All righty then…

Happy New Year everyone!

Do you have your goals and resolutions done? Are you ready to conquer them? To tackle them? Take the bull by the proverbial horns?

I accomplished a lot in 2010 that I am very proud of. I pushed myself for half marathon PR in March and then again in June. I broke the 2 hour mark on my birthday in the hilly and difficult Mercer Island Half with a 1:56.09. The feeling was indescribable and Mel-Tall Mom was there to give me a hug and share the moment. I will remember that always. I still get teary eyed thinking about it. From that day forth something had changed, I was a girl who could instead of a girl who wished she could. From that race I went on to do the OKC full marathon where I did the first half in 2:00 hours flat and finished with a 4:09. A week later I ran the Tacoma City half in 2:00 hours.

I ran my bootie off and got a 12k PR with 1:08.43 on the hilliest and most difficult course in the history of ever. Then, in June I ran to another half marathon PR in the Seattle Rock n Roll with a 1:55.33. I felt like I was running on the clouds. I was light as a feather. My feet had wings. In August I completed my third sprint triathlon with another PR of 1:34.43. And finally, in December I claimed a 5k PR with 25:46.

With 3 full marathons, one Million Inch (+++) run, 6 half marathons, one 4 miler, one 5k and one sprint tri I would say 2010 was a good year. I may not have hit the 1000 miles I was hoping for, which is a bummer (came in with 900.43), but I know the circumstances I faced and feel my 2010 list is awesome.

BUT… I can’t help but feel like something is missing in my list. So tonight I did something about that hole…

I registered for the my first Half Iron Man- the White Lake Half Iron II on May 14th.

That’s right folks, my 18 week training officially starts a week from tomorrow. I am nervous, scared, worried and EXCITED! I welcome the challenge of swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and finishing it off with a 13.1 run. No biggie, right? Can’t be worse than Portland Marathon was, right? Um, don’t think so. Nothing will be as bad as that! So join me in the next five months as I attempt to tackle the Half Iron Man. AND you know after that there is only one more thing to do….a FULL Iron Man and if your gonna do that you MUST do it in Hawaii. But lets not get ahead of ourselves here…first things first. Learn to swim.

And now for a year in review of favorite pictures and memories (there are so many more but I can’t put them all up on this one post, I’m sure you understand):

Mel, holding me up after running One Million Inches and not a step further…ok, I walked a few extra inches…

The Million Inch Crew

RED…..I don’t even have the words to express adequately what I want to say. Thank you for being there and for being YOU.

AN the RB! I miss our running dates…the epitome of running partners right here…

Me and my amazing BIG sister…

LB and me

Me, Sarah and RED

Not a running pick but this is the day The Hubs returned from Afghanistan and surprised LB at preschool. I will never forget the reaction of LB, “WHAT?! What! My DAD is here?” and he leapt from the top of a climbing toy and ran to his dad...

Me and my Official Race Crew at the Super Jock and Jill 4 miler

My new NC Running Peeps, Me, Jessica and Christina!! So glad to have them! Bring on 2011!

So, here’s to 2011!!!

ACK!

Now Christmas is over and there is one more hurdle…New Year’s.

I love the holidays but man, fudge, cookies, other good food and lots of sitting around are making me feel ICKY!  You know, like I am weighed down, kind of like this:

 

Good thing my friend KATIE is in town from WA to visit ME (ok, not really me. There may be a boyfriend with family in this town involved but I am going to pretend she came here to visit me). We have plans for a nice mid-distance run tomorrow-her birthday! I am so excited!

I am ready to settle in to my non-holiday schedule and lose 10 pounds get back to a routine of running and working out. I have been researching Bike Trainers so I can bring my bike inside and ride to my hearts content. So far I have narrowed it down to a CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer or Kurt Kenetic. If you have any advice or suggestions I am all ears! I just need to get some riding in if I want to do a Half Ironman this summer, and I DO want to…

How was your Christmas? LB had “the best Christmas ever”! I hope you all did too!

I will be working on my New Year’s Goals this week! Are you working on yours?

Faster than a speeding bullet…

For as long as I can remember Christmas on the farm has involved guns. This Christmas is no different. LB even got to shoot his first real gun.

