Growing up as a competitive swimmer, and highly emotional teenager, it was a great source of stress relief- from the high demands of being...well a competitive swimmer and teenager. Creating another blog, I feel like I'm 14 again- [fearing re-reading the posts of frustration regarding going to swim practice]...however this time, I'm looking forward to 2:15pm....to jump into the cool, quiet water and swim for an hour and a half....The dreaded fear of stomach churn and anxiety of pace 100s and repeat 400s have changed for a want. A want to feel absolutely awful.
One word: Triathlon.
After swimming a year at University of Maryland, I made an extremely hard life decision that took me ultimately in a different direction than I always envisioned.
Swimming was my life. There was nothing so important. Everything I did during my day revolved around those 2 hours in the afternoon.
What to eat for breakfast? Something bland. Whats a doughnut? Muffin? No idea, because all I ate was toast and oatmeal.
Lunch? Winco Bagels (2). Water. Apple.
After school? Mall? Friends? What?! Reality strikes and it's toast and pre-swim practice cds. [Only pre-swim practice though- if you dare put anything else in that radio you're screwed. There's going to be some slow song stuck in your head and you're going to swim SLOW]
After MD, I decided to start living as what I thought would be a normal 19-20 year old life- I moved to Portland, Oregon. The rain, 45 Hr./ Week Retail Job, deadbeat boyfriend, and no source of stress relief made for a 30 lb. gain in Erin and major mood shift. No more happy-go-lucky Erin.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to be a part of one of the most loving families I have ever met. Albert residence, Enfield, NH. Working in a Tri Shop called Mountain Valley Sports, and swimming under the instruction of Brian King for Green Mountain Aquatics, I was able to become me again. Moving with $40 in my bank account, I was able to live and swim. By the end of summer, I was swimming back on my times from Maryland, after a full year out of the water.
The wheels were turning.
After moving home in August and taking a coaching job with Kennewick High School, I decided to start running. My first 5k was awfully slow. I had to stop and walk twice. This was NOT okay in my book. I was a competitive swimmer. I swim more than this every time I get into the pool. Why is this so hard? So what's the next step? Marathon.
May 2010, Nappa Valley Marathon 3:40:40. Boston Qualified? Really? I was just hoping to beat that girl I went to high school with....that and Oprah.
The wheels kept turning.
How hard can riding a bike be? Half Ironman.
August 2010, Lake Stevens 70.3 6:10:00. Well. I finished. That was fun. But I want to go fast. There's so much I did wrong. I asked everyone- "How do you get faster?" I will do absolutely anything to get faster just tell me what. "Ride your bike"
Perfect.
June 2011, Pacific Crest Half Iron: 5:33:35. Getting better. But not good enough. Roo2 and I are going to be best friends- because that 3:13 bike split is still not competitive.
And that all puts me to today. I'm happier than I have ever been. I am working as a Personal Trainer, Swim Coach and Adult Swim Lessons Instructor at a local gym. Dating my best friend. Running, Biking, and Swimming.
And most importantly, chasing my ultimate dream.
Countdown: 7 weeks until Ironman Canada.
2009, after I moved hom from Portland. Bloomsday, Spokane, WA.
Casey Albert and I floating down a river in VT Summer 2009.
My two biggest Idols growing up. Ironwomen Robyn and Adrienne. Sprint Triathlon 2010.
Love the water.
First Half Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3 August 2010
Pacific Crest Half Iron June 2011
Best friend and biggest supporter
All the blue.
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