Starting the Year Off on a Not so Positive Note

Like most of you, the New Year rolls around and you have plans, big plans.  You want to get faster, lose weight, do more races, etc.  That was my goal.  Start 2013 out strong and go strong all year. 

Well, sometimes, no matter what the plan your body/life has other plans. 

My first few days of the year were fine, but for the last 10 days I've been fighting a sinus infection and bronchitis.  It knocked me out pretty good.  And I missed 7 solid days of working out.  I haven't done that in I don't know how long.  Finally on Saturday, while still not feeling 100% I decided to get on the treadmill and do something - even if it was just walk a couple of miles.  I felt sluggish, but ended up run/walking 5 miles.  I got in a good sweat and started to feel normal again.  I was able to do another 4 miles the next day and then 2 and a half yesterday. 

I'm definitely feeling better, but still not at 100%.  But you can't use sickness as an excuse forever so I'm moving forward like I always do.  Tonight I have cycle class.  This class is SO HARD!  It's a hard core class for cyclists.  There are about 75 people in the class and only about 8 females.  It's not a spin class, it's truly a cycling class as everyone has their own bikes and trainers.  It runs 1:45 minutes to 2 hours, twice a week.  It's tough.  It's gonna kick my butt, especially since I missed all last week.  Oh well, frankly I need a little butt kicking.

So, I'll be biking and running this week.....now I've just got to make myself get back in that pool!

I will be traveling for work all of next week and part of the following week.....so that is going to further complicate me trying to get into a good routine again, especially swimming, but I'm going to do my best. 

Hope every one's New Year is starting out a bit better than mine.  But if it's not, it's ok.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going!!!

On a separate note, the Walt Disney World Marathon was this past weekend.....brings back so many memories from last year.  Congrats to all of you who might have ran it!  It helps remind me I'm capable of great things, even if the year didn't start off so hot!

2013 Goals and Tenative Race Calendar

Last year, for the first time, I put goals on paper for 2012.  I have to say they helped me stay motivated because I wanted to be able to say I achieved them.  I had 8 goals and achieved 7.  I was pretty satisfied with that.  If you missed my recap you can read it here.  So I wanted to do the same thing again.  I want these to be stretch goals, not something I know that I can do, but something I know I'll have to push myself to do.  I'm not so sure I have some of these in me....time will tell.  So I've given these some serious thought and here goes:

2013 Goals

1.  Log 1000 running miles.
2.  Complete 2nd marathon and set a 15 minute PR.
3.  Run a 5K with a pace in the 9s.
4.  Shave 3 minutes of my half marathon PR (2:20)
5.  Get to my goal weight by April and stay there through year-end.
6.  Swim 52 miles
7.  Bike 1900 miles

So that's it.  All mileage would be an increase from 2012...and swimming is almost a 100% increase, but I put that there to keep me swimming even outside of tri season.  It's kind of the same for biking, the mileage is only about 100 more miles, but I won't be training for a Half Ironman this year, so my miles won't be that high over the summer, but I want to keep cycling even in the Winter months (probably on the trainer)

Here's my Tentative Race Schedule for 2013

Jan - ??

Feb - Lost Dutchman Half Marathon, Apache Junction, Arizona

March - Tatur 3 hour Snake Run (Trail Run)

April - Rock the Parkway Half Marathon, Kansas City, MO

May - Indianapolis Mini Marathon, Indy, IN

June - Hospital Hill Half Marathon, Kansas City, MO; Topeka Tinman Triathlon, Topeka, KS

July - WIN for KC Triathlon, Smithville, MO

Aug - ??

September - Hyvee 5150 Triathlon, Des Moines, IA

Oct - Chicago Marathon

 

Nov - ??

Dec ??

I'm sure more will be added to the list. But that's where it stands right now.  How about you?  What races are you planning for 2013.  Any new distances?

