Thursday, January 10, 2013

Goofy Thoughts and Goals

The BIG DAY is less than 48 hours away!  I am headed to Disney on Friday to get settled in, check out the expo and be a social TNT butterfly.

I cannot believe how quick time flies.  I remember signing up for this race with Team in Training back when I was at my old school, which means, May 2012! Seriosly, what was I thinking?  I am really excited, nervous, anxious about these races.  I am a mixed bag of emotions.  If this is your first time stopping by, the Goofy and a half challenge is a half marathon on Saturday followed by the full marathon on Sunday.  That is 39.3 miles of fun throught the happiest place on earth.  That is also countless hours on my feet. 

I am not sure if I have ever done a pre-race post before actually. 

This training cycle was all types of screwed up.  I wasn't able to train for my back to back runs because I was focused on the NY Marathon and was told not to do them yet and would start after NY.  I figured, after NY I would be in great shape, but I wasn't.  I started fighting overuse pains..ALL OVER.. Places I didn't know can hurt, or would hurt from running.  My training plan wasn't that feasable with my work schedue.  I simply could not get in two hour runs after school, two days a week.  I know how to make a plan for myself, or modify it to best meet the needs to me and my schedule now.  After NY, I was able to train with Team in Training again.  I love those people.  I am very lucky I had peole to meet, people to eat with, and discuss the stuff only runners talk about.  I got sick run after run and the long runs suffered.  Don't get me wrong, I did have some great runs!  I am finally seeing my speed improve on shorter distances.  (I can't wait to tackle the half marathon distance again).  I got burnt out, I am tired, and I am ready for a break.

Im scared.  I am scared I didn't put in all the training. 
Im confident.  I am confident that I will make it to that finishing line, somehow.
Im panicking.  I am panicking about the weather.  Have you seein it yet?  I am no speedy gonzalez, so I will me still out there when the sun is up and it beating down on me.  You are told to dress like it is 20 degrees warmer when running, I should be in just my swuimsuit then.  Hydration? Stomach?  All issues running through my head.
Im happy.  I am so happy I get to share the accomplishments of so many individuals who will be crossing the finish line to their first half or full marathon
Im stuffy.  I am starting to feel human again, I can almost breathe.  I was sick for three days.  I was breathless walking up 1 flight of stairs.
Im ready.  I am ready to toe those start lines!  As much as there have been problems, I am ready, and maybe as ready as I ever will be.  JUST GET HERE ALREADY!!


After 13.1, how will 26.2 feel? HELP!


My goals:
Apparently this is what peole want to read.  Who would have thought.  I am still thinking about these and tweeking it honestly.  There has been so much to happen and things to consider.  The weather, being sick, corral placement, back to back runs; that I am scared to really set goals.  I know that as long as I finish, I will be happy



13.1 Saturday:

A: Have fun, enjoy, walk some, run some, take pictures.  Not go in with the intention to set any records
B. 2:30-2:45  That means I probably stopped once and the heat is getting to me
C: Sub 2:26 I feel amazing and I am going to PR because I think I could if I tried :)

26.2:

A:Sub 5:25
B:Sub 5:35
C:Sub 6

I am being very broud on the marathon goals becasue of the back to backs.  If I feel amazing, my goal is to fun it :) Sub 5:30 here I go.  As long as I go under 6, Iwill be a happy little camper after my last marathon experience

Have you ever ran a back to bakc race?  What did you do to prepare or recover?
Will you be at Disney?  I would probably love to meet you!

If you would like to track me, let me know.  I will be happy to give you my last name! Just ask
 

Monday, January 7, 2013

Getting Dirty!

I am so excited to be all registered to participate in the Go Dirty Girl Mud Run!
This will be my first mud run!
I have heard only great things so I am ready!!



This event is a girls only event aimed for all ages and athletic abilities!

I am so excited I was contacted to be an ambassador for this!  I already have friends telling me her and her family want to participate in this event.  

Can't wait to see you our there Nicole!

This is a 5k distance (3.1 miles) with a muddy obstacle course.  This is the perfect way to get those new year resolutions or goals in.  Prepared to get DIRTY! 

To make it even better, "Having the dirtiest time of your life isn't all you'll be doing out there. A portion of all registration fees is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation."

For all my readers in Florida, there are 3 races coming up! Miami is January 19th, Jacksonville on January 26th and you can join me in Tampa on February 9th! Use the discount code FLBLOGGUEST for 20% off any Florida run!! You can sign up as a team or as an individual. 

