My 2012 Top 5 List

We travel quite a bit around the holidays.  We spend Christmas with my family on the Eastern Shore and right after Christmas we leave for Tennessee to visit Stephen's family.  Because of the way the holidays fell this year, we haven't been at home for more than 12 hours since Saturday the 22nd.  This kind of a travel schedule tends to throw a bit of a kink into training programs.

I am not worried about it...I have quite a training routine laid out for after the new year.  But I'm seeing the effects of holiday eating and not working out like normal. 

As we get closer to New Year's Eve, everyone seems to be looking back at 2012 and doing "the best of" lists.  So here is mine...

Top 5 Moments in my Athletic Year 2012

5.  The Baltimore Half Marathon - going into this race, I was very optimistic about my ability to finish in a great time.  I was hoping for a PR and thinking that there might be a slight chance I could break 2 hours.  My knee had other ideas and starting at mile 7 I struggled with run/walking the rest of the race.  I still finished the race even though the thought crossed my mind to drop out.  I learned a lot about myself that day...and I learned that not every race has to be a PR to be a great learning experience.

4.  The Salisbury Half Marathon - running a half marathon with my good friend Colleen was something that I will always cherish.  We started our running careers together and even though we live several hours apart, I still think of her as my very favorite running buddy.  We started the race together, struggled through miles 9-11 together, and finished the race within 30 seconds of each other.  The friends I have made through running mean the world to me and the fact that we did this race together is very special.  I'm so proud of Colleen for the things she's been able to accomplish.

3.  The Ocean City Half Marathon - this is a race that I didn't run this year.  For the first time, I volunteered to help with the race.  I helped with registration, I helped with the race morning packet handout, I helped with the Tshirt sales at the after party.  I realized exactly how much work goes into putting one of these events together.  I gained a brand new appreciation for all the race organizers and volunteers who allow us to run the races that we do.  And I think it's harder to volunteer and help with the race than it is to run the 13.1 miles.  I was exhausted at the end of the day...but I had the opportunity to talk to so many of the participants and experience the race from the other side. 

2.  Finding the CCR Training Group - OK, so this isn't officially a moment but finding the CCR training group was key to getting me back on "track".  Without a running group, I find myself struggling to even get out the door.  But with a group, I am able to stay motivated to do my training.  Plus, the people who are in this training group are awesome people.  They are so willing to share their knowledge and really want everyone in the group to succeed. 

1.  The Osprey Sprint Triathlon - my very first triathlon was an amazing experience.  It was so much fun and I was surprised at how well I did with no training.  This event inspired me to focus my training in 2013 toward more triathlons, including longer distance tris.  As a result of my excitement, I've been talking to everyone about triathlons...which allowed me to meet Anne who connected me to the training groups for swimming and triathlon biking.  I am so excited to see where this leads me in 2013!!!

People Watching

I love to watch people.  It's a guilty pleasure.  I often get caught staring at someone because I'm trying to figure them out just by their facial expressions, the way they carry themselves and their appearance.  A college friend used to share this joy with me, except she took it one step further and would create fake conversations between these people we were observing.  (Yes I'm talking about you LLL)  Her fake conversations for these strangers would leave me laughing so hard I'd be in tears.

Anyway, since I love running, my eye is often caught by other people who are running.  I live in a great neighborhood for running and a lot of my neighbors run quite frequently. 

There's my daughter's friend's mom who looks like she is sprinting every time I see her.  She runs 3-4 miles when she runs, so I would love to know what her pace is.  All I know is that she's FAST!

Then there's my neighbor who annoys me with the way she and her family screw up the parking in the neighborhood.  (That's a whole different topic but parking is a pet peeve of mine.)  Anyway, she is tall and skinny and reminds me of a fishing bobber because all she does is bob up and down when she runs...I don't know how she covers any distance because all her effort is going up and down.

I have been working odd hours recently because work has been so hectic.  I've been leaving earlier in the mornings and coming home later in the evenings.  So I'm seeing a whole new set of runners. 

There is one guy who I noticed because he's a minimalist runner...he wears what looks like a glove on his feet.  It even has toes! I couldn't imagine running in a shoe like that.  He is Asian, which I only mention because there are a lot of Asian people in my neighborhood but very few that I see running. 

