Running 2013

Since the marathon that wasn't I've been very lazy with my running. I did the Jingle Bell 8k in Washington, DC. But I'm starting to think about the races for the coming year.

It's looking good. If for no other reason because my Nike Women's Half lottery luck has turned for the better. I got into the inaugural Nike Women's Half in Washington, D.C. TK said the San Francisco one was very crowded when she ran it, so I'm preparing for that. Still, the little blue boxes should make it worthwhile....or at least I hope.

The other run that I have signed up for this year is the Dingle Half Marathon. I'm very excited about this. Aside from the fact that I've never been outside of Dublin, the course looks beautiful. And Guiness makes everything better.

Otherwise, in February I'm running the Gridiron Classic.  And I'm leaning towards running NYC marathon in 2013. But I've still got time to decide on that one.

Happy Running!

The NYC Marathon That Wasn't...And Then Was, Sort Of

After saying the 2012 ING NYC Marathon would be on, it was called off Friday just before 5:30 p.m. I was surprised that the city and NYRR said it would go on after the destruction from Sandy, but when they did I was prepared to run and redeem myself from last year.

There was a lot of opposition to putting on the race, which I agree with. And this post isn't about whether it should have happened or not (it shouldn't have). Nor is about whether they should have called it off sooner (Which, frankly, I think they should have. I didn't spend as much to travel to this race as tens of thousands of other runners did.)

This is about the death of my dream. Given the loss of life, homes and dreams, my running dream pales in comparison, but it was still my dream.

Last year, I ran what I had hoped would be my last marathon, the 2011 ING NYC Marathon, until my no results result came in. I knew right away I'd have to run it again. I wanted a run that wouldn't have  a little asterisk by it -- at least in my head. I wanted a time that showed splits. Since then I worked -- and ran -- with that goal in mind. Getting a sub-5 hour for the NYC marathon and retiring my camelback in favor of half-marathon races and shorter distances.

When I went to packet pick-up I was so happy to see the D-tag. I thought to myself, "Thank God! My time will register!" The only downside was I'd have to be bussed to the start at 6:30am, meaning I'd have to wait in the cold for a couple of hours.

On Friday, I ran around the still-closed Central Park, but could see the work that had gone into setting the race finish up. I foolishly let myself believe the marathon really was going to happen. I'd run this marathon one last time and be happy with whatever time I got and then retire from marathon races.

But by 7:30 p.m. I was on the verge of tears. It was canceled. All this hope and anticipation that had been building since the city and mayor announced the race was on just came crashing down. All the miles logged, the early mornings to run before it got hot or to meet up with the race group, the chaffing i put up with, the mental preparation I had done for the marathon was for nothing. All those times at mile 15 or 16 or 20, where I pushed myself saying 'It'll help on race day' was for a race day that never happened.

I got home, stared at my 2012 bib and race shirt and then put them away.

Sunday morning, what would have been race day, I decided to go for a short run in Central Park. I know, marathoners planned on volunteering on race day, but others planned on running the full 26.2 in the park, a throwback to the early years of the race.

I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect to see thousands of runners clogging the drive or the people cheering us on, handing out water and waving signs. It was really moving and it had to be a great motivator for those running the full 26.2. It reminded me what marathon running is about: pushing yourself when others and even you think you can't. They kept me running longer than I had planned. I  ran 8, ending at the finish line, or just short of it.

Ultimately, that's what the NYC marathon is turning into for me: a reminder of falling short and something that remains out of reach.

I'm guaranteed entry next year, but I don't know if I'll do it. Maybe I'm not meant to get a good run out the NYC Marathon. Maybe this will always be the marathon in my mind that has an asterisk next to it.

All I know is that -- for this year -- my goal, ambition, dream and hope all rolled up into one day is gone. And it makes me sad.

Running in Toronto, Eh

The last time I was in Toronto, Canada, it was for a 9th grade orchestra trip. Over Labo(u)r Day weekend, I was in Toronto for my friend JF's wedding (He and his fiancee D had a really beautiful ceremony and threw and awesome bash afterwards). It was a great city (and I'll blog about the city later), but the day of the wedding I did a long run -- 14 miles. I headed east along the river. The concierge had recommended the path.  It was fairly industrial for a the first few miles. I passed the Cirque du Soleil tent and then another cirque like circus, but then I got to "the Beach." It was small and wooded, but really pretty. There was a running path that I took that provided a lot of shade and cover and was pretty.

