my 2021 year in review via photos

January:

Snuggles with our baby girl!

YASSS!! First African American Woman Vice President!!

Fire in the sky!

Snowshoeing at sunset fuels my soul!

It’s snow joke that our family LOVES snow therapy!

This is the life!

Our version of The Beatles cover photo of Abbey Road.

February:

The sky was on fire as the sun was setting!

Friday happy hour swims where we play games are the best way to celebrate the end of another work week! 💙💛

After being cooped up for a week because of the bitterly cold temps, I’m grateful it finally warmed up enough to get some fresh air (some even with friends) today!

It’s all about the attitude! Today I had an #attitudeofgratitude for the *heatwave*, fresh air, sunshine, playtime, and sMILES together!

We HAD to get out and play in the snow covered woods today. It was such a GORGEOUS winter’s day! Fresh air + sunshine + family + play + snow = #happyheart

I am stoked to continue to represent Coeur Sports in 2021 by being part of the inaugural Alumni team! Need some questions answered?! I’m your girl! Need some cheers or encouragement?! I’m your girl! Need some support?! I’m your girl! Need some motivation or inspiration?! I’m your girl! Need some race day high fives or hugs?! I’m your girl! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 Let’s empower and lift each other!

DECIDE! Decide to be EXCITED! Decide to be EXCITED to show up! Decide to be EXCITED to own your power! Decide to be EXCITED to be your best! Decide to be EXCITED to push your limits! Decide to be EXCITED to chase your dreams! • I struggled most of the day mentally with my bike workout after work. I was coming up with every excuse in the book, but they were all just fuel for the fear monger holding my brain captive. I was fearful that I wouldn’t successfully complete the workout because my legs (and let’s be honest my brain also) were tired from the last few days of challenging workouts. I DECIDED to change the energy from fear to excitement. Who cares if I don’t successfully complete this workout?! I’m EXCITED that I get to show up for myself! I’m EXCITED that I get to push my limits! I’m EXCITED that I get to chase my dreams! You have the power to show up living in fear or full of EXCITEMENT. Which are you choosing?! 💙💛

Active recovery is a key to success!

March:

Getting snuggles while reading makes my heart SO happy!

Grateful for: *shorts + tank top weather for running (55F) *sunshine + soaking up vitamin D *fresh air *endorphins *longest run in 2021 *having my girls to run with (9.6 miles with Jersey and 3.5 miles with Basil) *a strong body + mind *GETTING to doing what I LOVE! 💙💛

Jersey turned 2 on March 5! We are SO grateful to have her as a part of our family!

Sunshine + fresh air + endorphins + family time + warm temps in March in Iowa = #happyheart 💙💛

Celebrating another trip around the sun during a global pandemic means sushi to go!

Be flexible in the process, but committed to your goals. 💙💛

I’ve been a fish out of water for over a week due to a strained shoulder, but thankfully my shoulder is back to feeling 100% and it felt amazing to be back in my happy place!

Pinch me! I got to race IN REAL LIFE Sunday! And cross an actual finish line! 💙💛 Photo Credit: Iron Hippie

Two peas in a pod! Love these two baby girls so much!

This is how we recover…sleep + Normatec Recovery boots = WIN!!

April:

DECIDE…Decide to be brave enough to believe in you, your abilities, your goals, your dreams! Own that belief and wear it proudly! If an oyster can turn sand into pearls you can turn negativity into optimism, skepticism into confidence, doubt into belief. Decide to let the magic happen by being brave enough to change your mindset to believe in yourself, commit to your goals, and focus on your dreams.

It was a GORGEOUS day to cover 50+ miles outside on two wheels! 💙💛 • When you get ready to head out on two wheels and your speed, cadence, and power sensors don’t work (after trying two new batteries in each), do you ride without metrics or fret about the missing metrics and scrap the ride to problem solve why they aren’t working?! I chose to ride without metrics and worry about problem solving tomorrow. And. It. Was. AMAZING! 🥳 #itcouldhappenonraceday

Grateful to get to do yoga outside on such a beautiful day! Thanks to Jersey for “helping” me!