Check out their website for some more info: www.godirtygirl.com

Have you ever participated in a mud run? 
What should I expect?  What should I wear?



Sunday, January 6, 2013

Weekly Workout Recap & Goofy Training Week 9 & Taper

I cannot believe that 9 weeks have passed with Training for this insane event Called the Disney Goofy and a Half challenge.  What was I thinking when I signed up for this with Team in Training?

Oh that is right, I will be in great shape after the New York City Marathon and this will be a breeze.  Well, I was wrong!


According to my DailyMile acount, this week was a great week!  I will have to agree with it.

I am secretly loving taper week.  Some runs were more difficult than other but that 5 miles on Monday was amazing.  I had off this week so it was a lot more convenient to get my miles in.  For the last week of training I have to go back to work sadly.  I only have 8 miles on the schedule during the week.  I will probably do 4 of them :)

Here is a rundown of my runs:
*Monday: 5 miles @ 9:48 pace.  I am not sure where that came from but it really helped with my mind in terms of getting faster.  Something I have been struggling with for a while now.
*Tuesday: New years Day, that was rough.  It hurt and was hard to maintain the 10:53 pace
*Thursday: 6 miles at 11:19.  It was hot and 100% humidity.  It was hard, my legs felt it.  
*Saturday: 8 lovely miles with my favorite TEAM! 10:34 pace.  I was ecstatic about that.  I cannot wait to be done with Disney so I can truly begin working on getting faster!!

I am hoping I have the time to blog this week and share my goals for Disney.  As I have to back to back races, I intent to go in to it for "FUN" but I may have a goal up my sleeve for the Marathon portion considering how terrible my first marathon was.

How do you set your goals for marathons?
How do you pace yourself?
Have you run with a pace group and what what your thoughts?



Grab a button and link up!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A year of running in review 2012 style

2012

So much yet so little happened! In the running field!

I started of 2012 with a running injury and ended it with 100+ miles in December.
It has taught me so much.

I borrowed this format from Beka.  She had a pretty kick butt year!


Best race experience Women's Half Marathon was by far the best from start to finish. I came into this race as ready as I was going to be.  I was training hard for the NYC Marathon so my legs were nice and fresh.  If I was going to PR, it was going to be this race.  I went in with the intention to enjoy myself, which is exactly what I did.  I didn't go in beating myself up if I didn't PR.  The day before I did 9 mile, my IT Band hurt and so did my stomach.  I managed to pull out a 9 minute PR from a half I did less than a month ago.  I love the support out there, I was there with friends.  I ran with a pacer for the last 5 miles which helped pull me along.  I was on cloud 9 because I wasn't sure this was something I could pull off.  I didn't tell anyone I had the goal of a 2:30 half.  I was just going to go out there and have fun!  I did and it paid off.

Best run 
- This is a toss of between the Color run, which I have yet to do a recap on or my 22 miles before before NY.  The color run was amazing!  I had so much fun.  I was able to run it with my (blood) sister, sorority sisters, and friends!  It was so laid back, had no expectations and smiling ear to ear after it *for about a week*.I don't remember too much about the 22 mile run, just that it hurt, I did it, and I knew I was ready for NY.  I knew I had 4 more miles in me, I ran that 22 smart:)

Best new piece of gear - My compression gear!  I have never ran or had these items before this year, and I love it!!!!

Best piece of running advice you received - Don't over do it!  Or anything that comes out of my Coaches mouth.  Maybe to stop whining?

Most inspirational runner -
 Oh this one is tough.  I have this idea in my head to do an ode to my inspiration runners.  These runners I met through blogging or have gotten closer with through blogging.  They are ordinary people who totally rock my world!  They are always so positive and motivating!  I am happy I can call them IRL friends :)Meghan, ToriBekaKat
They show me that anything is possible.  

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be? Overwhelming, Amazing, Educational

To recap the races I ran this year:
Feb: Rock N Roll St. Pete- injured
September: Tower of terror 10 miler
Turkey Trot 10 miles
December: Color Run

Not cute, but first run with the TEAM for Goofy!


30 pounds of ice for after 22 miles!


13.1 mils for Sandy Hook






Before the NYC Marathon was cancelled

Halloween Halfathon- best race pic ever, with Brandi! We will be famous one day for this picture


Sisters first 5k

Tower of Terror 10 miler




How was your 2012?