Lessons Learned From Patagonia

Lessons Learned From Traveling to the End of The World

Traveling to a remote corner of Chilean Patagonia felt a bit like stepping outside of time. The roads stretched endlessly without traffic lights, the wind roared intensely at its own rhythm, and the towering mountains put everything into perspective. Patagonia was a place where nature was raw, vast, untouched and beautifully wild.

After 10 days in Patagonia, we returned home and went right back to our normal routine - a lifestyle that often feels rushed, stressful and structured around tight schedules and convenience. Patagonia offered us something very different: a slower rhythm, a deeper quiet, and a refreshing recalibration of what life can be like.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have traveled to five continents and immerse myself in such a wide range of cultures. Each journey has challenged me, expanded my views, and has reminded me how much there is to learn from the ways other people live. From rushed city life to remote living to enjoying a delicious cappuccino from a gas station to eating with my hands, every place has offered its own lessons in resilience, community, food, and what it means to live a meaningful life. The more I travel, the more I realize that the greatest privilege isn’t just seeing the world, it’s allowing those experiences to change me.

Here are some of the lessons I brought home from our trip to Patagonia......

1. Simplicity Isn’t A Choice

In much of Patagonia, life is simple - not out of trend - but necessity. Connectivity is limited, amenities are basic, and people rely heavily on nature, family and community. Instead of feeling deprived, I found myself feeling less stressed. Tasks take the time they take. Patience is needed. Conversations are meaningful. Meals are unhurried and appreciated.
Every person we met was nice and helpful. Despite not having a lot, there was a lot of happiness around us. Simplicity stripped away the complexities of life, revealing how much of daily stress comes from a self-imposed pace that we feel obligated to maintain and the anxieties we feel from the constant distractions around us.

2. Nature Restores

The landscapes of Patagonia don’t just impress, they ground you. Glaciers that have existed for thousands of years. Winds that reshape trees. Lakes so blue you can see the reflection of mountains towering above them. Animals roaming freely over the mountains and farm lands.
Being surrounded by such immensity has a way of shrinking everyday worries. In a world increasingly consumed by screen time, nature has a way of restoring balance, perspective, and a sense of calm. A gentle reminder that spending time outside, in nature, is a critical component of mental heath.

3. Detachment From Digital Life

For over 12 hours, I supported Karel without any distractions - no radio signal in the car, poor cell service and no company. With limited cell service, I didn’t have the option to compulsively read emails, check texts or go on social media. There was no TV, radio or political noise. During our time in Chile, we stayed in three different Airbnbs to truly get the Patagonia expeirence. Every day I noticed details: birds chirping, chickens clucking, dogs barking. A series of strong wind guests. The crackling of the fire. The sound of a match lighting our stove. Moments became something to experience, not document. The absence of constant digital noise gave me the ability to be present and to focus deeply on what was around me.

4. Resourcefulness Is a Way of Life

In remote areas, people fix what breaks, repurpose what’s available, and make do without fuss. At our Airbnb in Coyhaique, Karel joked that there was no way the beat-up truck in our driveway was moving from under our unit. Sure enough, the truck made its way out of the driveway and a day later, it returned with a bed full of chopped wood for the wood-burning furnace. There's no Amazon Prime to make a quick delivery. The closest gas station (outside of town) was often more than an hour away. If you live in a town, you shop for groceries on a daily basis. If you live on the farm, you stock up with what you need and live off what you have. There’s a refreshing humility to this approach. It stood in stark contrast to the throwaway, materialistic, impulsive culture we often see in the U.S. Patagonia reminded me that resourcefulness isn’t just practical, it cultivates gratitude, respect for what we have and using creativity for what we need.

5. A Slower Pace Isn’t Laziness

In Patagonia, slowing down is not seen as inefficiency, it’s simply the rhythm of life. Roads are long, supplies take time to reach small towns, and nature dictates the schedule more than schedules do. The road conditions in Patagonia are not great. A mix of asphalt, concrete, pavers, and gravel. It takes time to get places, especially when you are driving for miles on a bumpy, twisty, gravel road. The slower pace taught me patience. It also reminded me that rushing rarely improves the quality of an experience, if anything, it tends to diminish it.

