Category: Ironman Training

Someone asked me the other day how training was going. Let me tell you.

Peter went on his first clipless ride with me.

I joined an open water swimming group at Watagua Lake.

I took Mary, and my friend Mckenna and her daughter backpacking for the first time near Hampton, TN. I totally count backpacking as ironman training. In fact, it’s probably my favorite kind of training!

I joined my four oldest kids on a 50 mile backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail with some other youth from our church family.

Some of the roads near the Nolichucky River that have been closed due to Hurricane Helene have opened back up. It’s so good to get back on them.

The last month, we’ve been ON THE ROAD!!!!

I had SO MUCH FUN biking with my sister on the Ohio to Erie Trail. It was her first time riding clipless. She was amazing!

My sister and I took our girls camping at Hocking Hills State Park, and I had an incredible trail run there. I highly recommend the state park!

I spend some tender time in San Antonio, Texas with my sister Emily, and her family. A highlight was swimming with Elsie, my niece. I also got to run with Emily’s friend.

Next up, my family took a trip to Alaska! Some incredible bike shops in Alaska and Vancouver, Canada hooked me up with great road rentals and I want to give a shout out to them!

First: Cycle City in Vancouver

James and I had an awesome time biking around Stanley Park. Also, my brother Aaron braved clipless pedals for the first time in DOWNTOWN Vancouver, and hasn’t fallen down yet! He’s incredible.

I also had an amazing early morning run with my sister Sarah at Stanley Park.

After Vancouver, we went on a cruise to Alaska thanks to my amazing dad!!!

Cycle Alaska in Juneau was the bomb!

This was a tough ride. It rained for over an hour. James got a flat tire. Thankfully, a local stopped and helped him out. We biked up to a ski resort which was absolutely breathtaking, but biking down we went so fast and I was COLD and WET! I finished the bike ride with Andrew, my 18 year old going 10 miles. It was his first time clipping in! This bike ride in Juneau was hands down one of my favorite parts of the cruise.

I had some fun little runs on the boat.

Lastly, DOWNTOWN BICYCLE in Anchorage. I loved my bike!

This is the Bird to Gird Trail. Amazing.

We stayed at an adorable family home for a week through HOME EXCHNAGE. Our host family is super into biking, and let us use a lot of their bikes. We loved the Coastal Trail. Bonus points go to Andrew and Peter who did 30 plus miles on a tandem!!!

I kid you not, about 3 minutes after this sign, we came upon a moose!

I attempted to swim in Lake Eklutna, but it was WAY TOO COLD!!!! I only swam 7 yards!!!

On our way TOO this lake, we saw a mama bear with her three cubs! On our way BACK from Lake Eklutna, we saw a Moose and her to calves. I love Alaska!

I went on some fun runs with my kids, nieces and nephews. It’s SO FUN running with them!

Of course, we went on some epic hikes.

NOW WE ARE HOME!!!!

Aaron and his family stayed a week with us. We got lots of cross training in through paddle sports. Also, My brother paddle boarded with me at Watagua Lake and I was able to finish my longest swim of my life, 3200 yards!

So, how is training going? From the pictures, you can see…. it is going very well.

Monday: Went for a 4.6 mile run during my oil change at Precision Autotune and found some amazing lilacs on ETSU campus. I LOVE having a relationship with my mechanics. It feels really great to say hi to them by name. Lauri knows several of my kids by name, and always asks how James is doing.

Tuesday: Lizzy and I ran 2.5 miles before school, and then I ran another 2.5. I love running with Lizzy in the morning SO MUCH.

Biked 10 miles. It was my first bike ride averaging over 15 mph!

Wednesday: I became a YMCA member for the first time in my life. I was greeted by many kind people in the warm swimming pool averaging about 80 years of age. I swam about 1500 yards.

Thursday: I went for a quick 6.5 mile bikeride before my LAST ReACT Therapy Session with UAB. IT WAS SUCH A TENDER TIME to reflect on how much I have learned since starting my FND Therapy in October.

I swam outside laps at the Y for the first time. Ahh, I love swimming outside. I did about 1200 yards

Friday: I began my morning run with Lizzy, and finished it off myself. I did about 7.5 miles.

Saturday: YAY! I biked with James! He hasn’t been biking since…hmmm… a long time. And he jumped into my long ride with gusto! He’s an animal. We did 36 miles. I helped a little Eastern Box Turtle across the road. It was very good timing because James and I needed a little break from our….. tense conversation….. of what budgeting system to use: Monarch or YNAB.

https://www.triathlete.com/training/super-simple-20-week-ironman-training-plan/: Week 1

My training:

Monday: My family played pickleball at Memorial Community Park , and we were joined by my sister Amanda and her family. It was so fun! I ran home 4.5 miles through the tree streets and ETSU campus.

Tuesday: I had a nice easy 7 mile bike ride past Willow Springs Park. 2 Eastern Box turtles were in the road. Here’s a pic.

Wednesday: I swam 1000 yards at ETSU and did low back yoga by Adrien.

Thursday: I biked 32.5 miles over Buffalo Mountain and up New Victory. I stopped and chatted with my friend Clara who was at Lone Oak Trail Head, and also found some awesome treasures at a garage sale about 10 miles from home!