A year of change: Kellie is 45 years old and training for her first IRONMAN..and Pole Dancing!

The before and after...my yearly review of Life!

SO much has changed in one year...365 days ago I thought I was happily married and in a good frame of mind , physically I was in good shape and training for my first half iron man...getting ready to move into my new position at TMH and take on my dream job...Little did I know that in less then three weeks after that, my whole world would come crashing down around me....

What have I learned in the last 365 days...I have learned that if you are not happy make a change... if you see something not right, fix it...if there is a person in your life is not being honest ::::: KICK HIS/HER ASS TO THE CURB!  

I have learned I am stronger then I ever thought I was, I have learned to change headlights, change windshield wiper blades...Drive myself any and everywhere and not get totally lost...  That I  do not need to have someone else in my life to make me feel complete...

I have learned I have some of the most amazing friends and family anyone could ever ask for,..

In the last year I have completed 3 half marathons, 2 half iron man, started to rain for a FULL IRON MAN and got a couple of new tattoos.

Nov 2 , 2013

I just turned 45 y/o and I  have never felt this good in my life....I am by far in the healthiest mind, body and spirit........I have been in my whole life.

On April 14th I circled a major loop in my life.  I have completed 5 full years of running and racing.  By completing the RIDA 2013 race, I had done it for the 6th time.  2008 thru 2013...I even set a Personal Record for the 5 k distance at this race this year.  27:02 for 3.1 miles...Yahoo!

Training is going well...lots of SWIM BIKE RUN...doing a little strength training and yoga with it as well..setting PRs in the 5 and 10 k distances...Last October I set a PR at the 13.1 at The Newport Half Marathon.

On May 9th my 45th BIRTHDAY....I was at work at 430 am and giving some in-services all morning then ending my day at work by giving an in-service at a local visiting Nurses agency....Then spent the evening relaxing at the house.  At Midnight I went to the T.F.Green and picking up SPARKY!!!!   Yes one of my best friends came home for the weekend and I am so excited...(I know the real reason is so she can see her Mom for Mothers day...but it just so works out that she will be here for my B-day Party!!!!!)

Friday the 10th was my B day party and we were suppose to take a pole and chair dance class but the instructor no showed on us.  We went to Olives instead and had drinks and dancing, We had a blast....
Saturday Was a relaxing and resting day...Help taught a ACLS class at Brown University and did soem house work and Dinner with a friend.

Sunday Happy Mothers day and 1/2 Marathon.....Great Bday Week!!!!

Go out and DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT:::::::::::::::Cause you Can!

TO THE AMAZING WOMEN IN MY LIFE! Please remember Who You ARE!

This morning I was awake (surprise) at 4 am. Watching the news and trying to clear the cobwebs from my 

brain. I was thinking how TRUELY BLESSED I am. When I am feeling down or that things are not just right, I always seem to have a friend or family member who shows up to guide, hug, make me smile, or be there. Thank you to Sue & Rob for stopping last night to bring me some roses and just to give me a HUG!!!!

Yesterday I was talking with a friend who is also going thru a lot right now and she is an AMAZING WOMEN.....SHE IS  STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT, GRACEFUL AND LOVING!   She may not feel that way right now, BUT YOU ARE!

SO TIME TO PASS IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!

TO ALL THE  AMAZING WOMEN IN MY LIFE

YOU ARE STRONG!!!!!!

BE AMAZING BECAUSE YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOT and FIRE!!!!! With only 199 days to go!!!!

Can you believe it is only 199 days till IMFL!! Can you believe it is already the middle of April 2013????   Ughhhhh....But there have been moments when I have been on FIRE and HOT as well......

To be honest training has not been constant since I had the Jeep FIRE.  Yes I lost Silver Bullet to a FIRE on Easter Sunday.   No one was hurt, THANK GOD, but the Silver Bullet was a total loss......We had a great 6 years together..lots of hours 4x4ing with family and friends..there is nothing like going TOPLESS and DOORLESS and Driving down the Highway at 55 MPH...( UHMMM yeah I CANT DRIVE 55!!!!!!!!)....She had gotten me thru some tough and scary snow storms and safely delivered us where we need to go.....We have been up to the her floor boards in mud, water and sand, climbed a few rocks trails...taken a few stumps out and helped winch a few stranded vehicles out of trouble as well....

My old baby Kia ( who passed away in November, 2012, used to love to feel her fur flying when we were in the Jeep...if we were not driving 65 mph or faster she would whine and whine and whine...

Just waiting on Gieco to settle the claim so I can buy another Jeep!

I lost all my new gear in the Jeep FIRE...but what I did not lose was the support and love of my friends and family.  Not only did they all rally around me, they even took up a collection to help me replace my some of my gear.  That very night, Leslie stopped at the house with a new bike helmet, swim goggles  and sunglass...And Yes they are all pink! All donated by my teammates...Laura and Kate!  Lots of them donated to the collection for me to replace my Garmin watch....just ordered it .. hopefully it will be in within the next week....I miss my watch so much...Yes I am a data geek!

 

Did I say I was Hot as well...Well I am still having the HOT FLASHES  but what I meant is that the good news is: I am HOT on the run:  I just finished 5 years of racing....at the RIDA 5K, my anniversary race.   I had a great 10k two weeks ago..setting a PR at that distance of 59:52 at the Jamestown Bridge 10K

 and then a 5k PR .  I took 1:48  off my best time for this race and 24 seconds off my previous 5k PR.  This was the 6th time I have run the race..HOT!!

2008 : 32:25 10:27/mile         2009 : 29:31 09:31/mile          

2010 : 28:50 9:17/mile   

2011 : 29:27 9:30/mile           2012 : 29:10  09:24/mile  

2013 : 27:02 8:43/mile

PR at the 2013 RIDA 5K 27:02

NOW it is YOUR TURN:::: Cause You Can Now!

