Goals for 2013

Happy New Year!

So I've been looking at other people's goals all day and trying to mull over some of my own. Coming up with some worthy goals has been tough this year for some reason.

But, I do believe in kicking off the New Year with some goals so here are a few:

2012 miles at a glance

1. Run more miles this year. In 2012 I ran 721 miles - my goal for 2013 is to run 722.

2. Run faster? Maybe. I found myself having a hard time running faster last year. I would have to beat a 2:19:58 half and a 26:46 5K. Might be tough but if I train for it, I could possibly get there. Lately I've been getting slower rather than faster so we'll see.

3. Cross train seriously. I will be taking yoga, boot camp and incorporating more strength training into my regime.

More of this kinda thing

4. Maintain my goal weight.

5. DRINK MORE WATER! Seriously. I have such a hard time with this but in 2013, hydration will be my bitch.

6. Keep this blog going.

7. Eat even cleaner.

8. Track my food at least one week a month (will help me with #4 and #7 and keep me on my game)

9. Run 4 half marathons and at least 2 5k races - to keep training for stuff.

Wishy-Washy goals:

Here are a few things I would like to (maybe) do. I know this is an all-wrong approach but I'm still trying to figure out how to accomplish:

9. Run another full marathon? Maybe. Once again I will throw my hat in the ring for NYC marathon. If I get in, I will train. I have no other plans to run a full right now - with a new TV show in the works and the film -- I don't want to fully commit yet… (I know that's lame.)

26.2 if I'm in

10. And I know this is lame too. I still really want to try a tri. I am still struggling to figure out a bike and pool solution. The gyms with pools are literally 3 and 4 times more expensive than my gym and way out of my budget. Now if some of these projects we are working on generate some money, maybe I can afford to take that plunge - sometime. We'll see. Still putting it out there in the universe just in case I can make something happen.

So that's what I got so far.

What are your goals for the New Year?

XO
Jen

Slow Your Roll, Yo

I'm gonna feel like this guy after my 5k YIPPEE!

Tomorrow I'm racing a 5K and I have every intention of running as fast as I can - right up to the point of feeling like puking. (Hellz yeah! How did I ever get to the point in my life that something like that even sounds like fun?)

Anyway -

Today, after having a crappy Weight Watcher weigh-in (up 2.8!) Yikes… (Still under goal but still…) I decided I needed to get a little extra run in today for at least a little calorie burn.

I decided not to aim for miles but rather for minutes. I decided to aim for a light pace. I wanted to slow my roll and save most of my weekend effort for tomorrow. I tried. I failed. I thought the minute vs mile thing would help. Yet I still ran around my average speed of about 10:40 per mile - I was trying to run more like an 11min mi. 10:40 is still pretty speedy for me. My best 5K is around a ten minute mile. Every time I would try to slow down it felt like I was dragging, practically walking. The crisp air and sunny skies begged for me to pick up the pace. 

While I wasn't running my hardest, balls-to-the-wall and it was only a 3.5 mile jaunt - I still think there is something to the whole question of why it's so hard to slow down. I mean there was a time in my life where I would have preferred to run slow that pushing myself to run fast just sucked.

I don't know.

Who woulda thunk this could be such an issue?

But selective and strategic slowing down is (from what I understand) crucial to running success - especially in long distances.  We all saw what happened to Mary Keitany who decided she wasn't going to slow her roll at the beginning of the ING NYC marathon. It was her race to lose and she did. The commentators frittered about her way fast start and indeed it was her undoing.

no slow roll here

And the commentators were right but I don't think there's a runner out there that didn't understand Mary's heart.

Now, I don't think my whopping 10:40 3 mile run today is going to affect my race tomorrow one way or another - and I don't think this was so super fast or anything. Just brought up some interesting observations about trying to find the right balance between speed and distance.

If you want to run faster, you've got to run faster :) So there's obviously 'right' training times for speed work too.

What about you? Do you find it tough to slow down? Do you ever train at a slower speed? Have you ever faced this issue in a half or full marathon? Has running too fast ever bit you in the ass? 

Inquiring minds.

Have a great Saturday!!

XO

Jen

Everyone has a dream… What's your dream?

I've been dreaming of running NYC marathon for the last few weeks or so.

It's becoming a bit of an obsession actually. I'm not sure why this has become such a big dream but it has.

NYC is the city I have grown to call 'almost' home. I live 20 minutes outside of the big apple in Jersey - For 16 years I commuted daily into to the city for work. I still go in often for meetings, dinner and fun.

I think that running New York would be the most amazing experience and I have officially set my sights. There's a definite magic to the city and oh to put that notch on my running belt! What could be better for a Jersey girl than that? It might be 2012 if I can get lucky to get in or it might not be for years but I'm going to run it someday.

Hey, that girl between Apolo and Meb clearly stole my bib! My name is on it!

What's your running dream? Is it New York? To run across the country ala Dean K? Maybe it's to qualify and run Boston? 

XO

Jen

PS: My other dream is to run Disney someday :) that just looks fun.

ING NYC Marathon Eve

I am definitely excited for the ING 2011 NYC marathon tomorrow. I won't be running and I won't even be a spectator but I can feel the thrill of it in the air already.

It seems I get a case of marathon fever around this time each year. Last year it was a mere day or two after the NYC marathon that I took the plunge and signed up for the San Diego RNR one.

Hmmm.

My friend Nicole and I decided that we're going to apply for the marathon NYC lottery for 2012 - it's a long shot but it has suddenly become something I really want to do. So I'll be applying to that lottery until I get in. 

To those who have the honor of running tomorrow - Congrats. You are already a winner.

Look strong, run strong, finish strong.

There is no shame in walking thru a water stop if you have to (but I will understand when you decide against it.) 

Enjoy every minute and I can't wait to read the race recaps and see the pictures of your bling.

XOXO
Jen

PS: Here is a link to the changes in the lottery. The changes are meaningful. There will no longer be the 'automatic' entry after a few missed lotteries. You could try for the lottery for the rest of your life and not get in! Other changes have occurred to. Check it out here: http://newyorkmarathon.runnersworld.com/2011/10/nyc-marathon-guaranteed-entry-rules-to-change.html