Glitter Stars Galore

You might remember this old post where I wrote about how I like to give myself stars when I finish a planned workout as a motivational tool / reward system.

Monday night as I was putting a star on my calendar after finishing my strength training, I realized that as long as I did Tuesday's planned run, then I would have completed every single workout I had scheduled in January.  Every. Single. One.

Well, there was no way I was going to blow the opportunity to accomplish that, so of course I gladly hopped on the treadmill on Tuesday, and after my 3 miles I gleefully placed my last star of the month on the calendar.  Check out all those stars!

This never happens - I'm great at planning out a training schedule, but some (most) times I'm not so great at following through on the schedule... so it's a HUGE achievement, especially considering I had both work and personal travel throughout the month!!!

I'm so proud of myself that I still haven't flipped the page over to February yet, just so I can glance over and see all those glittery stars.  

2016: The Year in Review

Photo credit: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20161223/2016-nra-ila-year-in-review

So, it's been almost a year since I posted here, talking about New Year's Goals.  I'd like to tell you I met that goal of 500 miles in 2016.  But I know I didn't - I don't even have my total mileage to tell you how close (or how far away) I came.  My year was that...interesting.

I ran two halfs in the spring, and skipped a couple races throughout the year (sometimes DNS is the best decision you can make).  I surprised myself and ran an "official" Disney time (sub-3:30) at the Star Wars Dark Side Half in April after committing to my training plan and taking off almost 20 lbs, so that was awesome.  

I had surgery in May (hello hysterectomy, goodbye uterus & all of your complications!) and despite my best intentions of not letting pounds pile on during recovery....they crept back on, and brought some of their friends with them.  Sigh.  And having to defer a summer race I'd been looking forward to was not awesome, but at least it's giving me something to look forward to next year!

The absolute highlight of my year was the birth of this little dude in early June!  My nephew is the cutest thing EVER, and I'm loving my new role as Aunt Jenny, and the ability to spoil him like crazy (and then give him back, lol)!!!!

The real downer of the year is that my family has been dealing with some pretty serious struggles throughout the fall, and all the stress and associated travel seriously impacted my training (basically non-existent) and all the stress eating packed on even more pounds than before!!!  Insert even bigger sigh here.

After watching/cheering on friends and family struggling through the Marine Corps Marathon in October, I found some new motivation and decided to turn around my own struggles and work towards my personal goals again - I wasn't waiting for New Year's to set them this time around.

I'm glad to say that I'm back down to what, at one point, had been my "all-time-highest-weight-ever" (before I started running and lost weight, then put it all back on), and I've had some really GREAT runs recently.  Which probably means I'm due for a stinker of a run soon, but it's amazing how good you feel when you've been struggling for several years and finally can feel yourself turning a corner.

2017's got some BIG plans coming up: I'm already registered for 5 halfs, and that will mean 4 new states, and lots of fun trips with my running peeps and my family.  So here's hoping I'll be able to maintain the momentum and motivation I've gained the past couple months and translate those into a really great year!

Thoughtful Thursday

credit: http://pinterest.com/pin/574420127442632882/

RUN.

'Thank You' to Those Early Women

Photo credit: Runners World

"40 Years Ago, Six Women Changed Racing Forever"

That was the headline of one of Monday's Runner's World articles.  I was intrigued, clicked on the Facebook link, and began reading.  I only know tiny snippets of the history of women's running - mainly from running documentaries and a few other articles here and there.  I honestly didn't know anything about that early NYC marathon written about in the article and had never seen the picture.  If you haven't read it yet, go read the article, and come back.

As an 80's baby, I grew up with the idea that women are equal to men.  I was born after the ERA.  My mother worked for a large oil company in an executive position throughout my childhood.  I learned of the struggles of the women seeking equality in history class.  At the time, I was pretty sure that I was smarter than a lot of the boys in that same history class - the notion that I would not be equal to them was not even considered.

The same ideals apply to when I started running.  There was no one telling me women shouldn't or couldn't run distances.  No reason to believe that I was unwelcome, as a woman, in any race I signed up for.  I started running just before the women racing running boom really took off in the late 2000's, and never looked back.

