My year in running

I started my journey really last November, but it was my joining Team in Training for the spring season in January that really changed my life. I was introduced to running using intervals and life took off from there including my first triathlon experience. I know the roads & hills of Central Park as well as the Hudson Greenway. I have run across bridges including GW, Brooklyn & Randalls' Island and run on islands... Manhattan, Randalls Island, Roosevelt Island, in Walt Disney World and lots of other fun places while traveling... San Diego, Denver, Sacramento and more. I have run in a tutu and wings, all bundled up for winter and super early and in a lot less for summer. I ran 5 half marathons, 2-10ks, 1-5k, 1-4 milers and completed one sprint triathlon. Some races were faster and some were slower. Some were in the heat and humidity and some were nice and chilly. All had amazing moments and tough ones.

• Fastest half marathon: Boston BAA 2:50:17
• Most challenging (TIE): Chanukkah Half - "running" into the wind for half a race is killer & Iron Girl - I finished but just barely
• Coolest route: Wine & Dine Half at Disney World - ran through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios with the Christmas lights and Epcot
• Most Historical: New York Mini 10K - all women for more than 40 years

Here is a recap of my major events for the year:

I also want to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey: from my first pace leader Jessica to my amazing coaches Barb, Ellen and Christine plus so many more coaches & training partners: Wendy, Laura, Kit, Sara, Maria, Terri, Rachel, Sarah (sorry to those I did not list) from Team in Training; from all who have cheered me on both in person, Jonathan (who flew to MCO from SAN just to cheer on his sister at her first half marathon), Corie (the best sign maker ever who also got up at long before the crack of dawn to drive me to my first triathlon & came to Disney for fun and cheering) & Mark (who drove up to see me in my first triathlon) to all those who have cheered me on virtually not just for races but also for training runs; also to my amazing online running groups (PP and MRTT) - many ladies whom I have now met in person and who are wonderful people and new friends and who I got to run with in different locals: Andrea, Dorie, Rosie, Amanda, Judi, Nancy, Sarah, Beth and more I am forgetting right now.

Next up... my goals for 2014! What are your goals?

My Running/Triathlon Inspiration

My brother Jonathan and I did our first race ever together back in 1999 the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon in memory of our mom with Team in Training. For me it was a one time deal back then... for him the start on a running journey. He (and a few friends of his) inspired me to start walking while we all stuck together post Marine Corps Marathon 2012 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This led to me rejoining TNT and starting to run/walk, finishing 2 half marathons and a 10k and now signed up for a sprint triathlon and 2 more half marathons.

I am really writing this post to share what he wrote about the last 2 years of his journey culminating in the Lake Placid Ironman this coming Sunday. I can't wait to be there to cheer him on!


"I just got back from an easy 4 mile run. It was surprisingly (to me) emotional. It was my last run in San Diego before I leave for NY for my first Ironman Triathlon.

That triathlon, incidentally, is the culmination of a two year plan i set in place in the summer of 2011. Many of you know parts of my plan, some may even know most or all of it. However, I feel I want to take a moment and catalog it in a journal-style post.

After years of mild weight gain and sub-par performances at several endurance races I decided that I needed to change the way i was doing things. This was not a quick fix but an eventual change over the next two years. I suppose I should mention that the subsequent years would bring me to 40. My plan was simply this: There were to goal races that I wanted to not just accomplish but do so in a fashion that was befitting the capabilities i knew I was capable of achieving. The first race was the Trans Rockies Run last year. The second race was an Ironman Triathlon as a 40th birthday celebration.

Well, starting after Thanksgiving 2011, I went on a bit of a fad diet, but for me it was more of an inflection point. A point in time i could refer to and say, "This is when it all started." I lost almost 20 pounds. My running improved almost instantly. I was able to run farther and faster than i'd been able to in years.

Then I went on to run over 200 consecutive days leading up to the aforementioned Trans Rockies Run. If you missed that it was a 6 day multi-stage running race through the Rocky Mountains. I ran this with my good friend Tom. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

After that I decided to throw in a Marathon in October of 2012. I was able to PR (personal record) the marathon by nearly 5 minutes. I backed off my training for the rest of the year so I could have a fresh start in January 2013. I started working with a coach who gave me a weekly schedule to train for the Ironman.

Over the course of 2013 I have run nearly 500 miles, Biked over 1700 miles, and swum over 75 miles, all in preparation for my next race, the 2013 Ironman Lake Placid. For those who don't know, this is a one day event entailing a 2.4 miles swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2 mile run, all within a 17 hour time limit.

It's coming to it. I leave for NY tomorrow evening. It's been a long road, but well worth it. I get to share my day on Sunday with my sis Dvora and our friends Corie and the Lapcevich family. For those of you who couldn't make the journey to Lake Placid, I hope you'll still follow me on race day (I'll send more info on that later).

Thanks for 'listening'."

Jonathan Geller

Some New Sporty Goals

Well I have definitely been bit by the bug...

besides running, I will now be adding biking and swimming to my training regime. I have signed up for the Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Sandy Hook, NJ. This event will take place on Sep 8th and training starts NOW!

Since I am not quite a bike owner again in NYC, I will start my bike training by checking out spin classes around the city. First up will be Soul Cycle (hopefully tomorrow). Swimming will be done at Riverbank State Park (around the 130s on the west side). They have open lane hours early in the morning so this will be a pre-work thing twice a week.

To help me in this venture, I had the opportunity to check out some great tri shops in San Diego while visiting my brother. I am also now the proud owner of 2 pairs of tri shorts and one tri top. Plus a pair of goggles.

On the running front, I have committed to another season with Team in Training doing a "Choose Your Own Adventure" which for me will be the Wine & Dine Half Marathon in Disney World on November 9th. This race is run at night (10 pm start)... starting at the ESPN Sports Zone and running to and through Animal Kingdom and onto Hollywood Studios ending just outside Epcot! The race is then followed by a Finish Line Party in Epcot (Food & Wine Festival) till 4 am. I am so excited for this.

I will be hosting a couple of raffles as well as selling some fun hair ties so keep a look out here for more information. If you would like to support me by donating, check out my page.