7. Travel Is All About Perspective.

Going somewhere remote forces you to confront your habits, assumptions, and expectations. Patagonia didn’t just show me a different place, it reminded me of different way of being. One of my most memorable trips was in 2004. For May term of my senior year, I travel to the Philippines for a work service trip. I spent over two weeks sleeping on a bamboo bed, pumping my water, taking bucket showers, creating our own tools to fix schools and riding around in Jeepneys. This trip forever changed me. When you return home from traveling abroad, you are left with an internal reminder that life can be lived in more than one way, and that often the most meaningful moments are the ones where you step outside of your comfort zone.

Final Thoughts

Traveling to remote Patagonia was a lesson in resourcefulness, presence, and intentional living. It taught me that many of the things we consider essential are, in fact, optional.

If we let it, travel has the power to reshape how we live long after the trip ends.

Thank you for letting me share our travels with you.

Karel's Patagonman race report is coming soon.

Lessons Learned from Cozumel

Lessons Learned from Cozumel

Nothing says vacation like a warm tropical island with ocean views. I thought we were going to Cozumel to spectate our athletes at the Ironman and to train in a beautiful location but we left with so much gratitude and joy.  I've had the opportunity to travel to several countries and places around the world but the places that I enjoy the most are the ones that I visit for a race. When visiting an international destination for a triathlon or bike event, I get to see so much more than simply visiting for a vacation.  When we travel, we usually stay in Airbnb's. This allows us to have plenty of space, with a kitchen to prepare our own food. Because of this, we are required to shop at the local grocery store - which is always an interesting experience. And when it comes to cooking or meal prep, we are forced to use whatever kitchen gadgets are in our Airbnb. When we have a rental car, we must drive like the locals, learning the road signs, laws and etiquette. Sometimes we have AC, sometimes we have a washer. Often times, we don't. Sometimes we have fast internet speed, sometimes it is very very slow or non existent.  Traveling can be an eye-opening experience to how others live, but only if you allow for the opportunity to live like a local.  During our week-stay in Cozumel, we shared an Airbnb with our 7 athletes. There were specific rules in our Airbnb like turning off the AC when you leave. Cleaning up every crumb because of ants. Always locking the front gate. Never drink from the tap water. Taking the trash out daily to the bin outside. Only flush what comes out of your body down the toilet (no toilet paper). We didn't have a microwave so cooking/boiling water was a bit slow in the morning. We were also limited to plugs for appliances. But we loved it all because it allowed us to live like a local. We didn't have a car so we walked everywhere (or took a taxi). We made several trips to the grocery for food and it was always fun to find different and similar food options. Some of the showers did not have hot water, which was fine after spending all day outside in 80+ F degree weather and high humidity. We experienced flooding due to the rain. We felt extremely safe walking around the island.  Cozumel is not a country but a municipality in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. But if you only stay at the resort, travel via ferry or cruise or visit the beaches or touristy spots, you may consider it to be a well-established vacation destination. Although we had several comforts of home (we slept amazingly well), it was apparent that we take for granted things like water, electricity and sanitation services. Here are a few things I learned from our 7-day stay in Cozumel:  Life can exist without "necessary" items - dishawasher, garbage disposal, Amazon prime, microwave, washing machine, Starbucks.  It's easy to take for granted "necessary" items - clean accessible water and food, medical care, safe working conditions, shelter and education. People who have very little are often happier than those who have a lot. Far too many people align life around materialism. Your worth is not based on your money or profession.  The poor are frequently stigmatized and blamed for their poverty as it is a matter of laziness or irresponsibility. Most immigrants have a very strong work ethic. This is largely driven by necessity. Be mindful what you complain about. A little more gratefulness goes a long way.  Learn to live a simple life. Appreciate what you have.  If you are interested in a delicious recipe, check out these Gingerbread energy balls.

