My last race of the year was also the 100^th race that I’ve ever done.  Marathons, half marathons, 5Ks, mile races, triathlons, Spartans, Ragnars, virtuals (I raced them all hard in 2020 like they were in-person). It was also fitting because number 100 was just like number 1, a triathlon.

The thing with running a race year after year is that you really have an intimate outlook of the race. You know where every valley and peak is. You know how you’ll feel at specific points of the race. You know where you should be at the beginning to avoid the crush of the starting crowd. You know when to pull the trigger to finish strong.

“Well this is going a lot better than a couple of weeks back!” I thought to myself as settled into the first few miles of the 25th Rock n Roll San Diego Half Marathon. My previous half marathon two weeks prior was trash

We’ll deal with what we got, put our best foot forward and give it all we got! I know it’s not gonna be a great race – I hadn’t ran more than three miles in the past two weeks. Lungs felt somewhat heavy with a suppressed dry cough. Body felt weak. As I get to the top of the hill around mile three, turn right and head toward the beach, I finally know how this race is gonna go. And it’s not gonna be pretty.

Another year taking on the Spring Sprint Triathlon. Came away with some good results!

On your mark, get set, GO! I’m tucked in just behind the front runners. We cross the timing mat and I stay on the left side of the road. Since I’m not in prime 5k form, I know racing smart is clutch to get the best time possible. I gotta run the shortest route possible which means hugging the road closest to the turns, running the tangents and drafting behind folks as needed. It also means pacing well….

When I say that training has gone by the wayside, it definitely has. I love racing hella much, but I love Joni more obviously. Running and the gym have always been my source of therapy; something I use to release stress. Joni’s cancer diagnosis definitely has me releasing stress out on the roads & trails and clanging & banging at the gym! But I just don’t have the mental capacity to stick to something regimented and strict right now. So I’ve been listening to my body and doing what I can.

What was supposed to be a bday party in Tulum, ended up being a race in Chicago to earn my second World Marathon Major star! What a run nerd!

5K pacing is tough. Run out too fast early and you have nothing left in the tank to push and sacrifice ruining your overall time. Run too conservative early on because you’re worrying about blowing up and you have too much time to make up to hit your goal. I went into training for this race with a big lofty goal.

Everything you wanted to know about how the 2021 Boston Marathon went. Where to stay, places to eat, the expo experience and the race itself.