THIS IS IT!

    THIS IS IT! THE DAY IS ALMOST HERE! My bike is on its way via Tri Bike Transport. All my gear is packed strategically in my swim bag. All my training had concluded. And now, I’m only 2.5 days, 2.2 miserable night’s sleep (I added the .2 for my ‘sleep’ before my 2:30am wakeup on race day,) 1 plane flight, and 1 easy workout away from the Ironman U.S. Championships in New York City. I’m a little bit scared. I’m sorta nervous. But, I’m sure excited.

    I’ve been training for nearly 6 months for a single race so there is a lot of pressure to do well on race day. But then again, what does ‘well’ even mean? Questions have recently popped into my mind regarding this race that I have tried to ignore answering for far too long this season: What are my goals for this race? What are my expectations of my performance? What is my strategic race plan regarding pacing? Do I even have such a plan?

    And now, with the race only a few short days away, I can’t ignore these questions any longer. I need to confront my fear and concoct SOME SORT of a race plan. So, here it is…

Overall Race Goal: 

To finish my very first Full Ironman Race and be proud of it. I’m a SUPER competitive person and I, admittedly, HATE losing. Deep down I know that I will look back at this race and see all my mistakes and failures before I will acknowledge my accomplishment. I’m hard on myself. I know that. But, my overall race goal is, ultimately, just to finish. Saturday isn’t the day to take large race risks or to go out hard hoping that I can just hold on. Saturday is the day for pushing myself comfortably (well, as comfortable as I could be in a 12hr race) across the finish line and knowing that my next Ironman race will be the race where I can really test my limits. I just have to get my Ironman tattoo and then all bets are off.

The Swim: 

 Okay, so I know I JUST said that I wasn’t going to go out too hard. BUT, the swim will be my exception to this rule. I’m a swimmer and I’ve been feeling fantastic in the water. I also JUST swam a 5k Long Course for time so I know both that my pacing is spot-on and that I can bounce back very quickly from a hard swim. Like Ironman 70.3 Florida, I plan to take this swim out relatively hard. Swimming is my advantage and I will try to do the best I can with it. I know that I’ll be a bit tired for the Swim/Run Transition to the Bike. But, a few minutes into the bike and I know that I’ll be back to normal. So, the plan is to take out the swim moderate to hard and to rely on my training for a fast post-swim recovery.

The Transitions: 

Smooth and Well-executed. Once I leave transition I’ll be gone for a VERY LONG time. So, I need to worry less about the speed of my transitions and instead to be very thorough in my preparation for the next leg of the race. I can’t leave anything I need behind…even if it means losing a minute or two.

The Bike: 

 Smooth and steady on the first lap and focus mentally to push a bit harder through the second lap. I don’t know the bike course AT ALL. I know, roughly, how tall the hills are and where they are. But, this is brand new terrain for me. I need to take the first lap out comfortably to just get to see the bike course before I will be able to figure out how hard I can push the second lap. My biggest goal is to not take the first lap out so hard that I spend the next six hours slowly dying. I want to spend the first 56 miles at a comfortable pace and to see how much I have left in the tank for the second loop once I know how challenging those hills are. 

The Run: 

 My only real goal here is just to finish and to stay mentally positive without any real concern for my pace. The run course looks extremely challenging (although beautiful). And, I’m not 100% confident in my present run training. Regardless though, no matter how much training I did for this run, it’s definitely going to hurt A LOT. So, I plan to just enjoy the scenery and take solace in the fact that, by that point, I’ll almost be an Ironman.

And, there it is. It’s not a super-confusing or overly thought-out race plan. But, it’s something to at least show that I have put some thought into my performance on Saturday. And that’s all I’ve really got to say…

If you’d like to track me on Saturday during the race, you can do so at Ironman Live by entering my bib number (#481). Thanks for all your good luck wishes and support thusfar and...

SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE!!!

Triathlon Checklist

You’ve trained. You’ve spent A LOT of money trying to find the perfect gear. And now you’re packing your bag the night before your first race scared beyond belief and nervous that you will forget something. 