Lessons learned from Kona - spend your $$ wisely!

After nearly a day of flying, it's a relief to finally get outside and smell the salty, flowery Kona air. There's something indescribable about the feeling of stepping out of the last airplane of the journey, knowing that you have arrived to your final destination - the venue of the Ironman World Championship.  

The Ironman World Championship is an incredible spectacle of an event. No matter if you are a participant, volunteer or spectator, it's worth the trip to the big island to experience all that is Ironman Kona. From all of the race week events to the massive expo to swimming in a clear, blue fish tank, the event itself is simply the icing on the cake. For seven years, the Ironman World Championship race week has always made for a memorable and inspiring experience for me. 

But let's not beat around the bush. If you are participating in the Ironman World Championship, it can get rather expensive. 

According to a past article, the average income of an Ironman triathlete is $247,000. Well, I can assure you that our household (and that of many other long distance triathletes) does not make that kind of money. Being a long-distance triathlete (or a triathlete training for any distance) is not inexpensive but it does provide many fulfilling opportunities and experiences that make the costs all worth it. 

Here are the typical expenses for an athlete at the Ironman World Championship: 

• Ironman Kona entry fee (after qualifying): ~$1000+ (per person)
• Flight: ~$1000 (per person)
  
• Airport parking: ~$120-$150
• Bike fees: ~$150 (per bike, one way)
• Rental car: ~$600-$800
• Food: ~$400+
• Lodging: ~$200-$220 per night (Airbnb)
• Extra (ex. massage, merch, last minute items like CO2, nutrition, etc.): ~$300+
  Total  - $😮$

(this does not include sight-seeing activities and some of the above amounts account for at least a 7-10 day stay). 

A lot goes into traveling to an island that is holding a World Championship event. To make Kona affordable and enjoyable, I have a few suggestions that I've learned after seven years of being a participant (or spectator) at Ironman Kona: 

• Plan in advance - Make reservations as far out as possible. Lodging and rental cars can be reserved at least 10-12 months out. Plus, the sooner out you reserve your lodging, the more options you will have (note: many athletes stay in the same condos/houses year after year so that is why many places are booked the day after the previous IM Kona). Make sure your condo/house has AC - many do not! I always look at the reviews and confirm with the owner of the airbnb/vrbo. 
• Flight considerations - Review your flight bike policies and consider layovers of at least 2 hours (so that your bike can move from one plane to the next). Try to minimize layovers to help with the shuttling of your bike. As a note, Hawaii airlines does not allow soft bike cases. When booking your flight home from Kona, you will likely have an overnight flight. Consider a seat that will allow you to (somewhat) rest with an exhausted body. 
• Bring as much with you - Shopping on an island is expensive. Some athletes ship heavy items to the island. Consider the costs of paying for an extra piece of luggage to bring items with you so that you don't need to panic shop when you get to the island. Not only is shopping on an island a bit expensive but if there's something that you need for your trip/race, there's a good chance other athletes need it as well (and that item may be in short supply). 
• Where to pay extra - Although I try to make our trip as "affordable" as possible, there are a few splurge items. For example, we like to be within walking distance of the race start. I account for this when looking for lodging (we typically stay at the Kona Plaza). I also like to pay extra for extra leg room on the plan (especially for Karel - we often don't sit together so that he can be near the front of economy with plenty of leg room and I sit in an aisle a few rows back). We do not eat out much on the island except Karel loves the Poke bowls and we both love the Acai bowls. I do encourage that you arrive at least seven days out. Participating in the 2.4 mile Ho'ala Ironman training swim (which is open to anyone, be sure to register at least a month out as the event does fill up and there is no race day registration) on the Saturday before the event (one week out) is absolutely worth it. Plus, it's good to give yourself time to become one with the island, get to know the course and acclimate. You could go without a rental car but I think it's worth having one for grocery shopping and to train on the bike course a bit further north of the island (the first 7 miles of the bike course are between the airport and Kailua-Kona, which can get very busy with cars). 
• Where to watch your money - Many athletes spontaneous spend on the latest and greatest. Some of this is feeling vulnerable to buying "speed" (ex. upgrading your bike for $1500+ on the two days before the event) whereas it's easy to overspend out of worry or fear (ex. a new helmet, new shoes, etc.). My advice is to only spend on items that answer yes to these questions: Will it make your race more enjoyable? Will it make your race safer? The Ironman World Championship is still an Ironman. A lot can happen over 140.6 miles. And the island can be unpredictable. Because of this, spending money on items that you think will make you faster is not worth it. Instead, if a race kit or helmet will make you feel cooler in the hotter than hot conditions, that can make you race more enjoyable. If spending money on a new pair of goggles will help you swim better without worry of your goggles fogging up, it's worth it. If using super deep wheels because so and so said that you will go faster, will you enjoy riding those wheels in gusty, trade winds? Purchasing a hydration belt so that you can carry your own nutrition with you can certainly make your race safer for your body. 
• Make smart investments - It doesn't matter what level athlete you are. If you are training for an Ironman distance event, you are undergoing an amazing human feat. Participating in a 140.6 mile event should be taken very seriously. Therefore, I encourage you to make smart investments with your money. Investing in a sport dietitian, massage therapist/PT, sport psychologist, bike fit and coach will be worth your while. Having someone help you in your journey will allow you to better do what you love to do - swim, bike and run. Plus, with so much going into a one day event, investing into the areas that will help you feel more confident and prepared on race day will make for a more enjoyable (and safer) race day experience. The latest wearable gadget with a dozen different settings to help you monitor your health is worth nothing if you lack an understanding of how to fuel and hydrate your body before and during a 140.6 mile event. 

