Time...Management

I have not been doing a very good job of updating this blog. I think mostly because my life is pretty routine right now and I sometimes think…a little boring. But also, there is just so much I want to do and it seems like there is never enough time to do it all. I haven't even been to the bike shop to hang out in like 6 weeks. I don’t know how people who have kids manage!

Still, this past month has been a pretty darn good month:
-I started running long again. Woo!
-I got to see the Tour of California on a beautiful, sunny day up on a mountain (and did some running while we waited) with some great friends.
-I turned 43 and celebrated by going for an 18 mile run and then getting a massage.
-My tempo times have dropped significantly! I ran 6.5 miles today with 3 @ tempo and they were 8:17, 8:16, and 8:13! And I felt like I could have done another mile or two at that pace. Makes me smile to think that a year ago, my tempo pace was 9:45!
-I also went to the Renaissance Faire, had family in town, Mother’s Day, family gatherings, and got a raise!

May 2011 was one for the record books!

I can't believe May is almost over because that means there's only one month left until the Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon. I'm starting to get a little excited. I feel great and stronger than ever. I have dreamy goals and realistic goals for this race and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do this time around. My goals are:
A+ - 4 hrs
A – 4:10
B – 4:14
C – Finish

4:14 is what I did at the Lost Dutchman in February and I'm pretty confident that I can do that again since this course will have less hills and no dirt. 4:10 is what Jason and I chose for my goal time for this one and that is what I’m going to shoot for.

But the 4 hour goal is my dream goal. I am just kind of putting it out there to let the possibility percolate in my mind. You never know what can happen. What's funny is that the last few races I've run, I picked a time for a dream goal and ended up hitting them. I know it will get harder to hit dream times as I lower them but might as well shoot for the moon, eh?

The good news is that I have plenty of reading to keep me occupied for the next month so I won't get too excited/anxious. I am currently reading two books: Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons by Byron Powell and The Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2) by Patrick Rothfuss (993 pages long!). And I have 6 more books downloaded on my Kindle: 3 more running/sports books - Run! By Dean Karnazes, I'm Here to Win by Chris McCormack, and Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? by Alex Hutchinson and then 3 more fiction books - A Discovery of Witches: A Novel by Deborah E. Harkness, and 2 Highlander romance novels (my guilty secret). ;) So plenty to read. If I can only find the time…

What Was And What Will Be

2010 is coming to a close. Just a few more hours for me but I'll be going to bed in an hour. I have a 20 miler scheduled for tomorrow. Can't think of a better way to start the new year off.

My favorite moments of 2010:
1. Completing my first marathon - the Eugene - in May.
2. Running my second marathon - The Mohawk Hudson - in October.
3. Shaving 6 1/2 minutes off my 10K time in November at the Turkey Trot.
4. My 4th of July ride.
5. Fitting into a pair of size 8 jeans! Which are loose now!

Best of all, I hit my mileage goal for the bike - 5,575 miles. That's more miles than I drove this year. And I ran 1,512 miles! Three times as many as I ran in 2009. And no injuries! Woo!

Oh, and let's not forget the traveling. I've never been to Oregon or New York and I couldn't have picked 2 more beautiful marathons for my 1st two. Both along rivers with great views and lots to see and do in both towns.

2010 was a stellar year for me. I learned a lot and accomplished alot and I would have to say it was one of the best I've ever had!

I am so lucky that I get to be active and have adventures and travel. I am hoping for more of the same in 2011 but I'm going to set even more ambitious goals:

1. Run a 4 hr marathon
2. Run a 50k
3. Ride 6,000 miles
4. Run 2,000 miles
5. Visit 2 more states I've never been to

They say if your goals don't make you nervous, they aren't ambitious enough. Well, I have butterflies in my stomach as I write this. But I'm excited too. I'm already working on the plans that will make these goals happen: Coaching, signing up for the Seattle Rock & Roll, getting out on my road bike more, getting faster on the bike & the run so I can get more miles in w/out adding more hours (or too many more). And do it all by staying healthy and getting stronger.

Happy New Year!