favorite right now. 

THE PLAN…

Planning to focus on running the first part of 2021 then switch to triathlon with 70.3 and the full IM at Mont –Tremblant.  2020 will be a building year with planning to qualify at 2021 Ironman Wisconsin and earn my ticket to the world champs for 2022. 

Age is just a number. Mom on a mission. Older and faster.

Cheers friends!