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