BHAG 2026 - Working the Plan

I had some big goals in 2025 and was able to successfully completely the two major ones.  My first marathon went alright but definitely a lot of room for improvement with my nutrition and speed.  My 5th 1/2 Ironman Triathlon also went alright with room to improve speed in all three disciplines especially the bike, and definitely more fine tuning on the nutrition.

I have tentatively joined the Ames Masters swim team.  I went to swim with the crew at the urging of a friend and I got through a 2200 yard swim with A LOT of stroke work (butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke) and felt okay.  I'll probably go back and try again next week.  Definitely helps that I was a competitive swimmer 35 years ago, and that I swim an hour a week already (2 - 30 minute sessions).  Keeping with my twice a week swims will double my time in the pool.

I also showed up for middle aged soccer.  There is an adult club in town I used to play with but it had been three years.  I made it through almost two hours of playing last Sunday until I started to feel a tad of a strain so I got off the pitch.  I'll take a weekend off and give it another go in November. I was a lot faster when I was doing sprints on the soccer field once a week so this may be part of my building back up my run speed.

So what are my big hairy awesome goals for 2026? Well to continue to work to get stronger, rest when I need to rest, and keep working hard on my fitness and hobbies.  The big one though, is to do an Ironman Triathlon.  I had this on my bucket list for 2021 but we know how that ended up and now I will be five years older and well into my 50s, still fighting MS, but I've proven to myself with preparation is success this year.  So I am on a mission to tackle this BHAG and complete an Ironman Triathlon in 2026.  There is a chance something will stop me from getting there but I believe I can do it so best case scenario I will succeed.  Worst case I will have to try again another year.

Tentative 2026 Race Schedule:

• January 24th - Girls on the Run Indoor Tri - 400 swim, 7 mile bike, 2 mile treadmill run 
• February 7th - Cold outdoor 5k run (will do if no snow) - Speed goal 28 min.
• March 8th (tentative) - Time to Paddy 10k - Goal under one hour.  Alternative race available later in March at the same distance.
• April 25th - Drake Relays Half Marathon (already signed up) - Goal 2:15
• May 17th (Brrr tentative) - Kansas City Olympic Tri - (1500m Swim - 40K Bike - 10K Run)
• June 13th - Ironman 70.3 Boulder - (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run)Tentative System Check - Work nutrition and a strong leg in all three disciplines = Goal under 7 hours
  
• June 28th - Ames sprint triathlon (in my home town)
• August 29th - Clear Lake Olympic Triathlon (tentative)
• October 18th - Ironman Sacramento 140.6 (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) 

Any of my tri friends want to do it with me?  Any friends and family want to come cheer me on?  I am hoping this is a one and done with great conditions and perfect training as I only want to finish one within the allotted time. Then I will have checked off all the triathlon distances and I can just focus on the occasional 70.3 and shorter stuff going forward.                                                                                                                            One thing I know is I will have to work hard.  I will also be fund raising for my MS Society team.  If you didn't donate this year and would like to you can do so at this link: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/604229? 

So my question for you is what BHAG is pestering you?  And what are you going to do about it?  Let's encourage each other to reach our goals and support each other in our discomfort, because in discomfort that is where we grow.  As always thanks for reading.

BHAG - Another 70.3 - Wisconsin 2025

 

Welp another one done.  This was my 5th complete half ironman.  Last year I did the swim on a relay so technically the 6th one I have participated in.

The last complete one I did was in 2019 in Boulder Colorado.  I knew going into this that I had done enough training to get through the race okay, but that I had probably under trained on the bike (story of my 70.3s).

I like this race because it is close to home, we stay with family, and have support on the course to encourage me along.  It was a bit of an overcast day which kept the temps down and that wasn't an issue until the end of the race when I was a bit cold.

I was prepared for a chilly swim so was pleasantly surprised when the water temp with a wetsuit on was nearly perfect.  I wasn't prepared for the weird shoot to get in the water so had to make a train through the masses to get up closer to the front of the swim start with a target time of around 35 minutes. Traffic in the lake wasn't terrible but a lot of people were not swimming straight.  After 40+ years of pool swimming that isn't an issue for me and I generally site and go.  The lake side swim felt strong and then we made the turn to come back along the retaining wall side and it was a bit choppy so I had to really be careful when breathing not to suck lake.  It was just cold enough I didn't have any issues with my bad shoulder and came out of the lake strong for my loopy run up the parking ramp to the bike.