Recovering in my Normatec Recovery boots and getting all of the snuggles is pure joy!

Squeee!! I GOT to cross a start line and a finish line of an IRL race!!

Spring is here!

#happyheart

When you refuse to believe anything can stop you from achieving your dreams, you give your dreams wings. Spread your wings and soar! 💙💛🦋

Friday was a perfect 10 to ride all the miles! We don’t get many days like this, so we HAD to take advantage of it and get out on the open roads. 87 miles later… #happyheart 💙💛

May:

I got to see and hug my nieces after my race! Thank you science! #getyourfauciouchie

 

Love these two! I sure have missed them! #getyourfauciouchie

 

This was a spicy hot finish line, but I’m so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to cross it! Photo Credit: The Iron Hippie

 

Recovery days with time on the water fill my heart and soul with joy! 💙💛

 

Thank you Jersey and Normatec Recovery for the snuggles and squeezes. 💙💛

 

The 🔥 in the sky this morning was 😍! I definitely prefer sunrises over sunsets…Jersey is learning to love them too!

 

SURPRISE! There was just enough time before the storms came to roll down the open roads on two wheels and fill the happiness tank! 💙💛⚡️

 

Today was my longest swim since February 2020. The goal for the main set was to swim at CSS (critical swim speed) for all 4200 yards. What actually happened…I swam 2 sec/100 yards FASTER than my CSS for all 4200 yards. 🥳 #LFG ⚡️

 

Swimming…for now.

 

Getting to race again and squeeze into the Roka wetsuit…oh how I’ve missed doing the neoprene shimmy!

 

1st place AG with a bike split PR + run split PR for the Oly distance! #LFG ⚡️

 

Thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

June:

This little girl loves the water as much as I do!

 

SO MUCH JOY for racing again and pushing my limits!

 

I raced with a focus on fun + gratitude at the Pigman Olympic Distance Triathlon on Sunday and as a result I got to kiss a pig (my 2nd place AG award was a piggy bank).

 

The heat was cranked up this afternoon, so @coeursports fire in the sky was a fitting choice to help acclimate to this heat! 🔥

 

Gratitude overload for the peace the water brings me!

 

Kyle with Kyle’s bikes gave Mojo his pre-race blessing!

 

Meeting up with friends before Ironman 70.3 Des Moines was SO fun!

 

I GOT the privilege of racing and stepping onto that red carpet for the first time in 23 months!

 

Pure joy!

 

Who’s ready to race?! We are ready to get this party started! Photo credit: Dave Mable

July:

Saturday’s 71.3 miles on the open roads!

 

Sunday’s 71.3 miles on the open roads!

 

“I set goals on purpose and with purpose.” ⚡️🔥

 

WUT?! I got a roll down slot to Ironman 70.3 World Championships! #soexcited

 

Seize the opportunity! • So grateful for nearly 3 peaceful miles of #swimlove at home home in Okoboji.

 

Some family miles by the lake in Okoboji before heading back home. 💙💛

 

Thank you Vanessa for these beauties!

 

My cup runneth over! So many hugs from my Coeur Sports sisters on race weekend!

 

How can one grieve something they never had?! I grieved the race I trained for. Grieved the anticipation of the joy I wanted to feel crossing that finish line knowing I put it all out there. Grieved the anticipation of what could have been a different outcome. • It’s ok to take time to feel the emotions. How you feel is yours and no one has the right to tell you how to feel, what to feel, or how long to feel it. “Grief is real because loss is real. Grief is the healing process that ultimately brings us comfort in our pain.” ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross • What better way to heal from the pain of this loss than to hop back on the saddle and prepare for Ironman 70.3 World Championships! ⚡️ #LFG

 

Whew! Glad that’s over! Photo credit: FinisherPix

 

Early morning paddle before work is a great way to start the day!

