2012 – The Wrap Up and On to the Next One

As it has been so long since I last posted, I thought I’d just beat the clock and get a year-end wrap up posted before the clock strikes 12 on 2012.

The lack of posts is definitely NOT because I have not been busy working out and meeting my goals – in fact, it is more because I took a break from trying to force the blog posts in order to focus on those goals. This year, I have found a really great place in my weight loss/fitness journey. While I have a goal weight range, I’m no longer concerned about the exact # on the scale. My primary goal is to be fit and healthy. To achieve this goal- I have to continue to work hard and fuel my body purely. If I work on those things, I will achieve that goal eventually. I had posted earlier this year about being frustrated with a plateau. The reality is, I’ve only lost about 5 lbs since then, total. The good news is : 1)have maintained a 70+ weight loss for over 2 years and 2)have accepted that I have to do something different nutritionally if I want different results and 3)I’m capable of WAY more than I ever thought possible physically.

In late April, I decided I wanted to sign up for some races again and fill up my race calendar to be consistent. I had a goal to do at least 1 race per month through the end of the year. That goal meant completing 8 races. I’m very happy to report that I completed 10 and attempted 11!

Here is a quick rundown of my races of 2012:

• 500 Festival 5K Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Dirty Girl Mud Run Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Tap N Run Indianapolis - FINISHED
• The Color Run Indianapolis - FINISHED   
• Ragnar Napa Valley - FINISHED
• Disaster Dash Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Wine at the Line Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Monumental 5K Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Drumstick Dash Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Jingle Bell Run Indianapolis - FINISHED
• Santa Shuffle Half (DNF- 8.5mi completed, injured foot)

I’ve also continued with CrossFit since beginning at the end of May. Today, I ended 2012 with a kick ass WOD at Church of Iron. I was on a workout high for at least an hour afterwards. I love the little CF family I’ve become a part of. Lately, due to work, I’ve not been able to be as consistent with my schedule- but I’m back, and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months brings.

On that note- the next 6 months. It’s going to bring A LOT!

I have 8, that’s EIGHT, races scheduled between 1/1/13 and end of May.

2 5Ks, a 10K, a 15K, 1 half marathon and 2 Obstacle Course Races (including a Spartan Sprint in April!)

A goal of a minimum of 3 visits to CrossFit each week (sometimes 4).

A renewed focus on my nutrition and feeding to fuel and little else.

While I don’t believe in resolutions that are made to be broken- I commit to being mindful of the goals I’ve set and allowing myself to move on when I momentarily lose sight of them.

What goals have you set this year- and how will you reach them? 

Looking Back and recognizing effort

Lately I've been in a bit of a slump. I really think I burned out during the first part of the year and then with various life changes, I had trouble getting back to my peak performance mode. However, as we reach the last few days of 2011- I'm reflecting on what I accomplished this year.

• 7 races
• my first HALF MARATHON!
• my second Ragnar Relay!
• I'm still running!

This is a snapshot of my 2010 Nike+ Stats for the whole year:



This is my 2011 Nike+ Stats (updated 1/1/2012):

9 more runs than last year- 93 miles more - 13.5 hours more- and an avg pace improvement of almost 1.5 minutes. I may not have kept up the intensity and frequency of my runs the second half of the year- but by God, I still improved over 2010 and that is something I can be proud of
I had some disappointments this year- choosing to opt out of my 2nd half marathon and not performing as well as I wanted to at Ragnar (due to illness)- that's life though- right? It doesn't always go as planned. You can give up- or you can keep on.
When you're having a rough day and beating yourself up for what you DIDN'T do- remember what you DID do and remind yourself that progress is progress- no matter how slow, no matter how long it takes. Keep moving forward.

My goal for 2012 is to improve on 2011 - run at least 100 times, go for 350 miles in the year and quicken my avg overall pace by at least 30 seconds.

I can be a @RagnarRelay Warrior. . . all Weekend long!

