Planning for 2015!

The other day I put up my draft 2015 race calendar. And I noticed that my 2014 calendar still said draft! Since we are almost halfway through November it isn't really a draft any more!

So, here is what I'm thinking about for 2015:

01/01 - Resolution 10 - This will be my 5th year in a row at this fun yet hard event!
02/15 - Run Your Heart Out 5k
03/14 - Lucky Leprechaun 5k
03/28 - Monument Ave 10k - This will be my 3rd year in a row AND my Spring "A" race!
04/26 - GW Parkway 5k
05/03 - Broad Street Run
05/31 - Rock Hall Int'l (aqua bike) - I've never done an aqua bike but am thinking about it!
06/01 - Rock Hall Sprint
06/19 - Ragnar Trail Relay - This looks like fun!
06/21 - Bath County Sprint
07/12 - Colonial Beach Sprint
07/13 - Colonial Beach Int'l (aqua bike)
07/19 - Tidewater Sprint
08/16 - General Smallwood Int'l (aqua bike)
08/17 - General Smallwood Sprint
09/07 - Patriot's Sprint
10/05 - Waterman's Sprint
11/26 - Turkey Trot
12/31 - Fairfax 4 Miler - A fun way to end the year and will be my 4th year in a row here!

This year, 2014, was all about going shorter and working on my speed. I did not make great strides, but overall was happy. I did get some great workouts in prior to getting sick in October before before my Fall "A" race, but was pleased with my race!

Overall, my focus is to still work on my speed in 2015, specifically on the run. I'd really like to see what I can do again on the short tri distance. I look forward to some repeat races as well as a few new ones! And of course, racing with Team Rabbit and other friends when possible! I'm not sure if I'll have any major open water swims in 2015, or swim meets for that matter. My left shoulder still has a little niggle after the Bay Swim and prep leading up to it, but I'm working on it so we shall see! One thing is for certain: I will do the 100x100s swim! Only it can't be on Mother's Day as I'll be down at Auburn watching my younger son graduate that weekend!

Speaking of new races, there's a couple of new Turkey Trots on the horizon this year! I've decided to do the Pacer's one in Fairfax, because Old Town Fairfax is neat, and it's a bit closer to home. As for the =PR= one - well I've already done the course twice, but for different races this year. One of which is on my schedule for next year!

While I'm not anxious for 2014 to be over, I am looking forward to 2015!

Happy and Healthy Training!

Next Up:

11/23 - Fall Backyard Burn Race #5
11/27 - Fairfax Turkey Trot

Race Report: It's a Bridge Thing!

This year I crossed the great Chesapeake Bay twice under my own power! 

On June 8 I swam 4.4 miles from Sandy Point State Park, under and between the bridge spans, to Hemingway's Marina.You can read my swim report, here!

Yesterday, I completed the inaugural Across the Bay 10K with Carol from Team Rabbit and our friends, Sally and Jeff! We had a grand time. You can read the Rabbit Recap Rap, here! The course took us from the Northrop Grumman facility, across the Eastbound span of the bridge, to the Chesapeake Bay Business Park! 

So I call 2014 the 'Year of the Bridge': 

Side by Side Bridge Event Shirts!

It is always a little...unnerving, I guess, to do an inaugural event. Over the years I have done several. Most of the time they are fine but maybe there's a kink or two to be worked out. There's one inaugural race in the DC area in particular that was not so great. In fact, I did not even blog about it! It was only here one year, on December 3, 2011, then never came back. 

As the Across the Bay 10K loomed closer, I realized this was going to be a much bigger race, in terms of runners, than I had maybe originally thought. Then it crossed my mind that the logistics for this point to point race would make it difficult. I have to say, that this was so not the case! Everything went smoothly! I was bummed initially to hear there would not be a bag drop on race morning. I made adjustments for this and it was not an issue. 

The really cool thing for me was at the end, in addition to the cool finisher medal and space blanket that we received, they handed out a small bag of goodies. This was great for just putting stuff in and not having to juggle everything. I wish all races would hand a bag out at the finish line. They don't have to be special, just something to make it easier to carry all your 'stuff'! Believe me, the bag is such a little thing, but can make a huge difference. I had a hand held water bottle, gloves, my phone, and a few other items. But only have two hands. Sticking all this excess stuff in that bag made me one happy runner! 

Finally, here is a fun link to my finish video! It was a nice surprise to get this link by e-mail today!

Happy and Healthy Training!

Next Up: Fall Backyard Burn Race #5