The last six months have been all about running, and I haven’t written anything about it because I was starting to feel superstitious. Getting to the BMO start line was uncertain thanks to injury, and I didn’t want to write about something that I wasn’t completely sure I could do. And then, when I […]| Michelle Barker
The big push is on. The distances are climbing. The fatigue is mounting. Consuming enough food has become a serious challenge, as has staying awake in the middle of the day. I’m getting sick of pasta. I was already sick of rice. Chicken breast? Starting to annoy me. But I’ll never be sick of […]| Michelle Barker
The training for Ironman is never linear, and this time was no different. There were many low points along the way—one shoulder got sore, then the other, then the lower back… and then three weeks before the race, despite being as careful as possible, I caught Covid. Luckily it was a mild case, though […]| Michelle Barker
There was an interesting discussion recently on Strava sparked by someone who’s training for an Olympic-distance triathlon. His race date is approaching but his motivation is waning. What if it’s not fun anymore? he asked. How do I keep going? I think there are two important issues to consider here. The first is burnout. […]| Michelle Barker
Nearly every long workout offers lessons, and I’ve had some good ones over the past few days. I’m consistently surprised by how much our minds can f*ck with us. Mine is an expert at causing trouble. It routinely tries to convince me that I can’t do something and therefore shouldn’t attempt it. It can even […]| Michelle Barker
This race has become an annual tradition for me. VOWSA (the Vancouver Open Water Swim Association) always does a great job. The event runs smoothly, starts on time, and … there’s food and coffee! Plus, it’s at Sasamat Lake, one of my favorite places to swim. This year, however, I approached it with a bit […]| Michelle Barker
Doing a solo 70.3 training day for Ironman is a great way to learn what's working...and what isn't.| Michelle Barker
First club ride of the season was on Saturday. What did I forget? A lot, as it turns out. I forgot how fun it was to be outside. How lucky I am to belong to such a wonderful cycling club. How great to do long rides again—though this one actually wasn’t very long but it […]| Michelle Barker
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? But it passes quickly. From where I’m standing now, it’s hard to imagine being ready. I am comfortably swimming around 3k, riding about 60k and running 12-14k. And not all in one day. Which means I have a loooong way to go. But it always seems impossible to imagine […]| Michelle Barker
Happy (very belated) New Year, everyone. January is the time to plan races and figure out what the coming year will look like—in theory, anyway. But theories are good, so here’s mine. Having made a full recovery from last year’s stupid concussion, I have thrown myself into training for Ironman Chattanooga which will happen at […]| Michelle Barker
