PushMyLimits

march 2024

Published on April 5, 2024 by KeciaLeave a comment

March was my first breath day month and it was full of lots of great things! One of the best things…seeing more and more daylight hours! Oh…and I’m so grateful that I got to race for the first time in 2024…racing in a swim meet and racing a 1/2 marathon! ⚡️

training highlights:

My 2nd ever swim meet is in the books! I swam the anchor 50 in a 200 free relay, the 200 free, 500 free, 100 free, and finished it off with the pool mile free. I am really proud of my effort (you know you worked hard when you can’t lift your arms the next day 😜), mental fortitude, and grit to get it done. The unexpected icing on the cake was placing 1st in all events except the 100 free where I placed 2nd. ⚡️
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I am so grateful for the Ames Masters Aquatic Club for their support, encouragement, and cheers on the journey to the meet and while racing!

What?! 70F + 5-7 mph winds + hazy sun = a perfect day to play outside and celebrate another trip around the sun (this weather is a definite anomaly in March in Iowa)! This is 47 ⚡️

I had the privilege of running the St. Paddy’s 1/2 Marathon. Always grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself, learn, and grow in the process. • Intentional thoughts I focused on during week 11 of 2024: ⚡️ run with heart ⚡️ I am making it happen ⚡️ I am creating an opportunity to achieve my goals and dreams ⚡️ dance with the discomfort ⚡️ progress over perfection

life highlights:

Little Miss Jersey celebrated her golden bark day in early March! We are so glad you chose us to be your furever home. You bring joy, sass, love, and 100% with all that you do. Love you so much baby girl! 🐶🥰

Over spring break, I got a rare opportunity to swim with Isabella. She pushed me, challenged me, and made me dig DEEP when she beat me by 1 second in our 50 free race off the blocks. Youth is definitely on her side…I was giving my all, but she was not. 🤣

This is 47 ⚡️
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So grateful that I got to enjoy some tasty food with amazing people to celebrate another trip around the sun!

gratitude highlights:

The sky was absolutely on fire for multiple sunrises this month…so grateful for the beautiful start to so many days!

It has been a hot minute since I have had the opportunity to run with Isabella. So grateful that she drug me out for a few birthday miles on a gorgeous day!

What is this nonsense?! While I am over seeing the white stuff flying around for the rest of this season, I am grateful for the precipitation since we are in a drought.

How was your month of March? What are you looking forward to in April?

february 2024

Published on March 11, 2024 by KeciaLeave a comment

Thankfully February was much better than January with warmer weather, no visits to the vet, and some family time. While February was good, I am looking forward to starting my racing season in March, seeing more and more daylight, + more spring like temps to hopefully get outside on two wheels.

training highlights:

While Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday to express love, I believe love should be expressed everyday…not just towards others but towards yourself as well. Take time to do something that makes your heart happy!

putting in the miles with the Coeur Velo ladies via team replay

Wrapping up a run focused week with a good variety of speed work, easy efforts, treadmill runs, runs outdoors, longer tempo runs, split run days, runs off the bike, hilly runs, flat runs, and loads of joy!

life highlights:

we got a new washer, so we no longer have to carry water to the basement to do laundry 🥳

gratitude highlights:

the fire in the sky was a perfect start to february

How was your month of February? What are you looking forward to in March?

january 2024

Published on February 6, 2024 by Kecia7 Comments

If January was a free trial offer for what 2024 has in store, I might not sign up for the rest of the year. With 3 visits to the vet, a cracked filling needing to be replaced, and windchill temps as low as -47F, January wasn’t all that. Thankfully February is showing signs of turning a corner with happy + healthy baby girls, much warmer temps (umm…hello flip flops + shorts in Iowa in February), and my tooth has been fixed!

Training highlights:

Diving into 2024 with focus and intentions for an epic 2024!

I climbed my way up Mt. Everest on my bike in January with a total elevation gain of 29,600 feet climbed in January. Thanks to the HardCoeur Coaching staff for putting on this challenge to give us something to focus on in the dark, cold days of January!

