Let's just say I've been keeping busy :)

I've been a little MIA with many of my friends, but I know they understand. They think I'm a little crazy with the number of races I've been doing (verdict is out on if they're right).  I find races to give me a serious motivating high to push myself and my body even when it hurts. The coaches have said runners tend to be joggers on non-race days and I tend to agree. With that in mind, this makes me really happy to share. These are all the races I have done to date since 2010. I took a serious hiatus and reveled in awful weight gain, but I'm definitely back with a vengeance!

(Click to expand)

(Typo is that the 3 races in Hamilton, Bermuda appear as Hamilton, Ontario, lol...)

It hurts, but it hurts good!

As you know, I've taken up running this year, like REALLY running. A lot of people like to be alone with their thoughts while they run, while others like to chat and socialize. I'm not quite sure where I fall on this spectrum, but most of the time, I'm not really thinking about anything, and if I am it's about what hurts.

I'm learning very quickly that most of my pain comes from weak hips. I've been trying to strengthen them, but it feels like this impossible task, like I'm looking at an uphill climb that is just too steep to even get your foot up. That's how this feels. I feel the grind of my bones and muscles in my hips whenever I run more than 6miles, or (like in yesterday's practice) whenever we run stairs or a lot of uphills. 

I've got no excuses, I just have to get it done. I think if I'm able to strengthen my core, I may have a chance of getting to my triathlon goal of 3:20 or under.

I've gotten my running under control for the most part where I think this year I can target for 1:10 or under for the final 10K run leg. The swim will be no biggie now, and it's all about that bike. I'll admit that I've been avoiding my bike, and I know I need to get out there. Trying to motivate myself to go to a 10am spin class, so we'll see!

Here's the collage I put together from the Brooklyn Half Marathon last week, where I PRed at 2:18! Yesterday's 1.6mile Great Hudson Swim race got cancelled due to flooding and choppy water, but I think it was a blessing in disguise. I was feeling some nervousness about my second NYCSwim event paired with the distance and the very nearby obstacles of piers and ferry terminals.

This is what keeps me going!

Team In Training is an amazing and awesome cause, changing and saving lives every day. The people, however, are what takes this organization to the next level. They are amazing, self-less, and incredibly supportive teammates that I am thrilled to have met!

Life is good.... Brooklyn Half Marathon, here I come!!! Four half marathons in under four months!

First BRick!

It's 6:45am, and today will be our first team BRick workout! Super stoked and not sure I got enough sleep after an amazing John Legend concert but I'm going to rock this!!  I can feel my legs becoming solid hill-climbing machines, and it is awesome.  I'm also finally beginning to build upon my calf muscles so that there is that slight but noticeable curve to my calf. Sweet.  Once I get that visible calf muscle, I'll be able to officially call myself a runner.

With that said, I'm running my fourth half marathon in 2 weeks! This will be my fourth this year, and fourth ever. Go me! The next race after that is a 1.6mile swim in Hudson, 1 week later with NYCSwims, followed by the 5K Wall Street Run 4 days later.  I'm on a roll!

Did I mention I signed up for another Olympic triathlon?

1 year straight TNT!

I've been training with Team In Training for almost 1 year straight. I started the season in March last year, and trained through July. I took a little break of Aug/Sept, but I still ran a race in that time.

One year later, this is what my watch reads (as an overall count)! I have totally changed my life, and burned over 30,000 calories in workouts and races, all thanks to Team In Training. It's amazing what a turnaround and positive impact it has had in my life, and I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me on this path.

3 Half Marathons....

Before 30! That's right, in just 3 months, I have gone from finishing my first half marathon, to finishing my third! I'm proud to say that I am stronger and have a higher endurance than ever before and I want to stay on this roll. (It's tough though, I get tired often and I don't like feeling like I'm literally stuffing my face all the time)

Tomorrow, I turn 30. This means I will now be in the most competitive women's age group for any race that I do. I know I'll never be the winner of my AG, but it's a nice challenge to think that everyone is stepping up their game in this group. So, 30, here goes!

My next races are a 4miler Japan Day run and the Brooklyn Half Marathon. I'm also now signed up for the Nations Triathlon in DC in September!

2 Weeks till my first Rock 'N' Roll SF Half Marathon!

Am I a race nerd yet? I might be on my way!!!
I think this is the coolest race elevation chart I've seen!
2 weeks and 2 days till the Rock 'n' Roll San Francisco Half Marathon!!!

Milestones!

This week, I overcame a major milestone. I worked out 5 days straight, and felt really good. Here's the breakdown:

Saturday: Brooklyn Team Triathlon Practice
Sunday: Coogan's 5K
Monday: Brooklyn Tri Swim Practice (Intermediate session)
Tuesday: Manhattan Tri Run Practice (Intermediate)
Wednesday: Pure Power Boot Camp (insanity, 7:30am)
Thursday & Friday: Rest & Stretch
Saturday.... Repeat!

It's definitely been an exhausting week, so I really need to figure out how I am going to keep my energy out, since Friday was supposed to be a swim day, but I could barely keep my eyes open on the subway. What to do.... Any advice? I also don't really want to put on weight because I really am enjoying the way I am looking and feeling!

Coogan's Salsa, Blues 5K -- completed!

Yesterday was the first official triathlon team practice! We did about 20minutes of running, and I was desperately seeking more, so today's race worked out well.

Great day for a 5K run, though it was a little cold. All along the course in Washington Heights (45min subway ride up to the top of Manhattan), were various types of musicians scattered to encourage us and entertain us. While I wasn't running a 15minute 5K pace, I did manage to keep my pace under a 10min/mile which is great because it was pretty darn crowded with lots of kids and walkers. Here's a pic for 4 of us (all finishers from Bermuda, and TNTers) who did this mornings race, and I knew about z4 other people running today.

I am 4/10ths of the way to qualifying for the New York City Marathon in 2014!!! (I have run 3 NYRR races, and volunteered for one, as part of the program 9+1).

So, what's next?

Of course, you are probably not surprised when I tell you I have tons of races planned for the season!

I'm running a 5K Irish-themed run on Sunday, the day after Team In Training practice officially kicks off for the new NYC triathlon season! After that, I don't have much planned beyond oh, just 3-4 days of Team In Training workouts, with my own personal 2-3 days of working out. I am ready to really get serious. Why? I am motivated by the honored teammates I have met over the seasons, and I am motivated by my own health. I feel great. It feels good to be alive, and it feels good to look good in this life that I am loving. Team In Training has given me a lot over the last 3 years, and this year I am really giving back by becoming a mentor. I have three wonderful alumni mentees who I raced with either in 2010 or 2012, and I am set on being more than a corporate mentor but also a supporting mentor to the BK and Manhattan teams.

So, triathlon training will kickoff, and then it'll be time for two half marathons on back to back weekends. Why, you ask? Because I've got legs and they be feelin' good! (Ask me about that in April 14th night, and I just might tell you something else.) The San Francisco Rock N Roll Half Marathon will be first true Half Marathon (no 10K or 1 miler in the 2 days prior like in Bermuda!) so I am planning to rock it. Maybe a 2:20 should be my plan? I have no idea, but I really need to scope out this elevation and route and figure out where I'm going to push myself and take it easy.

Until Saturday, stay healthy and happy, dear friends, athletes, and family. :) Hi, Mom.