An active summer!

This summer has flown by! I can hardly believe it's almost September.

Lots of fun events this summer, but I have to say, I'm pretty proud of all the fitness goals I've achieved! My goal originally was to run another 10K this year and compete in another triathlon over the summer.

After all was said and done, so far this year I've done 2 10k's, a HALF MARATHON!, a sprint triathlon, and today a 5K as part of a 10 mile relay. Woohoo!

Lots of fun, and lots of early mornings, but I made it. I'm hoping to still squeeze in another race or two before the weather turns to snow.

As I never actually blogged about the half, I figured I'd share some photos as well.

Before I started training for the half marathon, I was determinedly NOT a distance runner. I dabbled in 5K's and once a 10K, but was fairly convinced I was just too slow. However, once convinced that doing a half marathon was a good idea, I realized that mostly, I just needed a mental change of heart. Once I quit telling myself that running anything over 3 or 4 miles was really scary, I figured out I could actually do it! I'm still not the fastest girl on the road by any means, but I'm no longer scared of longer distances and can officially tell myself, I am a distance runner!





About a month after coming back to NY after the half, I was up for a sprint triathlon in Harriman State Park, about 30 miles north of the city. It's amazing how much beautiful green wooded scenery can be found so close to the intense urban lifestyle that is Manhattan.

This race involved a 1/2 mile lake swim, a 16 mile bike, and a 3 mile run. The course was beautiful! Although, the bike was the absolute HILLIEST I have ever seen. It was up and down, and up and up. Downhill was clocking well over 30 mph! But then most of it was right back up!


Coming out of the water.


Finishing the run.

We saw at least 10 deer while driving in, an eagle, and apparently one of the swimmers even saw a black bear on the shore of the lake while we were in the water!

I was pleased with my time and am excited to attempt my goal next year of a full Olympic course.

Today was the last race of the summer, the Battle of Brooklyn 10 mile! Since I wasn't quite up for a 10 mile race, and Jackrabbit Sports decided they were going to offer a relay option, I decided that would be much more fun!

Alex, Andrea and I headed out this morning and had a great race! Yay Team Awesome!

Gold Coast Triathlon...or Sort of.

One my goals for this year was to run another triathlon. I hadn't competed in a race since before the wedding, so I figured it was high time I tried another one. Alex and I did a 5K in March, but I really wanted to try another triathlon, so, way back in winter I signed myself up for the Gold Coast Triathlon in Long Island, mostly based on the fact that it was sprint distance, semi close to Brooklyn, and had a reasonable entry fee... (Triathlons can get expensive!!)


This Sunday was the big day, so I rented a car and Alex and I headed out to Long Island, Port Washington to be be specific, to give it a go. (Alex was a very good supporter, not complaining once about having to get up at 5am. :-) ) The weather has been TERRIBLE in New York as of late, so I was pretty worried that I was going to be racing in the rain. And, that ended up pretty much being the case, it was pouring as we drove out there, boo.

It only took us about 30 minutes to arrive at the race site, which looked like it would be a beautiful beach on Long Island Sound, had it not been for the crappy weather. As I walked my bike to the transition area, a guy on a golf cart came by letting us know that the swim portion of the race had been canceled, the beach was closed by order of the Department of Health. Apparently due to all the rain we've been having and all the run-off, the water had exceeded safe levels of bacteria. Gross. The race would now be a duathlon, meaning a run, bike, run, rather then swim, bike run.

Needless to say, this sent me into a nervous fit. What? No swim? The swimming part is kind of why I do the race in the first place. And the entire reason why I don't get my butt completely kicked in these races. I am actually a decently fast swimmer, the other legs, not so much. Now I would have to start with a run AND finish with one? This didn't sound like a good idea to me.

I honestly contemplated heading back home and curling back into bed. However, after a couple minutes of nervous deliberation, I decided, well, I was already here, had paid my fee, what's the worst that could happen? I decided to set my goal at finishing the race, and leave it at that.

At the end of the day I made it! Though I have to say, it was HARD. I don't think I'd ever do a duathlon again, but it was certainly a good exercise in mental toughness. The second time through the run, my legs have never quite felt so much like bricks of lead, but I kept on trucking, and made it to the finish line. Quite proud of myself, I might add. I was nowhere near the front of the pack, but finished in under two hours, and ran the whole way!


Coming in after the bike.

Attempting a sprint to the finish.

Proof I made it.

I did it!

Back in the Race!

So, I might be crazy, but I'm going to go for it! I figure it will give me something to train for and I always think it's fun after I finish...or something like that.

So, Gold Coast Triathlon, here we come. Well, me. I don't think Alex is much up for triathlons, but he'll come and watch anyhow. AND! It will also be an excuse for us to rent a car, and then get to see fun things in Long Island! Hurray! If you're in the neighborhood, come watch!

Also, Alex and I will both be doing the Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K in March. I think this will actually be pretty fun. Not only for the TShirt. (I'm a sucker for race TShirts, forgive me). Apparently they have live bands playing the whole way through the race, I think this sounds pretty fun. And it wasn't too pricey, I'm excited.

Last also, I get to shoot at a show at a rock club on Wednesday for my photo class. I'm thinking this will be pretty cool.

More pictures to come soon!