2019 RACE RECAP

                                                                    RACES OF 2019

                                                                

We are almost at the end of the year and I always write a little recap of my races for the year. 

The  second part of the  year itself has been eventful and not for the better and it's

made me put my accomplishments and things to be proud of on the sideline.

I thought about it and there has been more good then bad. I've had some personal best 

in races yet I was at the point of always being hard on myself. I became too competitive with

myself and lost the fun in racing and left myself disappointed at times. 

In October I decided to just run when I wanted to and race with no pressure. 

Now to recap my year, I was able to complete 2 states (New Hampshire and Vermont) in

 my goal towards 50 states with some awesome people. I am up to 20 states with 30 to go. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

VERMONT

 

I traveled to Europe (Berlin) my first international marathon and set a personal best.

I raced my first Dualtlon

I ran and pushed a stroller for a mile with my nephew, his first official race with Harlem Run

 

I completed an Olympic distance triathlon, not fully prepared and first swim without a 

wetsuit (my safety blanket) that I was super proud and danced my way out of the water
and even placed 3rd in my age group. Celebrated with an amazing group afterwards
Team Gorillas.

 

I raced my longest swim 2.4 miles in May. 

I completed a 80 mile bike tour on my 40th birthday and had some amazing friends 

that made it extra special, my longest and most challenging bike ride so far,

mentally and physically I wanted to quit and drop the distance and I wasn't able to.

I kept this mantra in my head as I pushed for that 80 

" Be fearless in what sets your soul on fire"

 

I was finally able to run a race on my bucket list in Salem the Devil's chase 6.66 miles,

where my mom and my sister supported me.

 

So I guess you can say I had a pretty amazing race year and

I had people in my life that made it all the more special from their words of wisdom, 

encouragement, jokes and endless support which I am lucky to have.

 "The best views come after the hardest climbs"

Looking forward to new goals, new challenges and an Epic 2020!

My Quest to 50- 20 down 30 to go (Vermont)

My Quest to 50, 20 down 30 more to go

July 22, 2019
Essex Half Vermont

This past weekend I ran my 32^nd half marathon and my 20^th state. I ran the Essex half marathon in Vermont. The trip was a short getaway, just one night. My friends scooped me up at 5 am on Saturday morning and we arrived in Vermont at 11:00 am, even took a car ferry to the town which was really cool and a first time experience.

28 hours in Vermont

We arrived via ferry to the town of Essex, beautiful views and a nice little way to travel.

 

First thing we did since it was too early to check in to our hotel, we went to get our bib which we were too early for as well and had to wait a bit. Once we retrieved our bib we checked into our hotel then drove over to Burlington, which was a cute little town to have lunch. We walked through Church Street Marketplace where they have shops and restaurants, then drove to check out Lake Champlain and found a little beach there. Checked out the Earth Clock Sundial and the World’s tallest filing cabinet haha.

 

Earth Clock Sun Dial

Beach at Lake Champlain

 

Worlds Tallest Filing Cabinet

Race Day

We left New York's heat wave thinking it would be cooler in Vermont but they were experiencing a heat wave also, and this affected me on race day. Legs felt good and I started off a bit too fast but for some reason had to go to the bathroom as soon as I started, I thought the porta potty was at mile 3 so sped up a bit to get to it to find out there was none. I over heated in those first few miles and never recovered, let’s just say not my best half marathon but glad I was able to finish and complete another state, oh and finally found porta potty and mile 8.5. My friend came in 3^rd in his age group which was great and my other friend had a hard time with the heat and the hills. We all experience something in races but we all had the courage to start and cross that finish line. Overall the race was a nice local town race, not many spectators except some people cheering from their homes; we started and finished on a track at a high school.

 


Post Race 
We decided after checking out of our hotel to go and get some brunch before heading back home. I found this popular place on Church Street that are known for their breakfast and mostly their gingerbread pancakes and the breakfast did not disappoint, everything was delicious. 

Next up for me is the Berlin Marathon in September, not a state but my other goal is to complete the 6 World Majors. I will decide after Berlin to see if I can add another state for the year.

