Triathlete 4 Life

As we're about to turn the calendar from January to February and I've already opened up my 2025 Season in Taking Running Seriously; and I have yet to post my first blog of the new year. I'm going to express some wisdom I've gained over the decades but didn't realize it until the last few years. Here are five thoughts that have come to my mind about the sport. Make your journey unique to you. I'm sure every athlete who has been in the sport for a few years has said this in some form or fashion; but I feel like this is the first time I have expressed this to myself and to others. So many have said this to me but I guess I wasn't listening. As I have gone through some really rough times in the sport; I've had to change the course which helped in making it unique to me. From race to race. From season to season. From one decade to the next. This journey will continue to be unique. No one's journey in the sport is an exact carbon copy of another athletes. ...

On Saturday November 23rd my 2024 race season wrapped up (finally) as I swam at the 11th Annual (it was my 11th time swimming) Germantown Masters Solstice Meet at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center. I swam 2 individual events and on 2 relays. Here are the dedications for each event I swam that day. I've decided that I'm making this blog post a little on long side by doing the meet event dedication as well as the event recap. It's taken some thought to write but it's well worth it as I like finding the right words to express everything. Event 3 - Mixed 200 Short Course Meter Butterfly Race Dedication My first event of the Solstice Meet is dedicated to the late and great Margot Pettijohn. Margot was a fellow Ancient Mariner who sadly died from her battle with lung cancer in December 2018. Margot and I swam the 200 Butterfly many times together; whether in the same heat and many times in the lane next to one another. I always admired Margot's love and dedication to swim...

As the holidays are here and athletes; newbie and veteran alike are gearing up for their 2025 season, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Swim Bike Run essentials. I've included a short review about why I have come to love each one and why they could be a fan favorite for any athlete. Included are some pics as well as some discount codes to use when shopping as triathlon isn't a cheap sport. SWIM Speedo Vanquisher Goggles I have worn Speedo goggles since my competitive swimming career started when I was a kid. I transitioned to these specific silicone gasket goggles towards the end of my high school swimming career. These goggles grip well around the eyes and don't fog up. They also come in fun colors, with clear or mirror lenses. I recommend these for pool and open water swimming. Zone3 Volare Streamline Racing Goggles I wear these goggles mostly when swimming outside; in the pool but primarily for anything open water swimming. These are Zone3 's only option f...

  On Sunday November 3; I raced the MoCo Road Runners Rockville 10k where I ran up and down all the hills in the King Farm neighborhood of Rockville. This road race is a fall favorite as I'm a repeat offender over the years. The goal was to beat my time from 2023 which was seconds under an hour. My training for this race this year was consistently inconsistent, which has become a theme all year long. I didn't want to put pressure on myself but I'm used to it so I had an A time goal, a B time goal, a C time goal, as well as a Just Finish This race goal. The weather race morning was absolute perfection which suits me well when it comes to running. Cool and Crisp temperatures with the sun out and no wind There were many stresses that I was handed race morning. I let the anxiety of the happenings get to me but once I lined up in the corral for an 8:30 am start to hear the G O word I was ready to see what I could accomplish. It was Me vs. Me trying to prove to myself to hang tou...

On Sunday November 3 I ran 6.2 miles around the King Farm neighborhood of Rockville Maryland at the Montgomery County Road Runners Rockville 10k. It's a local fall favorite that attracts many runners; for the 10k and 5k road race and even the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run. I had originally dedicated the 10k to 2 runners but then it turned into 3. One of the dedications didn't like the idea so I respected the decision to drop that dedication. The 49th Running of the Rockville 10k was ran with Todd and Mary in mind and in spirit. Below are the stories of my friendships with Todd and Mary; both former (injured) runners who always do what's best for themselves and for those they care about most. Todd I met Todd back in the mid 2010s when we were members of the Montgomery County Road Runners and ran the Country Road Run 5 Miler that started and finished in the Olney Swim Center parking lot. The run took us from the parking lot of Olney Swim Center and Olney Manor Recreational Park onto Ba...

  Although my time for this morning's MCRRC Rockville 10k was something special to celebrate lots of things that my Season 20 Decade 2 in Running brought; it's not always about the times and pace I run. For that fact it's not always about where I place either. Though I will pat myself on the back knowing I was 11th out of 45 gals in the gals 40-44 age group; though it doesn't matter much either. So then what's the special thing about this morning? My tribe which today included Ann and her ever so sweet husband Ali. They drove across the Bay Bridge to do this race. Well originally Ann was going to run the 10k and Ali was just going to support and cheer. It turned out that Ann talked Ali into run/walking the 5k as Ann dropped from the 10k to the 5k. This sport is so individual but it's great to have a community that is supportive. Ann and Ali are a part of my community, a part of my tribe which for me at this point in my triathlon and running career is HUGE. I cou...