Jersey Girl Triathlon

This Sunday I completed my second Jersey Girl Triathlon.  This Triathlon is a sprint with a 300 yard swim, 11 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run.  The Jersey Girl Triathlon takes place in Long Branch, New Jersey with the swim in the ocean, bike along the streets of the beach town, passing beautiful beach mansions, and running on the boardwalk.  

I signed up back in January/ February with my 2 sisters (Kaylee & Kristine), 2 cousins (Kate & Audrey) and aunt (Linda).  Kate, another cousin (Jackie), Aunt Linda and I had done it together 2 years ago and when we decided to do it again we were so excited to have our group grow.  Unfortunately, Jackie tore her ACL in the spring and was unable to do it with us this time.  She was a wonderful cheerleader and helped us tremendously on race day!  

As I've mentioned, this year marked the 10th Anniversary of my Grandmother's passing.  She always wore a vibrant shade of pink lipstick, called "Naked Pink".  We wanted to honor her during the race and know she would have been so proud of us.  We all wore the same shirt, though the color didn't totally match her shade of lipstick, and decided to call ourselves, "Team Naked Pink".  

 Everyone is split into age groups to start the swim, which is the first step to the Triathlon.  Kate, Kaylee, Kristine, and I were all in the same heat because of our age.  Audrey and Aunt Linda were in separate age groups.  The swim was about 100 yards out into the ocean, 100 yards across, and then 100 yards back in.  When we did this 2 years ago, it had just stormed or a storm was coming, so the waters were extremely rough.  They had cut the swim down to just out and back.  This made a big difference.  Naturally, the swim was much harder this time than I remember it being.

After the swim, we run up the beach to the transition area to quickly dry off and get on our bikes.  Our family was cheering for us as we got out of the water and started biking, which was fun!  Kate, Kaylee, Kristine and I started together because we were in the same heat.  Kristine and I started to fall a little behind and all of the sudden came across Kaylee off her bike on the side of the path.  Her pedal fell off her bike.  We told her to just cut across and head in the other direction, which would have cut off probably 2 miles.  She refused to do that, continuing to the turn around point and finishing the race with one pedal.  Kristine and I stayed with her the whole time and kept offering to take turns with her, but she kept saying no.  She could pedal normally with the left foot and tried to put her foot on basically nothing to pedal on the other side, but it was a struggle.  We even stopped at the "bike repair man" and he said that she was missing a part and there was nothing he could do.  She probably pedaled a good 5-6 miles of the race with one pedal (we don't know for sure because there were no mile markers).  Could you imagine?  I would have cut across and headed back to complete the run, for sure.

This obviously messed up our times because it took us so long to complete the bike.  But I wasn't worried about time, I just wanted to do it.  My mom said she started to get worried that something happened because we came in a good 20 minutes after Kate.  They all couldn't believe what had happened.  

We completed the run a little staggered.  And when we saw Aunt Linda coming towards the finish line, we all got back on the track and ran the last little bit with her to cross the finish line together!  She had told us she wanted us to do that before the race and it was so fun!!

I love my family and the fact that we do these crazy "Forced Family Fun" things together.  It was so much fun to push each other in training and plan the "activity"!  I'm so proud of us! Can't wait to see the next "Forced Family Fun" adventure we come up with!  :)

Football Friday!! >> Proud RU Fan!!!

I know I've been talking a lot about the SEC lately.  But that doesn't mean I've forgotten about my beloved Scarlet Knights!!

 

I've been a Rutgers Football fan and attending games for as long as I can remember.  Rutgers is some-what of a family tradition with my mom, 2 uncles and 3 older cousins all attending the University.  Rutgers, to me, is more than my alma matter.  Rutgers is something that I associate with friends, family, football, my childhood, many memories and countless other blessings in my life.  And on top of all that, Rutgers gave me the best four years of my life!

Wearing a Rutgers sweatshirt circa 1993

Graduation 2012

Rutgers University's Football team has had its ups and downs throughout the past decade or so.  And I've been there through it all.  In a way, I grew up on the banks.  Not only being a die-hard fan throughout childhood, being a student, and now an alumni, but having the memories that I have and being able to watch the football program grow into what it is today has been truly amazing.  The fact that my family has full blown crazy tailgates for every game doesn't hurt either!

I was in the stands during games of complete disappointment through a 2-9 2001 season, but I was 11 and didn't know much about football. And then again in 2002 when the Scarlet Knights went 1-11.  I flew to Miami with my grandpa, aunt/uncle and cousins for the game against the Hurricanes in 2003.  I was there for the biggest win in school history when Rutgers beat Louisville, ranked #3 at the time, 28-25 on Thursday, November 9, 2006.  I also traveled to Houston, Texas with my dad and other family members for the 2006 Texas Bowl against Kansas State.  I was there throughout a devastating 2010 season of 4-8;  the season with no bowl invitation and when Eric LeGrand became paralyzed.  I have been there during the scorching hot days early in the season, and freezing cold ones towards the end.  I have stayed during rain, snow, and really any weather condition that presented itself on game day.  And I have taken numerous road trips to Syracuse, West Point (Army/ Dad's alma mater), Annapolis (Navy), etc, to cheer on the Scarlet Knights.  But most importantly, I'm here now, as Rutgers finished the 2012 season 9-3 with a devastating loss to Louisville and shared Big East Champion title, and after facing difficult times in the off season.  Rutgers is heading into their final season in the Big East/ American Conference before heading to the Big Ten.

To say that I love football and Rutgers, both together and separately, is the understatement of the century.  I could not be more happy, proud or excited to watch the team and program "KEEP CHOPPING"!  I also see some very fun road trips in the future once Rutgers is playing against those Big Ten teams!!! I've always wanted to go to "The Big House"!

