2013...That's a Wrap

It has been a fun year for a lot of different reasons.  We are settled into the DC metro area nicely and have no intentions of leaving.  My son is in school and loves going there and we couldn't be happier with what it has done for his little personality as well as seeing him grow in what he knows.  The lights are starting to shine brighter for 2014 as it approaches with work and school and everything else going on in our lives that keep us busy.

As for The Every Man Triathlete aspect it was an up and down year but what a ride.  I started the year off with an age group win at Westfield's Sprint and ended it with a decent showing at Waterman's Half Ironman. All the races in between have been good and bad for many reasons, but I am glad I did each one of them for one reason or another.  Raising money for a good cause, meeting training partners and friends along the way, and bettering myself as a person I feel.

Waterman's was a really good time.  There were only about 200 competitors on a very dreary and rainy mid-atlantic morning at Smallwood State Park.  The swim was chilly but not unbearable and the water was choppy.  It was a two lap course around Lake Matawoman which had some challenges but overall a fun swim.  The 56 miles of country bike course was gorgeous but also changed the outlook of the race.  At mile 40 I blew a tire and was forced to stop and get some patch work done.  Around mile 44 I looked down and saw it was nearly on the rim again so had to start over from scratch.  I managed to limp it back in after that to transition and it was almost done by the time I got there again so that was definitely 40 minutes of my bike I wasn't hoping to have.  The run was great.  A three lap half marathon around Smallwood State Park.  The run had some challenging hills but made up for with some very nice terrain to run when you got off the roads.  All in all I am glad it was the race I ended my year with and it definitely showed me where my weaknesses and my strengths are.

The goals for 2014 and 2015 are set in my mind but I will keep them to myself as for the end road for both those years.  The one thing I will tell you is that I am ready to RockNRoll again...This time, DC style!!  :)