2014

Amazing that it is the end of January already.  It has been a busy year so far.  Last time I posted I still had 3 races to do before the end of the year.  Army 10 miler & the Richmond half marathon were great. Had a tough recovery after Richmond.  The last mile of that race is downhill & being the competitive person that I am, I sprinted the last half mile or so.  This allowed me to reach my goal time of under 2:16, but my quads paid the price for weeks after.  Good news is I signed up for the Richmond half in 2014 & my legs were back to normal for the Fairfax Four miler on NYE.  I ran this race last year & it was my first race as a "runner".  My time was 48:56.  I crushed it this year in 38:59.  I am proof that you can do it.  I was consistent with my running & it showed.

January started up a 12 performance cycle class at the gym, so I decided to see if  could do the entire series.  Last winter I joined them for a few weeks but only at the end.  The class is great & we have long rides on Sunday mornings.  This week is 2-1/2 hours.  Apparently, it will go to 4 hours later - thank goodness for padded bike shorts!  I have also started swimming.  I don't recall ever having formal lessons - I think mom just taught me.  Since she didn't swim freestyle, I never learned.  My friend, Dave, organized a swim clinic & I signed up.  Figured I had nothing to lose & I wanted to learn.  That one clinic gave me the confidence to go swim on my own - a totally foreign concept to me 5 weeks ago.  I am still trying to get the breathing right, but I am going to keep at it.  I have decided I want to swim the lake on the 4th of July at lake Monticello.  Hopefully I will be able to pass the swim test & be comfortable to swim in the open water!

For 2014, here is schedule so far:  5k race on January 1st (done 30:35).  Indoor triathlon in March, Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April,  2 Ragnar relays (June & September) and trying to get into MCM 17.75 & MCM marathon.  Wonder what else I will add....

Hope you have a great day & are doing something fun!