Merry Christmas everyone!!

Here's to LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL!!!

Have a great 2012 !

Las Vegas Half Marathon report

What a fun time we had!  It was such fun running up and down the strip at night ....lights flashing, rock bands playing,  we really had a blast. 

There were at least 15 peeps representing Ironheart racing shirts...bright orange - awesome!!   Weather was a perfect mid 40s...to some that may seem cold but it was perfect for running .  I started out somewhat conservatively with a 8.30 pace for the first 8 miles then started to gradually increase with each mile.  Ended up with an average of 8.20 mile pace and a time of 1hour and 50 mins....that was my second fastest half marathon ever (I did a 1.46 on a course in San Francisco years ago - but that was downhill so doesn't count!). 

We had the Ironheart documentary film crew out in Vegas also and we shot some more footage for the documentary  - such fun and oh were we LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL in Vegas baby!  (how I miss Vegas....)

Ahhh.....Aloha !!

Back in Hawaii for a few days of both fun and work...spending time with best friends, swimming with the Honus and running in the mountains...life is sweet. Tried to see the sunrise this morning (jetlag!) but Diamond head gotin the way :-)
Off to Lanai today for a fewdays of R&R and LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL

Ironman Arizona 2012: I'm in !!!

Well what a fabulous weekend we just had in Tempe, Arizona, watching the 2011 Arizona Ironman.  I can't believe that a year has passed since I raced in 2010, just 8 months after having open heart surgery.....

And....one year from now,  I'll be attempting to do it all over again (well not the open heart surgery bit!).


Yes I signed up for the 2012 Ironman along with some of my most courageous team mates from Ironheart Racing.  We began our journey together and we will do everything in our power to complete the Ironman together 12 months from now. 

We are also going to be the cast members of a great new documentary....it's all terribly secret right now but I will keep you posted!  Live life to the full !

www.ellenliveslifetothefull.com

Tempe, AZ , here I come again!!

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since I completed my first ever Ironman triathlon event in Tempe, Arizona.

Well I'm excited to say that I will be retunprning to the event next weekend to cheer and support the 2500 athletes that will race this incredible event.

Also I will be signing up for the 2012 race , my second Ironman.....very exciting! The sign up will also mark the start of the filming for our documentary....a feature film following the lives and training of 6 athletes, all whom have had open heart surgery at sone point and now who Live life to it's fullest...I am one of those athletes and look forward to sharing my 2012 journey with you all. Watch this space for more information as we begin the road to more dreams....and continue to Live Life to the full

Chicago Marathon

It was HOT HOT HOT.....note to self....NEVER enter a race that is in the 70s-80s.....

I was able to run my target pace for the first 21 miles then the the heat just engulfed my muscles and they started to slowly cook....by mile 25 I had to walk a few steps....but was able to finish in 4 hours and 7 minutes.  Didn't break my personal record of 4 hours but I'm sure there is a heat index calculation somewhere that would prove that I did if it was adjusted!!  :-))

Onto the Vegas Half marathon in December - nice and cold and dry! 

Some photos from the Chicago Triathlon

Hi everyone,
Here are some photos from the Chicago Triathlon a few weeks ago - enjoy!
Only 2 weeks to go before the Chicago Marathon,  my training is going well, but my performance is very affected by the weather  - if it's hot and humid there will be no "Charnley World Records"  (for those of you who don't know what that is then you clearly need to read my book:-))

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL: MY IRONMAN JOURNEY

Chicago Triathlon - what a blast

So on Sunday, I did my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in years....wow what fun that was! And the great thing was that it was over pretty quickly so I only pushed that pain barrier for 2.hours and 42 mins!
  I had a great race, finished 6th out of 100+ in my age group and 36th woman overall - out of 950+  !!

I am clearly getting faster with this mended heart and living proof that (1) You should live your life to the fullest  and (2) you can return to competition following a major set back...no worries!  :-))

Hip Hip Hooray! Chicago Marathon here I come!