August:

So grateful I got to spend some time with my Coeur Sports sister, Courtney, while she and her husband were visiting from DC!

 

GETTING to break the tape as I take 1st overall female! ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Getting to squeeze and race with my Coeur Sports sistas!

 

So much heart and courage running into that 2nd place overall female finish at Bluff Creek Triathlon! Photo credit: Dave Mable

 

These are my peeps! Love them all so much!

 

Rough waters make for stronger merpeople! 5K swim Sunday morning in choppy waters. ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Turn your fears into new adventures and uncertainty into curiosity. Be open to creating the story of your goals and dreams. ⚡️ • Change can be scary, but it can also be exciting. Feel all the feelings and then direct your thoughts towards the feelings that serve you! ⚡️

 

So excited to have these two live a few miles away from us!

September:

Happy belated birthday to one of our favorite people! So glad we got to celebrate you, Marjorie! Oh…and thanks for making your own cake. 🤪

 

Grateful that I can find a way to knockout a 16 mile run amongst the chaos. Thanks to the Iron Hippie for his support in all of this!

 

Teaching these two how to ride the city bus!

 

Dig in and go for it today because you have no idea what tomorrow will bring you! ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #LFG

 

“As you have bigger goals, you have to be willing to expand on your belief for the next future version. Be clear about who you are, what you want to be, who the future you is. How does that future person act, think, feel?! PRACTICE that over and over and over!” ~ Vanessa Faye Foerster • Grateful for more miles to PRACTICE how my future self acts, thinks, and feels on race day! ⚡️⚡️⚡️#LFG #fun #gratitude #joy

 

Challenge yourself! The more fires you experience, the more fireproof you become! 🔥

 

So many shenanigans with my fav on the IMWI bike course.

 

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ~George Bernard Shaw • Creating calm, peace, gratitude, and joy along Lake Mendota this morning with my fav before the excitement and whirlwind of volunteering/spectating at IMWI.

 

Meeting up with my Coeur Sports sisters!

 

Today is bitter sweet as it marks the end of a chapter. It is time to pass the Captain badge off to the next amazing Women’s Change Tent Captain. 🐮 ❤️

 

Look at that! My name is on the Ironman 70.3 World Championships banner!

 

Beet, kale, feta pizza from Farmstead…YES PLEASE!

 

So grateful to be in the land of endurance!

 

Thanks Dad for coming out to St. George support me!

 

Just a few of my Coeur Sports sisters who arrived early.

 

Ironman 70.3 World stage with some of the best athletes in the world. This race challenged me in SO many ways forcing me to “rise to it!” I am beginning to learn that I am strongest when given the most challenging circumstances…hello IMLou 2018 AND I preform my best when I remove internal pressure + expectations while focusing on the present moment. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! I am beyond grateful that my body + mind showed up to play at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships! 📸 Finisher Pix

 

Ironman 70.3 World Championship gave us a race to remember! Who’s ready to do it again?! 🤪 #medalmonday

 

Hiking over 8 miles in Zion National Park with my fav the day after racing.

 

Swimming at Glenwood Springs, Colorado in the hot springs pool was the perfect break in our travels. 1200 yards in 1,078,000 gallons of 91F water at 5761 feet elevation.

October:

So grateful to get to support our niece, Isabella, at her cross country meet.

 

So grateful to get to support our niece, Laylah, at her volleyball game.

 

Celebrating because my 8 mile pm run averaged 34 seconds per mile faster than my 7 mile am run. #LFG

 

Living my best life! • The end 💙💛

 

Not all workouts go according to plan. Sometimes the legs stop turning over and no amount of mental “pushing” can change it…so sleep + snuggles while still sweaty will make the legs stronger for tomorrow. 💙💛

 

I GET to challenge myself and push my limits as I enter into peak training! Enjoying the process and excited to see what I can do on race day! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Doing my civic duty by voting for city council + school board at a satellite site.