But before long I was back on the road -- even after taking a detour to a marina. But I needed the miles so I forged ahead. About 500 feet about the bike/run path started up again so I went with it for about a mile and turned back. I had seen a park entrance and thought I'd log some miles in there. It was a nice -- and turned out -- big park. Tommy Thompson Park is called an urban park. It actually reminded me a lot of Wilmington, NC, -- wide open spaces, beautiful blue sky and the sound of water lapping on the shore. There were a lot of people running and biking in the park.

Then I headed back the way I came. By the time I reached downtown Toronto I was still a mile short so this time I headed west along the path. I stayed along the water, dodging all the people in line for the ferry to the islands. I didn't make it the the Toronto Tower, but I got to 14 miles. And my legs still felt good enough to dance at the wedding!

Running Along the Thames

In August and September, I did a lot of traveling and running. I didn't travel to run this year as much as last, but since I've been marathon training and I had different things to do in different cities I used the runs to see a bit of where city/town I was in. First up was Henley on Thames in the middle of August.

My friend GF and her husband spend a year in this bucolic town. It really, really lovely (as the Brits would say). The town center was bustling and there were food stands in the middle of the square with everything from paella to pimms cups. (The pimms cup was yummy.)

They live right along the Thames, which has a trail running along side. It was a no brainer where I was going to run. I got a preview of it the night before, when GF and I walked along.

It was a warm weekend and people were actually swimming in the Thames. (I had asked GF if people did, and she said no. Then about 100 feet further up people were jumping in!) What was really great though was seeing all the activity in the Thames -- the different boats and even ducks rocking the '80's mohawk.

But I think my favorite was the car boat. I couldn't figure out how it worked. I guess it's like those duck boat tours, but I wasn't sure.  The fact is though it still looked so much like a car and so little like a boat. I kind of imagined it as a car driving through a flooded road -- except for the fact that if it was flooded that car would have stalled out and been stuck there.

Anyway, it was pretty. I woke up early on Sunday and went up the path to the locks. It was fun and the trail even turned into a bridge across the lock/Thames twice. The running path then took the form of a dirt path with lots of high grass surrounding it. There was even a tent with some people sleeping inside it I imagine. But I turned around and went the other way.

A 1980s music festival was happening that weekend as well and the path went right along the festival grounds. So I was dodging people in their finest '80s get up. It wasn't a paved path, but a dirt path so I took it kind of easy. But I also had fun just people watching -- the festival, the other runners, and even the swimmers. Yes, swimmers! There was a swimming race of some sort.

It was fun to see. I ran a little bit faster than they swimmers swam, not surprisingly. But as I mentioned earlier, there are locks -- apparently there are 45 locks in total along the Thames River. So the swimmers would get out of the water walk a bit and get back into the other side of the lock and then start swimming again.

I think it was the Bridge to Bridge Henley Swim. The date and time work out. Anyway, I ran past another lock and then the trail went through more high grass so I hit a one lane road for about half a mile and then turned around and headed back.

It was warm and I only had a bottle of water. I thought it better safe than sorry. It was still a beautiful run and a nice way for me to see a bit of the English countryside.

Yes, I've Been Runing...But You'd Never Know It

It's been awhile since I posted. I haven't stopped running. I just haven't been keeping good track of it. That needs to change. And I've taken some steps to ensure that it will. I signed up for a marathon training group.

As some of you know, I'd been toying with the idea of getting a coach for awhile. I asked around and a couple were recommended. I spoke with them and chose one. He runs a marathon training group and thought that might offer a good mix for me: group runs with some individual sessions.

This weekend's long run was 9 miles. That should have been nothing for me. But the weather was hot and humid and  I don't know, it just wrecked me. I walked during this run. It was bad. And my legs are killing me. I don't know what happened. The week before the 7.5 mile run was a cake walk.

Running the Bridle Path with a Run Group

After almost a year, I finally made it to a NYC Run Group -- The Running Co. at Colombus Circle. The loop they did was something they called the lollipop. You run up the bridle path (the stick) and then circle the Reservoir (the lolli part). It was fun to learn a new party. (Of course Garmin didn't pick me up until I hit the Res), but as with my previous run group experience, I lagged far behind. In fact, so far behind that when they went around the res, the went clockwise. I didn't know any better and went counter-clockwise. I saw them pass me and that's how I knew I was going the wrong way.

