Amara in Training

Tag: perspective

  • Open Water Swimming Without a Wetsuit

    My heart was pounding in my jaw. I spent more time being apprehensive about jumping into the water than actually being in the water. I had a fear that somehow, without my wetsuit, I would just sink to the bottom of the lake. Like some giant pair of hands would just come up from the…

  • Week 19 Ironman Louisville Training: Finish What You Started

    Among many silly reasons, I started my journey to Ironman because I wanted the challenge. I wanted to see what it felt like to take something from concept to completion. I wanted to do it to see if I could do it. There have been a lot of things I’ve started and never finished…plenty of…

  • Race Recap: 2013 Rock ‘n Roll Seattle Half Marathon

    Ahhhhh. There’s nothing feeling like you’ve finally arrived in a new city than running a road race there. Make that three. I’ve completed the Athleta Iron Girl 10K last year, along with the Sporty Divas half marathon in Tacoma, but the Rock n Roll races always hold a fond place in my heart. This race…

  • Week 17 + 18 Ironman Louisville Training: Surgery + Post-Op Recovery

    This post will be relatively short since I spent week 17 in massive amounts of pain and eventually surgery. I spent week 18 recovering from my surgery, considering my racing/training options, hopped up on pain medications, handling personal family issues, and mentally prepping for a half-marathon since I couldn’t actually physically train. So, even though…

  • The Great Open Water Swim Plan of 2013

    If you know me well, you know that I looooove to plan (and execute on that plan). I had a good (enough) open water swim yesterday. It was a beautiful evening at Harry Todd Park. The days are getting much longer in Seattle now. The sun comes up at 5am now and sets at 9:30pm.…

  • Week 14 Ironman Louisville Training: All Great Changes are Preceded by Chaos

    What. A. Week! I’ve learned a lot this week…learning a thing or two about making a schedule and sticking to it. Learning to “embrace the suck.” Learning to view my goals as non-negotiable. Learning to read my body a little better. I’m trying not to go crazy but my wisdom teeth are giving me problems…

  • Race Recap: 2013 Rock n Roll Portland Half Marathon

    So I’ve had Rock n Roll Portland on my list for quite awhile now. I was really happy to knock this one off my list! This particular half marathon was very important to me since it was my first official long run since I sprained my ankle a few months ago. Thankfully, it held up…

  • Week 13 Ironman Louisville Training: Strength is the Product of Struggle

    Just wrapped up a 12-13 hour week…I have a 17-hour week on the books for the next seven days. I’m too sore to walk now, which will make for interesting training later today. Things are going well despite my internalized open water swimming fears that are creeping up on me again. This reminds me of…

  • 99 Days + 4.5 Races To Go Until My First Ironman

    I don’t think you can fully appreciate a full 48 hours of rest until you go through Ironman training. My weekly training is stacked like a part-time job: 14 hours here, 15 hours here, 17 hours there, eventually it’ll increase to almost 18-20 hours a week. Can you imagine what type of progress you can…