WOW FOUND THIS POST I FORGOT TO ADD.....(JAN, 2013) 300 days and the countdown has begun

So the IRONMAN training has begun today.  300 days......

I had a very active weekend.  Between Saturday and Sunday I walk/ran/elliptical a total of 20 miles and also did 30 minutes of weight training and 750 yards about 30 minutes in the pool....

I feel great, even though the run yesterday was not great for me....first 8 miles were OK but not great and the last two miles were just a walk!  Not that "just walking" is bad...but I had planned on running ten miles and was only able to do 8.

Christmas and New Years were amazing... I am truly blessed with my family and friends!

On Saturdays run we got to our 5 mile turn around point and we found these amazing ice wall.  

What a beautiful view at our turn around point!

Serious Recovery: Why Triathletes Need More Sleep : LAVA Magazine

So we all know that I do not sleep much ( better the last few weeks).  Usually, I sleep about 4 hours a night getting into bed around midnight..but lately I am sleeping 5-6 hrs a night...one of the reasons is from the article that Coach Tara said to read.    It is a quick read.  Some day Ill get to sleep more...I HOPE!!!
 Serious Recovery: Why Triathletes Need More Sleep : LAVA Magazine

Merry Christmas 2012: The Reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas and God Bless to One and All!

Christmas In Florida 2012

Christmas Morning and I am sitting in my oldest sons house in Florida and trying not to wake up the grand babies.  Do you know how hard this is for me?  

Mickey and Craigie!!!

I arrived here on Wed before Christmas!  The very next day we went to Disney world for the Grand babies FIRST trip to the 6 Foot Rats Kingdom!!!

Grammie that is Mickey Mouse over there!!!!

Christmas to me is about celebrating the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ...

About spending time with Family and Friends...Hugging and Loving the ones that mean the most to you.

The BOYS going out for dinner : GATOR TIME!

 Mom and Emily

Vern and Mom

Miss ya Alex!

Sitting here drinking the first cup of coffee on this beautiful morning...I ponder and reflect on what God has blessed me with.  There are so many blessing I could write about.  (even Coffee!)

But most important are the people. The people who make you feel complete and whole.  The others that enhance a part of our lives. Then then ones that will be only flutter thru and touch but a brief moment in time in our journey thru this world.

With everything that seems to be going on in the world around us...it is wonderful and I am so ever grateful to God above that we are be able to stop and appreciate the simple things in life...

Like a toddlers laugh, a pre schooler counting to 10 without assistance and the joy and love upon my oldest sons face when he looks at his wife and children, the excitement in my younger sons voice when he talks to his nephews. Seeing my grandchildren play and smile.   Knowing that they are all well and happy.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

I AM IN!!!!! IM FL 2013!!!

Yes, you are reading that correctly!   I am registered for the IRONMAN FLORIDA for 2013...Just an easy 140.6 miles of the Florida Panhandle to enjoy!!!!

 This morning I finished up a weekend of chores around the house..lets just say my FALL cleaning is done!

Then went off to the the gym...swam an easy 750 meters...100 m warm up, 100 m of drills, 50m x3 with 15 sec rest, then 100 m x2, with 15 sec rest then a nice cool down swim of 100 meters...

Then off to the do a little weight training.( very lite!).  I do all arms and upper back...then a nice work out Coach Tara give me with Planks, forearm and sides...

   Then try to figure out where I was going to pull the money from to pay for this race!

Figuring out bills and already made sure the air fare for the CHRISTMAS trip to be with GRAND BABIES was paid first... OK so here are the latest pictures of the grand sons~~all dressed up for Halloween...Peter Pan and Capt' Hook!

Peter Pan and his Shadow!

Captain Hook getting a helping hand

I am coming for you PETER!

Yeah Well I am too cute to care!

I figured I had just about enough left in my "emergency" monies to pay for the trip ( knowing I have a check coming in three weeks for selling vacation time!)..For those of you who do not know, I went thru a real tough financial time in 2009/10 and after that I got rid of all my credit cards..So if I do not have the cash I do not get it.....

First let me say this IRONMAN races are not inexpensive at all.  I know that I will only being doing one or two "big" races this upcoming race season...I will not be doing all the 5k and half marathons, I usually do.  Cause between the two TRI's I am registered for 2013, (Patriots HIM and IRONMAN FL) has already taken almost all my race budget for the next year....plus there will be the expense of getting to Florida and staying there for a week!!!

Ok so it is 1130 EST cause registration opens at Noon....I am all set up at the laptop, with my iPad and iPhone ready to go as well...I needed to sign into Active.com and have my USAT number ready and my debit card #....  I start to read the page and it is 12 noon CST...so know i have an hour to talk myself out of this....DO I really want to SWIM, BIKE, RUN for 140.3 miles or about 16 hours?  DO I want to spend this money?  DO I have the time to do it all? ( with work, school and life?)

Three times I signed off the Active.com registration site for the IM FL...twice I put my cards away.... but then it was 1215 and I said to myself.  STOP THE SELF DOUBT!!!!!   Start BELIEVING IN YOURSELF....You can and will do this..You are a TRIATHLETE...and in one year you will be an IRONMAN!!!!

As I have said many many times...on July 5th, 2005...I could not walk two blocks!!!!! So  CAUSE I CAN NOW, just over 7 years later, I am going to start my training to COMPETE and FINISH a FREAKING IRONMAN ~~140.6 miles of SWIM BIKE RUN!!!!!!!!

Along the Beautiful Gulf of Mexico in Sunny Florida!!!

SO IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO GET UP & MOVING ~~  CAUSE YOU CAN!!!!!!!