What a summer!

Its been a crazy busy summer for me, and literally I just haven't had a chance to collect my thoughts and post some of the awesome pictures from the New York City Tri and the other races I've done since!

Today marks kickoff night for my next season of Team in Training. I'm mentoring this season after I joined the season last year at this same time. It was my first running team experience with Team In Training and I absolutely loved training with everyone locally and then jumping on a plane and taking over Bermuda!

This year, the team is training for 3 events: The Join The Voices 5-miler is local in Nov, and then Bermuda in Jan and NOLA in Feb! It's going to be a fantastic season ahead of us, and I'm super pumped.

In other news....

I have signed up for a half ironman. Out of sheer fear and needing to bounce this idea off of someone rational, I actually asked my parents their permission before I purchased my race entry to Mont Tremblant. Even though they are thousands of miles away, I'm going to need their support and I'm gonna count on their support! 31 is going to be a crazy year for me, as I also round out my 9+1 with NYRR. This means I'll be eligible for the NYC Marathon next year... And this means my current 2014 roster is as follows, and October only just begun!

- New Orleans Half Marathon, Feb '14

- Mont Tremblant 70.3 IM, Jun '14

- NYC Tri, Aug '14

- NYC Marathon, Nov '14

Like WHOA!!!!! :)

Race Prep!!

I'm gearing up for my 3rd New York City Triathlon!  Today I spent the day getting my gear together, and then volunteering at the Red Transition area (predominantly men and paratriathletes) providing information and detailing the course out for them.  A great experience... and more importantly, guaranteed entry for next year's race!

Time is limited today, but here's a quick collage I made!

Race week is upon us!

It's officially race week, which means lots of early bedtimes, a limited social life, reduced workouts, and eating right (and 0 alcohol). Super excited abo the race and really looking to improve my time this year.

It's been a strong finish to a great training season, where I was working out the required 5-6 workouts/week, and really feeling a lot stronger about myself and my troublesome back. 

I competed in the Aquathalon on Randall's Island, and felt good, sceptic that it was incredibly hot since the race only started at 9:30am.  We also had a great open water and run (Aquathalon in a sense!) at Coney Island the following week.  

Coney Island Open Water Day!

Brunch post BRick and the day before the Aquathalon...

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?