New Year - New Plan!

My medal from Chicago

Since my last post, many months ago, I ran in the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Mini Marathon and also completed the Detroit Free Press/Talmar Bank International Half Marathon.  I wasn't feeling particularly good about any of it.  I enjoyed Chicago in July, but it was really hot - and they served lousy beer after the finish.  I was glad that I did it, and I enjoyed it, but didn't feel that it was much of an accomplishment, and really, it was only about a 5K.

Picking up my race number in Detroit

In October I did the half marathon... Didn't run all of it - maybe only 1/3.  I started to notice chafing at mile 5 and blisters at mile 10.  I walked the last 3 miles with a young woman whom I met along the way.  She had signed up for the full marathon, but found herself unable to do it so she completed the half marathon route, instead, knowing that she would not be counted as a finisher because she wasn't completing what she signed up for.  I thought that was pretty strong - not sure I would put the effort in if I wouldn't even be considered a finisher for the race that I was doing.  But she, like me, had blisters on top of blisters and she didn't have anyone there to cheer her on or celebrate her finish.  Together, we finished up the final 5K and ran (well, maybe trotted) the last 50 yards, and dashed - as much as we could - across the finish line.  I'm glad I did it, but I was disappointed with my "performance" and didn't feel like it was much of a personal accomplishment, either.

Finished with my first half marathon

I am quite pleased to say that I raised $2175 for the American Cancer Society through the DetermiNation team that I ran with last year.  It has changed to become a destination event program  now, so I'm glad I had the opportunity to participate in that when I could do something close to home.

Since then, I've done virtually no running.  I didn't do the Mackinaw Bridge Run that I was planning on because I wasn't up to the required pace.  I've given my running shoes a good long rest and I think that all of my deep blisters have finally shown themselves on the bottoms of my feet and are history.  I've been reading about some different running programs and am ready to get going again, starting almost back at square one. This year, I'm going to RUN that half marathon and it's going to be something that I will be proud of!  I'm going to do that Mackinaw Bridge Run and be faster than the minimum speed and it will be glorious!  I'm even going to throw a scenic bike tour in where I'll be able to choose from a 25, 50, 75 or 100 mile route in September.  I will probably do the 50 mile tour, but we'll see what happens.  I can always change my distance.

Close up of my very cool medal

New technology is always a good motivater and John got me a Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS watch (in pink, naturally) for Christmas.  That will be a fun new way for me to keep track of my progress.  And since it's been cold - only 5 degrees 2 days ago and very windy today - I am planning to get an Under Armour balaclava and maybe some cold weather running pants so that I can get outside and start my program.  I'm also planning to hit the treadmill at the gym when it's too icy or blistering cold to go out for very long.

So... If you've wondered about my blog, my running or my fundraising efforts for my 5th cancerversary, now you are up to speed!  I want to get a few things in order before I start running again, but it won't be more than a week or so.  You can check back here or subscribe to my blog, or even Google+ my page.  Since I am not doing DetermiNation this year, I will be concentrating those efforts on Relay For Life, and am moving my team back to Marshall, MI.  Everyone really seemed to miss that last year, and so did I.  As 2013 begins, I am looking forward to a new year filled with challenges and achievements and lots of fun.  My mantra for this year is originally from Mae West - "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."  Now I have to figure out how I can plan skydiving into this year!