The in between times

As July leans towards August, I can't help but wonder how we've arrived well past the mid-point of the year! I suppose that my attitude has tinged towards the negative as injuries, surgeries and rehab have shaped so many months. However, I shouldn't bitch and moan all THAT much, as I've looked forward to different …

Looking back at 2018

Yes, I somehow failed to write anything between November and now, despite the fact that I can list off a good number of 'happenings'!  While I'd like to sit back and reflect on those events and also on the year as a whole, I think that summarizing might actually be more helpful to me and …

Hiking highlights

As we are full-on skiing (!!!) and haven't hit the hiking trails for some time, it seems like a timely moment to summarize the hiking season in Zermatt.  First of all, we lucked out weather-wise with a serious lack of rain.  This, obviously, benefitted us, but is concerning long-term for a place that depends on …

Retour des Alpages – A brief weekend in Annecy

We've officially crossed that half-way point, and I'm finally getting around to jotting a few ideas here and there about the experience thus far.  I'll return to the Swiss adventures, of which there are many, but, for now, a quick recap of our quick weekend away.  It's funny because Zermatt is so beautiful, and you'd …

A return to the mountains

This has been a long time coming, talking about how unhappy I was for the past two years.  Last fall, I decided that teaching middle school was just NOT the right fit, so I made the decision in November (if not before) that I'd end the year but not return.  It was a weird situation …

Post mortem: IM Canada

There's this saying "Third time's charm", which might be true in some cases, but I don't think that I'd sum up my Ironman Canada experience in such a way. It's been just over two weeks ago since I crossed the finish line, and I'm still sorting through the experience.   I have to be honest …

Sizzling summer (already?)

Although it technically isn't summer (we're still a week shy of that date), it has felt like summer since mid-May, and our yard would definitely agree with that sentiment!  It has already been a scorcher here in Colorado, and, yes, the fire season kicked off with a vengeance.  It is WAY too early for fire …

¡A San José! ¡Pura vida!

Or: The way to San José, Take 2 I'm embarrassed to say that I was NOT looking forward to returning home, unpacking, packing the same bag with an entirely separate set of clothes, and heading back to the airport for a pretty rough schedule - all within a week of my first trip in May.  …

(Not) The same as it ever was: Wildflower Triathlon

But still awesome and an amazing experience.  (Except for that soul-crushing run!) In some ways, Wildflower Triathlon *was* very much the same - a great, fun, supportive experience with terrific energy - and definitely NOT an Ironman branded race.  And hard.  Did I mention that it was hard?  I will always have a place in …

Training: Two steps forward, a somersault back

That literally sums up my training this spring.  I'm not where I was in October, but to describe my winter and spring training as uneven would be a slight understatement.  My first "race" is coming up, and I feel woefully unprepared - or, well, woefully unfit for this particular distance and race.  I've certainly learned quite …