I got to shoot my new revolver (hope you guys aren’t put out by guns. But I think the 2nd Amendment  is pretty awesome and important). 

Even my dad got in on the fun:

And on a running note, my old High School finally got a real track! I had to go check it out!

All through my HS years we ran around the football field on the grass.  The grass was long and thick, green or brown. We dodged holes and made due with it. Going to track meets was a big deal because we actually got to run on a real track! Our times were always way better at meets.  And now seeing the new track made me want to be in high school again. Made me want a second chance. It actually made me wish I had track practice…I hope the kids realize how lucky they are to have such an awesome track!

Isn’t it a beaute!?

LB took it for a spin and gave it a thumbs up! Maybe I’ll get to get in a good speed workout before we head back East.

Well, back to enjoying some QT with the fam!!

It’s not you, it’s me…

I know, I know…we’ve all heard it before, from our high school sweetheart, our college love…but it’s true.

Dearest Running,

I still, er…love you. I just need a break. It’s not you, it’s me.  We have spent so much time together over the last year. And I cherish that time. Actually you have done so much to shape me, you have allowed me to change me. But right now, I need a break. I mean, I still want you to be a part of my life, but Christmas is here. I have family to spend time with and lets not ignore that fact that is is stinking FREEZING outside. For crying out loud! You just don’t get it do you?! It is cold! I don’t like it when my snot freezes to my upper lip and my slobber flies out and makes tiny icecicles that if the wind catches them just right, they WILL poke my eye out!

Last weekend during our 5k I had a blast! It was awesome! Then on Monday my calves were like, on fire! So I know I need you. I don’t intend for this break to last more than a week, really. Honestly, I brought my running shoes and my winter running gear to Oklahoma . I just don’t want to have to explain myself to you when I chose to hang inside with the fam, by the fire, in my PJ’s instead of running those red dirt roads. AH! And my high school finally got a brand new track! I would love to give that a spin!  I’m not gonna lie, that sounds really nice. Maybe just one run…ok, I’m sorry. I am being wishy washy. That’s not fair.

Well, maybe we aren’t taking a break after all. I’m sorry. I could never leave you. I just started feeling guilty and sometimes breaking up is easier than dealing with the guilt.  So, let’s make up.

Love,

5 Miles 2 Empty

 

And if you need some info about Treadmill Running and Cold Weather Running I got these articles this morning from Active.com. Good reads!!

On the toad again…

…oops. Did I say toad? I meant road! Really, we are on the road, heading to see the fam in OK! 

So this is a good time to answer a few questions! Marlene, my favorite Canadian, over at Mission to A(nother) Marathon tagged me!  Thanks Marlene!!! I needed something positive to blog about since I have been so grumpy and grinchy lately. Did I mention all of our Christmas decorations got lost in the move? Yeah, it did. Bah Humbug…So, see? I needed a holiday pick-me-up!

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?

Wow, what a good question. I have accomplished A LOT in 2010. For starters, I survived. This was one tough year…I managed to find strength to get out of bed through a lot of rough times from losing a pregnancy in Dec/Jan (yeah, never blogged about that one, I wasn’t ready until this exact moment), the hub’s deployment on Jan.2, 2010…ups and downs with that, my dad’s Pancreatic cancer diagnosis…all of it TOUGH. And I held it together and ran my FIRST marathon in April 2010!!! And then TWO more!!

What are your running goals for 2011?

Keep running. Ok, aside from that I plan to increase speed and set new PR’s in whatever distance I want. I want to do a half Ironman in FL this summer and roll into a sub 4 in the OBX marathon in November. That’s it, no biggie…nothing too ambitious.

What was your favorite race?

Hands down OKC Memorial Marathon. Having my family there was so special! And Jessica made the trek from WA to OK just for ME!!! And the crowd was more than amazing! It was a magical first marathon and I felt like I was floating the entire time! It was a dream!

What is your favorite holiday guilty pleasure?

FUDGE and a close second is Egg Nog Bread. If you are interested in the recipe I’ll be more than happy to share. It is DELISH.

What is your most embarrassing running moment?

