2010 in Review - I'm a Runner!

As I began looking over my log for 2010, it was amazing to see how far I had come in my running this year. We've run many races. The funny thing is that there would have been more run had there not been a couple of incidents that occurred. Oh, and if it had been up to Kent, we'd have raced every weekend "somewhere", ha!

This year presented some unforeseen challenges and yet I still achieved 2 PR's in the 5k category and one the 12k category.

Someone posted earlier this year in a forum "Do you think you are a runner and why?" Because I wasn't like many I knew, I couldn't begin to classify myself with this elite group; they were so good. But I thought about this question a lot. And, for the first time, this year I began to see myself as a runner. Before now, I always thought you had to love it, do it all the time, run in adverse conditions, wake up dying to get outside, etc., etc. But I have found that though these things CAN be true it doesn't have to be. No, you are a runner when you want to run, always doing your best and running as often as you can. You care enough about your running to continue trying to improve yourself. You do not have to have reached a certain speed, pace or acquire a certain amount of equipment or even trophies. I always thought that was part of the definition. Then, at sometime during the year, I fell in love with running. My running improved in many ways. I grew as a person through this as well and that's what running is all about...getting to know yourself, the good and the bad. This question and a change of attitude along with encouraging words from a friend helped me see myself as a runner and I am very thankful!

The year began in a training program to run my second half marathon. I was so excited about it and could hardly wait. My endurance had improved and I was enjoying the training. It was fantastic...I felt great! The race began and all was super. I had not run in a Rock 'n Roll race before and I loved it. There's so much excitement going on. A little more than halfway through, the streets took me down when I fell on raised street patchwork. My fall caused a lot: a cracked rib, torn muscle, bloody hands and knees...BUT...it did not break my spirit! As a matter of fact, it made me more determined and steadfast. I can see that this terrible fall actually was a blessing in disguise. As a matter of fact, after the initial shock of the fall, I dusted myself off, trotted a little and then got right back to running to the Finish Line. It will be a race I'll never forget!!

Summer came and I was feeling better to run but the heat and humidity kept me inside on the treadmill because of my allergies. Though that's not my favorite venue for running, the TM was my friend during this time and I stuck with my running. Late summer, I suffered a groin pull that continued to haunt me for months. I didn't let it stop my running but definitely took the necessary steps to not injury it and let it heal. This overshadowed all my fall running. But with laying off occasionally and running slower in races, I pushed through. I evaluate it often and can now say I am over it. I'm thankful I did not have to stop running completely.

I'm not writing this to tell you all my troubles, I'm saying that "because" of issues, you can work through them and either they can make you stronger or you will realize running is not something you want to do. There will be times of running injuries or just injuries of any kind as well as life issues that have to be dealt with. BUT...I've become stronger as a result of them. And, I am thankful that my Mama passed on to me determination genes.

Some stats:
2-Half Marathons
3-10k's
1-12k (PR)
14-5k's (2-PR's)

Awards:
9-Grand Masters
3-First Place
3-Second Place
2-Third Place

Out of twenty races, there were three that I didn't receive an award for. This is success with good health any way you say it! I'm so thankful!! Things could have been a lot worse.

This year ends with me being more alert to my running skills, armed with running books wearing my ever faithful Garmin watch carrying my laptop researching more and more techniques and "needed" equipment looking forward to each and every run I have a chance to do. 2011 will be embraced with open arms.

I am coming to a close to my training for my first marathon in February, something that has never crossed my mind before! I am happy and healthy and very thankful for fellow runners support, especially my running partner AND mostly my husband!! He is the best! I couldn't be this far without all of them.

I am looking to a great 2011 year with much improvements in my running. I am working on my goals which include a speedier year. Since I've realized I really like running in half marathons, next year I hope to get a PR in that category. Regardless of how it turns out, I hope I can keep a positive attitude and a steadfastness to maintaining a healthy body. Here's to you and all your future successes!! Happy New Year!

The Excitement Builds

To all my friends that know how hard I work, I want to "Thank You" for your encouraging words. Please don't stop during my training! You'll never know how much it helps me as I replay your words over and over in my mind when I run. As my mileage builds each week preparing for the marathon, it gets more and more exciting. I am amazed to see how much my body can take.

Last week I ran a distance I've not done before...15 miles!! This was a milestone for me! It was the most exciting day I've had in a very long time. I remember how running my first double-digit mile (10) made me feel this way, too. And, 15 had me soaring like that one did. I had no idea I would be able to pull it off without walking. That was all I could talk about for days and still do! It just amazed me that I was able to do this. And, on top of that, my birthday was the next day! Now, being 55 and having not run for that long, it really was the icing on my cake.

Running the 15 presented itself with a couple of challenges. These were new for me. First off, my iPod had run down!!! Grrrrr...this has never happened to me before and here I am getting ready to put in a long run with nothing to keep my mind off of any negative things I might experience. The adjustments that had to be made were hearing my foot strikes and hearing my breathing. Without noise to drown these out, it "sounds" like I am laboring. I struggled through the first couple of miles and told Frank I wasn't sure I was going to make it. But we kept going and talking and before long, I didn't hear any of this. The second thing was having to discard some of the extra clothing I layered because it was cool when we started. I mean, before we got to 3 miles the long pants were history!! Wearing them around my waist felt funny but luckily the route we were running took us back by the truck about halfway through so I left them there and felt so freed up again.

All along the run, we'd check with one another to see if the other was feeling okay. We weren't struggling at all. We took our GU's, water and aide and were doing fine...UNTIL we entered the 14th mile. As a matter of fact, we had just commented how well we were feeling and felt the run was going to be uneventful. It was time for another GU about the 13th mile but decided since we were close to finishing and felt so good that we'd not do it...WRONG!! The last half mile we struggled some. Both of us had a great learning curve regarding energy boosts, ha! I honestly believe if we had taken the last GU we'd have finished with flying colors.

We are "trying" to slow our pace down and it is probably the MOST difficult thing we either one have battled so far. All the charts say the absolute fastest we should run is a 10:30 pace and our pace for 15 miles was 10:20. This is something we will work on this next time. All in all, I felt our run was an absolute success!! We hydrated and nourished well during and afterward as we should. On top of that, we neither one was sore the following days...woo-hoo!

As far as the rest of the week, it went well, too. I'm beginning to focus more on core workouts and cross training. From that, I've been a little sore...but a good kind of sore. Adjustments had to be made in my schedule because of being out of town (traveling days) so there was an extra rest day. The week's workout looks like this:

Sunday: Rest
Monday: 7 TM miles plus core workout
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 15 miles
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 4 miles with overall workout
Saturday: 5 miles biking and long overall workout

The week ended with 26 miles run, 5 biking miles and 3 days of overall workouts. Being excited about our 15 mile milestone, I had to take some pictures.

Here Frank and I are right after the 15 miles. I was soooo stoked!!

Here Kent and I are very happy of our accomplishments. He has been struggling with some foot pain but still got in his 8 miles. Love you!!

There's NO way I could do any of this without both these guys! They both encourage me in many ways!!