Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition

Every athlete dreams of the perfect race.  The race when there are no mechanical issues, the tummy stays happy all day, the legs feel fresh and the mind stays focused. The race when the weather is perfect and the pacing plan works perfectly. And the race when you don't even get kicked once on the swim (Ok - now you are just thinking crazy thoughts :)  Is there really such a thing as a perfect race? Well, let's back up.... is there even such a thing as a perfect training session?  How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a workout and feeling as if you are getting nothing out of it and just counting down the minutes until it is over? How about the workout when you feeling super tired or you are feeling stuffy in the head (or perhaps on the verge of a cold) and you can't help but lace up your shoes and get your workout done because it is on your training plan?  How about the workout that you felt super run-down but still managed to feel ...

It was almost eight years ago when I crossed my first Ironman finish line.  I still remember every detail of IMFL 2006.  I had my bike-racing boyfriend (Karel) who I had been dating for 6 months, on the sidelines. He thought I was a bit crazy to want to do this 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run event but nonetheless, he was cheering me on for 140.6 miles. Somewhere in the last 3 miles of the marathon, Karel told me I was going to Kona. I yelled back "I love you!" It was the first time I told Karel that I loved him. Even though Karel thought that this sport was super crazy when we met, it's funny that now the Ironman is our sport of choice that has brought us closer and closer over the past two years since Karel stopped racing bikes as a Cat 1 rider and jumped into his first sprint triathlon in the summer of 2012.  My first Ironman was also special because my parents were dishing out support and positivity for me all day as their 24-year ol...

After our morning swim and checking in at the race venue on Friday, I spent a little time on Friday afternoon packing my bags. My homestay has a pool table which made for a great height for laying out my gear for my bags.  I will wait until race morning to top my bottles with water so I prepared all my bottles with powder (only) and then laid out all my gear for race day.  Morning Clothes (also swim gear): Sweatshirt and yoga pants (not pictured, I will wear over my Trimarni kit) Trimarni tri top Trimarni tri bottoms Brooks Running sport bra Sunscreen Hair ties (4) Body Glide Chip w/ strap Cap Speedo Vanquisher goggles (tinted and clear) Garmin 910XT Bike Special Needs (to turn in race morning outside Starbucks) 3 bottles, each filled with 300 calories of INFINIT custom drink (no protein, I will fill with water on race morning) Run Special needs (to turn in race morning outside Starbucks) 2 flasks, each filled with 2 ounce NAPALM (100 calories each - I ...

We are looking at perfect conditions on race day. However, during our ride it was warm but nothing we were use to living in the South. Race day should be at least 15 degrees cooler and hopefully the winds will not be as gusty as they were when we were riding. The winds were so strong, even Karel was getting blown around.  We find it so helpful to not only wake up the legs with a "long"-er workout on the 4 days out from race day but to also put our bodies in real world conditions before the race. Knowing the course is extremely important when it comes to pacing but also for knowing what gear to use for race day.  Since I have raced IMWI and Karel has been on the course, we know there is very little time to settle into a rhythm on this challenging course (which I believe is the hardest course I have raced in 8 Ironman races ) which has a little of everything that can make for a tough bike ride - hills, bumps, winds, climbs, turns.  We will be wearing our GIRO h...