I knew the bike was going to be a challenge for me due to a few things: lack of building up long enough rides to have the mileage in (longest training ride was 30 miles), lack of mental toughness on the bike, and hills... all the hills.  This is a similar course to what I did in 2016 so at least I knew what I was in for but that didn't make it any easier.  I pushed my hydration on the bike to try to get through my salty electrolyte and water bottles.  I also ate a tiny orange and some other small bites to get some food in me on the bike.  I did forget to get some salt capsules in me (had some the night before and first thing in the morning but this caught up with me later in the run). I did see Steve and my cousin Jay early in on the bike but then they were off to disc golf while I ground it out.  I also should have stopped to use the bathroom around mile 40 at the fueling station to make the transition go a tad faster to the run but it worked out.  Did the windy up the ramp to the transition and was pleased to see my friend Leslie there waiting for me.

We chatted while I got my gear sorted to start the run which is probably why I forgot my salt but I wasn't out to set any land speed records on the run.  I used the restroom on the way out and hit the course.  I was run to see several of my triracers teammates on the run even though they were finishing as I was heading out.  My goal for the run was to do it without pain and faster than the 3 hour run I did in 2016.  I did tape my knee to give my IT band and kneecap a little more stability and was glad to have it.

I mile or two in I got to chatting with a doctor who was racing and that distracted us for a 5k or so but the pace was bit faster than I should have been going so make time to stop at the aid stations as needed.  I was having a little hot spot on one foot about half way in but of course all the Vaseline I saw was at the aid stations before I needed it.  I tried to work my plan with my gels for nutrition but realized I also forgot my baggie of electrolytes (and my salt) so did the best I could with what I had.  The sun was intermittent and there was a light breeze so it was really pretty optimal weather conditions.  the last 5 miles or so I was working a run walk where I would run at a strong pace and then power walk until my heart rate went back down, and then repeated.  That kept me going and allowed me to chat with folks if the opportunity presented itself.  I even saw a guy with an ESRI jersey on (the software vendor for the tools I use to do my job) and apparently his daughter was a GIS person.

I saw the guys as I was powering up the swirls in the parking garage (the transition was on the third floor of a parking garage so to come and go we had to go round and round).  It was pretty much all up hill the last 3/4 of a mile (not a fan) so we did the best we could and managed to finish strong downhill into the shoot.

Was super grateful my body let me do another hard thing as with MS and aging that is never a given.  I was grateful to have my partner in life, cousin and tri friend cheering me on. And grateful mother nature was on her best behavior for another Ironman 70.3 finish. (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run)

Of the 70.3 Ironman races I've done this wasn't my slowest or my fastest but I felt good about how it went and positive my body can handle just a little more.  I've got big goals for 2026 and am talking to a triathlon coach.  More to come on that in the next few weeks.

Until next time, Thanks for reading.

BHAG - My First Marathon

It was scorching hot in Iowa but Minnesota was showing cooler weather off the lake for the weekend. Race morning a significant storm came through Minnesota and with it came a lot of humidity so while it was in the 50s at race start, it was super muggy. All the mugginess really made the race a lot harder than I was expecting.  It was in the 70s and sunny by the finish. 

Here is a story about an inspirational MS warrior. I love her last quote: "There’s only all in as an option for me. There’s no plan B. There’s no plan C2. It’s all in. Embrace life and go for it. And that’s what I’m here to communicate. That’s why I want to be an inspiration for other people — to take that leap of faith, if you will, with yourself, and get out there and just create your dreams — because it’s never too late for that."  https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/video/carolyn-ms-story-messiah-to-marathons/

In my effort to embrace life, I plan to keep going for my goals.  This year a goal was running and completing my first marathon.  The stats are below but they don't really tell the story.

I had been running well enough training since the half marathon we did in April.  Probably did almost a half dozen half marathons or longer leading up but was malfunctioning the weekend I was supposed to do my last long run so rest it was.  I knew I was going to be able to finish no matter but still bummed me out as I was still dialing in race nutrition.

At the start

My salt savior

I had come up with a race plan that integrated more hydration and electrolytes but the humidity had me running in soaked socks (everything) by mile 3 and I was pretty sure I was not going to have what I needed on my belt (holds six gels) or in my baggies in my pockets.  I have to carry everything I need with me so as not to upset my tummy.  Thankfully I had left extra nutrition with Steve who was injured and not able to run, so he found me on the course around mile 14 and helped me load up more on my belt and feed me some mandarin oranges.

Despite the weather I was able to keep my pace between a 10:30 and 11 minute mile pace, but I had also depleted my reserves faster than expected.  Inevitably that caught up with me and by the time I reached town around miles 18-19 I was on the struggle bus.  Shortly after that another triathlete caught up with me while I was walking and commented that I looked like I needed some salt.  I was also starting to get a headache but thankfully there was a tent with ibuprophen ladies (hallelujah). I know now that is an electrolyte imbalance which I have struggled with for years but that salt tablets can help ward it off.  Between loading up on meds and some salt capsules from the tri lady I was able to start righting my system.  I also took some time to walk with a side of run for a couple of miles with the tri lady, but ultimately feel like I did that too long. 

