Great Chesapeake Bay Swim Info

So as the day gets closer (3 weeks from tomorrow!) I am starting to gather more and more info about what to expect on June 12th when I dive into the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State park and make my way along the bridges to the other side of the bay. I would do my own round up of the great sites out there, but Amy Reinink has already done it so well that I'm simply going to share her blog here: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Swim roundup but you should check out the whole blog because she's a wonderful writer and also a great runner!

I've booked the hotel (MAN is it cheap to stay in hotels outside of NYC!), put in several miles in the water and I am getting REALLY EXCITED! I have a few more weeks of serious training before I'm really ready, but I feel like I am READY to take on those bridges. Check out the pictures here: Rob Aquatics Race Report 2010 to get a glimpse of what I'll be looking at during the 4.4 mile journey. I'm awed by those bridges. Wow.

Isn't it gorgeous?!?

Little of this, little of that

I haven't felt as though I have any material for big blog posts lately, so I figured I'd just post a few things that are floating through my mind. I suppose it could end up being similar to the "Ellipses" posts made by my friend TK over at PigtailsFlying every so often.

*Biggest news of all- today I registered for the inaugural Pocono Mountains 70.3 Half Ironman that takes place next Oct 2nd. I only have a year to train, better get started. :) It is a big step for me, someone who has never ridden further than 40 miles in a day. I'll be tackling the 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike and 13.1mi run next fall and I am really, really looking forward to the training and of course the race itself.

*I recently gave up online training logs. I never really was able to keep a good online log of my workouts on any of the various sites like Daily Mile or Training Peaks because they required consistent login and upload, things that were just not working for me. I often go for up to a week without actually sitting down at the iMac to use the internet, which meant that I was often up to a week behind. I finally decided that I need to simplify the little things in my life that cause frustration so I began by switching back to my trusted RW pen and paper running log. I couldn't be happier with my decision. I can keep track of all of my various activities all in one place, however I want.

*As the NYCM approaches, I can't help but think ahead to the future. After a year of constant training I am ready for a break after Nov 7th. By "break" I mostly mean a break from structured running training. I have dreams of swimming 4 or 5 days a week and running and playing soccer a few other days along with working on establishing a solid core again. Oh and yoga, I'd like to do more of it. It sounds fantastic. The plan for the spring includes a long distance swim in open water somewhere, I'm not sure where just yet because I've only begun to look for races, but I'm hoping to do something around 5-6miles.

*Our 1 yr wedding anniversary is this month and it might seem a bit cutesy, but I'm super excited to celebrate with my wonderful hubby. We've had a great year with lots of time with amazing friends and family, exciting travels, great food and lots of laughs. I've never been happier.

*Life is good, real good and I'm grateful every day that running, swimming and fitness are a part of it.