I’ve definitely talked about my experiences with the Ragnar Relay series – my first race in Utah and then the 2^nd one this year in Chicago. Recently- I got an email (well, lots of Ragnars did- not just me) about recruiting in Ragnar Relay Weekend Warriors! This is all about sharing the spirit of the races, promoting the brand and getting the word out there. Would mean I’d get some gear to wear during local races and work at local race events (expos, etc) – and be expected to run with a local running group at least 1x a month (which I already do!!). As a marketer, as a blogger, as a runner – and more importantly- AS A RAGNAR – I really want to be a part of this.

The Ragnar Relay series created a bit of a monster in me- a very good monster. One that is determined. One that turned “I Can’t” into “Shut up, yes you can!”. One that strives to improve with every run. One that has learned patience with the frustrating runs. One that owns YakTrax to run in snow (and be chased by little monsters). I display my race stickers on my van with pride, I am planning the Ragnar-based tattoo for my foot – so that every day when I get ready for work, or lace up for a run- I remember what drove me to lose the first 75 lbs I wanted to shed and work towards the rest.

When I was pregnant with my youngest- I came out of that at my heaviest weight ever. At 7 months into the pregnancy – I agreed to join a Ragnar Relay team for an amazing adventure in Utah with 11 others. Exactly 6 weeks after having her- I began training for Ragnar – I had just under 5 months. I haven’t stopped running yet. Ragnar gave me the confidence and the vision to own being a runner. Ragnar- are you listening? Please make me a Weekend Warrior!

I filled out my form with all of the contact info- but I wouldn’t be upset if any of you reading were to send a friendly little Tweet to @RagnarRelay to consider @that_girl_lola as a Weekend Warrior – can you rally with me?

When Fitness shows. . .

I had a really good run today. Not just because my avg pace was less than 11:30 per mile for a 60 min run - and not just because I ran 5.3 miles at 82 degrees with 80% humidity- feeling like 89 degrees.

Here's why:
I have been wanting to go back to the weekly Saturday morning training runs with one of the local running shoe companies- but just haven't. . .until today. I have signed up for another half marathon on November 5 and decided this week I better get much more serious about my training if I plan to complete it. I got up at 6am this morning- without any idea how long we were going to run today. In my head, thought it might be 45 minutes- but had no clue. Showed up to the announcement that it was 60 mins. For the first time ever- I didn't panic about that. I mean, I know it was hot- I knew it had been awhile since I ran that long- but hey- I was here, I was up- and darn it, I was going to do it. I took off on the run and felt good the entire time- legs felt strong, lungs felt strong - body didn't rebel. It felt GREAT actually. Towards the end- the running group sponsors had set up a water station at the final mile - and I took a brief pause for some water- and another girl stopped shortly after I did. She took off again right as I did- and we both smiled and sighed that we were glad it was the last mile. Then she kept pace with me until the end. Then a very unusual (for me) thing happened - when we finished and I said "good job- it's hot out here!) - she said "How fast do you run?" and I said "It varies, but usually anywhere from 11 to 11.5 min miles usually" and she said "I usually run with another partner but I want to get faster which is why I was keeping pace with you at the end" This MADE MY DAY. I mean, I am not breaking any speed records - but for someone want to use ME and MY pace to help them get faster made me feel really good. I've stopped caring about pace - and the funny thing is- I run faster now. I still keep track of it- and like that it is improving- but I don't obsess about it like I once did.

The Title - When Fitness Shows - I'm always amazed by what the human body will do- if you nudge it just a little. I've been running but not really regularly- and almost never more than 30 minutes since the Ragnar Relay in June. I was shocked how well my body performed on today's extra hot run after not having tackled that distance in awhile. And after? I felt better than I ever used to. Before, when I first started training - I would run 5 miles and then hobble from car to home because I was so sore. Today- I bounced out of my van into the house and took off to a pool party after a quick shower. It doesn't happen overnight- but eventually- your fitness shows, when you least expect it.