2015 is a Wrap!

Not really thrilled with the number of sentence starting with I... not really sure how to reconstruct them and not lessen the impact.

From my January 1, 2015 post  I had two goals:  sub 2 hour 1/2 and 1 or 2 centuries and the Pan Mass Challenge.

Did I sub 2 a 1/2? No, no I didn't.  Did I put in the work to do this?  No, no I didn't.  Did I beat myself about the head and neck?  No, no I didn't.  My last 1/2 of the year was very reflective.

Did I ride the PMC and 1 or 2 Centuries, Yes, yes I did.  I considered a third century the first week in October, the weather was horrid, why torture myself?

Races:  213 (based on my race recaps - I could count my bibs, but that sounds about right)
1/2/16 Editors note:  I counted bibs, I missed two race recaps JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and RISPFP
I focused in on what I wanted to do and learned to have fun running the race, I still have some more learning to do.

5K - 10
10K - 2
1/2 Marathons - 3
5 milers - 2
5.5 miler - 1
10 miler - 1
12 miler - 1 (DNF)
20K - 1 (DNF)
7.6 Miler - 1
8 Miler - 1

I earned 2 DNF, the first took me many months to fully get over, the second, I'm still working through.  I will tackle those races again.

I learned I need to find the fun in running and that means helping someone else to their goal (takes the pressure off me? - not sure of the psychology behind this).

Rides:  2 centuries, 186 miles of PMC, 57 mile leg of the Old Glory Relay, and a memorable 87 mile ride of hills.

I learned that my recovery time from the centuries is longer than I think it is going to be and I really need to ride into work regularly.

Miles:  3247, run, walk, bike

Eeking by 2014 totals with the assistance of spin classes,  I kinda feel like I didn't quite earn them, and during class I KNOW I earned them.

And from my FitBit:





















Fascinating!  These are the steps I take, exercise and general existing!


2016 Goals:

Biking: PMC, starting out of Sturbridge MA - the full 192 miles, 2 or 3 Century rides - TBD I'm over TFCE, and I'd like to to Mt. Washington again but it is the week before the PMC and I don't know if that is going to give me enough recovery time.  I have to do some research and make some decisions before the end of January.  2,016 miles on the bike, it MAY be doable with one or two spin classes a week and commuting into work on the bike in the summer.

Running: Full Marathon - targeting the Indianapolis Marathon in September.  Possibly at 50K in the fall - I'd love to run the Delaware Water Gap 50K.

Stretch goal:

2,016 walking + running miles:   This is a HUGE stretch goal for me.  2015 I achieved 1,679 miles between running and walking.  Will I make it?  I'm not sure.  Will I try?  Yes.  I've set up  my training log to keep track of the running and the walking miles and what I need to hit each week to achieve it. It is essentially 12 walking miles per week and 27 running miles for 52 weeks.

All these miles put me at 4,036 miles for the year, about 800 more than I'm trending.  That means about 80 more hours on the bike and about 130 more hours running through the year.  It will be interesting so see how committed I am.

Sincerely
Beth, older and wiser?

2014 in the Rear View Mirror

I landed on some goals the first week in January - Weigh Training / Speed Work / Over Committing.   I've reviewed where I landed, considered the fact the company I work for no longer gives performance rankings they were as such:

5 - Consistently Exceeds Expectations

4 - Frequently Exceeds Expectations

3 - Meets Expectations

2 - Occasionally Fails to Meet Expectations

1 - Consistently Fails to  Meet Expectations

and decided I'm not going to subject myself so such numerical torture and really I hesitate to subject you to my navel gazing.

I am happy with my year.  I am far happier with 2014 than I was with 2013, it took me till nearly June to fully recover from 2013 and enjoy running again.  I'm thrilled with biking and happy to have that as a fun way to explore and occasionally commute to work.

