2011 Goals

The last day of 2010. This is the day where we runners tally up the 2010 mileage, our achievements and the race reports. Then we turn our thoughts to the upcoming year: a blank slate!

I have to say I've learned a lot in 2010. Some of the lessons:

• I'm not flexible.
  
• If I want to run long distances, I have to stretch, do yoga and visit my physiotherapist every 6 weeks.
  
• Listening to my body prevents injury.
• Running without music is, suprisingly, more fun that running with Lady Gaga blasting in my ears.

My 2010 mileage was 491.62km (I'm still mastering the GarminConnect reports feature). Not too shabby given all I went through!

So, now here come the 2011 goals:
1. Run the Ottawa Half Marathon.
2. Expand to running 4 days a week.
3. Set a new course PR at Emilie's Run 5K in June (current one is 30:08).

I'm registered for races up until the end of July. After that, who knows. I might be travelling with my husband in the Fall, or I could do the Army Run HM... I would love to do a marathon next year but I want to finish the half first before I commit to 42.2!

The Annual "Looking Back" Post

I apologize profusely for not posting the last couple of months. Work went absolutely bonkers in early September and didn't stop until right before Christmas. The new year promises to be just as bananas... Hooray! I think.

I've managed to continue running and have only needed to drop the occasional run here and there. I've built my base back up to where it was this time last year: 26K/week. I'm running 7/7/12 and I hope to migrate that to four runs a week in the new year. I just need to remember to watch my pace on the long run. I kind of get carried away, especially when I'm cold. I need to warm up somehow!

Last year I did the whole year in review post. It's been a handy one to look back on, especially when it comes to that motivation and optimism that I had a year ago. It's too bad that it all went down the tubes only hours after I wrote the post.

As for my 2010 goals, here's how I did:

1. Finish the Ottawa Half Marathon

Didn't even start the 2010 Ottawa HM. But I won't let it win...

2. Drink more water

Doing much better on this one. It's a little less measurable than the other goals listed here, but I can definitely feel the difference in my body when I'm hydrated, whether it's first thing in the morning or during a run.

3. Improve my 5K and 10K times.

Improve? Ha, I was lucky to run 5Ks and 10Ks. No new personal bests were set this year, but I came pretty darn close on the 10K. Hopefully next year I can improve.

4. Run 1300 km.

The loss of five months of running and my base totally set me off course in my pursuit of this goal. I'll end up with just over 500KM run as I have one more run to go tomorrow.

Soon I'll have to turn my attention towards my 2011 goals. I have a few in mind...

The best laid plans...

Life and work have been hectic lately, so I haven't had much time to think about posting here. I hope everyone's well!

Physio is chugging along. The last few sessions have been pretty intense. I'll admit that I dropped a few f-bombs during needling. See, my physiotherapist doesn't just stick needles in and leave you on the bed to pass out... she actively moves them in and out of muscles. It hurts, but it works. It's a good thing I like her, or else I don't think I'd ever want to see her again! haha.

I have two more weeks of multiple sessions per week, then I move to one session a week and I get to start running again! Yippee! Just in time for awesome spring-time running.

The thought of running again led me to seriously look at my racing plans for 2010. I sat down and looked at my schedule and timing for the half marathon on May 30. I realized that it's going to be tough to fit in a 10-week training plan starting from scratch. I haven't run in 2 months.

My husband and I were talking it over last night and I think that dropping out of the HM to run the 10K is a much more sane idea. I really don't want to try to train for the HM only to end up injured, again. The safer approach is to work my back up to the 10K for Ottawa Race Weekend, and then focus on a fall Half Marathon. The extra few months will give me enough time to safely rebuild my base mileage, to continue to build my core, and to properly train for the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles.

I'm lucky in that Ottawa has tons of races of all distances year round, so there's lots to choose from later in the racing season. My favourite race of the racing season, Emilie's Run 5K, is in mid-June and I don't want to miss it. It's a flat course with a fast field, so the race is a good bet for a new personal record in the 5K.

This whole adventure has been a tough pill to swallow, but I know that I'm going to be a stronger and faster runner by the end.

Looking back and looking forward

It's January 1st. Hubby and I are cuddled up on the couch, with the cat under the blanket, watching the Winter Classic on TV. I've been wanting to write this post for awhile now, so today seemed like a good day to do it.

2009 was a pretty good year for me. The highs include:

• my first race at the inaugural Winterman event in February, where I ran the 5K in -7C and snow.
• running the Ottawa MDS Nordion 10K in May. The crowds and race experience were incredible!
• Setting repeated PRs in the 5K throughout the year, finishing with 28:09 at the Cookie Run in November.
• Running over 750 KM in 2009, more than double my 2008 total.
• Getting married!

