44.5 to go!

The weather outside is NASTY!!! Windy, rainy, and ugly. But I have this goal, so out I go!!! I bundled up with a face guard, gloves, tights, knee high socks, and 2 waterproof jackets.

As I was running I immediately started feeling better. I have been CRANKY this weekend and as I ran I realized its because I had only put in 5 miles during the work week this week. I didn't have that stress outlet that I have gotten used too. The wind and rain didn't matter. Even as I was literally squeezing water out of my gloves, I felt better with each step. Love those kind of runs!!!

Here are a few before/after shots.

(My shirt ended up pretty wet despite the jackets because the water was running down the space between the collar of my top layer and the hood of my middle layer. )

New Years Resolutions??

Apparently blogging can be a little challenging during the Christmas season because I have been SLACKING!!! I've had 3 different people tell me that they went out and ran after reading my little blog though so I'm beyond stoked that I could influence someone else to run. (If only I could have motivated myself today... grrr... that's a whole different story).

My goal this month was to run 100 miles. Its December 22 and I'm only at 51 miles completed. That leaves me with 9 days left and an average of 5.4 miles a day in order to meet the goal. TOTALLY doable. I'll do it. :) (I might be putting in 40 miles on New Year's Eve, but I WILL do it!) My next goal is to run a total of 75 miles while I am on vacation for 3 the next weeks. Piece of cake considering I have to do 49 miles in the next 9 days.

Speaking of goals.. do you set fitness goals for yourself? I find that when I set a goal I am more motivated. It doesn't even really matter if I meet the goal (although I feel like a bad ass when I do), it just gives me that little push to get out the door and do something. My New Year's resolution for 2012 was to run 1000 miles. A big goal but attainable. Well.. a series of things have kept me from meeting my goal including laziness, a nasty recurring iliotibial band injury, a master's program, a new job, and a whole slew of other EXCUSES. I didn't make it and can not possibly make it BUT I'll see how close I can get to it on December 31st. I'll write another post on this then.

I haven't decided my resolution for 2013 yet. Some people don't believe in resolutions, but I see them as an opportunity to make a conscious decision to improve the current you. I practice goal setting in many aspects of my life, and January 1 is just another way for me to set a goal for myself and challenge myself to improve.

I was speaking to a coworker this week who told me that her resolution is to do an organized run/walk each month in 2013. What an excellent way to continually motivate yourself to get out the door and MOVE! I told her I'd come up with a list of possible runs she could check out. Maybe I'll sign up for a few myself!

Here are some great resources for runs in the Sacramento area and beyond:

Active.com - Active lists events in several different categories, including run/walk, cycling, and parks and recreation classes

UltraSignup.com- Want to sign up for a trail run?? Here's the place.

Fleet Feet Sacramento Store Calendar- Here is a list of free running events and clinics that the store offers.

Fleet Feet Local Race calendar - Several local races listed by month

TBF Racing - They offer several events including running, cycling, mountain biking, and multi-sport racing (duathlon and triathlon)

Capital Road Race Management - If you're doing a run in Sacramento, chances are these guys have a hand in it one way or another. They have an extensive list of events throughout the year.

Nor Cal Ultras - I've ran 3 of their races in the past year and will run my first 50 miler with them in April. Excellent race director and excellent races every time. I just saw that they are planning a new night trail race for June - SOOOO excited about this one!!! I'll also be doing She Rocks the Trails in June.

Inside Trail (Bay Area trail racing) - I've never run with them but plan on doing a race or two in 2013 in the bay area. I know that they are friends with Nor Cal Ultras and would assume their races are pretty well organized. I will be trying them out soon!

Troy's California Trail Runs - Again, haven't run with them but they have a race in the Montrail Ultra Cup Series so I'm assuming they must have their stuff together. Their race line up looks fun.

So... take a look. I hope that's at least a start to getting you motivated to sign up for at least one run in 2013!!! (Let me know and I'll do it with you!!!!)

28.5 mile week

Just finished my first week over 25 miles since September (and the only reason I hit 25 miles that week was because I decided to sign up for the Sierra Nevada Trail Marathon on a whim.) It felt good to be consistent and hit my mileage goal. I'm also still on pace to hit my goal of 100 miles this month, so life is good.

Yesterday morning we attended that lottery for the Western States 100, a 100 mile endurance run from Squaw Valley to Auburn that takes place every June. My husband, Jason, and our friend Mike both qualified for the race by running Quicksilver 50 miler in less than 11:00 miles. There were approximately 2500 entrants vying for 275 spots. Some of those entrants had their name in the hat multiple times so that increased the total number of slips in the draw to 3500. Any one who attended the drawing gets an additional entry into the lottery at the lottery drawing where they pull 5 more names. Well, we weren't so lucky this year and neither of them got in. This really is better for Jason since he has been working crazy hours and really hasn't had time for running, but I think they both could have pulled it off in June. Next year :) And we have AR50 as a quick, easy qualifier for them (not so easy for me).

