The LBI TRIATHLON
I participated in the LBI Triathlon a week and a half ago as a team with my cousin. I did the swim and run, my cousin did the bike. It was a cute triathlon (as in small), and one that I don't need to revisit in the future. The swim was a 1/4 mile in the bay, bike was 10 miles and the run was 3 miles. It was quite cold outside with a gusty wind but at least the water was nice and warm. Froze my ass off after the swim though and was tempted to do the run with my wetsuit on. Ok, I'm just kidding. They had a nice little after party and it was a well organized event. The only problem for me is that it's a really long drive for such a small triathlon, so that's why I wouldn't knock myself out to do it again.
THE FIFTH AVENUE MILE IN NYC
Hubby Tom and I ran the Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC the day before the LBI Triathlon. If you've never run this iconic race, but have the chance to do it in the future, go for it! It's quite fun. We started out on 80th street and ran straight down Fifth Avenue to the finish line on 60th street. It was my first time doing a one mile sprint and I realized that you need a different running stride when it comes to running a short distance sprint. I think you need a longer stride as opposed to a short stride (and I have a short stride). Anyway, I ran the mile in 6:41 and Tom ran it in 6:38. If you stick around after all of the age groupers finish, you can watch the professional men and women sprint down Fifth Avenue. They'll show you how it's done!
LAST OPEN WATER SWIM PRACTICE AT LAKE OCKANICKON
Saturday was the last call for open water swim practice at Lake Ockanickon in Medford, NJ. I procrastinated about going at first and left my house 20 minutes later than expected. Twice, I made a wrong turn on my way to the lake. Then, something flew off a landscaping truck and hit my car. I finally arrived at the lake and found out that I was swimmer #13.
Do you see where this is going yet?
There were very few swimmers at the lake since Ironman Princeton was in town. I thought there would be more people looking to get a last minute OWS in, but I was wrong. Something didn't "feel" right and I can't put my finger on exactly what it was. It just felt strange at the lake.
I got my wetsuit on and headed into the water...BRRR, it was cold! I put my face in and started swimming. I was surprised at how difficult exhaling was because of the cold water. The wetsuit kept my body nice and warm, but my hands and feet NEVER warmed up. In fact, the longer I stayed in, the colder they felt. I finished my 1.5 mile swim and came out of the lake hobbling with no sensation left in my feet. Yes, they were that cold! A woman on shore said it was her worst swim of the season because of the water temperature. Another man came out and commented that the water was much colder this week than the week before. So it wasn't just my imagination.
I decided right then and there that I would not be signing up for Escape the Cape triathlon, even though it's a bucket list race.
Escape the Cape is a triathlon (sprint or international distance) where you jump off the Cape May ferry boat and swim back to shore. Since the event takes place in Mid June and is in the ocean, I estimate the water temps should be around 60 degrees. And that my friends is way too cold for me, especially at this stage of the game. I would feel better about it if I had a bit more experience under my belt. Everyone I've spoken to whose done the race has told me its simply fabulous. So someday I'll get my shot at Escape the Cape...someday!
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