If you have any questions regarding traveling to Kona, Hawaii for the Ironman World Championship (as spectator, volunteer or participant) or racing the event, I'd be happy to help you out. Feel free to send me an email: Marni@trimarnicoach.com 

20 Lessons learned from cancer

Whether you have been given a life-altering diagnosis or you were/are a caretaker, friend, family member or significant other affected by a disease/illness, it can be difficult to find gratitude in such a painful situation. Looking for the good in such a sad scenario can feel nearly impossible.

Everytime I hear of the passing of an individual with cancer, I am taken back to my dad's 10-month battle with a rare cancer that metastasized to his spine. Even though it's been over 5 years, I still struggle every day and wish he was still with me. My dad didn't like to talk about his cancer. I respected his decision to keep his cancer diagnosis silent but it was also very difficult for me to not let others know that he was suffering.  Others have choosen to be more open and vocal about a current health situation and find positivity in such a challenging and difficult scenario.

There's no denying that there's a great level of frustration, anger, worry, sadness and fear when given/hearing about a life-threatening or fatal disease. But with these normal emotions, there can also be gratitude.

For myself, after my dad passed away from cancer, I started to look at life differently. I realized that life was constantly teaching me lessons and I needed to listen. I realized more than ever before that every day of life is a gift. You can't choose to not get cancer (or any other type of disease/illness) but you can choose how you will live each day of your life.

Here are some of the lessons I've learned from cancer:

1. Don't let life pass you by. 
2. Don't wait for the right time to start/do something. 
3. Travel and see the world. 
4. Don't spend money, time and/or energy on insignificant things that are not truly important to you. 
5. Focus your energy on your priorities. 
6. Learn to say no. 
7. Don't do things out of guilt or to please others. 
8. Let go of what you can't control. 
9. Enjoy the present moment. 
10. Connect with people you love. Let others know that you appreciate them. 
11. Let go of worry and what if. 
12. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself. Ditch people who suck the joy out of you. 
13. Be your gratest cheerleader. Feed yourself positive words. 
14. Look for the good in every situation. 
15. Don't judge, compare or make assumptions. You never know what someone else is going through. 
16. Never take something for granted. 
17. Always fight for what you want. Never give up. 
18. Indulge yourself. Give into something extravegant every now and then. 
19. Be kind and compassionate. 
20. No matter what you face, don't let it define you. Stay courageous and strong. 