I got to run in a blizzard…with temps at -7F (windchill much colder), winds howling at 30 mph (with gusts up to almost 50 mph), and snow falling (not to mention the already 8+ inches on the ground), it was a tough, but peaceful run!

We went 19 days without seeing the sunshine, so when it FINALLY showed up, I ventured outside of my running miles to soak up as much of that glorious glow as I could!

Life highlights:

Jersey impaled her soft palate with a stick while playing to start the month and ended the month with pancreatitis, so there were LOTS of snuggles during the month as she recovered from all the vet visits.

So grateful for our new Coeur Sports stocking hats to keep us warm during those frigid January temps!

We got out snowshoeing only one day when the temps were back up above 0F. It was so sad to have 17 inches of fresh snow and not be able to get out on it because the windchill temps plummeted to -47F with a week+ of temps too cold to be out for very long.

I ventured into some new territory with my niece, Laylah. We went rock climbing and when you’re afraid of heights, letting go at the top and trusting the apparatus will prevent you from crashing into the ground takes a lot of courage!

Gratitude highlights:

I am grateful to be a SBR Sports, Inc. ambassador again in 2024! Use code kecia for 20% off!

Grateful for a warm house, warm gear to wear outside, a city bus system so we didn’t have to drive in the snow + frigid temps, lots of food to cook and eat at home, and snow days at the university (which is unheard of).

I’m so grateful that Jersey is back to her happy, healthy, high-spirited self!

How was your month of January?! What are you looking forward to in February?!

blank canvas

Published on January 19, 2024 by Kecia4 Comments

I mentioned to one of my Coeur Sports tri sisters a while back that I feel like I’m starting over in 2024 because I took 2023 off from Ironman racing + REALLY stepped back from running. Her perspective was exactly what I needed to hear…I have a blank canvas to draw on and I am so excited to intentionally draw + create a magical 2024!

I am currently creating my new groove…figuring out what works for my schedule + this perimenopausal body. Lifting heavy sh!t has become a must and something that will continue to be a weekly priority. My focus for 2024 is to be intentional…to do things on purpose + with purpose and be deliberate in where I am putting my time, energy, and focus.

I have big, bold goals for 2024 that I am SO FREAKING PUMPED about! ⚡️ I have created one podium finish at an Ironman branded race (Ironman 70.3 Muncie in 2022). The amount of pride and joy that came with standing on that podium is something I have been dreaming about experiencing again! I am going to give my best effort day in and day out as I intentionally work toward standing on more podiums in 2024!

My race schedule for 2024 is pretty much dialed in and it has lit a massive fire inside me! 🔥 The goal is to always give my best effort and push myself to stand on as many podiums as possible. This is what’s on tap for 2024:

St. Paddy’s Day 1/2 Marathon – March 16
Drake 1/2 Marathon – April 21
Women’s 1/2 Marathon – May 5
Tri Clear Lake Olympic distance – May 25
Pigman Olympic distance Triathlon – June 2
Ironman 70.3 Des Moines – June 9
Okoboji Triathlon – July 20
Ironman 70.3 Louisville – August 18
Ironman Chattanooga – September 29 (my A race with a podium finish as my big, bold goal for 2024 ⚡️)
Hillbilly Hike 1/2 Marathon – November 2

I am dialing in my mental focus by setting intentional thoughts to focus on each week while training. Some sessions it’s really easy to keep the mental focus on those intentional thoughts and other sessions it is a bit more challenging. I write these intentional thoughts on “love notes” to myself to see while training so that they are front and center.

Writing myself “love notes” to have by my while I workout.

2024 get ready, ’cause I’m comin’ for ya! ⚡️

December

Published on January 2, 2024 by Kecia3 Comments

I FINALLY found my stride and created a change for myself and my health just in time to kick off 2024. Creating a race calendar + signing up for races for the 2024 racing season really lit a fire in me! I had a month with lots of swim/bike/run/strength/family/fur baby/puzzling love! Oh…and I wrapped up the year with a head cold, but I listened to my body and gave it the rest, fluids, sleep, and fuel it needed to recover so that I am ready to kick off 2024 healthy!

