Just Plodding Along

In 2015 I had a few goals in mind for running: Sub 2 hour half Sub 4:28 full Run 2015 miles during the year...... I achieved exactly none of these goals. Whoops. I got a bit slower at running, was plagued by injuries, had to cut back on the mileage and yet I still had so much fun when it comes to running.  I got to travel to some awesome places to run and crossed off several of my bucket list marathons off the list.  I had the opportunity to coach and befriend so many amazing and fun runners. Even when I was injured or having to cut back on my own running they kept me motivated and excited about it.  I got to go to The Running Event which is basically Disneyland for runners with some really great people where I became best friends with all the elites. Okay maybe not best friends...but I got to meet several amazing elite level runners who inspired me with their love of the sport.  So the fact that I didn't PR at all this year doesn't...

LOVE I really love the New Year. Everything is shiny and new. A fresh start. New challenges to look forward too. A time you can plan adventures and resolutions. A time to shake of any disappointments or issues of the old year. A time to guesstimate how many new medals you will acquire by the end of the year....(fingers crossed for double digits). This morning I took off to tackle one of my resolutions or goals for 2015 which is to run/walk/hike 2,015 miles this year. 7.4 miles done- 6.4 running and 1 mile walking. I decided on a familiar route to kick off the year. Northeast trails for the win. Uphill  about two miles, two miles of trails and then back down. This is a route that when I first started running in El Paso would kick my butt...repeatedly...every time. It didn't help that I was coming back from two months of no running/ barely moving and had moved to a higher elevation and it was an inferno outside. This route really stuck it to me. Repeated walk breaks, Feel...

I need a goal so I don't get lazy. After the next relay the schedule is looking a bit empty in terms of running races.  Plus I need more medals. I just don't have enough.... Plus having races on the calender keeps me motivated to get out there and train. So I am on the hunt. I know I want to do the El Paso Half for sure in February. Maybe a 15K involving chocolate and friends also in February. Perhaps the Bataan Memorial Death March in March. Maybe a turkey trot in November. There is a holiday 8K in December. I think my new goal is to try to get a new PR in the half marathon so a sub 1:59. I also want to get better at trail running or really just do more trail running. I live near over 50 miles of trails...though they are pretty technical. Seems like the perfect opportunity to get stronger at trail running.  With that in mind my general training plan will include a day once a week or every ten days of speed work, one day a week a tempo run, an incr...

Confession time. I did not go to body pump yesterday.I got up, I got dressed, I ate a honey stinger waffle for energy (okay I ate it because it tastes like magic) and complained about going the whole time. And then I realized that the reason I did not want to go is because the instructor on Tuesdays is super screamy and negative and I just do not want to hear that at 6 a.m. I go to group class for someone to encourage me to keep going not scream at me about how much my form sucks. Let's be upbeat about how much my form sucks. I have only gone to this one instructor's class once but once was enough to make me not want to go again. First impressions matter I guess. The issue is while I thought I was mature enough to pump the iron on my own, I even laid it out to tackle after my speed session on my treadmill, but apparently not. Weirdly most of the workout involved me laying on the floor watching House Hunters.  This does not happen at body pump which means I should pr...

One of my favorite presents I got this year is my Believe I Am Journal. Not only does it have space to keep track of runs and races but also has sections to help you figure out what your goals are for the year and what you want to get out of training.  It also encourages a more well rounded approach and encourages laying out goals in other areas of your life. Apparently I am supposed to have a life outside of running..... Huh. Aside from realizing that perhaps I need a hobby besides running, writing in this journal has made me realize I want two things from my running: 1) I want to get faster- long term big, BIG, dream: I want a BQ and then want to get into Boston and run Boston. 2) I want to get better at long runs, more comfortable with distances beyond 13.1. Big, BIG dream: do an ultra Obviously these are tied together. There can be no BQ without running marathons and marathons are long, ultras even longer. Along with the faster part and aside from BQing I ...

Not sure what my goals should be for I am feeling pretty good since my Wednesday run. Mostly because I haven't worked out since and been sleeping more. The course is supposed to be flat and fast. Weather is supposed to be dry and a cool 45 as the high. Let's do this: A goal: 2:05 or less B goal: 2:10 or less C goal: 2:15 or less I am dressing up as a runner, don't even think I will wear the cat ears, so there should be nothing to keep me from running on the faster side. I still don't feel 100 percent in the leg department so I guess we shall see. Fast or slow it will be fun to see those who do dress up and check out a new area. Good luck to all those racing this weekend. Do you all set goals for races?  Any exciting racing or non racing plans?