December 5K a Day Winner & Recap

The December 5K a Day Challenge officially ended on Monday, December 31.  We started with 12 daring ladies, including myself.  In the end 3 AMAZING women were able to complete the challenge.  Serious Congrats go out to

Raina @ Small Town Runner
Bobbi @ Zero to 26.2
Kim @ ilaxSTUDIO

You ladies are seriously amazing and inspiring!  But sadly, there can only be one winner.  I really hate that because I think you are all winners......but I can only afford one winner.  So, by virtue of random.org the winner of my first annual December 5K a Day Challenge is.....

Bobbi!!  Congrats Bobbi you have won a $25 Amazon gift card. 

But wait there's more.  There also had to be a week 4 winner.  And you ladies were also the only ones who streaked in week 4.  So the week 4 winner is.....

Raina!!  Congrats Raina you have won these reflective Road ID wrist bands.

 

Sorry Kim :( but I'm glad that you at least won one of the earlier weekly prizes.  You ladies were amazing during this challenge and really logged some incredible mileage!

In total everyone combined logged an impressive 1191 miles during this challenge!

Thanks to everyone who participated.  I hope it helped keep you motivated and active during December.  I'm thinking maybe I'll do this again next year.  What do you think????  Any ideas for improvement??

2012 Goals Recap

Last year I set the following goals for myself.  I thought it was a good list then, and I still think so.  I am happy to say I achieved all but one....but man did I fail on that one.

Goals for 2012

1,  Complete first marathon - Complete!  Walt Disney World Marathon January 8, 2012.  Nothing like accomplishing a major goal for the year 8 days after the new year.



After finishing the Disney Marathon.  Best Day EVER!



2,  Complete first Olympic Distance Tri - Complete!  Kansas City 5150 - May 20, 2012

3.  Complete first Half Ironman - Complete!  Ironman Racine 70.3 - July 15, 2012.  This one was touch and go during the race, and I really didn't think I would end up finishing, but I did. 

4.  Finish a half marathon in under 2:30 - Complete!  I actually managed to finish 3 of my 9 half marathons in under 2:30 this year, which was amazing for me.  My first was 2:29:53, and I also did a 2:23 (current PR) and a 2:28. 

5.  Participate in at least one organized event every month - Complete! I had a race every month besides August, and I did a bike tour that month...so I'm counting that.

6.  Run at least 13 miles once per month - Complete!  With 9 half marathons this wasn't too hard to do, but it was a fun goal to meet.

7.  Run a 5K with an average pace in the 10s - Complete!  I actually ended up doing this at 3 of the 5, 5Ks I did and set my current 5K PR of 10:10 in my last 5K of the year. 

8.  Log 1200 running miles - FAIL.  Last year when I was training for my marathon this seemed like a really reasonable goal.  100 miles a month - approx 25 a week.  But my total mileage for the year fell far short at only 843 miles.  I guess I failed to take into account the added biking and swimming miles as I ramped up my half ironman training.

This is the first year I've really tried to track everything - well swim, bike, run.  I wasn't very good about tracking other types of workouts.  My totals for the year are ok...I think I can do better:

2012 Miles:
Running:  842.86
Biking:  1797.33
Swimming:  26.79

Total:  2,666.98
I am still thinking through my 2013 Goals.  I know what a few will be.  I have only swam 3 times since July...so I'm thinking I definitely need a swimming goal to keep me motivated.  Anyway, stay tuned.........



What do you think..should the pre-race dance be an official 2013 goal??  LOL

 
How did you do on your 2012 Goals?  What goals are you setting for 2013?

If you missed my actual 2012 recap....read it here.

Have a Safe New Year's Eve!!

2012 Racing Recap in Pictures

Running

5Ks - 4

10Ks - 1

Half Marathons - 9

Marathons - 1

Trail Races – 1 (5K)

Other Races – 1 (10 Miler); 1 44 Mile Relay

Triathlons

Olympic – 1

Half Ironman – 1

Other – 1 (400 meter swim, 13 mile bike, 7.75 mile run)

Total Number of Events:  21

Total Dollars Spent:  Don’t want to think about it

Total Number of Races with family – 2 (1^st marathon with Jim; Half Marathon with Sister Wendee)

Favorite Race:  Walt Disneyworld Marathon
Firsts:  Marathon, Olympic Distance Triathlon, Half Ironman, 2 races in 1 day 10K am and 5K pm, first relay race