2014 Stats

What I will celebrate in 2015:

Running - sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon, my goal race is Ocean's Run, in March.  This means a pace of 8:46 (1:55 1/2 Marathon).  I have been working on speed for the last few months and have added in hill work.  This will all help.  What I have to do is sit down and figure out what paces I need to train at to achieve this 8:46 race pace.   This goal won't just happen on it's own.  I don't even consistently run at a 9:30 pace in training runs, how on earth can I hold 8:46 for 13.1 miles....  I have a week or so to figure that out and put goal paces to the runs on my plan.

According to Runner's Ally, my target times:

"Easy" runs 10:10 

"Tempo" runs 8:29 

"Maximum-oxygen" (AKA interval) runs 7:39

"Long" runs 10:10 -  11:27

"Yasso 800's" 3:35min/880

What happens if I don't hit it in March?  Well there are 9  more months and no pitty parties!

I don't have any other race distance/time goals.  Perhaps I'll try another 50K, one never knows. 

Biking -  1 or 2 centuries and the Pan Mass Challenge

So there you go, 2014 is slowly fading away and 2015 is coming into view.

Sincerely,
Beth, looking forwards to 2015 and backwards to 2014 with happiness!

1Q14 - stick a fork in it, done!

The last day of the quarter started with the horrid realization I had to lead a meeting at 8:30 a.m. as I was scrambling into the building at 8:25.  Fortunately only I knew how this presentation was supposed to go as it was a glimpse behind the curtain of a system I manage which at this point still appears as a lot of smoke and mirrors to anyone outside of Claire, the tech team, and I.  PSHEW, how's THAT for a run on sentence?   How does that saying go, baffle them with bullshit?

Along those lines it was also the due date for my work goals.  Lots of "manage" and "lead" sprinkled in there as my manager (past and current) are prepping me for a promotion.  Net net, I enjoy my job, I really do -- I get to do what I like: help people succeed and occasionally be the smartest person in the room --  I don't know that I really want that next level, yet.  I think this may be the same with running?  I love it, do I want to be anymore serious about it?  Not so sure... 

Let's see what progress I've made on my 2014 running goals  *flips back through blog posts*, hmmm, didn't look like I set any, just focus on the 50K and take it from there.  I've done my best to honor my training schedule.  The Brrr-lingame race perhaps could have been a distraction, however it offered a great lesson to be learned.  Thank you for your feedback Mike (Super RD and runner who is NOT left handed or even ambidextrous)  that I should have run the miles before the race and not after. I had a good 20 mile road run two weeks before, I'm not all that concerned I didn't get in my full long run for that weekend, I did have a lot of "time on my feet" on the trails that weekend...   Taking Mike's advice to heart I will run Big River with my 13 miles done pre 1/2.  Based on the glimpses I've gotten into the course sounds like I may be best of doing 13 road miles versus the course first.  Sounds wicked technical and exhausting...  thoughts?

Why I'm even running Big River is a mystery to me, due to a family vacation (not mine, the one I married into, my families last and only family vacation was in 1978 - I think it was the basis for the movie Vacation, no seriously yellow station wagon and surly pre teens) I won't be able to Run With the Beavers, so no Triple Crown of trail or road racing in RI (the Jamestown race is the same weekend).  But who knows, there could be some horrible natural disaster and we can't go (is this something people should or shouldn't light candle for?) I'm keeping my options open?  or hmm....  not sure... It all boils down to me not being keen on someone else planning my life.  My mother's commentary, always with a smile on her face:  "From birth you've been stubborn."  And, well, she'd know best.  She still hasn't forgiven me for refusing (at less than a week old - way back in the dark ages they kept mother's and children in the hospital for more than a few hours) to wear home the sweater she knitted for me while I was in utero. Or to wear the pretty dresses she picked out.  Or... Or... Or..... Stubborn much?  Mother's daughter much?  The only one amused by this was my maternal grandfather, who was so glad his eldest grandchild was going to hold her own with his eldest child!

