This Girls Got Goals

  TLDR: An 11-minute PR in my 13th 70.3!!  It definitely wasn't Lucky #13, though.  I did the work, collected the puzzle pieces, and was able to put them together on race day!!   Pre-Race I drove to Cambridge on Friday, which was the first day of my carb-loading plan.  Having taken the Carb-Loading Masterclass in The Triathlon Nutrition Academy and practicing/ramping it for several weeks.  I wrote my plan, packed a cooler, and got on the road!  I made it to town in time to check in, do my pre-race run, and swim familiarization.  On Saturday, I got up to do my pre-race safety check bike ride and then met up with fellow Team Zooters as they did their pre-race shake-out run.   Race Morning As usual, I set three goals for this race, but I needed to protect my mental game on the run.  So I only set the 3 goals for swim and bike.  Instead of a goal for the run, I made myself a promise.  At this race, I was also going to be testing the nutrition and hydration plans I had written based on

I am 4 weeks away from my first IM70.3 of 2023, so it is time to collect your inspirational sayings, mantras. songs, and verses. I am going to be doing my Inspirational Tattoos a little differently this year. In 2023 I have 5 BIG races that I will want your inspiration for: 1. Oceanside 70.3 - April 1 2. Eagleman 70.3 - June 11 3. Aquabike Worlds in Spain - Sept 22 4. North Carolina 70.3 - Oct 21 5. Long Course Aquabike Nationals - Dec 3 If you donate to this fundraiser, your inspiration will be included in all remaining race tattoos. So if you donate before April 1st, you will be included in all 5 of these races. Placement will be determined by the amount you donate. The more you donate, the more prominent placement you will get. 2 ways to donate: 1. Facebook Fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/donate/451964030445652/ 2. Donor Drive Fundraiser: https://ironmanfoundation.donordrive.com/participant/erinbyrge2023 3 ways to get me your inspirational message: 1. Comment on you

  Pre-Race On April 30th, Chris Kenon messaged me asking me to be her Battle Buddy and join her for this race.  If you know me, you know it did not take much thought before I was IN!  Travel + Triathlon = Happy Erin!!  Rumors were that this is a fast course with good chances for a PR.  I asked her to join me on Team IMF for this race!  She got to work right away and raised over $1800 for the Foundation!  We also traveled with fellow Team Zooter - Chandler Carranza, our Coach - Sami Winter, and Sami's Fiance (and bike mechanic) Charlie!  It was a quick trip flying to California on Friday, Racing on Sunday, and Home by Monday!  We stayed at a VRBO near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which worked out perfectly! On Saturday we did our bike safety ride and then dropped off all of our things.  At this race, you have to dip your wetsuit in a chlorine bath and leave it at T1 along with your bike and bike bag.  The Run bag goes to T2, which we coordinated with the Team IMF Q&A with the

  Shortly after racing IM70.3 North Carolina in 2021 as part of Team IMF (IRONMAN Foundation), I got a phone call from one of the Foundation staff members asking if I wanted to represent the Foundation in St. George at the IM70.3 World Championships in 2022.  Having raced IM World Championship in Kona in a Charily Spot (for Women for Tri in 2016), I was excited about the prospect, but a little nervous that I could still fundraise at that level.  The fundraising commitment for the 70.3 World Championships is $15,000 and I would have 10 months to get it done.   Before I can tell you about the race and race week, I need to say THANK YOU!!!!  As a community, we raised over $17,500 for the Ironman Foundation ! Whether you donated directly, sponsored or participated in my indoor triathlon, participated in my Top in Topsail Raffle, or Sponsored a Mile for one of my many races - THANK YOU!!!  I would not have been able to get to this start line without your generosity!  Your donations are bei

  It is almost time for the BIG ONE!  The race that I have been fundraising for and working towards since November of last year: the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah!  As an Ironman Foundation Ambassador, all of my Ironman brand races have me RACING FOR MORE, but this one is the pinnacle.  I am proud to be representing IMF and all of the good that can come from their initiatives.  With that in mind, I am asking you to sponsor a mile during this race.   For each of my IRONMAN races this year, I have taken your inspiration and printed it on tattoo paper to put on my arms and legs so that I can see it while I am riding and running.  When the going gets tough, these notes remind me that I am doing the race for more than myself!   Will you consider sponsoring a mile to help MAKE AN IMPACT and leave a quote or advice to inspire me during 70.3 St. George on October 28, 2022? Here is how: 1.  Choose the mile(s) you'd like to sponsor below.   *link to this spreadsheet

  Pre-Race This was my third time racing at White Lake, but my first time in the fall and my first time doing it as an Aquabike.  Since it is only 1.5 hours from the house, I just drive over the morning of the event and have plenty of time to get set up and get my goals posted.  Here is what I posted this time:  I posted 3 goals, two that were time goals, because that is what I always do... but I wasn't totally transparent in the post.  I was doing this Aquabike race with ONE MISSION and that mission was to WIN! Earlier this year, I did my first Aquabike at the  Crystal Coast Half Booty  because a half marathon run was not smart that close to IM70.3 Virginia Blue Ridge, but I really wanted to do the race.  While the finish line experience for Aquabike is still not the same as triathlon, it planted a bug in my brain since I am strongest at swimming and biking and I won that race.  After chatting with friends that have been to WTC World's and stalking the USAT rankings , I knew

  Pre-Race It is "top-off" season with the Jeep, so I really enjoyed most of the drive to Roanoke on Thursday.  I did have to dodge a bit of a storm that I caught the edge of, but I don't melt and I never had to put the bikini top on :-)  I splurged for this race and stayed at the hotel that was across the street from transition - If you are considering this race, I HIGHLY recommend staying at Spring Hills Suites because of the location and how amazing they were to the athletes.  They even had breakfast out for us at 2am on race day!!  On Friday, I drove the course and had dinner with Team IMF and a few other Tri-Friends that were in town for the race.  I was enjoying the company too much and forgot to take pictures at dinner.    On Saturday, my awesome strength coach (Brandon Ostrander of CTG Endurance ) lead the TEAM IMF athletes and a few other friends in some activating exercises to get us prepped for race day.  I did my shake-out run and safety bike check before drop