I'm not saying we live in a Utopian society.  There are still too many instances of gender inequality and we hear about actions taken and setbacks endured more often than anyone would like.  Life is not fair.  Though I like to think and hope that we are constantly striving to make it more so.

Seeing that picture and reading the story in the article, I am forever grateful to the women who went before me, both in "real life" and in running, that allow me to be the woman, and the runner, that I am today.  

Thank you to those early women.

Today's the Day!

Yup, today's the day I've been anxiously awaiting for months.  It's Spirit of the Marathon II release day!

I really loved the original Spirit of the Marathon (if you haven't seen it yet, or just want to watch it again because it's awesome, watch it free on HULU here), so when they announced the sequel I was almost beside myself!

A group of running friends and I are meeting up to see the one-night-only showing tonight.  YAY!  To find details for a showing near you, check here. 

Q4U: Are you planning on going to see Spirit of the Marathon II tonight?  Are you going alone or with friends and/or family?

National Running Day 2013

National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running. Wherever we are and whomever we’re with, we run—fast or slow, alone or with others, all over town or just around the block. It is a coast-to-coast celebration of a sport and activity that’s simple, inexpensive, and fun. It’s the perfect way for longtime runners to reaffirm their love of running and for beginners to kick off a lifetime and life-changing commitment.

Learn more about National Running Day here, and claim your social media badge (like the one above) here.

10 Ways to Celebrate National Running Day

1. Declare your passion - People run for millions of reasons, and we want to know yours! Head to www.runningday.org and let the nation know why you run, be it raising money for charity, keeping your waistline in check, or getting to that bagel at the 5K finish line. 
2. Bring a runway to work - Swap your loafers and heels for sneakers and you'll be dressed to the nines for National Running Day. Your feet will thank you for it, and it will be that much easier to step out for a short jog during lunch or on your way home from work.
3. Morph your friends into running fiends- Friends don't let friends just walk on National Running Day! Invite a pal or two—the more the merrier—to hit the road with you. They'll be hooked in no time!
4. Change Happy Hour to Running Hour - Shake things up by adding a run to your postwork plans. Head out at 5:00 p.m. with some co-workers and relax over miles instead of cocktails.S
5. Strike new ground - Seize the day and take the road you've never traveled. Who knows? You might find a new favorite running path to spice up your summer.
6. Give the gift of happy feet – Donate to organizations that support youth running, like Shoes That Fit. They’ve assisted in getting 800,000 pairs of sneakers on little feet– just think of all the miles you’ll help them run!
7. Make running run in the family - They have your eyes, but what about your endurance? Leave the bikes and baseball bats in the garage and run around the neighborhood with the kids. Keep things interesting with a short race to see who is the fastest.
8. Choose a running resolution - Kick off a new fitness goal on National Running Day. It can be anything, including adding five minutes to your next run, running a new distance, or signing up for a road race. 
9. Take advantage of the great outdoors –Running outside beats spending all your time on the treadmill. Step out the front door and away from the gym to take in a bit of nature during your afternoon run.
10. Treat yourself like a champion – Set yourself up for success by indulging in your favorite post-run snack, sporting your lucky t-shirt, or helping your feet to a new pair of sneakers.

Assignment America

As we wake up this morning to news of the manhunt for the remaining Boston Marathon suspect, our thoughts are on the safety of the responding officers and the residents in the surrounding areas.  Hoping that there are no further injuries or deaths as a result of these two madmen.  There has been enough suffering.

Here is the originally scheduled post for today:


CNNiReport - Assignment: Run For Boston 2014

credit: Lila King

Pledge to run in solidarity with Boston

CNN challenges you to run or walk in a marathon or another race by April 2014 in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Take a photo of your running shoes and upload it to sign up!

Run for Boston 2014

Three people were killed and more than 100 were injured on April 15 when two explosions went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Hours later, runners were tweeting and posting on Instagram that they weren't going to let this tragedy stop them from pursuing their hobby and passion.

They went out to #runforboston.