1Q14 Mileage:

Running:  350

Walking: 117
Biking: 15

Not too bad.  Extrapolating, for the year I'll be:

Running: 1,400

Walking: 468
Biking: 60 (ha ha ha)

Think I'll stick to 30 miles a week running and just let walking fall where it may?  Biking will pick up with the warmer weather, and Dave and I will go out on 20 - 40 mile rides on the weekends.  After the Ice Age 50K hill training for Mt. Washington and bike training for the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) ramp way up.  Oh goodie I won't have to seriously address the lack of control in my diet for a few more months!!  Swimming will fall in there somewhere...

Sincerely,
Beth wondering really Mike B, a hat?  It wasn't that cold out today!! 

Why are your running shoes in the sink?

Four days into the new year, and I may have landed on some goals. 

Weight Training:  TRX once a week has shown some great progress, time to step up the game a little bit.  Plus with this pending cruise and the *shudder* possibility of being in a *shudder* bathing suit some serious measures must be taken.  I avoid, like the plague, any public venue with bathing suits as the attire.  A cruise is going to be difficult, I fear, and I may have to join the status quo *shudder*.  A little weight training will help make me feel less like an albino Shamoo.  There is nothing to be done about the permanent runners tan on my legs, once the Irish/Eastern European skin catches a few burning rays those marks stay for eternity.  I'll continue with  TRX and add in a weekly weight or boot camp class at the gym. Should be fun!  The weight part not the bathing suit part (blargh).

Speed Work:  I'm not exactly sure how this will play out in the long run.  My current training plan has three back to back days Tue/Wed/Thur during the week with a longest of the week day runs on Wednesday.  There are hills around campus so my plan is to run hills once a week. My understanding is this will improve my speed.   I'm opting for Wednesday as that is generally a slower work day and I'm in NY on Tue or Thur.  I'm going to pick the set of hills in the projects across from campus, there is a nice block with hills, run to them, run down one, run a block over, run up,  run a block over, run down, and so on and so forth.  Once I'm done with the last up I can run back to campus.  On the day before hill day I'll incorporate "The Bitch" on my way back to campus and see if I'm seeing any improvement over the course of time.  Should be fun!

Committing: One of the things that really got me down last year was over committing and ending up not enjoying quite a few experiences I should have enjoyed.  I'm making it a point to not do that.  Today there was a race, a part of a series, so I hemmed and hawed last night taking down the Christmas tree.  The discussion with Dave went something like this:

Me:  "I need to talk something through, will you participate?"
Dave: "Huh?"
Me:  "Tomorrow I have lunch with Nicole and Connie in Narragansett at 12:30. I have 6 miles on my training plan for tomorrow.  And that trail race in Wakefield at 10.  I could probably run the race be home from Wakefield by 11:30, quick jump in the shower and head out to Narragansett at 11:50."
Dave: "That really doesn't leave you a lot of time.  Can you reschedule lunch?"
Me:  "No, that is a set time and place.  I really need to stick to my training plan.  I could  swap the Sat 6 and the Sun 4 and be even at the end of my run on Sunday"
Dave: "It is supposed to rain on Sunday."
Me: "Ah."
Dave:  "Well what do you really want to do?"
Me:  "My Saturday miles and lunch."
Dave:  "So what is there to discuss?"
Me: "I'm not really sure, anymore."

So I ran my 6 miles this morning (more on that later) had a great lunch and am happy. 

Last year I would have attempted to do EVERYTHING would have not been happy at the end of the day.   Not happy with my running in the race, rushing home, rushing to and through lunch, rushing home to get in the last 3 miles, and at the end of the day not actually have enjoyed any of it.   That truly is sad, why be disappointed with an entire day of my life, our time is so limited. 

This is going to be an on going internal battle for me. 

Anyhoodles, I should SMARTen these goals up a bit?  Not quite Gazelle style, but here goes:

Specific - yep they seem specific enough  (add in a weight class, run hills, think before I commit)
Measurable - feh, not absolutely measurable, although each one should help me attain a bit more speed and stamina and feel less stressed as the year progresses.
Actionable - yep either I did it or I didn't
Realistic - yep I think so
Time bound - yepish we will see how the next 12 months go...