I capped off 2009 with the Running Room's Resolution Run last night. The temperature was -11C, but it had snowed most of the day, so the footing was pretty treacherous. There was no PR for me, but I had a lot of fun. Saw a guy wearing gold tights, while others wore Christmas lights or New Year's Eve party hats. I can't wait to try out the fancy new jacket I got for entering.

Now for looking forward. Well, 2010 promises to be equally great! Some of my goals for this year are:

• Finish the Ottawa Half Marathon (time goal to come later).
• Drink more water.
• Improve my 5K and 10K times.
• Run 1300 km.

Cheers! And Happy New Year!

Army Run DNS

I didn't run the Army Run 5Kthis morning. I'm feeling better than I was a few days ago, but I'm still not feeling great. I can't help but feel a bit sad about missing the run, given I registered 3 months ago and it was my goal race. But, I know it's for the best and that being healthy for the wedding is more important.

While I trained for the last month, 5Ks are a very approachable race. I could run one next weekend if I wanted to. Thankfully there are still a few more in the region in the next month and a half. It's not like this race and goal was a half-marathon or marathon where I'd trained long and hard over 12 or 16 weeks. Right now, I'm targeting a 5K in the beginning of November.

I did get a new fancy long-sleeved tech tee out of it though!

Pre-wedding and pre-Army Run jitters

My wedding is coming up in 3 weeks. This means no slacking off in the eating or exercise departments. I tried on my dress this week and I can't gain weight. It fits like a glove!

Since I can't slack off on Weight Watchers and running, I've decided to set a goal for my 5K and a food-related reward. If I break 30:00, I get key lime pie. I finished my last serious race with training in 30:01 (on my Nike+) or 30:08 (chip time, no mat at the starting line). I really think I can do it this time. I've added in some modest speedwork and I've been realistic about my weekly mileage. I hope these decisions pay off on race day.

I'm excited and nervous for this race, as it's going to be a big field. All my 5Ks have been relatively small races of only a few hundred runners. The Army Run, however, is going to be big. REALLY BIG. They had a cap of 7,000 runners last year, a number that was split between the 5K and half-marathon distances. This year, the organizers removed the limit on the number of runners. The thing is, a 5K is a very attractive distance for a lot of people. It's very approachable to the average runner and people who are in shape, but aren't runners. It's a great introductory distance for new runners and big, publicized races tend to attract a lot of them. I expect a lot of jostling, a lot of newbies, people in the wrong starting position and walkers all over the place. It'll be a challenge, that's for sure.

But I'm still excited. There's nothing like the atmosphere of big races like the Army Run. The crowd support is amazing. It gives me the chills just thinking of it. And seeing that many people in one place to run is an inspiring sight.

My first half-marathon

I've registered for my first half-marathon! I'm so excited!

I committed to running shorter distances in 2009. I ran one 10K and the rest were all 5Ks. I wanted to get some experience racing and just enjoy running. I didn't want to immerse myself in running, or burn out, either. I often just jump into something so whole-heartedly that I end up just dropping it part-way through. I've done with other hobbies and activities. Another reason for the shorter races was the fact that I didn't have the time to do the necessary training for anything longer than a 10K.

As I've raced throughout this season, I've become more comfortable with the thought of the half-marathon. It seems like a good challenge, both mentally and physically. The mental side of the distance (21K) is daunting, but I think I can do it. And in the Winter/Spring I'll have the time to really work on building up my base mileage and I'll be able to devote enough time to properly train for a good half-marathon time.

It feels really good to have registered and committed to the half-marathon.

August Running Goal

My exercise goal for August is to run three times a week. So far, so good! I ran on Sunday to make up my third run of the week - it was just a short 3K to get the cobwebs out after my Ultimate playoffs on Saturday.

I've been following a Nike+ Intermediate 5K program in an effort to achieve a time goal at my next race. I had to alter it quite a bit to fit my schedule and to dial back the intensity, too. For the first few weeks I had Ultimate on Tuesdays, so I reduced the mileage increases to compensate for the Ultimate games. Now that Ultimate's over, the mileage starts to increase. Last week was 12K, this week is 15K, then 19K next week, holding at 19K the week after, then a cutback week to 11K. The program initially featured some drastic mileage increases, no cutback weeks after weeks of increases, as well as hills and speedwork. All of this was a little too intense for me, given my mileage base and my running experience.

My achilles is a little sore, so I'm being very diligent about warm-ups, cool-downs, stretching and icing. Other than that, I'm experiencing no problems. I'm looking forward to my rest day today!

I just hope that the transition back to regular running, the mileage base and the bit of speedwork in the plan will all translate into a sub-30:00 5K time at my goal race in September. I finished in 30:08 (chiptime) at a 5K in June, though my iPod showed 30:01 because there was no chip timing mat at the start line.

Oh and I got my running skirt from Runningskirts.com - including a free gift of a tote back, technical tank in pink to match the black and pink skirt, a headband and a chapstick! Kudos to Cindy and Christy at Runningskirts.com. What an awesome bonus gift!