2011 Year in Review

I just took a look back @ my 2011 goals - Wow! I'm just a tad off on those....

I had BIG plans for 2011 and although it wasn't a total bust, I didn't really accomplish any of my goals. I really feel like this 2nd year of running has been my sophomore slump, starting with the knee injury and not running the Cook Forest 1/2 marathon. The other goals I missed included my weight loss goal, running all YMCA races, and running a 15K. OK - enough of this crap of what I didn't do. This year wasn't a total bomb - I did accomplish some really great milestones.

Highlights of 2011:

# OF MILES RUN:

 551.56 *

(* I'm not 100% sure this is the accurate # because I didn't track any runs during part of April, May or June - I know I took some time off from my injury, but I also recall feeling so defeated that I slacked on recording anything I ran....so, I'm guessing this estimate is off by a few miles)

2011 RACES:

4/10/11 - A 5k to Remember: 28:49

7/4/11 - 4th of July 5k: 27:08

7/16/11 - Liberty Days 5k: 25:34 (2nd place finish)

7/30/11 - Ebensburg Homecoming 5K: 28:08

9/25/11 - Pittsburgh Great Race 10k: 58:30

11/24/11 - Turkey Trot 5k: 28:01 (I'm still mad about that :01)

12/31/11 - Twilight 5k race: Yet to come :)

5k to Remember

4th of July 5k - felt good to get back out on the race circuit after the knee injury.

1-mile test run: 7:47!

FAVORITE RACE:

 Pittsburgh's Great Race

FAVORITE CROSS TRAINING EXERCISE:

 Bicycling (stationary and trail)

~ 75 miles on the bike this year

Jeremy and I on our 'date.' 13-mile bike ride on the Ghost town trail!

Although 2011 isn't over yet, I'm starting to wonder what 2012 will bring?

Stay tuned!

Turkey Trot Update

The weather was great for yesterday morning's Turkey Trot! A tad breezy, but OK.

My goal was to just go out and make some room for Thankggiving festivities by running off a few calories! That's pretty much what I did! I didn't train for this race, so I wasn't expecting anything great. I figured I'd finish in under 30:00; I did. I came in at 28:01 (why didn't I pick it up just a little to make it in under 28:00? I don't know...). There were 421 runners/walkers for the race - a great increase from last year's # (I think around 150).

Starting line - I'm in there - look for the funny blue hat (I'm just behind the guy in the maroon sweatshirt who is actually paying attention to Jeremy for the picture).

A smile on my face - must be coming in to the finish!

My boys like this race because the start/finish is @ the local fire station.

my boys + firetrucks = true love!

(that's a banana in Jude's mouth btw)

My friend, Kerri ran with her sister and nephews. I'm so proud of her.

Bummer, we didn't even get a picture together after the race.



And this is why I ran yesterday!

Another Thanksgiving in the books!

I went out Black Friday shopping this morning, mainly to get new running shoes.......I gotta take them for a test run and then I'll let ya know how they are!

RACE RESULTS:

Official time: 28:01 (9:02min/mile)

Age (30-39): 21/75

Overall: 164/421



Turkey Trottin'

Tomorrow mornin'.

9:00am.

2nd Annual Ebensburg Turkey Trot 5k.

Runnin' it with my buddy, Kerri!

I have no goal, dreams, hopes for tomorrow's run; it's all about celebrating Thanksgiving by burning a few calories (that I'll put back into my system by noon)! Ok, well, that' not entirely true, I'd like to cross the finish line in under 30:00.

Stay tuned!

Some Things I've Learned While Running

I was out on a short run today and somehow I got philosophical, which isn't all that uncommon for me, but those deep thoughts usually happen on longer runs. Today's thoughts started shortly after I spit on myself; yes, you read that correctly, I spit on myself; which was actually quite disappointing because I really thought I've become quite the proficient spitter (should that be capitalized? Spitter - it's a title, after all). Maybe I was thinking deeply to keep me distracted from the hills I was running:

Anyway, I came up with the start (read this as, "I wanted to jot these things down before I forget them, but will probably add to this last as I have more thoughtful runs) of a list of things I learned/came to realize while running or because of running:

1a. Spitting is not just for boys!

1b. Proficiency in spitting comes from practice.

2. Running has increased my patience - how could it not? You need so much mental endurance to run for any longer than 2 minutes.

3. Although no run is ever easy for me, I never regret hauling my a$$ out there and giving it my all, even if it is only for 2 miles.

4. Running on a treadmill has its place and advantages, but being outside in the sun, seeing the beautiful scenery (even the ~500 pig I ran past. Literally, it was a real pig), and filling the lungs with cool air is not only healing, but totally inspiring.

5.     This one is only describable through a photo:

Source: Uploaded by user via Amy on Pinterest

     

What have you learned through or because of running?

NYC

Congrats to all the NYC Marathoners!

I think if I ever run a marathon, this will be the 1!

Big Apple, bigger dreams.

A Date

I was browsing through my blog control panel and saw that I had a 'draft' blog post - meaning I started a post but never finished it. The post was titled "A Date," just like this one. Then I realized that I meant to create this lovely little blog post after Jeremy and I had a special date.

It was September 18 and the weather was cool; sunny, but cool.

We loaded our bikes up and headed out to the Ghost Town Trail. Now here's the thing. We both bought bikes years ago but it's a shame how much little we use our bikes. We have been wanting to ride this trail for at least a decade. We were a little excited to actually get this chance.

We decided to ride about 7 miles out and back (that's big time mileage for 2 people who haven't been on bikes in quite some time).

Stopping along the way to learn about a long-lost town, Beula. Beula makes me think of the part in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when the teacher, Ben Stein, keeps saying, "Bueller, Bueller, Beula...."

Obviously, I didn't have the camera much.

The way out was a slow long grade downhill.....that meant the way back was a slow long grade UPhill. We stopped often to stretch our legs and take some photos.

Love this guy!

Great date.

Blog post - better late than never!

Fun Run

My run today was more of a rog or a jun or a ralk or a wun. I don't really know...(it was some form of walk, run, jog, take pictures).

I took my camera along and decided I would just have some fun - no time keeping, no intervals, etc. Just a nice fall run enjoying the scenery. I'm about 1-2 weeks late on the peak of the foliage, but I managed to catch quite a few pretty photos along the way.

Going up our lane (shortly after I took this photo, I heard someone something behind me. I turned around and there was Gertie (my dog) chasing behind me. I had to run her back and restart - no biggie!

This is the first of about 4 hills I manage to navigate each time I run this route.

Second hill - beautiful leaves :)

I love cresting this hill - only a few of the leaves are left @ this point, but you can get the idea of how it might look full of leaves.

When I run this route in the morning, the sun will greet me as I crest this hill - it's breathtaking!

This is the closest I'll ever get to being tall!

Beautiful Maple. A friendly pup came by to greet me @ this point.

These horses are always so nice and say, "Hello!" when I run past.

Prettiness!

The 'tall' me (with what looks like a swollen leg).

I love Oak trees.

Just me being silly. And yes, I do realize I look like I should be headed to the pool after this, but I swear this is a cold-weather sport hat.

Crossing over the creek that actually runs behind our lake.

And finally, this is what I get to come home to!

Happy Fall!