So, to alleviate some of your worries I’ve created a Triathlon Checklist from packing your gear to toeing the start line. Enjoy!

WHAT TO PACK THE NIGHT BEFORE:

1. Bike 
1. Lube your chain if it needs it.
2. Make sure all your seat bolts and bottle cage bolts are nice and tight. The last thing you need is for your seat to pop loose or for your bottle cages to be rattling around mid-race.
3. Check your brakes and make sure they’re secure and not rubbing against your tire. One time I actually lost one of my brake pads mid-race. Turns were a bit too scary for my liking. 
4. Bike Pump. Make sure to bring your own bike pump as lines to get tires pumped can be insanely long at the race site. 
5. Gear Bag. Get something brightly colored or distinct so you can locate your things in transition easily. I usually use this ugly, blue bag I have from when I swam in College. It might be ugly but there isn’t a single other person at the race who has it. And, when I’m running through transition, it’s very easy to spot. 


1. Goggles. Considering bringing a back-up pair just in case your goggles break. Yes, it does happen on occasion. 
2. Tri Suit. I like to put my suit with my gear bag the night before just so I’m not scrambling early in the morning to find it.
3. Swim suit or back-up tri suit. Zippers could get jammed. Suits can rip. It’s better to have a sub-par back-up outfit than to be naked.
4. Helmet. 
5. Bike Shoes. Check the cleat bolts to make sure they’re nice and tight. 
6. CO2 cartridge and replacement tube and lever. Even if you don’t know how to fix a flat, it’s better to have the tools so somebody else can help.
7. Sunglasses, cleaning cloth, and case. If the glasses aren’t on your face or safely stashed in your helmet ready for the transition to bike, put them in the case or they’ll probably get stepped on. Transition is a total free-for-all. 
8. Hat, Visor, or Headband. I personally like running in a visor or headband but beware if you do. You might walk away with a slightly burnt scalp and be cringing each time you brush your hair the rest of the week.
9. Race number belt.
10. Sneakers.
11. Towel or Mat to wipe your feet on and to put all your gear on in transition. Some people use vats of water to clean their feet but a towel will usually do just fine.
12. Back-up towel. If it rains you might want to have a second towel to put on top of all of your gear when waiting for the race to start. There is nothing like having soaked shoes BEFORE you even put them on.
13. Water Bottles. 
14. Necessary Nutritional Items. Always bring extra just in case you drop some accidentally or can’t get a bag open.
15. 2 Zip Lock Bags. Most people like to have immediate post-race cell phone access. However, be sure to put your phone in two tightly sealed Zip Lock bags even if it’s hot and sunny out. When a rain storm comes out of nowhere and everyone else’s cell phones get ruined in transition, you’ll be very appreciative.
16. A handful of Toilet Paper or Tissues. Try imagining 2500 nervous triathletes all slamming the porta-pottys just before the race. Do you really think they supply the bathrooms with enough TP for all those people? 
17. Advil. Yes, I know it’s not suggested to take Advil while racing. But, it’s nice to have it when absolutely necessary. If you strain a muscle mid-race or have a sudden headache, it’s better to have some emergency Advil on hand than to not finish.
18. Immodium and Zantac. We all get nervous but some of us get far more nervous than others. I suggest having both just in case your tummy isn’t too thrilled with you at 4am while gearing up for the race.  
19. Black Permanent Marker. Depending on the race and when you arrive, the body marking lines can be quite long. To avoid them, just bring your own marker and do it yourself.
20. All-Purpose Bike Tool. Bring it just in case something needs to be screwed in or tightened very last minute.
2. Have any pre-race water bottles in the fridge and ready to go. Have your breakfast prepared as well. 

RACE MORNING BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE:

1. Put on your tri suit.
2. Do a last minute bathroom run.
3. Grab your breakfast and make sure all your water bottles are filled. Make sure to have an extra water bottle for the ride to the race site. A lot of times, water isn’t easily accessible before the race. The race managers need to save it for later.
4. Bring a change of clothes to leave in the car for after the race. 

