I can swim!

Today, I swam a full mile in a pool after a week long vacation of long nights and far too much alcohol.  Yes, I'm really put my body to the test, and I'm thrilled to say that not only survived, but I did it all in under 42 minutes! Last year, I was swimming a mile in 45-46 minutes, so I'm thrilled about what this means this year for the Hudson swim!

Anyway, this weekend I have the Stars & Stripes Aquathon off of Randall's Island.  It'll be my first race open water of the season, and I'm pumped.... but nervous. Wish me luck!  1.5K swim and a 5K run!!!

AHHHHH, race nerves!

Fantastic weekend of training!

This weekend, between Saturday and Sunday, I worked out more than the time/distance required for an NYC Olympic distance triathlon. How?

Two trips to Coney Island and one very hot hash run!

Saturday: 30min swim + 45min run

Sunday am: 25.2 mile bike ride

Sunday pm: 3.5mile hash run (which I may have balanced with spiked lemonade and a Cubano panini at Greenwood Park)...

Regardless a fantastic people and fun-filled weekend, and I am feeling better now that I'm back on my bike!

Wall Street Run!

Who knew it could get so hot and humid on a random Thursday in New York City?  I ran the NYRR Wall Street Run with some of my friends from my TNT Bermuda 2013 season, and we just about thought we were going to pass out from the heat.  I ran with my friend Maggie who tends to pace faster than me typically, but she knew I was struggling and walked with me when I needed.  We on and off walked from about the 1.8mile point through the end of the race.  It definitely got a little tight when we got to the Hudson River, but it overall was a great little run, a fun experience, and we stayed out at PJ Clarke's well after the race!  (Best tater tots I've had in my life.)

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!!!