Nanticoke River Swim

May 4

I just love hopping in my car at the crack of dawn and driving across the Bay Bridge as the sun comes up.

Checking out the water below, I picture myself swimming a perfect line between the two spans. From the bridge it's Highway 50 all the way to the turnoff for Nanticoke.

Sun roof open, radio cranked, I'm on another big adventure. My third Nanticoke 3 miler -- a warm up for the Bay Swim and my first open water of the season. How would it all turn out? Could I conquer the current and, for once, finish the full 3 miles? As usual, it was a roll of the dice. Maybe the third try would be the charm.

Here are the pertinent stats:

Water temp: 62 degrees
Air temp:     50's -60's
Wind:          Cranking up to 15 mph
Tide:            Going out
Current:     1 -2 mph

I met up with the only other Zer doing the swim and we scoped out the river to assess the challenge before us. From the shore the water looked fairly docile. We could see all of the buoys and clear across to the other shore. Maybe we won't have a lot of chop? But then there's the wind, which seemed to keep picking up as we got closer to swim time.<Nervous laughter> But still, quite an improvement over last year. I'll take it!

Unlike the Bay Swim, Nanticoke starts at 10am every year, regardless of what the tide is doing. And it requires that you swim in triangular course and make adjustments on each leg to deal with the current. For me, that's the most challenging aspect of it. Especially when the current is strong.

And We're Off!
After swimming out past the jetties we turn right to begin the triangle pattern across the river. The first leg was upstream, right into the current. Wham. But the wind was coming from the same direction we were swimming, so I'm assuming that helped push me along a bit. Still, it took FOREVER to reach the first turn buoy - 37 minutes to go 9/10ths of a mile. Fine. Keep it coming,

Heading to the second buoy I kept reminding myself that the current would be coming from the right, so I would need to angle into it. However, the waves made it hard to see up ahead and figure out whether I was angling enough.

Helpful Kayaker Guy intercepted me as I struggled toward the green buoy marking the midway point of the leg. "M'am, I need you to swim straight for the buoy."
"Um...say again?"
"You need to swim in a straight line for the buoy."
What was he talking about? Couldn't he see me aiming straight for the buoy?
"You'll get there faster if you swim in a straight line instead of zig-zagging." 
Really? Wow, I hadn't thought of that. LOL

So I decided to try breast stroke (my version of it ;) so I could see the buoy better and  maybe swim straighter. I did this for what seemed like forever---and noticed I was barely inching forward. Damn current!

Where The Hell Am I Going?

I finally reached the next turn buoy and made the final turn for the shoreline. At this point I had been swimming about an hour and doubts about making the second loop were creeping in. Confusion was also setting in. Am I swimming for the right green buoy? Am I going out of my way and wasting energy? Is the current pushing me too far south? Where the hell is the marina?!

I noticed another swimmer just ahead of me who appeared to be scanning the water for the right buoy too. "Hey! Are we going the right way?" She wasn't sure either. So off we went, swimming in a vague direction toward the shore and hoping for the best!

I finally spotted the orange buoys leading into the jetties off in the distance. Yikes. I could tell I had been swept too far south by the current. Helpful SUP Guy pulled up next to me and told me I couldn't do a second loop and would have to swim in. No worries!

Keeping it real here, I have to admit I wanted to give up toward the end. I was so close to the jetties--yet so thoroughly exhausted swimming into the current trying to get there.  Helpful SUP Guy was right next to me, so all I would've had to do is wave him over to rescue me and put me out of my misery. Talk about tempting!

Finish Line!

It took forever -- and every bit of energy I could muster--to make it to the jetties.  And then finally-- the final stretch for the finish line!

Hallelujah. I was so exhausted and happy to finish that swim! Another Nanticoke in the books. Two miles of suffering = great training for the Bay.

 

A few days after the swim we got an email from the race director. He wrote: 

"For those of you that completed the 3 mile swim and are doing the bay, the bay will be a “Cakewalk”.

That says something about how hard Nanticoke is!! 

 

Tour de Cookie!

May 3
 
The Tour de Cookie combines biking and cookie eating with a good cause. What's not to love? Plus there's bling AND the Cookie Monster!