RACE MORNING AT THE RACE SITE:

1. Pick up your registration packet and timing chip if you haven’t already done so. 
2. Get your body marked or mark it yourself.
3. Go to the “bike out” area. Do a quick test ride if possible to configure your bike to the proper gear for getting out of transition and onto the bike course.
4. Run into transition and rack your bike (unless you already had to rack it the day before). A lot of times the early bird gets the best rack position.
5. Check tire pressure. 
6. Check all bolts and brake pads to make sure nothing needs to be altered or tightened.
7. Set your watch or bike computer back to Zero. 
8. Set up all your gear.
9. Undo your shoe laces.
10. Try on your race number belt to make sure it’s tight enough.
11. Clean your sunglasses.
12. Put your timing chip on your left ankle so that it won’t get caught in the bike gears. 
13. Look for a nearby sign, tree, or patch of grass that will help you identify where in transition is your bike rack.
14. Put your empty gear bag somewhere in sight so you can easily spot it as you run from either side of transition. Remember: transition won’t be as full during the race so you’ll probably be able to spot your bag from pretty far away.
15. Do one last check of all your things. Take you goggles, cap, wad of TP, and a small water bottle with you as you leave transition. Even if you don’t use the TP before the race, you can hand it off to some other very grateful person.
16. You’re all set! Have a great race!

RACE REPORT: CABA 5k

I am NOT The biggest fan of 5K races. Yes, I know that a 3 mile run is shorter than most my warm-ups. But, I’m an endurance athlete. And as such, I can hold a moderate-to-fast pace for an extended amount of time. But ask me to go “all out” for 20 minutes…and I struggle. My body just doesn’t have that quick turnover sprinting ability. And no, I’m not upset about it. I used to be a little angry back in college when all the sprint swimmers would be done with their workout, changed, and on their way to the all-you-can-eat dining hall while I was still doing repeat 500s. But, I’m over it now. I’m a distance athlete. I enjoy pain for hours on end…hence my desire to do an Ironman.

Getting my 1st place AG award

But nevertheless, even us endurance athletes have to do a 5K every once in a while. This particular 5K was put on by the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) Pro Bono Project here in Miami. Although I initially heard about the race, called “Lawyers on the Run,” from one of my training buddies, I soon discovered that one of my new co-workers, Jason Silver, was on the CABA board. So, as one of the only athletes in the office, I decided that I’d register for the race to support my new law firm and my co-worker.

With over 300 people registered, I didn’t know how tough the field would be. And, since I’ve only been training endurance for Ironman NYC, I didn’t know how fast I would even be able to get my legs to move. Honestly, my goal was just not to embarrass myself. But, all in all, it was a really successful race…both for myself and for the sponsoring organization. I wound up finishing the race with a time of 21.17 coming in first in my age group, the second overall female, and fifteenth overall for both men and women. I would like to note that the woman who won the race was incredibly fast and also not a lawyer. So, I definitely take great pride in being the first woman to cross the finish line who has a career that doesn’t exactly compliment intense physical training.

My award hanging on the wall in my office

The event itself was a great networking opportunity as well. And, there were also many sponsors there to provide us with cafecito, yogurt (although my tender stomach can’t handle dairy post-race), and most importantly…post race BEER. Message to CABA: no matter what time of the day or how long the race, athletes always love a post-race beer tent. So good job! 

So, in all, I’m very happy with my overall performance…regardless of the fact that it hurt A LOT! And, I’m also glad that I could be a good representative for both my co-worker and my new law firm. Because sometimes racing isn’t just about the individual performance. Sometimes a good finish time is just as important as what brought you there in the first place. ..the desire to support a good cause while being a being a great team representative.

Admittedly though, a great finishing time is pretty nice too…

CLICK HERE to view the official race results.

RACE REPORT: Ironman 70.3 Florida

      This past Sunday was my very first race of the season: Ironman 70.3 Florida in Haines City, FL. I did this race last year but it was in a different location. And let me start out by saying, the course this year was SIGNIFICANTLY harder. Nevertheless, I finished 16 minutes faster than my previous fastest Half-Ironman time and am now extremely excited for this year’s Triathlon race season because I think it’s going to be a great one.

