2011

Why are we talking about last year right?
Uh ur…because I didn’t blog my run year at.all.
So this is my quick “smasheverythinginto1post” attempt :)

Lets look at the highlights – shall we:

My theme for last year was: “Getting Back in the Saddle”

After my 1st marathon in December 2010 my 2011 year was a hard comeback….seriously

(my lowest mileage in March and highest in August)

As you can see 1st quarter was a steady decline…
Excuses Excuses
Jan – Guess I need to “try” to Run
Feb – Too cold
March – Sick the entire month with a head/chest cold

And then from there the rest of 2011 was a rollercoaster at best.
You know: burned out, busy getting married, rebounding, trying to shake the love pounds, building endurance, getting back up to pace, blah blah blah.

Again….my year sucked and didn’t start looking up until towards the 4th quarter when I decided to register for a few races.

My highest mileage month being 73.1 miles in August and the lowest a whooping 6.3 miles in March. I ran a total of 576.3 miles for 2011.

Lessons learned in 2011:
1. Keep going no matter what!
2. If you fall off the wagon – it’s hard as #@!% to get back on it.
3. PUSH anyway
4. Despite race burn out, I need to sprinkle some throughout the year to stay on track/motivated.

As far as 2012:
I will let you know what I am working on in another post. Promise it won’t be a new year when I post again :)

However, I will say my 2012 goal is to run 800 miles for the year.
That would mean about 65 miles per month for an estimate of 780 total. Mas o Menos I just rounded up to 800.
Again more to come about 2012 year.

But lets take a quick look back, as I definitely want to recap the races I did in 2011.

Originally I planned on 2 races (LungStrong and Turkey Trot).
I actually did 3 races (LungStrong, ROCKtoberfest and Turkey Trot). I threw Rocktoberfest in at the last minute only for what I thought would be a cool medal.

I wanted to do the new Huntersville Half but after running ROCKtoberfest I was over the “hills”.

Here are my 2011 Race Recaps (literally based off my iPhone notes & pics):

1. LungStrong 15K – Date: 10/8/11 Race Time: 1:37
It’s just right mileage challenge to register for as I don’t consider 5K registrations worth it anymore.

I did a 1.3 mile warm- up because I wanted 10 miles in the race log for the upcoming half. So in the race I was always a mile ahead…man what mind games! LOL

It was a gorgeous day! Cool in the AM but warmed up and got sunny. It was a pretty route as well by the lake and going through a park and the neighborhoods had BIG beautiful homes. I didn’t preview the route like I normally do and there were a couple back loops on the route #ugh! And the route was filled with rooooooolling hills #doubleugh I did end up with my left toes going slightly numb but I pushed thru it.

As always I met a race angel (well two). Carrie was originally running and ended up supporting me but finishing the majority of it with me from mile 3 on.

My other race angel was an older gentleman name Rick he was a 2nd year lung cancer survivor. PRAISE GOD!! That’s what it was all about right?? The reason why I was out there! What a way to put things in perspective. And he was running strong!

This ended up being my 1st race that I ran continuous!!
Other 1sts:
1st race since my marathon break
1st race in 2012


Of course hubby was there to support since his sprang ankle – and caught me on video beasting it (my 1st race recording too!). No medal :( but there was a great Christian Rock band out there and this was my best pace the entire 2012.

2. ROCKtoberfest – Date: 10/22/11 Race Time: 2:26
ROCKtoberfest
4hrs of sleep
Bad dinner - chicken sauce
Upset stomach heartburn all nite
Took 6 pepto tablets
Saw an old run friend - William
45 degrees @ start Glad it really wasn't windy b/c it was crazy earlier in the week!
Emily from 15K ran 1st 2miles

Ran with Adam (my race angel) next 7 miles

(I was exhausted here! LOL)

Brief walk after 10mi mark again @ 12mi
Meet Hope & Becky who helped me take it in Last mile toughest Hubby ran w/ me thru the finish line
BIG NOTE: I was faster last year (10lbs lighter) but was "stronger"
this year ( crying & choking on hills)

Oooh Lord U r Awesome x2
If it wasn't for love
If it wasn't for your Grace
I don't know where I'd
Be w/o U

Poor crowd participation. Seem like low # of racers too.
But last half mile PINK sign: I know a healer his name is JESUS!!
Avon Breast Cancer walkers cheered on as they walked

3. Turkey Trot – Date: 11/24/11 Race Time: 51:10
Is a blur now but recall doing better than last year. It is such an easy and run race to do.

