Happy New Year!

I know a lot of people who don't do resolutions; they feel it's silly/overrated to make a to-do list at the beginning of the year, or perhaps it seems like procrastination to wait until a certain date instead of just changing habits today.  Well, I like New Year's resolutions.  I like to-do lists, I like plans, and I like goals.  I always have resolutions, and my running goals are usually successful.  The other goals, ranging from finances to books to organization and other things in between, don't always go so well.

Looking back...
My 2010 goals were to run a marathon, run a sub-23 5k, and do a pull-up.  I did the first two, but the pull-up was elusive. My first marathon was surprisingly fun and successful, and I was hooked.

In 2011, my fitness goals were to run a sub-22 5k, improve my marathon time, and do a pull-up.  Well, I improved my marathon time, from 3:50 to 3:44.  I am so proud of this!  I ran a 22:04 (:05? I can't remember) 5k last January 1, but I never got under 22:00.  So pretty darn close, but not all the way.  And the pull-up?  No dice.  I think I am biomechanically malformed for pull-ups.

I have trouble coming up with goals for this year for the obvious reason: a baby is arriving on or around May 1.  She is my most important goal.  I also, however, want to have running or fitness goals, especially since I know I'll run at least one half-marathon in 2012 and a marathon in 2013. But I also do not know how quickly I'll be able to run again or how much I'll want to run, with not just a newborn but also an active toddler.  With bambino #1, I started running with him early, and it was easy to put him in the jogging stroller.  With two kids, the juggling just gets more challenging.  And what if the new baby (named Alfie by my son) isn't a good sleeper?  Will I be able to run on four hours of sleep?  Will I I want to?

Those are my concerns, but I also have assets.  The first is my partner; I am not a single parent, and she is so supportive of my running (even if, deep down, she thinks the only reason to run is if a pack of wild animals is chasing you).  I'm lucky to have someone who supports me going on three-hour long runs once a week and thinks that a race is a sport for the spectators, too.  (You win if you see your runner a lot of times on the course.)  The second asset is our new house, with its trails, neighborhoods, parks, and runnable roads nearby.  Now a three-hour long run doesn't actually mean four hours, including commuting to and from a place to start.  That's big.  And the third weapon is my new best friend, the treadmill.  My Achilles' heel  in the past has been consistency, and the treadmill, however boring at times, will let me run 4-5 days a week.  My last marathon training cycle, I averaged 3 runs per week, supplementing with the elliptical and rarely getting over 35-40 miles per week.  If I can do a 3:44 marathon on 3 runs a week, most of them 3 miles or less, having neighborhoods to run and a treadmill for rainy days and late nights is definitely going to improve my time.  I would love to get my base mileage up to 25-30 miles by the end of this year, but I'll be flexible with my body as it recovers from Alfie's arrival and reacquaints itself with less sleep.

So, after that ramble, here are my running-related goals for 2012:

• run consistently as long as possible before Alfie's arrival and get back into running six weeks after, if all goes well
• run a half-marathon in October
• do a pull-up! come on, it can't be that hard.  

What are your goals?  Any big races or plans?

Merry Christmas to Me!

My treadmill arrived last week!  It is not new; the wood-paneling, carpeted belt, and strange holes where the now missing weights used to go give it away.  It is, however, new to me, and I love it!  I went to Play it Again Sports and found a model with at least 2.0 Continuous Horse Power (CHP for short), good incline possibilities, and a max speed of 12 MPH.  12?  I think that I have never run faster than 6-minute pace ever, and I do not see that changing until next fall at the earliest, but I like having my options open.

So the delivery guys carted off our elliptical and put my new treadmill in the garage, near our little television.  I ran 2.5 miles the day it arrived while the bambino was napping, and I can tell already that this treadmill is going to be fine.  It speeds up quickly and doesn't make any weird noises, and those are really my only criteria.  I can't tell if it's loud or if any treadmill in a garage would be loud, but that's not an issue.

Last post, I said that I wanted to practice yoga 4-5 times per week and run or walk 3-4 times per week.  I've been doing very well on both fronts.  I do yoga nearly every day, usually in the evenings.  I'll start prenatal yoga classes in January, and I don't want to look like I don't know what I'm doing!  Seriously, the yoga has really helped me these last few weeks; my back doesn't hurt, I sleep better (which is impressive), and I have more energy.  And fewer headaches.    I've been running at least three times per week as well.  Last week, I ran in my neighborhood as well as on trails nearby.  For one of the runs, I took one of my dogs on a 2.5-mile trail run. The poor thing was out of shape, apparently; he used to run far ahead of non-pregnant, 9-minute mile me, but this time he stayed just behind me as we jogged leisurely 11-minute miles.