CNN is asking you to pledge to run or walk a race — whether it's 1 mile or a marathon — by April 2014, the one-year anniversary. The network plans to make a video about our group journey to that finish line. It's a story of endurance and hope in the face of disaster. It's one we'll create together.

How do you join in? Click the “Add your story” button, upload a photo of your running shoes, and tell us why you’re running for Boston.

You can also upload your photo to Instagram or Twitter. Tag it #runforboston and #cnnireport so we know you're in. Then get out there and get moving! We'll post more instructions soon.

You can log your training miles on this Run for Boston site, which was created by iReporter Becca Obergefell, from Columbus, Ohio. She inspired this assignment and suggests you use the Charity Miles app earn money for a charity of you're choice while you train for the big race.

From Me:  I already have a full race schedule for 2013 and early 2014.  This is going to send me in search of a race in March or April that I can run solely for Boston.

26.2 For Boston

Late Monday night the following message appeared in my inbox.  At that point I had already run what I have started to term my "healing run" and written my blog post about it.  I'd seen many friends post about their runs and plans to run 4.09 miles the following day.  And then I read this from our Galloway Program Director (it's a little long, but I think it's worth the read):

Dear Jenny, My first goal when I became a runner was to finish a marathon. Receiving that finisher's medal was an indescribable honor, and sharing the experience with my family was the highest high I could imagine. Like almost every marathoner, I soon set my sights on getting faster, with a goal of someday qualifying for Boston. Galloway Training is well known for helping non-runners become runners and helping runners become marathoners and half-marathoners, and I am proud of us for being the world leaders in bringing people safely into the sport.. What non-Galloway folks may not realize is that Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run method is also AMAZING at helping people get fast. My wife actually qualified for Boston with a massive Personal Record the very first time she tried walk breaks. Eventually I qualified too, and we have enjoyed two Patriots' Days together running the historic course with 20,000+ of our friends. We joke about running with thousands of friends, but it really is true. In a large part, the running community is made up of thousands upon thousands of friends who don't know each other yet, but as soon as we recognize a race shirt or backpack in the airport or grocery store, we strike up a conversation and we know how kindred our spirits really are. This is why today hurts so much. Whether we have qualified or not, whether we have run Boston or not, whether we have even run a marathon or not, we are all runners, and a part of us soars whenever we see our brothers and sisters fly down Boylston Street. Always that flight should be in joy, but today it was so much different. All of us in the running community mourn this attack on our peaceful sport, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffer. Please join me in dedicating the next 26.2 miles you run, whether they be all at once or one 4-mile training run at a time, to the people of Boston. Run in peace, Chris So there you go.  The idea has been planted.  The next 26.2 miles (which for me will happen one training run at a time) are dedicated to Boston and the marathon.  I hope you'll join me in doing the same.  There's even a Facebook event for it: Run 26.2 for Boston. I've got 2.1 miles down, 24.1 left to go. ETA: Someone has put together a Google Doc where you can log and share your #RunForBoston miles.  Check it out here.

V.I.B. - Very Inspiring Blogger!

Imagine my shock when my friend Kim named me as one of her nominees for the award of being a Very Inspiring Blogger!  Thanks Kim!  Make sure you go check out her awesome blog about running/tri's/life in general: TriAndTrue.

The award has three simple rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.  (see above)
2. Share 7 things about yourself. (see below)
3. Nominate 15 other bloggers and comment on their blogs to let them know. (see below)

Seven things about myself:  I wasn't sure what to share, so I did a quick Google search for "random questions to ask people" and came up with these - I hope they're interesting enough!:

1. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?  I. Love. Christmas.  So December is obviously my favorite month of the year - I love the nip in the air and the (seemingly elusive) chance of snow.  Cookies and cider and treats are shared by all.  Christmas decorations are up, carols are playing, there's a general feeling of goodwill and cheer in the air.  I just love the whole season!
2. What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?  Driving. I hate it. Especially if I'm the one doing the actual driving, and most especially if the trip is over 3 hours.  I don't mind bus trips because I can move around more than in a car, I'm fascinated by train travel, and I LOVE flying!
3. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?  Ummm...I'm not usually mistaken for any celebrities, but there was a time in the late 90's when people thought I looked like Monica Lewinski (gee, great... :-/  )  In fact, I was almost her for Halloween that year - I even had the blue dress, just needed a beret.  LOL.
4. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?  When I was laid off from my job 5 years ago I thought it was the end of the world.  It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me because even though that job paid really well I worked insane hours and had absolutely no life!  My "new" job that I got a couple months later is a great fit for me - I'm not paid as much, but I have a much more regular schedule and actually have a life!  I realized not long after starting my current job that there's no way I would have be able to work at the old place and complete my training for that very first half marathon I signed up for - it just never would have happened.  It's amazing where life leads you and the bumpy road it  sometimes takes to get there.
5. What do you miss most about being a kid?  The lack of responsibility.  Don't get me wrong, being an adult has more than it's fair share of perks, but also those pesky things like a job/mortgage/responsibilities.  I'd like to go back to the days  where you'd have a fun day at school, maybe do a little multiplication table homework, play with friends and family and not have to worry about life.  I miss that simplicity and naivete.
6. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?  There's no way to name them all.  Have you ever seen the musical/movie Brigadoon?  There's a scene near the end where every phrase someone says to the main character reminds him of a song from earlier in the show and he has a little flashback to the song.  My brain is pretty much like that with music.  One word/phrase/line, and all of a sudden I have a song chorusing through my head - and it can be something I heard yesterday or the most random song I haven't heard in years!  Crazy.
7. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?  The dishes.  If I could pay someone to just come do my dishes every day I'd be in heaven.

Nominations.  15 is a lot!  Anyone mind if I just do 10?:

1. Aunt on the Run - My BFF Carrie blogs about her life as a runner and aunt to two of the cutest little Texas boys around!
2. Elbowglitter - My friend Megan blogs about racing and tri training with wisdom and humor! 
3. Running While Chunky - A fellow Galloway-er, "Chunky Girl" gets real about running while trying to lose weight and being a back-of-the-pack-er.
4. Running Around the World - Rebecca's husband is stationed in Germany, so she's using the opportunity to take on the challenge of international racing.  I love reading about her adventures!
5. Diary of a Recovering Clydesdale - This is David's blog (remember him from the Rome marathon video?).  His vision is couch-to-Boston in twelve years or less.
6. Our Love on the Run - Bethany and Ryan are the cutest couple ever, and they're both amazing runners!
7. ...Just Me & My Running Shoes... - Karen is a fellow Disney fan, nurse, and runner whose posts are both interesting and insightful.
8. Eat. Sleep. Run. Disney - Jen posts about Disney, running, and crossfit - I tell you - the woman is a machine!
9. Running through the Castle - Jennifer blogs about running and tri training, as well as dealing with and recovering from injury.
10. RunJulesRun - Jules just recently started blogging, but I'm loving what I've seen from her so far.  A great mix of reality and inspiration.  Can't wait to read what she's got next.

I probably doubled up on some people who've already been nominated for this award, but this is a list I like and some of these bloggers may be new to you - I hope you'll go check out their blogs!

Finishing Last is Not the Worst!

You may remember the post I did back in January about RunDisney celebrating everyone.  Turns out they're not the only race that does it, and they are by far not the only race that does it with a certain amount of pomp and circumstance!

My friend David (who some of you might remember meeting in my blog post about my very first Marathon - at DisneyWorld) ran the Rome Marathon last weekend.  He just happened to have finished last. But he was greeted and treated like the winner!  And they have it all on video!  Check out this quick clip of his finish and short interview after.  Complete and total awesomeness.  Plus, the video's gone a bit viral online - how cool is that?

credit: http://video.ilmessaggero.it/index.jsp?videoId=5322&sectionId=13&t=l-ultimo-attleta-che-taglia-il-traguardo

When Racing to the Castle, Remember, The Turtle Won!