Wednesday: Mohegan Striders New Years Day Run and Plunge, met up with Ro, Mark, Don, Steve, and Steve's son in the Esker Point parking lot.   Several other people joined in with our run and by the time we got to Mystic we were a dozen people.  The plan was to run to Mystic meet up with all the plungers and run back to Esker Point and not partake in the plunge part.  Don said it was 4 miles, so we met at 11, to have an easy run to Mystic and not have much standing around time before the heard took off to Esker Point.   The first hill did me in a little bit and by the second I dropped back.  Steve was kind enough to run with me, made some comment about being a lazy runner too...  oh, wow, yeah...  that stung a little, it wasn't meant to. We jibber jabbered as we ran along, not letting the gap widen too much between us and the rest of the group.  The last couple hills I could tell were going to be a struggle for me. Completely out of character I said "This hill is tough, have any tips."  Steve simply said "Don't look up."  Then he thought a minute and said "Look at the runners feet in front of you. That will pull you forward.  Eventually your feet will start running their pace and you will catch up."  I did it and holy shit, by the top of the next hill we were back with the group!!



The run back to the beach was slow,  about every 3/4 mile we stopped until everyone was all caught up.  Very cool! 



When we got to the beach I was surprised at the number of people jumping in...  brrrrrr.  I'll pass on the plunge part.  It was a cold and beautiful sunny day!

Esker Point plungers and non-plungers

Why won't I plunge?  Beside the obvious there is this memory:  One hot early April day I remember getting off the school bus and the three of us harassing our mother with pleas to let us go swimming, it was hot, we were hot, can't we go swimming.  Eventually she finally threw up her hands and said "Fine, but you have to jump off the dock."

That water was cold.  I'll never forget that extreme shock of being plunged in cold water and the feeling of breathlessness.  

One would think after the icing incident a few years earlier we would have listened when our mother continually said no to our pleas to do something.  She got us good both times!  

Thursday:  Back to work!  Ok so I wasn't really exclamation point excited about going back to work... 

Nothing much had changed since I was last at work (the 30th of December, for all of 4 hours), although it was nice to see people I hadn't seen in nearly two weeks and get back to the work schedule.  

There was a threat of snow, and it was a little snowy in the early a.m. and looked more and more like this epic storm of 2014 was going to be a bust.  I managed to get out for almost 4 miles during work.  It was a little cold, had I turned left and not right and possibly running down by the water, it may have been a little less cold.   That wind is wicked.

The gym was incredibly busy for a Thursday and really not a lot of people on campus.  Oh, yeah, it is January 2nd, it will be like this for a while.  I waved at the regulars I know and went out for my run.  




I hope that a few of the newbies stick around and make good on their resolution to get fit and healthy. 

Took Ro's spin class in the afternoon, ahem, Don, the clock reset on the 1st, there is still time to catch up!

Wanting to get on this one weight training class at the gym a week, I joined Chris's TRX torture session after Spin.  Learned some new exercises and did 5 pull ups, yeah I rock. 

Friday:  Snow day! Rest day!  I did take each dog out for a mile or so walk on the snow covered roads, they enjoyed getting out and about. 

Saturday:  We slept late, surprisingly late, 9 a.m.  Dave said "It looks like summer with the sun streaming in the front windows."  It did.  Oh glorious sun, spraying your lovely rainbow through the water prism hanging in the big window in the front hall.  Even the dogs slept in.  Huh... well it was a whopping 0F outside, so yeah, no one was much into moving to early.  Dave wasn't riding until it warmed up.  I had 6 miles on the schedule, and off I went.  8F outside, practically a heatwave!  Again I should have gone left not right.  People just don't shovel and I spent a lot of time running through snow until I got to the top of the hill and could get back in my neighborhood on partially shoveled walks and not heavily traveled roads.

