Where do I start for my first ever post? Well, lets start out by saying that the 2011 Tri season has come to a close. It was quite the first season living and training in the Lancaster area, but I'm SO thankful for such a beautiful yet challenging terrain. I've met some wonderful people to train with and learn from and I look forward to developing more great relationships along the triathlon road :)
This past year, I made some big strides towards becoming an Ironman and a better triathlete overall. I completed 7 triathlons, including one Olympic distance, and one Half-Ironman distance. I also came to realize what hard work and dedication means. It's one thing to go through the motions of a workout because that's what your training plan says to do, but it's totally different to do that workout with intensity and purpose. Two-a-days are a common occurrence with waking up at 4:30am for a swim workout or to get in a long run because it would be too hot in the afternoon. This is all part of having the right mindset to know where you are and where you want to be. I can't say that same intensity is happening now that the season is over...I do enjoy a little downtime.
I am enjoying doing road races here and there this fall. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting a friend in NYC, seeing the sights, and enjoying some sushi, beer, and unlimited karaoke! During my visit, I ran the Rock N' Roll 10K in Brooklyn. It was my first Rock N' Roll race...so here is my race report:
The Good:
The race was located at the beautiful Prospect Park, so the location and scenery was beautiful. The weather was perfect - slightly chilly in the early morning but warmed right up once you got started running. It was a two loop course through the park with only a few miles of uphill climbs. I felt great during the whole race, so I was pleased that my nutrition and hydration (I'm assuming) worked out good. It certainly wasn't because of an abundance of sleep the night before! We ended in the middle of the park to receive the usual finishers medal, bagels, water, bananas, and T-SHIRT! It was great to run the race with my friend Whitney, and have our wonderful host, Lacie, stand by and cheer us on while taking action shots.
The Bad:
The start line was somewhat far from the subway line, so we had a bit of a walk before and after the race. This was probably easier than driving or taking a cab, so it was the best choice. Although, my poor friend Lacie would probably beg to differ since it was pretty cold that early in the morning :) For being a "Rock N' Roll" sponsored race, I was hoping there would be more than just two DJ stands along the course. The live band at the finish line was pretty cool, but we didn't stay long enough to fully jam out.
The Ugly:
The lines for packet pick up before the race were LONG, which sent me into a frenzy worrying if I'd get my stuff in time. Of course I did :) The lines were even longer at the end of the race for the T-shirt and swag-bag pickup. And of course, by the time I got to the front of the line, they were out of my size. I can't say I'm surprised, just a tad disappointed, but ended up getting a smaller size. Hopefully it fits over my head. They also "ran out" of swag bags, but we managed to bug enough people and they found some in a random box.
Overall, the race was great and would recommend that anyone do it.
Up next: The Celtic Solstice 5-miler on December 17th in Baltimore...unless a spur of the moment race pops up. Possibly "A Race to Remember" here in Lititz on November 12th :)
Thanks for sticking around this long...Happy reading!
Cheers!
Chandra
