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For The Virtual to IRL Friends

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It's been almost a month since I ran the Pacers Running DC Half Marathon in Washington DC. Life has gotten really busy and hectic as I wanted to find the right words to express the meaning these three gals who have had in such a short time. Theresa, Ann and Ilene have such caring, kind, and warm hearts as well as a good head attached their shoulder. I chose to dedicate the DC Half Marathon to 3 gals who I met through the sport; first virtually then IRL (In Real Life). Each of these gals have much more life experience than me. I've enjoyed finding out more about them and their life stories; in whatever we converse from time to time. I may not know as much about each of these wonderful women as I can as our friendships are still blooming and blossoming and there is so much still to learn. But from the conversations we've had; their experiences help me out from time to time. Theresa, Ann and Ilene have all helped me grow and become a better version of me. These dedications are
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It's Hard To Admit

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That I'm PROUD of myself. I took up triathlon 20 years ago not realizing just how life changing it would become. It's been my choice to stay in the sport even when at times (which there are so many of them) I have felt like there is no place for me and so many times I got very close to walking away. It's been good and bad as well as pretty and ugly but I'm here. It's taken so much courage to go through this journey. It's personal. It's meaningful. It's my journey to own. No one can take away what I've accomplished since 2004; whether the big wins or the little wins as they all matter. I've learned so much and I'll continue to learn as more seasons go by.  That I'm okay with this journey being so lonely at this point. I won't take all the blame for this aspect but I will acknowledge that I could have done things differently. I'm happy that I have a small and very special supportive community surrounding me. A few have been there si
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Waterlogged...

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  On Sunday August 18th I accomplished a goal I had set back in the middle of 2010; to swim a 5k in the open water without a bike or run attached. My training was very sub-par as my summer was really busy working round the clock at a few pools. When I wasn't working at the pools; I just wanted to get away from them. I don't like making excuses, but I didn't have the time to do the longer swims I should have done and the longer swims I wanted to do. I had 3 hours to complete this 3-mile open water. I knew I could get it done as completing the swim was the only thing that mattered. I had 3 hours to swim what was well over 3 miles in just over 2 hours. I was just happy to finish. It was honestly the hardest athletic accomplishment I've completed in my life as an athlete. It took me a bit over 2 hours. I had times during the last two laps; it was a 6-lap swim that my legs cramped up from being dehydrated. I was in a dark place thinking I wouldn't be able to finish. I le
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For The Mermaids

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On Sunday August 18th I completed my first open water swim race; without a bike and/or run attached to the end of it. There were so many years; 14 years to be exact of getting this dream accomplished. More in the race recap sometime this coming weekend; but this endurance swim was the hardest and most grueling athletic event I've ever completed. There are so many mermaids known as those that have a passion for being in the water; that I could have given the dedications to. Just like the ongoing journey in the sport changes and evolves over time so did the dedications; well in some ways. All three mermaids; I've known for a few years but have each had a special impact on me. No one gets a certain mile dedicated to them but they each get a story shared of how they have each impacted me. I have only known all three of them for a short amount of time but I've enjoyed learning the little bit I know. So when you are ready; take a deep breath before going under water and remember
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20 Things I Learned During Season 20 In Triathlon

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As my 2024 Triathlon Season has been complete for several weeks now; I thought this blog post would be fitting. It's been a season of reflection. It's been a season that has turned out to be celebratory in ways I never imagined it would be. Below are 20 Things I Learned During My Season 20 In Triathlon. 1. Keeping this blog up to date this season reminds me why I started it back in 2007. I wanted to document my journey to IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene 2008 (my first of that distance) in a way that made it different as social media wasn't so big back then. I looked back at posts from all my training and racing leading up to that magical day and it reminded me of what this journey is all about. I made myself a promise that I'd keep my blog up to date this season to remind me of the journey it's been. 2. Reflecting on past seasons helped me become the triathlete I have dreamed of becoming. This season has been all about reflection; seeing who I have been over the past 2 de
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No Pressure Whatsoever!

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On Sunday August 4th I completed my final triathlon of my 2024 season at the Kinetic Multisports Lums Pond Sprint Triathlon in Bear Delaware. This race venue and course is a favorite; especially when it comes to the bike course. Every time I turn into the entrance of Lums Pond State Park; it feels like something special will happen. Though in the end of everything, I try not put any pressure on myself because 2 Decades later, I'm still here showing up doing this thing I love so much! I can't ask for anything more than that to be honest. But as I've learned this season; and from those of the past, pretty awesome things happen when the pressure is put on hold. Pre-Race Shenanigans I went on Saturday to pick my race stuff up because it's just less stressful. I've raced with Kinetic enough over the years that I know the race staff so it's always just really nice to see everyone. When I got to the packet pickup table I said hello to Suzanne who is in charge of regist
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It's You and Me Jane; Are You Ready?

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Last Sunday, August 4th I completed the final triathlon of my momentous and celebratory 2024 Triathlon Season. As I thought about race dedications for the season; I knew who would get the race dedications specifically for the many triathlons on my race schedule. One of my closest and dearest friends Jane; all along no questions asked was going to get this final triathlon dedication. This dedication alone could be the longest novel you have ever read; but I'm going to keep it short and sweet.  It was the Fall 2003 semester at the University of North Texas in Denton; my sophomore ysar when I met Jane. My parents were back in Montgomery County Maryland where I had grown up and Julie had transferred to Ohio University in Athens, OH (the same school where my mom and dad met back during their sophomore year). I can't remember what class we had but we sat next to each other and started talking. I feel like I should remember the conversation that started it all but in many ways it'
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