2012 a runner's year in review

Here we are again! At the end of another year of running and just 2 months shy of my 3rd year runnaversary!! WOW. Time is flying.

Here's a list of goals I made for myself from last year and  how I fared:  

1.  Run 1012 miles. I was going to shoot for 1000 but figured I'd throw in the extra 12 for good measure. This year I think I'll come in just shy of 850 - so it's not an impossible goal to shoot for but still challenging. FAIL. Though, truthfully I am not disappointed. I feel pretty satisfied that I did the best I could - I ran more than 10 races this year - had a few PR's, tried new fitness things like boot camp, Zumba and yoga. Total Miles were 721 - I'll get 'em next year!

2.  Run a sub 2:20 half marathon.  Last year I ran a 2:24 - so shaving another 4 minutes off - will be challenging but not impossible. SUCCESS! My best was the Hollywood Half which was 2:19:58! LOL, so it was that close.

3.  Run another marathon.  I will aim for around 5 hours but am flexible when it comes to time. I am still in the 'just finish' zone of such a goal. NOPE - but again I'm OK with it. It wasn't my year to train for it and I think I would've resented the super long miles it would take to get another one under my belt. It'll happen.

4.  Continue this blog. SUCCESS! Here it is!

5.  Run a sub 28:30 5K.  My last 5K I ran in 28:48 so if I focus and work hard, I should be able to achieve it. SUCCESS! How does 26:46 grab ya!? Read about it here.

6.  Continue to maintain my weight loss. SUCESS! Just celebrated my 2 years firmly at goal!

7.  Remember to be thankful.  For family, friends, running, love, this blog, I am incredibly blessed. YES, of-course, there's not a day that goes by that I don't count myself incredibly blessed.

8.  Remember to ENJOY it.  At the end of the day - goals for speed, miles and marathons are great but the most important part is to embrace it. This isn't a chore, this is a privilege. If it becomes a chore then it's time to reassess - don't let anything steal the joy away. (But don't be too quick to give up either!) Yep. For the most part. I started running with Moms In Motion and began running with a few friends. It's been a lovely year in the running books even though I had some set-backs and fell (OK, very) short of the mileage goal - it's all good. I run because I love it. It keeps me healthy and happy and whether it's 70 miles, 700 miles or 7000 miles, I am grateful for every single step.

And what other goodies happened for me?

I turned 40, I got to travel all over the place, I met/made a bunch new endurance friends, I was on The Today Show, featured in Health Magazine, interviewed for NPR Radio and Cook, Train, Race, Eat TV and I was invited to run on a Ragnar Relay team - that race will kick off my  2013 race season and I'll be leaving in just 2 short days - and we'll be filming it for a documentary! 

2012 has been a pretty good year personally and professionally and I believe it's paved the way to make 2013 the best year yet to come!

I am still not sure about my goals for 2013 but will be thinking about it and will be listing them soon.

What was some of your 2012 highlights? What are you hoping for in the new year ahead?

XO

Jen

Today show recap and Running crap

I can't seem to get my running together.  In 3 weeks I'm running the Hollywood half marathon and I just can't seem to get a longer run in. The other day I did 6 miles and that was the longest I've run in a month! Ah. Well.

Still. I have a plan.

My plan is to do 8 miles sometime this weekend and 10 next weekend and then I should be OKish for the half.  I have been running at least, just not as long. 2-3 miles 5 times a week or so. Hopefully that'll be enough.

I was going to do that 8 miles today but I fell apart. I could barely do the 4 I settled myself to do. Did OK for the first 2 miles and in the 3rd mile, I had a tummy ache, a knee ache, a "I just don't feel like doing this ache" and all kinds of "WTF is going on with me?" So I ran to 3.1 and was going to call it a day… Of course, I couldn't call it a day. I was too close to four miles. So I sucked it up. I ended my Nike program at 3.1 but finished the rest of the mile off the record… It was slow and there was some walking in there but at least I got four miles in. And I feel a little comfort that I at least finished what I had started.

Not the best run ever. But you know. We have good days and bad days. Tomorrow will be better.

And in other news…

Not my usual look...

Today, was my grand TODAY show appearance! Whoopee.   I looked slightly dorky - a model I am not. I didn't know what to do with my hands, my feet, I forgot to smile half the time but still, it was a blast.

Totally forgetting to smile - oops

I was sooooooo proud of my BFF Amy Acton who handled the interview like a pro!!

At the end all of us came back out:

Fun day!!

By the way, you can check out the segment here:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Have a great weekend all!!

XO

Jen

I'm gonna be on the TODAY show!

Hello peeps --

The weather is glorious in Jersey. I don't know if it's global warming or what but I am loving it.

So much going on.

First thing is first - I am going to be on TODAY show on Friday so set your DVRs! I'll be on the Kathy Lee and Hoda hour (It starts at 10AM here on the East Coast.)

My friend Amy is a celebrity fashion stylist. Amongst all the cool people she styles and all the awesome things she does, she styles all the talent for the Olympics (yes she goes to every Olympics! Lucky!) and she was invited on the show to do a segment about "looking great at any weight."  My look was for the girl who has lost weight but is still stuck in a rut…

It was a blast!

First a car and driver picked me up - FANCY!

This is how we roll

Then as I arrived I got whisked right off to get my hair and makeup done.  They made my normally curly hair, pulled in a pony tail - straight and bouncy.

In the greenroom after the segment

And as if that's not fun enough - Vinny from the Jersey Shore was getting his makeup 'did' right next to me for his segment! I should've said hi. I dropped the ball on that one. Deena was there too. No Snooks.

Jersey Shore greenroom - I should've gotten a pic with them!

settled on taking a picture of them from back stage monitor

Then we got dressed and did our segment. It was surreal and fun. :)

Now I have pretty hair and makeup and am a little sad that I need to go running in a bit and mess it all up. Sigh.

I don't talk in my segment, I just stand there and "model." haha…

I've been in TV for a long time but this was still a cool experience. I watch the Today Show almost every morning so it was neat to get to be a part of it for this little segment!

PS: Also dropped the ball by not making the time to talk to Hoda and Kathy Lee - love those ladies!

Now, I gotta run.  I have a half on April 6 and I haven't run more than 3 miles in weeks. OY!

XO
Jen