2014 - PRs, New goals

Happy new year! I have been pretty quiet on here for numerous valid reasons. Big things have happened since my last entry. I'll go through them briefly...

1.
I completed my 2nd Bridge Run Double Pump in December - and beat my time from last year by 8 minutes! Also, our Moms Run This Town group of Wonder Women WON the group costume contest!!!! I've never screamed so loud in my life. The moment we won felt like we had just won the lottery!

2.
I managed to snag a new 5K PR. SUB 25 minutes!! 24:44 at a local race in Savannah at the end of December.

3.
I did my first unassisted [kipping] pullup!!! Felt amazing... now if I can just do two in a row... or a strict unassisted pullup...

4.
I completed my FIRST 25K race at the Rails to Trails Ultra in Savannah earlier this month. I also managed to complete the 25K distance in under 2 and half hours (according to my Garmin). The course itself was long. It also became my new PDR.

5.
I will be running my FIRST MARATHON this year!!! I signed up to run with a charity (Burma Humanitarian Mission) for the Marine Corps Marathon this October... Which means that if I raise $500 by October, I WILL BE ABLE TO RUN THE MCM FO' FREE! No lottery BS to deal with. So why don't you donate? ;) http://www.razoo.com/story/Marine-Corps-Marathon-Jacy

6.
I signed up to be a running buddy for a girl's program called Girls on the Run, which empowers young women (3rd-5th graders) to take charge of their lives and let them know there are no limits! Running is weaved into the program as a motivator to fitness and they will run a 5k at the end of the program! It starts in February.



Some new goals for this year...

1.
Properly train for and complete (without dying) my first marathon.

2.
Spend more time with my family, more time doing art for myself, sign up for less races, and volunteer more of my time into the running community.

3.
Continue to get stronger with crossfit, lift more heavy things and make many strength PRs. Crossfit goals:
Unassisted strict pullup
string 10+ double unders in a row
Perform a handstand push up
More confidence on OLY lifts

4.
Running goals:
1 Mile - sub 7 minutes
5K - 24 minutes or less
10K - 52 minutes or less



:)

2013 Check In

Happy New Year!

2012 was an awesome year! I met some really awesome new friends and I ran the most miles EVAR in this one year than I have from 2006 through 2011 combined! Here is an overview of my year from Daily Mile:

I think this mileage report includes walking and rowing, though.

As far as 2013 goals, I would love to hit 700 running miles this year. I would also like to slim down to 120 lbs. Or maybe 125 lbs - with lots of muscle. I also want to get faster on my half marathon time, hopefully break 2:10 this year. I don't have many opportunities to do it, so I need to work all year on this one.

I started a diet mid December (during my break from running) called the 17 Day Diet and successfully lost 7 lbs in the first 17 days. But then I fell off the wagon and deviated from the diet a bit and now I'm back up 2 lbs. I think if I just continue to use the diet plan as a guide and not eat like a ravneous college kid, I will be fine. I have already cut out one of my favorite foods (pasta) and do not crave it. I'm eating more veggies and drinking more water and green tea. I don't think I'm quite at "clean eating" status, nor will I ever be, but I can live with that. I have to take this one step at a time. I really never have tried a diet plan until this one and I've gotten great results, so I might have to stick with it!

I really want to do a write up on the Bridge Run from December 1, as well as the Pooler Jingle Jog from December 22 (my first 5K pushing a stroller), but it will have to wait. December was such a hectic month with the holidays and my son's birthday (and mine too) and various fundraisers, plus traveling everywhere... ugh. I am glad it is over!

Hope everyone has an AWESOME 2013!!!

New Goals / Shooting Stars / Running Groups [[randomness]]

After the Rock 'n' Roll, I realized I need to make new goals for myself.

For the time being, my goal is to continue to train for the half marathon distance and stay injury free!

Racing goals are to be able to run a half in 2:10 or less. Hopefully I will be able to attain that in 2013. My goal for the upcoming bridge run on December 1st is to break 30 minutes on the 5K - I have come so close, but have never done it! My fastest bridge run 5K was 30:02 in 2007. And since I'm doing the Double Pump, I'd like to beat the time I did for the bridge run 10K in 2008 - which was 1:08:19... I'm in so much better shape that I was for both of those times, so I'm sure I will be able to do it!

Long term, I would like to train for a marathon, and then run one at sub 4:30 (Oprah's marathon time - which would be the same pace I did for the RnR half).

But before I get there, I would like to be able to run a half marathon in as close to 2 hours as possible. That's a nine minute mile, for 13.1 miles. Am I near that? Hell no. I was in the low 10s for the RnR. But, I also had no idea how fast I'd be able to run 13.1 miles when I signed up for it last year. I estimated 2:30 - based on the fitness level I was at the time. When My little sister ran her first half in 2011 (the RnR in San Antonio), I was amazed by her finishing time of 2:20!! So I sort of secretly changed my goal time to that. So, If I am able to crush my original goal time by 15 minutes, what is another 15 minutes?? If I continue to train like I have been doing and keep challenging myself to get faster, I'm sure I can do that. I gave myself until my 35th birthday to get there... so, 10 years should be enough time... LOL ok, just kidding. I'll be 31 this December, so 4 years to a 2-hour half... I can do it!!

+++++

Getting up to run in the morning before dawn has it perks (just a few). Other than being able to get your workout out of the way first thing in the morning, the next best thing I love about getting up so early are the shooting stars. I'm a wanna-be stargazer: I love space and the idea of an infinite universe all around us, I just don't ever have time to sit and stare at the sky at night (I'm so tired these days). For living right next to a major interstate, my house is actually in a great area for stargazing - it gets pretty dark and you can see a ton of stars at night if it's clear. Anyway, on a number of my morning runs, especially this time, late in the year, I am sometimes greeted by a quick beam of light passing by in an instant. I saw one yesterday morning before I got in my car to run downtown - it was super long and bright too - I took that as a sign that I'd have a good run that morning (which I did). On another run (my first 12 miler), I actually saw THREE of them!! It's pretty awesome.

+++++

I just wanted to mention that joining running groups has really changed the way I run and given me so much more motivation to run. I would not be signing up and getting excited for all these races if it was not for my running buddies. I signed up for the Savannah RnR thinking that I could totally just pick a training plan and do it myself. All by myself. Running is a one person sport, after all, right? Yes, and no. True - you are your only competition in running (unless you are an elite...), but with a group, you have your support team, cheering squad, running buddies, friendly competition and coaches... it's totally not a one person sport. I honestly would not have had such a great time and finish time at my first half without being a part of my 2 running groups (MRTT and CREW). I was skeptical at first because I was used to training on my own and running by myself before this year, but having people to run with and to push you to go faster or run longer, really helps. REALLY. So if you are getting bored with running... I highly suggest joining a running group! Best decision EVAR!