Here are some of December’s highlights:

so grateful for such an amazing team to swim with

Sometimes the best laid plans are the ones that are spontaneous! 💙💛

This is the first run in a LONG time that I felt in a flow state. There has been more ebb than flow in 2023, but I’m working to change that. Cheers to bringing more flow into 2024! ⚡️

I almost didn’t do this workout today because I had negative thoughts about not being able to successfully complete it last week, BUT I pushed those thoughts aside, got out of my own way, got on the bike, stayed present, and took it one interval at a time. Boom! Success! Don’t count yourself out before you try! ⚡️

Girls night out…dinner + a holiday lights display. Oh…and notice we are all outside in sweatshirts in December in Iowa.

my 2023 year in review via photos

Published on December 31, 2023 by KeciaLeave a comment

January:

We had some visitors that I’m grateful to meet (the twin babies) and have dearly missed!

Thank you for all of the love you have given us. We love and miss you so much! Run and swim free baby girl! 💕

snowshoe adventures with this amazing crew ❄️💙

snowshoeing at dusk was a great way to end the work week ❄️💙🐶

snowshoe adventures in the falling ❄️ before the temps plummeted ❄️💙🐶

February:

I think I saw more kites in one place today at the kite festival on Clear Lake than the cumulative number of kites I’ve seen in my entire lifetime. 🪁 It was a beautiful winters day to venture out and experience something new! 💙

8 wonderful miles with my pack on a beautiful Sunday morning! 💙 #grateful

March:

Happy happy birthday baby girl! How is it that you are already 4 years old?! Love you so much! 🐶🥰

Helping the twins paint their bedrooms. Who knew using your foot to help put the outlet cover back on was a technique?! 😜🤣

“Explore your limits and get to know yourself. You’ll never feel more real than after the hardest workout, the longest run, the toughest week, or the best race of your life. Constantly make your own standards tougher.” ~Luke Watson
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Saturday was my first EVER swim meet. I swam the 200 yard, 500 yard, 50 backstroke (as part of the medley relay), 100 IM, and 1650 yard. I tried something new, explored my limits, overcame challenges, and had fun in the process. I’m so grateful for the community of people I’ve met through masters swimming, the automatic personal bests I achieved in my first swim meet, and the strength my body + mind endure daily to carry me on these exciting adventures. ⚡️💙

April:

When the Van de Graaaff generator gives you a hair raising experience!

It was hot enough for pool time! Temps were near 90F for most of the week, but don’t worry…Mother Nature blessed us with more snow on Sunday. 🤦🏻‍♀️

First outdoor ride of the season is in the books! It felt SO AMAZING to be riding on the open roads in the fresh air, sunshine, and spring temps with my fave by my side! 💙⚡️

First race of 2023 is in the books!
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⚡️ I achieved my goal of taking the first 10 miles easy and emptying the tank in the last 5K.
⚡️ I committed to giving my best effort.
⚡️ I am really proud of my pacing and fueling.
⚡️ I am making progress towards my goal.
⚡️ Despite the cold temps, it was a sunny day.
⚡️ I created joy while running and crossing the finish line of my 12th Drake 1/2 Marathon.

May:

Meet my new Argon girl…Moxie! We have been getting well acquainted the last few months indoors on Zwift and the Wahoo kickr, but it is FINALLY nice outdoors for us to really get a feel for each other. After spending quality time together yesterday and today on the open roads, I can tell we are going to be the best of friends! 💙
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Moxie = energy, pep, courage, determination ⚡️
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Thank you Kyles Bikes for building her for me and getting us moving and grooving together! 💚

Another 13.1 miles in the books today! So grateful for a strong body + mind, all the smiles for miles, and the amazing community of women who put the Des Moines Women’s Half Marathon together + raced at this incredible event! ⚡️💚💛

Dear Mother Nature, Thank you for finally blessing us with a beautiful weekend day!! 💙⚡️

Diving into outdoor swimming for the summer!

