Just for fun, since making souvenir toys is my business, made one for the baby to keep!  Thought it would be cool for you guys to see our Timex Bear :)

This past week I did a podcast interview with the guys over at Endurance Hour. Dave Erickson and Roger Thompson chatted with myself and fellow XTERRA pro Emma Garrard. We chatted about Lance Armstrong, on road vs off road racing, sponsors and what it means to be a professional triathlete, ITU Cross Triathlon, and much more. Click the image below to listen…

Last weekend I had the pleasure of watching the Olympic Marathon trials.  Call me crazy but there is something magical and mesmerizing about watching the best runners is the US work for two plus hours displaying perfect form.

Seen in the headlines is only 2 time Marathoner Shalene Flanagan breaking the Olympic trial record and Kara Goucher going back to the Olympics just 18 months after giving birth.  What wasn’t apparent in the headlines is the previous record holder to Shalene.

30 year old Flanagan, broke the 8-year-old Olympic Trials Record of none other than Colleen De Rouck.  Who is Colleen you ask?  8 years ago she set the Record at the age of 39.  This year she placed 35^th at the age of 47 out of 180 woman who qualified to race trials.  The next time you run a marathon, tell me how many 47 year olds you see that can qualify for the Olympic trials running a 2:30 marathon.  Simply amazing!

As I turned 40 in November of last year, contemplating what the future holds for me regarding the Ironman I can’t help but be motivated and inspired by Colleen and others.  Just 2 years ago at the age of 45 she finished 8^th in the Boston Marathon.  She didn’t grab a headline or a podium finish but her longevity speaks volumes for those of you thinking……it’s been a long time since my last PR.

Before racing the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona this year I was determined to knock off 6 minutes and break the amateur world record.  A big task?  Consider, there were only 2 women in the history of the event that have ever broken the 10-hour barrier in Kona at the age of 40.  Karen Smyers and Fernanda Keller (according to my husbands research).  Somehow, I was convinced I could break the big 10!  Maybe it’s me hanging on to my youth, maybe it’s my husband who calculates my splits, maybe I simply think I’m only one year older, or maybe I just can’t give into age holding me back.  In the end I joined them in breaking the sub 10 hour barrier at the age of 40 along with Beate Goertz also in my age group and Natasha Badman who raced Pro!  My finishing time was eleven minutes faster then our previous age group world record!  However, Goertz at the age of 42 topped everyone and  is now the Amateur IM World Record holder!

As we get older we look back on our accomplishments with many of them seeming like they were a long, long time ago.  Chalk up slowing times to age or joints that aren’t as smooth.  Our lives continue to get busier with children and our careers.   I reflect on my Ironman last year wondering where the road leads.  I sat back and watched Colleen in awe.  A 2:36 marathon trials, a 2:30 qualifier at the age of 47.  Are you kidding me?  She may not know it but she just lit a fire in this 40 year old.  Thanks Colleen, for your inspiration.  Thanks to her husband Darren, who coached me a few years ago.  Thanks to all of you over 40 who are still giving it your all and have the dream.   Many people ask me if I’m done racing in Kona, but my heart, spirit and smile tell them I haven’t seen the last of the Queen K.

…I was welcomed onto the most prestigious team in the world of triathlon. Today, I am still honored to be a part of this incredible family and cannot imagine my world without the Timex Multisport Team.

Throughout the years, we have had many different sponsors and supporters. Each of them has brought something different to the table and has allowed all of us to try something new and excited from year to year. We normally run our major sponsors for 2 concurrent years and 2012 was a year to re-sign or find something else. After lots of great chats, our team manager did what was best for the overall group and brought on some new and exciting brands!

The first major change was our bike sponsor! Partnering with American Bicycle Group would mean that the triathletes would the flying on the new and improved Quintana Roos and the roadie’s and off-roadie’s would be smashing it on Litespeeds. I’m very excited about this as I’ve never ridden a Litespeed and our contacts at ABG are extremely eager to work directly with the athletes. From mountain bikes to road bikes to cyclocross bikes, look for some great product review posts throughout the season on my new hardware :)

The second major sponsor change for 2012 was our clothing provider. Champion System offers a variety of custom clothing for all types of athletes. With a strong cycling and triathlon background, it was a no brainer that CS would be a great fit for the team. If you haven’t jumped on Facebook and seen the sneak peek pics of our new kits, I’d highly suggest it…we’re gonna be one sharp looking team this season!

New all around for the Timex Multisport Team in 2012 is a bicycle tire sponsor. Challenge is an extremely well known brand in the cycling world and has a reputation for having some of the best tubulars (sewups) on the market. Not only do they have a sweet selection of cyclocross tires, they are also one of the only company’s to produce a tubular mountain bike tire. This will definitely be a first for me but I’m really excited to give it a go!

This picture says it all doesn't it?

I think it’s good to try something new.  Whether it’s a 5K running race, triathlon, Ironman, or even just a workout, it allows us to learn about ourselves – and ultimately make us a little bit stronger.  A lot of us are experienced athletes, but it’s always good to do something you have never done.  It’s a great way to learn about yourself right?

 Each year I do a few unique workouts that come out of left field to spice up my training.  This year to ring in 2012, my swim workout was simple: swim 12,000 meters freestyle (for 2012) without stopping at all.  And that is exactly what I did. 

When my good friend and 2004 Olympian triathlete Susan Williams heard what I was going to do, she asked if she could join me (most of the time I do these things solo).  Before we knew it, we were both standing at the edge of the 50m University of Denver pool at 6:05AM.  With a few Power Gels and Oatmeal to fuel the day, I started my Timex Race Trainer, we both dove in, and 3 hours and 4 minutes later I was done.  Yes, it was all freestyle – I didn’t even stop to get a drink.  I thought about kicking for a 1000 or doing different strokes, but I really wanted to make it as mentally challenging as I could.   Most of the time I really was trying not to lose count of my laps!  We finished in time that we both could make church with our families – a well planned workout for a Sunday morning.  Afterward I was a little sore in the arms, but mostly hungry!

 Below are some brief stats:

 University of Denver Pool

12,000 meters freestyle

7.4 miles

Approx. 12,480 strokes

239 flip turns

Think about a workout or race you’ve never done before and just do it.  You’ll be happy you did.

 Train safe,

Tim