on our minds...

Below are things we need to do to get prepared and trained:
· Purchase a road bike & cycling supplies
· Purchase a wetsuit
· Find a training program & learn the terminology
· Stop using snooze
· Get back in the pool. Of course, open water swims during the summer regardless of potential diseases from the bacteria-infested Lake Michigan.
· Take long bike rides (to date our current longest is 25 miles - only done 5 times)
· Learn how to fuel our bodies
· Do more cross-training
· Lessen (not eliminate) our 3 a.m. party nights. We’ll adopt our dad’s belief that “nothing good comes after 11 p.m.” And yes, we know that we will be too tired and not in the mood for late-night socializing.

What kind of impact will our crazy decision have during the next year?
· Decreased wealth (registration, road bike, cycling supplies, running shoes, swimsuits, wetsuit, training classes, training races...)
· Decreased time (sleeping, relaxing, socializing….)
· Decreased flexibility in eating
· BUT, Increased health and fitness

So, why did we sign up for Ironman Wisconsin 2008?
· Marathons lost its allure! For some odd reason, we’re okay with the “hidden” marathon in the Ironman.
· We want a new challenge. Good thing we decided to go with one of the most, if not “the” most, difficult challenge.
· Madison needs a chance to redeem itself in endurance events. The 2006 Mad City Marathon should have closed prior to the race because of hot weather as opposed to 5 hours into it. Unfortunately, we had already pained ourselves through it.
· An IRONMAN BODY…enough said!
· Bragging rights for a lifetime
· Who doesn’t want to hear...”(insert name), you are an Ironman!”
· A potentially 17-hour workout lets us of the hook from exercising for 7 weeks (assuming 30-minute workouts, 5 times a week…we rounded up)
· We love Madison & have a lot of memories here. It is the home of our grandparents, aunt and uncle as well as UW-Madison (Kirstin’s alma mater). Since Chicago doesn’t host an Ironman, we couldn’t think of a better place.

Ways you can support us?
· Recommendations on brands, gear, training, nutrition…ANYTHING. Any advice, suggestions, or words of wisdom would be much appreciated.
· Be part of our cheering squad - “Team 140.6isters!” Keep in mind, this is not specific to the actual event, we anticipate needing help throughout our training season. We’ll give you ideas!

MEET brItt & kIrstIn:

In 2006 and 2007, we traveled to Madison to watch the amazing athletes who participate in the IRONMAN. Even as spectators, we were emotionally moved and inspired. 140.6 miles…how could you not? This past year we walked away completely exhausted, and we were just spectators! Granted we had woken up early to see the swim take off as well as stayed up late to watch the last official finisher cross the line. Maybe we got caught up in all of the emotions or maybe we were delusional from a long day of cheering, but we ended up doing something completely insane. We woke up the next morning Monday, September 10th at 4:30am and headed to Minona Terrace to reserve our spots in Ironman Wisconsin 2008. Are we excited? Absolutely. Are we nervous? Even more so.

We are experienced marathoners and grew up swimming competitively. However, our triathlon experience is limited (2 International-distance, 2 Sprint-distance, and 1 International-distance team…all done on mountain bikes). But we have a history of jumping into things unprepared and uninformed!

Such as:
· Marathons: which we began running only after signing up for our first marathon. Prior to that, we had never participated in a race.
· Summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, Africa): reached Kili’s summit of 19,340 meters with a limited hiking background. Our previous hiking experience consisted of a 3-hour day hike on Mt. Rainier, a 90-minute climb up Grouse Mountain, a drive around Mount St. Helens, and weekly runs up Cricket Hill (Chicago).
· Brikham Yoga (this is yoga in a 105º room): our first yoga class. For the first session, we weren’t hydrated and we showed up without a towel or mat. And, after going over a dozen times, we still look like first-timers.

While our decision to sign up for the Ironman was somewhat brash, we are determined to get as prepared as possible. We want to finish within the 17-hour mark! But if we can do it faster, all the better. But more importantly, we want to ENJOY the journey.