2013--A Running Year in Review

Good morning folks! Merry Christmas Eve!!


I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas and that this year is almost over!!  Time sure flies when you're having fun!!

I'm going to do a quick recap of my year, runner style!

I didn't have any major race plans at the beginning of 2013. As a matter of fact, all I wanted was to be able to run without pain! I was nursing an IT band injury and wasn't sure if I would ever really be able to run again! I pushed my body pretty hard the previous year and wasn't taking care of it properly. My primary goal for 2013 was to cross train on a regular basis. I would say that I was 50% on that goal. I've slacked off the past couple of months and that has got to change effective immediately because I've got BIG goals for 2014, but that's another post ;)

Here's what I did running/racing wise in 2013:

January--Go Short, Go Long 5k, 37:13 I went short just hoping to run it without any pain. Not so much :/ I got it done, but my IT band was bothering me, especially afterwards.

February--Sweetheart Run 10k, 1:13 This was right around the time that I started seeing the chiropractor for the IT band and was on my way to being mended.

April--Jenks Aquarium 10k, 1:14 Graduation run for the spring session of Pathways; no IT band issues

April--Camp Barnabas Half Marathon, 2:28 first half marathon since December; I wasn't sure if I could do it, I was scared the IT band would flare up again but I'm proud to report that I ran the whole thing with no major problems!!

April--OKC Memorial Marathon Relay, 1:18 I ran the 3rd leg of the relay (7.5 miles) through a neighborhood that I spent a great deal of time in as a kid, no IT band issues, really enjoyed the run!

May--Cinco De Mayo 5k, 31:51 This is one of my favorite runs ever!

May--Full Moon 5k, 31:48 Another one of my favorite runs! The course is fast and flat. I was really hoping for a sub 30 5k but it was way too hot and humid!

June--Stronger 5k, 31:39 Good, flat course with proceeds going to the May tornado victims. Still hoping for a sub 30 5k

July--Bedlam 10k, 1:11 Graduation run for summer session of Pathways; not as hot and humid as the past 2 years, but hot/humid enough!

September--Quarter Marathon, 1:19 paced the fall Pathwayers

October--Tulsa Run 15k, 1:49 graduation run for the fall session of Pathways

November--Williams Route 66 Half Marathon, 2:28 cold and miserable, I didn't feel prepared for the cold

December--Hot Chocolate 15k, 1:45 another cold run but I felt better prepared for this one, one of my favorite runs this year.

So, I've done 13 races in 2013, so far. I'm doing the Run for the Ranch Half Marathon in Springfield this Saturday so my total race tally for 2013 will be 14 races, not too bad considering that I wasn't sure I would run any at the beginning of the year!

My plans for 2014 include the Go Short, Go Long 25k in January, the Sweetheart Run Double (5k and 10k) in February and the Little Rock Marathon in March.

What does your "running year in review" look like?
What are your plans for 2014??

Bedlam Run 10k Race Recap

Good morning y'all! Happy Monday!

Last Saturday morning was the Bedlam Run 10k.   Here in Oklahoma, there is a strong rivalry between the state universities: Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma. The annual game is known as Bedlam, hence the name.

This is the 3rd year I've run this race and it has always been one of my least favorites. The past 2 summers have been the hottest on record here in Oklahoma, so it has always been miserably hot and humid. This race offers a 5k and a 10k. It starts at Fleet Feet Sports in downtown Tulsa and runs through the Brady Arts district, past the Drillers ball park and turns around at the OSU Tulsa campus. If you do the 10k, you run the course twice, which I think makes it more challenging from a mental aspect.

But, this year was different. It was 64 degrees Saturday morning with 100% humidity. There was a cool breeze though that actually made it feel pretty comfortable. It was the graduation run for the Pathways program that I coach. We met early before the run for a group photo then we divided up into groups to determine our pacing strategy. My group is used to running intervals and they wanted to run intervals Saturday morning. My friend, Rozdi, was doing a 6:1 interval, so most of the group ran with her. I had some jack rabbits who wanted to run a bit faster, so I started out with them. My strategy was to start at our usual pace (12:00) but run until we were tired and felt like we needed to walk. In other words, I was not running a "set" interval. We started out together, but my speedies quickly passed me!! I had a difficult time keeping up with them!!

It was one of those days when everything just clicked and it ended up being a very good run. I finished in 1:10, which is my 10k PR.

It was so much fun to go back out to find my runners and run in with them. They were all amazing!!  I am so privileged to have had the opportunity to work with them this past 12 weeks. Our next session starts August 5 and several of them have signed up again, so I guess I didn't scare them off!!  LOL 

This week, I'm having some dental work done (UGH!) and taking a few vacation days to travel to Iowa to see my grandbabies!!  So, I'm not sure how much running I will be doing. I'll squeeze in what miles I can and of course, I'm on the last couple of weeks of Insanity (finally!).

That's all I've got for now; until next time.....