Hm,I can’t think of anything. Actually, I remember this one time, in the Green River Marathon I did with Tall Mom and RED and and AN the RB. I was running it as a half relay. Anyway, around mile 4 I had to go poop. Yep. It happens. Not fun, not cool, not ideal. But it is natural and it happens. I was running with Tall Mom and told her I had stop make a pit stop. She said she would wait. I knew it would not be a good idea on her part. I told her to go ahead because I had to poop. So she ran on and I jumped in the ONE and ONLY Honey Bucket. A line developed and I was not finished. I did what any considerate runner would do. I came out and ran to the back of the line that was now about 4 people long. Everyone new I had a hung jumper, a dingle berry.  When The Hubs later asked me why I came out I told him “I couldn’t just sit there for 5 minutes while their race clock is ticking on.”

And now I am supposed to tag five people. I tag:

Breaking Pace

The Hungry Runner Girl

The Running Diva

Silly Kristal Runs a Marathon

 Blonde Ponytail

Well, back to the road…

Today I Ran Short and Fast….

…and it was weird.

Weird because I am used to running long and slow.

I woke up and got ready for  Ryan’s Reindeer 5k and it was so fun!

Getting ready for a 5k is so different than getting ready for a long run. I felt like I was forgetting something, like Gu or a handheld water bottle! It was nice to just get up, get dressed, eat and head to a 5k! 

The race was small, maybe 700 people. But it was great! My first race in NC!! And I am happy with how it went! I can’t wait to do more with my friend Breaking Pace and her hubs! Read her race report HERE! 

I got there and scoped out the competish. I saw two girls in Runningskirts…I knew they had to be runners. I would say only runners know about running skirts through 1) race expos, large race expos or 2) blogging, running blogging. There were other girls who looked like they could burn some rubber, to include my friend Jessica (who is a speedy devil too) and her friend Niki.

When we finally got to start it was a mess! Strollers and dogs on leashes, the little ones you really have to look out for! As soon as I figured out it was a gun start and not chip start I ran a little faster.  Our friend Hizzo ran with me the whole time! The Hubs hung back with LB, who was doing his first 5k (he did great BTW, aside from a cramp with about .3 left Poor kiddo….what a trooper though, I told him to cross that finish line and he took off!)

The first half mile was up hill. That’s nice. But, on a good note I was certainly warm by the time it leveled out. It was maybe 30 degrees this morning with a wicked wind chill.

The course was an out and back. When the leaders began to come back I saw a Runningskirt run by. Yep. I called it, she was fast.  Then I kept counting the girls. In all there were only 23 girls ahead of me…I was motivated. I picked up my pace and decided I would not get passed by anymore girls.

I may have gotten passed once but I passed two more.  It was a downhill finish and I was hauling it to the finish when a girl in a pink fleece tried to put the move on…Oh no she’s not! There was no way I was going to let this chick chick me. I ran faster. She put up a good fight but couldn’t hang.

I beat her.

I finished with a new 5k PR (at least a PR in my adult life): 25:16 (8:11 pace) by my Garmin.  My best pace was a 5:21 min/mile pace coming to the finish.

 

They had the results taped to a truck and I counted the female finishers in my age group (30-39! Biggest age group ever! What ev!) and I may have gotten 4th or 5th or 8th, I’m not sure. It was freezing and we were starving so we headed to breakfast. Overall I got 99th place, Hizzo got 98th. I’m happy with that.

So, today  I scouted out the running field here in  Fay-Town. The reigning champ better watch out. I am here now. Apparently she wins all the local races. I feel sorry for her…she has no idea that I am coming for her. I am coming to dethrone her. Fay-town will be mine….

*Ok, that was creepy. Sorry. If you read this I am nice, honest. Not creepy. Actually, can we be friends? Need a new running partner? I’m not really coming for you, in real life….just on the pavement.

So, with a little bit of training and speed work I know I can bring my time down and put up a good fight for these small local races.

Here are some pics!

Here we are freezing our booties off waiting to start! LB was thrilled to see Santa, can’t you tell?

Breaking Pace, ME, Speedy Devil and Lazy Dog (who isn’t so lazy anymore with our big back yard and back neighbors who have a yard full of chickens to keep him busy)

Me, LB and Hizzo…

ME of course…this pic makes my legs look long.

Lazy Dog’s rump, Me, LB, Breaking Pace and her Hubby, Speedy Devil, and Niki

Me and the Hubs

Me, Jess, Christina and tongues…of course.

