Welcome to Sneak Peek Week!! I have designed a fun, challenging, and action-packed year of racing and DIY-esque events that I am excited to prepare for, and COVID-pending, pivot from if need be. The focus this year is to bolster my leg strength in order to rid my nagging hamstring niggles for good, relax my mindset so I can finally trounce my “week before race-week” self-sabotaging trend, and soak up the unique camaraderie within the endurance community by training and racing alongside my friends, teammates, athletes, and coaches.
Here we GO!!
JANUARY
13th-17th:
Biscay Coaching Winter Training Camp
The 2022 kickoff party is right around the corner! I will be driving south on the 5 Freeway in just a couple of days to train alongside and help coach my fellow Biscay Coaching athletes (plus a few other amazing souls) that signed up for a righteous and riveting long-weekend romp of swimming, riding, and running up, over, down, and around the stunning landscape of North County San Diego.
This photo serves as both a glimpse of our Swim/Run day of fun at our previous Winter Camp in January, 2020, and a preview of what is to come *this* Saturday. That reminds me I need to try on my new Roka Swim/Run wetsuit to find out how it fits.
*Please note depending on my energy level after returning home from said frolicking adventures next Monday afternoon/evening, next week’s blog will either be a FULL or partial recap of camp.*
Friday, January 21st
Ten thousand In Meters
I haven’t swum a super-duper long swim in a while, and I have never swum 10,000 meters in a single workout, or a single day, but I want to spend most of this particular Friday doing something uncomfortable that will ultimately be very helpful. Hence the massive, yet manageable distance of 10,000 meters.
FEBRUARY
Sunday, February 6th
Part Two of my NFL Season Challenge: The Surf City Marathon
Just a reminder that Part One of this challenge commenced on the first day of the NFL season, September 11th, when I raced the Surf City Marathon in a humbling 3:43 hrs.
Counting down the steps to the finish line back in September.
Therefore, the goal for this Part Two 26.2 taking place on the last day of the NFL season, Superbowl Sunday, is to dip under 3:30 hrs., and hopefully snag a BQ. However, I will never take the marathon for granted, so we’ll see…
APRIL
Saturday, April 2nd
Ironman 70.3, Oceanside
This race is always a celebratory way to blow the doors off the triathlon season because it is the first race in the Ironman circuit in North America, so a ton of pro and "every"level age-group athletes show up to test their fitness on a course that is as tough as it is beautiful. It also brings out a lively crowd of supporters and is a big draw for members of TeamSFQ and Biscay Coaching, so I am pumped to be back for my fourth time this year.
It's always a nice feeling running up the ramp and out of the Harbor.
MAY
Saturday, May 7th
Ironman St. George, AKA, Ironman World Championships, 2021
I have been pining away for another chance to race the FULL 140.6 mile Ironman St. George course for ten years. I signed up to race it when they first announced bringing back the FULL in 2020, but it was COVID-Cancelled of course, plus I was injured. Undeterred, I signed up for it again when they put it back on the schedule for 2022, (a decade after the last time it was a full, and the last time I raced it in 2012). Then late last September, (BONUS of all BONUSES!) Ironman made it the 2021 World Champs course in order for the pros to finally have a chance for a high-stakes race since Kona is still heavily affected by COVID.
As a hard-core triathlon fan, I am beside myself to be a part of this historical event, AND as an athlete I am thrilled for another shot (my third) to race St. George as it should be, the ridiculously hard FULL distance.
Bring. It. On.
Just about to start my second lap of the Ironman St. George marathon run course in 2012.
JUNE
Monday 6/19 - Sunday 6/26
The Seven Summits Of SoCal
In June I will be taking on a DIY cycling project that lends an opportunity to take advantage of a nearby geographical goldmine, the Santa Monica mountains. I was inspired to create this project after reading the book, Higher Love, by the accomplished alpine climber and skier, Kit Deslauriers.
In her book, Kit tells the story of how she climbed and skied the seven highest summits around the world; however, in lieu of hustling to expedite my passport renewal, I am planning on a week-long tussle with the 405 freeway in a project I am calling, The Seven Summits Of SoCal, which entails riding seven renowned local climbs, one climb per day, seven days in a row:
*Tentative order*
Latigo
Encinal
Mulholland
Yerba Buena
Decker
Rock Store
Piuma
If anyone is looking to juice up their June, feel free to join me for one, a handful, or the entire low-cadence catalog I have on tap. More the merrier.
JULY
Thursday 7/28 - Saturday 7/30
The Washington Island Ultra - CREW
I was fortunate to be asked back to help support my friend and teammate, Heidi Videto, in The 500 Project at the Washington Island Ultra. Heidi is heading back to the quaint and enchanting island in Wisconsin to ride 500 miles in 36 hours. Yep, you read that right. It’s okay, exhale and take a beat. Whoa. I will also have the chance to witness and support my athlete, Rachel, as she takes on a 24-hour run challenge of her own. I cannot wait for another adventurous weekend in the far reaches of Wisconsin to cheer my lungs out and stuff pockets full of Spring Energy Gels and Fritos in a buzzed-out Zombie-like state; it's gonna be awesome!
Furthermore, along with being a bodacious blonde and gritty cyclist, Heidi is an exceptional photographer and writer. She recently launched her website AITCH (heidibikes.com) which displays her mystifying photos and insightful blog posts.
One example of Heidi's awe-inspiring photographs that can be found on her website.
AUGUST
Sunday, August 7th
Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim
I plan to be back again for my annual two-mile stalwart swim in the sea.
P.S. Non-wetsuit division.:)
SEPTEMBER
Sunday, September 11th
Ironman 70.3, Santa Cruz
I chose to race in Santa Cruz for a handful reasons. First off, it coincides with the travel theme of “drivable destinations”, it also provides optimal timing for a “rust-buster” triathlon before my final FULL of the season (keep reading), but most notably it is nearby one of the most famous big wave surf breaks in the world, Mavericks.
I have zero interest in surfing myself, but most of my brothers (and one amazing sister-in-law) are die-hard surfers, and I respect and find their passion for surfing incredibly fascinating. Nevertheless, I don’t believe the surf will be massive in September, but I still want to see the legendary break with my own eyes.
NOVEMBER
Sunday November, 20th
Ironman Arizona
This event is a sentimental favorite. I have raced IMAZ twice before, (2010, 2017), and BOTH were exceptional experiences. In 2010, I kicked off the weekend with an unforgettable road trip with my Mom, next I was cheered on by numerous family members during the race, and finally met my coach, Hillary Biscay, for the first time in person at the finish line.
Yours truly and Hillary moments after crossing my first IMAZ finish line in 2010.
Then in 2017 the weekend kicked off with a boisterous TeamSFQ meet-up, followed by the shortest day I’ve ever spent on an Ironman course, 10:18 hrs., and capped off with a reason to show up for the awards ceremony on Monday morning.
Holding my favorite, and most expensive coin.:)
I wouldn’t be going back to IMAZ if I didn’t believe I could have another awesome day, but regardless of the outcome, I cannot wait for the chance to compete on that course again.
DECEMBER
Sunday, December 4th
California International Marathon
True, the two-week window between IMAZ and CIM is tight, (it’s even shorter than the three-week window I had between IMWC and the NYC marathon in 2018), but I’ve never raced CIM, and I want to, so why not slam the door on 2022 in my favorite way imaginable, running 26.2 miles as fast as I can.
Let’s GO!!!!!
The song and video choice this week is a real treat for my fellow Xennials out there. FUN FACT: I tried to crash the video set in downtown LA twenty years ago, but I couldn't get past security, oh well.