RACE BREAKDOWN: 

THE SWIM 

Swim Split: 31.00 (1:36/100m) 

Swim Division Rank: 3 

      I’m extremely happy with my swim. If you convert my swim pace this breaks down to a 1:26.02 in short course yards which is pretty fantastic. The course was a bit odd and narrow which made everyone very clumped together so once I caught up to the waves in front of me, it was a very big struggle to swim through the sea of people. Additionally, I lake water was so dark and murky that I couldn’t see my own hands let alone a person in front of me. So I frequently found myself just toppling over people with no forewarning to swim around them. To some extent I feel bad that I did hit many people on the swim, but it’s a free-for-all in a race like this so there really isn’t any way around it. Even with all the people in my way, I still managed to bust out my best half-ironman swim to date by over a minute. So for that, I’m very proud.

TRANSITION #1

T1 Split: 3:18
    I knew that I’d be a little tired because I pushed so hard on the swim. But, I also knew that I’m in good enough shape to be able to bounce back from a hard swim rather quickly. There was a long run up the beach, up a hill, and into transition. I felt a little tired on the run up but as soon as I hit “swim in” I was focused and ready to go.
    My Transition time isn’t all too terrific because the transition area was VERY VERY LONG, two separate levels, and took forever to get through. I successfully fought the urge to sit down in transition to get my shoes on, which was undoubtedly an excellent decision and will save me a lot of time in the future. My only problem was that my bike shoes aren’t meant for Triathlon and I had a hard time getting the Velcro to stick once they got wet. This added a bit of time to T1 because I had to stop before “bike out” to adjust them and get them to stick adequately. But, I know I need new shoes so that problem should be taken care of before my next race.

THE BIKE

Bike Split: 2:58.06 (18.87mph)
Bike Division Rank: 14
    The bike course was significantly more challenging than what I was expecting. However, I really feel that I rose to the occasion. My first 40 or so miles were FANTASTIC. I was averaging about 19-21mph rather easily which is far better than I’ve ever been able to bike before. It was a great feeling being able to hold such a strong pace on such a challenging course. I have no doubt that I’m really going to be able to maintain a strong bike pace for some of my races here in Miami. Biking has always been my weakness and this time I was able to hold off much of my competition until about mile 40. I’ve clearly made great strides on the bike and have now become a different class of Triathlete altogether.
    The last 15 miles didn’t feel so great however. We hit some very large hills and I was starting to feel extremely dehydrated. I had two bottles with me on my bike. I had one bottle between my aeorbars with water and one bottle below with Accelerade. I went through both these bottles and was still thirsty. The main problem was that although they have aid stations on the bike, I didn’t have anywhere to put these bottles once I took them. So I had to grab a few quick sips and then chuck them before the end of the aid station so that I wouldn’t get penalized for littering later on. I think so long as I get 2 more cages behind my saddle with room to put these extra bottles, I’ll be okay from now on. I’m so used to just carrying 1 bottle and refilling it on my long rides that I never really practice the logistics of not having that luxury in a race. So, I’m going to get those two extra cages and actually practice not refilling all but one bottle on my long rides to see if that will work. I’ll keep you updated…
    Additionally, as I got dehydrated I felt my mind start to wander a bit. I had done such a great job staying focused on the race for so long and it was becoming a struggle to keep my mind on point. I’m not sure if my focusing issues were from Dehydration or just difficulty staying focused on biking for that long. But, I did still stay more focused that previously in races so although it’s a problem, it’s getting better. I think a lot of improvement in this area will come from practicing on longer solo rides.

TRANSITION #2

T2 Split: 3:16
    No real comments to make other than what I’ve already mentioned regarding T1. My only suggestion to myself would be to have a bottle of water available for myself in Transition that I can carry onto the first part of the run just in case the first aid station isn’t very close. I didn’t know it at the time, but the first run course aid station was well over a mile from T1. So I was extremely dehydrated and had to struggle up two hills before I could finally drink. It would be a good decision to have a bottle in Transition available for me to grab just in case I need it.