Lessons learned from our train-cation

I'd say that was a productive and successful train-cation. Travel went smoothly, we remained in great health and we were able to accomplish all of our planned workouts. The warm weather and change of scenery was exactly what we needed to recharge. Although this felt far from a vacation as every day included several hours of computer work, it was a nice escape from the daily grind.

After our 3.5 day "camp" in Clermont, FL. concluded on Thurs afternoon, we drove to Jacksonville, FL to finish out the rest of our trip - Karel had four bike fits for some of our FL athletes scheduled over the next two days. We stayed with our assistant coach Joe, and his wife Erica, son Weston and dog Reagan. After spending 6 years in Jacksonville, it was nice to be back and to train on familiar roads. Although much more car-filled/busy for my liking, it was a nice change to train on roads that were flat!

To finish off our week of training:

Friday AM:
4250 yard swim (for me, Karel had the morning off for his fits)

Friday PM:
1:38 ride (Karel and I did this workout together after his fits)

Saturday AM:
2:45 bike followed by a 15 min run (for me)
Karel had an EZ 45 min run in the morning before his fits

Sunday AM:
75 min run (for me)
90 min run (Karel)

All of these workouts had a specific focus or set(s). 

As for the "camp" (or train-cation), I found myself thinking of a few aspects that are important when embarking on an intentional over-training load in a new/different environment. Interestingly, these aspects apply to the daily-grind, particularly in your own home environment.

Be organized and preparedFrom charging gadgets and having extra gear/equipment to having food prepped, being organized and prepared makes it easier to accomplish what you intend to accomplish - all in a timely manner. The tools and methods that you choose are completely up to you but being organized and prepared can reduce stress to make your training much more enjoyable and productive. I feel a key component here is learning what works and what doesn't work. There are no mistakes but lessons learned. I'm a big fan of writing down an itinerary for the day and then planning what needs to get done in order to make the day as productive as possible. Rarely does leaving things to chance work out for the best. 

Be flexible 

In training and on race day, every athlete needs the skill of being flexible. Although we were able to accomplish our training for the week, it wasn't without a obstacles. I had two flat tires (on two different days), lightening forced us out of the pool for nearly 40 minutes (we got back in and finished our workout) and rainy/cool weather required us to swap a few workouts around. While we had a plan for the day, rarely did things go as planned. To ensure that workouts stay of quality so that you can adapt well to your training sessions, it's important to not compromise sleep and nutrition just because you are too rigid with your training sessions. To work out at any cost can do more harm than good. A smart approach to training allows for positive adaptations. If you have become a bit obsessed with rules, strict schedules and a perfect plan, I encourage you to become more mentally flexible and less of a perfectionist. I'll share a secret with you - you can still have a "perfect" training session or race, even if everything doesn't go as planned.

Be kind

I can't tell you how many times I thanked my body throughout the last seven days. I couldn't believe how quickly I bounced back from my training sessions and how my body performed with such a training overload. Being kind to my body was much more than just thanking it. Being kind also included prioritizing good sleep, eating and fueling properly, hydrating well and keeping up with mobility work. Not once during our train-cation did I comment (or think) about how I looked of what my body looked like. In a toxic body image world, I have learned to accept my body for how it is and to be kind and respectful to it with my nutrition, training and mindset. Without body kindness, it's easy to sabotage your workouts and destroy your health due to poor body image, self-hate, body shaming and being too critical. Being kind means letting go of the mindset that you need to "look" a certain way in order to be a better, faster or more successful athlete. Being kind means listening to your body when it needs rest, fuel, hydration and nourishment. Being kind means giving your body sleep instead of trying to function in a caffeinated, sleep-deprived state. Being kind means removing negative people in your life who you compare yourself to and/or don't make you feel good about yourself. Being kind means enjoying what you can do with your body and thanking your body for what it allows you to do. 

