I’m just under four weeks from Ironman Coeur d’Alene. There is a part of me that is so ready to get this race behind me, particularly as I’m now training in the beginnings of crazy heat, and there’s another part of me that doesn’t understand how it could possibly be only four weeks out. I know we sign up a year in advance, but wasn’t that just yesterday?

I have high hopes for this race, mostly because I’ve been more committed to training than perhaps ever before. Last year, I was diligent leading up to Ironman Canada, but this year is just different. I’m more focused, and my program is more guided. One huge help is that I have lots of people joining me for my workouts. I’ve had people to swim, bike and run with throughout my training. There are days I’m on my own, like this past Sunday when I did my ridiculously long spin session and run. But usually, I have company. Jenny C. spins and sometimes swims with me. Catherine bikes with me. Kerry, Jenny L., and Sommer run with me.

We took this picture right after our run this morning.

That’s Jenny in the green, Kerry in the tank top, and Sommer with the dimple. These women are why I am able to get up at 5:10 in the morning twice a week – or often three times a week – to run on the trails. They run with me in the dark, and they have the entire time that I’ve been training for this race. They ran when it was cold, and now they are running in the heat. I will carry them with me every step of the run in Coeur d’Alene.

Four more weeks.

I was thinking that, after my race, we might take a short break from running and meet up for margaritas instead. But no. I love running with these girls. Race or no race, we’re running.