This past week, we've been visiting my parents for Christmas.  It was a lot of fun, with a lot of very good food and several games of Mexican Train and Dominoes.  The bambino was, of course, spoiled rotten by his grandparents, great-grandmother, and uncle.  He loved every minute of it, too!  Between all of the eating and playing, my dad and I went on two runs around the neighborhood.  The second run was on Christmas day, so he got to try out his new Garmin 110.  It found the satellites quite a bit faster than mine, and it seems really easy to use.  I think this will help him run outside a bit easier; it's nice to know where you've been and how fast you're going.

With less than a week left in 2011, I can truly say that this has been an amazing year.  I have...

• set a PR in both the 5k and marathon, two big goals for me.
• won a race!  I was first female overall in the Resolution Run January 1.  I can assure you that this will NOT happen this year, although I will run it.
• started to grow the family.  Baby girl (named Alfie by my son, after his favorite Thomas character) will arrive on or around May 1.  This is the most important and exciting event of the year!
• moved into town.  This is such a big change, and we're still adjusting, but it's been a gift to have time, neighbors, extra money from not commuting so far, and a place to run.

Next year will be a bit different for me, goal-wise.  I'll think about that this week and let you know what I've decided!

Running in my Neighborhood

Thursday afternoon, I did something completely new, something I have never done before: I put on my running clothes, opened the door of my house, stepped outside, and ran.

I only ran 1 mile, but it was a happy, fast-ish mile during which I smiled the entire time.  After moving last week, getting sick, and not running or doing any type of cardio for more than a week, one mile was the perfect amount.  I came home 10 minutes (and change) later, happy and calm.  In my short run, I saw neighbors, counted outdoor cats, and scoped out where to get into one of two parks that back up to our new digs.

What got me back on the bandwagon?

• Being settled into our new house, even halfway.  Sure, there are still boxes.  Yes, there's a lot left to do and there are no paintings on the walls.  But we're here.  The closings are done, the bills paid, and we get to live here for the rest of our lives.  Seriously.  I'm not doing this again.
• Eating a lot.  This goes with being settled, but I think the stress of impending moving/closing/etc. really curbed my appetite, and for a pregnant lady, that can really zap energy.  I felt like poo last week and didn't' fully recover until the last few days.  Recovering meant a better appetite, so I've been filling up on clementines, pickles, ginger dressing, spinach, and mint-chocolate chip ice cream,  I love being pregnant!
• Yoga.  Starting Sunday, I began doing 20 minutes of yoga pretty much every day, with or without Little Man helping me out.  I immediately began sleeping better, and my back isn't as sore.  I do what I remember being legal from prenatal yoga last time around.  I'll start going to prenatal yoga classes again in January.  I can't wait!
• Convenience.  It takes me three minutes to drive to and from work.  I get home when the sun is still up, even in December.  And I live on a quiet street that happens to have a perfect one-mile loop.  Really, how can I not run?  Tomorrow I will notice when it's light enough to run in the morning and see if I have enough time before school to get in a quick workout.  I do not have a fancy headlamp for running in the dark, and I am also paranoid, so I have to have daylight.

For the rest of December, I have a few goals:

1. Practice yoga 4-5 times per week.  Whenever I'm diligent in my practice, I feel better.  It's a no-brainer.
2. Run or walk 3-4 times per week.  The dogs will get to join me on this, at least some of the time.

If I can do these two things for the rest of 2011, I feel that I will have started some really good habits in my new home.  2012 is going to be an incredible and busy year, so I need to be physically and mentally prepared to face it. 

Settled In

We survived the move!  We moved in Wednesday, closing on two houses (selling and buying) while navigating movers and a U-Haul, with the help of amazing friends who will be paid in Mexican food and margaritas.

At 18 weeks, I can't really help as much as I would have liked.  I thought I kept it really light, but Thursday I was sick as a dog: leave work sick.  I never do that.  I was a vomitous, tired mess.  Friday was a little better, and yesterday I felt human.  I have learned my lesson.  I have to take it easy.

Speaking of 18 weeks, we found out Monday (busy week, right?) that we're having a girl!  I am excited to start decorating, and our families like the idea of shopping and hand-making for a girl.

The bad news about overdoing it on Wednesday is that I still haven't been for a walk in my neighborhood, let alone a run.  There is an easy 1-mile loop for walking, there are trails less than .25 miles away, and today I found a playground exactly 1 mile away.  I've put countless loops on gmap-pedometer.com that range from three to ten miles, but I haven't done any of them and I don't even feel guilty.  I think I'll go for a walk with the dogs tomorrow if I'm still feeling good, and maybe I'll run Tuesday if I feel up to it.