Still, for about the first mile I kept up (with the stragglers), so it was a mini speed workout for me. I'm used to being the lagger on group runs. It's fine, especially when I know the course. I felt a little stupid since I didn't really know the course they were using and couldn't see which way they went (that's how far I lagged). But, every once in a while I wish there was a slow runners run group. It'd be nice to actually chat with some of the other runners while I do my run, not just before it. Based on the time I think I ran just over 4 miles. I'll have to do that full lolli run to get an accurate distance. (I decided to run home once I hit the 72nd st. Transverse rather than run back down to Columbus Circle.

Need to Re-Think How to Clock Mileage

Once again my Garmin failed to locate satellites when I started my run. I do wait a bit on the street corner for it to try and locate, but after awhile I just feel funny standing on the street corner, watching this bar on my watch almost become full and then just drop down to half way again. So I will start running figuring the Garmin will catch up with me...eventually

But it means I don't get an accurate gauge of my pace and time.

For example, today Garmin didn't find me until after I'd hit the park and crossed it. And it didn't take me 17 mins to run a mile.

I used mapmyrun.com when I got home to gauge the distance (just shy of 3 miles) and then went to daily mile to log that and the time that Garmin gave me to get pace. Now I run in Central Park enough to get a general idea of how far I go, but really I want to know exactly, otherwise how will I know if I'm getting faster or slower.

All this has me thinking about whether it's time to retire my Garmin, shell out $$$ on a new one or try and figure out who to run with my iPhone.

Honestly, this is primarily a summer problem. In the the other seasons I run with jackets or a vest that has a pocket that I can stick my iPhone into and use any of my apps to clock the run and get distance. It's the summer, where running shorts or skorts don't have pockets really that I really tend to depend on the Garmin. I could use one of those arm band things, but in the past I've found them annoying and they chafe. I try not to run withe race belt because I always just feel weird with it. And honestly, I like the freedom that running without my iPhone or only just my shuffle affords me.

Suggestions anyone?

Anti-Gravity Yoga

A friend of MP's talked about taking this anti-gravity yoga class and it piqued my interest. So, yesterday I decided to try out a class. Anti-gravity yoga is yoga that involves a hammock, where you can do some aerial moves as well as hang upside down and really get some good stretching in.

So those are the hammocks -- it's 9 feet worth of material. It was really different. You could use the hammock as a bar, as resistance and good leverage. We hung upside down -- the first inversion -- for a good five minutes -- or at least it felt like that. I was losing sense in my legs and with all the blood rushing to my head I was getting very dizzy. I couldn't do any more of the inversions because I was already really dizzy and feeling a bit sea-sick. The best was this cocoon position at the end where you basically lie down flat in the hammock. I dozed off there!

I'm going to try it again. This time eating before I go -- hopefully that will help and I'll be less dizzy.

I know it felt like a good workout, and I'm sore today. Always a good sign in my book.

In other news, I went for a run this morning. Only 3.5 miles, but at least I got in a run before the 90 degree weather hit. I didn't use my Garmin. Instead I tried the GPS version of Map My Run app. I've been enjoying it a lot. It seems more on point than the Nike+ GPS.

Getting a Running Coach

I'm hoping getting a running coach will help with my running doldrums. At the very least, it should get my marathon training in gear. I had met with a coach last summer, but with the move nothing ever came of it. JM has been working with a coach for all her IM training and it has been going really well for her, so here's hoping a coach helps.

Lack of Motivation

Last weekend, I got ready for my 10k race. Got my running gear on, walked to the start to pick up my bib and headed to the start. I got to the corral early. I had about a 25 minute wait before the start of the race. I stretched. I looked around and I tried to get excited about the race. But I couldn't. I did not want to be there. I did not want to run. So about 10 minutes before the start, I left.

I couldn't believe I actually did that, but I was just no feeling it. I have been sluggish as of late, but I did managed to go out Sunday for a run. It was just over 4 miles and it felt good to be out there, but I need to start putting on miles if I'm going to run a marathon in the fall.

When Pigs Fly

The Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon has been on my bucket list of races for awhile for two reasons:
1) When you are you going run a marathon? When pigs fly! (Well, they're flying in Cincinnati)
2) Pigs!

It's a race that seems to have a good sense of humor when it comes to theme, shirts, people dressing up in various pig paraphernalia and even the corrals got pigified: they were the pig pens. It was piggy heaven!

 

 Since it is an election year, the organizers had a political "race" theme.

I really enjoyed it and the fact that the volunteer shirts had secret service (given recent the recent secret service scandal) just made it even funnier in my mind. But the volunteer shirts were nice - they had different ones (yes, all with pigs on it) for the medical teams and the recycling teams.

