So, whats next? (Never Give up)

 Whew, its been a year so far.  I think I've said that, easily, the past six years, and at this point, the concept of change and the ole switch up is just the norm.  Sometimes its the good shit - a hard earned PR, a qualifier, a holy shit I did not see that amazing thing coming plot twist....and sometimes its just....shit.

2025 has been one hell of a ride.  As I alluded to in my last post, my best intentions of dusting off 2023 and taking the "year off" in 2024 might have seemed logical to me - but it wasn't.  It was certainly a transition year for the ending of my marriage, and adjusting to what life on the other side looked like, but the real changes never hit the fan until super late in the year and while I was eager for that "next phase" - life reminded me to take it as it came.

I don't regret the pause for one more year of Ironman.  At all.  This year has been exactly what it should have been, and in ten years, if I still haven't made it to Kona.....I don't regret a thing.  Again, its all about balance and applying that balance to where it matters most.

But...whats next?  Thats a good question.  When I hit the defer button on IMLP, it was the right choice.  I did what I needed to race weekend, and spent it camping with my kids.  I eagerly pressed "register" for 2026 and know that its going to be the best race ever - with the best ever friend that got me back into this mess in 2019.  I cannot wait.

But I also can.  because on top of life, my body has been telling me to take a pause from endurance training.  And even though I'm a stubborn jackass - I've listened.

This summer has been full of ice cream, amusement parks, movies, swimming and so much fun.  Its also snuck in some light swims, bikes and runs.  Some days, its a great workout.  Some days, its knowing that a four mile run is all I've got.

To date - none of them have been anywhere near knocking out of the ball park.

And I'm ok with it.

Six years ago, I got kinda fast.  Three years ago, I got even a little faster.  Never pro fast.  Never even elite fast.  But fast enough to place, to win, some local races.  Fast enough to KQ and BQ.  And it was so much freaking fun.  So much fun in a way that I keep shaking my head going - is this real???  And it was.

I'm not so fast now.  And i always wondered how that would feel.  Because I loved this sport when I was a back of packer.  I even loved it when I was afraid of my bike (oh, bless my soul Im glad we got over that one.  Took 15 years but hey, Im stubborn not bright).  I loved it when I was lucky enough to place in my AG.  And I loved it when I broke the tape and won. 

I'm not that athlete right now.  Not even close.  And....I still love it.  So whats next?  Peasantman, of course.  Tomorrow I get to do all the things I love best, with some of the best people.  This is such a special race for me - the whole First Knight Team and production crew, the amazing friends that race, and the memories of the first time I toed the line here 3 years ago with a buggy, a rainstorm, an overall win...and a cupcke to boot :)

Each year, there are new surprises and new experiences, but the whole day is so special and it doesnt even matter what my "pace" is - its all about the love of the sport.

So thats whats next.  And after tomorrow?  Well, you're just gonna have to stay tuned because my A race is coming up August 31.  And if you've understood any of this post, it'll be well worth the reveal :-P

Ironman Lake Placid: Two Steps Behind

 Well, this is a different one.

I guess I "owe" you two....maybe three race reports.  Its been a minute or two.

But they dont really need a post for each, because they fit a theme.

Keuka Spring Duathlon - I had a blast.  I don't have any run speed, but somehow eeked out the women's overall win (mainly because there were less than 30 people in the race, but hey, a win is a win).

Tupper Lake Sprint Triathlon - Broke my butt three days before on Biz's slip and slide (darn primiformis) and somehow bagged two high peaks anyways in my first trip to Placid since 2018.  Couldnt run to save my soul, managed a 3rd place finish oh, and i had a blast.

Buffalo Subaru Chase 4 miler - This was yesterday and...somehow I broke a tooth three days ago and hopped up on pain meds, did this at marathon pace but racked up some points for the Roadkill womens team.  Oh and I had a blast.

There ya go, now you're caught up!

Here's the catch though....I shouldn't have done any of those races.  And right now, as I write this, I should be somewhere else...Placid. And here's my 2025 Placid race report....that isnt a race. 

I was pretty quiet about all of it, but last year, in a fit of redemption from the missed Kona of 2023, I signed up for Ironman Lake Placid, set to happen tomorrow.  It was gonna be my great comeback.  The time I qualified for Kona, and I actually was able to go.  And I was so incredibly excited.

See, I wasn't entirely honest when I wrote the hardest post I ever have for this blog two years ago.  And it's time to get that off my chest.  2023 was....the best year of racing I ever had.  Ironman Texas blew my mind away and I was so, so ready to go play on the big stage. Mind, body, and soul.

And then, life happened.  And since I was right in the thick of it, I didn't feel I needed or was ready to fully share what was going on.  But now that we are on to the next phase of life, I'll admit that the huge family transition of 2024 was already really looming and there was a big balancing act with everything that was happening at home.  Its not the place to get into details, but with 6 weeks to go, I had to make a choice - Kona, or picking my role at home.  And every single day, I'll pick my people, especially the little ones I birthed, over a race. Every time.  