I am so proud to be a part of the RFamily!

Currently Listening to :: New Country Music Releases

There has been a few new country music singles that need to be added to your playlists, like yesterday!

Randy Houser :: Runnin' Outta Moonlight

I honestly can't believe I haven't told you how much I love this song yet.  It's been on repeat for the past few weeks!  Randy is someone who sometimes flies under the radar, but every once in while has a song that you're like, "WOW! That's awesome!"- hence the reason it's on repeat.  I'm obsessed. 

Miranda Lambert :: All Kinds of Kinds.

This is the newest single off of Miranda's Four the Record album.  I love how Miranda can go from crazy, down-home, redneck, country songs to songs that are so heart-felt and meaningful!  This song sounds like the later, but when you listen to the lyrics, emphasizes that people aren't always what you think they are and that having so many different people is what keeps things going!

Tyler Farr :: Redneck Crazy

After getting to meet and hang out with Tyler Farr, I've been a fan!  This is a wonderful country break-up song.  His team is also doing a great job marketing the song with their Redneck Crazy Video Contest, asking fans to submit videos of them going "Redneck Crazy" and also providing tips on how to be "Redneck Crazy".  The phrase has officially taken on a new meaning!  Also, this song has officially gone GOLD!!

Toby Keith :: Drinks After Work

 Because who doesn't like/need drinks after work, especially in the summer.  This is a no-brainer!

Tim McGraw :: Southern Girl
I love how this song starts out, mentioning different cities/regions!  Also, I'm a wanna-be southern girl who's been "in love with New York City a time or two", so this immediately caught my attention!  :)  Ain't nothing in the whole wide world like a southern girl!  So put on a country song, we'll dance all night long.   (If I could do the emoji with hearts for eyes, I would!)

Florida Georgia Line :: Round Here

Florida Georgia Line is a group that came from nowhere and is topping the charts! During an award show I remember them saying something like, "we were watching it at home last year and this year we're winning an award", but of course when I went to look for clarification on what was said and at which award show, I couldn't find it.
 When Florida Georgia Line did their radio tour, they were already on the radio!  Usually new artists go on radio tours to visit the station, build relationships with the people in charge and play their music for them, hoping they'll play it on the radio.  FGL's first single, Cruise, was already on the radio and topping the charts during their radio tour and was out touring shortly after that.  Talk about some fast success.

I hope you guys enjoy this list!  What are some new-er country songs that you're loving right now?

SEC MEDIA DAYS

Last week I gave you a little preview of my love for the SEC and everything it stands for in College Football, but what I left out is that I had been invited and was on my way to attend the SEC Football MEDIA DAYS!!!!  

This is every girl's dream, right?  Well for me, it was amazing and a wonderful experience that I will never forget!!

As a SEC Media Days, Media Relations Assistant I was assigned various tasks like transcribing player quotes as they were assigned and holding the mic for the media to ask coaches questions during press conferences. I also had the responsibility (along with the other volunteers/assistants) of making sure people without credentials (aka crazed fans) didn't get into the area of the conference where all of the media, coaches and players were bouncing around from room to room.

Through the three days of the conference, which was in Hoover, Alabama, I met so many people, learned so much about the schools in the SEC and realized that this is, for sure, the field I want to be in for my career.  I was on cloud 9 the whole time!

All 14 teams in the Southeastern Conference attended the event throughout the 3 days.  Each school brought their Head Coach and 3 players as well as staff personnel.  Each team had a designated day and time to address the media.  They bounced around from room to room on an average of 10 minute intervals.  Once their "rounds" were done, the schools would leave, some with more commotion from fans than others, and that was it!

Johnny Manziel, as you could imagine, brought a lot of hype to the Media Days.  He's gotten into some trouble with things he's posted on social media and most recently was asked to leave the Manning Passing Academy early due to "over sleeping" and missing a meeting.  And as I'm sure you guessed, that's the type of stuff the media focused on during their time with Johnny and not really about the actual game of football.  I'm going to post about him and his new found fame since becoming the first Freshman Heisman Trophy Winner, so stay tuned for that!

There are 4 new coaches in the SEC this year, Bret Bielema (University of Arkansas), Butch Jones (University of Tennessee), Gus Malzahn (Auburn University), and Mark Stoops (University of Kentucky).  I was fortunate enough to hear all four of them address the media and I have to say that Butch Jones impressed me the most.  I got good vibes from him and he sounded solid in responses, which is important.  Coach Jones said, "We have to focus on the process, not the end result."  I like this because it shows his commitment to enhancing the program at the University of Tennessee, which first and fore most includes the players, it's not just about winning on the field, but off the field as well.  I'm exciting to see what he accomplishes at the University of Tennessee, especially since the program has been struggling for a few years now!

There were some players who impressed me as well, not for the answers to the questions they were asked, but for the way they handled themselves.  AJ McCarron (QB, University of Alabama) and Aaron Murray (QB, University of Georgia) come to mind.  Both of these guys acted like they were excited to be there.  They walked around with smiles on their faces and looked like they were actually enjoying themselves.  It was refreshing.  They were willing to talk to people and usually willing to take pictures.  I'm not saying that other players didn't do that, but I just noticed them doing it.  I think this shows the type of young men they are.  It shows that they're proud of the position they're in, to represent their school and know they are role models to tons of kids who look up to them!  AJ even wore a bow tie with Breast Cancer Ribbons on it in support of his cousin, who was recently diagnosed.  It's good character in athletes that make me love the game even more!!

And last, but not least, I got to meet David Pollack, host and analyst for ESPN (College Game Day and Thursday Night Football), which was the icing on the cake! :)

I'm so grateful for this experience and can't wait to explore a career working in college athletics!