Two Weeks From Today...

... We will be in our new house!  
... We will know if bambino #2 is a boy or a girl!
... I will be able to walk to the end of my street and hop on a 1.5-mile loop in the woods!
... I will have to go to school and teach a full day after closing on TWO houses and moving with a toddler.

I'm not as excited about that last one, but this is the price we're paying to have a shorter commute, more family time, and more chances to be with friends.  Yes, December first will be a long, tired day, but I'll only have to drive three minutes (yes, three!) to get home.  I could walk or run, but I wear fancy clothes to work.  I'd love to know how people manage the walk/run commute to or from work.  Are there showers in the office?  Do you take all of your clothes for the week and then change into them at work?  It's intriguing but confusing; for now, I'll just enjoy the short commute and run before or after school.

Speaking of running, I haven't this week.  I've logged three workouts on the elliptical, but there's just been precious little time to go outside.  My goal for the week is to work out five times, so I have until Sunday to fit in two more.  Hopefully at least one will be a run.

Changes, Changes, and More Changes

November must be the month for change...

1. Our adorable two-year-old will turn three next week.  He's already practicing saying "NO" to us, so he should fit right into the horrible threes, as I've heard them called.  Honestly, he is amazing.  His moments of toddler terribleness are few and far between, and he redirects pretty well.  I can't believe how big he's getting!
2. Speaking of big, I can't believe how big my belly is getting.  I'm fifteen weeks pregnant this week.  According to the bathroom scale, I've gained no more than two pounds, but my belly is large.  Enormous, or so it seems.  Last time around, I never bought maternity workout clothes, but I might need a shirt this time.  Yikes!
3. We are moving closer into town at the end of this month!  While it's sad to say goodbye to the goats, sheep, turkey, and duck, I cannot wait to have a five-minute commute and both trails and roads to run out of my front door.

Some things haven't changed- I am still running, although not as often lately.  This is not really because of the babe in my belly, but because of planning a move, travelling to see friends and family, and teaching.  I ran three miles today, and it felt great.  We also went hiking this weekend while in Sewanee for Homecoming.  It was lovely.  I love being in the woods.

I have also completed a tentative plan for my March 2013 marathon.  It consists of three periods: 8 weeks of getting back into running (July1-September 1), 8 weeks of foundation (September 3-October 27), and then a 20-week marathon plan that tops out at 40-45 miles.  While writing the plan, I knew I was a little crazy.  2013 is a long way off!  It feels really good to plan for a big race, though.  I've only run two marathons, but I loved both of them and know that I can do even better.  I do not expect to get a PR in 2013 (at least in March...), but that's not really what that race is about.  It will be my dad's first marathon and my first marathon after baby #2, so finishing whole and happy will be more than enough.

I'm a Planner

My dad wants to run the National Marathon in March of 2013. I just found out that it is now the Rock n' Roll USA Marathon- perhaps that will make it bigger and better?  This year's race was fun, but after the half-marathoners finished, it felt tiny.

Anyway, I have said I will run this race, too.  My deep desire to make training calculators is now kicking in, times two: one for me, one for dad.  The trick?  Well, the race is 18 months away.  And, oh yeah, I'm pregnant, so I can't train anyway.

I still run- I ran 3 miles and change today, and I'll run tomorrow as well.  It's slow but rewarding.  Fast forward to April or May, and I'll have a newborn and will not run for at least 2 months.  (Last time I started running at two weeks, and that seemed a little early.  I even ran a 5k when the bambino was 6 weeks old.)  So that puts me around July 1, 2012, as tentatively building back a base.  If a marathon training plan usually lasts about 4 months, and the race is (on or around) March 15, I would need to start my plan by November 15.  So that gives me 4.5 months to build a base of 25 miles per week, building up to bi-weekly long runs of 10-12 miles.

If I begin training on or around November 15, I could do a December half marathon as a checkpoint race, like the Mistletoe Half in Winston-Salem.  The problem is that it is December 3- a little early, right?    There's the Ocean Isle Beach Half Marathon at the beginning of January, but I'm probably too cheap to go all the way to the beach when it's too cold to play in the water.  Or I could do the Cannonball Half Marathon again, which is in October, so technically before I start training...  You see how I ramble when I start thinking about running races.

Long story short, I have a long time to plan my next race.  I hope to convince my dad to do the National Half Marathon (or whatever it's called now) this March so that I can spectate and offer unsolicited training plans via mail, text, and facebook.