The Final Countdown

The final countdown has begun. I am a ball of nerves. One minute I’m bursting with excitement and the next minute I’m in my bed crying. The journey to an Ironman 140.6 is no joke! I keep hearing the voice of my coach saying, “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.” It has been one long year of brutal training, but there have been two people who have kept me moving forward, with my sights on the finish line. While there are many people whom I find inspiration from, there are two that have played a major role in all of this. If it were not for these two amazing individuals, I might have given up long ago.

Meet Linda Baker.

She lives with a disease called Pulmonary Fibrosis, which there is no cure for. Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease marked by scarring in the lungs. Tissue deep in the lungs becomes thick, stiff and scarred. The scarring is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred, it interferes with a person’s ability to breathe. Linda’s companion that goes everywhere with here is a portable oxygen tank. To simply breath, and live, she must be on oxygen at all times. If I was going to set out to do the race of my life, I felt I should not only have Linda as my race partner, but also raise money for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.  Thus TEAM Linda  was formed. Throughout my training and expanding my lungs along with my high level of activity, I truly believed Linda would find healing. I believed her symptoms would lessen and the disease would not progress but come to a stand still. Not only has Linda’s disease stopped progressing but she has lost 30 plus pounds and is a candidate for a complete lung transplant!

Let me now introduce you to my 13-year-old son Luke, who was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes.

He inspires me everyday. He is an amazing triathlete and elite swimmer who has beaten many odds this year, since the T1D diagnosis. There have been many times where I doubted my abilities to keep moving forward, but then I am reminded of what it means to persevere, via my son. He said he was not going to let his diagnosis stop him from achieving his dreams and goals. He reminds me all the time that we should never allow ourselves to be defined by our circumstances, but to push beyond them and keep moving forward. He is wise beyond his years. Luke went from the PICU unit of a three-day hospital stay to making the podium at all of his triathlon races and taking 8th in the nation at USAT Youth Nationals Championship Triathlon in Ohio. He inspires me to be a better person and better athlete. Seeing him balance life with Type 1 Diabetes and still race like there is no tomorrow, absolutely inspires me!

In just 11 days, I will be embarking on an adventure I never thought I would sign up to do, willingly I might add. I will fight to the end to finish strong as both Linda and Luke show this kind of determination on a daily basis.

My one request and reason for this blog entry is simply this.

Live!

Live your life today like there is no tomorrow. Push aside your fears of failure and do hard things!

When someone says you “can’t” do something, than set out to prove them wrong and say “watch me”!

Life is too short to live with the thoughts “I wish… I should have….”

Type 1 Diabetic Hero: No Limits

I don’t remember volunteering to get on this roller coaster ride, but somehow I found myself here a few months ago. Just as the roller coaster took off, we found ourselves twisting and turning in all directions but with no real direction at all. The future for my newly diagnosed Type One Diabetic 12-year-old son was uncertain. Luke is an elite triathlete and swims on a competitive swim team. How was our life going to be the same ever again?  I knew this ride  was sure to be long and frightening, however somewhere along the way an angel, by the name of Chris Clark, entered our life. It was fate, that click of the mouse on the computer that led to the turn of events. It was as simple as liking a friends post on Facebook about a triathlete that was going to make history in an upcoming race. This sparked my attention because this man, Chris Clark, who has Juvenile Type One Diabetes, was coming to Orlando to compete in the UltraMan Florida Triathlon.

For those of you who don’t know what kind of race that is, here’s the low down. It’s a triathlon race that’s divided into three stages over three days. The athletes first swim 6.2 miles, followed by a 90 mile cross-country bike ride. Stage two takes place the following day and is a 171.4 mile bike ride. Stage three is the final stage and is a 52.4 mile double marathon run. Each stage must be completed in 12 hours or less with the exception of the swim stage as it must be completed in 5.5 hours or less.

It was fate! I immediately posted on Chris Clark’s Facebook page that we were mesmerized by his drive to attempt to be the first Type One Diabetic athlete to ever finish an UlltraMan Triathlon. I also shared with him that my son Luke is a 12-year-old triathlete and was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Type One Diabetes. I expressed to him and his coach that we may come out and watch Chris swim for the first stage of this big race. What happened next was riveting.

