OCBP Hall of Fame

Many moons ago, I worked for the Ocean City (NJ) Beach Patrol as an ocean lifeguard. It was a great summer job and lots of fun. 

Beyond working the beach, there were plenty of opportunities to compete in various in-city and inter-city competitions. The way the big inter-city competitions worked was each beach patrol in the South Jersey region would send 1 swimmer, 1 singles rower, and 1 doubles rower as their team. There were other competitions with more competitors and some relay options as well. In order to represent at the big competitions, you had to win the in-city competition (or lose and then win in a swim-off challenge). 

This was back when I was mostly a swimmer, and I wound up representing OC in a number of competitions as their swimmer. Throughout the years I helped our patrol win three of the bigger competitions and one pool championship event.

Earlier this year, we found out that I'd be inducted into the Beach Patrol Hall of Fame. I consider this a big honor, as the patrol as between 150-180 guards on staff every season, and only 2-3 Hall of Fame inductees in any year.

So, in early August we packed up the family and headed to the Jersey shore!

We get back to the shore every two to three years but recent years have seen us spending time up in Avon-by-the-Sea which is 90 miles north of Ocean City. I enjoy getting back to OC and seeing some old friends, running the boardwalk, being a tourist at the rides, hitting a couple of the local watering holes, and bodysurfing until I'm exhausted. 

Unfortunately this year the water was extremely cold and super rough, in the mid-50s with messy, choppy waves, due to prevailing wind blowing most of the warm water back out to sea and a stormy weather pattern off-shore. My son and I still got in, but it was a real adjustment of expectations!

I wrote a speech that didn't embarass anyone, the ceremony was small but nice, and it was good to see some old friends and work mates from long ago.

Thirty years can go by quickly. Enjoy your days!

20 yr anniversary

We went to the Crozet, VA area for our 20 yr anny a few weeks ago. It's a pretty rural area near Charlottesville  that has developed quite a winery and brewery scene. The area also has easy access to some great hiking trails. 

We started the weekend with a nice dinner at Blue Mountain Brewery (https://bluemountainbrewery.com/) in Afton, near our VRBO. This place has a really great view as well as good food and beer. We both got some merch as well.

On Saturday morning, we ran a 5k (https://staceysrun.com/) in Launceston, which is about 20 minutes from Crozet. Bri said she would run with me but within 3 minutes of the start, she pulled away because she "was feeling good." She went on to win the overall female and I did something something in my age group. It wasn't a big race but it was fun to do and hang out afterwards. 

We immediately drove over to Crozet to hike in Mint Spring Valley park. This spot actually also hosted a morning 5k, but by the time I found it, it had filled, and the course had a brutal elevation profile. We did a 2-ish mile hike then went into town for a nice lunch and a little exploring. 

On the way back to our place, we stopped in at Wild Man Dan's brewhouse (https://www.wmdb3.com/wildmandan-brewery) and B&B. This is a fella and his wife who refurbished an old barn and turned it into a microbrewery. They had a bunch of vintage stuff in the upstairs game room area, very worthwhile to check out!

That evening we went to the Starr Hill Brewery (https://starrhill.com/crozet/) in Crozet, which was nice, but their food truck had cancelled. So after a couple of drinks there we went over to Pro Re Nata Brewery (https://prnbrewery.com/), a huge location with both a big stage/music area, outdoor area, and a full menu. The place was jammed, the band was pumping, and we headed home like old folks by 9pm.

Our final morning in the area included a 5 mile hike to visit Humpback Rocks (https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/humpback-rocks-trails.htm), an outcropping that hangs over a few hundred feet of Blue Ridge Mountain. The .8 mile hike up was a doozy, so we took the longer, gentler way back down.

It was a really nice getaway, and a pleasant drive on mostly small highways to get there from the Raleigh area.

2023 season wrap up

 It was a season! I managed to fit in a few more sprint triathlons this year. Expectations have been adjusted accordingly. 

We don't ride on the roads anymore except at the races. Our personal risk reward assessment on this is that the greenways and Peloton are safe and accomplish what we want to do, and the roads are not (for us). So the intervals are few and far between, but the sights and sounds of the greenways and Umstead State Park are many. 

Bri and I had fun at the Triangle sprint triathlon at Harris County Park. We actually did the mini sprint, which was half of the sprint, more or less. I missed a bike turn and Bri lost her chance to run me down. She won, and I was 5th. In between us were 3 children. She says we have to do the regular sprint next season, but I am reserving the right to go super-short. 

There was another sprint at the Rex Wellness triathlon in Wakefield. This is a 250 yd swim - 10 mile bike - 2mile run. Also fun. I think I finished 10th or so.

And then the real fun! The Battle at Buckhorn sprint triathlon on Sep 30, followed by an off road triathlon in Greensboro on Oct 7. Years ago I won the Battle at Buckhorn 3x in a row. This year I did not. But I enjoyed myself.

The off road triathlon was also a good time. We have 2 mountain bikes. One is an old, heavy Giant with front suspension. The other is a light, sleek Litespeed with a front stem shock. Both are 26 inch wheelers. I went with the Litespeed option. It was probably the better choice, but man, I got crushed by all the 29'ers with full suspension. Anyway, this was my 2nd longest event of the year, with a finishing time around 2:30. 

Off road is fun and different, and not on the road. The Natty Greene's Revenge triathlon is the only one I know of in NC that offers an off-road triathlon option.

The next morning we woke up bright and early and put on our Hurricane Swim. It was rescheduled yet again due to the late September storm that formed off the SC / NC coast. Fortunately our reschedule date turned out to be a beautiful morning and all went well.

We did a lot of weekend hiking. One of our fun family activities for 2023 was to find a new trail, hike 2-3 miles, then hit the nearest brewpub for dinner afterwards.

Life is good. Family is happy. Dog is cute. See you next time!

-edit- I forgot to publish this.