I also notice his stride...he always looks extremely at ease when he's running.  I'm sure every ounce of the effort I am making shows on my face when I'm running.  If you just saw this guy's face, you'd never know that he was running.  And I can never tell if he's just starting out or finishing up a long run.  He also wears really bright colors which is what caught my eye at first. 

So it seems like every day for the past week I've seen him running.  It didn't matter if I left the house at 6 am...I would pass him running up the main hill in the neighborhood.  Or I would be meeting Clara at the gym at 5 pm...there he was trucking up that same hill.  Then one day I came home mid afternoon.  Guess who I saw - yep, brightly dressed Asian minimalist runner man.

So I started wondering about this man.  How much does he run?  Is he training for something?  Does he have a family and is just trying to fit in workouts whenever he can? 

People watching can be fun but it definitely is frustrating in this instance.  I want to know more about why this man seems to run ALL the time!

Missed Turns

Sometimes a mistake can actually turn out for the best. 

On Saturday morning, I met the Charm City Running group for the first run I've done in awhile.  I was excited but very nervous about how much my knee would allow me to do.

Most of the members from the last training session were running the Celtic 5 mile race so I wasn't sure who would be there...turned out to be Glenda, Clarese and Denise along with a LOT of new faces.  I led the stretching and then we divided up into groups.  I went with the group that was going to run the shortest distance, which was 3.5 miles.

It was a typical run for me.  I chatted with the people in my group.  As we settled into a pace, another woman and I ended up pretty much running alone.  I really enjoyed our conversation and wasn't paying much attention to my route sheet.  We missed our turnaround spot, which I didn't realize until my watch alarm indicated that we'd gone 2 miles and we hadn't turned around yet.

So we turned around and headed back to the store.  By the end of the run, we had gone 4.5 miles.  That was a pleasant surprise because it felt good...it felt easy.  My knee was overall pretty good.  I had to walk up 2 hills because of my knee but was able to run comfortably as soon as we got to the top.

Without missing that turn, I would have been satisfied with running 3.5 miles.  But since we ran an extra mile, I was able to prove to myself that I am not as out of shape as I thought!

Dilemma of the Day

I have run the Ocean City Half Marathon 3 times and I've volunteered to help with it once.  I love this race because it was the very first half marathon I ever ran.  Plus I am so involved with the organizers of the race which makes me feel like an insider.  I have really been looking forward to running it in 2013 because I would LOVE to break 2 hours in this race.  It would be great to hit that goal in OC.

In the mail I get an invitation to my 20 year college reunion.  Yes, 20 years.  Yes, I've been trying to tell you readers that I'm old!  Guess what the date of my reunion is...yep...same day as the OC Half.

Now it is physically possible to do it all.  The half marathon is in the morning.  The race starts at 7 am.  I can be finished with the race and have time to hang out at the after party and get on the road by noon.

It's just over a 4 hour drive from Ocean City to Elizabethtown, PA, so I would get there around 4:30.  I have no idea what time the reunion starts.  (I just got a save the date in the mail.)  I'm assuming it would be a dinner.  I would definitely need a driver so that I could rest/recover in the car. 

So...am I even crazy to consider this?  I really want to do both things!  I am so annoyed that they are on the same day.  I'm soliciting advice...if you were me, what would you do?

My Schedule...Come on January!

My training is all set and I'm signed up.  Here is my schedule starting in January:

Sundays - mornings - Zumba class with Ryann, afternoons - Triathlon Swimming Class
Mondays - weight training with Clara
Tuesdays - Triathlon Bike Class
Wednesdays - Track Workouts with Charm City Run group
Thursdays - weight training/run/other training based on how I'm feeling
Fridays - REST!
Saturdays - long runs with CCR group

This Saturday is my first run with the CCR half marathon training group.  I've missed my friends and can't wait to get back out there.  I know that I've lost quite a bit of endurance and speed, so I'm just hoping that I can finish the run and keep up with the group. 

December is a tough month based on all the obligations I have, so I'm hoping to get in as much running as I can.  I had a GREAT workout with Clara today.  I am getting stronger and enjoying working out again.  I'm so excited to start these training programs!!