 

I have been at a loss for words on how to accurately describe how grateful I am to represent Coeur Sports for year 8 in 2022. This is more than a team. It’s a family! 🥰

 

#SundayFunday included a farm ninja obstacle course, zip lines, hay rides, a corn maze, and quality time with some of my favorite peeps! 💙💛

 

100 miles…take 2 • Kecia = 1, Mother Nature = 0 • Decide…I decided 100+ miles on the bike (+ 1 hour run off the bike) was going to be MUCH better today! I was determined to keep a positive attitude, be gritty, and to persevere! I wasn’t going to let Mother Nature win. She tried to push me around a bit (hello wind), but I won this round! • I GET to do this! So much gratitude for the strength of my body + mind, the support from my #1, my safety on the open roads, the beautiful fall day, and the gorgeous fall foliage. • #IronmanArizona is 4 weeks from tomorrow! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

S O M U C H J O Y!!! 💛 • In the last 6 days I’ve covered 276 miles of swim/bike/run love with multiple workouts that have challenged me in ways I’ve never been challenged before. Feeling strong and confident in those final miles of this morning’s 20 mile run on exhausted legs was such an amazingly awesome feeling! I’m honestly at a loss for words to accurately describe the joy I felt. I’ve been cultivating joy in the process and visualizing myself with that same joy at #IronmanArizona in 25 days! This girl is so excited to test her mental and physical endurance + fitness on race day! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

110+ miles is a long time to be in your own head. Good thing I know the words to a lot of songs or make up my own words and can sing at the top of my lungs because Mother Nature doesn’t care what I sound like! 🤣🤪 • Seriously though…looking forward to feeling as good (or better) on race day as I did today for my last big brick workout. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ • #IronmanArizona is 22 days away! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Get in my belly! This was the perfect way to cap off my last big brick workout!

November:

Turn up the volume! It was race day! ⚡️⚡️⚡️ • This was my 4th time running the @hillbillyhike 1/2 marathon and I beat my previous course PR by almost 7 minutes! Say WUT?! Racing with joy + gratitude is definitely the way to race! • #IronmanArizona is in 15 days! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

You have very little control over where a smooth golf ball travels. Dimpled and dented golf balls travel farther and straighter than smooth golf balls. The dimples and dents are more aerodynamic, creating less drag and more lift. • Challenges give us dimples and dents, allowing us to travel farther and straighter in future storms. So when given the opportunity to be smooth or dimpled and dented, always choose the dimples and dents! • It was windy AF today, but I couldn’t resist riding outside in shorts and a short sleeved jersey when the temps were in the mid 60s in November in Iowa. The challenge the wind provided was just what I needed to add more dimples and dents so I can travel better on race day! #thisismykindofchallenge • 14 days to #IronmanArizona #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Thank you Kyle, with Kyle’s Bikes, for blessing Mojo before the big dance!

 

Determination, adaptability, commitment, resilience, fortitude, perseverance, self belief… • This is what it took to get through my last big swim before race day. About half way through, the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building. I stood outside in my wet swimsuit, towel, swim cap, flip flops, and a sweatshirt in 45F temps with 40 mph winds waiting to jump back in the pool to finish my workout. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long! • Oh…and the workout…let’s just say I’m ready for #IronmanArizona in 10 days! #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Oh yeah! Soaking up all the recovery and snuggles before we leave for Arizona. 🐶🥰

 

Visiting the National Petrified Forest was so cool!

 

This sunrise run in Holbrook, Arizona at ~5000 feet was STUNNING!

 

Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona!

 

Getting to swim at ~7000 feet in Flagstaff, Arizona was AMAZING!

 

We arrived in Tempe, Arizona

 

R E A D Y to create an experience I’ve never had on Sunday! • 3 days to #IronmanArizona #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

Coeur Sports meet up! Meeting new friends is always fun!

 

This AMAZING human has always been a light that shines bright! I’m so blessed and grateful that she made time in her busy day to be my personal tour guide in Tempe Friday morning!

