Sharkfest San Diego 1-Mile Swim

Rest in Peace 5K at Laurel Hill Cemetery

There were zombies, a whole family dressed as "Wizard of Oz" characters, artist Bob Ross & his Happy Little Tree, two T-Rex dinosaurs & a princess galloping on a unicorn among the colorful runners during Laurel Hill Cemetery's 10th annual Rest in Peace 5K on Oct. 6. Organized by the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery , this Philadelphia race has one of the most challenging 5K courses I've ever experienced & also one of the most fun. For years I've enjoyed the Halloween tours & Cinema in the Cemetery events in the summer at Laurel Hill, which overlooks the Schuylkill River & Kelly Drive. I've always wanted to run this course, which weaves among the towering obelisks and weeping angel statues throughout the National Historic Landmark cemetery founded in 1836. Though it was a day after Kevin & I were in his brother's wedding, I thought we would be recovered to race by the 5 p.m. start. Arriving about an hour early, since parking is...

Ocean City Swim Club 10K Coastal Challenge

The warm, pink hue of the rising sun glowed above the Ocean City, N.J., boardwalk as I met with my fellow relay swimmers for the inaugural OCSC Coastal Challenge. Waking up at 4 a.m. for the drive to shore was painful, and I did question my sanity, but the opportunity to enjoy the open water was definitely worth the loss of sleep. My friend Kari recruited her fellow Rocky Run Creek Rats, Meghan and I, to be part of a relay team for this 10K race sponsored by the Ocean City Swim Club . Compared to the Cape May race I swam last month with hundreds of people, this event featured only three solo swimmers and three relay teams. Thankfully, the ocean conditions were near perfect! The unseasonable cold water temperature had risen to 72 degrees, the wind was non-existent and the ocean was as smooth as a pane of glass. At 6:30 a.m., before the sun broke through the clouds, our Meghan bravely ran out into the ocean to start the first leg of our relay team from the 12th Street beach. S...

Cedar Island 5K Swim in Avalon, N.J.

The water was cold and choppy, I swallowed gallons of saltwater and I got kicked & kicked others in the face, but on Aug. 25 I swam my longest open water race yet, the Cedar Island 5K Swim in Avalon, N.J. The goal of the race organizers is to raise awareness and provide support to the troops and honor members of the military. On the morning of the race, mom, Kevin and I headed down to enjoy a nice day at the beach before the 4 p.m. race. Unfortunately, the weather was cool, cloudy and very windy which made for a poor beach day. So instead we enjoyed a long lunch (cheesesteaks, soda and French fries) and made our way to the start at the Avalon Yacht Club. There I met up with nine of my fellow members of the Rocky Run YMCA Creek Rats , a group of open water swimmers who joined over 200 other brave souls in the bay. They have all swam long-distance races, so knowing that they would be at this race eased my nerves. Af...

Exercising to the Beat of the Street

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