2010...best year yet.

As far as running goes, this really has been my best year.

It's the year when...

I became a runner.

I started running for the right reasons.

I started tracking my runs.

I started pushing myself.

I stopped slogging.

I found out what I could do and then I did it.

I became a smarter runner.

I enjoyed it more than ever.

Before 2010, I had run 10 miles one time (other than my 2 1/2 marathons). Since July of this year, I have run 10+ miles (not including one race) at least 8 times.

Before this year, I didn't think I could run faster than a 10-minute mile. Since August, I have logged numerous sub-9 minute miles.

I ran 13.25 on Christmas Eve, which is the most I've ever run at one time.

I set new PRs in 5K, 8K, 10K and 1/2 marathon distances.

I ran more miles (650) than I ever have before in one year.

So ya, looking back on 2010, this year rocked.

My only hope is that 2011 will be even better. And here are my running goals for 2011:

1. Run at least 900, hopefully get to 1000.

2. Complete my first marathon (DC, March 2011).

3. Be consistent in my strength training.

4. Eat like a runner.

5. Get down to an 8-minute mile.

6. Run as many races as possible!

Looking forward to 2011. I will turn 32 on 11-11-11. This is the YEAR OF RACHEL! Bring it on!

Giveaway: Hot Legs Runner

Have you seen Hot Legs Runner's blog? It's fun! And inspiring AND she's having a Moving Comfort sports bra giveaway. She's giving everyone lots of chances to win so check it out!

Hard Core

I've always wanted to be hard core. I've always admired people who ran on holidays (did that this year with 13.25 miles on Christmas Eve) and through any weather (ran today after a the Boston Blizzard, where we got 18+ inches of snow). Ya, today I feel hard core. I'll have to write up more about both runs, but in the mean time a few rare running pictures - taken by my husband as I ran by the house....

One reason...

I have thought a lot about why I run - in fact I've thought enough that I am going to do a separate post on another day. But this week it struck me that the holidays are tough. They are busy. And lonely (we're far away from all of our family). And stressful. And when it's cold, I don't like to go out much with the kids so we stay home a lot, which then leads to cabin fever. And I haven't handled it all super well this year. However, I truly believe that if I weren't running, it would be worse. Running evens me out. It improves my mood. It's helpful to get up and get out of the house - especially when there are days that that's the only time I get out of the house. So that's one reason why I run....stay tuned for others.

Go Lite Giveaway

Check out the giveaway at Mile Posts. Good luck!

Stinky running clothes?!

So the pink shirt I'm wearing in both pictures, I got for my birthday from my husband. It's from Lucy and I love it! However, I have already put a lot of miles on it and it smells. It always smells like I've been running. Even after I wash it and it's fresh out of the dryer. Any tips for getting the running smell out of clothing?

Running Buddies

I have been running with my friend in the middle since July - we always do our long runs together and an occasional mid-week run. She always pushes me to be better. The girl on the left started running with us about a month ago. I LOVE our Saturday runs. Always entertaining and the miles fly by. And our conversations...well, they just more and more interesting the longer we run together! I really look forward to every Saturday.

And I promise my face isn't this big. Just the "benefit" of being the one to hold the camera!

Week 3: Day 2 - New PR

I set a new PR last night. 5 miles in under 45 minutes (44:22 to be exact). Awesome! Felt great. I ran yesterday evening with a friend and despite talking, having fuller-than-normal bellies, one of us being a little under the weather, we were able to keep up a good pace. I was thrilled when I got home. It did make this morning's 2 mile stroller runner feel a little tougher and slower, but so worth it! I love runs like that. They are the reason I keep running!!!

Week 2: 3-Mile Run

So this morning I went on a 3-mile run. I left at 6:30 and it was 34 degrees and I was happy about that. Ya, I live in New England. Anyway, I went downstairs to get my iPod and it was totally dead. I thought I had charged it all night, but the charger wasn't plugged into the wall. So, no iPod. I use the Nike+ pedometer so without the iPod, I have no idea how fast I'm running or even how many miles. I was just scheduled to do a 3-mile run, so I ran a route that I am familiar with and knew was just over 3 miles.

And I ran. Just listening to the sound of my feet on the pavement and my breath. I used how I was feeling to gage pace and to speed up when I felt like I could. I got home having run 27:03 minutes. I immediately mapped it out on dailymile. I had run 3.13 miles. Which puts me at a 8:39/mile pace. I was pretty pleased with that. It's not my fastest run, but it's up there. And since I didn't feel like I was dying and felt like I could have kept going, I was really pleased.

In training for this marathon, I am really not focusing on speed - just finishing. I do not have any pace runs scheduled. I just run what feels good. And a fast run here and there certainly doesn't hurt the morale!

Week 1: Completed.

I really do plan on updating this blog more frequently but with the holiday, work and selling my computer (on the hub's lap top right now), this week was a slow blogging week. I did run all of my miles - 18. I ran three on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was a rest day (and Thanksgiving) so I did that (and a lot of eating!). Friday (cardio day) I played a game of Powder Puff with some good friends. So fun! I was surprised, however, how sore I was. I had no idea that football uses completely different muscles than regular running.

Although my muscles ached, I still got up for the long run. It was a little tiring because my legs were already tired, but since it was completely different muscles, I did okay. My running partner was taking our family pictures that afternoon, so we spent one mile running around Wellesley campus looking for good spots. So fun! We ended up with an 11 minute/mile average, which sounds about right for a slow run.

Looking forward to this week, although I have a sick daughter, which always makes my running schedule a little tougher. I can't swap kids when she's sick, so I have to get up before 6 to run before my husband leaves for work. This is also tough since she doesn't sleep very well when she's sick. We'll see how it goes.

Week 1: And so it begins...

How do people take such cute pictures of themselves before a run? I took 10 different pictures and this was the best. The rest were terrible. This one...not great, but it will work.

This morning I went on my first run of my marathon training. I am doing Hal Higdon's Novice 1 training. I am not a novice runner (in my 11th year of running at some level), but I am a novice marathoner. I do not have a time goal. I am not trying to set any records. Just trying to finish. So slow and steady is going to be my motto this time around. If I don't, I know I'll burn out. I know myself. I know that if I don't fight the urge, I will push myself too hard and end up with nothing but regrets.

I got up at 5:45 am to meet a friend at 6 for a quick 3-mile run. This is my running partner. We normally just do our long runs together. And long runs are all about talking, right? So I am used to talking to my friend while we run. Can't do that when I'm running a 9-minute mile. I felt like I was dying about halfway through - which is frustrating because I ran a 5K on Friday in a sub-9- mile - and then I realized that it's because I was talking. So I zipped it pretty much for the last mile. I responded to a few questions, but really kept the talking to a minimum, which helped.

We finished 3.03 in 27:45 - 9:09 mile. Not too bad for the first of many, many runs on this journey. 3 miles down, 469 to go. Eeek.