Luke and I arrived at the race venue just prior to the start of the swim. We met Chris’s coach, and some of his support crew. They were so kind to us from the very start and promptly told Chris that Luke was here. Chris was in a changing tent getting ready to embark on the swim of his life, and was testing his blood glucose when he summoned to have Luke brought back to meet him. The connection between the two, Chris and Luke, was immediate. Chris was so kind, and opened his heart to share part of his journey with him, at this moment. We took several pictures of them together as I wanted to freeze time. You see it had only been a few weeks since Luke’s diagnosis, and he had fallen into a pit of despair. Luke has been competing his entire life, and when he was told he had Juvenile Type One Diabetes, he thought all his dreams and aspirations were over. Chris’s kindness in just a few short moments before the start of the race gave Luke and myself hope. Something to hold on to.

Chris was second out of the water, and heading out for the 90 mile bike ride. Just as he left, he gave Luke the thumbs up and off he went. You might as well have handed Luke a million dollars! On the drive home, Luke said to me “Mom, we HAVE to come back on Saturday and Sunday to watch Chris finish each stage of the race.” So what’s a mom to say to that?

Chris finished day two in amazing standings, all the while stopping during the day off and on to check his blood sugar levels, and of course treat with insulin when needed. Oh, and forgot to mention one tiny little detail. Chris does NOT have an insulin pump, nor a Dexcom, (which monitors his blood glucose levels). So manual finger pricks, blood sugar tests and administering insulin when needed, the old-fashioned way, was how he managed his diabetes the entire race.

Sunday arrived and Chris had made it through two stages of this grueling race, so all that was left was to run a double marathon to the finish line. Sounds easy right? Even though it was February, the Florida heat set in and the hot sun was bearing down on everyone as the day progressed. The afternoon slowly creeped by and when we got word that Chris and his support crew were getting closer to town where the finish line was staged, everyone erupted into overdrive of excitement! Waiting for him was his entire family, many friends including Luke and our family. This was it, the moment we all had been waiting for. Luke turned to me and said  “Mom, you know, Chris is making history” and as I smiled through the tears I said “Yes son, he sure is.”  What happened next left me speechless.

The race director approached me and said “Chris is about a mile out from the finish line, and he is requesting that Luke comes out on the course to run the last one mile of the race with him and cross the finish line together.” I had no words, but I turned to Luke and saw through my tears the biggest smile I’d seen on him in a long time. Luke was ushered by a volunteer a mile down the road to meet Chris and be apart of making history. As long as I live, I will never forget witnessing this epic finish.

Chris not only made history in being the first Type One Diabetic to complete an UltraMan Triathlon, but he came in 6th place in a field of 30 athletes who entered this race. Simply amazing!

This man gave Luke hope. He showed Luke that nothing is impossible. He met Luke on Friday and by Saturday he was treating Luke like he was family.He restored my faith in humanity. He is our HERO! You must know that the days after Luke’s diagnosis were grim from Luke’s perspective, and after meeting Chris, he realized that nothing is impossible. There are no limits with diabetes, you just have to want to push through the barriers. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Florida State University did a study on how the body responds to the endurance competition known as Ultraman. Watch the inspiring video below:

 

T1D A New Journey

Your son has Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Words a mom never wants to hear. Someone please wake me up from the horrible dream. This can’t be right, there must be a mistake.

Let me rewind a for a moment.

My boys swim competitively with NTC Aquatics and are elite triathletes on a triathlon team, Endorphin Fitness out of Virginia. They compete on many levels.  This fateful day was no different, as we were at a big swim meet in Tampa Fl. My 12-year-old was feeling “off” and seemed more nervous than normal upon stepping up to the swim block. His freestyle swim was not great, and seemed way off base for him, but after his exit he assured us along with his coach that he was just nervous. Oddly enough he retreated to the bathroom for the 100th time and said after throwing up  he felt better. Over the last week he seemed to be more tired, and eating us out of house and home. Not to mention the amount of water this child was drinking! All of his symptoms led us to believe he was going through a growth spurt, puberty, and lots of hard training. The next two swim races were spot on, and he decreased his time by several seconds, and chalking this all up to nerves.

Sunday morning comes and things go south fast. We were up early to leave the hotel and head to the swim meet after breakfast when things got crazy.

My 12-year-old is looking like he hasn’t slept in ages, and can’t even eat a morsel of breakfast. Something is not right. This is not normal.

My “mothers intuition” says he needs to take a break and rest. After a few sips of chocolate milk, and a quick snooze, everything that could possibly be in his belly came up. Being in a hotel and frantic with fear that he must have the flu or a terrible cold, we quickly load up and head out. Several conversations ensued with several nurse friends, with all of them having concerns that he could be diabetic. Being there was no way this could be the case, we went to the swim meet, but would just rest in the car while my youngest son competed.

Dropping the family off at the gate and attempting to find a close parking space would be a miracle, since over 1,000 kids were present to compete. With my sons stomach being queasy we left and headed to get some ginger ale.

THEN,  it hit me.

One look in the back seat said it all. Exhausted, stomach ache, looking pale, and dark circles forming around his eyes. This was not right on all accounts.

I’ll spare the details, but we high tailed it out of Tampa and headed back to Orlando to Arnold Palmer Hospital’s ER.

One finger prick and vitals, and we were whisked into a room with nurses waiting to start IV’s. My head was spinning out of control, and my fears were in overdrive playing games with my brain.

I remember the doctor asking me if we knew our son had Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes and if we had a family history of such.

Wait….. did you just say Diabetes?

How can it be? How can this beautiful, strong, active swimmer, triathlete have Type 1 Diabetes?

To say we were in shock is an understatement. I will never forget the doctors words.

“Mrs. Rosser, your sons blood sugar level is 1014, and he’s Ketoacidosis.”

So what exactly is Ketoacidosis you ask? It is when someones blood levels are so high, and their blood is acidic, they have a great chance of slipping into a coma, their kidneys can shut down and they can potentially suffer brain damage.

 The journey was just beginning. As one doctor put it, “Mrs. Rosser, you will have a PhD in Endocrinology when you leave this hospital” and let me just say he was not kidding!

We have been home just over a week, and we are still trying to wrap our brains around it all. What surprises me is how many people don’t know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 is where the pancreas shuts down, and no longer creates insulin, therefore one must have insulin shots to survive. This is not controlled by diet, but will always be on insulin. Type 1 diabetics can eat whatever they want, they just need to treat themselves for it with the proper dose of insulin. There is no cure.

Type 2 can be controlled. Some people have to take insulin to help them along as their pancreas isn’t doing the job well, and some can control it with their diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetics need to watch what they eat and be mindful of the sugars intake and carbs. When proper weight and eating habits are in place, many can come off insulin and their body will function quite normal.

We will not allow T1D to define us. We are strong. We are bigger than this. We are charging forward with new purpose, a new mission you might say. Triathlon season is just beginning, and we are taking it by force!

If you can dream it

YOU CAN DO IT!

Road Block

WARNING…. Road Block Ahead!

I have officially hit a mental road block. I knew it was coming, and I knew, or at least I thought I knew, how to over come it. But alas I succumbed to the spiral down into the black hole.

The pit of defeat.

It’s crazy how life can be going along so great, the birds are chirping, your hair does exactly what you want it to do, your feeling good, then

BAM!

You hit a wall.

That’s me…. hitting a wall.

With my head hung and my ego in the pits, I retreated to my car to head home from what was supposed to be short 30 minute run followed by a brisk 1500m pool swim. All of this to prepare for my 140.6 journey to Ironman.

True confession: My legs felt like lead, my chest felt like I had a palate of bricks laying on it, my form felt way off, and the over cast skies were quite deceiving in making one think it might actually be a cool kind of day. The air was humid, (very deceiving) and there was a slight drizzle but not a complete rain shower. The hills, that are normally not hard, seemed to go on forever and felt like one was climbing Mount Everest!

About that 1500m swim….. yea, didn’t happen.

I coach athletes and prepare them for these kinds of blocks. So why is it so hard when I’m on the receiving end of this? Truly, shouldn’t I just be able to click my heels and say be done with it?

So I’m not in Kansas anymore but what I do know is this…… Momma said there would be days like this. Or maybe that was my COACH that said that! Either way, when you fall off the horse, you get back in the saddle and try again.

Fast forward 24 hours, and I can happily report I was able to complete the 15oom swim, but in true fashion, kicking and screaming! Maybe not screaming but I certainly was dragging my booty down the lane with little excitement. I almost cried when I was done! True story.

Then came the realization that I must dash into the locker room for a quick change into workout clothes because it was now time for a 45 minute cycle! Ummm, what state of mind was I in when I agreed to this 140.6 Ironaman Race?

All of this brought to you by True Confessions of a Hot Chic.

TEAM Linda

Meet Linda Baker. She is a beautiful, smart, savvy, fun, loving, caring, kind, sweet, amazing, fearless woman.

She is living with a rare disease called Pulmonary Fibrosis.

