Many of you have asked me about the following unique, low-cost events, which I have done and enjoyed (and which are coming up shortly !):

1. TERRAPIN MASTERS 1000/1650 YARD CHARITY MEET
Saturday, May 9, 2009, 12:00 PM (Warm-up at 11:15AM) That’s right swimmers, you get to sleep in ! In years past, “Worldgators” Saylor, Brannock, Rouad, “Doug the slug,” Marty, and others have gotten age group medals and “official times” at these longer distances. This unique indoor DISTANCE swimming event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Usually indoor swim meets top out at the 500. But at the Terrapin Masters Meet, you can DOUBLE or even TRIPLE that distance and really show off the technique and endurance you have developed by attending Masters swim practices !
Details: Terrapin Masters Swim Meet at the Fairland Sports & Aquatic Complex, 13820 and 13950 Old Gunpowder Road, Laurel, MD 20707 (301-362-6060)
6 lane, 25 yard course, Separate Warm-up Lanes, Manual/Watch timers to be used

2. BIKE TO WORK DAY, Friday, May 15, 2009
Free t-shirts will be available for the first 7,000 registrants.
There is no registration fee for this Washington Area Bicyclist Association event, and there are “pit stops” throughout the DC-Metropolitan area. Registration for Bike to Work Day 2009 is now open! I have taken part in this fun, free Washington Area Bike Association event several times. You can ride your race bike, mountain bike, hybrid or borrow a set of wheels. Raffles will be held at each pit stop for prizes including commuter bags, bike locks, and bicycles. Plus, the bike shops manning the “pit stops” can tune up your bike, check out your ride and you can grab snacks to take to work !

3. DC Road Runners Club Annual 1 Hour Track Run
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Sts. Stephen & Agnes School, Alexandria, VA

You want a “pace workout” ? You want to run “negative splits” ? You want a drink every 440 yards ? You don’t like hills ? You’re an Ironwoman who misses the track ? Then the DCRRC One Hour Track Run is the event for you. Plus, the DCRRC keeps impeccable records so you can see how many yards you can cover and what pace you can run for an hour to answer the question: “How many miles per hour can you run ?”

There are ALL levels of runners, from local running coaches to “newbies,” so don’t feel like this is only for the Michael Hambergers and Margie Shapiros of the world ! Last time I did this, I parked my Accelerade at the “pit stop” table manned by the high school volunteers, and was able to maintain a steady pace, heart rate (with some expected “cardiac drift) and hydration. The cost is only a couple of bucks, there’s no t-shirt, and the track is not too crowded. If you want to see if your running form “changes” or “fatigues” over time, you can even set up your video camera, like they do at Potomac River Running, along one of the straightaways, and let it run the entire race !