I'm in!  Just received my confirmation that on Oct 9th I'll be one of thousands who will run the Chicago Marathon....my second marathon in 2011....here's hoping to a fun, safe and successful race!.....as I continue to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST!!!

Chicago Triathlon - Here I come

An Olympic Distance??!!!  Well, I haven't done one of those for a number of years but I am planning to give it a go at the end of the month.  The Chicago Triathlon is the largest Olympic Distance triathlon in the US (I think - don't quote me!).  The last Olympic distance I did was in 2006 at the ITU World Age Group Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.  I had the honor of representing Bermuda (then my country of residence) in the 35-39 women's world age group race.  I had a broken foot at the time but didn't know until I had it diagnosed a few weeks later, but boy was it painful to run that 10k!  I even mentioned that in my Book - Living Life to the full

So - fast forward 5 years to now - and I'm doing another Olympic Distance!....so used to doing Half Ironmans and now Ironmans and marathons - I know I'll be in for a shock when I realize and fast and furious the race is and how going fast really hurts!!

Exciting Times as a Motivational Speaker!!

Thanks to MGM's employee magazine which is distributed to 6000 colleagues, I made headline news today!  Check out this great article - what a terrific time I had sharing my Living Life to the Full Story !

I'm excited for the future as I connect with more organizations and share my story.....


http://momentum.mgmresorts.com/?p=11679

Las Vegas again!

What a fantastic day in Vegas yesterday! I hope to get photos to post soon but in the meantime just a quick note to say the folks at both Southern Wines and Spirits and New York New York, totally ROCK! Had a great time sharing my story and signing books at two great company events! Hope to see you all soon and remember to keep Living Life to the Full !

Ironman Wisconsin, Training Camp and IMAZ 2012

I'm currently in Madison, WI. 

Think this is the first time I've ever been to WI....very pretty, but hot and hilly today!
I',m riding with some triathletes from Endurance Nation (over 100 of us) this weekend as part of a training camp and it's fun!  Today we rode the course...and I'll say it again....HOT AND HILLY!

Kind of glad I'm not signed up for this Ironman frankly!

Looks like I will be doing IMAZ again though in 2012, along with some other IRONHEART RACING team members - what a great story that will be...so much so that I heard there will be a documentary film made about us....how cool will that be!  Definitely still Living Life to the Full...  :-)

Photo from the Cleveland Marathon

Not the prettiest of photos but at least I look as if I'm running somewhat fast!  LOL.

 

Chicago Marathon!

Well yesterday I was the happiest person in Chicago I think,  I thought I had been given a spot into the Chicago Marathon...one of the greatest marathon's in the world....I was so excited!  The race sold out months ago, and before we knew that we were location here.....BUT today that all must have been a dream....

Chicago is our new home!

So Don and I moved house and home this weekend  to Chicago!  Once again our lives and jobs lead us to a new and exciting venture.  We arrived in our (small!) apartment on Saturday and so far we are enjoying the city life.  Already I have biked along the Lakeshore trail and signed up for a boot camp!  Weather is hot (humid!) and sunny....everyone keeps telling us to enjoy it while we can.  

Our dog, Dude is not so impressed with the change and is taking his time adapting to his new surroundings...

Live life to the full...always!

Chrissie Wellington "Tweeted" my story

Yesterday, Chrissie Tweeted :

"Love hearing about everyday people doing extraordinary things.  Ellen, you are an inspiration!  www.ellenliveslifetothefull.com "

Very very cool - thank you Chrissie hits to my website rocketed!

Feature in Cleveland Clinic Heart blog

Hi everyone,  please take a moment to look at the latest Blog from the Cleveland Clinic

This is a great new blog called the Beating Edge....aimed towards Cardiac  patients and medical professions

Customer Reviews on Amazon

Hi everyone,  thank you so much for taking the time to write a review of my book on Amazon, I'm delighted to tell you that I am the number one rated book in Triathlon's currently! Fantastic! 