Once I had found enough pickle juice and watermelon on the course I started to feel a lot better.  I got my butt back in gear and finished the last 3-4 miles pretty strong.  I did run walk through downtown where it is largely concrete and asphalt so it was warm.  Then we were over the freeway into the port area for the last mile to the finish line.  I was pushing my pace as long as I could and then power walking on repeat until the last to corners to the finish line where I gave it all I had.

While I felt like I finished the last 5k strong, I was disappointed with the nutrition based struggle and not getting back into a run walk rhythm fast enough once I started to feel better so I am pretty sure I could have had a time closer to 5 hours but was pleased to finish and feel strong.  I'll not soon run another marathon but now I know I can and didn't have the MS malfunction that I did the last time I ran a grandma's race in 2023 when I did the half marathon.

The only other thing I was bummed about is my cheer squad got held up and no one saw me finish the race.  I was feeling strong and badass but it ended up just being for me.  I was glad to have them all there but annoyed the bridge was up.  I recovered pretty quickly aside from my feet.  I'd had feet discomfort as early as mile five that got more uncomfortable as the run went along.  After I finished I saw three toes with blood blisters and one nail that had come loose finally (residual from the half marathon in April).  I ended up losing three toenails due to my swamp feet.  They aren't the first and wont be the last I'm sure.

Marathon FINSHER!

Ultimately I am proud of myself for doing the work, and meeting that goal.  It's the first big test in my prep for doing an full Ironman.  Next up a half Ironman in September.

A little post race funning at the Twins game the next day with my honey.

Brain Marble - Plans for the Future - Bucket List and GO!

Well if you've been following me for a while you might have see this post. https://blaesing-thompson.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-look-to-future-tough-decisions-ahead.html where I talked about the golf ball in my head.  I get annual MRIs as part of my MS care and we have been tracking this the last 5-6 years.  My MS is stable for the most part so long as I manage my stress and diet and get enough rest.  My brain marble is still growing...

I met with my neuro surgeon to get an update earlier this year.  The brain marble is getting a little bigger but appears to be encapsulated in its own sack. The neuro surgeon who is also a former Ironman recommended surgery in the next couple of years unless the situation worsens. It would likely effect the same side of my body as my MS so may not be easy to tell. He said lets monitor the situation in the meantime and to go attack my Big Harry Ambitious Goals. 

I told him I was looking to do one last distance of triathlon I hadn't grabbed already a full Ironman. He said that I need to knock that goal out. On the way home I was thinking of the other future goals in the next two years.  Abby's graduation from college next fall, Joshua's graduation from high school the following spring, a trip to Europe with the boy after graduation.

It's important to knock out what I can before the brain disruption as no one knows how that will go and what the impact might be so ... goals.

This year I was focused on trying to get stronger, starting to build a little speed, strengthen the weak bits and pieces like my ankles after the breaks, and then push some distance.

I successfully ran my first marathon (26.2 miles) in June and finished my fifth half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile jog) in September.  Click the links for more detailed race reports.  Already making plans for 2026 including hiring a triathlon coach.

More to come.

Setting Goals, Getting the Season Started 2025

I started the season with no broken bones as I tried to maintain some fitness through the holiday season.  I kicked things off with the Girls on the Run fundraiser indoor triathlon in Des Moines.  My swim felt okay (a little slower than two years ago), my bike was about even and my run was solid but total time was a little slower than previous ones (this may be the fourth time I’ve done this one?).

This was a year to push my body and see how it responded to new challenges so I queued up a series of running races.  We did the rosy cheeks 5k in Story city and since our run volume was supposed to be closer to 8 miles we ran almost four before the race start on a blustery but not super cold morning.  My goal for the 5k was to hit 30 minutes so I pushed as hard as I could and came in around 30 minutes and a few seconds which was not easy on a cold day after running more than that before starting the speed.

Next up was Drake relays half marathon.  I was supposed to run this last year but since I broke my ankle in January I was only able to train up to the 10k in time.  This year I was ready to go and wanted to hit a 10:30 pace just below where I was at for the HillBilly Hustle 02:22:42 that I ran last November 2024. 

Final outcome was 2:20:07 Pace MIN/MI 10:42, Ranking Overall 841 / 1050, Female 320 / 452 Female Masters 82 / 143, Female 50-54 14 / 20  I wasn't last,  

The run felt pretty solid and I was on track for doing harder longer things later in the season.  I got to see my honey finish his half and then we had free jerky and chocolate milk to celebrate our finish.  :)