Word.

We watch these trees grow from the sun - and towards the sun. Gravitate to what gives you life. You are alive today -What is your sun? (at San Diego, California)

Sunrise laps ☀️. Orange light spilled out over the horizon. It flooded over everything. It was silent below the water, and above it too. Yesterday washed away. It is time to begin again.

Revived. (at Cancún)

Fear. It hates risk. It relishes the dark. It silences you. It weakens you. It doesn’t want you to take action. It doesn’t want you to be better. It doesn’t want to know what you are capable of. It doesn’t want to find your strength. . But. What do YOU want? . It’s time to jump. (at Poipu, Kauai)

What stories can your runs tell? Where were you? What did you gaze upon? How did you feel? Why were you furious that day? What did you release? How did it free you?

(A Sprained Ankle: A Love Poem) I sprained my ankle day 2 of 2017. I thought how could the world be so mean? . What of my fitness, my strength, my watts? Surely they’ll be gone forever and I should write them off. . But I became aware I was approaching it all wrong, And I began to sing a different tune, a different song. . I started to write, and began to sift, Through the ways this sprained ankle is a gift. . I reached out to my teammates and friends, To learn how to stay positive to heal and mend. . My mind, usually racing, slowed way down. It focused on the present, the here, the now. . I reconnected with my lungs, breathing real slow. My heart felt calm, my worries let go. . I am surrounded by TriggerPoint to keep me healthy, I am not rich, but with good people I am wealthy. . Soon I will be up running, I am healing so fast. I am stronger, now knowing these sorrows won’t last. . We all get knocked down, but now you know, Your positive mind can help you grow. . Happy trails, everyone! The dumpster fire of 2016 is behind us, but life is still life, and things happen, sprained ankles and all. When you are knocked down, gratefully accept the help from people who are willing to help you. And when you see a way to help someone in need, you'll know what to do. #triathlon #triggerpoint #swim #swimbikerun #run #running #cycling #cycle @btathletes #breakaway #tptherapy #fitness #health #happiness (at San Diego, California)

An Ode To The Ironman Mass Swim Start: War paint, brass knuckles. Three..two..one..EN GUARDE! Triathletes freestyling right over you. Swerve away to avoid a jab. Stroke, dodge, stroke. WHERE THE FLIP ARE THE BUOYS. Goggles knocked off. Fingers finally scraping sweet sand. Useless legs wake up from their nap. And finally carry you away from the battlefield to your trusty steed in T1. All is well again on dry land. . . #triathlon #ironman #swim #openwaterswim #swimming #bike #run #cycling #cycle #running #kona #hawaii #wordplay #pacific #ocean (at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

HI-FIVES FOR FRIDAY! Ready to make moves? Rolling out to the weekend like.... #triggerpoint #triathlon #swim #bike #run #running #cycling #cycle #fitness #foamroller #atx #austin (at Austin, Texas)

Women. We heal, we mend, we soothe. We destroy only few things. But one of those is expectations. . #Repost @kindhuman_bicycles with @repostapp ・・・ Check out the MISC magazine’s Women issue from Idea Couture! We're super excited to have our ad printed on their pages featuring #KindRider Erin Stephens who explains why she chose to ride KindHuman. You’ll find it in air port lounges throughout the world!!!". . . Thank you @kindhuman_bicycles for making the best machine this girl can use every day to find her strength. #cycling #triathlon #bike #biking #kindrider #cycle #bikelife #fitness #training #bikelife #sandiego @sdbikecoalition @btathletes

My fourth Half-Ironman by the numbers: 1 post-race beer (kinda lame, right?) 2 toenails destroyed 3 loops of a run course that felt equivalent to a sauna... placed in the Sahara... that was also set on fire 4 (000) pounds of ice stuffed into my race kit 5 times the size of my normal smile - was wearing a shit-eating grin all day about racing again finally. Just couldn't control the stoke, YANNO? . . This race was dopesauce. HUGE thanks to my coach Felipe and my insanely awesome @breakawaytraining And my posse of awesome from @tp_therapy and the never ending support we get. @kindhuman_bicycles you are the most rad for putting me on the best two-wheeled machine to get me to where I could demolish mountains &be race-ready. . . It's been 3 years since I've tried this distance. Got a nice heavy dose of dehydration on the run and suffered but it wouldn't be a half-Ironman without a little(lot) bit of a pain fest. 5th overall helped. Also the beer helped. This sport rules. The end.

Not pictured: The Support&Gear Van that I thought I would have to end my ride in, like a chump. Not felt in this picture: The freaking hot sun and relentless wind that was annoying the shit out of me. Not pictured: The incredibly fast dudes way ahead of me. Not heard in this picture: the incredible encouragement from said fast dudes. Pictured: A girl who had camaraderie, and a girl who reached the top of a mountain when she thought was FUCKING DONE, at least three times. Not pictured because they don't exist: our limits. Next time you think you are FUCKING DONE....bikes, life, whatever it is. I dare you to keep going. Your mountaintop is waiting for your arrival. (at Boulder, Colorado)

San Diego: Came for the triathlon, stayed for the burritos.

Sometimes all I can see is gray. I whisper 'Thank you' And suddenly my world is painted. . . Gratitude: When I am sad, or lonely, or a Mr. Grumpy Gills, or angry, it is the one emotion that saves me. I feel so much of it, all the time, and I carry it around with me like a purse. It fills me up, and then some more, and then too much and I think I am going to explode. All I have to do is merely THINK of a person and it rushes in and washes me away. . The 📷From my bike ride this morning, on the PCH. Just feeling plain old grateful. #triathlon #swimbikerun #running #run #swim #cycling #pacific #ocean #pch #bike #cycle #bikehappy #sandiego #california #nature #gratitude #travel (at Oceanside, California)

I’ve never been much of an artist. Each and every run is my blank canvas. What a wonderful, wild thought. . Go paint something today. . . #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #running #cycling #cycle #nature #adventure #hawaii #waipio #bigisland #trail #trailrunning #explore #earth #art #outside (at Waipi'o Valley)

I’ve never been much of an artist. Each and every run is my blank canvas. What a wonderful, wild thought. . Go paint something today. . #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #running #cycling #cycle #nature #adventure #hawaii #waipio #bigisland #trail #trailrunning #explore #earth #art #outsideisfree (at Waipi'o Valley)

I travel to other places that are other planets. Around me is indistinct and dreamlike and hazy and vague and dim. But I can pinpoint The exact moment It felt real. . . #triathlon #swimbikerun #cycling #bicycle #biking #bike #travelbybike #travel #adventure #nature #ironmantraining #training #fitness #pacific #ocean #mountains #adventurecycling #biketouring #cycle #bike #california #wordplay (at Pacific Coast Highway)

#TBT (Oct. 8, 2011) I had just moved to Kona, Hawaii a month earlier. A coworker asked if I could volunteer for Ironman -so I did. I watched until nearly midnight, as the stars glittered over the calm waters, as ordinary people just complete something that was anything but. When I took this photo, I had no idea who the person in it was. I still don't. It doesn't matter. The greatest thing about this sport is that it could be anyone in this picture. It begs the question, "Why not? Why not me?" So, dear reader. I beg of you. Why not YOU? #triathlon #ironmantri #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #running #athlete #fitness #training #kona #hawaii #goals #ironmantraining #marathon #cycle #cycling #biking #motivation @ironmantri @whywetri (at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)