Exercising to the Beat of the Street

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...

First ocean swim

 Halloween 5K  Arasapha Farms Haunted Hayride and  Bates Motel . Don’t be scared, run the family friendly Monster Mayhem 5K or Monster Mile at Bates Motel! This unique course will take you right in the heart of the haunted hayride and around the entire Arasapha Farm.  Start your Halloween with one of the only 5K races running in person and then check out their massive sunflowers, corn maze and other attractions!  Costumes welcome for our young runners! All proceeds benefit Healthy Kids Running Series so kids can maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Registration includes a Monster Mayhem Tech- T.  Medals will be awarded to first, second and third place winners within each male/female age group.  HKRS is a national, community-based non-profit that provides a fun, inclusive five-week running series for ages 2-14, designed for kids to get active, feel accomplished and lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

   As I carefully stepped into the comfortable and calm water of Lake Nockamixon on Aug. 9, the anxiety I felt participating in my first race since January quickly faded away.    When my friend Kari mentioned the   Steelman Racing Endless Summer Swim  about six weeks ago , I had only recently started swimming laps again.     When I swam with my Rocky Run Y Sunday morning workout group on March 8, I would have never imagined that it would be the last time for months. That's because the Y would close from March 14 until June 29 due to Covid-19. But I thought this race would encourage me to practice more & it would be nice to compete again since so much has been canceled these last few months.    A few days before the race, swimmers received an Athlete Guide with all the precautions in place to keep everyone safe. But I have to admit, it made me nervous. I wondered if the race was worth it with all the new guidelines? Would it be f...

As the first snow of the season steadily fell, about 60 hearty runners raced through the stark forests of Ridley Creek State Park on Jan. 18 for the 13th annual Winter Pickle Run Trail Race. The winter, with its bone-chilling winds and cloudy skies, may make you want to hibernate in your warm and cozy house. But for some people, and especially runners, being outdoors during the cold months can be the best time of year. Driving through the 2,600-acre state park, I was amazed at how quiet and peaceful it seemed without the crowds of people who typically enjoy the area's many recreational activities in the warmer months. The idea of creating running events during the winter, which were once practically non-existent, started more than a decade ago. Local runner Tim Krueger explained that back then his running "was in a pickle," so after a party and a few beers the "Pickle Run"  idea was born. I've always wanted to try this race, so last month I signed up to b...

Great Danes, poodles, pitties, dachshunds, collies and more! Dogs of every shape and size ran, sniffed, played and rolled in the grass at Providence Animal Center's Bark in the Park fundraiser on Oct. 26 at Rose Tree Park in Media. It was pure heaven, but a little bittersweet as well.   Two years ago, I brought my best buddy Finnegan with me and we took part in the 1-mile walk. Sadly last May Finnegan passed away at the age of 15. We had spent so many days hiking in the woods, playing in the snow, swimming in the creeks and walking around the neighborhood. She struggled her last five months, but the night before she passed we went on one final long walk. It felt like a last goodbye to all her dog and human friends. This past summer without her felt empty, and I missed so many things such as her walks and the connections we had built with fellow dog parents in the area.   So last month, with my donation from my work in hand, my mom and I walked into Providence Anima...