With my running background, one would think that I would have raced an open half marathon by now, but until Sunday November 6, my half marathon PR was run at the end of a half-iron distance triathlon. I had run in the Philadelphia half-marathon in 2013 to help pace my friend to a sub 1:40 half (way to go Pete).  I also signed-up to run a half marathon in Cambridge, MD in April 2014, but I got stuck in the hospital until after 7 o’clock on a Friday night (yes, even third year med students get stuck in the hospital) and was not able to make the drive down to race the next day. So that is how I have made it over four years in the endurance sports world without running an open half marathon.

With the dwindling opportunities for racing on the east coast and North America that comes with the arrival of fall, I opted to race back-to-back weekends for the first time. What also went into the decision was that it made some logistical sense to do two races in New England; I have a handful of friends I could crash with as I made my way from New Hampshire to Maine so I would not have to make two trips. Though, in keeping with the trend of the season, I dragged my feet in pulling the trigger to sign up for the races, but I eventually registered for Timberman 70.3 and Rev3 Maine without giving much thought to the mental and physical demands of racing two weeks in a row.

Having missed a bunch of east coast races with professional fields in May and June because I was not ready to compete at a high level just yet, Rev3 Williamsburg seemed like the perfect choice of races. It would fall right after a vacation at the lake, it was within driving distance, and I had a homestay with family friends. I was also very much looking forward to racing a Rev3 event, as they have demonstrated that they are committed to the professionals in the sport, after bringing back prize money with a unique prize purse structure, as well as engaging in marketing efforts devoted to increasing media exposure for the professionals in the Rev3 races. All awesome things, especially for a new and developing pro like myself. 

I felt it was fitting to make this official announcement today; it is Earth Day after all. I am excited to announce that I am partnering with NRG Home Solar this year. As a friend of the environment, I am a passionate recycler and choose to blow off CO2 versus emitting CO when transporting myself from place to place, so I am thrilled to be joining the team at NRG Home Solar. This relationship came about from meeting Joe Yurcisin, VP of Sales, at my local bike shop, Sourland Cycles. Joe is an avid cyclist himself, and has ridden in the Challenged Athlete Foundation Million Dollar Challenge.