So proud of this one for taking home some medals at the Special Olympics over 3 days.

Summer is here and dock jumping is back!!

Thank you Adam at Kyle’s Bikes for dialing in the bike fit on Moxie Monday. I’m excited to see how these minor changes equate to huge gains! ⚡️💚💛

June:

Time on two wheels makes my heart happy! 💙⚡️

Love me some Coeur ladies and meeting them IRL! ⚡️

Running down the red carpet is always a privilege! ⚡️

Pro numbers for these tri sistas! #LFG ⚡️

Making my way home with the Capitol building in the background!

Being on the water makes my heart happy. Jersey loves it too!! 🐶🥰

Race directors having fun at the Ames Triathlon!

July:

Creating new memories by taking new adventures on Independence Day. ❤️🤍💙

Teaching the twins how to jump the car…just in case.

Having all of the nieces visit us was a fun time!

Sometimes you just have to flip things around…like when you wake up thinking it’s Monday. Take that”M” and flip it around so it becomes a “W” and just like that you are winning on a Wednesday! ⚡️

Spending time on the water together was SO FUN!

Bikes + watermelon + bluebird skies + open roads = pure joy ⚡️💙

These two make us laugh and always end up soaking wet when we are on the water.

August:

swimming the Point to Point 3.2 mile swim from Gull Point State Park to Pikes Point State Park

September:

making memories with Michelle in Sacramento

swimming at sunrise in Folsom with Michelle

Look at how crystal clear this water is!

feeling small next to the vastness of Lake Tahoe

Swimming in Lake Tahoe was one of my favorite swim experiences EVER!

Cheering on this girl as she has gotten stronger + faster throughout her XC season.

October:

Getting to ride outside with my fav is always a highlight!

So grateful to be on the Coeur Sports team for year 10!

This is the latest we have ever been on the water and it was awesome!

So grateful that my grant application was accepted by Newton Running providing Ironhawk Juniors with 25 free pairs of new shoes for those less fortunate girls getting into sport!

All the snuggles and squeezes at the same time!

November:

We did it!! Isabella’s first 1/2 marathon!! SO PROUD OF HER!!

we were the race directors for a local turkey trot (which we both did with illness). thanks Tim for doing the local television live shot since I sounded like Darth Vader.

getting acupuncture to try to help my foot…thankfully it is helping perimenopause symptoms 🥰

December:

V is for victory!
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30x100s at an average pace I didn’t know was in me. Keep showing up and consistently give yourself the chance to be better than you were yesterday.

❤️ miles with my girl
🧡 fresh air
💛 pounding the pavement
💚 seeing my girl so full of joy
💙 running with my thoughts
💜 feeling proud of my effort

the best of 2023

Published on December 29, 2023 by Kecia2 Comments

I love looking back and thinking about all of the amazing things that I’ve accomplished and all of the challenges I’ve overcome! I’ve reflected for the last 10 years and now it’s time to reflect on 2023! You can look back at my previous posts if you’d like: the best of 2013, the best of 2014, the best of 2015, the best of 2016, the best of 2017, the best of 2018, the best of 2019, the best of 2020, the best of 2021, and the best of 2022. 2023 was full of a lot of darkness, but I am not going to focus on that. Instead, I am going to reminisce my favs from 2023.

Best adventure?

In September I visited family + friends and got to experience Lake Tahoe for the first time. What an absolutely amazing place! It is a place I will definitely go back to and one that now holds a special place in my heart!

Best swim?

OMG…did I mention I got to spend Labor Day weekend with my sister and her family in Lake Tahoe?!?! As a result, I got to swim in Lake Tahoe (more than once) and it was seriously the most amazing swim(s) EVER! The water was so crystal clear (you could see FOREVER) and was so refreshing (hint…cold). If we had the time, I would have swam here for hours at a time without getting bored!

Best bike?