That’s me in the picture with her. The one with the crazy skirt, hat and no make up on! Yep, standing next to this incredible woman who inspires me daily!

So here’s the scoop. I am fulfilling a dream of mine in 2015, and I’m taking Linda on this journey with me. She is my racing partner. We are competing in The Ironman Chattanooga Triathlon. I figured if I’m going to swim 2.4 miles in a dark cold river, then hop on my bike that sports a seat in the width size of a ruler for 112 miles of hills no doubt, then throw on my running shoes and hobble run (that’s my new term)  26.2 miles to a finish line ALL within 17 hours, then I might as well raise some money and awareness to this terrible debilitating disease! Whew, that was a run on sentence for sure. Don’t judge.

Ironman Chattanooga  September 2015 is the BIG race.

And the month of September just happens to be Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month!

As incredible of a journey this is,  Linda really is the one who’s in a race. She is racing against time for her life. There is no cure whatsoever for this very rare disease. Linda has to have oxygen with her at all times. She goes no where without it. Can you imagine lugging around a heavy oxygen tank all day with all the gear that goes along with it? I am convinced that Linda is superwoman as she makes it look so easy and does it with such grace.

Currently there are no local chapters in the U.S. for support of families that have loved ones fighting this disease. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is a National Foundation, and rates among TOP CHARITIES in the U.S. and they have earned the highest distinctions given by both Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.

This is where YOU can make a difference. First you can join TEAM Linda on Facebook and SHARE the page with your friends.

Next, you can click on the link below, and it will take you to my First Giving page under the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/meredithrosser/ironmanchattanooga

Together WE can make a difference.

Since Linda is my race partner,  you will see much more of her as time ticks on. She is a conqueror and she will beat this disease.

Give TODAY, even if it’s only $10. Nothing is too small, as it all makes a mark!

Be apart of this journey!

BE TEAM Linda!

“This IS Hot Chic”

This IS Hot Chic.

Hot Chic walks, she swims, she bikes, she runs.

She  golfs, she paddle boards, she does cross fit, she teaches zumba.

Hot Chic is girl, daughter, friend, woman, sister, wife, mother.

She is confident,  brave, strong, beautiful, focused, inspiring, determined.

This IS Hot Chic.

Let me introduce you to Penny Reed.

Penny swims. She bikes. She runs.

She swam around the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

She IS Hot Chic!

Starting now Hot Chic Sports is kicking off their new “This IS Hot Chic” campaign.

Are you Hot Chic?

We want to hear from YOU!

Send a brief 1 or 2 paragraph short story or bio of yourself along with a picture or video to hotchicsports@gmail.com.

You may be featured on our website and social media pages during our “This IS Hot Chic” campaign.

Be inspiring. Be confident. Be Hot Chic. – Hot Chic Sports

Journey To 140.6…… Ironman Chattanooga

Ironman 140.6. Okay, there it is, in black and white. I think I may just throw up now. After all, who in the world willingly signs on to do a triathlon that will last up to 17 hours, totaling a whopping 140.6 miles? I should change my name from Organic Sport Chic to Crazy Sport Chic!

Thankfully I have an incredible support crew, including my hubs, aka Hot Hubs, who has competed in an Ironman 140.6 and countless Half Ironman Races in recent years. To double the stakes, I am a triathlon coach myself and currently training athletes, so this should be a cake walk right? Now that I mention cake, the sponsor for Ironman Chattanooga is currently Little Debbie! Guess we’ll be snacking on Little Debbie Snack Cakes & Oatmeal Cream Pies along the way. It’s a Win Win!

All joking aside, I must admit this has been a dream of mine for years. I have watched Hot Hubs and several friends race in a Full Ironman Races, and there is nothing like being at the Finish Line when they have completed such a feat. The commitment that is put into training and the dedication is mind-blowing, but in order to succeed you must have both in your sight. This is my year, and I couldn’t be more afraid and excited all at once.

Oh and did I mention that I get the amazing opportunity to race alongside seven other incredible athletes that I currently train and my best friend is coming along for support? This is a WIN WIN people! (I must keep saying this to myself)

So here’s the best part. I have chosen to dedicate this entire year of training & the race itself to a dear friend of mine, Linda B. She has a lung disease that’s incurable. She is undergoing serious chemo treatments to kill off this rare disease, and has to carry around oxygen tanks just so she can breath. She is my partner in this race, as I will be taking her along with me on this journey. Remember reading about “Flat Stanley” when you were in school? Well I’ve dubbed Linda as “Flat Linda.”  HA! Need I say more?