I ended up running the hills in my hood for about 3 miles that became wickedly boring. I lamented not wearing my Yaktrax, but knew if I ran the few blocks home to put them on, it would be difficult to get back out the door.  From the minute I woke up, I lacked motivation to get out of bed, it was all warm and comfy and snuggly.  Of course the rainbow dancing on the wall was pretty.  It was the thought of Jax attempting to scratch off my left eyelid (the scratch on my right eyelid is slowly healing) while wrestling finally got me up and moving.

So up and down the hills I went, in some sort of pattern and finally ended up near the bottom.  A man was out shoveling his walk and I stopped and thanked him and ran along his lovely shoveled walkway.  Hey, I appreciated his efforts.  He said I should be commended for my dedication or committed, I'm not really sure!!  I ran around town and back home, a little more inspired to get the last few miles over and done.  Less than stellar speed, hey I did it and I feel better for it.

There are some people who are shoes in the house people and some who are not, I am a not.  They come off the minute I get in the door.  Not sure what to do with my snow covered and packed shoes I plopped them in the kitchen sink as I wandered around the house trying to warm up!  

Lunch with Nicole and Connie was awesome.  So odd seeing people in real clothing, versus running clothes!  Very enjoyable to talk about things other than running too!!

Looks like the Old Mountain Field 5K was fun!   Great job guys and gals!

Sincerely, 
Beth, sighting up some goals and happy she didn't over commit today! 

Goals

"Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals."  --  Henry Ford

Before I left Michigan and the automotive industry I was 3rd generation Ford Motor Company.  I am sure it broke my father's heart when I left and my grandfather (today would have been his 96th birthday Happy Birthday,  RIP Grandpa) probably turned in his grave when I left.  I know many thought I had lost my mind to not only abandon FoMoCo but the state of MI in 1999.  It proved to be the right decision for the then boyfriend (now Hubb) and I to relocate to New England.  I am sure many thought I had lost complete leave of my usually sound senses.  My goal, continually reinforced by my father, was for me to never have to rely on anyone, that move got me to that goal.  I often wonder if my father realizes how much that statement "Beth, all I want for you is to never have to rely on anyone, ever." meant to me and did for me.

Me and my Daddy!  Of course I"m pretending to NOT pay attention!!!

Me and my Grandpa!!

Last week my boss and her boss and I sat down to deliver my 2012 performance review and approve my 2013 goals.  It was a great meeting.  Seriously who wouldn't want to sit and stare at a Donnie Wahlberg look alike telling you how wonderful you are and how much your boss appreciates you for 30 minutes?  OK so some of you might not find this as appealing as I do...  

The end of the first quarter of 2013 has gone whizzing past and it is time to see how I am tracking towards the 4 goals I set, Chapter 2013 Page 1 Goals.   Years (21) of corporate America coupled with my own neurotic tendencies (and of course the influence daddy has on a girls life) have taught me to make SMART goals.  In case you haven't been blessed with having to make SMART goals as part of yearly objectives I'll give you a little recap.

Goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Results oriented
Time bound

Running - 1,500 miles, 1 race per month, 2 marathons, one with the Lung Cancer Alliances’ Team Lung Love, 6 1/2 marathons.  
1Q13 status: On Track, need to adjust to time goals not race # goals. (Exceeds expectations)
Mileage: 227 miles for 1Q, linearly I am tracking for 908.  Reviewing last year, I was at 161 miles 1Q12 and finished the year at 1031, so totally doable
Races:
January - AZ RnR Marathon, 3 - 5Ks, and I missed one race I signed up for 
February - 1/2 (Colchester Tough As Nails) 1 - 10K
March - 1/2 (Ocean's Run, and I can't count Big River, as I only ran 7 miles), 3 - 5K and 1 - 5 Miler

Reading - 115 books.
1Q13 status: Recoverable, realize that I am reading longer books! (Meets to a little below expectations)
17 books for 1Q, linearly tracking at 68.  Reviewing 1Q12 I was at 46 with about 10 very short books.