Off to Ironman Lake Placid - time to reflect

It was only four years ago when Karel and I made the trip up to Lake Placid for the 2013 Ironman. Not only was this an amazing opportunity to make memories together in a new location but this was Karel's very first Ironman! Although I never take an Ironman start for granted, I couldn't believe that I would be sharing a 140.6 mile race course with Karel for my 6th Ironman. I was so use to seeing Karel on the sidelines that it was a little strange, exciting and special to see Karel on the race course. 

When we arrived to Lake Placid, we were in awe of the mountain views. The scenery was breathtaking and we felt so lucky that we could race in such a beautiful venue while soaking in all of the nature around us. Lake Placid was the last place that we both visited before we decided to move to Greenville, SC. After returning home from IM Lake Placid in 2013, it was only 6 months later that we decided to make the scary but exciting decision to leave the beach scene and familiarity of Jacksonville, FL and move to the mountains as we craved a bike friendly playground to maintain our active lifestyle and a fresh start to grow the Trimarni business. 

Crossing an Ironman finish line is always an emotional and exhilarating feeling, but knowing that I was sharing the entire race experience with Karel was extremely special. For the first time, I was able to share my race stories with Karel and he could share his experiences with me. It was so fun to talk about those inside details with each other - and walk a little funny together after the race. 

Although I went into the race with limited running due to another setback with my hips/back and we both had our challenges during the race, it was a great race experience to share together and it made me realize how much I love racing the Ironman distance. 

After the awards ceremony, I received a roll down slot to my 3rd Ironman World Championship just 12 weeks later. Although Karel was not able to come to Kona with me due to work (GM of the Jacksonville Trek Store), I was able to share the special experience with my dear friend Dr. G. 

Although I was celebrating my 7th Ironman without Karel, I was extremely proud of my body for racing so well (IM PR) just 3 months after Ironman Lake Placid. Somehow, Lake Placid taught me a lot about myself and since then, I have not been seriously injured and have experienced huge improvements in my fitness and racing performances.

Although our 2013 Ironman Lake Placid experience left us with happy memories, inside, Karel and I were both dealing with the news that my dad had stage IV cancer. A few weeks before our trip, my dad was in the hospital due to having major surgery on his spine. He was given little chance of walking again and a poor prognosis of making a full recovery from his cancer. 

My training was severely affected because mentally, it was hard for me to be in the zone during a workout. I couldn't clear my head and I wanted to be with my dad, in the hospital, as much as possible. It was extremely hard to wake up each morning, questioning how much longer my dad would be with us. But my dad's strength was contagious. I've always admired his positive attitude and his ability to live life to the fullest every day of his life and even during his cancer diagnosis, he still stayed positive. He was so excited for Karel to tackle his first Ironman and he was so proud of us to both for being able to do amazing things with our body, while celebrating our good health. After cancer took my dad's life after a hard 10-month fight, I learned that good health is a gift and we should never ever take it for granted. When an opportunity arises to do something amazing with your body, take it! 

It was then 2 years later, in 2015, when we returned back to Ironman Lake Placid with a few of our Trimarni athletes (Joe, Mike, Adam and Heidi). This was an extremely special experience to share Lake Placid with our athletes and to give Karel another opportunity to race on one of his favorite race courses. 

Sadly, things didn't go as planned leading up to the race. Near the end of May, Karel tore his plantar fascia after two super strong performances that gave him a lot of confidence with his fitness. He didn't get the diagnosis of the severity of the injury until he had a MRI just 24 hours before we left for IM Lake Placid. With this being Karel's first injury, he had a really hard time accepting that he would not be able to do the run at Ironman Lake Placid. This left Karel with a ton of emotions going into the race, including a lot of frustration. But knowing that he had his first Ironman World Championship just 12 weeks later, he made the hard but smart decision of pulling out of the race after the bike. 