THE RUN

Run Split: 2:08.32 (9.48/mi)
    The run was a bit of a struggle for me. I was extremely dehydrated coming off the bike and unfortunately the first aid station wasn’t nearby and the sun was out blazing. And, after about a ¼ mile run on flat land out of the expo area, we made a right turn DIRECTLY into 2 large hills. That wasn’t all too enjoyable. But, finally after making it over the second hill we rounded another corner to hit the first aid station where I grabbed about 2 cups of Gatorade, 2 cups of water, and 2 cups of ice to mix together and chug. Luckily, I started to feel a tiny bit better. I had to stop a few times over the next few miles in because I felt as though I needed hurl into the bushes (my stomach was having a hard time digesting all the liquid) but after a little while, the liquids finally settled and I felt much more coherent. Just because my stomach had a hard time digesting all the liquid, didn’t mean that my body didn’t need it. Feeling better, I slowly decreased my pace over the next two laps and was able to finish the race.

THE RACE AS A WHOLE

Finish Time: 5:44.12
    I’m satisfied with my final time because it’s technically a PR. But, I know that I could have done better. I think that if I fix my nutrition issues and do some more tempo runs in an attempt to get my run pace down, I’ll be able to improve even more. Additionally, I'm looking into getting a good bike trainer to be able to do some more hill work at home.

RACE PREVIEW: Ironman 70.3 Florida

      Okay, so it's finally here.  It's the day before Ironman 70.3 Florida and I'm all packed and about to start my journey up to Haines City for registration.  I first have to drop off my pup, Princess Leia, at a friend's house and then I'm off!  About 5 hours from now I'll be checking into race registration, racking my bike, and figuring out where in the world I'm going to eat dinner.  I checked out the restaurants last night in Haines City and there doesn't seem to be much to choose from.  Luckily, it's only about 25 minutes away from Kissimmee so I'm certain I'll be able to find somewhere to serve me some bland chicken and salad and potatoes.  My boyfriend, Craig, is up in Milwaukee for his sister's graduation from Marquette University (again, Happy Graduation Samantha Bohn!) so I'm forced to make the trip up alone.  Luckily though, I have a few of my bike group friends and a friend from Law School that will also be racing.  So at least I won't be totally alone up there!

      As for my race strategy tomorrow, I've been giving it a lot of thought.  I'm a little bit worried about how my recent job and the weather has forced me to have a minor cut-back in training.  But, I KNOW I'm significantly stronger than last year and that 10 hours of training a week is still much more than really necessary for a Half Ironman.

So, here is my race strategy breakdown:

The Swim: I've had to cut back a little bit on my yardage the last 2 weeks because of TERRIBLE weather. But, I know that I'm just as strong, if not stronger than last year.  I've been feeling incredibly comfortable in the pool and since this is a lake swim, I know that my pool training will translate well.  Last year I was the 5th or 6th girl in my age group out of the water with a 1:41 pace.  This year, I hope to hold closer to a 1:25 pace (I held 1:17 in the pool a few weeks back in the 1000) and be in the top 3 in my age group out of the water. Granted, I can't control how fast other people swim, but swimming is my forte and I know I can push it in the water without really wearing myself out.

Transition #1: I haven't really gotten around to practicing my transitions like I had hoped.  But, I'm planning on not sitting down to get my shoes this time.  My transitions are never really too fast or too slow, so as long as I don't sit down I think I'll be okay.  A lot of my speed here also depends on where my bike is racked.

The Bike: I am going to really push myself on the bike this year.  Before this race last year I had maxed out at about 35/40 miles.  This year, I've been biking over 50 consistently for 3 months and have now maxed out at 76miles.  My 30 mile rides have now become my short workouts and I'm confident that my body is fully ready to tackle the 56mi course.  I'm a little bit worried about maintaining a high speed but I'm going to turn up the gear and really push it since I now know that I can fully handle the distance.  I'm also far more comfortable in aero position this year and my new Rudy Project Wingspan helmet is incredibly light and comfortable which seems to help with neck and shoulder cramping. Last year I held a 17.73 bike pace but this year I hope to hold between 19 and 20.  I know that my body can handle this pace but it requires actual mental concentration to keep it up.  My goal is just to not let my mind wander on the bike this year and to stay focused on the race and pace.