Knitting -  10 pair of socks. 
1Q13 Status:  Need to revisit. (Below expectations; need to reevaluate)
I have still not finished the socks I started November of last year! However I have completed 5 baby sweaters and 2 ear flap hats for Hubb.  I need revisit what I am actually knitting.  Perhaps finishing the current socks and two pair of the Hatteras yarn BFF SL sent going on a year ago and another 3 - 5 baby sweaters (so I can get ahead of this baby boom!)  The ultimate goal of this goal was to spend 5 - 10 hours a week knitting...

Diet -  Weigh, measure, and track food consumption a minimum of 4 days a week. 
1Q13 Status: Lacking real effort (Does not meet expectations)
I weigh and measure a couple times a week as for tracking, HA right... not happening.  I am OK with this.  I put on a few pounds post MCM, however have not resumed my horrific eating habits.  OK, so, Hubb and I sharing two Crumbs cupcakes once a week isn't exactly healthful, but it is fun and something we enjoy doing together. We are sacrificing healthful eating for the sake of keeping our marriage strong and healthy, and what couple can't use a little relationship strengthening/bonding?  (anyone buying that?)

I do believe I need some adjustment to my Running goals, in my head I've set out to obtain certain PRs and have done nothing about training for those PRs, and that stuff doesn't happen by magic.  Don't we wish it did?!?!?!?  My focus for this quarter will be on putting together a training plan for speed inclusive of  MCM finish goal of sub 5, dare we say 4:00, could it be possible at this late date to get a BQ and the other races along the way.  Truly this is the one goal that means the most to me. To be able to truly feel like an athlete. The others are to remember that there are other passions in my life I should not sacrifice or slight for the one that gives me the most joy.

Sincerely
Beth, focused and fearless

Chapter 2013, Page 1 - Goals

Left off yesterday with the goal of setting goals...

My first goal of this year was to actually run the Frosty 5K in Guilford CT.  DONE!  Chip time of 28:05, not a shabby way to start off the New Year.  I was desperate to relieve the snot situation in my nose, my spitting habit is unladylike enough, I didn't want to add in a farmers blow... the crud cough held off until the 3 block walk back to my car. I expected that.  Should have gotten an inhaler, that would have helped.  It was a cough very much like the exercise induced asthma coughs I had when I first started running...  so enough about my bodily functions.  The race, it was a fun race, flat, pretty, nice runners and walkers who stayed in the back of the corral, thank you!!

Long sleeved cotton shirt, perfect for hanging around in! Plus the snowman is cute!

In the process of taking this picture I lost the Nathan bib holder thingys I purchased.  Crap.  I need to learn to pay attention.  Hopefully another runner in need of bib holder thingys found them and picked them up and will use them.  I'd hate to see them get thrown away.  Guess I'll need to go back and get a new set.  Whoopsie.  This time I'll stick them in my purse and not try and balance them the bib a piece of paper and the shirt...  This is what I get for not taking a bag, but I didn't need a bag, I had a perfectly suitable hand bag or even deep pockets in my Pea Coat in which to stash said thingys.   I did notice the store had the audio version of Born to Run.  I've been off and on reading the book, it holds my interest but I only seem to have time to read just before bed and I fall asleep and have to back track a page or two.  Hmmm...  there is always the library, where 90% of my audio books come from.  And you can see how I get distracted by bright shiny objects, no?

So goals:

Running - 1,500 miles, 1 race per month, 2 marathons, one with the Lung Cancer Alliances's Team Lung Love, 6 1/2 marathons.  Think that is reasonable. I've been working on my race calendar for 2013 and I can fit all of that in I am sure.
Reading - 115 books, I know not much of a stretch from this year where I read/listened to 116.  I may incorporate audio books into my running play list.  I'll have to contemplate this.  4 hour long run once a week would get me through a short book every couple of months?
Knitting - yes, I know this is a running blog, but it is also about living life.  I am going to hold to the 10 pair of socks.  When my parents house burned, all the socks I knitted for them were lost.  I think a goal of knitting them a couple pair of new socks and a few other people socks would inspire me.  I have enough knitted socks!
Diet - ? Hmm.... I've only ever set a weight goal with Weight Watchers, and I have hit my 1 year maintenance anniversary.  What I have been super lax on is counting points and I know my portion sizes are getting on the high side, so my goal will be to weigh, measure, and track a minimum of 4 days a week. 