I have no regrets about the way I handled it, and, even though a big one, it was a race.  One I knew I would throw my hat in the ring for again.

2024 was a tough year, and with the end of our marriage, I knew it wasn't the year to try to KQ.  So I threw myself into marathons and ultras and basically ran all my feelings out - which I also don't regret.  I got to stress bust, hang out with amazing people, and also reminded myself that I was worth it - that I still had it.  It was an epic year, with 3 marathons (one boston!) and a crazy 103 miler in 24 hours.

I came into 2025 thinking that it was now time to hit my lifelong goal of Kona.  Do it, Rae!  I started working with a new coach (Mean Dude is still excellent, but I had an opportunity to work with a new coach gratis, which I gratefully accepted) and for the first 3 months, fit in Ironman training, a new custody schedule, work, and life.  

It worked, but it got hard so fast.  The actual split was still new, and there were a lot of kid emotions with it, so I found myself trying to fit everything in, and not doing a great job of it.  Every single time I picked family over training, and again, I don't regret it.  But it led up to a lot of missed workouts, and key ones.  Forcing it also didn't work - my body began to rebel, and stopped reacting as I was used to with the training - especially the run, which was always my best and favorite sport.

With 6 weeks to go, I called the audible.  Its not an Ironman year.  Thankfully, Ironman extends a gracious deferral policy if you register early, so now I have 365 days to go before I jump in mirror lake and put forth my best effort in Lake Placid!

What will it bring?  I dont know.  But I do know that the best part is the journey, and I cant wait to keep living it....and even though this is a down year....its still a blast.

Its all about balance.  And change.  And at the end of the day, the grace to admit when you need to step back and take a breath and put Ironman aside.

I'll be back, Lake Placid. One year from today.  It's party time. 


Just you wait :)

Transitions - Welcome to 2025

 Hey y'all.  

Its been so long since I sat down to write here, I'm honestly not sure where to start with any of it.

There have been so many times in the last 5 months I started to think of a post, and then backed away.  It was all so muddled, I knew I could never get it all out on paper.

And the longer you wait to do that, the further away it gets from you.

So I figured, as this is at heart, a multisport blog, the right time to pen a post was the day before the first race of the year.

20 years ago, I started out as a newbie triathlete, who couldn't swim a stroke, bike without falling, or run a ten minute mile.

Some of those things have changed.  And some....well, you all know how I swim LOL

Its been such a wild ride, especially the last six years.  22 year old me wouldnt believe any of this was possible.  27 year old me, newly married, would have told you it was all about the company.  32 year old me, fresh with two babies, would tell you I was FINALLY a mom in motion.  37 year old me who finally learned how to ride aero, not be scared of my bike (SMH) and how to actually race....would have told you I finally arrived.  40 year old me, agog with a Kona Qualifier, was riding high on a dream. One that never came to fruition, but like most stories....the end is unwritten.

And now theres 42 year old me.  Who has learned, without a doubt, that the journey is full of so many twists and turns and it really is all about how you handle with life throws at you.

Over the years, there have been so many highs and so many lows.  The highs have been so so sweet and the lows remind me that failure.....is part of the process. Even if it sucks.

Last year was a such a tough year for so many reasons.  For those of you that know me personally, youre aware of it - the ending of my marriage, the adjustment to a new way of living, and in that, stepping back from multisport and using my love of running as a tool to stay active, breathe, and somehow still do what I love every day.  Multisport was still a thing, as always, but much different from the 2022-2023 crazy Ironman high I was riding.  It was - and still is - really fucking hard. And its been such an important transition time. I dont have all the answers.  But Im lucky enough to be surrounded by people that have shown me over and over again how much they love all of me - even the messy, unhealed parts.  

2025 marks more of that journey - there are new goals, a new outlook, and taking the much needed time to take a full breath and say - what do the next 20 years look like??

I still dont know the answers, but I do know they involve running, triathlon and multisport - just as much, if not more, for the comraderie than anything.  I have met so many amazing people in the process and I am both humbled and grateful for the lifelong friendships that have happened.  I cant even do it justice here.

Tomorrow is the Keuka Lake Tri.  Here in NY, the spring has been slow to arrive, and with the water temps uncertain, Ive opted for the duathlon - which is wild, because right now out of the 3 sports, swimming is probably my best (shhh, dont tell).

It hasnt been a good year for running.  Or biking.  Or doing anything zoomie at all.  And in talking with my favorite lifeguard this past week (HAH!  Bernie, here ya go!) we got into a discussion about what we are excelling at lately.

And for me - its all about the transitions, baby. The past year has thrown so much my way from every facet in life, that if Im good at anything right now, its learning how to move on.  

So tomorrow, watch me rock the shit out of those.  The rest?  Well, years ago I always said that I would love this sport even when I wasnt fast (which, I most definitely was not at the time). And that hasnt changed.  A 6 minute mile or a 9 minute mile is just as fun, and you can bet Ill be somewhere in there with the biggest damned smile on my face, playing tri....errr...duathlon with my favorite people.

Its multisport family reunion time, baby.  LFG!! :)