At some point in a marathon, you have to “pay the piper” as I tell my athletes. The goal with training is to be well enough in shape to pay him the least amount. The crowd supports picks up as we loop off the ramp and head north up 1st Ave. Running up 1st Ave from mile sixteen to just past nineteen is a bit of a blur. It’s a lot of crowds like the rest of the race has been, but by now, I’m really focused on myself. I had been feeling little twinges of pain here and there and largely ignored them. But this late in the race as I hit mile eighteen, I’m wondering if I’ll have to pay the piper for 8.2miles or can I stave it off longer. Nothing major is wrong, but I notice, things. With this pace I’m on, I know I just got an hour left. “I can do this!” “It’s just a tempo run.” “You’ve been here before.” Let’s compare it to say, the check engine light going on. You can still drive your car, but hey you should take a look sometime soon.

It’s been nearly 20yrs since I did my 1st tri – Treasure Island Tri. Inspired by seeing a 65 year old nun doing one. If she can do it, why can’t I? I had no idea what I was doing training for it, but loved the challenge. It was a one and done thing at the time. Bar hopping and partying was a lot easier. In 2010 I decided to try it out again. This time with a different attitude; different mindset.

“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

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!

Another AFC Half Marathon in the books! It was a great tune up race for me to see how training is going for my big race in October.