I haven't done a race recap yet for Disney Marathon Weekend because I just haven't figured out what I want to say about it.  There were so many highs and lows all packed into just a few days!  But I'll get around to putting together a few posts sometime soon (hopefully before I forget too many of the details). Before I go down that road, though, I want to do a post about another experience I had during Marathon Weekend that had nothing to do with me (well, other than being an amazed and inspired bystander).  So here goes:

Mickey @Kids Race (© RKP)

Looking back, one thing stands out as probably the highlight of the whole weekend for me: watching two of my friends' kids run the Kid's Races on Friday.  The general consensus within our group is that ROTE kids are awesome - and my friends Andi and Gina's kids proved to be spectacular on Marathon Weekend.  One thing you should know about Andi's kids is that they are truly special.  And not because "special" is the label society has placed on differently-abled individuals, but because of who they are inside.  (Please take a minute to visit Andi's blog Bringing the Sunshine, where she beautifully chronicles her family's challenges and accomplishments (warning -  have tissues nearby!).)  Gina's kids are not labeled as "special" because of their abilities, but they are just as special all the same.  So where am I going with this?

Sarah Kate & Lauren (© Gina)

Andi's daughter, Sarah Kate, has cerebral palsy (really, if you didn't go look at Andi's blog before, do it. Now. You need to.).  In the weeks before WDW Marathon Weekend, Gina's youngest daughter, Lauren, asked Sarah Kate if she would run the 400M Dash Kid's Race with her.  Sarah Kate said yes, and the two families feverishly started planning out their race day, including acquiring matching "Race You to the Castle" shirts for all the girls.  I had never attended the Kid's Races before, but had already been planning to go watch after we finished the 5K (Andi & her kids, by the way, had stationed themselves at the 5K finish line to chEAR - how awesome is that?).  Sadly, because of a traffic jam, I missed seeing Andi's son, Nathan, run his race, but arrived at the track just in time to meet up with my friend Katie in the bleachers near the finish line and hear them announce the last heat of the 400M.  Then, before I knew it, they were off and running (forgive the pun)!

Katie and I stood on our tiptoes on the bleachers trying to spot Andi & Gina on the other side of the track - knowing they'd be just behind the kids, and easier to spot.  Quickly the main herd arrived at the finish line, and watching all the kids finish the race was pretty cool - we cheered on the girl & boy winners, and the middle-of-the-pack-ers, and the stragglers, all the while waiting for Sarah Kate and Lauren to round the bend.  We knew they'd be last, and we knew they were still coming, but many of the spectators (and even the race announcers) didn't, so they started allowing people to cross the track, thinking the race was over.  Even the MarathonFoto photographer stationed on the track in front of us stood up!  NO!!!!  We had moved down to ground level at this point, so we got his attention and told him there were still two more coming in and he scrambled back into his spot - whew.  Finally, the race announcers realized that Sarah Kate and Lauren were still running their race and got the track cleared just in time for the two of them to enter the straightaway.

Going strong! (© Gina)

At this point, Katie and I were chEARing our hearts out for the girls as they steadily approached us - with Sarah Kate's slightly lilting gait proclaiming for anyone watching that there was something just the tiniest bit different about what these two were accomplishing.  And then, just as surely, the crowd picked up on it, and everyone started chEARing and clapping.  Truly the sidelines exploded with cheers of excitement and encouragement for "our" girls.  As they passed us, I screamed at the top of my lungs "GO SARAH KATE!  GO LAUREN!  Y'ALL ARE AWESOME!!!"  (I must digress for a moment and point out that Sarah Kate had never met me in person before, so at that moment, she turned her head and looked right at me with a very confused look on her face - trying to figure out who that crazy person was, I'm sure...lol.  I just waved and kept right on screaming...)  At this point, they were just yards away from the finish line, and as I looked right, I could see that Mickey had also figured out what was going on, and was waiting for them at the finish - just the two of them.

Sarah Kate had done it!  She'd pushed through those 400M on legs not as strong as the other kids', but with an inner strength and more heart and drive than you'd ever imagine in someone her size.  Andi told us later that she'd had to slow to a walk at one point, and she'd fallen several times on the back side of the loop, but she'd picked herself up and started running again with Lauren beside her. RUNNING again!  How great is that?  And there she was, literally feet from finishing a track race!  There wasn't a dry eye among the ROTE group, and I know for a fact that some of the other spectators - complete strangers - had tears on their cheeks.  It was an incredible moment to watch and experience.

