This past Sunday, I did the Iron Girl duathalon! 2 miles running, 22 miles biking, and then another 2 miles of running!
If you would have told me 12 months ago that I would be running/biking in a race, I would have laughed and thought you were smoking the funny pipe. But, when my neighbor, Maria organized a group of women she knew, to join her on this fitness challenge, I thought, why the heck not?
This fitness challenge really kicked my butt into gear! I worked with a trainer, I worked out 3-6 days a week, I ate healthy, I made new friends, and I started to really enjoy living healthier.
Here’s a picture of part of our group. We all trained with Danielle Pellicano of Pellicano Endurance Coaching. Here we are waiting for the race to begin!
More of our Pellicano Endurance Training group!
And even more from our Pellicano crew:
If you didn’t notice, BOY, was it cold! 37 degress when I left the house at 5:00AM! This is my neighbor, Maria, who invited all her FABULOUS friends to be a part of this journey with her. She inspired us all to sign up and then DO IT! If not for Maria, I would have never signed up for this great event!
Since we had to wait 2 hours from when we racked our bikes until the time our wave of racers began, I brought banana bread for breakfast!
It’s a HUGE event with thousands of athletes! Check out all these women taking off at the start of the race!
With these kids cheering for you, you can’t help but give it your ALL.
Look at these cute little cheery cheer-ers!
Since the race is 4 miles of running with a 22 mile bike ride in the middle, have a good bike is KEY to crossing the finish line. I biked the race in this little baby – a hybrid beach cruiser. The FASTEST it can go is 12-15 miles an hour – and that’s on flat lands with me BOOKING IT. The route we biked was HILLY. I think they must have picked the hilliest spot in all of Minnesota to have the race, as there was a hill every 100 yards. And by the 5th mile of biking, my gears were already making noises. The only gears that really worked were gears 1, 2 & 7. Riding on a beach cruiser uphill is already hard, but with only 3 gears? I simultaneously prayed that the gears would break down so that I would have an excuse NOT to finish the race AND at the same time, I also prayed for them NOT to break down so that I COULD finish the race. I guess I must have prayed a little harder for them NOT to break down, as I DID make it!
Hubby was such a trooper – waiting around for 2+ hours while I road around and HOPING that he could snap a quick pick of me IF he could pick me out of a sea of thousands of women. He found me!
The time I felt the BEST was in the last 50 feet of the race – there was this little boy standing behind the fence and he had his hand out to HIGH FIVE me. We made eye contact, and I knew I HAD to run by and high five him! As soon as I HIGH FIVED him, I felt such a huge relief, and I was so happy, I had tears in my eyes as I crossed the finish line.
I later found out that the little boy was the son of one of the women I had trained with all summer! More tears. I am such a cryer these days! You might not be able to tell with the sun shining on me, but there are tears in those eyes!
What an AMAZING experience! I am so grateful to have such a great friend in my neighbor, Maria, who put together a group of her most FAB friends, encouraged us, inspired us, and believed in us! This experience was such a HUGE gift – something I never would have done on my own. Thank you!
And, we couldn’t have done it without our FABULOUS Coach – Coach Danielle Pellicano, of Pellicano Endurance Coaching. Thank you Coach D for training us, whipping us into shape and pushing us beyond what we thought we were capable of! Because of you, I dare call myself an athlete!
A rare picture of our coach that day:
JUST DO IT!
XOXO
-Daisy Nguyen
Minneapolis Fashion Blogger and proud athlete!
PS – Coach D convinced a bunch of us to sign up for the Twin Cities Medtronic 10 miler in two weeks! Call me crazy (or BANANAS!)
Congrats and good for you! That is an accomplishment. The sign that says “You Kick Ashpalt” is adorable 🙂
H&K – I know, all the kids had signs, and they’re so cute! Can’t help but do your darndest BEST!
XOXO
-Daisy
Super cool post! I was waiting for it 😉 You are an iron girl!
http://doitnaturalnow.blogspot.com.es/
Thanks Raquel! I’m so glad I DID IT!
XOXO
-Daisy
WAY TO GO!!! What an awesome accomplishment! You rock. I think I want to try a duathalon now…
It was so fun -find a group of women to train with and sign up with – that made all the difference in the world!
XOXO
-Daisy
Big well done to you! That’s a great accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself :-))
NLxx
http://www.transformationforme.blogspot.com
Thanks NL – something I never thought I’d be able to do!
XOXO
-Daisy
That is awesome! Congratulations.
Thanks Neisa! I’m looking forward to the 10 miler!
XOXO
Daisy
so cool girl !!!! and thanks for your sweet comments !!!!! i always like to read what u wrote to me ….so sweet !!!!!! have a nice day !!!!!
Thanks Kelly!
XOXO
-Daisy
What an accomplishment! I haven’t heard of this particular race before this post. It seems to be very challenging! You should be very proud of yourself for accomplishing so much. It took a lot of discipline to get you to the finish line. Congratulations!
Thanks Debbi!
XOXO
-Daisy
GO!!!! gals!!!!xxx
Thanks Street!
XOXO
-Daisy
So proud of you, Daisy! What an accomplishment!
Thanks Oksana!
XOXO
-Daisy
oh wow CONGRATULATIONS!! that’s simply amazing! I’ve done a half marathon.. but in no way think i could ever do an iron race!
wewearthings
Thanks Issa! I’m actually looking forward to a 10miler now! I think that’s my MAX capacity though – 10 miles!
XOXO
-Daisy
That’s such an amazing achievement! Wish I had your motiviation…
LUXESSED
Anouka – there’s a time & a place for everything!
XOXO
-Daisy
Congratulations! Great pictures 🙂
A&K – Thank you!
XOXO
-Daisy
Wow, congratulations! I’ve never done anything like that so I can’t even imagine how accomplished you must feel…you go girl!
xx,
Paisley
paisleynotplaid
Thanks Paisley – the duathalon is actually easier than it looks IF you have a decent bike. I’m positive that you could do it too!
XOXO
-Daisy
It looks cold!! I bet you are so glad you did that though!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
It was FREEZING! Thank god I had my gals with me!
XOXO
-Daisy
Congrats girl!!!
Thanks Susel!
XOXO
-Daisy
WHOA! Rock star!!!! So impressive!
Thanks Danavee!
XOXO
-Daisy
Daisy, Wow! You continue to amaze and inspire me! I can’t wait to see your MedTronic look. Love, Kristi
Thanks Kristi! It was a great event!
XOXO
-Daisy
You’re amazing! Congrats on the marathon! 🙂
xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Thanks Maylee! LOVED being a part of it!
XOXO
-Daisy
Congratulations…what a great achievement. I have a triathlon loving husband so I know how much work it takes. xx
Thanks Bron! It was so much fun to train with a group of women – I would highly recommend that to anyone!
XOXO
-Daisy
Congratulations!! That is such an amazing accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself 🙂
xoxo Alison
http://www.stylingmylife.com
Thanks Alison! I enjoyed it a lot more since I did it with such a great group of women! Would highly recommend it to anyone!
XOXO
-Daisy
You go Daisy! Iron Girl! 🙂
Thanks Oanh – I would recommend this race – and do it with a group of friends!
XOXO
-Daisy