When 2013 started I had a few running goals that I mostly kept to myself.   I knew I had at least 2 half marathons in the year to come and by City to Sea in October I was hoping to break 2:15:00.  That would be 11 minutes off City to Sea of 2012, so I was a little nervous.  I also wanted to break 30:00 for a 5K again, just to make sure that the first time wasn’t a fluke just because it was the HOB fun run.   I figured it may have just been the adrenaline stemming from the literally almost 100 people I knew there, it’s a very popular local event.  Most races, I only know 1 or 2 other people, less stress. 🙂  In 2013, I wanted to get over the horrible mental block I had with 10K’s, I had only run 1 but I hated it so much, it was 2 years before I ran another.  Give me half marathon any day.   I was also aiming for 12 races through out the year.

2013 also began with a promotion and job location change.  I now commuted every day.  On top of that, work was insanely busy.  We were going through a merger, so most days including the commute were over 12 hour days.  I wasn’t getting home until after 7, and then I was so tired I usually just crashed.   This went on for a few months.  Running took a backseat and I became a weekend runner.   😦   My first 2 races of the year were in that time period as well.  A 5K in February and the Wine Country 1/2 in March.

I went into Wine Country feeling seriously under trained.  I had run this half twice before so I knew the course well.  I was hoping to finish near 2:25:00, so only a minute faster than 2012’s City to Sea.  Then 3 minutes to the starting gun they announced a last minute course change.   The out and back portion would be shorter to accommodate adding a crazy hill at the end, at mile 12.4.  Seriously?!   I figured I would run as much as I could and walk when I needed to.  I won’t lie, I walked that entire damn hill and some after that, cursing in my head the whole way up.  The shocker was that I crossed the finish line at 2:14:04.  Ummm, how now?   I still have no idea where that came from.   I had to double check Nike, the official time and the starting clock, I was in disbelief.  But then I was like, what now?  I wasn’t sure I could get faster.  So in June, I started Slacker Runner (thanks for joining me!), partially to hold myself accountable and to find motivation in all your stories as well (which are amazing, by the way).  And to stop driving my coworkers crazy with running talk.

In June, I also ran my first 10K in 2 years and it didn’t suck!!!  In fact, I ran another in July and loved it.   As for 12 races, I ran in 11 events but 12 races.  I am not sure how to count that.  🙂   And I finished City to Sea Half in 2:05:56.  I had discovered this great path at a park in the town halfway between home and work.   It helped with sticking to my training plan and I think that helped with my overall pace. I can’t wait to get back to it in the spring!

So now we are heading into 2014 and where do I go from here?  I am putting my goals in writing this year, so let’s do this!

5K- Finish under 27:00

10K- Finish under 54:00

Half marathon- Break under 2:00:00 in the first half of the year. If I do– see how close I can get to 1:50:00 by City to the Sea 2014. (yikes!)

So, in order to do that I need races!!!!  I am debating joining the 14 in 2014 (but more on that later). I generally plan my races only a quarter ahead and most of the time it also comes down to finances 😦   So for the beginning of the year, I am thinking-

Feb 1- Super Fun Run 5K
Feb 15- Buzz 1/2 Marathon
March 23- Wine Country 1/2 marathon ( dang hill!!!)
April 27- SLO 1/2 Marathon

So now I need to get moving, get running!!!  That first 1/2 marathon is less than 2 months away.  Which is making me regret finishing my Christmas shopping tonight instead of running, oops.

To everyone who has their race year mapped out, you seriously impress me.

Anyone have a goal race in the first half of the year?

Everyone ready for Christmas?