Transition #2: I don't have quick zip laces on my sneaks and for some reason they seem a bit more difficult to get on than other brands I've previously used. But, it's really too late to do anything about that now.  So if I lose a few seconds, so be it.  I'll work on fixing this situation before my next shorter race where time will be far more of an issue.

The Run: Ugh, the dreaded run.  This is the only discipline I'm a bit worried about.  I've ran (no pun intended) into a bit of shin pain in the last week or two so I've been trying to stay off my legs as much as possible.  Additionally, because of my shin pain I haven't really been able to get my run mileage up.  However, after talking to some of my other Triathlete friends, I've come to believe that by putting in more mileage on the bike, my legs will be less tired for the run.  Let's hope so!  I know that I can make the distance but I'm hoping that I can hold a strong enough pace to not let myself get passed.  Granted, if a girl is running a 7min pace...she's going to pass me.  But, last year a held a miserable 10min run pace.  This year, I'm hoping to hold a 8:30 pace not taking into account any bathroom breaks or problems getting to the water stations (last year the water stations were so crowded I HAD to walk through some of them just to get a cup).

I did the math AND...

 if I hold 1:25 on the swim, 19mph on the bike, 8:30 on the run, and 2min per transition, I'll finish in a time of 5:18.37 

(would be FAR Better than my time last year of 6hrs). 

So....Let's see what happens!!!!

RACE REPORT: Hammerhead Springfest Invitational Swim Meet

With my 3 Gold and 2 Silver medals

     Last Friday and Saturday I competed in my very first swim meet since college and let me tell you, it wasn't easy! Even with all the training I've been doing, it was difficult to force my body into 'sprin mode' when all I've been doing is training endurance. 

    Nevertheless, I think I turned out a few decent times and had a great time while doing it.  I also managed to make the USMS top times list in all of my races and will be ranked within the top 5 in the state for my distance races and within the top 10 for my other races. 


Race 1: 1000 Freestyle (Fri Night)
    I got to warm-up EXTREMELY NERVOUS.   
    I hadn't competed in a race in about 5yrs and although I knew I could make the distance, I feared that I wouldn't be able to hold a fast enough pace. I also hadn't done a race start since college but at least the start really doesn't matter that much in a race this long.
    The race went decently. My overall time wasn't as fast as I would've liked but I still managed to turn out a time that ranks me about 25th in my age group nationally (my highest rank of all my events).  I also split my race PERFECTLY and didn't feel all too wiped after the race which shows that, although my speed isn't there, my endurance training is really paying off. 


Race 2: 500 Freestyle (Sat Morn)
    Fortunately this race was only half as long as the race the night before...so I wasn't TOO worried. My boyfriend was nice enough to volunteer to count for my race which was nice. It was great to have an audience and to not feel bad about him being bored...like I usually feel at tri races.  
    In all, I swam a good time with a strong pace. I'm excited to see what type of splits I can turn out in open water now.


Race 3: 200 Freestyle (Sat Morn)
    This is a terrible race and I didn't enjoy it at all. I felt great the first 100 and then the lactic acid started to build up.  I hit the wall, hard, around the 150 mark and struggled into the wall on the final 50.  
But, it was either the 200 Free or the 200 Breast and I didn't think I could subject myself to the torture of 8 lengths of Breast. So, I swam the 200 Fr, came in second, and have no intention on swimming that race ever again.


Race 4: 100 Breastroke (Sat Morn)
    I was a bit nervous because I noticed that I was going to have to swim the 100 Breast and 200 IM with only one heat of the IM in between. So, I think I held myself back a little bit on the breast in order to still be able to make the IM (that 50 Fly was scaring me ALL DAY).  
    I felt strong in the water and my kick is a lot more powerful than it used to be (thank you bike trainer!).  I swam as fast as I did in high school and really enjoyed the race. I think breastroke is still my favorite stroke to swim and I would love to be able to race this again before the USMS swim season is up!


