Basics: My name is Elisabeth. I swim, bike, run, repeat repeat repeat (started as a just running morphed to tri). Ocean swimming is my favorite workout. I coach for Girls on the Run. I love to take pictures. Voracious reader. Write lots. I have bipolar disorder, it does not have me or define me. I have been sober since December 17, 2006. I have an incredible dog I adore. I'm an open book, ask me anything, I'll probably answer honestly.
I live in the Valley (Los Angeles), also, often referred to here as "face of the sun."
Here's some other stuff about me...
Running. I started running a few years ago with a trainer, to lose weight. I hated it. Until I didn't. I started to improve and liked how running made me feel. I ran a marathon, and then some half marathons, and another marathon and some more half marathons, a 10k, a 5k, Ragnar SoCal, a third marathon, a few more halfs and then decided to tri. I've since run a couple more halfs and Ragnar SoCal for a second time. My favorite distance is marathon. My favorite racing experiences, Ragnar. Running was what brought me to endurance sports and helped me get to where I am now.
Triathlon. I wanted to tri for a while. I didn't have the money. The tragic death of a friend pushed me to decide to go for it. I was peer-pressured in to training for Vineman, a full iron distance triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). I started training and finished an international distance tri, then DNF'd (did not finish) off the bike at Wildflower Long Course. I redoubled my efforts and finished Vineman 140.6 on July 28, 2012. I plan on getting my revenge at Wildflower in May 2013 and continuing on this amazing tri journey. Training for an finishing an ironman led me to discover things about myself I didn't know I was looking for. It changed me to my core and I can't imagine giving it up.
I still love running, but tri is where my head and heart are at right now.
Endurance. I am an endurance sports junkie. I love long distance races and find that I learn more about myself during these adventures than any other time in my life. I used to register for lots of races, but have broken that bad habit this year by dropping several races (mostly because of other training commitments . Now, I pick and choose carefully and consider what I want to achieve with each one. I love endurance events, but don't want to race just to race, I want each event to be for a reason.
Swim. I love swimming, especially in the ocean. Open water swim (OWS) is my favorite workout of the week. In the ocean I enter the home of sea creatures and find my peace. It is calming and exhilarating all at the same time.
Dog. My dog, Rocky, a pug/beagle/something else mix, is my favotrie. Seriously could not be more in love with that wily little hyena. He is crazy and wild at times, but I love him more than pretty much anything, he is my fur child and I talk about him a lot and post lots of pictures of him.
Books. I read a lot, if you ever want a book recommendation I can probably give you one or two or twenty. You can usually find a book or four at my bedside that I am in the midst of reading.
Bipolar. I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in February of 2007. It has been a long, crazy struggle for most of my life to get me to where I am today, but the support of my family and friends has been a tremendous help, without them I would be lost. And, in running I found a way to deal with my bipolar and find a positive, healthy outlet for my crazy thoughts and emotions. Running helps keep me be grounded in so many ways.
Sobriety. I wasn't an every day drinker. But, I am in fact an alcoholic. When I drank I didn't know when to stop. One drink usually meant four or five or more. And, I definitely had more blackouts than I would like to remember (no pun intended). Not good. There are all kinds of different alcoholics and my drinking could have easily gotten much worse. I stopped drinking and about two months later was diagnosed with bipolar II. I realize now that I was drinking to deal with my out of control emotions and thoughts. Now, I have more positive ways to deal with all of it. Sobriety has led me to a new, clearer place in my life.
Cancer. I don't have cancer, but seem to know far too many people who do, and far too many people whose lives are touched by cancer. Its a dirty little beast and a cure needs to be found. I trained for my first marathon with Team in Training (TNT) and have fundraised over$15,000 since then. I fundraised initially for marathons and then moved to the Ironteam here in Greater LA for Vineman. I believe in this cause and finding better treatments and cures. I initially joined TNT because my (half) sister's mother passed away from leukemia when my sister was just 16. Since joining the team I have become friends with several people in treatment, or who have family in treatment for cancer, and many survivors. Too many people are affected by cancer. I am not rich, or a scientist, or a doctor, but this is how I can make a difference. So I continue to fundraise and will continue to do so until there is a cure.
Girls on the Run. This is an amazing organization that shows little girls that they are capable of anything. I coached for the first time in fall 2012 and probably learned more from the girls than they did from me. I can't wait to coach again and I will continue to support this amazing organization.
