Out with 2013 and in with 2014

It's been quite a year.  Seems there were more obstacles than there were making forward strides.  A few things come to mind.  But I learned a lot about myself this year. 

January:  My marathon training "seemed" to be going well.  It was during training this time that I continued to race, using those times as part of my speedwork and/or long distance runs.  The Lulu's Half Marathon proved to me that I could keep focused on distance training.  I was able to beat my competitive friend by ONE second...and...get First Place for the first time in my running career in a half marathon.  The down side that day was that I had 5 more miles to train for to equal 18.  After resting too long, the "18" miles didn't turn out to be a good run overall. 

February:  The Double Bridge 15k turned out to be one of the best races I've done in a long time.  I cut TWO minutes off my PR from the year before!!  It was beautiful that day and I felt great.  Next came my 20-miler training run for the upcoming full.  It was the worst run I think I've ever done!!  I now understand what it means to "hit the wall".  I've never felt so spent!  When I looked up, I saw Kent who had come to check on me and I fell into his arms crying...and couldn't even tell him why...just many tears.  BUT...I refused to quit until I had finished the 20 miles.  Marathon day came and I felt pretty good.  I was exactly where I wanted to be in my time up until the 16-17th miles, I began experiencing pain from a blister on TOP of my foot.  It crippled me the rest of the way.  Not only was the course changed due to flooding to include at least three tough hills over AND back, I literally was spent.  I am very thankful for a friend who showed up to help me run in the last few.  Nestor A. was such a blessing!

March:  My shoulders progressively got worse eventually not being able to raise them over my head.  I pushed through the Warrior Dash and decided to get it checked.  The right one had Calcific Rotator Cuff Tendonitis in it and it was extremely painful!!  Running stopped for a while to prevent further injury to it.  After much PT, I was better. 

July:  I obtained another State Record for the 2-mile race and am pleased with that.  Not a good time...but in the books.  After being released from the doctor for the tendonitis, the following week as I was running, I fell at the Sportsplex and broke my left shoulder!  What else!!  Tore the shoulder cap off with possibly torn muscles.  I refused an MRI so there was no verification as to what all was actually going on.  Rejected surgery, just more PT!!!  This time, it was much...more...painful!! 

September:  All running had stopped for a while now.  Began walking incorporating some intervals of running as I got better.  I continued to train for the upcoming half.  Not being released from the doctor, I insisted on doing the Talladega Half...anyway I could do it.  It was for Kent...NOT me, this time!  My time was better than I thought it would be on training and am pleased with that. 

November:  Obtained another State Record, this time for a 5k.  My time was terrible at best but I'll take it! 

December:  Ready to run as much of the St. Jude's Half as I could...only to find out the night before the race that it had to be cancelled due to the terrible ice storm that had come in!!  The first time ever cancelled!!!   Christmas Eve I've had the "pleasure" of contracting a stomach bug AND bronchitis!!  Of course, the later is keeping me from running...again!!! 

Now, on to the goals I set for this year that didn't quite make it. 

Eat fruit daily...I did really well with this though I did not do it every day.  Maybe every day was a little aggressive.  I hope next year I will be better but I'm satisfied with the improvement I made.  I'm going to keep this one again in 2014. 

1,000 running miles...well, that didn't happen and rightly so with all the injuries I incurred.  BUT, I think I did well considering the downtime I've had.  Will pursue this goal again next year. 

Maintain weight in the 130s...that did NOT happen at all!!  I should have done better but didn't.  I will keep at it and hope I will do a better job next year as I plan to be more active in Weight Watchers again.  This was the best thing I did in '08-'10.  Running the marathon knocked me back into the 140's and I have pretty much stayed there with a few times getting back into the 130's. 

1 Marathon...DONE.  Yay!!  Super Yay!!  I did my second marathon and am pleased with this goal immensely.  My training was totally by myself and hard; and my race was by myself except when my friend joined me at the end.  Got a PR!!  It's all good.

3 Half Marathons...DONE.  But better than that, I exceeded that by doing 4 this year!!!  I never would have thought I'd have done this many.  It should have been five but St. Jude's was cancelled due to ice storm.  I was there and ready to run. 

With all the super races I've done this year, I can honestly say that I have probably run my body down.  I love half marathons and before I knew it I had signed up for this one, then that one, then another one.  Therefore, I pretty much stayed in a training mode throughout the year considering 5 half's and a full marathon.  I found that I have a lot of persistence/discipline/stamina/strong will or "whatever" in me as I NEVER gave up.  It was quite frustrating at times and I did get down a lot but eventually pulled through usually with Kent's help.  I had to alter my running a lot this year to get it all done but the races may have been what kept me going. 

Note:  With all the negatives this year, I ended up with TWO State Records and TWO PR's!!  Not a bad year after all. 

The year 2014 will be approached differently.  I am planning on returning to a stronger, healthier person thereby making me a stronger runner as I was before.  Also, to incorporate more cross training by stepping out of my comfort zone and trying different things such as spin, weights, biking, swimming and yoga. 

One of the things I want to learn more about and begin incorporating is "clean eating".  I want to take better care of my liver and that can only be done by the things I feed my body.  I hope I will be able to drop my sugar usage way down this year.  I don't want to consume it differently, I want to do what I can to eliminate it!!!  I am such a SUGARHOLIC and I really don't need to "tease" my body with what bad stuff I put into it.  This new outlook on eating will take some time to do but I hope I can get a good start on it this year making for a better, healthier me. 

