T-27 weeks: "I will carry you the entire time"

Dear Papa, and dear Reader,

So many beautiful moments this week, and I'm excited to tell you about them!

The absolute highlight of the week: My race jersey got here!! I was so excited when I saw the package, and I tried it on right away. Both Jim and I were both laughing and crying at the same time when we saw how it turned out. It is perfect, the fit is great, and I can't wait to wear it next year. Your face is both in the front and in the back, so I will carry you the entire time - swimming, biking, and running! Whoever is interested in the company I used to produce it: It was Jakroo. I found them on Google without any idea what the quality would be, but I couldn't be happier with it.

My plan for the race is to change bottoms but not the top in transitions, so that I can be comfortable in specific shorts for each discipline, but to carry you on the jersey through the whole race! On a side note, I also just learned that a gal I met online, Selin, felt so inspired by our little challenge that she decided to sign up for the Hamburg Marathon next year as a way to process a hard time in her life as well! Ripples and ripples... I was so moved when I read that!

On to training this week! It was a split week, as we were in Utah until Wednesday morning before flying back home to DC, so I had one swim, one tempo run, and one strength session at elevation. I did both bike rides this week indoors and tried to push some fairly challenging workouts. They felt good, but the true highlight of this week were the runs, which I will get to in a minute. Before, here are my totals for this week: 3 swims and 6,200 yds / 5.700m in 1:45 hours, 2 rides and 64 miles / 100km in 3:15, 3 runs and 20 miles / 32km in 3:30 hours, AND... 2 strength sessions in 1 hour. Yes, I started adding in a little weight training. I need to, although there's honestly not much I dislike more.

Now on to the super fun runs this week: Two of my three runs this week happened yesterday! It was the first day in years that I did two runs on the same day, but I didn't want to pass on either one of them! The first one was a team run in Bethesda on the Capital Crescent Trail with my triathlon team Endurance2Perform and my coach Christina Dorrer, who also had pie and cider ready for us when we finished. I made this my long run, so I started a bit earlier than the rest and clocked in 10 miles. It was fairly cold, but as the second half was together with friends, the last miles came a bit easier!

The second run was an organized 5k with almost 1,000 runners and walkers through Seneca Creek State Park and their Holiday lights. It was truly magical! We ran it at a super relaxed easy pace and just enjoyed all the lights around us. There were tons of kids and even more costumes, little elves running around with lights on their uniforms, and some in Santa costumes, and it made me feel like I need to up my Holidays running fashion game.

This sport has brought so many great people into my life! On the surface, triathlon looks like an individual sport, but it really isn't. What would I do without all the fun, the accountability, and the motivation that comes from being part of a group like that? I know you know all about that! Every year, you did at least one big sports thing with your friends, and most famously the annual CrossAlp, crossing the Alps from Germany to Italy on mountain bikes. What an incredible bonding experience that must've been. I know this, because this year, your friends sent us a picture of them in the Alps, carrying on that tradition even after you were gone. You are so missed - not only by me and the rest of the family, but also by your friends and loved ones.

My favorite memory of this week is from your 60th birthday. I had written you a poem with a riddle that would tell you where your present was hidden. You read it out in front of everybody, and after a short moment of confusion, you suddenly knew, ran back to the wood by the chimney, and found the large chunk of petrified wood that I had brought you from the US, in memory of our recent unforgettable road trip across the US in 2016. I love this picture that someone snapped when you returned and ran to hug me, also because it includes Mama in the background. What a beautiful and happy day that was! I remember it so fondly!

Next week is Thanksgiving here, and we'll have the whole house full with Jim's kids! It'll be an absolute blast and we can't wait! I'll have to get most of my training in before and after, as I'm sure that we'll have a tight agenda, but I can't wait to tell you about it next week!

I love you, Papa! In three weeks, I'll be able to come visit you and hug your tree. I can't wait to be closer to you again!

All my love,

Kathrin

P.S. Dear Reader, if you have comments, questions, memories, or thoughts to share, please leave a comment (and leave your name in the comment so I know who it's from). I would love to hear from you!

Go to the full list of blog posts or read more about the project Ironman for Papa