Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

5 crazy, wonderful memories from Ironman training

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Ironman training is a crazy and amazing experience.  From seven hour bike rides with friends, to 3 hour plods at what is your best attempt at a run, to endless hours staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool.  During every Ironman training cycle there are little stories that happen.  I don’t want to forget them, but they may not make their way into a blog post.  These are five stories I don’t want to forget from Ironman Boulder training this year.

  1. When I got my acceptance letter to my top school at Vermillion Lakes on a bike ride with friends.  We stopped to go through one of the animal gates, I quickly checked my phone, and got the good news!IMG_7891
  2. I remember one incredibly rainy and cold ride to Bragg Creek and back with friends.  I’m not sure I have ever been so cold on my bike before.  My hands were so frozen that I was unable to unbuckle my helmet when I got back to my car!  I needed a friend to unbuckle it for me!IMG_8001
  3. My friend Danny, who isn’t training for a race, yet still joined me on many of my long rides.  I don’t know very many people that would ride 180 km just because!  He would often bring mint chocolate rice crispy treats for post long ride snacks.IMG_8735
  4. Amy and I rescuing a cat from a coyote on our first ride together.  We spotted a very friendly cat (who had tried to stow away in someone’s car) with a coyote lurking nearby.  We found his home and returned him to his owner!IMG_8579
  5. Getting caught in a huge downpour/thunderstorm on a long run around Glenmore Reservoir with my friend Wendy, then needing to be rescued because we were a good 5 miles away from my car.  Thankfully my friend Tara was able to pick us up!!IMG_8640

Most noteworthy, one thread that weaves all of these stories together is friendship.  Many wonderful people helped to make Ironman training memorable and special this year, so thank you to all of you!

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Share a memorable story from your training this summer!

I’m linking up with Courtney from Eat Pray Run, DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What and Mar at Mar on the Run for their Friday Five Link Up!

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Comments

  1. 1

    What a fun and positive post to wake up to this morning! I’m so happy that you let me tag along on one of your training rides-you really helped me find my cycling spark and I’ll be forever grateful. I wish we had connected years ago. I am so happy that you are excited for Ironman next month and going back to school, but I’ll miss you. Best of luck!!

    • 2

      I’m glad you liked the post! I really loved our ride together…and what a memorable story about that adorable friendly cat! I am so happy to hear that you are loving cycling. You get to see and explore so much on the bike! I hope we can get out for another ride once I am back.
      Leaving Calgary is definitely bitter sweet. I will miss you too!!
      Runner Leana recently posted…5 crazy, wonderful memories from Ironman trainingMy Profile

  2. 3

    I have the day marked in my calendar to cheer you on and obsessively check where you are. I hope you have the best day ever out there! It’s only fitting since you’ve been training so well for this. I’d been thinking that of course we’d be able to at least get in a run or bike ride during your training but that didn’t happen. Sigh. A swim happened though! Enjoy the experience!
    Keith recently posted…Gradual build triumph!My Profile

  3. 5

    It is always nice to have a friend to train w you when they have no need for it. That’s how you know they are a good friend. My running buddy and I are like that. One of us are always training for something while the other one just keeps them company during their training.
    lacey recently posted…I Got the Golden Ticket! ( and a vlog)My Profile

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