Recover, recuperate and renew.  Yes, 2014 will be the year for renewal.  Examination of my overall health, fitness and age is in order.  I am looking forward to a stronger, healthier year.  I hope you will take an hour or so and evaluate what you would like to see in yourself this new year and give yourself a big pat on the back for the good job you did in '13.  It may not have gone like you thought it should but if you hung in there, you did a great job!  We have so much to be thankful.  Until I see you next time,

Run 4 It

Stennis 5k & New State Record

We thought we'd stop by and do this race since we were heading home for the St. Jude's Half Marathon next weekend.  It had been quite a while since we'd run this one and it just fit right into our travel plans.  This is the second 5k race I've run totally since my injury this summer.  I'm gradually getting my running/racing legs back.  Though I've run long runs in the last month or so, I've not been able to sustain it.  For the next week, I could hardly run 3 miles without stopping.  So, my goal for this race was to run it entirely...no thought of time or pace.  I've GOT to get my confidence back.  Having a fear of falling again is quite strong. 

We met up with several friends before the race.  It got more and more exciting.  We were quite chilly and a lot of people were staying in their vehicles to keep warm.  We found our friend Tommy P. and his son and DIL.  Though we are Facebook friends, it was our first time to meet Tommy's family.  It is exciting to see families run together.  I think it makes a different kind of bind between them.  Here are a couple of pre-race pics.  And, Kent was in the car keeping warm! No pre-race pic of him obviously.  Melissa, Tommy, Jr. and me.

 Tommy and me.

As usual, I was a little nervous starting but for different reasons this time.  I really wanted to run this race entirely.  No other goals at this time.  The race got off to a good start.  I ran as good as I could.  Then all of a sudden I see Tommy pass me!  Yay, for him but I thought I was running faster than him.  Well...guess not, ha!  He is a stronger runner than me...for now, ha!  He and his son ran together the entire race.  I think TJ was his "rabbit"!!  It worked...cause Tommy kept up with him.  The only part I did NOT like "seeing" was that TJ would turn around sometimes and run backwards...backwards!!  Boy, did THAT make me feel slow!!  Thanks, TJ...lol.  Sometimes he would even run a little ahead, turn around and jog back to run alongside his Dad again.  I am watching this escapade and wondering just how slow am I???  I kept saying to myself...this is MY race, this is MY race...and it kept me focused.  Thank you, Tommy and TJ, for continually pushing me.  I needed that!!  You are part of my success in that race.  Oh, btw...is TJ for hire??  He ran back to run with Melissa through the Finish Line.  How sweet and supportive is that!  AND...he let her cross the line one second ahead of him.  Awwww...such a gentleman!  This is a great family. 

Kent did very well in his race.  The course was an out-and-back and I could see everyone ahead of him.  There was NO ONE in front of him racewalking or even walking!!  NO ONE!!!  Here he is coming in very strong.  I knew he was First Place! 

I'm so proud of him.  He does it right!!  Check out that form...it's perfect! 

We enjoyed pasta after the race and good company.  Then the awards began.  We found out that Melissa placed in her age group [I think I understand that it was her first award]...yay!!  TJ also placed and Tommy placed 2nd.  Then I was shocked when I heard my name called!!!  I had NO idea I would place since my time was so slow.  BUT...I got 1st place in my age group.  I was ecstatic!  Then they started on the RWs.  Oddly enough, they called someone else's name out for first place...which he was SEEN running with his daughter, who also won in the women's RW division!!  Kent was named 2nd.  But as the final figures came out, they showed someone else in front of him actually making Kent third!  Funny thing here???  He "supposedly" came in just seconds ahead of Kent.  That was NOT TRUE.  I was right there with my camera and there was no one crossing the line that was not running!!  The audacity of some people...we practically hate this division!!!  It is FULL of cheaters!!!  The strange thing is that nearly every time a cheater "wins", they do not show up to receive their award...funny, isn't it?  Sorry about the ranting...but it is such an unfair race and there's nothing you can do about it.  For now...I will consider Kent 1st Place...because he WAS.  I ran the race and I KNOW he was the FIRST male racewalker.  Everyone I saw was running.  I wish there could be judges along the course because in all fairness to the race officials they only have the individual's word for it and that makes for a tough call.  I'd hate to be in their shoes...just unfair all the way around.  It's just a shame people have no problem lying now.  Okay...I'm stepping off my soap box now.  GCRC do a great job...this is NOT against them! 

As it turned out, all five of us placed in our age groups.  Only got one pic where we all were smiling but I am proud of all of us, especially Melissa.  Also, to several other friends that placed:  Phillip W. [5k], Leonard V., Ginny D., Bob C. and Gary T. [half marathon].  Oh, yes...and a VERY BIG "Congrats" to little Dallas S.  He is an amazing little 7 year old from our neck of the woods who ran and placed in the half marathon...AND is a world record holder!!!  I'm so very proud of him!!  We've been watching this little guy since he was 3 years old racing!!!  He's great.  Congrats to all of you! 

 Here is the medal I'm so proud of!!  It is patterned after the shirt.  So colorful. 

All in all, I am very pleased with my race.  I ran it all, placed in my age group AND...the best part...got a State Record!!  I just wish my time had been more like it normally would have been...four minutes faster.  But...I'll take it, ha!  This race added to my confidence level for running/racing again.

Thank you, Leonard V., for a great job done!  You have good folks that assist you and they are to be commended as well. 

Now, off I go to pack for the St. Jude's Half Marathon next Saturday.  We're leaving Friday to have fun in this nice, icy, very cold race!  The highs are showing 30 degrees...brrrrr!  I'm so glad to be a part of this particular race though...we are SO blessed.  Until the SJ post, go out and

Run 4 It