Well, here we are in the full swing of things in 2019....all the leftovers are gone, back to work and school, and it seems we are finally getting some bonafide NY winter weather (yuck). We are now in the season of diametrically opposing sides - we are broke and want to save money, we are over sugared from the season and want to get in shape....all during the crappiest, coldest and unmotivating month of the year where all we want to do is watch netflix and spend money on a beach vacation. (Fair confession - Greg and I did the latter and will be going on an all inclusive to Jamaica at the end of the month...our first actual vacation since 2012. You can stop sending me hate mail now).
I'm always impressed with those that start the month out with a bang (that's what she said?) and go forth with the intent to be the best version of themselves. This year, for me, its to go outside the box (really, knock it off. Come on). To do something every day that scares me. To go beyond my comfort level and go after those crazy big reach goals that I know I can do. Today, it was all about work - I had a meeting with our state funders and instead of passively taking notes and interjecting, I made my thoughts and observations known throughout the whole call. I'm not quite sure how they feel about me now, but I was polite, direct, and I feel pretty accomplished and think together we have some pretty great plans on tap for my program for the year.
Yesterday's big reach was all about the run. As you recall on my last update, I've decided to get social with some of my runs this year for a few reasons - there are quite a few cool Roc runners I don't ever get to chat with, it's a nice recovery to run with people that pace themselves slower than I, a great reach for me to run with the speedy folks to get even faster, andthere are some mighty fine men in the area that look really lot in lycra I am trying to expand my social network. I didn't say that. Who put that there??
This week was a little nuts, even by my standards. It started out with a simple text to one of my speedy friends for a relaxed-run-for-him and a tempo run for me proposal. That turned into a long run of 12 miles at an 8:30 pace which is about 25 seconds faster than my goal long run pace. Which then turned into an invite to run with the Irondequoit Bay Runners who run around Irondequoit bay (they have such a deep, thought provoking name) each Sunday at 7am for fun. Challenge issued. Never mind that some of these dudes run a sub 3 marathon. It was a good day to die.
I secured mommy break permission from Greg (he got to sleep in till 10am Saturday, do not feel bad for him), and was out the door by 6:15 Sunday, in the wind and the rain. Oh perfect. The trick was...I never gave myself a back out. Packed my clothes. My breakfast. Set up the coffee maker the night before. And just did it. I met up with seven other people at o dark thirty, and we were off.
I was way out of my league. As we headed up a 150 foot ascent in the first half mile at an 8 minute mile and proceeded to clock off 4 sub 8 miles in the first 6 miles of the run....it was like falling off a cliff in slow motion. I had the option to turn back at mile 4 with the sole woman of the group (who is running Boston, lest you think she was any slower) and decided...screw it. It was windy. It was hilly. And god love my buddy Ken who stayed with me at a slower than normal pace for him but a faster than promised pace for me the whole time. When we hit mile 12 at 1:38 I realized, and laughingly told him, that my half marathon PR was a 1:49:30. And even at mile 13.1, halfway up a hill, we hit it at 1:48:11. A PR. On a random Sunday with a course that had close to 1000 ft elevation gain, no training, no taper, nothing but ego and 6 other guys on a mission. The victory was sweet. The downhill to finish the 14 miles in 1:55 was even sweeter. I felt like a million bucks.
And then I went off to swim, my second workout of the morning. I'm not that bright. But even though it was not the swim dreams were made of, it helped flush out the crap in my legs so I can walk today. I even ran. So success #2.
And I feel good. My buddy texted me last night that if i ran like that in April, the BQ was in the bag. I'm not ready to take it that far, but holding an 8:15 pace for 14 hilly miles was a giant boon to my 2019 goals. Game on baby. And it all started as something that terrified me. As Mark Twain said "(Twenty Years from now) you'll be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the sails". Carpe diem, baby. I'm on a mission.
Week 3 (December 31-January 6)
Running Mileage: 49 miles
Bike Mileage: 43 miles
Swim Mileage: 2.5 miles
Observations: Terrifying things can be fun. Swimming after a tough workout seems foolish, but can actually help. Eat more post run or you might die (my lonely larabar post 14 miles did not cut it. I need more snacks. Bike shorts are smart on the bike (I'll leave that one there and move on). 2019 is gonna be the year!
I'm always impressed with those that start the month out with a bang (that's what she said?) and go forth with the intent to be the best version of themselves. This year, for me, its to go outside the box (really, knock it off. Come on). To do something every day that scares me. To go beyond my comfort level and go after those crazy big reach goals that I know I can do. Today, it was all about work - I had a meeting with our state funders and instead of passively taking notes and interjecting, I made my thoughts and observations known throughout the whole call. I'm not quite sure how they feel about me now, but I was polite, direct, and I feel pretty accomplished and think together we have some pretty great plans on tap for my program for the year.
Yesterday's big reach was all about the run. As you recall on my last update, I've decided to get social with some of my runs this year for a few reasons - there are quite a few cool Roc runners I don't ever get to chat with, it's a nice recovery to run with people that pace themselves slower than I, a great reach for me to run with the speedy folks to get even faster, and
This week was a little nuts, even by my standards. It started out with a simple text to one of my speedy friends for a relaxed-run-for-him and a tempo run for me proposal. That turned into a long run of 12 miles at an 8:30 pace which is about 25 seconds faster than my goal long run pace. Which then turned into an invite to run with the Irondequoit Bay Runners who run around Irondequoit bay (they have such a deep, thought provoking name) each Sunday at 7am for fun. Challenge issued. Never mind that some of these dudes run a sub 3 marathon. It was a good day to die.
I secured mommy break permission from Greg (he got to sleep in till 10am Saturday, do not feel bad for him), and was out the door by 6:15 Sunday, in the wind and the rain. Oh perfect. The trick was...I never gave myself a back out. Packed my clothes. My breakfast. Set up the coffee maker the night before. And just did it. I met up with seven other people at o dark thirty, and we were off.
And then I went off to swim, my second workout of the morning. I'm not that bright. But even though it was not the swim dreams were made of, it helped flush out the crap in my legs so I can walk today. I even ran. So success #2.
And I feel good. My buddy texted me last night that if i ran like that in April, the BQ was in the bag. I'm not ready to take it that far, but holding an 8:15 pace for 14 hilly miles was a giant boon to my 2019 goals. Game on baby. And it all started as something that terrified me. As Mark Twain said "(Twenty Years from now) you'll be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the sails". Carpe diem, baby. I'm on a mission.
Week 3 (December 31-January 6)Running Mileage: 49 miles
Bike Mileage: 43 miles
Swim Mileage: 2.5 miles
Observations: Terrifying things can be fun. Swimming after a tough workout seems foolish, but can actually help. Eat more post run or you might die (my lonely larabar post 14 miles did not cut it. I need more snacks. Bike shorts are smart on the bike (I'll leave that one there and move on). 2019 is gonna be the year!
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