ironman canada // thank you

Triathlon can be a selfish sport, especially during ironman training. Weekdays revolve around morning and evening workouts, second breakfasts, 9:30p dinners and somehow squeezing in an eight-hour workday. There are long run Saturdays and seven-hour Sundays. Between all that, there’s little time for anything else.

Through all that training, through the jam-packed swimbikerun schedule, the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the me-me-me, I had some pretty spectacular and incredibly supportive people there every step of the way. I couldn’t have made it to the Ironman Canada start line or finish line without them! #grateful #luckygirl

With that, thank you…

Nick

He put up with my crabbiness without a word. He calmed my self-doubt. And, he never lost faith in me. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in life and triathlon! I am so lucky… and so thankful for the Hamline+Summit stoplight. (Check out his Ironman Canada race report!)

Family

My amazing family – Mom, Dad, Sista Ami and niece, Finley – made the trek to Whistler to cheer. I mean, my parents drove 20+ hours across the country, and my sis hopped a plane with a six-month-old! There’s nothing easy about either. Having their support – both throughout my training and on race day – means the world to me, and I can’t imagine crossing the finish line without them there. Thank you for understanding, for your patience and for supporting me through it all! During the off-season, there will be a trip (or two) up north to visit my folks and grandparents as well as many, many sister nights (with Finley, too, of course).

Nick’s mom

Mary is a super sherpa! She’s been at every race and has an amazing ability to appear all over the course. And, this is big… she drove our bikes from Saint Paul to Whistler, saving us the huge expense of shipping our bikes internationally. Thank you!

Coach(es)

There is no way I would have been prepared for race day without a coach. Thank you, Joe Moyer of Moyerland Coaching, for the solid base! And, Johnny Surprise… I am forever grateful. Two months out from race day, he pushed me far outside my comfort zone and was such a positive, motivational light. Thank you!

Friends

Pretty sure I didn’t see most of them for months. Thank you for putting up with my tardiness to dinners and for my general MIA-ness. I’m excited to catch up with everyone during the off-season!

This body

I’ve pushed it farther than I thought possible and then pushed it a bit more. While it hasn’t always liked 5:30a workouts or 100 miles in the saddle, it’s carried me far – 3,800+ miles of swimbikerun in 2013 – without injury. And, I still occasionally have to pinch myself that my little legs carried me 140.6 miles IN ONE DAY! I’m so grateful that I’m healthy enough to participate in a sport I love.

Readers

I never thought my little corner of the interwebs would have a following. So, thank you, sweet sweat readers, for following my journey and for all the virtual cheers!