Every swim stroke, every cycle stroke, every run step and every ounce of breath I take, I am believing for her to find healing in her lungs from this terrible disease. She is my strength and inspiration!

One year is going to pass quickly, so I plan to blog along the way through the good, the bad and the ugly. Another wild & crazy ride has begun. Slip your skirt on, fasten your seat belts, and hang on!

LIMITED Edition-USA

Many of you know I’m the owner of Hot Chic Sports. For all you skirt loving gals and athletes out there, here’s some interesting facts about Hot Chic Sports.

All Hot Chic Sport Skirts are LIMITED EDITION and all made in the USA! We purchase all of our products from USA vendors and our products are manufactured here in the USA. We don’t mass produce thousands of skirts in the same pattern. Hot Chic Sport skirts are like no other line of skirts, and we strive to be different. We set the trend, not follow the trend.

Hot Chic Sports skirts are designed with the everyday woman in mind as well as the active woman. Hot Chic Sports set out to create the “perfect” skirt for all women of all sizes and body shapes. Not every sport skirt I tried on looked flattering,  especially from behind, thus Hot Chic was birthed! After all every woman wants to feel pretty, and HOT. Hot Chic Sports skirts range in sizes from X-Small to X-Large, and this summer we are adding the size HC2 to our line of skirts. The HC2 will be an XXL in size, but since I don’t think any woman wants to say “XX-Large” we came up with a different and sassy way of saying it. HC2! Love how it rolls of my tongue.

You asked, so we listened. Our NEW line of skirts coming out this summer will be a tad longer in length. NOT by much, but very suttle. I’ve tried on the proto-type and I believe your gonna LOVE the new design. The new skirts ROCK if I don’t mind saying so myself. Another interesting fact about Hot Chic Sports skirts is the shorts underneath the skirts DON’T RIDE UP! Seriously, they truly don’t! Our shorts (underneath the skirts) have a rubber elastic leg, so once the shorts are in place, they stay in place! Finally….. no need for uncomfortable compression squeezing my thighs, and then rolling up into my “whooHa” area!

Now, I have to ask….Who doesn’t love to just lounge around in their pajamas all day? Well, maybe not ALL day, but I do have a favorite pair of pajama bottoms I love to lounge in! Hot Chic Sports skirts feel like your favorite pajama bottoms! This statement comes straight from Hot Chics who own a Hot Chic Sport skirt. These skirts are made to become YOU. They are designed to feel as if you had nothing on at all! It’s like running naked!!! No pulling, tugging, or cinching into your waist. Just pure comfort all the way around.

All Hot Chic Sports Skirts have a cell phone, iphone, key, tennis ball, golf ball approved pocket too! Hot Chic skirts are light weight, moisture wicking, breathable and most of all sassy!

Because the Hot Chic Sport skirts are in such high demand, we have a hard time keeping them on our shelves. As soon as we debut new patterns, they are flying out of our office like hot cakes! If your looking for that little something in a skirt that’s different and sets you apart, than Hot Chic is your winning skirt! Hot Chics can be seen seen wearing these skirts at the gym, playing tennis, golfing, running, cycling, zumba, paddle-boarding, yoga, competing in triathlons and so much more. When these Hot Chics are being active, these skirts easily transition into a great outfit for meeting friends for lunch, shopping at the mall, chasing kids, or simply relaxing. Being comfortable and fashionable, a Hot Chic does it all!

Hot Chic Sports has some sassy  new patterns that are debuting this summer that you won’t want to miss. You can keep up with all the happenings on  Hot Chic Sports Facebook page and keep watch on the website for the upcoming debut! Don’t forget….. They are all LIMITED EDITION!

The Skinny Image

Excuse me while I get on my soap box for a moment….. Summer is just around the bend, and I can already feel the heat bearing down on us. With that comes summer fun, swimming, grilling out, trips to the beach, etc. I love this time of year and look forward to all things summer, but what I’ve noticed a lot of lately are loads of social media outlets screaming “Get the bikini body back” and “Summer bikini weather ready” and even “Bikini Challenge by…” Everyone has a twist on how to get bikini fit, and STAT! Have you noticed when you read these advertisements that they are all pointing back to one thing?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about being healthy and fit, but something struck a chord in me in the last 24 hours as I watched an interview on television last where the news reporter was interviewing singer John Legends wife about her eating habits and possible weight gain. The wife of John Legend (sorry didn’t catch her name) took the harsh criticism in stride and basically told the world that she loves food and she’s going to eat! First of all let me say this, the woman looked perfectly healthy and simply beautiful, and yet the critics feel she is eating too much in public and has gained some weight. Shocking I say, or is it really?

