It never gets easier, you just get faster....

Thank you Greg Lamond for that amazing quote. And thank you to coach Mike for reminding me of it post race. Because I have never actually felt those words truer than when I raced Ironman 70.3 Madison this last weekend.

I have been racing for going on 6 years. And every single year I am a better athlete than the year before in one way or another. Some year its speed. Other years its mental toughness. Other years it's just learning how to race and maintain my sanity. 2019 is another year of monumental gains for me in several areas of my racing. I am part of an incredible team of people on the Elite Wattie Ink team for starters. And knowing that group for the last year has given me more inspiration than I have had in the last 6 years combined.

However, this is not a race report. If you are looking for one, here is a summary: It was hilly. The run was super hard. I thought I was going to die at the end. (Pretty sure thats how I have summed up every race I've ever done in my career.)

But this race was so special for a lot of reasons. It was seriously the whos who of Midwest triathletes. Like if there was a pageant for the best looking, fastest people who are all super duper nice, this was it. I guess you could say the talent was pretty monumental out on the course!

I also had a ton of friends there racing, including several of my Wattie Ink family from both Elite and the Hit Squad!! Every time I turned around I had someone I knew cheering and supporting me! So thank you to everyone who was there. It was so so so amazing.

But ultimately what ended up happening at this race was that I became stronger, more level headed, and even more determined to perfect my racing. I hit the watts that I wanted to on the bike, pushing myself to numbers that I had never seen myself due in any race thus far! So going into the run I had a feeling that coming off of a tough bike, there was a definitely possibility of an explosion at some point. And don't worry, it definitely happened at mile 6 or so. But it didn't ruin my day! I pushed forward. I climbed the hills. I drank all the Coke. And I got to that finish line like I had intended to do. (Word to the wise, the finish line at this course is 3 annoying switchbacks up a hill. So if you are absolutely blacked out and spent like I was, buckle up.)



I have never crossed a finish line with absolutely nothing left in the tank like I did. I had to sit down and just get my bearings before I could even fathom trying to get up and figure out where I was at. And, man, was that a good feeling. I gave that race everything I had. And I saw some really great personal growth as an athlete on top of that. So, yeah, I only finished top 13 in my age group. And yeah, I didn't get a spot on the podium. But I had a great day, surrounded by the people I love, and I smiled more times than I can count on that course. I can 100 percent say I walked away knowing I gave it my best.


I am going to take this race as a chance to know that I am capable of hard things. And I am going to take that training into Ironman Lake Placid in 6 weeks. Because all I can ask of myself this year, and every year after this, is how bad do I want it? And the answer will always remain the same: More than everyone else.

Grab life by the horns

When it comes to strength training, I will be the first to admit that it has always taken a backseat to the other disciplines in my triathlon career.

But I found a new routine that has absolutely changed how I think of strength training as a triathlete. Let’s talk about Kettlebells. If you haven’t experienced a workout with these bad boys yet, then let me tell you why I’m obsessed with them. 

I suppose I should mention the most exciting part, and primary reason why I was so compelled to write again this week, was that I finally get to channel my passion for both triathlon and fitness into a career now. I have recently joined lifetime fitness as a group fitness instructor, and I will be teaching their ultra badass Kettlebell Kombine format.

Since I’ve started incorporating kettlebells into my strength routine, I have most certainly seen gains in my overall fitness. The movements that are done in Kettlebell Kombine are dynamic and challenging, and I am utilizing so many more muscle groups than I would with just simply strength training in the weight room.

There were several studies done that provided some incredible results for participants of Kettlebell specific workouts. 

Below I’ve listed the key points that were really most persuasive to me.

-In a study conducted by UW-La Crosse, participants saw increase in aerobic capacity, dynamic balance and dramatic core strength changes.

-Abdominal core strength was boosted by a whopping 70 percent in participants 

-Kettlebell workouts are a cross between circuit weight training and running training.

-They provide an explosive, total body workout

-Kettlebells offer a powerful workout, in a short amount of time.

-A study found that subjects who performed a steady 20 minute set of kettlebell snatches and lifts burned the equivalent calories of a 6 minute mile.

While strength training tends to fall by the way side during the core race season, I plan on incorporating kettlebells as much as possible as I train for both Ironman Canada and Arizona this year.

And if you are in Chanhassen on Monday’s, make sure to come in and spend 45 minutes with me in the studio with our new friend, the kettlebell.