New Year, New Goals -part I

Well since this is my first real post for 2010, please allow me the chance to briefly reflect over 2009 and I can talk about what I hope for 2010 to bring for me for running and otherwise.

I made some resolutions last year,  so I want to briefly reflect on my progress.

1. Eat clean at least 80% of the time.

Sucess, mostly.  I started off 09 with good habits,  fell off the bandwagon (gained 7 pounds), but finished the year eating healthier than I ever have and my weight is down overall 6 pounds!  I like the 80% approach,  I will always enjoy a treat every now and then.  I have really learned that I need to treat my body well to fuel it for life,  the better I eat,  the better I feel. 

2. Get organized. I hate clutter.
Mmmm needs work. I still don't have a ton of clutter but I need to organize.  How do you organize your running gear? Little things like that drive me nuts sometimes!!

3. Stop impulse buying.
Hahahahahahah!!! Funny.  Well I have discovered a love for all things lululemon.  Seriously.  I will save this for another post,  but my ENTIRE running wardrobe is now LULU and I can't see myself going back. 

4. Running Goals
 Goal: I want to set new PR's in the half, full and 30K distance.
Sucess- New PR in half (1:53) and full (4:02).  I didn't run a 30K this year,  maybe this year at Around the Bay!
Goal: I **will** run a sub four hour marathon this spring.
Fail. Close, no cigar.  But I am proud of my progress and I know sub 4 and beyond is in me,  so I still consider it a semi-sucess.

Goal: Achieve Marathon Maniac Gold Status.
Sucess!!  I ran 4 marathons in 5 weeks in the Spring, achieving gold status!!

Goal: Knock off 5 different states for the 50 state marathon goal.
Fail.  Much to my disappointment I had to cancel St.George, and thus only completed 4 states. Oh well. I am in no rush to complete all 50 states, and I loved all the 4 states (Vermont, California, Indiana, Virginia) that I have complete.  8 down, 42 to go!

Races Completed in 2009
-6 marathons (Shamrock, Vermont, Cleveland, Mississauga, Sunburst, Steamtown, CIM)
-6 half marathons (Chilly, Tom King, Scotiabank Toronto, Goodlife Toronto, Toronto Womens Half, Wine Country Half)
-One 10 mile races (Burlington)
-Two 5 mile races (Robbie Burns and Slainte Cup)
-My very first Sprint triathlon
-My very first Olympic distance triathlon
-My very first HALF IRONMAN
(A new-found love for triathlons was found!)

Last year I posted a fancy slide show of race pictures,  this year I will keep it simple,  this was by far my most memorable moment of 2009. Be prepared for the goofiest grin ever!!



I would have never guessed 2009 would bring a half iron finish!! Next up,  2010 goals and preliminary plans!  Thanks for reading!

After a slew of Mediocre Races

I am ready..






Ready for what, you ask......





Ready to Beat this:





No more excuses, no more whimping out. I am Ready. Bring on Niagara.

*Clears throat* End chest beating.

Thanks for reading!

Slow Recovery and Rethinking Goals

So after my full marathon this past Sunday, I decided to take a few days off to recover, and I tried to ice my left glute shin and calf to help repair some of the damage that a marathon brings.

Thursday Hubs and I participated in another bike/run time trial with the Nacho team up in Parry Sound. The bike was 16.2K this time, and I had a tough time with it being still depleted and sore from the marathon, so I decided not to run the 3K that went along with it. It is always fun to workout with this group.

Today I went for a nice 10K (6.2 miles) run along the Georgian Bay waterfront trail. It felt pretty good, although my soleus starting acting up during the last 3K. I was running a decent tempo and finished in 56:05, so I don't know if it was a good idea considering my injuries of late, but I felt like I needed to get some frustrations about recent racing results out.

I knew Quebec wasn't going to be PR for me, and I'm fine with how I ran, but I guess I feel a little down because I really hope to get a PR marathon soon. I know that nothing is guaranteed in marathon land, so I guess I just have to keep plugging away. I have trained hard, and will continue to do so. Sooner or later(hopefully sooner) it will happen. Does anyone else get this anxious? Maybe I should enter a shorter race to boost some confidence that I can do this!

I am registered for a full in Scotia, but I've decided if its not a cool temperature, I will just run the half. Is this a cop-out? Here is my reasoning: I already ran four hot races in a row (Ottawa, Jay, Creemore, and Quebec), with meh results, now I want to see what I can do in the ideal racing zone, 14-18C. Sometimes Scotia can be hot, but it is a flat course. I am also eying a few other races (Detroit, Niagra and Picton). I might make a move according to weather. This will also give my muscles more time to heal. There is of course also still Philadelphia. I feel like I'm all over the map!! I know we are told to pick one race and stick to it, but I like trying different events, and hey you get more than one shot. I think I went overboard this past spring, but I won't run a race without 4 weeks rest. There will be 5 between Quebec and Scotia, and 7 between Philly and Scotia.

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend, and has some good workouts. It may be also a time to relax and recover before the Fall running season starts. Thanks for reading!