After watching the Chicago marathon on Sunday I want to run one. Bad. Thinking about what to do next after my 30 before 30 goals is over (only 9 more to go) I am thinking marathons are the next step. I don't know if I want to define a goal (like 40 marathons before 40) but I do know I want to run some marathons. I have come up with a tentative 2013 marathon wish list. April 2013- Illinois Marathon It is close to home. Spring, so will be cool and there will not be any dead of winter long runs or heat of the middle of the summer to deal with, just early spring long runs which might be tricky. Course is supposed to be nice and has good reviews. PLUS I am trying to coordinate with Yo Momma to run with me. And by run with me I mean we can pre-race face stuff carbs together and have a celebratory beer/wine/champagne/apple juice (pick the beverage of your choice oh and brunch, we can go to brunch) together after (in which time I will convince her we are running BFFs in real life)....

Time to race again!! Whooooooo Saturday is So goal time: A Goal: Get it together and finally break two hours. I know I can do it. 2:04 last time. Just need to suck it up and run faster. Ummm.....easier said than done but maybe Saturday is the day. B Goal: Under 2:05. A PR or something close to it would be pretty sweet as well. C Goal: Under 2:10. With 52 and partly cloudy the weather should be perfect. It is on trails. Out and back. Rolling hills.....eh that is not awesome. But let's not forget the most important thing.......brunch after.

Saturday is a big day. D & I are running a 10k together. Or at least we will stand at the start line together and find each other at the finish. It has been awhile since we have run 'together'. Not only will we be celebrating life, we will also be celebrating that this race starts a block from our house and doesn't start till 9a.m. The only down side is towards the end of the race I believe we may run right past our house and I will already have my t-shirt at this point so it would be so easy to say hello couch and goodbye run. I ran part of the course this morning and it is a really- beautiful down to Lake Michigan past fields of wild sunflowers and only a little bit hilly but all the hill is at the end- course. Should be fun. I haven't run a 10k in a few years and I believe my time was around a 1:16 but that course was hills from start to finish so I am thinking I can get close to an hour now if not under. Goals: A goal: Under an hour B goal: hour to hou...

It is time to kick of the fall racing season I am so excited. Almost as excited as when I found pajama jeans at Walmart yesterday.   Almost. Did you know those suckers were on sale for $40. ON SALE. Why would you not just buy a pair of real jeans for that price? Or 8 pairs of Walmart jeans or something. I am so confused about this. I also got my hair cut. I know I was all 'I am a awesome person and gonna grow my hair out for locks of love, society can thank me later'. I could not stand my hair any longer so if anything I am an awful person because I have no patience or self control. I am also not a huge fan of how the guy cut my hair but.....wait, wait what was I blogging about.....oh right 1/2 marathon goals. SO. Oak Brook half tomorrow. Before I ended up spending the last few days doing this I had thought maybe I could PR. I have been running hard this summer, picking up a little speed and did knock out a 14 mile run last weekend although that was super slow but stil...

Miles run : 90.6 1/2s run: 3 Medals Obtained: 4 This month I have incorporated more yoga (again) and walking as cross training. What next? No more races on the calender until September. What to do? What to do? My plan is to up the mileage, start doing some strength training, work on increasing my flexibility and get some speed. Oh and hey RnR Denver I am coming for you and I will have my under 2 hour PR. Oh yes I will have it.

So I am once again dragging my butt up Mount Lemmon. I am pretty sure after I did it the last time I wasn't going to do it again. It is completely uphill. Well there is a little bit of a downhill or as one guy last time described it: an eight mile hike with a 5 mile run at the end. Pretty much.  But the lure of the cheap half (registered for this one for $55) and proximity to my house (near Tucson) made it irresistible. Apparently they are cracking down and no music is allowed for real this time. Last year they said that and everyone and their mom had music except for me cause I am a rule follower. So ethical dilemma of my time: to bring the Ipod or not. It would be very helpful to have Beyonce, Katy and Lady Gaga pacing me up the mountain. There is some nice symmetry with doing this half as number 15. I am half way through my goal of running 30 half marathons before turning 30. This half kicked of the half madness for me last fall and was the first one ...

What is the appropriate goal to set for a half marathon finish time when the first two miles of the race involve going straight uphill? Tricky Horsetooth 1/2 , tricky.  I ran this in 2006 in 2:29:52 (first half marathon for me). So maybe I will try to beat my old time. This time around I am in better running shape but will be running hills and there is elevation involved so we will see how it goes. And of course no dying, no falling off the dam we cross and no rolling down the mountain are good goals as well. Never underestimate my ability to be a klutz. Excited for half # 14. Almost halfway to my goal of 30 before 30.

Saturday is the so I need some goals besides stay upright and don't die (though these goals may reappear when I run the Horsetooth 1/2 and the Mount Lemmon 1/2 ). As always drinking while trying to run or move forward at a rapid pace without drowning, choking or soaking anyone but myself seems like a good goal to keep. I have conquered taking a gel while running pretty well so at least I can feed myself in motion I guess. The weather currently forecasts a low of 57 and a high of 72, so potential for perfect running weather for the 7:30 a.m. though I guess it will be a little on the warmer side but I have been running around that time while training (on purpose of course not because I am too lazy to get out of bed earlier or the fact that I refuse to leave the house without sipping my cup of coffee).  I have been training hard and even doing speed work once a week the last two weeks (though today's 5 mile speed work turned into a regular run after my shines were...