Forget the usual boring water stops; this ride has cookie stops! You could ride 40 or 12 miles...and we opted for the shorter route, which follows the Millennium Trail around Rockville.


And we're off!

                                               A typical cookie stop looks like this:

 

Tables covered with cookies and more cookies! Chocolate Chip, Sugar, Shortbread, Gingerbread, Oatmeal -- you name it, they had it.  Even Lego cookies!

The trail did get a bit crowded at times, but it was fun to see all the kids having a 'sweet' time.

 

So..here's my final haul of cookies and bling:

 

Tour de Cookie finish line pose!

 



Pikes Peek 10K

April 27th

I've spent every Tuesday night for the past four months sprinting around a track, doing hill repeats, and trying to stay warm. When it was snowing, we ran. When the wind chills were close to zero, we ran. When the freezing rain was coming down, we ran. When the track was covered in snow and closed, we ran around a parking lot a couple of blocks away.

Now it was time to see if all that winter suffering...er, speed work...would pay off. The Pikes Peek 10K would be our big test!

The weather was sweet - temps in the 50's and sunny skies, with a slight tail wind all the way to the finish line. Yes!

I was ALL kinds of amped up about smashing my 10K PR--- until I looked it up that morning on Athlinks.  At the Jingle All the Way run in 2009 I supposedly ran a 10:27 pace. Whaa?? I don't remember that. Maybe it's a mistake?!

Anyway... I figured a 10:27 pace would be impossible, so I decided to try to beat my next fastest 10K time, which was my 11:22 pace at Two Rivers in March.  But secretly, I was really hoping to run an 11 minute pace or  maybe just a little under. And secretly, I didn't really think I could do it. But I tried to keep both of those thoughts a secret from myself. LOLOL


The course runs down Rockville Pike from Shady Grove to White Flint Mall. You're mostly running downhill, but there are a few annoying hills along the way.

I made the mistake of not wearing a water belt (it's only a 10K!) and regretted it because it got hot during the race. They had two water stops, which helped. Note to self:  Practice running and drinking.

I really pushed myself to try to stay ahead of the 11 minute pace guy...and tried to keep the 10:30 guy in sight. The last two miles I just wanted to slow the pace but OMG--I kept pushing. Sheesh! In fact, the entire 6 miles I was uncomfortable and felt like I was running too fast and would bonk any minute.

So happy to see the finish line!

I was happy with my finish time -- which came out to a 10:35 pace, my fastest 10K in 5 years! Not a PR, but I'll take it. I think the winter speed work REALLY paid off!! Hallelujah.

Ahhh Spring

Good riddance, Winter. Oh how you sucked--on so many levels. But no need to elaborate, because the 2 or 3 people who read this blog probably don't want to relive it. These pics along my usual running routes pretty much sum it up:

Had it all to myself! (The other Zs are all up ahead)

Well HELLO SPRING! Bring on the warmer temps, sunny skies, clear trails, green trees...give us the full treatment! We deserve nice weather, finally.  2014 owes us that much.

What better way to celebrate Spring than with a run? Or maybe a few runs.  Carderock was my first official Team Z run of the year. We ran north on the tow path.

I was thinking--why haven't I run from Carderock before? Plenty of parking, lots of trees, a nice, soft path. I love it!


Three miles up the path is Great Falls...and that's where the trail got busier.

You can't beat the scenery!

Past the falls I had the path all to myself again.

Helpful fact:  if your Garmin crashes, this building is exactly two miles north of the falls.

And that's where I turned around. Five miles out, 5 miles back. The best part of the year starts now!

Two Rivers Race Report

March 15th

The Two Rivers Race Festival in Lackawaxen, PA had lots of options, from a 5K up to marathon distances. What a perfect weekend:  running and more running with back-to-back races over two days! My plan was to run the 5K followed by the 10K on Saturday and run the half marathon on Sunday. The goal? Just see how fast I could go! And soak up the scenery...

I hit the road Friday after work, drove 4.5 hours to the Poconos and stayed overnight at a random hotel. Lackawaxen (I just love saying that name) is a tiny town off the main highway, down a two lane road and through the woods at the point where two rivers converge. So pretty!

