LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Happy 2014! Today marks the beginning of yet another adventure for me and I'm really excited to share it with you! 

On July 28, 2014 I will compete in Ironman Lake Placid held in beautiful Lake Placid, NY.

(An ironman, for those of you who do not know, is the quintessential triathlon competition. It is comprised of a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike and finished with a marathon (26.2 miles of running). And, yes, these events are done on the same day, in succession and mandatorily under 17 hours.)

Between now and then I will be blogging about my journey to the start line; the rigorous regimen of eating/sleeping/training....and repeat.  (I will also be juggling a full work schedule and some semblance (or not) of a social life).  During my blogging efforts, I hope to raise money for a very important organization to me called MentorCONNECT, a global eating disorders recovery and mentoring community. http://www.mentorconnect-ed.org/

In 2011 I published daily accounts of my journey across America on two wheels (http://transamerica-slipstream.blogspot.com/) and realized that blogging was a phenomenal way to share my experiences with my friends, family and even people I had never met. It also became a means by which I was inspired to push harder and dig deeper.

Please offer me and MentorCONNECT your support and I invite you with open arms to come along for what I imagine will be a most glorious ride to the start line of an amazing race.

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Today I completed my first day of training. The next 8 weeks are considered a "base/building phase" and, for me, a "reawakening phase". Today's workout was comprised of a 40 minute run and a 60 minute swim as per my friend and coach, Jennifer Gatz M.S, M.A.T Exercise Physiologist (http://jayasports.com/welcome/). I didn't think I would be ready to train again so soon - my last race of 2013 was a half ironman in Miami at the end of October- but, as it turns out, 8 weeks of training as I please (focusing more on lifting, less on cardio and less on overall intensity), with no particular training regimen, can rebuild and repair a worn out body and mind. Let the games begin!