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.

 The dream of swimming one last open water race this year was just too hard to resist! So with about a week's notice, I registered for a race, booked a hotel and bought airfare to perpetually sunny southern California for the one-mile San Diego Sharkfest Swim on Oct. 13. With a three-day wee…

    The dream of swimming one last open water race this year was just too hard to resist! So with about a week's notice, I registered for a race, booked a hotel and bought airfare to perpetually sunny southern California for the San Diego Sharkfest Swim on Oct. 13. With a three-day weekend c…

     The water was cold and choppy, I swallowed gallons of saltwater and I got kicked & kicked others in the face, but on Aug. 25 I swam my longest open water race yet, the Cedar Island 5K Swim in Avalon, N.J.  The goal of the race organizers is to raise awareness and provide support to …

   The forecast said rain all day, especially during the morning, but that didn't really bother me because I was too excited about marking my 10th year running Broad Street! Though the course is always the same, each year has been an unique experience.   Waking up at 5 a.m. on May 5, my goal…

There were Christmas trees, angels, Santas & leg lamps costume-wearing runners during the 10th annual It's a Wonderful Run 5K on Dec. 8 in Seneca Falls, N.Y.

There were zombies, a whole family dressed as "Wizard of Oz" characters, artist Bob Ross & his Happy Little Tree, two T-Rex dinosaurs & a princess galloping on a unicorn among the colorful runners during Laurel Hill Cemetery's 10th annual Rest in Peace 5K on Oct. 6.