2012 in Review

As the year comes quickly to a close, I wanted to recap my amazing year!
When 2012 started, I didn’t have any resolutions - I just don’t like them. I tend more just to set goals to accomplish in the year. Goal #1 was to purchase a home! I accomplished this in the spring and was surprised at how much effort and time the entire process (from looking at places to redecorating) took. By the fall I finally felt settled in and the major projects are completed. While there are many projects I want to accomplish (new floors, new kitchen cabinets and counters, built-in seating in the sunroom, etc., etc., etc.), I am extremely happy with my home! Goal Accomplished!
Goal #2 was to “get fit”. I’ve had this goal for a number of years ---- ever since I realized I was a “chubby child” back in the 90s, but nothing seemed to stick. I have done a number of diet and workout plans and nothing felt right and I would always stop after a few weeks. I always knew that the answer was to eat healthier and work out more. I set out to find a eating plan that I could stick with well into my 90s. I found the whole-foods plant strong movement and decided to try it for a few weeks! Surprisingly, I loved it and have stuck with it ever since.
Now for the second part, work out more. I have had gym memberships and have gone occasionally for cardio and some classes here and there. However, when I moved, there wasn’t a gym conveniently located near my new home. At the same time, I was in the search for an activity I could do for the rest of my life and not have to pay a monthly fee to work out. I decided I would try the Couch to 5k program to see if I could enjoy running. I completed the Bastille Day 5k in July and didn’t enjoy it --- I loved it! I looked around and realized that there were people of all ages and I could also do this well into my 90s! For the rest of the year I spent it signing up for more races and doing longer distances (7k & 10k). I jumped feet 1st into running and am loving every moment of it. Not only did I discover an activity that I could do no matter where I was (physically or in my life), I discovered an amazing community of people that support each other. I felt compelled to give back and started this blog -- something I never thought I would do! Goal #2 – Accomplished and loving it!
Overall, I would say it was a very successful year!
Coming up next…..Running Goals for 2013!

Weekly Recap

Well, here it is…my weekly recap!

 

Monday: 2 mile run. This was a short out and back after work. I had dinner plans so I was rushing to get back quickly

Tuesday: Yoga Sculpt. I had skipped this class for the past few weeks and it was great to get back to it!

Wednesday: I was to run 3 miles, however I was needed to move some heavy furniture up three flights of stairs – it got some cardio and weights! ;)

Thursday: rest day, which is great as I put in long hours at work

Friday: Rest day and early to sleep

Saturday: 10k! The weather was horrible L but I finished and under my highest goals J, but missed my target goal L. Overall, it was good and the last race for my “season”

Sunday: I wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be so I headed over to the noon Barre class! Boy, was I sore on Monday!!

 

This week:

Now that my “season” is over, I’m taking time to rest and try out some classes! Tonight (Tuesday) is my yoga class and Thursday, I’m planning on going to a new class! I’m out of town this weekend for Christmas and hope to get in a few runs (one with my mom following me in the dark to see how “visible” I am to cars). Then it’s resting before I start a crazy busy new year of classes for three months and then running a half marathon!!!!

 

Santa Hustle 5k Review

Overall: Great!

Shot Recap:
Sign Up Process: This was just ok. I purchased a Groupon for this event, which cut the price in half, but it meant that I couldn’t just sign up online. I had to print something off, fill it out, scan it back in, email it over and then follow up to ensure I was actually enrolled…..ugh! But it did save me $20, so I will take it.
Price: $20 or $6.45/mile. Nice price, but I did get a Groupon for ½ off. $40 is a lot for a 5K in December in Chicago where it could have been freezing and hailing and snowing…..
Communications: This was great! They sent just enough to remind you that the race was coming up, but not enough to annoy you.
Packet Pickup: This was super easy! There was a big sign outside the door to let you know where to go in. They gave me my bib and pointed me to the next area, where they gave me the shirt, hat and beard and I was out the door!
Gear Check: Nice and easy! Huge signs to indicate what area you should go and the people were friendly.
Route: Nice route in an area I haven’t run before. We went under the parking garage of the McCormick Place, which was fun, until it got super dark in there.
Water Station: Nice. They had Gatorade and Water and clearly marked the difference. In addition, they had a Cookie and Candy station  -- nice touch.
Swag: Santa hat, beard and shirt. The shirt fit and the hat wasn’t scratchy at all. The beard on the other had was not fun to run with. I should have realized this and just left it at home, but I didn’t.

Full Recap:

The Chicago Santa Hustle took place at Soldier Field on December 1, 2012. This summer I purchased a Groupon for ½ off and assumed that December weather would be warm as it was 90 degrees all summer. As soon as I registered, I realized that I live in Chicago and it does get cold…..oh no! Luckily we’ve only had a few chilly days and I have been able to run through it. The week of the race was super chilly, but all the weather people stated that it would be in the 50s on race day. Waking up race day, I was excited to see that they were correct! It was sunny morning with few clouds in the sky. It was even warm when I left my house at 7:30 am.

I arrived early and walked around. I noticed a few port-a-potties and jumped in quickly to avoid long lines. I walked around and looked at the reindeer (nice touch) and looked at the mass number of Santa’s that were in the area. It was one of the only races where I and everyone else were wearing the shirts.

The 5k race started right at 9 am and they had self-assigned corrals divided up by 0:30 mins/miles, but only went up to 14 min/mile. There were a ton of walkers for the event (they announced the 85% of the participants didn’t consider themselves to be “runner) and they might have stressed the fact that the walkers should start after the runners. This would avoided a lot of runners passing walkers, which I saw all the time. They did have port-a-potties lining the entire corral area, which was nice as it took us 30 mins to get to the start. This did allow for a lot of chatting with my fellow runners and a nice smooth course with only a few crowded areas (usually around a water/candy station).

