Yesterday I volunteered to help at the Ironman Muncie 70.3 race. While I enjoy the excitement of racing, it is equally as enjoyable to work on the other side every now and again! I find giving back to this sport that I love really gives me back so much more in the way of inspiration and confirmation of what a great group of people comprises the triathlon community.
My trip down started on Friday evening with a pre-race dinner with athlete, Amanda, who was racing the next day. She was going to race with a friend but unfortunately her friend got injured in another race so she was solo. We had met through the Swim Bike Fuel group created by Meredith Atwood and Meredith Vieceli. It was a great time and I loved making a new friend and having another person to cheer for at the race.

Race morning was early just like I was racing. I was working in transition which is basically base camp for the athletes during the race. I had to be there at 4:45 before the athletes started to arrive at 5:00. My jobs shifted throughout the day from body marking to cleaning trash up out of the aisles, to guarding areas, to holding bikes for athletes coming in from the course while they went potty, to placing items at transition spots, to removing stickers from racks & breaking down transition bike racks. I’m sure I’m leaving something out but it was a full day that ended for me close to 5:00PM. I made a fabulous new friend, Christy, who I worked with and hung out with the whole day! We had a great time together and she is such a fantastic lady! 

It was also exciting to be cheering on my friends that were racing Muncie. I really had a great view being in transition so I got to see most everyone as they headed out on each leg. My friends, Kirsten & Kim, were both doing their first 70.3 so super exciting!! 

Kirsten especially has been such a great friend and mentor to me in this sport. I was so happy to be there to see her achieve this goal!!!! She is all kinds of awesome & AMAZEBALLS!!!! Her husband Dave was also racing but I never saw him till the end of the race…he is that quick & sly to get past me! LOL! And I saw Brett Ward heading out on the bike looking strong! But the flip side is meeting new people and being their cheerleader for the day. I had a blast being of support then hearing about people that had great race days and some even PR’ed! I took a picture of a couple who both did the race together for their first time. And most memorable to me was the athlete that did not make the swim cut off. I was also tasked with getting together his belongings. This by the way is my worst fear in doing a half iron distance. It broke my heart! They ultimately allowed him to bike the course & run but he would not have a finish time or get a medal as his timing chip had been taken after the swim. He had the best attitude about it and a smile on his face! I would be devastated I think! I saw him come in from the bike so I went and checked on him and he still had a smile on his face and then he was off to run. “It will be my training bike and run,” he said as he ran off. What a great attitude! 

So all this detail to convey that there is so much inspiration and appreciation when you give of your time by volunteering! I cannot tell you how many people thanked me for being out there to help!!!! I was so happy to be there and happy to help the athletes have the best race day possible! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that you in some small way helped make someone else’s day better. I am thankful to all the athletes for the hard work and training they did to make this race look so fun. I totally fed off their energy and excitement. Not going to lie, the seed is planted in my mind that perhaps Muncie would be a doable 70.3. And then there is this: 

So maybe I should be thinking about getting to the pool more often and on the bike more too, right?! But seriously, get out there and volunteer either by yourself or with your family. It really will fill your heart with joy and inspiration. Next thing you know you will be signing up with me to do IM Muncie 70.3!!!! Dream big, race happy! #inspiration #goals #triathlon #blingjunkie 

In February of 2014, I declared a goal of completing my first triathlon by August. I trained and completed my first Tri and absolutely fell in love with the sport! I came across this super amazing triathlon blogger/author who was taking applications for an ambassador team of all experience levels. So I put myself out there and applied. I was given a huge opportunity (for which I will be eternally grateful) by SwimBikeMom, Meredith Atwood, to serve on her 2015 Ambassador team to spread love of the sport. And it was an amazing year!!!! Kind of an understatement really! It was AMAZEBALLS!!!

