2014 - The Year Ahead

This year will be exciting, challenging, fun, and different.  I hadn't put a ton of thought into my 2014 race schedule when I started putting things in writing.  Thus my plan and my season developed around 1 (or maybe 2) key races.

As you may have read about here, I went up to Lake Placid two times during 2013.  Once for a long training weekend and once to sherpa for Ironman Lake Placid.  Prior to these two trips the thought of completing Ironman Lake Placid had never crossed my mind.  Hilly, difficult, possibly cold once the sun begins to set.  After riding 4 loops of  the bike course during the training weekend and another loop during race weekend and after 6 swims in Mirror Lake I was sold - ok almost.  The setting was gorgeous, the bike course amazing - a test to your discipline on race day.  As I sherpa'd my way to almost 26 miles of sherping I tossed the idea around in my head, but once Adam crossed the line focus was on him - recover, food, celebrate, more food, etc. The next morning I headed down to Mirror Lake - took a nice swim and then back to the house to join Adam at the athlete celebration.   I had noticed and known some people who lined up extra early to claim their spot at IMLP 2014.  I still wasn't sure - and I sure as heck wasn't about to hand over my credit card for something I wasn't sure about.  I made myself one promise, if the race fell on July 27, 2014 (3 years after my dad's accident, to the day) I'd register.  Thanks to smartphones it took no longer than 1 minute to realize race day would in fact be - July 27, 2014.  After taking the longest route possible to get to the room directly next to where Adam and I had been sitting I was surprised to see about 16 computers set up with smiling volunteers behind each one - and absolutely NOBODY ELSE in the room to register.  It was all to easy - name, age, credit card, email address.  Done. I had been looking forward to perhaps Ironman Arizona or another visit to Louisville (not cold).  On that day, I knew, I'd be in Lake Placid and I should be in Lake Placid on July 27, 2014.

My 2013 season wasn't even close to over - I still had some goals to reach and PRs to set in shorter distances but thoughts were already churning to put together a successful 2014.

After Augusta 70.3 I reached out to a few coaches.  After communicating with each of them I chose one and I am already beyond happy with her passion, involvement, and knowledge (by the way my training plan doesn't even start with her until February 1st).  Around the same time I was making a coaching decision, I
was also excited to learn that I had been selected to be a member of the 2014 DC Tri/Snapple Elite Team.  A close group of fellow athletes to train with, be inspired by, and learn from.  A group that is made up of athletes that have found success in almost all arenas of triathlon.  Not to mention awesome sponsors to help me break down barriers.

As I began bouncing ideas around with my coach my 2014 racing calendar began to fill in.  It's still not 100% complete.  The big ones are there, the goals are set, and the work is about to begin.  I know the first few months of training may be difficult, frustrating, and mentally and physically draining.  In the end it will pay off..

A Peak at the 2014 Racing Calendar

May 10, 2014 - Kinetic 1/2 Iron Distance Tri

June 22, 2014 - Syracuse 70.3

June 29, 2014 - Chicago ITU Age Group Race

July 27, 2014 - Ironman Lake Placid

August 24, 2014 - Northeast International Triathlon

September 28, 2014 - Augusta 70.3 

Have you planned your race schedule for 2014 yet?  What changes will you make to your training this year, if any?

Final 2013 Race Recaps

I finished up the 2013 season with a few low key running races.  A chance to get out and have fun with friends and family while keeping tabs on my fitness level throughout the month of November.

Veteran's Day 10k

I was alone for this one - which was kind of nice.  A quick bike ride down to race start and packet pickup woke me up and got me moving to start off the morning.  After receiving my race bib and deciding on layerage for  a warm-up I did a little jog along Ohio Dr.  I had a min heart attack when I attempted to power up my Garmin and the empty battery logo appeared and the unit powered off.  How could this be?  I had it plugged in all night  Oi!  This is a big change for me over the past year - a year ago I probably would't have

been found with a Garmin on my wrist at a race.  Now I was convincing myself that I'd been training with it and I would be able to execute on race day without the watch.  I continued to warm-up and shed layers and calm myself down.  As I headed toward the start line I gave my Garmin one more chance.  Wahooooo, success!!!!  I seeded myself toward the middle of the front.  The weather was perfect  for a good day on Hains Point - low wind, cool temps and sunny.  The first 3 miles came easy, I nailed my goal pace and was feeling good.  Miles 4 and 5 were the hardest and may pace slowed just a bit.  I was able to hold on for the final 1.2 for a 10k PR!