Think that will do it.  Four things important to me in my daily life.

How do you set goals?  What sort of goals have you set?  How do you or do you reward yourself for achieving your goals?

Sincerely,
Beth with the first action item off the 2013 to do list!

Reflecting back on 2012

I see so many good bye you horrible rotten no good year 2012 hello wonderful 2013 don't let me down like 2012 did. It was a year, an inanimate object it can't cause good or bad events.  Anyhoodles, 2012 is nearly over, let's reflect...

Pinched from:  http://366days366drawings.com/

We all had awful moments, loved ones died or were diagnosed with terminal illnesses, jobs were lost, our fat pants turned into our skinny pants, we found a few more gray hairs or a few less hairs on our head, a new wrinkle appeared here and there, the Washington Redskins won and screwed up your Fantasy Football game thingy, and fill in the blank _____________.

Image pinched from:  http://whitneygaskell.com/?attachment_id=1919

We all had awesome moments.  Come on, it wasn't ALL bad, didn't you have some ups?  New members joined our families, we reconnected with old friends, we landed that fab new job, we paid off a credit card, a car, a home, that new wrinkle is a memory of all the fun times laughing with friends, who the hell cares about pants, some of you guys really need to realize you are way hotter with a few less hairs and a few more gray around the temple, and fill in the blank _____________.

Happy Dog!!

OK OK there were horrible awful rotten national and international incidents, each having an impact on our lives.  We are still at war, crazy people gunned down innocent men, women, and children, hurricane Sandy wiped away homes and lives, Benghazi, Lybia, the economy, and topping it all off:  Kim Kardashian is going to be a mother....

Pinched from:  http://www.cfnews13.com

My point is to reflect on what comprised the year, the 366 (it was a leap year right?) days of ups and downs, successes and failures, poor judgement calls and stellar ones, goals achieved and goals still being worked on, all part of  the journey through this life.  I've enjoyed my journey through these 366 days, no regrets, lots of laughs, and awesome memories.

My goals for 2012 were simple:

• Run once race a month, including a 1/2 marathon and train for a full marathon (stretch to run a full marathon)
• Read or listen to 100 books (stretch 150)
• Knit 10 pairs of socks (stretch 15)

Nothing out of my immediate control.  No solving world hunger, curing cancer, bringing world peace, these are things we need to do jointly, each of us playing our own part in efforts to achieve those goals.

So let's see how I did:

• Running -  16 races including 4 1/2 marathons and 1 full marathon.  Logged 1,031 miles!
• Books -  116 (does not include reading to my nephew)
• Socks - 2 pair so guess someone was reading or running and not knitting?

Totally with in my immediate control.  My efforts to cure cancer came in the form of fund raising and running races.   I did my little bit towards easing local hunger.  As for solving world hunger and bringing world peace, well, not so sure I have any documented proof...

Looking back on my year.  That NY driver could have actually taken me out (affording me the opportunity to knit more?).  My running adventures allowed me to explore different running routes.  I figured out the importance of communication and friendship.  Like many others I learned that running is cheaper than therapy.

I am grateful for all the experiences of 2012 and can only hope as many, or more, opportunities for experiences are presented in 2013!

Sincerely,
Beth, who needs to set some goals for 2013!

