snowshoeing – PushMyLimits

January:

Getting some #runlove with my favorite four-legged baby girl!

February:

Getting my Coeur Sports Ambassador gear :) — Getting my Coeur Sports Ambassador gear 🙂

Swim clinic...love to learn — Swim clinic…love to learn

March:

April:

Teaching women how to do bike maintenance

May:

Outdoor training :) — Outdoor training 🙂

Oops...learning lessons — Oops…learning lessons

Visiting the Aerospace Engineering Department at Iowa State University

Changing a flat while the Iron Hippie watches...I'm sure many people who passed us had some thoughts about his "supervision" duties ;) — Changing a flat while the Iron Hippie watches…I’m sure many people who passed us had some thoughts about his “supervision” duties 😉

Getting my Undress in the mail and loving it!!

June:

Finishing the Legend 100 hand-in-hand with the Iron Hippie. Photo courtesy of Legend Endurance

Who's ready to race?!?!?! — Who’s ready to race?!?!?!

Dad (blue) and Tom (gray) figuring out how to get into their kayaks to escort me on an open water swim

We are ready to ride the Tour de Cure Cedar Rapids!!

July:

30 miles into our 115 mile bike ride. Last big ride before Ironman Boulder

Meeting my blog friend, Kelli, and her family :) — Meeting my blog friend, Kelli, and her family 🙂

The view off of the deck overlooking the lake in Red Feather Lakes, CO.

The morning sunrise on the mountains at Red Feather Lakes, CO.

Taking a boat ride in Red Feather Lakes, CO

Sunset with a double rainbow in the background (this photo does not do the real beauty justice) in Red Feather Lakes, CO

The view of Longs Peak from our patio in Estes Park, CO.

Happy Anniversary to the Iron Hippie...what a great way to celebrate 5 years in Grand Lakes, CO ;) — Happy Anniversary to the Iron Hippie…what a great way to celebrate 5 years in Grand Lakes, CO 😉

We made it to Adam's Falls...with Allen and the Iron Hippie. — We made it to Adam’s Falls…with Allen and the Iron Hippie.

We all survived our first run at altitude :) — We all survived our first run at altitude 🙂

Three athletes ready to ride in Boulder, CO!

The view from the path around Lake Estes, CO.

Ward, Colorado was our turn around point for the Peak to Peak Highway ride.

People lining the shore getting ready for the BAM OWS in Boulder, CO.

BAM OWS in Boulder, CO complete...I felt GREAT!! — BAM OWS in Boulder, CO complete…I felt GREAT!!

Stand-up paddle boarding in Lake Estes, CO :) — Stand-up paddle boarding in Lake Estes, CO 🙂

Taking a break from the riding and doing a little core work in Ward!!

Riding the Peak to Peak Highway in Colorado — #bikelove on the Peak to Peak Highway in Colorado

We found a "sign" of back home in downtown Denver!! — We found a “sign” of back home in downtown Denver!!

Loch Lake, CO...Loving the hike! — Loch Lake, CO…Loving the hike!

Having a little fun throwing snowballs in July on our way up to Loch Vale.

"Riding" tandem in Estes Park, CO — “Riding” tandem in Estes Park, CO

Ironman Boulder...here I come! — Ironman Boulder…here I come!

Ready to race IMBoulder :) — Ready to race IMBoulder 🙂

I'm so lucky to have my family at IMBoulder to cheer me on! — I’m so lucky to have my family at IMBoulder to cheer me on!

August:

Mojo is all racked and getting a good night's rest at her temporary home so we can have fun at IMBoulder!! — Mojo is all racked and getting a good night’s rest at her temporary home so we can have fun at IMBoulder!!

My aunt, cousins and Dad came out to the Rez for the IMBoulder swim

Whizzing through Hygiene on the first loop...Serious #bikelove on this course!! — Whizzing through Hygiene on the first loop…Serious #bikelove on this course!!

Mom and the twins are cheering me on to the run!

This smile sums up my race day experience!!

Erin...one of my Coeur Sports teammates and my angel on race day!! — Erin…one of my Coeur Sports teammates and my angel on race day!!

My cheer squad...Love them all!! — My cheer squad…Love them all!!

Dad and Sam cheering me on down the finish shoot...yes, that blur is me :) — Dad and Sam cheering me on down the finish shoot…yes, that blur is me 🙂

Coming into the finish shoot all smiles...it was a daylight finish, but these photos don't represent that. — Coming into the finish shoot all smiles…it was a daylight finish, but these photos don’t represent that.

Visiting my sister and nieces in California

September:

Team Kecia crossed the finish line at the Des Moines Triathlon...job complete. — Team Kecia crossed the finish line at the Des Moines Triathlon…job complete.

Holy Crap! I think this is a sign that I left it all out on the bike course.

Volunteering at Ironman Wisconsin...Race morning in front of the Capitol. — Volunteering at Ironman Wisconsin…Race morning in front of the Capitol.

Ironman Wisconsin Race morning...who is ready to swim?!?!?! — Ironman Wisconsin Race morning…who is ready to swim?!?!?!

The women volunteers in T1 at Ironman Wisconsin

Getting my Sound Probiotics Ambassador gear

Basil walking toward the Supermoon on a rural gravel road.

October:

300+ 8th grade students ready for the AMS Spirit Run!