Backyard Burn

I enjoy a nice trail run every now and then but racing on the trails isn't something I've come to be eager about.  I really enjoy the low key environment of EX2 races.  I headed down to Prince William Forest Park with my brother and one of our friends.  This would be there final prep before taking on the JFK 50 the following week.  The race started out with a short out and back on the before heading down a fire road and then diving into some real trail running.  I felt good the first couple miles but was soon suffering severe abdominal pain.  This familiar pain has happened before but only during training - so I'll stop for a few minutes let it subside and continue on slowly.  I had to slow down considerably for the middle portion of this race due to the pain.  I was able to pick it up again for the last mile or so and I finished the race feeling pretty good.  I even landed myself  a spot on the podium!  After cooling down for couple minutes I snapped some great shots of my brother and Brian finishing the 10 miler.


Del Ray Turkey Trot - 5 miler

This was the 2nd year we've had a small gang go down for the Turkey Trot before prepping the Thanksgiving Feast.   The course was a tad different than last year and the crowd was a bit bigger!  I randomly snuck into the starting chute and ended up right next to Abby!  We started out together, having to dip, dodge, duck, and dive around all sorts of characters.  The first two miles were fast and the cold air didn't seem too bad with the sun beating down on us. Around mile 3 things started o feel tough, getting air in became difficult, any sort of attempt at a deep breath was a fail.  Getting some water in helped a bit and I was able to pull it together for the last mile.  After this race I started realizing I have a really hard breathing in cold air, no wonder I've always enjoyed warmer climates.  It was a fun 5 miler, a PR, and a great start to a family and friend filled Thanksgiving!

Army 10 Miler Race Report

I had no intentions of running this race...really.  I'd let Adam run it and I'd cheer for him and enjoy some time off.  Long story, short - a good friend wrecked his bike and I raced with bib #2041 ;)

My original race plan - run a decent pace, enjoy it, hold 7:50 - 8:00 miles and don't put too much pressure on myself to PR.  PRing my 10 mile once already this year (Cherry Blossom) was good for me, no reason to push it too hard.  I'd enjoy the day, the atmosphere and the nice DC course, one that I'd never run before.

The REAL Race Plan -

I put myself in the front-middle section of my corral.  The 1st corral behind seeded runners I believe - so 2nd corral.  I told myself to keep the first 3 miles feeling easy and try to hold that pace for the entire 10 miles or better yet pick it up for the last 2 or 3 miles if all went well.  I have become well aware that I have a tendency to start off way to fast (6:22 for lap 1 of a 5 miler cuz it felt easy...whoops) so I started off running what felt really easy -- I thought I'd be around 8:10 for the first mile.  I looked down and it was 7:14, so I slowed myself down.  I slowed down to the point where it felt nice and easy - lap 1 7:38.  Oh dear, I thought I was digging myself into a hole.  Mile 2 I kept the same effort level and hit a 7:35....and I still felt good.  This was great!  The weather was perfect as well.  I had worn arm warmers with shorts and a tee, but ended up tucking the armwarmers away before the starting gun went off.   Miles 3, 4, and 5 went by without a problem.  Right as I was beginning to feel like I had to work I saw a friend out for a run.  It was nice to have someone to keep my spirits up and push me along through mile 6 and part of 7. Thanks J. Brez!

After parting ways with Brez I decided I'd stop looking at my watch and do what I could to get to the finish.  The 14th St. Bridge was still waiting for me and that bridge seems to always be an unexpected heart breaker for me.  It was tough, I told myself to stay behind a girl I'd been running near almost the entire time.  Before I knew it I was headed back toward the Pentagon and looking for a good place to kick it in to the finish.  I hadn't been watching my splits for the past couple miles so I really had no clue what my time was.  If I ever wondered what perfect running weather is, I now know.  It's the weather we had on October 20, 2013.  I never felt hot, I never felt cold, I was sweating a bit, and the sun was shining. I never would have thought I'd be able to run like I did for 10 miles that day.  So thank you, Kenn for the opportunity and thank you, Brez for pulling me along when it started getting hard.

Finish Time - 1:16:26
Average Pace - 7:36

Now it's time to figure out when I can do in the 1/2 marathon.  I've never had a good 1/2 marathon.  Maybe it's the fact that I only have run a 1/2 the past 3 years in March, or maybe it's that I never seem to train properly for them or pay attention to pace at all during training.  Hopefully with a bit of rest, a bit more work, and being more familiar with my Garmin (as compared to last year) I can crush Rock 'n Roll USA.