After his race was over and he turned in his chip, he joined me out on the course to cheer for the rest of our Trimarni athletes. Although Karel was disappointed with how his second Ironman Lake Placid experience went down, it was a special experience to see our athletes cross the finish line. Although Karel's injury was very slow to heal (11 months), not running on it ensured that he wouldn't do any further damage.  

Karel's foot injury was tough to handle but we noticed that Campy was experiencing seizures more frequently while in Lake Placid. This was very scary. As soon as we returned home, we had to attend to Campy's health with several vet appointments to figure out what was going on with Campy's brain. Finally, we were able to control his seizures with medication and since then, he hasn't had a seizure. 

Admittedly, my head was not in a good place in the summer of 2015 with so much going on in our life over the past year. Despite Karel and I sharing our first Ironman World Championship experience together (and my 4th IMKona), I couldn't get my mind off Karel's foot, wondering what would happen to him on race day and still grieving over the loss of my dad. 

We both finished the race but I was very disappointed with my performance as my body and mind were not in a good place on race day. After IM Kona 2015, I decided that I would take a break from IMKona and just focus on training and racing without putting any pressure on myself to re-qualify. Since then, I have experienced huge improvements with my fitness and have maintained great health. I've also noticed an improved joy with training and racing. 

Thankfully, Karel's foot was ok for the run (picture from IM Kona 2016) and although he had a few niggles for the next few months, his foot finally healed about 11-months after the tear and he went on to achieve great results in 2016 - which happened to be his best season of triathlon racing at the age of 40! Karel completed 3 Ironmans within 4 months and ran all three marathons off the bike under 3:10! 

As we gear up for our 3rd trip up to Lake Placid today, it was important to reflect on all of the lessons that we have learned since our first IM in Lake Placid. Through the highs and lows of training and racing, we have learned a lot. 

-You can never predict the future. No matter how good or bad your training goes before a race, you never know what race day will bring you. Don't waste your energy trying to make assumptions or plan for what is out of your control. Be in the now. 

-Never wait for the right time to start or do something with your body. Life is too short to wait for the perfect moment. If you wait too long, your moment may never come.

-Make time out of your busy life to slow down and make memories.

-You deserve to be happy - in life, with your career and in your relationships. Don't let people steal your energy or make you feel less of yourself. 

-Work to live, don't live to work.

-When you think that things can't be any worse, there's something better coming your way.

-Slow down. Life rushes by fast. Always take note of the special/happy moments in your life.

-Tell the people in your life that you care about, that you love them.

-Some things in life will just not make sense. Accept that there is not always a reason for everything that happens to you in life.

-Money doesn't buy happiness. Use your money to provide you with life changing experiences.

-There's something special about being in nature. It just feels right.

Kona Edge Podcast interview - successfully failing

In mid October, I dedicated a blog post to recapping our 2016 season of triathlon racing. 

If you missed it, you can read about it here: 2016 season recap. 

Looking back, 2016 was a very successful season for me and Karel. 

 

I fulfilled a long time goal of placing on the podium at an international Ironman, where I finished 2nd AG and 4th female amateur (10th overall female) at Ironman Austria. It was also my highest ever overall placing in an Ironman since winning the 18-24 AG at IMFL in 2006 (my first Ironman). Only this time, 11 Ironmans later, I finished 54 minutes faster than at my first Ironman (10:06 at IM Austria vs. 11:00 at IMFL). 

I placed overall female at the Lake James 50 triathlon. 

Eight days later, I was leading the race by several minutes with 1 mile to go, at Rev3 Knox, until a pink arrow lead me and several others off the bike portion of the race course. Due to a 6+ mile detour, I tried to make up the 15+ minutes that I lost on the bike and missed the win by less than a minute. Bright side - I had the fastest female run split of the day (running frustrated and on a mission!).

