Inaugural AC Rock and Roll Half marathon

May 15, 2022

The weather was foggy and humid. My friends Jenn, Steve, Carl and cousin Sam made the trip up to AC from the Wildwood’s to try this race. It’s been postponed for two years. 

I met a pacer Emmy at the packet pick up expo. Her energy changed my mind to take it easy and  to push it a bit. She said she would get me to one hour 45 minute finish 8 min average pace. I wasn’t sure as I haven’t done much speed work and have been swimming, lifting, and spinning more than anything but what the heck let’s try it. 

Quick end: I fell behind at a rest area trying to slam down a Gatorade and fell a minute back. I didn’t have the legs to make it up so I finished at 1:46 a minute off the goal. 

The race course was decent and in typical AC style. The part headed to ventnor had slight headwind before making the turn on boardwalk sucked. But once on board walk it was smooth sailing to finish. The French fries and medal made the price well worth it. The bands were decent but much prefer the B Street band at the finish. Well stocked course and stations. My first RNR event. 

Philly Broad Street 10 - 2022

This past Sunday 14 runners from wild harbor tri club and south Jersey runners took a Jitney to the top 10 miler in the country. 

I was planning to take it easy with a group run but decided to let it rip after the 2 mile mark. Despite the slow and packed start I finished 1:24. 

But the real fun is hanging with the group on way to race and after. 

Tri Key West 2019

This was the third year ( in December) in a row my wife and I and friends went to Key West for a triathlon #TriKW. In 2017,  the race was canceled due to lightning and rain storms. In 2018, the swim conditions were absolutely nuts. Elite athletes were pulled from the Atlantic Ocean waters at Higgs Beach. Total white caps and windy as heck.

This year our patience paid off. All aspects of the race were superb. Calm and warn ocean, very light winds on bike, and warm but not too hot running weather. The KW Tri  sprint is a race I do side by side with my wife, Jeanine. She tolerates my training and race schedule. Its the least I can do and the right thing to do. I know she feels comfortable with me as she does not race as often as I do, not even close. and she likes me to push her LOL. Marital bonding I call it. Last years swim was a challenge and I know she was scared to death. She did really well for not traing much.

This years trip was with the Marino's , Denny Kane and Ellie, the Howards (stacey just missed third by 10 secs), the Marriners (third place relay), and the Deams (although we didnt see them much). There's a local swim group (Key West Sunrise Swim Club) that hosts a practice swim and other swims while we are there. Taz is the leader and full of knowledge and experience.

There is no doubt we plan to return in 2020. The eating and drinking is so much fun. I will say that I don't think I would ever buy a place there but i can certainly handle a week or two at a time. we usually stay for 5 days. I always feel like I gained 5 pounds while there. My favorite is the Agave Tequila Bar and the small plates Santiago's Bodega, Blue Heaven, Salute, and the Banana Cafe. if you have Trip Advisor I post it on there - look for my account IronMayor.

If you haven't been to KW, try it ! Join us in 2020 for the triathlon !

Holiday Tree Lighting and Reindeer Run

We tried something new in Wildwood Crest this year. Last night we hosted our Holiday tree lighting event along Sunset Lake. The weather was cold and windy but overall it was awesome. The Crest had a tree lighting event back in the early 2000's in my first term.

This years event brought some wellness initiatives as we brought in the Reindeer Run, a 2.25 mile run with reindeer antlers and glow neckglaces. I must say it was awesome run throughout the Borough. We are trying to win the state NJ wellness award.

Thank you runners !

Get Stronger - Get Faster - Do Yoga

So late last year Stone Harbor Yoga offered a special class for our Tri club. I knew that my tight bulky self needed to stretch more. Our instructor, Stef DeSatnick and also owner of the studio, taught the class.

Having tried yoga before at various places, I always walked away with the idea that yoga was not for me. Earthy people doing earthy things pretty much summed it up. I walked into the SH Yoga studio with that same mind set. When I left the class I openly admitted I was wrong. I didn’t know it was a hot class and I didn’t know it was a flow class. I didn’t know there were push-ups and crunches and stretching my body in areas I use often for disciplines of triathlon. I was challenged and I loved it .


