On Being Inspired

Summer hit. Quick. Everything has been going a hundred miles an hour--- I'm super excited Im getting a chance to sit down and organize my thoughts. 

After 4 years of working these awful split shits (5am-9ish, 4-8pm), I FINALLY got my perfect ideal schedule! (5am-12pm M-Th, 5-10am F, 7-11am Sat) and well Mon-Tue-Thurs (3pm-5pm). Okay well...still have A LITTLE bit of working out do to but----man Im excited. It's nice to know that hopefully i can get MOST days done by 12pm. 

The cat and I. Loving the summer sun.

CHECK IT OUT! Hella I made the pic. Coeur d' Alene is this weekend! I cannot wait to go up and cheer on some of the most inspiring people I know.

SO I've been spending a lot of time biking up this hill we have locally called Clodfelter- until last week when fires came DANGEROUSLY close to some houses. Biked up there last Sunday and my heart just sunk. Thank goodness there weren't any houses lost (as far as i could see) just a lot of burned up sagebrush. 

Work seems to be taking up a lot of my day----can't really complain because it is a lot of fun....this is what a lot of my mornings looks like.

Some mornings though...even a 20 min nap seems like a life saver. Thank goodness for the Prius seats laying so far back.

Which kind of feeds me into what has really been my inspiration lately----my Masters Swimmers and swim team kids are just plain old kicking ass. Everyday I am just so amazed at what they are capable of....and how humble and happy they are. Above is (part of) a very long test set we had last week---

I just am so impressed with how my morning adult swimmers are improving. I remember when I first started working with them 1:20base send off was a make it once or twice but definitely not on a repeat basis. I am now to the point I feel they should be throwing in quite a few 1:10s....which just is awesome.

Diana Spangle is one of my biggest heroes. I have been working with her in the pool (class setting) for about 2.5 years now- she's always happy and having a good time---but also very focused. I believe when we first started together her goal 100 pace was about 2:15----we are now down to 1:45/100 and I told her last week to not be surprised by 1:40s for now on (i think she's hopping another plateau)....my stepdad says he runs into her every single monday up on the top of our local mountain....and I'm not surprised to run into her out biking her 70 mile bikes on the nastiest days ever. 

Just totally inspiring to me.

The Channel Cat KIDS have been totally smashing it the last month and a half since they started swimming long course. Since school has been out they swim 6500m-7500m 5:30am-8:00am take a break, swim another 3800yd-4500yd 2:00pm-3:30 THEN do strength training with me 3:30pm-4:30pm (3 days a week- every other day its the 2.5 in the AM). I seriously have yet to hear these kids complain.....or brag...(I guess that is what I am for haha). They are just so impressive to me. 

Last Saturday we ran up Badger Mountain after practice. There wasn't a lot of walking going on either. 

The greatest.

AND THEN last weekend they finished their swim and proceeded to run their first 5k. Their "easy" swim day was still 4.25miles before hitting the pavement.

Getting some icing done after their 3hr training morning. Love it.

I know I brag about my masters and my kids a lot----but they are just so badass. I know that they definitely rub off on me when its (feels like) FINALLY my turn to hop into some type of workout.

Super excited that George Prout is open for summer- Adult lap swim Mon-Sun 11:45am-12:45pm (get there early...and get your punches at the Community Center FIRST)

After some long training days....its nice to catch Pretty Woman on TV with the KEETS and some chips and salsa. ummmm yum.

Um. I'm OBSESSED. I know you will be too. http://smashfestqueen.com/ 

You're welcome. haha.

Love. Erin

A work in progress.

Sometimes you just want to make someone proud.

Love, Erin

On embracing a headwind

A friend of mine told me a story once about how he hated to run to the river because on his return he always really disliked running back up a hill- which was the last mile or so to the gym. He said one day it just dawned on him- that if he continued to avoid the hill- he would never get good at running the hill- and what good was that doing?

He then went on to run the hill on every run- to the point where the hill seemed to get smaller and smaller- and eventually, after some time, he started to not even notice the hill.

This story really hit home for me.

When I first started biking I really disliked two things- hills and wind. Whenever there was the slightest breeze I would find any excuse to stay inside verses put myself through the impending AGONY of struggling through the loud, cold, awful wind.

Well...I think to myself now. WAH. If I continue to whine about a little mother nature---then what happens if on race day (unfortunately I learned this the hard way) there is ridiculous wind- or rain- or snow....* * okay maybe not snow....but really. It only makes you stronger.

Leanda Cave posted this on tweeeeeter last year about this time. I have it printed out and posted on my wall at home. 

So I figure if you can teach your brain to learn and grow and you can teach your body to adapt to stresses placed on it THEN my theory is that anyone is absolutely capable of anything-----as long as you are willing to dream- and believe- and work ridiculously freaking hard. 

Which is kinda where Im at at this moment. I know that I have some pretty lofty goals- and I know that I have time to work towards them- and I guess I am just really really starting embracing the wind.

Seriously, wind- give it to me, baby.

My ride today- beautiful Washington State.... (did i mention i live in the desert part)

My favorite ride at the moment. Loving the hills.

Baby's first duathlon with the momma. She might have even lied to the race director telling him I was 12 verses 11 to get me in the race....shhhh :)

I hope you're loving training too.

Love, Erin

busy

Last week was such a busy week. It actually wasn't only a very crazy busy week---it was just a weird one. The weather was super stormy and unlike the Tri and my work schedule was just...off from the normal.

After a panicked 90 seconds of jumping up and down and yelling at the 100 kids in the pool to quickly exit the pool---we all got to hang out in the lifeguard shack for about 45 minutes until a huge thunderstorm storm passed through practice.

Yup. They were pretty excited about this.

We also hosted our annual Tri City Invitational where 650 swimmers from all over the PNW competed Friday through Sunday....

Our cuties.

Me with Todd, our Head Coach and Meet Director. He did a really good job at getting everything organized and executed without a hitch. (Even though we wrote up 6 accident reports....just...weird)  I also have to give a ton of thanks to the parents of the team. They were so fabulous with organizing all the timers, officials, concessions, hospitality...my brain (it seemed).  Just was a well run- (crazy) great weekend.

The kids doing a cheer Sunday after warmups. We had 140 kids competing at the meet. This meant (literally) watching every single heat of the meet which started at 9am and ended at 7pm every day. Along with warmups, and take down on Sunday. I luckily only had one breakdown--haha.

Our little guys steal my heart.

My grandma even showed up at the meet! 

Not only was it a crazy "work" weekend---my little sister was graduating High School. Luckily she graduated at night on Friday so I was able to make it!

Little sister Sidney and I.

Crazy week/weekend means efficient workouts. Love my trainer.

Amidst this crazy week---kitty seems to be having it hard.

Whoever drew up this sign...clever kid.

Love, Erin