Until next time Happy Running, Biking, Hiking, Swimming, Boxing!

My Quest to 50-18 down 32 to Go (2018 Race Season)

This year 2018 my Motto was to “Do Epic Shit”, I had triathlon goals, I had running in different states goals and completing 2 marathons and I did just that. It was truly an Epic year with blood, sweat and lots of tears put into some of these races.  I may be exaggerating a bit with the blood but I did cut my ankle when I fell on my bike trying to unclip, yes I didn’t fall off the bike I fell on top of it haha. This year was truly epic with even forming bonds with my teammates and making new friends along the way. I do these races because I love the training and challenge what my body is capable of.

My first part of the season I was able to travel to 2 states and run a half marathon in each. The first was West Virginia in April, the race was a local town race, wasn’t there visiting long but hey I checked off another state on my quest to 50. In June I traveled to Seattle Washington for my birthday and planned an epic long weekend. I ran a 5k on my birthday went to visit some places I wanted to eat and sight-see, the next day I ran a half marathon and did more sightseeing. The day after my half marathon I went snowshoeing up Mt Rainier which was absolutely beautiful.

 

 

The Second part of the Season the NYC triathlon and Ironman Maine 70.3, Chicago Marathon, Baltimore Half Marathon and NYC Marathon was a juggle between training for my triathlons and beginning my marathon training.

NYC triathlon is always a fun race and always a hot one, I was able to complete the course but people that started after me were cut off on the run. I finished a few minutes better than 2 years prior.

Maine was a crazy adventure, from training to almost not wanting to do the race because I was scared I wouldn’t meet the bike cut off but I did by a half hour. The swim was awesome; the bike was nerve wrecking but had my teammate on the course with me as we pushed each other throughout. The run was hot and I got lost on the course, I drank so many liquids due to not drinking enough on the bike by time I crossed the finish line I puked ugh.

 

Chicago Marathon, what can I say about Chicago, loved the city did lots of touring with my friend; the Al Capone/Ghost Tour was very interesting. The course was mostly flat with few hills, they say you can definitely set a personal record here but my legs had other ideas and gave out by mile 19, mostly my fault because I did a lot of walking the days before the race touring the city, ended up doing 10 miles a day since I arrived. The spectators in Chicago were amazing; the weather was great although it did rain for a few miles.  

Baltimore Running Festival, I went to Maryland by bus for 1 night to run a half marathon and complete my 4^th state for the year. I read reviews on this course how Baltimore is hilly and I knew what to expect and to take it as a training run for New York since it was 2 weeks before. I subbed 2 hours on this race taking it easy but those hills phew; I think 1.5 miles of the 13.1 of the course was the only flat part. We missed the bus going back to NYC because of the crazy traffic but it was oh so worth it afterwards to indulge on some yummy crab and crab cakes.

 

My last big race of the season was the NYC marathon, although I started in a later coral and stopped to use bathroom during the race, the block party is always great. The most spectators I have ever seen in NYC and the course were filled with runners, I don’t remember a part of the race where it spread out and I wasn’t constantly zigzagging and getting elbowed.  My legs felt strong throughout, by the time I got to the Bronx I started to slow down a bit and stopped a few times to get a coke and give hugs. By the time I got to 5^thave the slight incline I started to feel a bit out of it, legs were still feeling good but not sure if it was the crowd that was making me feel a bit off or the 1 gel that I lost during the course and needed that extra energy. With a half a mile to go I took my glasses off and started to walk a bit, didn’t want to faint from whatever it was I was feeling. I made the turn back into the park and started to run to the finish line. I was happy to be done; I was disappointed with my finish time as my legs felt strong but it is what it is and on to the next one.

 

 

I will be doing one more reason before the year is up, Ted Corbitt 15k in Central Park, which is one of my favorite distances. 

My goals for 2019 are in the works which will be a mix of Marathons and Triathlons and shorter distances, stay tuned.

Until next time Happy Running, Boxing, Hiking, Swimming, and Biking!!!