If there is anything else you want to know, just ask, more than likely I'll be super honest about it.
To get in touch with me feel free to email me at ewallerscott@gmail.com. But, don't spam me, it's rude.
This blog is about my adventures and experiences, many of which involve tri and/or running I hope you enjoy.
Running. I started running a few years ago with a trainer, to lose weight. I hated it. Until I didn't. I started to improve and liked how running made me feel. I ran a marathon, and then some half marathons, and another marathon and some more half marathons, a 10k, a 5k, Ragnar SoCal, a third marathon, a few more halfs and then decided to tri. I've since run a couple more halfs and Ragnar SoCal for a second time. My favorite distance is marathon. My favorite racing experiences, Ragnar. Running was what brought me to endurance sports and helped me get to where I am now.
Triathlon. I wanted to tri for a while. I didn't have the money. The tragic death of a friend pushed me to decide to go for it. I was peer-pressured in to training for Vineman, a full iron distance triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). I started training and finished an international distance tri, then DNF'd (did not finish) off the bike at Wildflower Long Course. I redoubled my efforts and finished Vineman 140.6 on July 28, 2012. I plan on getting my revenge at Wildflower in May 2013 and continuing on this amazing tri journey. Training for an finishing an ironman led me to discover things about myself I didn't know I was looking for. It changed me to my core and I can't imagine giving it up.
I still love running, but tri is where my head and heart are at right now.
Endurance. I am an endurance sports junkie. I love long distance races and find that I learn more about myself during these adventures than any other time in my life. I used to register for lots of races, but have broken that bad habit this year by dropping several races (mostly because of other training commitments . Now, I pick and choose carefully and consider what I want to achieve with each one. I love endurance events, but don't want to race just to race, I want each event to be for a reason.
Swim. I love swimming, especially in the ocean. Open water swim (OWS) is my favorite workout of the week. In the ocean I enter the home of sea creatures and find my peace. It is calming and exhilarating all at the same time.
Dog. My dog, Rocky, a pug/beagle/something else mix, is my favotrie. Seriously could not be more in love with that wily little hyena. He is crazy and wild at times, but I love him more than pretty much anything, he is my fur child and I talk about him a lot and post lots of pictures of him.
Books. I read a lot, if you ever want a book recommendation I can probably give you one or two or twenty. You can usually find a book or four at my bedside that I am in the midst of reading.
Bipolar. I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in February of 2007. It has been a long, crazy struggle for most of my life to get me to where I am today, but the support of my family and friends has been a tremendous help, without them I would be lost. And, in running I found a way to deal with my bipolar and find a positive, healthy outlet for my crazy thoughts and emotions. Running helps keep me be grounded in so many ways.
Sobriety. I wasn't an every day drinker. But, I am in fact an alcoholic. When I drank I didn't know when to stop. One drink usually meant four or five or more. And, I definitely had more blackouts than I would like to remember (no pun intended). Not good. There are all kinds of different alcoholics and my drinking could have easily gotten much worse. I stopped drinking and about two months later was diagnosed with bipolar II. I realize now that I was drinking to deal with my out of control emotions and thoughts. Now, I have more positive ways to deal with all of it. Sobriety has led me to a new, clearer place in my life.
Cancer. I don't have cancer, but seem to know far too many people who do, and far too many people whose lives are touched by cancer. Its a dirty little beast and a cure needs to be found. I trained for my first marathon with Team in Training (TNT) and have fundraised over$15,000 since then. I fundraised initially for marathons and then moved to the Ironteam here in Greater LA for Vineman. I believe in this cause and finding better treatments and cures. I initially joined TNT because my (half) sister's mother passed away from leukemia when my sister was just 16. Since joining the team I have become friends with several people in treatment, or who have family in treatment for cancer, and many survivors. Too many people are affected by cancer. I am not rich, or a scientist, or a doctor, but this is how I can make a difference. So I continue to fundraise and will continue to do so until there is a cure.
Girls on the Run. This is an amazing organization that shows little girls that they are capable of anything. I coached for the first time in fall 2012 and probably learned more from the girls than they did from me. I can't wait to coach again and I will continue to support this amazing organization.
If there is anything else you want to know, just ask, more than likely I'll be super honest about it.
To get in touch with me feel free to email me at ewallerscott@gmail.com. But, don't spam me, it's rude.
This blog is about my adventures and experiences, many of which involve tri and/or running I hope you enjoy.
