Marathon Nationals 2012

I raced marathon canoe/kayak nationals August 10-12 in Warren, PA.  It's fun to race in Warren because they host nationals every couple years.  (I raced there in 2003 and 2007.)  The Allegheny River was rather shallow this year, so I'm really glad I brought my beater kayak.  Each race was 14 miles downriver.  I placed first in the marathon kayak race on Friday, first in the women's canoe on Saturday with Holly Reynolds, and 6th in the mixed canoe on Sunday with Marc Gillespie.  Though I don't think of myself as much of a marathon paddler these days, it was masochistically fun to take on a new challenge.

Holly and me

Marc and me

The folks at Will Arts photography took these and other great photos of the event. More can be found here.

24 Hours in the 1000 Islands

After finding out that several aunts, uncles, cousins, and one lovely grandmother would be in the 1,000 Islands at the same time this week, I did some calculations. Between work, training, and canoe nationals, I had only about 28 hours in which to drive up and hang out. Done!

I'm so happy I got to spend time with everyone, even if it was short-lived.

Kyra, Grandma, Melissa, and me.  Do you see the family resemblance?

31 Heroes Workout

Along with CrossFitters all over the country, I participated in the 31 Heroes workout on August 4th to honor fallen servicemen and women and raise money for their families.

A difficult workout for a great cause

Lake Placid International Regatta

The Lake Placid International Regatta weekend has become my favorite race weekend of the year.  Last year, Matt, Stash and Isabel came to cheer me on as I tried to make the World Championships team.  This year, since I have focused more on school and less on paddling, my only goals were to race hard and have a blast.  I brought Matt, Joe G., Brian, Isabel and her mom, Hamilton, Stephanie, and my parents along with me. What a crew!  We did a few crossfit workouts, watched the 4th of July fireworks, camped, scored a tremendous amount of free beer (long story), and sampled a fair number of the Stewart's ice cream flavors.  While I was racing, the rest of the FEMCKC crew rented SUPs and explored Mirror Lake.  Then, of course, there was the requisite try-out-the-sprint-kayak session.  One of the best parts was seeing my teammates from past years.  Now that we're scattered around the US (actually, around the world-- hi Jen!), we don't get to see each other every day.  I certainly miss that!

Buddies!

Post-race, K4 200m.  So glad we threw a crew together for this!

You're supposed to keep the round side DOWN, Brian

Joe G.'s valiant effort

I know you're jealous of my crew

Crossfit Rochester Games

The 3rd annual Crossfit Rochester Games were a blast, as usual.  Since the gym is in a new location [from last summer], we were able to have the entire event outside.  Luckily, the weather was gorgeous!  Next year, we're hoping to have some Rochester-area athletes qualify for the actual Crossfit Games in California.  (The CFR games are usually a fundraiser, but no one from this area qualified for the Games this year.)  Another hope that I have for next year is that more women enter the Rx division!  With at least as many women as men (at our gym, anyway) there's no reason that there should be four times as many men entered in the Rx class than women.  Don't be scurred to step up in divisions, ladies!!  It feels good to go heavy, even if you finish farther down the results list!

Ted Gough took some amazing pictures, as usual, and I've shared some below.

Knocking out some ground-to-overheads, with Erin in the background changing out her weights

The first workout was an AMRAP of 10 ground-to-overhead with weight increasing each round, 10 chest-to-bar pull-ups, and a trail sprint that took somewhere around 60-90 seconds. Here I am coming off the trail run and heading to the pull-ups

Chest-to-bar pull-ups are my favorite!

Matt used the third heat to his advantage and won this workout by 1 rep

Women's podium.  First place went to Sheila, followed by Michelle, Ashley, and me

Proof that Matt does smile

Madrid Regatta 2012

The marathon canoe races in Madrid, NY the second week of June are my second-favorite races of the year.  Most racers camp out on the riverbank so when they are not racing, they can eat, drink, and be merry!  Weather this year was great.  I raced c1 pro on Saturday (my first c1 pro race!)  I was DFL (dead &#$@ing last), and Holly and I were the only women in the race.  But I'm glad I did it, because I really think more women should race pro.  There's no reason for it to be such a male-centric class.

Start of the amateur c2 race (13 miles).  Adrienne and I are in the middle. I'm in green, she's in black.

Adrienne and me, paddling out of the portage to finish the upper loop of the race.  Thanks to Danielle for the pictures!

Me during the 9-mile c1 race, I think just after the portage

Paddling to the finish line.  (Big thank you to Rebecca Gilfus for taking these c1 shots!)

Crossfit Northeast Regionals

On Memorial Day weekend, I traveled to Boston as the female alternate on Crossfit Rochester's regional team. We qualified for the Northeast Regionals in 15th place, and hoped to improve upon that result in Boston. I decided to make the most out of an admittedly disappointing situation of not getting to compete and focus on being the best cheering section ever.  Our team didn't finish as high as we would have liked, so of course we (like every other person at the event!) are fired up to do better next year.

I made signs, which were featured on one of the crossfit games videos!

Here's Nick modeling some of the signs I made

I knew he'd like this one especially

 

Matt snatching the 100lb dumbbell during the snatch/sprint workout

CFR cheering section!

Loosen, Joe C. (in the green shirt), Stash, Kam, and Janet.  Right before the team Diane workout

Matt starting off the row/pistol/clean workout.  Julie, Stash, and Kam complete the relay team

Joe G. snatching like a boss

The boys modeling their mustaches before the snatch ladder.  Loosen, Matt, and Stash

I've been passed

My little sister graduated from college!!  Now she heads straight to nursing school in Binghamton.  We're very proud of her!

What procrastination?

After much trial and error, I think I may have nailed down this year's competition hairstyle!  Upside: my hair will no longer stop the jump rope every few double- unders, or mop the floor during push ups and burpees. Downside: the forearm pump I have from 45 minutes of braiding would not exactly give me a competitive edge.  Hmmm....