At the Finish! (© RKP)

Now, just when you were thinking this couldn't get better, and that Sarah Kate's the lone heroine of the story, here's where things get really awesome.  Lauren had kept pace with Sarah Kate the whole race, slowing down when she did, stopping when she stumbled, and holding her hand for stability when needed.  But there, at that very last moment, Lauren let go of Sarah Kate's hand, slowed down even

Mickey Love! (© RKP)

more, and let Sarah Kate cross the finish line ahead of her, with arms raised above her head in triumph and ready to high-five Mickey Mouse.  Now, I don't know about you, but I'd say a decent percentage of kids her age would have shot forward there at the end to "win" and get some Mickey time, but not Lauren - she knew this was Sarah Kate's accomplishment and let her revel in it.  (Not that Lauren didn't get a little Mickey love, too, when she crossed a few seconds later.)  Talk about heart and intuition - what a great kid.

(I hope you read Andi's blog post about the race - she's got even more of the great post-finish pics there.)

Sarah Kate and Lauren finished dead last, and in true Disney fashion (as mentioned in the last post) they were treated with just as much - if not more - flourish and fanfare as the winning kids.  I love it.  I am so proud of both these wonderful girls (and love their parents even more for raising them to be who they are now) - and I can't wait to see what they will accomplish in the future.

Sarah Kate (© RKP)

All the girls (© Gina)

FINISHERS!     _____

At this point, I have no idea if either of the two girls realize just what kind of impact their race had on me, as well as, I'm sure, many others.  I don't know which of the two kids I'm more impressed and inspired by, and honestly, I'm not spending a lot of time trying to figure it out.  Both of them have such spirit and drive, as well as character and compassion.  They pushed themselves and each other to keep going and never give up.  That's a lesson we can all use to re-learn occasionally.

My own race that Sunday was a tough one, but with perseverance and the presence of friends - not unlike the example set by Sarah Kate and Lauren two days earlier - I finished.  I carried their spirit with me through all 26.2 of those hard miles - mostly subconsciously at the time, I'll admit, but looking back - I know they were there, pushing me to keep going, leading me to know I could lean on others when I needed to, and being there for others when they needed someone.  What more could a person ask for?  Though I wasn't dead last like Sarah Kate and Lauren, I wasn't far from it, but I still crossed that finish line with friends, proud of my accomplishment, and with my arms raised over my head in triumph, just like they did.

How RunDisney Celebrates Everyone

There are a few small things that can sometimes annoy me about RunDisney races, but they are far outnumbered by the overwhelming "warm fuzzies" that participating in a Disney race gives me.  I'm working on another post that's proving more difficult than I imagined to write (which is also why there hasn't been anything new recently) that deals with this topic as well.  But it'll probably be another few days before that one is published, so until then, so I'd like to share a Disney Parks Blog post about finishing last:

Finishing Last is Finishing First at a Disney Race

posted on January 23rd, 2013 by Robert Hitchcock, PR Manager/Content Producer, runDisney

If I am not running in a runDisney event you will find me at my second favorite place – the finish line. It’s there I find inspiration and a reminder of why I run. Of course it’s exciting to see the winners glide across the finish line with ease, and admire faster runners setting personal records, but for me the thrill is seeing the smiles, laughter, cheers and tears of runners finishing in the middle and at end of the pack. Whether they are doing it for themselves, for a specific cause or in honor of someone who can’t run, they set a goal, achieve it and make their dreams come true. Winners train to win – these runners train to finish.

It’s because of that determination, beating the odds, that I find myself cheering louder for the last place finishers than I do for the first place winner. On Sunday at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort, after the bleachers cleared and confetti from the winners blew around on the ground, I got to cheer on my newest runDisney hero, Jenna Boyd from Wisconsin. Fighting the clock and turning down offers for rides by race staff, she fought her way to the finish line and was greeted with a welcome fit for a champion. You see at a runDisney event, finishing last is just as special as finishing first.