Number of races without medals:  6
Number of Medals Received: 16

Favorite Medals (set):



Walt Disney World Marathon, Walt Disneyland Half Marathon, Coast to Coast medal

Double Sided Medals:

Above:  Marshall Half Marathon; Below:  Flying Pig Half Marathon

Most Functional Medal:

Blues N Brews 10 Miler (bottle opener medal)

Holiday Themed Medals:

Santa Hustle Half Marathon & Halloween Hustle 10K

Hardest Earned Medal:

Ironman Racine 70.3

Biggest Medal:

Little Rock Half Marathon - spinner medal

Other Medals:

Above:  Prairie Fire HM, Rock the Parkway HM, Northface Endurance Challenge HM
Below:  Kansas City Triathlon 5150, Hospital Hill HM, MLB All Star Game 5K

Well, Some People Are Still Streaking and Why Vertigo SUCKS!

Well it’s Week 3 in the December 5K a day Challenge and 3 ladies are still holding strong!  Congrats to Raina, Bobbi and Kim!  You ladies are knocking it out of the park!  Not only did you have another solid week, but you are the only 3 ladies left in the competition!

Looks like maybe the craziness of the holidays or this freezing cold weather might have taken a toll on our little group.  In spite of the fact that only 3 ladies “streaked” last week, ten people still logged an impressive 233 miles last week!  Congrats to everyone.  Now let’s finish this final week strong!

Congrats to our Weekly Winner Raina @ Small Town Runner.  You’ve have won these awesome touch screen gloves so you can keep on texting while running even in this cold weather!  Please e-mail me address at weatherlymh01@yahoo.com and I will ship them right away.

I missed my first day(s) last week.  And I couldn’t have been more disappointed.  If I had just gotten to the point where I was too tired and it had been my decision to miss a day I think I could stomach it more….but I feel like my streak was stolen from me.

If you have been reading my blog awhile then you might recall that I had some issues with vertigo in late July after my Half Ironman. At the time, I thought it was induced by some medication I was taking.  However, over the last 6 months I have had two other “attacks” and that’s really the only way I know how to describe them.

On Friday night while in a dead sleep I woke up to the entire room spinning.  This isn’t the type of mild dizziness that we all experience occasionally.  This is heart racing, extreme dizziness to the point where you can’t stand up.  It’s so intense you can even “hear” it inside your head.  It’s like there’s a helicopter in your head.  The intensity luckily only a short period of time, but it leaves you with moderate dizziness for a long period of time.  The first time I had one of these attacks I was dizzy for about 6 weeks, the second time it was about 3 and I don’t know how long this one will last.  Each day it gets a little better, but it’s always there. 

So, not only could I not run on Saturday morning, I literally could barely get out of bed.  The best thing to do is just to lay still and hope it passes soon.  As the weekend progressed I felt better, but even today I am still very dizzy and just do not feel “normal” at all.  It really sucks.  If you’ve never experienced it I truly hope you never do. 

I went to see my primary care physician after the 1^st time who told me it was basically something I was going to have to live with from now on.  I’d just have the occasional “dizzy” spell.  But after this third episode I’ve decided to see an ENT to see if there is anything else I can do.  A full day in bed approximately every two month, followed by a month of dizziness is just way too much.  It just doesn’t feel normal.

So there you have it.  I have done a couple of walk/runs since then, but I just don’t have the focus to really run right now.  I was on such a roll too!  I did manage to run 20 consecutive days, which was definitely my longest streak ever.  I’m happy about that.  So maybe I’ll try this again next December.

On a happier note, my parents were in town for Christmas.  I haven’t spent a Christmas with them in about 15 years I think.  It was nice to have family around.  I got to spend good quality time with my parents and sister, as well as my step kids and grandson and of course Jim.  We had a great Christmas and I got him the BEST Christmas gift ever. The Jim Bobble Head…Oh yes, it’s mini Jim.

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

We hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas Eve & Christmas.  It's been another terrific year and we are so glad to have all our blogger friends as part of our lives.