2011 Year End Review

The obligatory year end recap.

My 2011 goals: 

under 2 hour half - check 

a 'faster than first marathon' marathon - check

complete an ultra - check

run at least 1500 miles - damn you left foot and job stress, close but not quite

lots of ab work - um...yeah, not so much.

The accomplishments:

January - Officially started a new job.  Let the stress begin.  On the running front, went full circle and repeated the 5 mile race that pretty much prompted the whole dedication to running thing in 2010.  Off to a good start...

February - Attempted to start training for my 2nd marathon and was de-railed by the whole month in China for work thing.  



I will pose awkwardly in front on this tree while dude on the left will totally pose for this picture.

March - Came back home and after quite possibly the longest, worst travel experience ever (all of the trouble happened after I had landed back in the US), I somehow managed to complete goal number 1, running the Chambersburg Half under 2 hours, just a day after I got home. 

Side note:  That recap post is by far the one search engines hit the most, I doubt too many people find my tips for a sub-two half very helpful.

  



Wait...is that the finish line?  And what does that clock say?  Must be why I look like I'm about to die.



April - Turned a point to point 15K into a 30K and had the first bout of 'funky left foot' issue.  Pretty much gave up on marathon training because I just wasn't into it with everything else going on around me.



The waist pack is so attractive, plus the cropped pants on a short person, not sure a great combo.



May - Turned 30, ran the Pittsburgh marathon (completing goal #2 by running faster than my first -even if I wasn't fully prepared) and got the third dog the day after the marathon.

June - Totally not into running post-marathon.  Vacationed, wallowed and watched sunsets to escape the madness of work.

July - Ran a 5K, got a new PR which seemed to get me moving again and excited for the fall.  

August - Ran a 5 miler, got a new PR, hitting my goal of under 40 minutes.  More excitement and motivation.

September -  Ran a 30K at an 'easy' pace.  Felt good about it and my potential - excitement and motivation continues to build. 

The next week, ran a 5K with the dog.

October - And the next week...slipped, slided and crawled my way up, over and around this mountain in the rain, mud and the cold.  Ended up having many memories, like Spiderman lady and 'tap, tap, tap, tap, tap' hiking pole man.  The day was totally worth the craziness and hours of fun.

Those rocks look different when you stare up them.



I will not fall on the rocks...I hate these rocks...I will not fall on these rocks...



Rested a few days and then hit the road with the ultra Ragnar girls to run Ragnar PA, having another highly memorable weekend full of lots of fun - even if I officially injured my foot. 

Note to self, do not race four weekends in a row, especially when they are all weird, random events.

November - After a one week delay due to snow, it was time to tackle a 50K, which I barely, barely completed in time.  Bad foot, bad day, but of course, I want to go back and tackle more ultras for revenge.  That was pretty much the extent of November due to my forced time off. 

Maybe it would've gone better if I wasn't sleeping while running...

December - Not a whole lot going on but with a pretty much healed foot and an exciting new year coming, it's time to get motivated...as soon as I get rid of the plague that hit me last week.  Husband blames running outside in the cold (and continuing to run in cold while sick).  I blame going to a dance recital and sitting in an auditorium full of people and children.  Children = germs, right?   

Goals for 2012 - Pretty simple - bigger, badder ultras, and new PRs in every distance along the way.  Yep, that's it...bring it on third year of running!  Coming soon, the plan for doing this.