You run on a road next to a rushing river with "mountains" on either side. Hard to believe it was mid-March with all the snow and extra cold temps!

I parked my car at the general store, picked up my packet and asked where the start line was. No one seemed to know....not even the volunteers! Let's just say this race was WAY laid back.

Finally some random guy yelled out, "If you're doing the 5K, follow me." So we followed him about 30 yards or so down the road to an orange line painted on the road. "Alright. Ready? Go!"
The course is described as flat, so I was a bit surprised by the annoying false flat/hill we were running up. We had a head wind going up, but a nice tail wind coming back. Finish time for the 5K:  32:30/10:27 pace.

A few minutes later the race director called for the 10Kers to head to the orange line, same drill. I was still out of breath from the 5K but hey, this is what I signed up for! I really tried to push my pace and it hurt! But it hurt so good. Finish time:  1:10:38/11:22 pace.

Being the only one in my age group for the 5K I came in first! And with only two of us in the 10K, I got 2nd in my age group. Winning is fun, even if you didn't have any competition.


Adding to my pint and sock collections- cheers!

I never made it to the half marathon the next day. A couple of hours after the 10K I had to rush home because Boudreaux had taken a turn for the worse. I drove like a maniac and cried the whole way. It was the longest drive ever - 4 hours fighting traffic, trying to hurry up and get home before he died. I miss my sweet boy. He had been part of my life for 15 years.

How do you cope with the loss of a best friend? You go for a run. And that's exactly what I did the next day.

It's Hard. So What? Do It!

I LOVE this!

19 Hard Things You Need To Do To Be Successful

By  Dan Waldschmidt, international business strategist, speaker, author, and extreme athlete.  His consulting firm solves complex marketing and business strategy problems for savvy companies all over the world. Dow Jones calls his Edgy Conversations blog one of the top sales sites on the internet

You have to do the hard things.
You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.
You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.
You have to give more than you get in return right away.
You have to care more about others than they care about you.
You have to fight when you are already injured, bloody, and sore.
You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.
You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.
You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.
You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.
You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.
You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.
You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”
You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.
You have to try and fail and try again.
You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.
You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.
You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.
You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.
You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

You have to do the hard things. The things that no one else is doing. The things that scare you. The things that make you wonder how much longer you can hold on.

Those are the things that define you. Those are the things that make the difference between living a life of mediocrity or outrageous success.

The hard things are the easiest things to avoid. To excuse away. To pretend like they don’t apply to you.

The simple truth about how ordinary people accomplish outrageous feats of success is that they do the hard things that smarter, wealthier, more qualified people don’t have the courage — or desperation — to do.

Do the hard things. You might be surprised at how amazing you really are.

 Bring on the hard things, 2014!  I'm game.

Hello 2014!

What better way to start the new year than with a race-- the Resolution 5K in Leesburg. It was a cold but pretty run on the Movren Estate, with a few hills thrown in to keep us on our toes. My ankle tendon cooperated and I managed to average an 11:48 pace.

Speaking of pace....These first few months of 2014 will be all about getting faster. I signed up for the MCRRC's speed development program, which consists of track practice during the week and a long run on the weekend. Last winter's trail running program was a blast, but not a good option for someone working on speed.

I'm not big on making New Year's resolutions, but this being a new year and all, I suppose a few goals are in order. So, here goes:

1. Run a sub 31:00 5K by April
2. Bay Swim Redemption!
3. Be able to do 3 pull ups by June
4. Can Lake 50K-- finish while the sun is still shining!

In keeping with all the miles of suffering ahead, I'll wrap this up with a quote from Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes: 
 
"Our ultimate calling is not to arrive at the finish line in a composed state, but rather to stagger in breathlessly, totally annihilated and on the verge of collapse, proudly knowing in our hearts that we have run our race, and it was glorious. Whether you end up with a medal being placed around your neck or an IV line being placed in your arm, the inner bliss is the same. You have waged your war and you have emerged victorious. You are content. If you are never to take another step, you will forever remain satisfied. The job is done.  That is, until the next one..."
                                                                                                     
And there will always be a next one.  Cheers to 2014!!