It is that time again. I am running the Arizona Distance Classic  on Sunday. I feel like I have not done a half in forever. I guess it has been about four weeks. So practically forever. I would like to say in those four weeks I trained hard but that is not the case. I took about two weeks off to rest some aches and am just getting back into it. So I don't expect any big breakthroughs. Plus my longest run since my last half has been six miles. So I may be a bit out of shape. The course is not overly hilly but they are there. At least the finish is downhill. The course is out and back in a beautiful area with great weather so it should be a nice morning. For this race I would like to try to head out more conservatively. Usually I start so fast that by two miles in I have set a mileage PR but feel like I want to die. Trying to avoid that this time. I would also like to learn how to drink out of a cup while moving without drowning or soaking the volunteers. Good to have goal...

On Saturday I am running the Arizona Half in Goodyear. (back to back races-I know I am a bad-ass....or crazy). There have been some difficulties getting this race together. First it was supposed to be in Scottsdale. And then there was no course for awhile. And now it is in Estrella (community, neighborhood, I don't know). But the course is flat and looks pretty on their Facebook page so we shall see how it goes. I am not sure what goals to set for this race. On one hand it is supposed to be flat and fast which means I could push it again and see if I can finish in 2:07 or 2:06. On the other hand I am tired, my leg is still wonky and sore, this week is stressful and next week I have my PhD exams (ahhhh panic attack). So part of me just wants to run the thing at whatever pace I feel like get my medal, free bagel and take a nap and continue trying to not freak out about my exams. I am also planning to take a week or two off of running to let my leg recover after t...

This Saturday I head up towards Apache Junction to participate in the Lost Dutchman Half  .  I have wanted to do this race for two years now so I am pretty excited to do this one. Miners and pots of gold what is not to love? It is an out and back. It is slightly uphill overall heading towards the six mile marker and then slightly downhill on the way back. According to the website there are no significant hills (I am not sure what makes a hill significant versus not, they all seem pretty significant to me). I really want to see how hard I can push it. And even though my left leg is still wonky for some reason (actually I think the reason is my left hip is weak and is out of place, making my left leg short than my right. Only way to fix is strength training and stretching but that takes time and probably won't be fixed before Sunday. How do I know all this, why the internet of course. Am thinking of going to a sports doctor but have to work my way up to it I gues...

Tomorrow I head down to Sedona for the Half Marathon so it is time to figure out the A, B & C goals. That be a lot of hills.......at altitude  Sedona = 4500ft     Tucson = 2389ft so I see a lot of heavy breathing and walking in my future. Plus my left leg has been acting kind of wonky (technical term). Calf and shin pain out of nowhere. And I want to take pictures on the route I mean look at this: So with those disclaimers/ excuses: A Goal: finish between 2:15 & 2:30 B Goal: finish between 2:30 & 2:40 C Goal: finish & obtain medal That'll do.

2011: Year in Review Began running consistently in July (it was a warm beginning) Miles run since July: 327 miles Half Marathons completed: 4 (Mt Lemmon, Shun the Sun, Fiesta Bowl, Tucson) Medals obtained: 4 PR'd at the Tucson Half Marathon with a 2:07:50 Placed in the filly category at the Tucson half with a third place finish Favorite half marathon this year: Mount Lemmon Half- most scenic so far Favorite medal: Fiesta bowl half medal (I guess I have a thing for cactus or something) Ran a sub 9 minute mile in a race Goals for 2012 Run between 80 and 100 miles a month Run between 15 and 18 half marathons Sweet running log Christmas gift to record all my plodding in Get a sub 2 hour half finish time More weight lifting and stretching- DO IT Speedwork- learn to love it Overall this year has been pretty fantastic. I am happy to have found blogging as a way to entertain myself, stay motivated and hopefully inspire someone...

For your viewing pleasure, race photo from Fiesta Bowl 1/2 And bam time for another half marathon again. It seemed like a good idea a few months ago when I signed up for back to back weekends of half marathons, now maybe not so much. I am still a little sore from the Fiesta Bowl 1/2 and have not run since. Just biked and done stretching. The real reason for not running is that it is cold and I am a big baby, plus the end of the semester makes me feel like I want to stab someone. No one in particular, just a general feeling of stabbyness. So that is fun for everyone else. But this is my redemption half marathon I guess since I was training for this marathon last year when I hurt myself and had to hobble around on crutches in a cast for awhile (that also made me feel like I wanted to stab someone). And I got a sweet deal with half off the race after emailing the race director about my sad, sad plight last year. Goals (again I feel the layer method takes some pressure off): L...