The expo was huge. The way it was set up for good for the exhibitors and bad for people who wanted to just get their stuff and go. Typically you get your bib, chip and shirt and then are let loose in the exp. At Flying Pig, I got my bib (which contained the timing chip) at one end hall and the shirt at the other end. I had to snake     my way through all the vendors. I wouldn't have minded if I could have found a pair of pig ears to wear the next day for the race, but I didn't. Instead it was just crowded. And there's only so much crowds I can take.

Anyway, I finally made it to the other end, got my shirt, got a poster (the one to the left) and, apparently, they gave away some sort of bag, but I never found that station, not that I needed another bag.

The race started early: 6:30 a.m. It turned out to be a good thing since it was a sunny and warm day. (I would go so far as say hot for a race.) It was in the low 60s when we started and I think high 60s, but the time I ended. The organizers knew the weather was going to be warm and had water stations pretty much every mile. Kudos to that and to all the volunteers that worked those stations.

The course started in the downtown area, went over the bridge to Kentucky, and then went over another bridge back into Ohio. In fact in the first 3 miles there 3 bridges/overpasses. This should have been a warning bell. But did I look at the elevation map for this race? Nope. Stupid, Lynn. Anyway, then we ran through downtown. There wasn't a lot of shade cover on this course, in fact, I felt like I was in the sun a lot. It was a hilly course. Actually hill implies down as well as up. This felt pretty much uphill until about mile 9.5. After the race I saw the hashtag #Ihatehills associated with #Flyingpig and thought it was pretty apt. I wouldn't have minded if there was something to see, but there wasn't during the really uphill parts. It was large roads/businesses. We did hit a beautiful park, with plenty of trees, great views of the river (I think it was the Ohio River). We also ran through a couple of historic looking neighborhoods. But for those hills, not really worth it, too me.

The end of the race also took you to downtown, and there was on part where we had to run back on the same road. Not a real fan of that. It always feels like, 'Well, we need to tack on a bit more to make 13.1...' but at least I knew it was almost over. The finish was kind of small, actually, but I could still see the sign from a few hundred feet away and it still feels good to see 'FINISH.' They had water and a variety of food to eat post-race: bananas, oranges, a variety of chips, bagel halfs, donuts (which were glazed an fairly melted sitting in the sun), gogurts (some frozen yogurt thing), hohos. I got my cute pig  medal, rested by the water for a bit (the end was next to the river) and then headed back to the hotel. There were buses back to the hotel, but I couldn't find it, so I just walked. It was only about 15 minutes away.

Garmin had me finishing at 2:25:24. The chip had me at 2:25:27. Considering all the uphill, I'll take it.

Pros: Great theme, awesome volunteers, plenty of water, nice swag, good post race food that you didn't have to travel a mile for.
Cons: Lots of uphills, they put some port-a-potties in the pig pen, aka corral area, which made it difficult to get to the start. There were bottle necks trying to get around the people still on line for the port-a-potties after the gun went off, and not the prettiest course.

I did wish I was a flying pig, when it came to getting back home. It may have been sunny, warm and nice in Cincinnati, but the same couldn't be said for Chicago.

Long Run Along the Hudson

I love running in Central Park, but every once in awhile I long for a different view (and a flatter course, let's be honest). On Sunday, I finally ran along the West Side Highway again - part of the Manhattan greenway.  I usually go south, down to the tip of Manhattan, but I decided to go north, for a change. It was nice. It's amazing the greenery right next to the Henry Hudson parkway!

The only downside was that the Garmin failed to locate me until after I got through the park. I think it would have been 8 miles.

I need to get my mileage up. This time next week it's the Flying Pig!

Moving the Finish Line

I play this game with myself when I run. I start small. I think to myself, "I'll only run the small loop today." But then when I get to the park, I'll usually head to the larger loop. Today, I stuck to the smaller loop, after all I'm "recovering." But while I was running the lower loop of Central Park on a beautiful spring day, spying greenery on top of glass buildings and dreaming of water, I noticed that while I ran over 2 miles, I was shy of 30 mins. I read recently that people should get 30 mins of aerobic exercise 5 times a week. So, I said to myself, you're close to 30 mins, run until you reach 30 mins. So I did. But when I hit 30 mins, I noticed I was just shy of 3 miles, so what did I do? I told myself, "Just run to 3 miles." And I did.  But this is what I do a lot on longer runs or whenever I feel really tired: I set a short attainable goal, reach it and then push the goal back, and repeat.
 