I can’t wait for the next race!!!

I Feel Trapped…

…in my little neighborhood. I can only get 3.64 miles if I run the streets and cul-de-sacs.

*pic taken from HERE

Sure, I could double that by running it, then running it again but I can’t help but feel like a rat in a stupid maze. Stuck. Trapped. No free will to run. In T-Town I could change my route a million different ways. I could go to the water on three sides. I could go LONG or short. Whatever I wanted. I was king queen of my domain! The world was MINE! I could run out my front door and take any number of streets going North, South, East or West…I could run miles and miles…

Not here. I am confined to my small neighborhood and it is no bueano my chingoos (like that combination of Spanish and Korean?) or not good my friends. Not good.

I am bored with my neighborhood. Frustrated and nearly defeated. I don’t like having to get in my car and drive 20 min just to go for a good, decent run. Am I completely spoiled? Being too demanding? Finding excuses? Presenting as only the baby of the family would? It is so wrong to want the perfect running set up?!

I don’t think so.

I knew I had it good in T-Town but I thought it could would be good here too! Don’t get me wrong, there are streets. Even the perfect 14 mile route that is a loop I could do. But NO…..It’s not safe. Our neighbor who thinks I am hilarious (and the one who asked how far the Las Vegas marathon was, bless his heart) told me a scary story around Halloween time. It went like this:

“A few years ago my buddy, the old track and cross county coach at the High School, was running out there on Elliot Bridge like he had been doing for years, when this crazy guy just swerved and hit him. On purpose! It was the third  pedestrian he had hit that day. He was just driving around hitting people who were out running. He’s in jail now so he probably wont hit you. But coach is in a wheelchair now.”

Wow. What the heck?! Seriously?

I really can’t explain to you what the road outside my neighborhood is like but I have tried. It is a two-lane, curvy and tree lined, desolate  road and oh yeah, the freaking autobahn. People just drive at their whim. And no one cares that I am addicted to running  (first step is to admit you have a problem) and want to run on that street. No one cares that they have to share the space with other people. Everyone else has somewhere to be, something to do that  is WAY more important than what you or I have to do.

Anyway, I am a rat trapped in my maze….Now, where is that stupid cheese.

Bored? Here, play the game of Amanda Wants to Go For a Run HERE.

Today is brought to you by…

Mrs. Grumpy Whiney Pants.

Oh yeah, this is going to a fun post.

*So in reference to yesterday’s post…I’ll be holding an online, live intervention via skype soon. Let me know if you are interested.

So I woke up this morning super early. No. Not for a run. I’m not much of a get-up-super-early-and-run in the freezing cold darkness kind of girl, although I wish I were. Maybe I can work on that. It never really worked out for me with the Hubs being either gone for months on end or with him needing to be at work by 6:30 AM. I just don’t get up to run that early. There is no need…

Anyway, I got up early to drive to Raleigh so I could take my licensure exam, finally. Get it done and out of the way. Of course, of all days, today LB had a 2 hour delay start for school due to snow and ice. Good thing the Hubs was able to take him later. I headed out and our driveway and neighborhood street were fine. The other roads, not-so-much. It was icy and slicker than snot as my dad would say. I saw a couple of cars slide into the ditch. I pulled into the gas station. Called the Hubs and made a decision to not go to Raleigh. I headed home. You know that feeling? When you are prepared to do something and then last minute you don’t? Kind of a weird feeling of relief because who wants to take a 4 hour proctored exam that holds your whole entire career in the balance? No biggie. Ha! But now I just have to take it in January. I am postponing the misery…Ugh.

Now, I am home with LB. The call came in that school was cancelled for the day. I probably wont head to the gym, it’s too far away and they don’t have childcare. I miss T-Town and my trusty YMCA with a family center where I could run while LB played, or even the childcare they had. I miss my routine and my support system I had there, I miss the familiarity of my everyday routine. I miss everything about it.

On a brighter note, Merry Christmas to ME!! While I was in Vegas the hubs was shopping! We needed new appliances really bad and here they are! All we need now is a new fridge to hold the groceries I need to buy today!

          

Well, now off to do some laundry and house stuff and maybe a home workout of jumping rope and weights.

Oh yeah and I have my 5K coming up on Saturday!!