This picture pretty much sums up how I feel about 2014 so far. Running Finish another five half marathons in five days. Done! Loved it so much I'm already scheming about one for 2015, plus pieces of two other series. I love Mainly Marathons! Run 14 16 half marathons in 2014. 10 down! 6 more to go this year (wonder if I'll end up doing more than 16.) Run half marathons in 4 new states and one new country. 4 states done! Ireland coming up this summer NEW GOAL - Venus - I made this goal after I wrote my original post. 13 half marathons in 79 days. 10 done, 3 more to go. The last one will be a huge celebration at ZOOMA Annapolis. (Join me - use code ANNAMB8 for 10% off! ) Fitness/Physical Health Keep moving our … [Read more...]
1st quarter in the rearview mirror
Despite the weather, 2014 is off to a fabulous start. I ran a LOT of miles in the first few months: 144, 115, 200! There was some creative managing and I ran way more miles on the treadmill than, well, ever, but in the end, I pretty much nailed my training. I maxed out at a 54 mile week and had a total of 5 weeks over 40 miles. I even managed to run two faster than I thought I could half marathons, despite very little fast running at all. My confidence level going into the five half marathons in five days is way higher than it was for last year's event. Note to self: don't get cocky. It's still a lot of miles. Since it feels like I've done nothing but run for the last three months, it's time to evaluate all my goals. Running … [Read more...]
Ready to take on 2014!
I don't love 14 like I do 13, but that's ok, it can still be an awesome year. I'm a "goals not resolutions" girl, so this format for goals really kept me on track last year, so I'm trying it again. Running Finish another five half marathons in five days. I'm super excited to be sharing this with Kim and I look forward to seeing some of the awesome people I met at Dust Bowl. Running these kind of events is like a running party! Run 14 16 half marathons in 2014. Yes, I did say 16. I only meant to do 14, but well... Run half marathons in 4 new states and one new country. Yes, Ireland, I'm comin' for ya! Fitness/Physical Health Keep moving our whole family down the path towards healthier eating and more … [Read more...]
Closing out my lucky ’13
I proclaimed last January that 2013 was going to be epic. Was it? Maybe. It was definitely a challenging year with some awesome highs and some scary moments. In the end, I'd have to say that while the year was not perfect, it was pretty darn good. So how did I do on my goals? Running I have one major goal for running this year: Don't hurt myself. - Admittedly, I blew this one early on when I hurt my calf in February, but once I healed, I did a good job of staying uninjured. Everything else is just details. Finish my five half marathons in five days. Preferably upright and smiling. - I ROCKED this! And I loved it so much I'm doing another one. Run 13 half marathons in 2013 (mix of Virtual and IRL). - I actually ran … [Read more...]
Well, that was expensive + 1 more month
I've only gone shopping on Black Friday once in my life that I can remember. My first year working as a professional I went a little crazy at Macy's buying work clothes. But going crazy in the women's department at Macy's is a bit different from camping out at Best Buy three days in advance. (Yes, that happened around here. My time is worth more than that.) Now there's online shopping. Whoa, Nelly! I may have gone a teeny tiny bit crazy. Wanna know what I got? 2 running skirts + 1 running capri from Skirt Sports many boxes of nuun (no, I'm not telling you how many) a large number of Simply Snackin' beef snacks entry into Zooma Annapolis (yes, I'm going back and I have the single goal of running faster than the first … [Read more...]
Call me crazy
So, I've started looking at my plans for 2014. In fact, I've started registering - 6 already paid for and 1 I'll be registering for tomorrow. I'm finding two problems: I'm missing 1 race for the 13 in 79 days (found one) AND I'll have a race every weekend for 6 weeks. I'm not worried about the physical aspect (I'm good at running races at an easy pace), but can I really commit one morning EVERY weekend in May to running a race. Hmmm... I know I can do 14 in 2014, just have to decide if Venus is worth it. Here are my tentative races: March 15, 2014 - Rock 'n' Roll DC Registered. March 30, 2014 - Runners Marathon of Reston (Half ) April 12-16, 2014 - Mainly Marathons Riverboat Series (5 states, 5 days) - … [Read more...]