The course was nice. I don’t know of many races that start at Soldier Field and it was nice to be able to run in that area. The race went south, then turned around and came back. A simple out and back. We did go under the McCormick Place parking garage (I believe) and it was super dark at points. Have some more lights would have made it feel safer. Also, it wasn’t a completed 3.1 miles L.  If I just wanted to run a random distance, I would go and run. I pay money to run a specific distance in a safe manner with support. It stinks when races can’t get these two basic components down!

The route advertised cookie and candy stations, which there were. They had M&M’s and stated they were “Santa’s Favorite” candy. I did not know that. In my house they are a staple at Christmas and every family gathering (my grandfather would always give them to us and we continue to share them in his memory) and I know that M&M advertises it as that way, but I just assumed Candy station would by Candy Canes or something more “Christmas-y”. Also, they advertised “music along the course, which turned out to be music at one station and some guy who was walking the race and playing tunes. It would have been nice to have more Christmas music---maybe even carolers?

The finishing area was good and there were people cheering. I snagged the last banana, and they also had candy canes (also a nice touch), water and granola bars. You had to walk a little bit (which they could have shortened and done a complete 3.1 miles maybe???) to get to the post run area. There were milk and cookies and carriage rides. I started my walk back and ran into someone I had started with. We chatted until our routes turned and I headed the rest of the way to the EL.

Overall it was a fun run! I think I would do it again if I can pay the same price I did this year. $40 is a lot of money when it’s not actually a 5k. The shirt was nice as was the hat, but you can get the hat at any store for less than $40. The small touches that make the race unique (reindeer, cookies and milk, candy cane, etc) could even be stressed more and added to in order to add value to the race. It is truly a fun run and everyone was smiling and laughing!

Month In Review

I cannot believe that it is almost 2013! I know I say this all the time, but November flew by. I feel like the middle two weeks just weren’t there! Here is a numerical recap of the month:

22.2 – Total miles run!
13:00 – fastest pace EVER!!!
10 – farthest race this month (in K)
3 – Number of classes in one week (and a holiday, 5K, wedding and overnight guest!) – Phew, what a week!
3 – Also the number of Thanksgivings I celebrated
2 – Number of races this month – Chicago Perfect 10 & TD5K
2 – Number of Nobel Peace Prize winners that I saw in person!

1 – Great Month!

Goals for December:

-Have a fun 5k and a great 10k! Once again I have two races planned this month and I’m super excited for the Santa Hustle for a fun run and the Jingle Bell 10k to finish out the year strong.
-No more skipping planned workouts. In November, I would find any excuse not to go to a class or do a run. I need to stop that. The only way to get better is to work at it.
-More studying – I have seemed to all but stop my studying for my professional certification that I will sit for a the end of January. I think that now that I know when I will take it, I feel like I can procrastinate and “do it later”, but in reality, I need to study now, so that I can truly enjoy the holidays!
-Continue hanging out with new friends. I continue to meet new and awesome people in Chicago and do fun things!

Weekly Review

Last week was a great week for running, not so much for working out…but running was great!

Monday – 3 miles. This was a great run. Just ran to my local park and back. I did it during lunch so there wasn’t a lot of people out and it was great to be able to get back into running after the long Thanksgiving weekend.

Tuesday – Cross training. I skipped this today. I just didn’t go. That’s it.

Wednesday – 2 miles. I really pushed myself on this and tried to run “all out” for 1 min and then walk as slow as I wanted for 1 min. When I got back, I realized I had run a 13:06 pace. This is the fastest I think I’ve ever run (my fastest pace is 13:33 at the Chicago ½ Marathon and 5K). This really pumped me up for the 5K I had on Saturday.

Thursday – Rest – I went out to dinner with a friend and ordered a large Margarita…which I regretted the next day.

Friday – Cross training. I skipped this as well. I wasn’t feeling so well from the Margarita (I’m getting old L)and wanted to ensure I was at tip-top shape for the 5k on Saturday

Saturday – 5k – Santa Hustle. I’ll post a full review later this week, but this one is on my “To Do” list. It was a beautiful day and the organizers where on top of everything – enough space for people to walk around, pace markers from 6 mins to 14 min and longer, announcements to get in line, TONS of port-a-potties, etc. The only down fall was that it wasn’t a true 3.1 miles. My Garmin stated 2.99 and someone else stated they had 2.8 miles and when I tried to GoogleMap it, it looks like it was 2.9. Either way, I ran the fastest I have ever done and felt like I could have pushed myself a tad more. I finished in 37:25.14, which is 12:07 for a 3.1 and 12:34 per my Garmin. Either way, I would have finished the full 3.1 under 40mins which was a goal of mine for 2013! Mission Accomplished!

Sunday – S&S. I just hung out around the house today – did some cleaning, did some Christmas shopping online, watched some Netflix.

 

This week I have a lot of social events (dinners, drinks, deserts with friends) and am still training for a 10K in 12 days! This will be my last race of the year and I hope to be able to keep my pace within or under 13:00. My last (and only) 10k was at 1:27:30 with a pace of 14:07. I’m aiming to finish between 1:15:00 and 1:25:00 (12:06 to 13:43/mile), but I would be completely happy to finish 1:26:44 or 13:59/mile and below I will be completely happy!