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...

Now that I have completed all of my running goals listed out under Bean's Goals  for your reading convenience I am in need of a new focus. I have gotten a few suggestions: 40 marathons before 40- this seems like a perfect fit number symmetry and all but that is a lot of freakin marathons. And marathons are hard so I am not ready to commit to that one. I will put it in the back pocket for now with the option to open that can of worms at a later date.  Triathlon- I swam in high school and do enjoy swimming although for some reason rounding up a suit, goggles, cap, towel and locating a swimming pool that is open at a time that is convenient for me to swim at seems to be a bit of a challenge at times. Of course the running part is pretty solid most days. It is just the biking. Currently I don't even own a bike, well I own a spin bike but I don't think that counts as it only has one wheel. I am also the world's worst biker. I fall. I fall hard. Usually on my face (th...