I love food and I very much enjoy blogging about new recipes and taking a lot of pictures of what I eat. With that being said, I follow many food bloggers on Facebook, and healthy eating raw guru’s. To my astonishment, I have seen some postings regarding a 12 week challenge to get bikini body ready. I realize this kind of propaganda has been around for a long while, however I am more astonished when I see these types of challenges from groups that promote over all health and wellness. I would expect something like this from a company like Slim Fast, but not health and wellness bloggers. There is a difference in living a healthy lifestyle and taking on a 12 week challenge to get bikini body fit in such a short amount of time.

Is this really healthy? Do these types of challenges really work? I love this picture I found online. “You Are Not A Sketch”. This is so true! I am a running and triathlon coach and anytime a new athlete joins our group, the first thing I tell them is this is NOT a get skinny quick type of group. I am here to coach you to your goals, and learn to live over all healthy lifestyle. It is not a quick fix or a fast track weight loss to skinny but a path to overall health and wellness .If it takes you 6 months to put on 20 lbs, it takes double that to get it off, not 12 weeks. And yet society scratches their heads and wonder why young girls, and teenagers have eating disorders and image issues.

I was fortunate to have grown up in a loving home with a mom who told me everyday I was beautiful and that God made me for who I am. Sure I wanted to be skinnier than I was, and sometimes even today I find myself wishing my ta ta’s were smaller, my hips not as wide, but who doesn’t? What I’ve come to realize is this…. You only have one body, and once chance at life. Enjoy who you are, worry less about what others think, and more about how you feel inside. Make good healthy food choices, exercise daily, and live the life you’ve been given. I’d rather be curvy, and fit than bikini beach body skinny that can’t take a short jog down the beach!

The Journey Begins….

There is nothing more thrilling than watching your kids play sports, or in my case watching them race in my favorite sport of triathlon. Below is my youngest racing to a 3rd place victory at a recent triathlon race.

Rewind back about eight years ago, when Hot Hubs and I took the boys camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Our first taste of the triathlon sport came by way of the 70.3 Ironman Florida Race. From our campsite you could hear sounds of bells, cheers, and occasionally a horn. This sparked out interest especially since all the ruckus started at the crack of dawn. Witnessing athletes fly by us on their bikes wearing crazy bike helmets (which later I discovered were the best of the best) and zooming by us at breathtaking speed was an adrenaline rush for sure! We were intrigued and wanted a piece of that pie and the rest is history!

Racing should always be fun, and when it’s not fun anymore, than it’s time to hang it up. It’s easy to get caught up in the competition of it all, especially if your racing against friends. No one admit it, but competition amongst friends can be fierce. The older I get, the more I’ve come to realize the prize is not who crosses the finish line first, but just simply completing the race with dignity is what really matters the most. The feeling of accomplishment and  pride. My first taste of triathlon came by way of The Danskin Triathlon. This was just the beginning.

Giving back to the sport, and helping others achieve those dreams of crossing the finish line strong has been in the forefront for me. Coaching a group of athletes with Tri 413  Training Group and watching my kids compete is the icing on the cake. But alas a new fire has been lit underneath me and my  long stretch of a break has come to an end. It is time to get back in the saddle to the tune of 140.6. For those who might be scratching their heads right now, that’s a full Ironman Triathlon of  swim, bike and run with a grand total of 140.6 miles. Yikes that was scary to type!

Time is flying by at a clipped pace, and to continue my dreaming of “What If” is over. I want to be where the action is, feel the wind snaking through my hair, and the warm sun upon my face. HA, who am I kidding? 140.6 miles is no jog in the park, but there’s no time like the present. After all, just like our slogan states so boldly from Hot Chic Sports: Hot Chic’s Do It All. And might I add too, why put off tomorrow what you can do today?

So the journey begins, Hot Chic style of course. 140.6 in 2015 is no easy feat, but I’m ready for the challenge. As a bonus, I’m blessed  to be given the great opportunity to share in this journey with some of the amazing athletes I currently train. Life is a gift, and I don’t want to waste a minute of it. One of my new slogans, and yes I do have quite a few, is simply

Be Intentional…. Live With Intention!