Please allow me to introduce you to my hero Jenna Boyd.

Congratulations, Jenna!

Isn't Jenna's story a great one, and don't you love that RunDisney celebrates the last finisher with as much excitement and emotion as the first finisher?  Just one of the many reasons I love a Disney race.

Keep an eye out for the next post, which will also discuss finishing last, including it's benefits and inspirations.  Can't wait to share this awesome and inspiring story with y'all.

Tell Me About Your 2012

Fellow blogger H Love over at Keep on Keeping On had a great post earlier this week about recapping her year of running with a short survey: Tell Me About 2012.  I liked the idea so much I asked if I could do the same.

So here's my 2012:   

Best race experience? There were SO many good ones this year.  But I think I'll have to go with the obvious, which was my FIRST MARATHON!  The Disneyworld Marathon in January validated me as a runner.  A marathon runner.  It was hard, there were tears, there were friends, there was family, and there was Mickey bling.

Dad, BFF, & me after Mickey 2012

Best run?  Again, so many good ones to choose from. Too many, really.  So, I'm going to go with a really general "run" - training runs with my Galloway Girls.  My pace group helped keep me motivated and on-track, helped keep me moving on the hard runs, and kept my mind occupied on the boring ones.

"Lost in Pace" after our 21 Miler

Best new piece of gear?  Well, this one honestly couldn't be more obvious, lol.  It's gotta be my SparkleSkirts.  LOVE. THEM.  2012 was the year I started running in SparkleSkirts, and I've said it before and I'll say it again - there's nothing better for a long run!  They're fun, functional, and stylish!

Berry Smoothie SparkleSkirt

Best piece of running advice you received? "Start out slow and back off."  This is a joke from my friend Megan (remember her blog?), but still it strikes a chord with me.  She said it prior to what we knew was going to be a tough race, and it takes me back to that moment when running was about the company and not the miles or the pace.

Megan & Me at The Patriot's Challenge

Most inspirational runner? My friend Allison.  She was new to our running group this year and fit right in.  Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer just before her big goal race this fall, which she didn't run, and immediately started treatment.  Her positive outlook and determination during this fight, which she partially attributes to her running journey, are a true inspiration to us all.  And she's already planning her running comeback once she's in remission! 

Celebrating Allison's Bday with the Galloway Girls

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?  Friends & bling.  That's truly what this past year of running has been about for me.  My running friends - both in "real life" and online - have kept me going and have helped me do more than I dreamed this year.  And 2012 was the "Year of Bonus Bling."  LOTS of bling this year - and I love it all!!!

So that was my 2012 in a nutshell.  I'm looking forward to what 2013 brings - stay tuned for more on that!

Want to do a "Tell Me About Your 2012" of your own?  Post a link to your blog post about it in the comments below - I'd love to read about your year!

Day 1 of the Challenge!

Wuhoo!  Did you see yesterday's post about The RunHalfway December 2012 Challenge?

Wanna join in?  It's not too late!  Today is Day 1 of the Challenge.  Simply RSVP to the FB event here and then get out the door and get moving!  

Once you've logged your first mile of the challenge, this Accomplishment Badge is yours!  It is available to share on both FB and Twitter!

Who's up for a Little Challenge???

I've been debating since before Thanksgiving about setting a goal for myself of getting in 1 mile a day during the holiday season.  Quite a few of my friends are participating in the RW 2012 Holiday Running Streak, (check out my friend Kim's post about it here) but I knew based on my Thanksgiving weekend travel schedule that I'd be starting off having to skip a couple days, so I didn't start.

Of course, since then I've been kicking myself for not pledging to do the streak and not finding a way to get in the mileage on those days.  So, I've been thinking all week long that I should do a shortened version of that and create my own mini-streak of logging at least 1 Mile every day of December.

It's Friday, November 30th.  Tomorrow is December 1st.  Decision time.  I've had enough fence-sitting and and am jumping in.  Soooo...Run streak here I come!  There will be days where I don't want to get up early to do it, or get home from work exhausted and it will be so much easier to flop on the couch and relax.  Sundays after a Saturday long run will be the hardest, I think, and will be the days I'll be most tempted to skip.  But it's a challenge.  Keep up the streak.  No skipping allowed.

