Welcome, 2012

A new year, new goals:

1) Run with Greg (and Cedric) at least once a week

2) PR at the 10k distance

3) Put at least 3500 miles on my tri bike

4) Be able to do 30 continuous full pushups

Settled on my workout schedule for the next couple of months:

Monday - Off

Tuesday - Cycling and hot Vinyasa Yoga

Wednesday - PR Core class and run with PR Fitness

Thursday - Run and PR Strength class

Friday - Long swim

Saturday - Long Run with PR Fitness

Sunday - Long bike, run with Greg, Yin Yoga and Core and Swim with Tri team

Great Reward

I linked my last post to the "Head Goat" of Running Fit and he rewarded me with 2 free race entries and a Running Fit Gift card. So awesome. Then I got a letter and certificate from more of the Running Fit Adventure crew with a free entry in to the Triceratops triathlon. I love Running Fit. I'm going to frame and hang up my certificate to remind myself I'm pretty cool on those days I'm just not feeling it.

Unfortunately, I just haven't been feeling it this past week. I acquired a horrible cold. It's quite hard to decide when it's better for you to workout and when it's better for you to rest. I took more time off than usual this illness because my throat was painfully sore and I couldn't bear the thought of passing more oxygen past the irritated skin than absolutely necessary. I'm feeling significantly improved this week and eager to get back to the bike, swim, run, core, and yoga.

Summary - Running Fit Adventure

Holiday Hustle - 5k race results:

Time: 22:30 (post-partum PR)

Place: 118 of 1076

AG: 9 of 84

The Holiday Hustle last night brings my 2011 Running Fit Adventure to a close. In summary:

• 16 Running Fit races completed along with two extra events
• Volunteer at 1 Running Fit race
• 3 Running Fit races missed: Dances with Dirt - Devils Lake, Pterodactyl Tri, and Run Vasa. The first two missed because I was preparing and taking my preliminary exam. Run Vasa missed because it was too close to my ultra.
• Completed my first triathlon and first ultra
• Dropped 1 min/mile off my best 1/2 marathon and 5k times from 2010
• 11 age group awards
• Favorite race - Dances with Dirt - Hell 50 mile
• Favorite event - Run Woodstock
• Race I wish I could afford to travel to again in 2012: Dances with Dirt - Green Swamp
• Least favorite race - Shamrocks and Shenanigans - needs some traffic management to deal with the fact that runners need to be able to pass walkers in the multiloop course
• Proudest accomplishment - finishing my first open water swim (800m) without stopping or panicking
• Over $1k spent on race registrations - but at least I have a ton of new tech shirts, beer glasses, mugs, and awesome memories

In addition in 2011:

• I fell in love with yoga
• Started running and working with with an awesome group of people at PR Fitness

What is up for 2012? More triathlons, shorter distance races (to focus more on speed and to have more time for other aspects of life), picking up the Running Fit races I missed in 2011, going for 10k and 1/2 marathon PRs.

All of this is subject to change if I end up going to Vancouver this summer and get a lottery place in the Knee Knocker - 30 mile race.

Lots of Updates

I've been quite neglectful with my posting duties.

Run Woodstock:
The race was unofficially renamed "Mudstock" this year. I made an unwise decision to run sock-less for the 1/2 marathon, in old road shoes (read: no traction). I did more skating than running and ended up with some very large and painful blisters. The runs without results were informal, non-timed events. Despite the trail conditions, still an awesome running weekend.

Friday night: 5k

Saturday morning: 1/2 marathon
Time: 2:27:26
Place: 108 of 326
AG: 5 of 20

Saturday night: short 10k ~ 5 miles
Sunday morning: 5 mile

DwD Hell:

My first ultra. I had an awesome time. I just kind of got into the zone and didn't think about anything. Kept my goal pace of 12 min miles until the 1/2 way point and then I started to drop off. Larry O'Sullivan pulled me in the last 10 miles. This was an awesome experience.

Time: 11:25:30
Place: 41 of 67
AG: 2 of 2


Spartan Sprint Tri:

I'm still not a swimmer, but with short pool swims, it barely matters!

400m swim: 9:35 (29 of 36 collegiate females)
T1: 1:49
20k bike: 37:46 (9 of 36 collegiate females)
T2: 1:18
5k run: 22:53 (10 of 36 collegiate females)

Total time: 1:13:18 (9 of 36 collegiate females)

Arbpocalypse 5k:

Maybe the first race I've won?

Time: 24:32
Place: 10 of 52
Gender: 1 of 28

Run, Scream, Run 5k:

Fun course!

Time: 24:05
Place: 46 of 724
AG: 3 of 85

T-Rex Triathlon

Race Results:

0.5 mile swim: 20:08 (71%)
T1: 1:17
12 mile bike: 37:57 (46%)
T2: 0:42
3.1 mile run: 24:08 (25%)
Overall Time: 1:24:13 (40%)
AG: 4 of 17
Overall Place: 165 of 413

*Percentiles based on the entire field (men and women)

I dropped my time by 5 minutes from the last triathlon, with pretty much the entire improvement coming on the swim portion. This time I was much more confident on the swim, so I pushed myself a bit harder. I also did a better job of watching the buoys and staying on the course. Transitions went better as well, with the exception of forgetting my towel (to dry your feet before you put your socks on) and having one of my research samples in my bike shoes.

I was quite surprised to hear my name called for an age group award. It's not too much to brag about though, as the field for this triathlon was weaker than it was for the first one.

Triathlons are a lot of fun. I look forward to continuing to do them. Maybe even moving up to a longer distance.

Red Carpet Run - 5k

Results:

Time: 23:19 (7:31 pace)
Place: 39 of 245
AG: 5 of 40

Barely made it to the race on time, weekday races are hard. I got stuck in stop-go traffic 1.3 miles from the race start. I needed to (a) get to the race, (b) warm up for at least a mile, and (c) use the facilities. I parked at an abandoned K-mart, ran into Duncan Donuts for a pit stop, and then ran to the race start for my warm up. I picked up my number just as they were calling 5 minutes for the start. A nice volunteer let me leave my glasses with her, as I had forgotten to take them off at the car.

The race itself went okay. My pace was steady the whole run, and I was spent at the end. I had my best 5k time this year, though it probably would have been faster if my bum wasn't crazy sore from squats in yoga class yesterday.

At the finish I got a wine glass (with wine) and I also got a diamond shaped prism for placing in my AG.

I was lame and didn't go with the theme of the race, which was to dress up like you were on the red carpet. I hate dressing up, and if I was on a red carpet for some reason, I might just wear my workout clothes. I did wear a necklace, which was annoying, and earrings, so some effort was made.

Long Time, No Update

It's been a long while since I've updated, mostly due to the fact that it's been a long time since I've raced. My goal of running all Running Fit Events in 2011 will not be realized, as I missed two races (Dances with Dirt Devil's Peak and Pterodactyl Triathlon) due to needed to devote more time to my preliminary exam. I'm still aiming to finish all of the remaining races, with the intent of picking up the two I missed this year in 2012.

Race Results from The Legend 1/2 Marathon:

Time: 2:02:43 (9:22 pace)
Place: 25 of 196
AG: 5 of 17

The race didn't go quite as well as I had hoped, but I didn't take into account heat and humidity when setting my pace goals. There is really nothing to do when the weather is bad, besides to hydrate property and to change your expectations.