And to conclude the season, a win at Lake Logan Half which was the result of a very strong performance on a very tough race course, and one of my best executed bike performance. 

And, let's not forget Karel's 3 very successful Ironman finishes (IM Austria, IMMT, IMKona), 3 overall race wins, an IM podium (and Kona qualification) at IMMT and the fastest male amateur run split at IMMT. 

While successes are worth highlighting (it's good to acknowledge when you are doing something right), it would be wrong for me to not mention the many, MANY lessons, mistakes and failures that have occurred since I started racing in endurance events back in 2006. 

• I'd like to bring up my horrible decision in 2007 when I decided to race my first Kona with an injury. No running for 30 days due to hip issues and a quick-fix, please heal me, approach to every doctor that I saw, only to try to get myself uninjured before race day, results in extreme damage to my body during and after the race. With a stubborn head, I finished (and made it onto the NBC Kona broadcast coverage - yep, I was one of those athletes falling across the finish line) and it negatively affected me for several years (like 6!). 

• I'd like to bring up 2011, where I didn't race a single triathlon for the entire year, except IM Kona in October, due to another 3 months of no running (hip/back issues) and a time-consuming dietetic internship that took up every hour of my day (10+ hours a day of interning and school work) for 10 months. 

• I'd like to bring up the 3 months that I didn't run before IM Placid in 2013 and managed to get myself into as good of shape as I could, to feel prepared for that race, with only 8 weeks of consistent running. This also occurred during the time when my dad was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic cancer. Somehow, I managed to get to the start line and qualify for Kona with a roll down slot. 

• I'd like to bring up the 6 years that I suffered from chronic hip/back issues, which caused many days of frustration, tears and anger toward my body. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to quit the sport of triathlon throughout those 6 years and how much time was spent on PT, doc appointments and anything and everything to try to get myself healed. 

• And let's not forget Karel's recent issues, with a tear in his plantar fascia just 5 months before his first Kona in 2015 and then a diagnosis of a labral hip tear this past May and painful back issues leading up to IM Austria.
  
• I should also mention the passing of my dad, three days before my birthday in 2014. This is something that I deal with on an ongoing basis. I don't think you ever get over the loss of a loved one, especially a parent. 

You see, failure is a step to success. Actually, it is the road to success. 

Perhaps you have followed us for many years or you are a new Trimarni follower. Regardless, it is important that you understand that our successes are not without failures. 

I don't know that I will ever be able to document my 10 years of learning into one blog post but I will continue to document my journey on this blog, with the intention of inspiring you and motivating you to never ever give up on your dreams.  If you don't give up, you never fail. You just keep on learning. 

Sure, we can call it a failure when we get injured, race poorly or make some kind of bad decision in training but failing is an opportunity to learn....that is, if you see it as a valuable opportunity to learn. 

The way I see it, I have successfully failed to get to where I am today.

As a sport dietitian, coach and still developing triathlete, I have 10 years of formal education with 10 years of endurance training and racing behind me. I have learned a lot in 10 years and I don't believe I'm even close to reaching my peak performances by my boy. I think Karel, even at 40 years of age, still hasn't reached his best. He's getting faster, stronger, more efficient and smarter as an endurance triathlete with every season. And next season will only be his 6 season of endurance triathlon racing. 

Thanks to Brad Brown with The Kona Edge, I was recently given a special opportunity to share some of my lessons learned along my successful (and not so successful) journey. 

We had such a great conversation talking about all things triathlon, Kona and coaching, as well as discussing my thoughts on race weight. I hope you enjoy hearing about some of the mistakes that I've made over the past 10 years as an endurance triathlete.

Although this podcast may be about me, Brad wanted to make sure that this podcast interview was also educational, so that I could discuss practical advice to help athletes move closer to reaching personal athletic goals, without compromising health.

Thanks for listening.

LISTEN HERE: Kona Edge Podcast

If you enjoy The Kona Edge podcast, you can leave a rating and review for The Kona Edge podcast on iTunes.