Mustang Mile

It's time for the Mustang Mile! 

This year was going to be a little bit different because I only have one kid at Meridian this year, so I didn't have to be running all over the peanut trying to cheer them on. Daxton is also injured (Sever's disease), so he isn't allowed to run. So instead of trying to beat everyone in fourth grade, he and Lucy got to walk the entire race. It's a very different experience when you get to slow down enough to enjoy it!  

When I saw him sprinting across the finish line I just chuckled. Trying to keep this kid from running, jumping, hopping, skipping, climbing, or even walking quickly is an impossible task (ask his PT).  He couldn't help himself and I couldn't blame him. We'll see how he feels about that tomorrow! 

After the run the kids get to have a giant party in the field. Kona Ice is set up, there's a kickball game with the fifth graders, and this year there was a giant foam party. Daxton got absolutely soaked from the foam. Lucy was smarter and managed to stay dry the entire night. These two sweet kids are like peanut butter and jelly, they just are better together.

100 miles

My race season isn't over yet, and I still have some full-distance Ironman races coming up. So while Jeremy doesn't necessarily need to do a 100 mile training ride, I am really, really grateful that he is willing to join me for mine. The best kinds of rides are up in the mountains, so that's where we went. Up on Peak to Peak highway the aspens have started to change and it was absolutely gorgeous. The miles up there flew by too quickly, but I couldn't help but think how incredibly lucky I am that I have a husband who got me involved in this crazy sport so I can see beauty like this.

XC

Kelton decided that he wanted to join the cross country team at his middle school this year. He already has rock climbing and soccer, but why not? He rides his bike to school early three times a week for practice, and they have a race every two weeks. He didn't get to compete in the first meet of the season so he was really excited to race in the second race. I know he's an athletic kid, but I had no idea how he would compare to all of the other 8th and 7th graders out there racing at the same time. 

I was really proud when I saw him on course, he was in the top 25% of all of the boys there. When he came across that finish line he was working hard and was really focused. He ended up with a 14:47 on a two-mile course. I'm excited to see what he chooses to do with this new sport!

Go 'Stangs!

High school gymnastics is underway! It's a very different experience now that McKenzie actually gets to compete. She's made at least one event on the varsity line-up each meet and is having so much fun out there with her friends. It's wild, crazy, and requires a huge time commitment, but she doesn't seem to mind. I just love seeing that smile! 

Luckily for me she has a friend on yearbook who was able to snap a few pictures, and they're better than anything I've been able to capture. 

This girl absolutely amazes me with her dedication and skill.

Santa Cruz 70.3

Even a week before Santa Cruz I had no idea if I was going to race or not. August took its toll mentally, which meant that I had taken a physical hit to my training too. But as the day drew closer I realized that I needed to go for a couple of reasons: to release the mental load I'd been holding, to let myself relax, and to feel better after my Boise performance. Going ultimately ended up being a great decision. I found a hotel that was just steps from the beach which meant I could spend my evening walking the board walk, exploring the coast, and meandering up and down the pier. 

The first night there I found the most amazing curry pizza. I think it's the best pizza I've ever eaten-ever!

I'm already starting to feel more relaxed, and I've been here an hour.

The next morning was race prep. The bike and run course looked gorgeous. I've never been to Santa Cruz before, but I would live on Westcliff drive in a heartbeat.

The bike course goes directly up Highway 1. I knew I won't have time to stop and enjoy the view on race day, so I stopped at every pullout to enjoy the view.  I think I spent over thirty minutes at this beach watching the kite surfers. That looks tricky.

I was assigned bib #8 for this race. I thought it was a little high and it made me really nervous trying to hold that position. But it still felt really really cool to have a number in the single digits. Trying to manifest a podium finish here.

Last night of relaxation before race day. I could only stay in my hotel room resting so long before really wanting to go out and enjoy the evening. I decided to walk down the pier. There was a party going on at the beach and I could hear the music as it drifted over. It sounded like a lot of fun. 

From the pier I could also see the sea lions I kept hearing barking at each other. During my practice swim that morning I saw one of them swimming back and forth along the shore. I really didn't want to accidentally run into him and hoped all of them would stay out of our way on race day. There were so many! I was trying really hard not to freak out just knowing they would be sharing the water with us.

Race morning I was feeling pretty chill and was really just hoping for a good day. Super photogenic here!

The gun went off and we had a great beach start. It was the best I've felt in a swim all season. I was so relieved to finally feel comfortable in the water again. I could see the front pack, just wasn't able to close the gap, but it was so much better!

The bike was great until it wasn't. I was holding the watts I needed to hold, but then the headwind started taking a toll. My legs started cramping and I needed to back way off. It wasn't as bad as Boise, but it wasn't as solid as I was hoping for. 

I was most worried about the run. I hadn't done a lot of running since Boise since I had a couple of niggles we were trying to keep from blossoming into injuries. I felt good the first four miles, then the distance started taking its toll. I gritted my teeth and wasn't going to give up ground. I typically make up three or four places during the last few miles of the run and I didn't want this day to be any different. It was lonely on the far end of the course. We ran along this beautiful bluff that I'm sure I would enjoy more as a training route, but I just wanted to feel strong. I gutted my way through the last few miles and picked off three women right at the end. When I saw Rebecca at the finish line we gave each other a huge hug. The field was so much deeper than both of us expected and even though our races weren't bad, we didn't plan on finishing 19th and 21st.

Swim 27:24, T1 4:04, Bike 2:37:47, T2 1:34, Run 1:34:30, Overall 4:45:18

Even though I haven't made it onto a podium this year, I still like to go to mix and mingle when I can. I was able to hang out with a couple of Smashfest Queens and am just grateful that I've made so many friends over the years.

Once awards were over I had the rest of the afternoon/evening for myself. I did the only logical thing and went to the beach. I laid down on a towel and just watched the world go by until the sun set. The beach is one of the only places I feel like I can truly/fully relax. I was so glad that I was able to come out and have a chance to reset my cluttered mind.