Now, if I could only find a way to make this strategy work for 26.2 miles.

More Half marathon

Today I ran the More Half Marathon. I've run this before - once when it was so hot they changed it from a scored race to a "fun run." Last year, it was 2nd half marathon of the weekend. This year it will go down as the half marathon that snuck up on me. I forgot I was running it until about a month ago. Of course, during the intervening month I managed to get a really bad cold and was out of commission for about 2 weeks.

I ran this with EH, her sister and her mother. Actually, I spent most of the first loop running/walking it with EH and then her sister. It was nice, especially since it was starting to warm up. This is a run I could have done in shorts and short sleeves, but didn't.

As you can see, I had a negative split. All in all, for what little training I did, it wasn't horrible.


So what did I do after? Well, I went to see a musical, "Once." Standing room only ticket. Yep, in the "Stupid Things Lynn Does After Running," this might take the cake! As if my legs hadn't been through enough, I decided to stand for 2-1/2 hours.  But, it was worth it. It was a good musical.


Now I'm not going to leave my couch tonight!

Maybe I've Run Too Many Halfs

This weekend is the NYC Half Marathon. A lot of people have been emailing me, asking if I'm running it. I am not. I didn't even apply to run it. This was the first half marathon I ever ran, and the NYC Half holds a special place in my running heart. Still, I think I burned out on halfs last year. I've only signed up for two half marathons, and the first is in May. Also, it's a lottery entry. I've never had much luck with lottery entries (cough, cough) Nike San Francisco (cough, cough).

Here and There Running

It feels like I haven't been running in ages, but I have. I've been experimenting with different routes. Running up 5th Avenue to Harlem (Marcus Garvey Park), running down Park Ave to Grand Central and back (which was short so I ran up Park Ave for a time, as well), trying to run along the FDR drive. You get the picture. But, I keep going back to Central Park -- doing different loops. On Wednesday, I did a longish loop. It was the first real day that felt like spring. I was out there in short sleeves. It was sunny and great and I felt like going. It also helped that my Garmin actually located me fairly quickly for a change. I'm still slow, but I have a feeling I'll be out and about running more often now.

Running in the Drizzle

I finally ran today. I think I did about 4 miles. I say this because my Garmin did not locate until about 15 or 16 mins on the page. As you can see below, the green start a little further north than the stop. Still, I'm glad I got out there. Better to run, than not run. And I won't be running tomorrow, so it was now or never.

The Lazy Streak Continues

I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly. I need to start running regularly.

Do you see a theme here?
I last ran on Saturday. What have I done since then? Baked cupcakes.

How Long Does it Take to Run Up the Empire State Bldg?

10 minutes and 28 seconds. The winner of the Empire State Building Run-up traveled up 86 stories in 10:28. It was not the winner's best time, which was 10:10.

Heel Striker or Forefoot Striker?

A couple of years ago I read the book Born to Run. It was essentially a book about why runners get injured, yet this tribe in Mexico has always been great distance runners, seemingly unhampered by injury. For me, it was the first time I had really thought about how my foot lands. Personally, I don't think I'm a fast enough runner to be effected, but after reading the book, I did run out and buy a pair of nike frees. (I was hoping to work up to the vibram five finger shoes, which look like gloves for your feet, but didn't.)
It's supposed to help a runner change or be more aware of their foot strike. Anyway, I've stuck with my conventional running shoes, because I was getting pain from the transition and, with marathons last year and the year before, I didn't want to mess with too much change.

An article in the New York Times is making me reconsider. A study based on data from Harvard's track team found that heel strikers were more prone to injury - a twofold greater risk. It might be time to really change and make sure I'm a forefoot striker.

4 Mile Morning Run

I actually got up early and ran today. It was a beautiful day for a run. I was motivated by the fast time I had at Sunday's race, but also because I did some baking and I needed to burn the calories!

NYRR Gridiron Classic

It was a chilly start to the Gridiron Classic 4 miler. There were plenty of Giants fans on hand, as well as some Patriots fans. I even saw some Jets jerseys represented. Despite being cold, I did manage to run faster than I had in a long time. It was a U-shaped course this time, and I liked it. You get most of the hills done in the first two miles. But Central Park is hilly, regardless. As I told NM, for every downhill there is an uphill out there.

My running buddy for this race was NM. She hadn't really done any training for this run, but she was zipping along. It was really impressive! It's going to be good for me to run with some faster than me. I did today's race in 40:55 (chip time). I haven't run that fast in awhile. It felt good.

