Stellar Week!

I am doing it!  I am going to run a 50K in April and I have not been really committed to the training - or so I say.  I used to be really good at journaling every run and I could definitely see when I was in the middle of training. I could see the weekly totals, I could see evidence of the good runs and the bad.  I could compare my journal with the chosen training plan. I think without that written documentation it has been pretty easy for me to say "I am kinda training for a race that I MAY run in April."  What??  That is not like me at all!!!  I am usually all over training, writing, planning.  So I did a a little reflecting last night.  Am I or am I not training?  Is my head into it? And what about my heart? Here is what I found out - I AM TRAINING!!  Huge revelation, huh?  Well, here is how I came up with this.  I have done quite a few runs (not all of them pretty) that I would not have done had I not had a goal in mind!
1 week ago - ran 12 miles in sub zero temps, -25 windchill
Mon - hill repeats at 4 am cuz that is the only time I had in my day for that
Th - speedwork on the treadmill, I hate the TM but hated the wind outside even more
Sat - intended to do 14, felt great so we went 16. Facemask froze twice and icicles on eyelashes
Sun - 6 miles outside, started out fast (for me) and then turned to shuffling as the rain turned to ice.
Throw in a a couple of easy runs and three Body Pump classes.

So there it is!  I guess I am in training mode! Those are the runs of a person who has a goal in mind.  Those are runs with a purpose.  The physical piece is there and obviously my heart is in it otherwise I wouldn't be out there doing it! So now if you ask me "Are you training for anything?" I will answer with a resounding "YES!"

Now for something so unrelated to running but a proud mommy moment that I love to share.  My youngest daughter, my "Velcro baby," the one who cried at the start of every dance class, the one who I had to crouch behind at Christmas concerts to keep her on stage, the one who told me at 8 yrs old that she was going to live in my backyard when she was a grown-up, stood up in front of the entire student body at her school and gave a presentation on bullying!!!  This was not an assignment - she did it because she saw a need for it.  She first presented to her class and her teacher was so impressed she asked her to address her peers.  And she did it - eloquently and confidently!  And I got to see her do it!! Yes, I fought back the tears. She amazes me!!! BTW - she also was awarded Student of the Month at the assembly.  In her words "It has been a stellar week!"

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!!!

Wow!!! What a week it has been!  Sunday night and my head is spinning!!!  So much has happened this week that I am not even sure where to begin!  Here's the skinny on 3!

The Good
My oldest daughter had a formal dance on Satuday night.  She looked absolutely stunning!  When she walked into my bedroom to show me how she looked I started to cry.  My baby looked like a woman!  She is graduating this year - I am always crying - but this really threw me.  Where did my chubby little baby go?  I am pretty sure she was walking around with a nukkie in her mouth just a little while ago! After I composed myself, we took pics of her and her boyfriend, then went to her friend's house and took more pics, then went to the Grand March and took MORE pics.  Here are a few of my favorites!

The Bad
I am going to tell this story the best and as briefly as I can so that I honor all that were involved. On Thurs, there was a terrible incident taking place three blocks away from my school.  The police were trying to do a welfare check on an elderly man whose family was concerned because he was making homicidal threats.  The check went very wrong, sadly.  Our school was put in a "soft lockdown" for four hours while law enforcement handled the situation.  The Tactical Response Team was called in to help resolve it.  The elderly man shot at the police and then left his house out the back door and continued shooting.  The police responded and shot the man.  He was killed.  This is an all-around sad situation.  I am not in any way saying the law enforcement made a poor decision.  They did what they had to do.  I just feel so bad for the man, his family, the police officers involved, and the community.  I am praying for all of them.  Such sadness.

The Ugly
Yesterday's run really stunk.  Actually, the run itself was not that bad.  12 miles with three friends in 34 degree temps.  My hamstring thing was bugging me but it was not too painful.  It is what happens to me after the run that is so ugly.  My hip flexors, inner thighs, and abs get incredibly tight and sore.  I can hardly get out of the car!!! This happens after almost every run.  I strength train, do core work, and stretch some.  I don't know what is going on!!!  It has been going on since July.  Has anyone else ever experienced this?  If so, what did you do to cure it?

Have a great week and "Run Happy!"

This Round Is On Me!

The question is "What's on tap?"  Tonight is the first night of "Happy Trails Happy Hour!"
A group of runners - new to the trails and experienced- are joining up at a local park to take on some trails.  It is a beautiful day here in MN - the sun is shining, the temps are in the low 20s, and fresh snow is on the ground.  Perfect reason to gather for a happy hour! I can't wait to see everyone adorned with headlamps and tripping running gracefully through the slosh!  I am pretty familiar with the trails because I run them 3-4 times a week.  But for most it will be a blind run- which I think is kind of fun (and maybe a little funny!)  The beverages FOLLOW the run which is good because otherwise we might not find our way out of the woods!


Tonight's beverage - hot cocoa with a shot of this

or this!

And the Ball Has Dropped!!

Thanks to all you bloggers who inspired me to sit down and post something today.  I have had writer's block - I wanted to sum up 2012, but was struggling with how I wanted to do it.  2012 was an amazing year!  I learned so much about myself, met many new friends, and accomplished SOME of my goals.  I am HAPPY!!!
Ring out the old!
Some of my highlights from 2012

First 50 K

Great River Ragnar Relay 

First ever overall win!!!!  Whoo hoo!

Diva Dash

26.2 Shades of GreyMarathon Relay Team

Ring in the new!

I have not yet set my goals for the year.  I do know I am hoping to shake this hamstring issue and run more trail races.  I have a 50K set for April and would LOVE to push myself to something a little longer.  We shall see!