Ran it by myself as Hubby was still recovering from his heel stress fracture so he watched me from the sidelines. But there were love ladies out there to giggle with at the start line.

Overall 2011 was my "Come Back" year.

And so glad I had the courage to keep going!

Sugar Does Melt!

Tuesday night I was available and had been wanting to finally make it to one of my running groups "hillwork" session.

Now mind you I had already made the announcement in advance several times on various occasions to numerous people that I do not run in the rain. I don't do rain. period.

Ur uh...yeah

That day it rained on & off the entire time into the evening. I made a late afternoon tweet announcement to Ms. Marilie and KD that I will not be running if it is still raining at 6:45pm! :) They scolded me telling me that was a whole 3 hours away and anything could happen by then.

Well it sure did!!

It was only sprinkling when it came time for me to leave and head on over, so I decided to be a trooper and go.

....then it started to get heavier...I texted KD and asked...are you still going? She gave the affirmative reply and I was like...guess I still keep going Haha!

We were all there....all 4 of us LOL and I was hoping someone would say "lets just skip it" as I would have immediately hopped back in my car ;op Didn't happen.

We did a 1 mile warm up on the winding hills (whew) and planned to do 20 sec sprints up a designated hill for ten repeats. By the time we got out the second sprint it cracked, thundered, and lightened ALL at the same time as I let out a Yelp!! Grabbing on "somebody" Hahahaha!

Finally someone came to their senses and said lets GO!!! :)

And thank goodness one of the guys who organizes the running group circled back to check on us and took us back to our cars!!!
I was so not up to doing the mile back in the pouring rain and possibly getting LIT UP on our way to safety Hahaha!

Needless to say I was proud that I finally got broken in and RAN IN THE RAIN! With my sistah gurls too :)
But neva again!! (if I know in advance)

Don't y'all know sugar melts when wet ;o)

On Being a Cheerleader

This past weekend I had the first time experience and pleasure of being a Race Cheerleader! :)

My running group Purple Butterfly Running Club ran on Saturday in the Corporate Cup 5K. They did a great job!
I just had to give back the 'race cheer karma' by making my way out to take pictures, clap, chant "Go Go Go" "Run Run Run" "3 miles down", and "Push that baby" (lol) to all the runners as I truly appreciated that when I ran my 1st 5K a couple of weeks ago. You know that thing of doing positive things to runners/while running (great blog post)

There were tons of people out there and it was great to see all ages, body types, and paces coming down the road! It was also interesting seeing various runners reactions to the cheering too....some received it well/happily and others looked like "shut da hell up I am just trying to make it thru this" rotfl

Truly motivating and it was great to get another perspective on a race since I am a newbie to them right now.

On Sunday it was a BEAUTIFUL 62 degrees...it actually looked AND felt like it too! So I definitely took the opportunity to run outside for the first time without my hat or gloves; and I even switched out my windbreaker for a long sleeve dri wick shirt (note: need more of these for the spring weather).

I went on the greenway by myself this time, but you can tell things are definitely warming up as there were tons of people out and about. It also made me realize I have not yet run in the "spring season" yet! :) Can't wait, however my watery eyes and runny nose is NOT cute so I will be poppin' some allergy meds soon.

As far as my goals I have been maintaining them thus far by not running less than 3 miles and trying to cap at least 4.0 miles per week. I just joined a 4 miler run group that will help me stay on track and will allow me to get more road time in w/o running alone.

I enjoyed it and so glad this nice runner kept pace with me (10:40-11:04) on the dark roads...whew lets just say it was a comfortable challenge Haha! I will return as long as she is there with me :)

Looking back I can't believe I used to be stoked about running 5 minutes straight and now I am counting by miles! I truly can't believe I run 3 miles now and look forward to the day when I will view this post and feel like 3 miles is a breeze.

Luv that progress is happening slowly but surely. Yep, I am sticking with this thing called running!