Biking from Mom and Dad’s in Okoboji up into Minnesota with my fav. The roads up in Minnesota are so peaceful with little traffic and smooth surfaces. It is definitely one of my most favorite routes!

Best run?

Getting to run with Isabella for her first ever 1/2 marathon! There were highs and there were lows, but the grit and determination she displayed was so inspirational! We are all already signed up for next year!

Best finish line?

I decided spur of the moment (literally 3 days before race day) to race the Okoboji Triathlon. I love racing at home-home, but getting to cross the finish line with family and friends surrounding you is the BEST! Oh…and then finding out you won your age group and were in the top 5 overall female finishers was icing on the cake!

Best race-cation?

Sadly we didn’t travel far this year for races, but we did take a week off work and spent it at home-home with Mom and Dad to relax, swim, bike, play on the water, and enjoy life.

Best moment out of my comfort zone?

This was the first time ever racing two 70.3 races one week apart. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me in new and different ways than ever before! I raced Ironman 70.3 Des Moines on Sunday, June 11 and then followed it up with Milkman 70.3 on Sunday, June 18. You can read more about the double challenge here.

Best enCOEURaging moment?

The Ames Triathlon was so fun!! It is always great to see people achieve their goals and do things they once thought were impossible. The absolute best part of my day was creating an opportunity for first time athletes to complete their first triathlon ever. If you want to experience the Ames Triathlon for yourself, come to Ames in June 2024! You won’t be disappointed!

Best new gear?

Coeur Sports recently started producing the Merino Wool Long Sleeved Run Top which has become a clear fav for fall/winter/spring running. This shirt is super soft, light weight, warm, and has amazing moisture wicking capabilities. If you live in a cooler climate, this is a MUST HAVE!

Best help with perimenopause?

Acupuncture…this year has been rough with the symptoms of perimenopause, but I was able to finally get some relief with acupuncture. I have since been sleeping better, experiencing fewer hot flashes, and overall feeling more and more like “myself.”

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?

challenging, dark, ebb, lost…2023 was a rough year, but even in the darkest of times, there were times of light that shone through and that is something to be grateful for.

Tell me about your 2023 year!! What are your “bests” from 2023?!

4 year anniversary

Published on December 28, 2023 by Kecia4 Comments

They say “never quit” but I disagree; there are some things definitely worth quitting! Alcohol is one of the best things I have EVER quit.

Four years ago I had my last alcoholic drink. On December 24, 2019 I took my last sip and I’m SOOOO grateful that I made the decision to quit this bad habit. I am in a much happier, healthier, and wholesome place without it. There are many things I don’t miss about drinking alcohol:

I don’t miss feeling out of control when alcohol flows through my veins.
I don’t miss waking up the next day with low energy, feeling slow, low, and/or hungover.
I don’t miss the headaches, restless sleep, and feeling unmotivated.
I don’t miss the extra calories and the lack of hydration.

I feel SOOOOO much better physically, mentally, and emotionally without the addition of alcohol in my life! Deciding to stop drinking alcohol has honestly been one of the best decisions I’ve made and one that I am SO DAMN PROUD of.

Cheers to many, many more alcohol free days in the future as I continue to live my best life!

November

Published on December 6, 2023 by Kecia2 Comments

November started off great! We finished a 1/2 marathon with our niece (her first ever 1/2 marathon ⚡️) and had some great workouts before getting sick the week before Thanksgiving. I went to urgent care to be told that it was “just a head cold” that needed time to vacate the premises. After 2 weeks off from training, I finally felt good and healthy by the end of the month. Here are some of November’s highlights:

beautiful fall running with my girls before getting sick 🐶🥰

lots of puzzling…2000 pieces are our faves 🥰

October

Published on November 7, 2023 by KeciaLeave a comment

October was a pretty mild month here in central Iowa. We didn’t have to run the a/c or heat for the majority of the month…thank you Mother Nature! Because of the beautiful weather, we were lucky enough to get outside multiple times for outdoor adventures. Here are some of October’s highlights: