We are 6 weeks and 4 days out from the race…and exactly 5 weeks from our departure to Europe! My, how the time has flown! Our first stop will be Austria, where Jenny will compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships … a mere 8 days before competing in ÖTILLÖ with Kristen, as Team “Without Limits”. (Yes, we changed our name!)
We're starting to put together the rest of our swim/run gear piece by piece. With the water temperatures in mid-50's, we have decided to wear bright orange neoprene caps, also known as “safety orange”, to help with keeping warm. We’ll also obviously be wearing wetsuits, but we haven’t decided which ones to purchase just yet. Those will be our most important pieces of gear, which is why we have been very meticulous about choosing them!
We're starting to put together the rest of our swim/run gear piece by piece. With the water temperatures in mid-50's, we have decided to wear bright orange neoprene caps, also known as “safety orange”, to help with keeping warm. We’ll also obviously be wearing wetsuits, but we haven’t decided which ones to purchase just yet. Those will be our most important pieces of gear, which is why we have been very meticulous about choosing them!
Kristen did, however, find us some pretty sweet swim paddles….American Flags! “Oh say, can you see?!”
Running without socks for 10+ hours with wet and cold feet will likely produce some gnarly blisters and hotspots, so choosing some socks that are quick drying and warm will be key for us. We’re going to test out some wool socks on our next adventure, like the ones below.
Amidst all of our intense ÖTILLÖ training, we've also been doing some racing.
Kristen’s Race Recap:
"A little less than a month ago I raced the Grandma’s marathon up in Duluth, MN. It was a great race and a very beautiful area. I originally signed up for this race with the mind set of not racing ÖTILLÖ, so when we found out about our acceptance my goals changed for the marathon :) I was happy to break 3:50, but I won't lie… I really want to see 3:33, go to Boston, and check that bad boy off my list! Anyway, if you like the woods, cooler weather, beautiful landscape, and enjoy outdoor activities then Duluth is your town. The town rests right on Lake Superior. I stayed in a cabin on the lake which was super pretty. I even dabbled in the water every day (water temp was about 48) prepping my mind for Sweden. All in all, I had a great run and I'm proud for tackling another marathon. Hardest race to date... marathons. Racing a marathon is harder than an Ironman in my book!"
Jenny’s Race Recap:
"After getting over a strain and some intense nerve pain in my left hamstring that lasted for 6 months, I have finally been able to compete in a couple of triathlons this summer! I did my first sprint in Hickory at the end of June, and just completed Stumpy Creek International on the 11th of July . Both were incredibly fun, and I honestly think my favorite triathlon is Stumpy Creek, probably because it was a very challenging course! I purposely picked hilly courses to prep for the terrain I’ll encounter in Austria. Next on my list is Culpeper International on August 2nd. Five weeks out from our departure, I am just starting to realize the magnitude of what I’ve gotten myself into. As if ÖTILLÖ wasn’t exhausting enough, adding a world championship half Ironman just a week before is a little daunting. But, these opportunities might be once in a lifetime, so I am excited and working hard to be at my best for both races!"
Kristen’s Race Recap:
"A little less than a month ago I raced the Grandma’s marathon up in Duluth, MN. It was a great race and a very beautiful area. I originally signed up for this race with the mind set of not racing ÖTILLÖ, so when we found out about our acceptance my goals changed for the marathon :) I was happy to break 3:50, but I won't lie… I really want to see 3:33, go to Boston, and check that bad boy off my list! Anyway, if you like the woods, cooler weather, beautiful landscape, and enjoy outdoor activities then Duluth is your town. The town rests right on Lake Superior. I stayed in a cabin on the lake which was super pretty. I even dabbled in the water every day (water temp was about 48) prepping my mind for Sweden. All in all, I had a great run and I'm proud for tackling another marathon. Hardest race to date... marathons. Racing a marathon is harder than an Ironman in my book!"
Jenny’s Race Recap:
"After getting over a strain and some intense nerve pain in my left hamstring that lasted for 6 months, I have finally been able to compete in a couple of triathlons this summer! I did my first sprint in Hickory at the end of June, and just completed Stumpy Creek International on the 11th of July . Both were incredibly fun, and I honestly think my favorite triathlon is Stumpy Creek, probably because it was a very challenging course! I purposely picked hilly courses to prep for the terrain I’ll encounter in Austria. Next on my list is Culpeper International on August 2nd. Five weeks out from our departure, I am just starting to realize the magnitude of what I’ve gotten myself into. As if ÖTILLÖ wasn’t exhausting enough, adding a world championship half Ironman just a week before is a little daunting. But, these opportunities might be once in a lifetime, so I am excited and working hard to be at my best for both races!"
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our ÖTILLÖ efforts, whether monetarily or with words of encouragement or both…we are so appreciative and wouldn’t be able to do this without your support!
Until next time…
Until next time…