Strong Arms for Kids

ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

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This website started as a journal for my triathlon training adventure, to keep my family and friends posted on my achievements, get people excited about getting fit and being healthy and hopefully raise some money for an amazing orphanage I volunteered at, in Thailand.  This has been such a great journey for me, so I have continued to build upon my website and add a food blog.  PLEASE explore the wonderful recipes I have included in the RECIPES section of the website, or continue following my food adventures from my kitchen to around the globe on my BLOG. And anytime you are feeling generous please make a DONATION to Baan Unrak Orphanage, they work so hard to make a happy, healthy, vegetarian home for over one hundred children.

The journey of one girl’s quest for strong arms for an amazing organization

TRAINING AND FUNDRAISING

On November 2, 2008 I will be competing in my very first triathlon. I began my training in the beginning of June (I like to get a head start on these things). Anyway, once I began my training I realized how hard this was going to be, much much harder than training for a marathon. My training is now ruining, oops I mean running my life (just kidding I really do enjoy it ) But as the days started to pass by and more and more time was being devoted solely to me being able to cross the finish line in a respectable time, I realized just how selfish of a thing I was doing (I go into great detail into why I am doing this in the "The Full Story"). So I decided I was going to use all my hard work to also raise money for the amazing orphanage, named Baan Unrak Children’s Village that I volunteered at in Thailand during the Christmas holidays( you can read all about my time at Baan Unrak in "My Christmas at Baan Unrak). So please help me by sponsoring me and donating money to an amazing amazing place.


THE MISSION OF BAAN UNRAK CHILDREN'S VILLAGE

Baan Unrak is a non-government, non-religious, non-political community development project founded in 1991 to serve the people in need of Sangklaburi, Thailand.  We focus on supporting  children and mothers in our community.

COMPLETED!!

 April 26, 2009

Ishigaki Triathlon

I wish I did this triathlon last year, but I was not confident enough, at all, with my swimming.  What a difference a year can make.  This is an Olympic size triathlon.  My goal for this event is under 3 hours.  Luckily (thanks global warming), we have not had a winter here in Ishigaki.  Its February and its warm enough for me to swim in the ocean.  Which is very important since that is the only place I have to go swimming.  So, so far, training is going strong!!! But, once again, I am going on a long vacation shortly before the race.


RESULTS

Time: 3:03:52
Swim: 37:19
Bike: 1:37:18
Run: 49:15

Overall Place: 543
Place Woman 30-34: 12


Once again, if only I didn't have to wait in line for the porta-potty after the swim, I think I would have made my goal of under 3 hours.  Oh well, maybe next time I will have to stop drinking coffee on the mornings of the race.  But if it wasn't for the motivation of not letting my friend John (who I helped train for this race), beat me, I probably wouldn't have gone as fast as I did anyway.  It took me until half way through the run to catch up with him!  The shame I would have felt from everyone in Ishigaki, if I had let him win, would have been unbearable.


COMPLETED

Iriomote Yamaneko Marathon - February 14, 2009

"Yama" in Japanese is mountain and "neko" means cat.  The Yamaneko is a wild cat on Iriomote Island.  This type of cat is only found on this island.  They have decided to make a majority of the island a natural heritage site in order to stop the destruction of the Yamaneko's habitat.  Unfortunately, as of now, there are only about 100 cats left.  Iriomote is part of the Yaeyama Islands in the Okinawa prefecture.  It is about a 45 minute ferry ride from Ishigaki.  They have the best after party of all the races I have been to.  They bring out, not one, but two HUGE wooden boats filled with sashimi and it is a free for all!!! Its complete madness but so much fun.  Last year I finished the 23km in 2 hours flat and came in second place.  This year I am going for gold!!!



Results                
Time: 02:11:53
     
Overall Place: 72
  
Place for women 30-39: 3


I know, I know, I should be happy with my time and place but it was actually my worst race so far.  It was so hot (for February), and I am always so worried about having to pee during a race, that usually I don't drink too much water before a race.  Usually, this is not a problem, because its usually pretty cool during a race and I don't need that much water.  But that was not the case during this race.  I was so sick during the whole race, I don't know how I finished, nevermind placing 3rd in my age group.  The worst part about it, was this one male teacher that I have a little rivalry with, who said to me once lasting year, talking about this race, said his goal was for me not to pass him.  Well, this year, he whipped my butt :-(


COMPLETED!!

 January 25, 2009

Last year I completed the Ishigaki Marathon.  This was the first time I had done a marathon.  I completed it in 4 hours 18 minutes.  This year my goal is to do it in 4 hours or less.  We'll see... I am a little doubtful.

Time: 3 hours 47 minutes 10 seconds
Overall Place: 129
Place for women 30-39: 9


COMPLETED!!!


THE IZENA 88 TRIATHLON
November 2, 2008


  2km Swim (1.2 miles) - 44 min 10 sec   
66km Bike (41 miles)
- 2 hours 38 min  
20km Run (12.4 miles)
- 2 hours 25 min

TOTAL TIME: 05:48:13
Overall Place: 419

Place for women from 30-39: 25

Please help me raise money for an AMAZING place and DONATE TODAY

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