Please write a customer review if you haven't already done so !  Thanks

The Inaugural Ironheart Classic Race - May 21st 2011

Congratulations to Dave (President of Ironheart Racing) - for a terrific first Ironheart Race last month in Washington.  Don and I participated just 6 days after the Cleveland marathon...(ouch said our legs!).  We had a blast!  It was a great event, perfect weather, lots of fun and a few beers afterwards.  Check out the Ironheart Racing Website and if you are interested in joining the team let me know !

www.ironheartracing.comwww.ironheartracing,com

Map My Run - I'm featured in this month's newsletter!

If you don't already use  MapMyRun then I would highly recommend it!  or at least check out this months newsletter and specific feature "Athlete's We Love"....also a link to my blog, very cool indeed !

http://www.mapmyrun.com/story/3066/?utm_source=run_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=user_ellen&utm_campaign=2011_june_newsletter

www.ellenliveslifetothefull.com

Author Page on Amazon!

Now I really feel as if I'm an Author!  Check out my new Author page to my book Living Life to the Full on Amazon.  Also added the extended video of the Cleveland local TV interviews here.

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0054G112G

More media fame in Cleveland!

http://www.criticalmention.com/components/url_gen/play_flash.php?autoplay=1&clip_info=2000993748|0|59%5e2000994961|0|59%5e2000996089|0|59%5e2000997383|0|10%5e

Local Cleveland Fox news feature!

http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-heart-surgery-patient-runs-marathon-txt,0,4274168.story

Ironheart Racing: My Triathlon Team

I want to introduce you to my Triathlon Team :  Ironheart Racing.

http://ironheartracing.com/featured-athlete/

We are athletes with Congenital Heart Defects - yes you read it correctly, we have over 150 members and all of us are connected in some way to congenital heart disorders.  But we don't let that stop us! Many of us have had open heart surgery and return to competition just months later. 

Ellen Charnley featured in 3/GO Magazine !

For those of you who have not yet heard there is a new Triathlon Magazine out called 3/Go Magazine - what a cool title!  It's a punchy mag hitting the right topics and providing something that's missing from other Triathlon magazines that are out there.  The articles are original (no more "beat the heat" articles thank goodness!) and poignant.  I love it!  This is the second magazine from Movepress and June 7th they will launch their second edition (June/July).   Check out their website and sign up!!
www.3gomagazine.com

Book Signings - Cleveland May 12th and 13th 2011

What fun the book signings are  - a great way for me to share my story and meet some incredible people.  This was especially true in Cleveland when I return in May to promote my book, do some media interviews (see separate post on this!) meet with my doctors and of course run a marathon (see separate post).

Cleveland Marathon May 2011 - returning to competition!

So, sure I did a marathon during Ironman Arizona  (www.ellenliveslifetothefull.com) but I'd never run a marathon before that.  My time for the marathon during the Ironman was 4 hours and 57 minutes. So I was excited to return to Cleveland and race my first ever stand alone marathon on Sunday 15th May 2011.  The weather was great for runners but terrible (cold and rainy) for spectators, still that didn't stop me from realizing more of my dreams and goals.  I predicted on lcal TV that I would run the marathon in approximately 4 hours....and my official finish time was 4:00 !  (too bad there wasn't a prize for the best prediction).

Amazon Rankings!

I've been learning about how Amazon ranks their books.  It turns out that I'm not the only author who scans the Amazon rankings each day and experiences that thrill as I watch my rankings increase!  At one point recently (29th May!),  by book "Living Life to the Full: My Ironman Journey" was ranked number 1 by Amazon's in their "Hot New Releases in Triathlons"  - I nearly fell off my chair when I saw that!....so to answer the question that many of you have asked recently,  the answer is "YES!" my book sales are awesome!     My husband (Don) was so impressed that he quickly saved a screen shot of the #1 ranking, so one day when you make it big, we'll remember where it all started!   LOL!