2010 Race Goals Revisited

Here are my original race goals that I wrote in January. Here is an update and I would like to add a few more.

1. Run in at least two more marathons, I would be happy with one as I have found it's pretty tough on my body. I want to run in 4:30 or faster. Need to find a race or two and sign up.

2. PR in a 5k. I can't believe how long it's been since I have PRd in a 5k. I am embarrassed to admit that my best time is only 28 minutes... yeah, I'm slow! Check! I have another 5k coming up May 22, except it's untimed. Will it still count if I use my own watch? I would like to go a :26 or faster!

3. PR in a half marathon. I think the 1/2 is the best race distance. I need to go faster than a 2:13. So far the last three 1/2s I have done have all gotten slower. Here is to a fast 2010 for my half marathon. I am on the fence about doing a half marthon this weekend. I'm not really ready, but it would be nice for a training run and perhaps a PR!

4. Sign up for and finish my first half ironman. I just got a new bike trainer and I am hoping that will keep me in bike shape until I can get outside. Well I have signed up for this race and I am scared to death! Now I just need to finish and finish strong!

5. Swim a sub 6 minute 500 free at a masters meet! I haven't done this since high school. I think I can do it for sure. My first meet in 2010 is in April. It would be helpful to achieve this goal if I actually signed up for a swim meet!

New 2010 Goals:

6. Sign up for a 10k. I've never done one before.

7. Get a PR in a sprint triathlon. I need to go faster than a 1:29. I think I can smash that this summer!

8. Get a new PR in an Olympic distance tri.

That is enough for now!! I'll update in a few months!

Happy Training!!

A PR Makes you Feel Good!!!!

Today was my first 5k in a long time and first PR in two years!! Yay! I did it. Now it may not be fast by some standards but to me it was a long time coming! I am really proud of myself. My last PR was a high :28 and the last 5k I did was :32 minutes and today's PR was :27.46!! I'm thinking I could have gone much faster if my legs weren't like bricks from my cold and windy 36 mile bike ride yesterday!

During the whole run I felt good but right at about the end when speed really matters my legs would not go any faster, they felt like bricks! I came in 95th out of 509 women in the 30-39 age group. Which I am quite proud of! :) I really can't express how happy I am right now. I know it's not like I broke a record or came in first in my age group but this took me forever to do!! I love running... today at least. And I am dork for wearing the race shirt at the actual race. I had no clean running clothes and I thought they were cute shirts!

Girls on the Run Come as you are Auction

My mom and I have been trying to get our Girls on the Run fundraiser up and going. We are having a women's tea in June. At first it was set for March and then life got in the way. If you have never heard of Girls on the Run you need to check out their website sooner rather than later http://www.girlsontherun.org/ . Since we both love to run and both love doing things for our community we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give back.

Tonight my mom and I are meeting for a quick run around the lake and then heading to the annual Girls on the Run come as you are auction. Come as you are meaning if you just ran or had a workout don't bother changing just come and bid on some items and help out the organization and have fun while doing it! This is my kind of event!

Happy Running!

Two Years Ago: was the last time I PRd a 5k

No joke! I don't race 5ks that often, but I can't seem to PR...ever. The last time I recorded a personal best was two years ago and I was sick. My PR isn't even that fast, a high :28 I believe. I just signed up for the Doughnut Dash 5k which will take place on Sunday. I keep having to tell myself the faster I run the sooner I will be able to partake in doughnuts and coffee! Yum!

I normally do the least required amount of running to just finish a race and nothing more. Since I signed up for my 70.3 it scares me to death to run a half marathon after swimming and biking. So scared in fact that I am running much, much more! I know there are some, well, many runners out there who get in 40 or more miles a week, that's not me. But I am happy to say that I am at about 38 miles of running so far for the month of April. Perhaps a little more since some parts of my runs didn't get recorded into my chart. This is huge for me! So with all of my running I hope it's enough to break the elusive 28 minutes once and for all!

Notes to Self

1. Delete Christmas music off running playlist, "Baby it's Cold Outside" does not make me feel invincible or fast.

2. There is a reason I bought new shoes and there is a reason why I should wear them and not my old ones... ouch.

3. Find a flatter running course, walking up hills and lots of stairs really slows my average pace down... way too much!

Things That Can't Be Safe (but is so freakin' awesome): Part Three

Juggling while running.

I wish I took a picture. My mom and I were out for a Sunday run and here comes Mr. Juggler running around the lake. He looked like he was having such a great time and he was a fantastic juggler.

The not so safe part: What if he ran into someone?

Swimming Tip of the Week: How to Put on and Take Care of a Swim Cap

"Eeeeeeek!" You are saying to yourself, "I will never wear a swim cap, I will look like such a dork in one of those!!" Trust me you won't look like a dork, you will look like a swimming bad ass!!

Swim caps are practical for many reasons.
1. They keep your hair out of your face while you are swimming.
2. They keep your goggles secure and snug.
3. They somewhat protect your hair against chorline, but not completely. They do not keep your hair dry.
4. They are used in open water swimming events and triathlons to easily spot a swimmer and usually written on a bright colored cap is the swimmer's number. Great to have if you are a swimmer in distress! (which hopefully you will never be that swimmer because you have prepared yourself so well!) So, please wear your swim cap.

Here are some tips on how to easily put on a swim cap.

There is a simple solution to getting that wonderful looking swim cap up on your head. All you need is a dry swimming cap and a small amount of baby powder. If the cap is wet you are going to be making baby powder paste and you don't want that!

Gently shake some baby powder inside your cap. Just like this:

Next, rub the swim cap to evenly disperse the baby poweder, as shown below.

Place the front of the swim cap on your forehead.

Continue to pull the cap over your entire head.

Tuck in your hair on the sides of your head.

Continue to tuck your hair in on the back of your head. (ooops, forgot some hair)

Now it's, time to hit the water. Don't forget your goggles!

I hope this has helped your swimming endeavours! To be honest, most of the time I don't even use powder in my cap, but I do get it wet before I put it on my head! And don't forget that you will look like a bad ass with your cap on and everyone will get out of the water when they see you struttin' out to the pool!

Happy Swimming!!!

P.S. When you get home hang your cap up on a doorknob to dry.