So flash forward to 2019 year. I tried to maintain going to SHY at least a 1-2 time a week sometimes  3x. You can take what you need at every class. Sometimes harder sometimes easier. And never the same thing. Here’s the positive : I have medaled more this year than ever in racing. Swim is better-bike is better and run is better. I have not been sick for over a year (sweating out the toxins) and mental focus is on point.


I strongly recommend going to hot yoga as part of your life and training. It will make you better all around. I was a non- believer and proved to be wrong. I suggest Stone Harbor Yoga and Stef (all instructors are good and different ). And when you do remember who told you !
Namaste !

2019 Philly Marathon Race Report

My first blog post  (inspired by my run team ):

The weather was frightful but we made it delightful.

Crazy hangs with crazy so my Crest run friends (Nick, Linda, and Susan) were focused on getting up early driving up and getting it done.

We left the Crest at 4:30am in a light rain and warm temps. When we arrived Philly it seemed the temps dropped 10 degrees. It took awhile to find parking (Hanneman parking lot). We got dressed in the car and looked ready to weather the storm. We peed two times before we got to the start. We were hydrated.

We jumped into the orange corral. It didn't seem like anyone really cared or checked or bibs. while standing waiting to start we saw the best voice in race announcing , John McBride, and he gave me the "IronMayor" shout out.

Start:
Wearing our ponchos we started the rainy treck while plotting through and with thousands of people.
I must say the crowds of people cheering us on was awesome. True Philadelphia spirit!

Along the way:
The course was well marked with timer and mile flags and held up well despite the wind. there were many puddles and high water areas you had to watch for. Plenty of porta pots too. Plenty of fluid stations with nutrition every two miles. At mile 5 there was a great gospel group singing and rocking.

There was one hill that was challenging somewhere around the zoo and slight inclines but also some down hills as well.

For me the best part of the race was the support on the course and the volunteers. Fun people  standing in the rain and wind dolling out beer and whiskey shots and handing out food even rolling out your legs.

The hardest part was running into the wind into Manyunk and then on way to finish (last 6 miles) it poured rain, even snow or ice. We found Christa one of our running friends from North Wildwood and she joined us. Congrats to Christa as this was her first marathon. And we saw Chrissy Cas on her way to finish and stopped for a hug. She’s fast.  Manyunk was vibrant and awesome cheering (it felt it took forever to get there but worth it). My son was at Winnies and had a beer waiting for me. I gave him a big hug and took two swigs and off we went as we made the turn around to the finish.  I was too cold and focused to get to the finish at that point.

This race was more about fun with friends and taking Philly in! I used it to log running miles for calorie burn as the Holidays and Key west triathlon is coming up soon. My next marathon will be (I think) the Nashville Rock and Roll to get ready for the summer race season including IronMan Mont Tremblant  or FL.

I learned that Linda was a great “picker”. She found candy and held along the road side. If are fighting to survive you want her on your team. Susan ran steady and strong. Her cardio is in tip top shape. She’s a great swimmer. And then there’s Nicky .... my beer drinking friend along the way. For a big guy he gets it down nice and streaky. Nick prepping for IM MT. And thank God for the Motrin stop.

We finished :

The 2019 Philly Marathon is in the books. We had a blast ! I highly recommend it. If it is fun in poor weather . I cant imagine it with good weather !

Turkey Trotting on Thanksgiving 2019

When I was growing up I played tackle football with friends every Thanksgiving morning. I remember getting it hard and hitting someone hard and then going for McDonalds and beers.  We called it the “Turkey Bowl”.

That tradition took a break and then continued up through my adult life up to from about 30- 40 years old at Crest Memorial Sxhool before I realized I’m getting old and wife wanted to take some cruises. 

So I started a new tradition. I started running a turkey trot ( a run on Thanksgiving morning). There was a run in Birch Grove Park Northfield NJ for years and they stopped it. Then I ran my own and then started back at the West Cape May Turket Trot. I could not do that race this year as we went to Landsdale PA for the holiday at my wife’s parents and got to see her nephew. 

That morning I ran 8K (5 mile) in the Montgomery Township Turkey trot with my son. This marked the first time I ran with my son Adam now 23 for a Turkey trot. The kid got away from running and back training for triathlon . I totally enjoyed running side by side chit chatting and taking a leak on the side of the road. The tradition will continue and hopefully he will keep it going.

Totally enjoyed it ! And like all Turkey Trots I do them to feel less guilty about eating and drinking and watching football and snacking all day. 

Happy T-Day everyone !