Race 5: 200 Individual Medley (Sat Morn)
    This was the only other race that I knew I'd have some competition. She beat me...but not by much. I KNOW that I would've been able to beat her had I not just had to race the 100 Breast. But, I'm over it. I made that 50 Fly (well, my like a 40 Fly because of the start), struggled though the Back, almost caught up on the Breast, and just tried to hold on on the Free.  


So, my times weren't all too bad (probably just as good, if not better than I swam in high school) so I'm pretty proud of myself.  I think I've also fallen back in love with swimming over the past couple of weeks. After 21 years of swimming, I still haven't quite had enough of it I guess!


Next Swim Meet: I haven't decided what my next swim meet is going to be.. There are about 3 meets in South Florida throughout the summer that I might register for. However, there is only one SCY meet left and there is no 1000Fr at that meet so debatable whether or not I'll be there. However, there is a LCM meet in Islamorada in June that I'm definitely going to register for...I just can't wait to race the mile long course! (Yeah, I know my love of long distance swimming is disgusting). 


Next Race Generally: I'm trying to squeeze in a triathlon before Ironman 70.3 Florida but can't seem to find a good race. Any suggestions? I'm considering the Spring Training Triathlon at Tradewinds later this month. However, it's the same day as Swim Miami and I'm also considering racing the 5K as an Ironman Swim training race. Hmmm...what to do?


To view the results from the Hammerhead Springfest Invitational,  CLICK HERE

Bucket List

Below I've collected a short list of races that I want to complete at some point in my athletic career. They are 8 of the coolest, hardest races on the planet.

(1) The Israman Triathlon

Location: Eilat, Israel

Description: The swim takes place in the placid waters of the Red Sea. The bike is definitely the most challenging and unique aspect of the Israman. It begins with a steep 15 kilometer climb from Eilat into the mountains, going from sea level to 700 meters above sea level. The remainder of the ride takes place in the rolling hills of the mountains that  overlook Eilat and the Arava valley, a region known for heavy gusts of winds that can reach up to 60 kilometers per hour, though the average is 35-40 kilometers per hour.  The run begins on the top of the mountain and descends down to Eilat. The first 15 kilometers are a steep downhill, a run that can be tough on the quads but can also produce extremely fast times. Don't forget to look up while running, to catch the incredible views of the Red Sea and the Eilat harbor. Once in Eilat, the course is flat. After 18 kilometers the two races reach meridian roundabout split. 

(2) Henley Swim Classic

Location: Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England

Description: Endurance upstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course, very early on the Sunday morning before the Wednesday start of the Henley Royal Regatta

(3) Escape from Alcatraz

Location: San Franciso, CA

Description: a 1.5 mile swim through frigid waters from Alcatraz Island to shore, a grueling 18-mile bike race, and a demanding 8 mile run through the rugged trails of Golden Gate Recreation Area. 

(4) Manhattan Island Marathon Swim

Location: New York, New York

Description: 28.5 Mile swim around Manhattan As a solo swimmer or as a member of a 2, 4, or 6 person relay team.

(5) Swim Around Key West

Location: Key West, FL

Description: 12.5 mile swim clockwise around the island of Key West.

(6) 24 Hour Triathlon

Location: Lake Mills, WI

Description: Continuous loop short course road triathlons with a 0.24 mile swim, 11.2 mile bike and 2.6 mile run. Athlete’s compete to cover the most number of laps in 8 hours or 24 hours in the swim - bike - run or bike - run format. 

(7) Great Wall Marathon

Location: China

Description: The first section which covers approximately 9 kilometres takes the runners up to, across and down the Great Wall of China. 

(8) Survival of the Shawangunks

Location: New Paltz, NY

Description: 8 Stages: Bike: 30 miles | Run 4.5mi to Awosting | Swim: 1.1mi Awosting |

Run 5.5mi to Minnewaska | Swim .5mi Minnewaska | Run 8mi to Mohonk | Swim .5mi

Mohonk | Climb .7 mi to Albert K. Smiley Memorial Tower