A Rollercoaster and a Race

Two weekends ago, my husband and I spent a couple nights in Santa Cruz with some friends. The "excuse" for the weekend getaway was that several of us had signed up to participate in Tri Santa Cruz. But we did a lot more than race when we were in town. The weekend was filled with all kinds of fun and relaxation - riding rollercoasters, cycling up Highway 1, completing jigsaw puzzles, eating delicious meals, sampling gourmet chocolate, and people watching (Santa Cruz is THE place for people watching).

Riding the Giant Dipper on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - the 5th oldest rollercoaster in the US. It had been a number of years since either of us had ridden a rollercoaster, and we both decided the Giant Dipper was well worth the $6 ticket.

1 year and 70.3 miles

Most races have one or two highlights that stick in my memory. When I think back on Vineman 70.3 this year, I think I'll remember how special it was to race with my husband on our 1-year anniversary and how grateful I was to be able to run the entire half marathon (no matter how fast).

Happy 1-year Anniversary to us!
(photo by Jeanne Bare)

Wildflower: Still the One and Only

Wildflower holds a special place in my heart. In 2011, it was my first half ironman distance race, and I've raced the long course every year since then. The race is located out in the middle of nowhere and just about everyone camps at the race site. Because of that, Wildflower has become known as the "Woodstock of Triathlon." This year was actually the first time I camped at the race site, and I loved it. It was so much fun spending time around the campfire with friends (old and new), racing with my friends and teammates on Saturday, and sticking around to watch the Olympic distance race on Sunday.

Triathlon + Ocean = Happiness

Being a triathlete in California definitely has its benefits, and one of them is the abundance of small beach town race venues. I absolutely love racing by the ocean... it's like a vacation and a race all in one! About a week ago, I kicked off my 2015 triathlon season with an olympic-distance triathlon in Half Moon Bay... and the venue did not disappoint. Even though it was foggy the entire time we were in town, racing by the ocean still put a smile on my face and made me extra grateful that I have the opportunity to train and race in California.

Back on (the) Track

A couple weeks ago, I began my season with a 5000 meter race on the track. I absolutely love running on the track. I don't know if I can pinpoint what, exactly, makes the track so magical... it just is.

The first time I raced on the track was in elementary school. The Hershey's Track and Field Games hosted a local meet every year, and one year my brother and I registered to compete. I'm pretty sure we did as many events as we were allowed, ranging from the softball throw to the standing long jump to the 200 meter dash.