You read that right, I’m in ICELAND to race Challenge Iceland tomorrow!!

Iceland Selfie!

Swim Course

Bike Course

Run Course

Downtown Reykjavik

Challenge Iceland is a half distance triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) and possibly the most beautiful course I’ve ever seen!

I asked some people for a BIG word to describe being here and had some great suggestions, but my favorite was Theresa from Facebook who called it simply “A Gift.” That’s an extra special term since tomorrow is my 31st birthday and my coach called this race my “birthday present to myself.”

This country is every bit as beautiful and magical as you might imagine and I have SO much more to say about my trip here, but it’s about time to pull down the blackout shades (I have yet to see “night” here, the days are so long!) and get some sleep before I swim, bike, and run through the amazing landscapes. The race starts at 10am Iceland time (that’s 6am on the East Coast of the USA) and I think they might have updates on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for the cheers, I promise to write a full report about this one!

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Hi from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho!

Spokane River, where I ate breakfast, not the swim course, but still beautiful!

It has been a LONG nine months, but I’m finally back on a start line. Tomorrow I race Ironman 70.3 Coeur D’Alene with a whole lot of excitement and gratitude. There’s something refreshing about second chances and I intend to savor every moment of this 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run.

New Race Kit! Back to Green & Yellow! YES!!!

You know those times when it just feels so good to go hard? Well, I’ve really missed that, along with the general endurance sports camaraderie only found at races. Those are the things I’m looking forward to most tomorrow.

I’m still working on a proper post about the ups and downs of life post-crash, Kona, and general updates (comebacks are surprisingly hard to write about!!) but until then just know I’m so incredibly thankful for your support and cheers. It’s a bit hard for me to believe, but at 6:05am Pacific Time tomorrow, I get to race!

Obligatory Cowboy pic! Best ever SAG support!

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“Remember when Khaleesi ate the heart? Ummm…it kind of looks like that.”

An avid Game of Thrones fan, the Trauma Surgeon sewing up my leg agreed with Betty. The scene was a bit graphic. I decided to take their word for it and didn’t look down.

I was almost 50 miles into my ride when the car hit me. I was lucky. The driver stopped and his wife immediately called 911 while members of a nearby church helped me make phone calls and stay calm. I cried all 26 miles in the ambulance.

The situation is sad. The four letter words have come easy the past two weeks, including that notorious K-word. For two years I’ve focused on Kona. For two years my coach, my family, my friends, my sponsors have supported my return to the Big Island. I was so fit and so ready.  

But fitness is good for more than just Ironman. My bones held strong and my soft tissue is healing fast. And my brain? My brain is doing its best to embrace the good. I have some really good friends, really good sponsors, family that will do whatever they can to support my dreams, and a coach who has kept me going even when things seemed very bleak.

Will I race? I’m not sure; but today I fly to Kona, because getting there seemed like a logical first step. THANK YOU to everyone who is reading this and those who have reached out the past two weeks. Your kindness makes my heart ache in the very best way. You all give me the courage to continue past this speed bump. Mahalo and Aloha, I will do my best!

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SUMMER is coming!!

And that means YOU need sunscreen! And not just any sunscreen, the kind that stays on as you swim, bike, run your way through miles and miles of open roads under sunny skies!

OMG – it’s actually SUNNY!!

Confession time: I used to wear bad sunscreen. And I got burnt. BAD.

I also used to race in a crop top and  green & yellow capris…

But as I became older and wiser and learned the joys of online shopping, I started using Zealios Sun Barrier. Super water resistant, oil free, and 8% zinc oxide. This stuff is so good I’ll put it all over my face with no worries about my goggles leaking!

Flawless sighting to the coffee boat.

And NOW through April 30th, the good people at Zealios are running a special on their sunscreen!! Use the code GETOUTSIDEAPRIL at checkout for 15% off!! All you have to do is:

(1) Go to TeamZealios.com

(2) Add some Sun Barrier (or any of the other great products) to your cart:

(3) Use the code GETOUTSIDEAPRIL at checkout:

(4) And boom! The only wrinkles in your near future are SMILE wrinkles!!

The GETOUTSIDEAPRIL code is good for 15% off ALL Zealios products through April 30th! The Betwixt chamois cream is another one of my favs (and paraben-free so it won’t ruin your shorts or wetsuit!!) and the Revival Line shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are perfect for post-swim and smell AMAZING!!

Try it out and let me know what you think!!! And most important, enjoy getting OUTSIDE!!

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