How Karen Got Her Groove Back

I have always believed that attitude is 90% of the battle.  Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile have probably been able to tell that my attitude has not been the greatest for the last few months.  Everything was suffering as a result...my workouts, my running, my weight and my overall health. 

Guess what kids?  I'M BACK! 

The funniest thing is that it was a chance meeting that completely changed my attitude. 

So the last few posts have been about my plan.  That was the start of this new 'tude of mine.  Having a plan definitely helps me.  Starting to put it into action was really good and a definite step in the right direction.  But I still didn't have the excitement.

Wednesday evening I went to Ryann's graduation ceremony from the Howard County Leadership U program.  It was a 5 month program where her group had to do a service project.  She had worked very hard, made some new friends and enjoyed herself.  I was excited to celebrate her completion of the program with her.  They sat us at a table with other parents from Marriotts Ridge High School.  Across the table was a couple who I recognized but had never spoken with.  We got to talking and guess what...they are TOTAL triathlon experts!  Abby has been telling me about Anne since I moved back.  That she lives in my neighborhood and is someone I should know.  Anne is a triathlon trainer who does swimming classes at the community college.  They welcomed me to ride with them any time!

The next day I emailed back and forth with Anne and decided to sign up for the swimming class that she teaches.  I sent Matt the information and he is going to sign up as well.  She told me that both of us should register for the intermediate class.  I don't feel like that's where I belong so after some discussion with her about that she said to sign up for beginner and she would evaluate me to see if that's the right class for me.

Ever since meeting Anne, I've been so excited! A chance meeting with someone like her is incredibly motivating for me.  I know that she is so much faster than I am on the bike.  So I need to get myself in gear (see what I did there...cracking myself up) and get in shape on the bike. 

I really think that triathlons are something that I will enjoy.  With the right training from Anne in the pool, my swimming is going to improve SOOO much.  That was the worst leg for me.  And getting better on the bike will happen...I just need more "seat time".  I've got to get out there and do it.  With my newly rediscovered attitude and excitement, it's going to happen!

Putting the Plan Into Place

Today I stopped by the YMCA. I had been considering several places for my swimming training.  There are advantages and disadvantages to all the options.  In the end, I decided to go with the one that was the most convenient and offered the most benefits to the family.  With all the programs the Y has for kids, free childcare and convenient location, it was hands down the winner.

So they have a master swim team (which Abby goes to) and a triathlon training group.  I have decided not to go to either of these classes.  My reasoning is simple...the times they meet are not convenient for me.  They have a ton of open lap swim times so I'll be able to go whenever I want.  I won't have anyone giving me drills or helping me with my stroke, so I will have to do some of that on my own.  But at this point, I really just need to get in the pool.  So getting access to a pool was key! 

Planning!

I'm a planner.  I always work better when there's a plan.  That's why I'm so much more disciplined in my running when I'm following a training plan.

I've been a little out of sorts recently.  I think my recent posts show that...but now I have a plan!!!  Not a training plan but an action plan. 

Let me rewind a bit.  I had lunch with Abby this week.  I drilled her with questions about triathlons...everything from training to races to finding places to swim.  I felt so much better after talking with Abby. 

I really want to do an Olympic distance tri in 2013.  Zack (a business acquaintance who is a seasoned triathlete) recommended that I sign up for the Columbia Triathlon which is in May.  It's an Olympic distance and I have heard that the course is REALLY challenging because of the hills.  As I said to Abby, I want to continue having fun with triathlons.  I don't feel like trying to tackle that course so early on in my triathlon experience would be fun.  Maybe in 2014...

So having decided NOT to do the Columbia Triathlon, I have identified several sprint tris that I would like to do.  I'm going to run the Ocean City Half Marathon (and hopefully break 2 hours), then focus on training for my tris.  With Abby's help, I've decided where to go for swimming training and she is sending me information on indoor cycling training.  So I'm excited about that.

My 90 Days of Me is not going as well as I had planned.  But I'm getting there.  I've lost 2 pounds in a week...not great but not bad either.  At least it's going in the right direction.  And now that I will be more active with my training again, I expect those numbers to drop much faster.

YAY! I wish you could see my grin.  I love having a plan!!!