2012 Drawing to a Close

I left work with Jackass giving me a hug and a kiss saying, "You've had an awesome year, it has been fun cheering you on.  See you next year unless we can get together for drinks over the break."  We are off the 24th - 28th, with everyone but me taking the 31st off.  I'm not wasting a vacation day...  Hopefully the guys and I and the spouses can get together for drinks over the break.  If not I made them all some rum balls.  I'm a girl after all and like to do these dorky homey things.

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the year.  I finished up my self review at work with the goals I had set out how they were achieved or delayed and the other things that were not on the plan and accomplished due to always changing business needs.

Runningwise I set a goal to run 1 race a month in 2012, continuing on from running one race Oct, Nov, Dec of 2011.  Athlinks tells me I ran 14 races last year.  Definitely my goals!  I should go count my bibs to see if it all matches... I'm sure I have more than 14 bibs from last year...

The last race I ran in 2011 was a 5K trail race in Wakefield RI, at Old Mountain Field, this is part of Off Rhode Racing 4th Season Trail Race.  The race director set a series of 5 races for the winter, with the last ending in March when the time changes back to Daylight Saving Time.  The cost to enter is a minimal fee plus two canned goods to go to the Johnnycake Center.  The last series raised over 1,000 lbs of food! 

Sunday was the kick off for the second year of the series.  The course was a bit different and more challenging.  Instead of a good distance of  wide open spaces the race director kept it to the first 0.1 and last 0.1 being open field and the rest were single track.  Which means you need to pick your place early on in the race.

I picked a nice pace, not a fast pace, and was semi-content to run at the end of a string of runners were were less aggressive than I am on the trails.  Not that I am wickedly aggressive, I do push myself to jump over stumps and rocks and pick a route over obstacles that doesn't require me to stop and walk across and obstacle.  I do love running through the mud...  It was a little frustrating.  However passing on single track takes A LOT of energy and was a I willing to expend that much that early in the race and risk having them pass me later or just end up passing me on a less technical part of the trail?  I ran conservatively until the last mile.

A woman in pink over took the glom of us, 9 runners I think.  There were some nice S curves coming up ahead and perfect for over taking someone and getting more than a few steps ahead of them.  She over took. I over took. Then she slowed down and I over took her.  I felt great, and confident and then WHOMP tripped over a rock and I was down, she whizzed past me.  Oh well.  I lost my cadence.  Ok I gave up a little bit, too.  There was no way I was going to beat my time of last year, well perhaps there was...  I finished strong on the nice wide open flat.  The next race in the series is the 6th of January Beach and Trail in Narragansett.

Comparison of this year to last year...  Interesting, eh?

Year	Final Position	Age	AG	AG Place	State	Time	Pace
2012	111	45	40-49 F	9	RI	34:20	11:05
2011	112	44	40-49	9	RI	33:53	10:56

Sunday afternoon was reserved for the most awesome massage therapist in the world to come over and un-stick my sticky muscles.  As I screamed and writhed in pain I could hear Hubb downstairs chuckling.  He said, "You seriously find benefit in that torture?"  I assured him that I do.  He shakes his head and says he will never understand me sometimes.  I really really need to make friends with my foam roller more often.  Amy just said "Beth you are a mess."  I am feeling exhausted and must more flexible.  That was the point, right?  Tonight over dinner he said, "You seem a lot less stiff, I'm surprised.  I hate massages."  Well, to each his own, right?

Tonight was TRX, what happens in TRX stays in TRX, I took the opportunity to tell a story I've been DYING to tell.  OMG, it felt so good to tell it in a safe environment we all got a bit of a chuckle and the others shared similar stories.  Ah.....  Do you have any safe environments you can let your ass show and not have any repercussions?

In what I can report on TRX, I managed 6, yes 6 plank rolls on the right side with out having to cheat by resting my elbow.  On the left 8, but I cheated a bit with a teeny rest on the elbow.  Hoorah!  I'm happy with that progress.  Last week I couldn't even get one unassisted on either side.

Oh goodness this is full of words and no pictures....  well sorry folks...  next time?

I could show you my knitting?

Sincerely,
Beth, master of the plank roll (well at least for today)