Wendy Mastripolito

Nerves… Tension… Mental Strain… in one week Joe will be completing his first ever marathon… and I think he is handling it quite well.. .. … see I have a really good idea about this .. the week prior to my Ironman Triathlon I developed what I call... Maniac Syndrome .... I over exaggerated everything … Stupid people became brainless F- idiots… irritating people became infuriating boils… and the slightest even tiniest little problem became pants on fire end of the world bull sh-t.. ...heck I thought I did a good job keeping my emotions in check.. jeez… I worked on my deep breathing exercises.. I worked on calming thoughts and calming words… I read and watched calming programs… so Joe......keeping all your balances in check… when you feel like you want to beat the snot out of someone and have your spouse come get you outta jail.. just remember.... this too shall pass… C&D Marathon … 6 days and counting……

On Saturday, October 25th I participated in the Hatboro YMCA Skeleton Scurry 5K …. as a barbarian wench. Now before you go about calling up the men in the little white coats please remember at least I was not an ear of corn. Yes folks… I ran the first quarter mile of today’s race with a gal dressed as an ear of corn. Do you know how hard it is not to laugh out loud when you are trying to breathe???….I kept looking over at her… Of course the fact that she looked more like a banana then an ear of corn is besides the point….and yes I am trying to change the subject on why I WAS RUNNING IN A HALLOWEEN COSTUME and how utterly funny I am sure it was that I was dressed as a barbarian with horns running next to an ear of corn….and I think I am the normal one ! I don’t know perhaps it’s not normal but I do have a lot of fun…and life builds character.. and boy do I have a lot of character… See each year I try to find one Halloween race in which I….being the big kid that I am…..can play dress up ...

On Sunday, October 19th, Joe and I participated in the Halloween Hills of Horror Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA…I had completed this event last year and found it to be one of the most difficult and fun half marathons in the area… so I made Joe do it this year.. “AWE come on hon.. we only have to get up at 5am, drive 2 hours, and run up and down really bad hills in 38 degree weather.. you will have F-U-N!” Somehow I can’t believe Joe still puts up with me!!!.. although I do believe I was right… yes we had to get up at 5AM, drive almost 2 hours to get there, and the hills were a bit bad and yes it was 38 degrees at that start… but I KNOW HE had fun… He placed 3rd in his age group!! ........ CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN JOE!!!! Racking up the hardwear!... We didn’t bother with any type of warm up .. heck except to shut ourselves in our truck with the heat running until the start of the race.. brrr… the goal was to do a nice training run.. not worry about placing...

On Saturday, October 18th I participated in the Women’s 5K Classic in Allentown with 5,000+ other women… actually there were “only” 1,500 women in the 5K run.. the rest were either doing the 5 miler, 5K walk or competitive walk. It was a brisk 39 degrees at 8am.. and my toes were frozen solid. I didn't notice they were frozen until around 1-1/2 miles and I was like wow.. can't feel my toes.. that's a new one... I am still struggling on hills.. there was one.. kinda flubbed it... .. need to work on that.. oh and mad as a hornet that I misjudged how FAR finish line was... tee hee... anyhow.. great race, great cause...... finished 43rd overall....6th out of 193 in age... thought it kinda special that around mile 2 a young gal ahead of me (20 year old something)...stopped..... in the middle of the race.... to answer her cell phone.. yep.... oh yeah and then she proceeded to repass me.. ....N-I-C-E... gotta love it... I am gonna to go thaw out now..... Race Results

Joe and I did the Flaming Foliage Metric Century (62 mile bike event) & Harvest 5K in Hazleton, Pa on Saturday, October 11th…. See… I get these wonderful bright ideas… and well Joe goes along with them… poor poor Joe… .... so we drive the almost 2 hours to Hazleton PA… ******************************************************************** Joe: “Why again are we driving 2 hours to a 5K and bike event???” Wendy: “...because it’s beautiful up there this time of year… and we get a free stuffed squirrel…” ********************************************************************************* They say you never stop learning… I must admit this to be true.. • DON’T EVER believe someone from upstate PA stating their course is flat and fast. • 40 year old somethings are a VERY competitive group. • ......and yes its possible to bike straight up a “mountain” for a continuous 3 miles. ********************************************************************************* The plan was to run the 5K, ch...

Thank you everyone for your congratulations, your support and your love.. here is the race story.. It’s long and I debated about a cliff note version but… this is the story… in the way it should be told…. unedited and trying to incorporate everyone’s questions on training, nutrition, and of course with wendyisms.... Chesapeake Man Ultra Triathlon - Full Course Du jour IF YOU HAVE TO ASK WHY, YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND... I did it!!!… the Chesapeake Man Ultra Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run).. an Ironman Distance Triathlon… 140.6 miles….. For those who know me.. you know this was my 2nd attempt at this distance and this race. Last year’s “epic” swim and subsequent DNF (did not finish)… due to not making the time cut offs had scorched a real scar on my soul. This year’s race is dedicated to my husband… for it was because of his support that I came back.. .. Pre-Race Training The hours and hours of training.. juggling working fulltime, keeping a house and f...