2012 Running Goals

What are your running goals for 2012?  Do you have races lined up already?  Let's hear what you have planned in the coming year!

I AM...

With the fresh start of a brand new year, what are you running resolutions or goals in 2011? I've been thinking about my own and have adopted the lululemon mantra by stating them as "I AM..." This is powerful stuff. No longer am I just thinking about making a change. Stating it this way says that I've made a conscious decision to make this change and/or make something happen. It totally changes my goals and how I'm going to tackle them this year. Try it for your own and let us know what they are!

I have a couple but as far as running... I AM going to qualify for Boston this year.

http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/day-5-how-to-create-powerful-goals

end of the year number obsession

I will admit that I'm obsessed with numbers. This is why I run with a Garmin. And why I don't ever turn it off at stoplights because discovering a half a mile later that I forgot to turn it back on when the light turned green is disasterous for me. I should look into help, I know. My number obsession is also why I will run circles in the parking lot just to hit an even 7 miles for a run if I have to. Sure, 6.87 miles would be good enough, but I want that even number. I've noticed other runners in my group doing the same. It's a bit neurotic but that's what makes running (and runners!) so much fun.

I log all my runs -- from the 3 miles with the dogs to the 20+ miles during marathon training. All the numbers are accurately recorded and tallied by the year. It is why I can tell you 2007 was a bad running year for me due to my second pregnancy (only 168 miles total that year!). And why I can also say that this year, 2010, was my highest running year to date (going over 1200 -- whoo hoo!). I know because I have been logging all my runs since 2005 when I really started to care about seeing some improvement.

I also keep a spreadsheet of my races. I'm not ever going to win a race (or even come remotely close!) but I like to see how I've improved and what my previous times were for every distance I've raced. I can tell you with pinpoint accuracy what I ran at specific races, what those race distances were and the year.

All of this is why I love the end of the year. It's a time to reflect on what my running has been this year and where I want it to go in the coming year. I'm excited by improvement I've seen this year, some great running friends and where I see myself going in 2011. As always, I'm planning on faster miles and more total miles run, but also to continue this running journey that I love so much. I've learned a lot about myself this year and can't wait to see what happens in 2011.

What about you? Have I just described your number obsession, too?

24 Days to Chicago! !

With only 24 days left before our Chicago Marathon, I am more worried about my "lack of fundraising" than I am completing the race.

Why in the world did we actually think we could raise $7,200?? I am usually not one to set my goals so far outside of my reach, but I believe I have. We currently have only raised $1,250.

So if anyone has any quick and easy fundraising ideas that would be FABULOUS! Or if you know of anyone that has suffered from leukemia or lymphoma and feel led to donate in honor of them, you can visit our donation page here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/chicago08/mholleyxy5

I survived my 18 mile run Monday and will complete 20 on Sunday and then begin tapering down for race day. Does anyone else get a little nervous that the tapering down begins 3 weeks before race day. I am worried about the final 3 weeks before the race that the longest run we have is 9 miles. I am afraid my confidence for the LONG run will be diminished.

Boston update

Whether you want it or not here is my running update. With 13 days until Boston I am finally running some. After 5 weeks of lap swimming and slogging through the water I was able to walk/run 8 miles this past Saturday. I miss running with my friends M&M, Suzie, Poky, and Smith. On Sat. I went to a Park in downtown Portland that has an extensive trail system. (My coach doesn't want me running on pavement yet) This trail is many miles long uphill and downhill through heavily forested vegetation. Very beautiful. So I walked mostly and ran about 2 of the 8 miles through mud and rain and loved every minute of it. It was so nice to get moving again. My quads felt good and even better they still felt good the next day.

I met my coach Monday morning for him to actually finally see me run for the first time. He told me I heel strike too much. We worked on that and increasing my cadence. We worked on running downhill and uphill all on a treadmill. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a treadmill more. It was just so nice to run. I ended up doing 5 miles. Afterwards he had me lift weight to see where my strength was in my legs. I have a very big discrepancy between my quads and hamstrings. (After this marathon I need to work on those hamstrings).

We talked about a taper plan (which includes the most running I've done in 5 weeks) He told me to adjust my marathon goals. I have to tell myself this is not a PR marathon. This is a marathon to experience. So with that said these are my goals for the marathon.

1. To finish
2. To enjoy this experience after all it's Boston Baby!
3. I hope to be under 4 hours

Wish me luck and in a year from now I hope to have a PR marathon somewhere and maybe I'll be able to meet some of you mommies. I feel left out not going to SLC.

8:23

That is the magic number. It is the number that I became obsessed with 3 years ago when I ran my first marathon. It is the number that stands between me and my goal of running the Boston Marathon. 8:23 is the pace that I must run each and every mile of the 26.2 miles in Salt Lake City. I can't even tell you when I decided that Boston would be my goal. All I know is I have been working very hard for the last few months, and I hope my reward will be meeting that goal. I explained it to Ang that "I am an average runner with an above average dream." I think that describes me pretty well. I feel I am pretty mediocre at many things and this goal has allowed me to think that I can be better than mediocre at something if I truly put my whole heart into it. On the other hand, putting this out there for the other Mommies and anyone else who reads this to see makes me very vulnerable. I am a little scared to put this kind of pressure on myself, but I know if I don't give it all I have, I won't make it. Seeing 2 of my very good friends(Smith and FoxontheRun) qualify for Boston has made we want it even more. I will definitely be cheering them on April 21st, hoping that I will join them soon. I am grateful also to have Sarah joining me on this journey and I hope we will be doing this together! (I know she will make it, I just hope I will too!)

So, tune in to see if I will run a 3:40 marathon on April 19th...I will need your support! Wish me luck!