The drawing for Way Too Cool takes place tomorrow and we will find out if we got in or not. Last year I was the unlucky one of our group who ended up as 54th on the waitlist. I inched up one spot or so a week and figured I wouldn't get it. I was at 28th or so two weeks before the race when I got an email confirmation that I was in. So I had two weeks to wrap my head around the idea that I would be running 31 miles. I'm hoping I get a few months to prepare for it this time. It would be a perfect race to pair with AR50 as it takes place a month before the 50 miler and would be a great last long run before starting to taper.

I had plans to get up early and run 12 miles today, from Cavitt to Rattlesnake bar. Unfortunately my comfy bed and cuddle husband won out and I decided to lay around for a couple hours. Then I ate left overs from Buca Di Beppo and needed to wait for that to settle before running. After several delays, I met Corinne at Rattlesnake, dropped off my car, and we headed to Cavitt. We had a nice slow run, even though we took a couple wrong turns and turned 12 miles into 13.5 or so. We raced the sun to the finish. I was starving so was glad Jason had set out some Venison back straps. I threw those in the pan to simmer with some onion, bell pepper, chili powder, beef bullion, tomatoes, and garlic and headed for a bath with a glass of Zin from Perry Creek winery that we got while wine tasting in Fair Play yesterday. Great finish to a nice weekend.

Tear jerker Tuesday...

Grab a tissue. This one gets me every time. Then commit to push yourself beyond your limits and do what before you could have only imagined!!!!

 

Here is a more in depth video on Team Hoyt. Amazing and inspiring, to say the least.

Running in the Rain....

It's December! The last month of 2012 and I still have forever to go to hit my yearly running goal of 1000 miles (that sounded doable in January, but turns out I'm kind of lazy and apparently like to hurt myself). So I have a new goal of at least 100 miles this month. That breaks down to about 3 miles a day or 25 a week. I took Dec. 1 and Dec 2 off because it was POURING outside and I didn't feel like going running, much less swimming. Dec. 3 I squeezed in an easy 3 miles with Ash.

So now its Dec. 4th. So far I'd logged 3 miles for the month but should be at 12 by the end of the day, however; I bailed on my plans to go running with friends because its rainy outside and I'd rather sit in my pj's and drink wine or eat chocolate. But then I felt guilty just thinking about not running and consuming all that deliciousness. How will I ever be able to run 50 miles in April if I can't get outside for just a few now??? I remembered this picture that I had saved to my Pinterest board  (Running/Exercise) and thought it was suiting for tonight. 

 

 So I added the layers and grabbed my running gloves (perfect for wiping your nose during cold runs) and decided I would go for three. I decided to take the street route so I could run over the freeway and get in a least that one hill before turning around and calling it good at 3 miles. But I hit my turn around point and decided to keep going. I had no water and no music, and no TOILET PAPER, and if you know me that can be especially risky, but I was feeling daring. I turned my 3 miler into a 6 miler and was able to finish the run with 9 miles for the month. I'm technically still behind 3 miles and will be taking tomorrow and Thursday off but will be able to catch up with a medium run on Friday (4-8) and a 10-12 miler on Sunday.

 

Now I'm home drinking a mug of spiked Hot Cocoa and fully enjoying it because I earned it!

 

 

Peer pressure

Work  was EXHAUSTING today. Kindergarteners, a rainy day, indoor recess, and a field trip do not mix well. But today was not a total loss. Peer pressure won out and Ashley and Corinne decided to committ to Way Too Cool 50k and AR50, respectively. I am beyond excited for them. I'm selfishly excited for myself too because I now have training buddies!! I have to admit that I sort of tricked them into committing because they thought I had registered them for the races already, but they've committed and I won't take no for an answer now!

We decided to opt out of a Tuesday night run and run today instead, not thinking about the rainy weather. Somehow we managed to get in 11 slow and easy miles, play at the park, and pick up sushi to stuff our faces with after we finished the run. Ash was pushing the stroller and had to smell dinner for the last 3 miles, but it was worth it! Running with two great friends was the perfect way to end a crazy day.

We started talking about this blog and my purpose in posting here. I have a few reasons including increasing my own accountability to running and having a place to post what inspires me, but one of my main reasons is because I have been talking to many people lately who say that they could never be runners - and I don't believe them. Here's another one of my favorite running videos that helps me remember that if he can do it, so can I (and so can you).

Running Inspiration: Arthur Boorman

I run because I can and because I know that there may be a day when I can't. I run because it releases stress and relaxes me mentally and physically. I run because I love to eat, especially things with butter and sugar in them. I run for balance, for perspective, for strength. BUT. I don't always feel like running. In fact, I OFTEN don't feel like running. So then I need inspiration. Here's a little inspirational video I came across today. Its people like this who make me want to run.

Running 50 miles doesn't seem as hard after watching that. :)