Cindy Present | Get Out Girl

Countdown to Ironman Kona has begun. Thirteen Weeks. That's going to be almost 400 miles of running, 65 swimming, and over 2,200 of cycling (eek! really??) And knowing me, probably about 6.5 yeast infections (sorry, but it's true ;-) And if you're my friend Justyne, and counting, should be about 227,500 calories taken in - minimally! But wait! This isn't about the have to's and must do's - is it?? Well, I just realized for the past 6 weeks it has been, but it shouldn't be. I just got my jolt. It's time to get fired up and ready. For the right reasons. For about 6 weeks I've focused on the first paragraph. What it's going to take, the schedule I'm going to have to create, the juggling I'm going to have to pursue, and the job I'm going to have to do to "get 'er done". That doesn't sound like ANY FUN! Then why the heck am I doing it?!? Because I can. I am able. I will become stronger because of it - mentally an...

On April 15 I was stunned and brought to tears to hear of the Boston bombings - as it had been less than 48 hours that I had aborted my trip to run the marathon. Why? It just didn't 'feel right' to go. There was something that was saying not to go. Then two weeks ago I was stunned again, but in a different way, when I heard one of our friends was for a third time going to have to undergo a stem cell transplant to battle cancer. Why? How? Life was humbling me left and right with things that I had no control over. But what I do have control over is how I use my time. Four years ago Steve and I committed to participate in The Flatwater Foundation's Dam That Cancer event, a 21 mile stand and paddle from Mansfield Dam to Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin. The event would raise funds to support wellness programs for families and individuals battling cancer. When I heard founder, Mark Garza, tell us how paddleboarding and counseling basically kept his sanity and steadfastn...

The question is a common one, especially from those that know your drive and motivation when it comes to sports and fitness. It usually is asked right after "How are the kids?" "How was your last event?" Then you know it's coming, you know they are going to ask. This is where the emotions come in. You are either giddy with excitement to tell them "what you are training for" or you are dreading the question "what are you training for." Giddy, because you are ready to embark on the training journey that you will travel preparing to peak at the precise time of the event that you want to share with them you have committed to do. Or, dreading, because you have chosen not to put anything on the calendar and will miss that day to day grind of focus, accountability and fortitude it takes to be "training" for something. I am currently in the later shoes. There is nothing on my calendar that I have committed to for the first time in 24 month...

A friend sent this to me yesterday and she is oh so right! Thank you, Los Cabos!! We leave today. You have definitely been quite the ride!!

Ok, ok. The "I thought you were not doing another Ironman" question keeps rolling in, as well as, "What happened to your goal of under-achieving for the rest of the year?" There are prestigious championship events in all sports. World Cup. The Masters. Wimbledon. Olympics. Super Bowl. World Series. They each have their prestige, 'hoopla', Kodak moments, and excitement surrounding them. Kona is the Super Bowl of triathlon. By no means did I train for Los Cabos with the goal of qualifying for Kona. I trained for Cabo to do my best, be prepared for the hand I would be dealt on race day, and to not have any regrets with how I performed with what I was dealt. For me, going into an ultra endurance event with a goal of finishing within a certain time or finishing in a certain place is way too much pressure as an amateur AG athlete who is doing this for "fun" (??? ;-) My friends laughed and cajoled with me about how I would under achieve the rest of th...

Thank you for the Good Luck necklace, Coltyn!! It worked!!!

Bliss. Freedom. Relaxation. Carefree. The feelings of my new post-Ironman goal to Unde Achieve. I had sponsors, endorsers, even coaches and mentors. My Under Achieving Team had lined up activities for me, social hours, coffee time, naps, mornings to sleep in, book clubs, happy hours on the dock....their lists went on and on. The excitement and anticipation of my new lifestyle began last night at 6:38 Cabo time whe I crossed the finish line, hands and 'Jack' held high, and turned to bid the course and sport adios. On to more relaxing things. It all started about a month ago when a friend introduced me to a client of hers by saying,"This is Condy. She is doing Ironman Los Cabos. She is an over achiever." Over Achiever. Really? Me? The description grated at me for days. Was I really striving for too much? Was I not content with just being 'enough'? It immediately came to me that after reaching my goal of finishing a other Ironman I would shoot for J der Ach...