Would anyone else like to jump in with me that's not already doing a run streak challenge (or, if you'd like to participate in two, I'd love to have you!)???  It can be running or walking (or even biking, for that matter, I'm not picky).  Whether 1 Mile is "easy" for you or a challenge to complete, are you willing to test yourself and your resolve to see what you can accomplish?


If so, let's do this!  Here's how:

1. RSVP for the FB event here.
2. Share the Challenge badge on FB or Twitter (follow @RunHalfway and use #RunHalfwayChallenge) or your blog.
3. After you've logged at least a mile each day, check Facebook, Twitter, and this blog to record your mileage and get each day's badge!

Did you know...

... that there is a Facebook page AND a Twitter account for this blog?  You can use either the buttons at the top of the right sidebar or the links below to "Like" and "Follow" either account so you'll know when there's a new post!

• Facebook: Running Halfway Around the World
• Twitter: @RunHalfway

What if you don't use Facebook or Twitter?  Would you prefer Google Friend Connect?  Or perhaps follow the RSS feed with a reader of your choice?  Any chance you think I'm cool enough to have new posts delivered straight to your email inbox?  All of those options are available on the left sidebar.  I hope you'll use at least one of them!

I know that sometimes I'm not very good about updating or writing particularly scintillating posts - but a lot of my friends are!  And their running blogs are listed over on the right sidebar - check them out if you have a minute. Do you have a running blog you'd like me to follow/share?  Let me know by posting a comment with your link and I'll check it out - I'm always on the lookout for new fun and inspiring blogs to read!

Where to Begin?

I have so many things I'm excited about right now, I don't even know where to begin!

First, RunDisney revealed the new 20th Anniversary WDW Marathon medal today!  It's in color, it spins, and it has two great Walt Disney quotes etched into it.  I CANNOT wait to get my hands on this thing!  I'm already anticipating bawling like a baby when I cross the finish line and receive the medal.  So many of my ROTE friends are running Mickey this year, too, so we're basically planning one big rolling party at the "back of the pack."  It's going to be epic.  Only 152 days to go!

 As an additional bonus, they also updated the RunDisney website - go check it out!  The new pages are much better organized and intuitive, with all the info you could want/need within a few easy clicks!

Second, Marine Corps is now only 75 days away.  10 weeks from this Sunday.  I have to admit that my excitement over this one is definitely heightened by fear.  The time requirement is still scaring the bejeezus out of me...  But when I start freaking out about it, I try to calm myself down by repeating the mantra of the marines "Earned Never Given."  And I know that if I can stand in front of a marine at that finish line then that will be a defining moment in my life.  That knowledge makes me excited for a weekend that also terrifies me - oxymoronic, I know, but hey - that's pretty typical me.

Third, my online running group, Running of the Ears, just made a "gear" order, and I bought a new tech shirt, a tech tank, and a logo Tshirt.  They look so great!  I took the new tech shirt on a 9 mile test run on Saturday and it felt comfortable and wicked wonderfully!  Looking forward to being part of the "sea of red" that ROTE promises to be at all the Disney races this year! 

Lastly, I still have a little bit of a "happy hangover" from San Francisco.  Rather than hanging up my two half medals and the "Half It All Challenge" medal on my medal rack, they are still sitting out on my kitchen counter, where I can see them and smile every day.  I'll even pick up the challenge medal and spin it a bit and it gives me the warm fuzzies.  Can't believe it's been two and a half weeks already!  And yes, I know I still need to do a race report - I'm using waiting on pics from my mom as an excuse.

And, oh yeah!  Training's still going well.  Nine miles last Saturday morning (should've been 8.5 per the map, but we missed a turn and had to backtrack a bit...ooops).  Last week I got in 3 bootcamp strength training sessions, my two short runs, and my long run.  This week I seem to be on track for another successful completion of my weekday training plan.  And...Saturday has a 19-20 miler on tap.  Whew.  That'll be a big hurdle to get over!