I normally wouldn’t be happy with running a 5k over three minutes slower than my best time, but crossing the line in 19 minutes, 55 seconds at yesterday’s New Paltz Challenge called for a celebration.
Going into the race, I had what I thought was the realistic expectation to break 21 minutes. At this stage in my run training, all signs pointed to a 20-plus minute 5k.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC WYNN
The team at Rev3 put on another great event last weekend at Quassy amusement park in Middlebury, Connecticut. I love this race because it attracts the toughest of the tough athletes. Everyone who races there is unafraid of the terrain and the competition. That combination seems to bring out the best in people and the top finisher's performances are always world class. Going into a hard half iron distance race as my second race of the year wasn't something my coach thought was wise, but I assured him I wouldn't hurt myself and that I could do it. There was no way I was going to miss Quassy! Things turned out ok, and I managed to place 7th.
For the past few weeks Laurel and I have been snacking on these sweet and spicy cucumber spears. We like to eat them in the hours after we’ve finished working out for the day, but when dinner is still a few hours off. This snack is light enough that it won’t “spoil your dinner” (which has yet to ever happen to me!) and will keep you from going hungry all afternoon. Think of it as an appetizer served a few hours before the meal.
Race Photos from Capri Djatiasmoro
With the exception of a few people, everyone I know thinks I’m crazy for swimming in the Hudson River. I really just can’t figure out why. What’s not to like about jumping into a cold, choppy river with a tide table that takes a PhD to figure out?
When I'm out in the middle of the woods running or biking, it isn't too unusual to come across something that makes me sprint in the other direction - a bear, a half naked man sunning himself behind a rock, parts of a gorilla suit costume (not joking!). But a discovery on last Sunday's "off-piste" bike ride might just be the most interesting yet.
Today is the wettest and coldest start to the Memorial Day weekend in at least 113 years (according to the Mohonk Preserve's weather data). As a result, our planned bike ride in the Catskills is not happening.
