#imdesmoines703

Sadly, Iwill not be quoting Tony Stark this fall at #imchattanooga. I've been lucky in that the inconveniences corvid 19 have caused me (so far) are mostly the minor kind—events canceled, trips called off, not being able to stop and pet random dogs . . . But after missing a month of pool time at the gym, I'm not going to push my luck when it comes to swimming 2.4 miles down the Tennessee River, so I have deferred my Ironman to next year. I was looking forward to a full year of being healthy and seeing what this old, worn-out body of mine could do despite all it's been through the past couple years. But even my yearly cancer screening has been postponed because of all that's going on in the world. So instead of feeling disappointed, I'll refocus my training in hopes of running a marathon later in the year and shoot for last year's missed goal: the 4-hour mark. There might still be a triathlon at some point, though I expect events that I'm already signed up for, like the #imdesmoines703, to be canceled or postponed until next year. So no more #ironmantraining updates for now. Though, that doesn't mean I won't be out running (there are lots of virtual races) and biking and finding ways to enjoy the warming weather. Hope everyone stays safe and healthy. #cancersurvior #cardiacarrestsurvivor https://www.instagram.com/p/B-bcy5EFvmN/?igshid=1nevzzmaf7r4j

27 weeks until #imchattanooga (& 14 until #imdesmoines703) Despite all that’s going on in the world, I am trying to maintain some sense of normalcy by continuing with #ironmantraining. And since the weather has been getting nicer, I’m starting to ramp up my running a little. Think this is the most miles I’ve ran and biked in a week so far this year. Hoping to top it next week. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor #airplanearms Powered by: @asics @orbeabicycles @nuunhydration @vega_team @untappedmaple @boston_scientific_mena https://www.instagram.com/p/B-EBkzQnI6n/?igshid=rug48ua7qp7b

28 weeks until #imchattanooga (& 15 until #imdesmoines703) And I wish I would have gotten in more swimming this past week. My #ironmantraining will be taking a hit as the YMCAs in the Twin Cities are closed for at least a couple weeks because of the corona virus. It was a bummer that races have been getting canceled, and now ... just means I’ll need to add in more strength training and swimming-related exercises. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor #airplanearms Powered by: @asics @orbeabicycles @nuunhydration @vega_team @untappedmaple @boston_scientific_mena https://www.instagram.com/p/B9x_-A3HlhX/?igshid=18sjosc452wi2

30 weeks until #imchattanooga (17 until #imdesmoines703) Two months of #ironmantraining down and the miles just keep adding up, even at swimming. And this is when the fun truly begins. The nice weather means I don’t have to rely on the treadmill and bike trainer to get my miles in. I’ve been able to bump up my long runs up to 10+ miles and once the bike trails are free of ice and snow I can get my racing wheel set on and start cruising. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor #airplanearms Powered by: @asics @orbeabicycles @nuunhydration @vega_team @untappedmaple @boston_scientific_mena https://www.instagram.com/p/B9OGHuHH15T/?igshid=2qdehkmfmto0

31weeks until #imchattanooga (17 until #imdesmoines703) A down week of #ironmantraining—just wasn’t feel the best, but at least ended the week with a bike ride on the gorgeous day. Hopefully the nice weather holds to boost my motivation. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor #airplanearms Powered by: @asics @orbeabicycles @nuunhydration @vega_team @untappedmaple @boston_scientific_mena https://www.instagram.com/p/B876GiMnLSI/?igshid=1koruj0ckwf9r

32 weeks until #imchattanooga (& 18 until #imdesmoines703) Got off to a slow start this week of #ironmantraining and missed a couple runs, mostly because of the frigid temps, but there is some warm weather just around the corner. Running outside is so much more enjoyable than the dreadmill, and I can’t wait to finally go for a long ride outside instead of grinding away on my trainer. Of course, the weather won’t help my swimming, but it’s coming along. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor #airplanearms https://www.instagram.com/p/B8pwybtHrLV/?igshid=3v43cqkezkhs

34 weeks until #imchattanooga (& 20 until #imdesmoines703) As I post my weekly #ironmantraining updates, I sometimes worry I’ve made this recovering-from-a-cardiac arrest thing look easy (and I won’t even go into that annoyance called cancer). It’s not, especially not for people who aren’t as lucky as I have been. While frustrating there in no known cause for what happened, I was lucky in that there were no underlying issues. Lucky to have been healthy enough at the onset to recover as quickly as I have. Lucky @pixiep75 was there when all this began. Lucky to have family with me in the hospital when I came too. And lucky for the continuing support of friends, who have helped bolster me more than I can ever thank them for. Okay, maybe that stubbornness I inherited from my mother fueled some of my determination when it came to all this training. But this journey back to being healthy is not over simply because I can run a sub-7 minute mile or go on a 50-mile bike ride. Physically it may look simple, but there are still struggles, continue to be struggles, will always be struggles, and I am grateful for all the luck that has been bestowed upon me so that I can muddle my way through them. I only hope that anyone who suffers something similar is as lucky because it is anything but easy. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor https://www.instagram.com/p/B8GGuT1HM52/?igshid=rtlairme943v

35 weeks until #imchattanooga (& 21 until #imdesmoines703) Probably had my best week in #ironmantraining so far. Granted, I haven’t been at it long, but got in some good rides, both on the trainer and out in this snowy wonderland, and I even hit the pool three times-a first! My running miles slipped a little, but this coming week there is another #winterwarmup at the US Bank Stadium, so I’ll be logging in some solid miles then. #cardiacarrestsurvivor #cancersurvivor https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zdePOnO5O/?igshid=6nfd4gxleeso