For 2016, I put myself out there again and applied to represent a race series where I had such an amazing experiences. I’m happy to say I have been chosen to serve as an 2016 Esprit De She Brand Ambassador. I am so very honored to have been chosen so that I can continue to spread my love and enthusiasm for this great sport! The Gildan Esprit de She race series supports women on their journey to reaching their potential. They have running, duathlon and triathlon events…something for every woman! Their race events are so well supported. They are days for women to come together and become empowered! I’m hoping to encourage more of you to experience the great feeling of a Gildan Esprit De She race event by offering a code that you can use for $5 off your registration fee! Use (GEDS16AMB045) during registration! Look at this great race line up:

2016 — You’re Invited

Woodlands 5K/10K (TX) | April 21

Tempe 5K/Du/Tri (AZ) | May 8

Cary 5K/10K (NC) | May 12

Lakeville Du/Tri (MN) | May 22

Naperville Tri (IL) | June 12

Chicago 5K/10K (IL) | July 21

Maple Grove 5K/Fitness Jam (MN) | August 4

San Diego Du/Tri (CA) | October 16

Atlanta 5K/10K (GA) | November 3

I already plan to be at the Naperville Tri and the Chicago 5K/10K. And I may be at other events as well! I would love to get as many of you out there with me as I can!!!!! So which event will you register for so you can #beyourpotential???!!! Dream Big and Race Happy!

Marathon Man & I took the twinkies into Chicago for an adventure over the holidays and I saw the above picture in a restaurant. So simple but something that many of us have a hard time doing. Why is that? I’m right there too. At my core I’m someone that wants to please everyone and have everyone like me. I try to be nice and supportive and giving and loyal and honest. But to be honest with some people it hasn’t gotten me far. It actually seems to have worked against me. Now how in the world does that make any sense?! It doesn’t. Some people suck and are caught up in their own insecurities and baggage. I know that intellectually but it still stings when you have to bear the brunt of other’s unresolved issues.

So looking forward to this new year, I realize that I will always be the same me that I have always been. What I can do is always improve upon and “grow” that same me. In this last decade I’ve grown and challenged myself in so many ways. I moved to a new city and state. I became a mother of twins. I became a stay at home mom. I started running. I’ve run multiple half marathons. I started swimming and love it. I learned to cycle with clip in pedals. I became a triathlete…no joke! I found I love to paint, with direction. And I’m proud of that growth…but still see myself constantly evolving. As I begin a new decade of my life I am looking forward to stepping into and owning my true self with all the growth, challenge & change that comes along with that. Cheers to “being yourself” in 2016! Dream Big and Race Happy!

I’m a klutz, actually a nerdy klutz if truth be told. Once I fell in love with triathlon, I needed a proper race bike to replace the old hybrid that I had been riding. This meant I needed to learn to use clip in pedals to become more efficient in my cycling. Last Christmas, Santa brought me a lovely Giant Defy carbon composite road bike. I named her Venus in Overdrive after a favorite Rick Springfield song. That is just what triathletes do.

They say that everyone falls off their bike when learning to clip in and it it is not a matter of if but when. I had a great private coaching session to learn exactly what to do. My first time out I fell three times landing hard on my left hand. I tore my ulnar collateral ligament of my left thumb. This required surgery to repair. My fall happened in April but I had a heavy race schedule so special splints were made to protect my hand from further injury. Surgery was November 9th. Time to celebrate as my cast comes off today!

I was thinking the timing of this cast removal was rather symbolic. It is that time of year where we cast off any negativity, doubt, fear or anything dragging us down as we look forward to a new year and new possibilities. So I ask what are you casting off in your life? Are you ready and open to what this new year can bring you! Dream Big & Race Happy!

This will be my first ever blog post! Full disclosure…I’m a rambler and my grammar might not be the best. I just thought that I have things I think about and would like to discuss. I’ve been thinking about pulling the trigger on this blog thing for awhile. I even asked my friend, Jo the web designer, where she thought I should start but I’ve been dragging my feet. As you get to know me you will see I do that at times.

So let me give you the quick and dirty on me in case you are “meeting” me for the first time. My name is Allison and I’m the mother of boy/girl twins that will be 8 in February. They are affectionately referred to as the “twinkies.” I’ve been married 17 years to my hubby, “Marathon Man.” Oh and he is super fast!  We have the cutest dog, Charlie. I’m from the south but live in the Chicagoland area for the last 10 years and love it!  I’m a Stay at Home Mom. I had a long rode to becoming a mother with fertility struggles so am enjoying every moment of their growth. I volunteer at their school every chance I get. I’m a runner and triathlete…true story and equally surprising to my longtime friends and myself as well. More to come, stay tuned…