 

I got one of the absolute BEST surprises today! My dear friend Erika Olson Myers flew down to surprise me and support me at #IronmanArizona tomorrow. I’m so blessed and grateful to have the best people in my life! Thank you to Tim Fencl for helping coordinate this wonderful surprise! 🥰 • 1 day to #IronmanArizona #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

 

I was R E A D Y! I was R E A D Y to toe the start line. I was R E A D Y to challenge myself. I was R E A D Y to put it all together and create a performance I had never had before. And that is E X A C T L Y what I did! I created an experience I’ve never had and it was A M A Z I N G! I had an overall PR of 52 minutes, finishing in 12:44:56. #LFG ⚡️⚡️⚡️ • I’m grateful for the privilege to race, for the privilege to challenge myself in new ways, for the privilege to run down another red carpet, and for the privilege to cross another finish line! ⚡️ 📸 credit: Finisher Pix

 

Recovery is on point with cribbage and Normatec recovery boots.

 

“All aboard” in Santa Fe, NM

 

Hiking in Red Rocks, CO with family on Thanksgiving morning!

 

Red Rocks with my #1 + snow = 😍

 

Thanksgiving meal in CO with family.

 

Puzzling with family on Thanksgiving.

 

The rising sun was so beautiful as we departed Colorado.

 

Coming home to all the snuggles. 😍

 

I’m boosted! #getvaccinated (not up for debate…I’ll delete your comments)

 

My snuggle bug!

December:

Going to a swim meet to support our niece…love having them live close to us!

Cheering on Laylah at a 7th grade basketball game (warm up pic) was a highlight!

2 weeks can drag on forever or go by in the blink of an eye.
•
2 weeks ago today I crossed the #IronmanArizona finish line. In the last 13 days I have done zero swimming, zero biking, and zero running. While I know it was good for me to take a break from what I love to allow for proper recovery, the last two weeks have felt like an eternity.

So grateful to have my favorites join me on my first run since #IronmanArizona!

Getting to spend time with Isabella running and playing makes my heart happy!

The girls found and caught a field mouse on our adventure and they were so happy about it! 💙💛

Not nearly enough snow fell here for our liking, but we got out and played in it before it’s all gone!

Thank you to Michelle K for my Secret Santa gift! LOVE it all!

Staying safe during a tornado warning and comforting all the girls.

So grateful to have our niece join us to meet Tim’s parents for lunch on Saturday.

Even when the run feels tough, it’s always fun to watch the joy these two have while running! #basillovesrunning #jerserylovesrunning

Fri-yay happy hour roll the dice swim was a great way to end the week and ease back into training after nearly 4 weeks off post #IronmanArizona ⚡️

Running into vacation with my favs! 💙💛

It is SO important to not only do the work, but also PLAY! Oh…and have you ever tried to coordinate a handstand with 5 people before?! That was work in its own way! 🤣

Xmas Day lunch on the road in Kansas.

The family visiting the Inner Space Cavern in Austin, Texas.

My fav and I in the Inner Space Cavern in Austin, Texas.

We got to swim outside…in December, which is something we are definitely NOT use to. Oh…we are also not use to swimming in a pool that is 33 1/3 yards long, so our 3000 yard swim quickly turned into 4000 yards. We thought we were swimming in a 25 yard pool despite the much slower paces than normal. 🤪

Hope…hope for a brighter tomorrow. Hope for acceptance of differences. Hope for true equality. Hope for unity. Hope for change.
•
We can hope all we want, but change comes with action. Let’s all have courage, be kind, and decide to create the change we want to see in the world. We have the power to create a brighter, bolder, better future. #bringon2022

We had a blast escaping from 4th grade! #escaperoom

So grateful I got to send 2021 out with family! This was the first time we’ve all been together since 2018. ❤️

So blessed to have these amazing ladies in our lives! ❤️

Love this goofy crew so much! ❤️

Getting snuggles with two of our little ladies to bring in the New Year! ❤️

I’m so damn proud of what I created in 2021 and looking forward to creating more awesomeness in 2022! ⚡️