I started out slow, but each mile I got faster. The last mile was a sub 10 minute. Not bad considering how crowded the course was. I don't think we every really got out of the pack.

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, and the name of the race, there was a football toss ahead of the race start. So, I threw the ball, not far, but I threw it.

Here are the shirts of the races I've run this year.

Still Being Lazy

I didn't run today. Was definitely less productive than yesterday, but I did start writing about some of my Seoul trip. I will be good tomorrow. I will!!!!

It's Official...

I'm a NYC Marathon finisher!

It's still a bit frustrating that I don't have any splits, but at least I won't have to put an asterisk by my Year of 13.1!

I wish I still didn't want to finish in under 4:30!

Manhattan Half Marathon

Last year, this half was the coldest one I ran. This year, it sold out so quickly that I didn't have a chance to run it. So, instead I volunteered at the race.

It wasn't as cold as last year, but it snowed and the race was not canceled. It was turned into an unscored race.

I have to give props to all the people that ran it. It looked tough.

It made volunteering seem easy in comparison. It also makes me think that instead of procrastinating, as I always do. I should go out and run today.

ChiliFest 2012

I haven't been doing much running, so what did I do instead? I went to NYChiliFest 2012. It was a lot of fun. And there was a lot of chili: texas-style, hand cut meat, spicy, really spicy, really really spicy, unusual (tripe chili anyone?). You get the point. Some were really good. The winner - La Palapa - was one of my favorites of the night - the chef talked about all the different ways she used chili - dry, fresh, rub. It was spicy, but yummy. Dickson's, which donated the meat, made a very spicy chili that I could barely eat, especially since I didn't have any water to wash it down with, only beer. This was just a sampling of the chilis I tried. There were a lot more that I didn't take pictures of.

I Survived the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Disaster

"Epic Fail," "hot mess" and "won't run for chocolate ever again" were some of the ways people (and to be honest, me) described this race.

On its face it sounded fun: hot chocolate, chocolate fondue at the end of a 15k run. I knew several people who were going to run it. And I had never run (or even been too) National Harbor.

To sum up, 15,000 or more people descending on a location with no mass transit options and one road in and out made for a traffic nightmare. The race started over an hour late. TK and I didn't even run it because she was fighting a cold and standing outside in mid-30 temps waiting for the race to start didn't help.  (We dropped down to the 5k and then after waiting in the corrals just said, let's get chocolate.) But even an hour later people were still trying to make it to the start. (And don't get me started on the fact that the race start was about a mile away from National Harbor.) The lines in were that bad. Even the shuttle buses were caught up in that traffic nightmare. The race company blamed accidents and parking issues and the location said there weren't supposed to be that many people. I tend to believe the location. Even I could tell going to pick up my packet that it had traffic snarl written all over it.

The people who did run it complained of a crowded course and a course that was not well marked. 

All in all, it was a lesson in how not to run a race and it made me appreciate all the well managed races I'd been fortunate enough to participate in.

So, what did I do instead of running. Well, I did get some hot chocolate and fondue. It was good, but the fondue froze after about 10 mins.

(Tells you how cold it was.) Instead we sought warmth. We went and got some tea at Cake Love where they had this cool sign saying "Nothing is Fat Free." I think it should be fat free when a race is over an hour late and it's freezing outside. After that, I just hung with my "peeps." (OK bad pun, I know!)

I'm trying to look at the positive, I did get get to spend quality time with my DC friends that weekend. I can also say I was part of the epic fail race! (and I probably won't run for hot chocolate again. I'll stick with races I know are well managed.)

Hello 2012, I have no goals....

I actually have a lot to write about regarding my end of year runs and the disaster that was the Hot Chocolate 15k at National Harbor in mid-December, but that can all wait.

I've been wracking my brains to try and figure out what my 2012 running goal should be. I know what I don't want it to be: running x number of races. Been there, done that, have the various t-shirts/medals/jackets/etc. But I couldn't come up with one. Even now, nine days into the new year, I don't know what my running goal should be.

I'm leaning towards becoming faster as a goal. If I want to break a 4:30 marathon, that faster will be key. I was also thinking about this being the bucket year for races, but aside from Cincinnati (Flying Pig Half Marathon) and Marathon du Medoc, there aren't any on my bucket list that I can get into this year. Maybe this is the year I should have no running goal. Maybe I should just be. That could be Lynn's 2012 year.

Yep, I don't think it's likely either!