So, how are those goals workin’ for ya?
At the beginning of the year, I declared "This year is going to be epic. I just know it. After all, 13 is my lucky number." So far, this year has indeed been epic. I'm on track for 13 half marathons in 2013 and that sets me up nicely for 13 halves in 79 days in the spring. Thanks goodness for another 5 in 5 series to give me a boost. Running I have one major goal for running this year: Don't hurt myself. (OK, I hurt myself, but I bounced back.) Everything else is just details. Finish my five half marathons in five days. Preferably upright and smiling. Knocked this out of the park!!! Run 13 half marathons in 2013 (mix of Virtual and IRL). 8 done already, remaining 5 signed up for. All IRL! Run 13 IRL races (not … [Read more...]
Reevaluating and rebalancing
Recently, Beer Geek and I met with our financial advisor. We are in touch with him fairly regularly, but this is the first time in a while that we've sat down and reevaluated our goals and what we are doing to reach those goals. We discovered three things: Some of our priorities have changed and have thereby changed our goals. Some of our goals have been met or our path towards certain goals is still the right path. Some of our paths need to be tweaked. One of the things that came out of this is that we needed to rebalance some of our funds and change the way certain amounts of money are being invested. This is not an unusual occurence - different returns mean different pieces grow differently and can result in a situation … [Read more...]
Getting back on the horse
I kind of took June off. I exercised (some). I ran (a little). I walked (not much). And I'm feeling it. In the tightness of my shorts. In my mental state. It's time to get back on the horse. While I don't need to train for anything in particular, I do need to get back on a schedule and get back in the habit of exercise, before I slide down that slippery slope to sitting on the couch eating potato chips as my main exercise. It's time to see what I've accomplished in the first half of the year and think about what I'll try to accomplish in the second half. Perhaps I need to add some goals. Running I have one major goal for running this year: Don't hurt myself. (OK, I hurt myself, but I bounced back.) Everything else is … [Read more...]
A girl in search of a goal
I think I'm feeling a bit of post race blues. I didn't run yesterday, but not because I felt in any way like I couldn't. My legs were a bit tired, but not at all sore. I spent three hours with Shoo and a classmate walking around the (very hilly) National Zoo with no issues. So, yeah, physically I feel fine. Mentally? I feel lost. I've had a big year so far. 5 half marathons in five days? Check Girls' weekend half marathon? Check Working Nike Women Half Marathon? Check Rock the Frederick Running Festival races? Check And boom! I'm done. Don't get me wrong. I have big future goals: 6 more half marathons in 2013 for a total of 13 (but none are actually paid for/scheduled) Another 5 in 5 in spring of 2014 … [Read more...]
Goals Revisited
At the beginning of the year, I declared "This year is going to be epic. I just know it. After all, 13 is my lucky number." And so far, it has been. I trained hard, I broke myself, and yet, somehow, I accomplished my big goal of finishing my five half marathons in five days. Definitely finished upright and smiling. So where do I go from here? I think it's time to get back on track with food, bring in some cross training, and live my life for a little while. Because I already have my sites set on another 5 in 5. That's right. I enjoyed it so much, I'm doing it again. Riverboat Series, you will be mine. Until then, the plan is one half marathon a month, with back to back halves in Rhode Island and Connecticut in … [Read more...]
Lucky 13
This year is going to be epic. I just know it. After all, 13 is my lucky number. But, you know, even if it's not epic, that's ok. I'll be more than happy with another year of raising healthy, happy boys, hanging with my wonderful husband, spending as much time as possible with my parents, and socializing with my friends. 2012 wasn't perfect, but it was a good year, and I'd be content with another like it. With that said, I do have a few goals for this year... Running I have one major goal for running this year: Don't hurt myself. Everything else is just details. Finish my five half marathons in five days. Preferably upright and smiling. Run 13 half marathons in 2013 (mix of Virtual and IRL). Run 13 IRL races … [Read more...]
