Where are they now: Former women’s soccer player Lara Anderson Coffee ’97...

It was great to be recognized by my Alma Mater Campbell University for my Ironman achievement. Check out what they had to say about me; Where are they now: Former women’s soccer player Lara Anderson Coffee ’97.            For more Run Stroller Run family and stroller friendly races updates, training woes, pictures and more, check out: Twitter: Run Stroller Run Twitter: Lara Coffee Facebook: Run Stroller Run Pinterest: Run Stroller Run Google+: Run Stroller Run Hashtag...

Goal Setting My 2012 Race Schedule...

With the end of 2011 approaching rapidly, I finally got on the ball and finalized my 2012 race schedule not just for motivations purposes, but I needed to set goals other than trying to conceive our third child.  After the birth our son in February 2010, Brett and I decided that over the course of the next couple of years, my triathlons would be limited to Sprints and Olympic (International) distances.  Not would this allow me time to recover from the first pregnancy, but we knew we wanted to try for our second within a short period of time of having our first. Before getting into my race schedule let me give some background history. The 2010 season began; I received approval six weeks after giving birth from my doctor to begin exercising and four weeks later I was competing in my first triathlon of the season and to top it off it was my first Mother’s Day.  Throughout the season, I competed in five triathlons (Sprint and Olympic) and two running races, while Brett completed in his first two half Ironman’s. When the season came to a close in late October 2010  – for me, I was almost ready to begin trying for a second baby.  With a bit more convincing from my hubby, we began trying in January 2011. We are planners and very much goal oriented people, so Brett and I were trying to “ensure” the birth of the second child did not come to close to his first Ironman, which was held November 28, 2011.  I really wanted to be there to support him. So low and behold, we got pregnant for the second time in May 2011. Perfect right?!?! I was due to give birth in February 2012, which...

10 Things a Sherpa Needs to Do or Not Do on Race Day...

[category_specific_rss_menu] As I wrote in my one of my more recent post, I was a Sherpa for my hubby who just completed his first Ironman in Cozumel.  It was such an experience, but as I mentioned I was not fully prepared for my Sherpa duties.  With that being said, if you are planning on being someone’s Sherpa for an endurance race, here are some things I learned that I thought I would pass along, so you do not make the same mistakes I did. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Yes, nutrition is just as important for you as your racer.  You are preparing for a potentially 17-20 hour day and you need to eat and drink appropriately. Hydrate!  This is not an easy spectator’s sport; you will be doing a lot of exercising yourself. Unfortunately for me, I did not think that far ahead. I did bring enough water and Gatorade, but nothing else edible. Good thing one of our Team Z cheer run stations was located at our hotel where I was able to grab couple of Cliff Bars. Map Out Route. Before the actual day of the race, look over the course map or even drive it to scope out where you want to be to see your racer. Very important, logistics on race day might be more difficult because there might be road closure due to the race. Even though the coaches had several meeting with the Sherpa’s on where to go, it did not seem to matter.  I still did not park my scooter on the right side of the road of the swim start; thus making it to a couple of cheer stations impossible. Bring Sunscreen. If you think you don’t need it. Think again. You will be burned and not...

No Longer an Ironman Sherpa Virgin Dec12

No Longer an Ironman Sherpa Virgin...

[category_specific_rss_menu] For anyone who has not had the opportunity to cheer someone on during a 140.6 mile event; it is such an inspiring and great experience. But, let me tell you, it’s a long, drawn out day, requiring its own endurance. From dealing with your future Ironman’s stress for two weeks prior to the race, to the day of the race ungodly 4 am wake-up call to the 7am swim-start to the long bike, followed by a marathon, the Ironman Sherpa’s day is every bit as long and in many ways just as demanding as it is for the athletes. I can’t say I logged as many miles in running as my Ironman, but I at least got a good 10 miles in walking. Not to mention the fact that the real work doesn’t even begin until after your designated athlete crosses the finish line, when you must assist them in finding the bike transport – which took me nearly an hour, who knew the bike transport would be located in a dark alley with no lights or signage – while also providing a shoulder for the staggering, sometimes incoherent finisher to lean on. For the record, Brett was not incoherent; he was just sore and had the Ironman shuffle. Then figuring out how get your finisher back to the hotel with a lack of cab service in Cozumel – but, thanks to our new friend Toro we got a cab and my hubby got some very smooth tequila – the dispensing of Advil and feeding my hubby back at the hotel – and after 140.6 miles, this is important work indeed. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, we went to Cozumel, Mexico with Team Z for my hubby’s Brett’s first Ironman, Ford Ironman Cozumel.  If...

Trike Bike National Championship – Go Team Z Jul20

Trike Bike National Championship – Go Team Z...

  Family road trip to the Finger Lakes of NY for a triathlon weekend with Team Z. My hubby and I really enjoyed Musselman weekend last year, so we ensured that we put it on the calendar for this year. We left early on Friday morning for our 7 hour road trip because we had to ensure I registered for my race on Saturday, but most important that my husbnad could register for the Trike bike national champions that took place on Friday evening. Yes, I said Trike bike. We searched for about a week to borrow a Big Wheel or a Trike bike for my husband to borrow, but unfortunately we do not have friends that still own Trike bikes. So Thursday evening, hubby headed to Target and bought an original Big Wheel.  Once hubby put it together and C2 got wind of it, he was beside himself. Hubby told C2, “If Daddy does not break it, it is definitely yours.” We made it just in time for Hubby to register for the race, get to the hotel and get prepared for the Trike Bike nationals (Swim 100 yards, Trike Bike 0.6 miles, and Run 0.2 miles). We arrived at the race site, the race was taken place at 7:00 PM. Racers brought their costumes and Trike bikes; what a scene. C2 and another future Team Z’er P. (18 mos. old) were so excited to see all these bikes that they believed were for them.   C2 had a blast playing with them until they called time for the race to start then C2 had a minor melt down because Daddy took his “bike” away. The rules for the bike; a helmet was required and the racers bottoms had to stay on the seats...