Fall #bikelove is the best :) — Fall #bikelove is the best 🙂

Date night with the Iron Hippie as we work on our strength training

Finding some motivation with my #IMWI finisher medal and race bib on the wall next to me as I ride

Lots of #heartandcourage as I heal up from bursitis of the my left knee

Nailing my intervals on the trainer! #bikelove

Dry needling to assist my healing...thanks to Dr. Chris at Team Chiropractic — Dry needling to assist my healing…thanks to Dr. Chris at Team Chiropractic

Getting our #solesista tattoos :) — Getting our #solesista tattoos 🙂

This ink will be my constant reminder while training and racing to #believe in myself, my abilities and my training!!

November:

I found out that I made the Coeur Sports 2016 Ambassador Team...Such a badass group of women that I'm overjoyed to be a part of!! — I found out that I made the Coeur Sports 2016 Ambassador Team…Such a badass group of women that I’m overjoyed to be a part of!!

My fitness article on "Giving thanks in an active lifestyle" was a big hit this month ;) — My fitness article on “Giving thanks in an active lifestyle” was a big hit this month in our local magazine 😉

Girl's night out with some running friends...so much fun :) — Girl’s night out with some running friends…so much fun 🙂

Outdoor #bikelove lasted through November 14 this year!!

Pleasantly surprised with a Passion Planner from one of my colleagues.

Winter greeted us with a LOT of snow (7.6 inches) for the first snow fall of the season.

Riding a motorized animal because I can :) — Riding a motorized animal just because I can 🙂

Spending an afternoon with Mom and Grandma.

December:

"Believe, Endure, Achieve" will be my mantra for 2016. It will remind me to #believe in all that I am and to #endure and overcome challenges throughout my journey so I can #achieve big dreams! #dreambig #meaningfulmantras — Thank you to Simone for my wonderful bracelet!! “Believe, Endure, Achieve” will be my mantra for 2016. It will remind me to #believe in all that I am and to #endure and overcome challenges throughout my journey so I can #achieve big dreams! #dreambig #meaningfulmantras

Looking back at 2015 to move forward in 2016 #goalsetting

Yahoo!! So pumped for my new Roka Sports wetsuit!!

Taking part in Rising Tide Triathlon Coaching's #rttc10dayroutine Challenge and developing a routine that has helped me #believe in myself deep underneath the surface at the very core of my being. 1. Start my "Believe" playlist...time to get down and jam! 2. Take a couple of swigs of Karma Kombucha Orange Ginger..."I #believe I can fly" 3. Listen to my pep talk (previously recorded) while I pull on my workout gear..."Don't stop believing" 4. Grab my lucky charm from Tonja and head out the door..."In a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman!" 5. Stand on the front step in power pose for 30 seconds because...I am Wonder Woman! — Taking part in Rising Tide Triathlon Coaching’s #rttc10dayroutine Challenge and developing a routine that has helped me #believe in myself deep underneath the surface at the very core of my being.
1. Start my “Believe” playlist…time to get down and jam!
2. Take a couple of swigs of Karma Kombucha Orange Ginger…”I #believe I can fly”
3. Listen to my pep talk (previously recorded) while I pull on my workout gear…”Don’t stop believing”
4. Grab my lucky charm from Tonja and head out the door…”In a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman!”
5. Stand on the front step in power pose for 30 seconds because…I am Wonder Woman!

Finally reconnecting with my mat after 9 months off. — Finally reconnecting with my mat after 9 months off…#yogalove

Running on a beautiful cold morning. — Running on a beautiful cold morning with 2 of my faves!

Grandma Annie continues to show up at Christmas and surprise us all with her awesomeness...Our hideous pajama pants were a family favorite this year! — Grandma Annie continues to show up at Christmas and surprise us all with her awesomeness…Our hideous pajama pants were a family favorite this year!

Basil loves playing in the snow!! #happyheart

Girls night out!! Lots of laughs!! :) — Girls night out!! Lots of laughs!! 🙂

My new Cobb Cycling V-Flow saddle :) — My new Cobb Cycling V-Flow saddle 🙂

Happy New Year!! Cheers to an awesome 2016!!

xoxo

Thanksgiving is a time for family, traditions, indulgences and for some people, extra pounds. 😦

The average Thanksgiving meal rings in at a whopping 4500 calories. That is more than 2 days worth of calories for me in ONE meal. Lucky for me, my waist and my clothes, I am not a big fan of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Turkey is boring, white potatoes aren’t really my thing, I can live without gravy, green bean casserole should just be fresh green beans (nothing from the can), stuffing is ok…although loaded with unnecessary calories, candied yams should not be candied at all, cranberry sauce should just be homemade dried cranberries without all of the extra sugar, pumpkin pie should just be steamed pumpkin…I’m not a fan of the crust anyway…basically, there’s NOT a single thing about the Thanksgiving meal that I truly LOVE. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE food, but just not the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I would rather spend these calories on sushi…YUMMY!!

We can spend quality time with family on Thanksgiving doing a variety of other things that are not consuming mass quantities of food loaded in fat and unnecessary calories. Here are just a few things I would rather do than sit around a buffet table all day long and gorge myself:

Go for a walk
Play a game of flag football
Play a game of Twister
Play a board game
Put together a puzzle
Play cards together
Volunteer at the local community kitchen serving a meal to those who don’t have any place else to go for the Holiday
Sledding with my nieces (if there is snow on the ground)
Making homemade Christmas ornaments
Go snowshoeing with the Iron Hippie and the dogs (if there is enough snow on the ground)