On Being Behind

Hi strangers!

I am so far behind on all things blogging related - I mean, I ran 4 races in December and haven't told you about a single one of them! Blogger fail. But let's be real. I had a kick ass December. I'm really planning on getting a race cap or two done here (at least for Sunday's half), but in the meanwhile, I'll tell you what I've been up to (or you can always follow me on Instagram, because then you'll be more likely to know!). ;) But as you'll see in my mostly-photos-recap of the last four weeks, it's been craaaaaazy... and real fun.

December started with the Reindeer Romp, a local 5K that we ran last year and plan on running for the next few years, if only to collect their awesome ornaments. Not a PR, but a solid showing (26:10) and good for 3rd in my age group. 

The named reindeer changes every year so you can eventually collect them all!

 And then Doug's high school football team won their CIF championship game that night!

I got my championship fill that weekend, too, as Dad and I ventured to the 2014 MLS Cup to watch our LA Galaxy be the #FirsttoFive MLS Cups. My first Cup game and our team won, to boot! 

The following weekend was December Epic Adventure Weekend #1, the only (mostly) planned one of the month, and we figured a great way to end the year. On Saturday, Dad and I ran the Lexus Lace Up 5K (thanks, GroupOn!) - a super tough course but a 25:31 finish, good for a 1st age group win, which hasn't happend in a loooong time. I was also 11th female overall!

Later that day, Doug and I headed to KROQ's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas show - it's now a 2-day show, and we snagged tickets to an amazing night one: New Politics, Royal Blood, Walk the Moon, Bush, Fall Out Boy, System of a Down, Linkin Park, Incubus and Rise Against. A-MAZ-ING.

The next morning, I got up and raced again! This time, the Santa Hustle Half Marathon. Santa Hustle is new to the west coast and I was lucky enough to earn a free entry through its ambassador program. Doug ran the 5K while I chatted with Natalie for 2:17:39. A totally and completely flat course, which I'm finding is more challenging than rolling hills. After the race, we spent all day playing at Knotts Berry Farm (the half marathon registration comes with park tickets!).

The following weekend (are you tired yet, because I am) we headed to Vegas for Doug's big 30th birthday! He wanted to go all out, so 7 of us headed out for the weekend, complete with club tour, gourmet steakhouses and all the fun. Happy 30th, babe!

Christmas, of course, came and went. We spent Christmas Eve and the next morning at my aunt's house in Big Bear (so a semi-white Christmas!) and then I finished Christmas Day at Doug's. I love having so many places to go, but man! It's tiring, too.

And then this past weekend was an impromptu December Epic Adventure Weekend #2: having one last lunch with my sister and sending her off to the airport back to New York, the Holiday Bowl on Saturday night, running a half marathon on Sunday morning that I signed up for on the way to the Holiday Bowl, and then killing the rest of the day at Sea World to end the year of our annual passes.

Epic month. I'm tired. Race recaps coming soon, I promise, as I get ready to kick off a new year with this blog! More on that coming soon!

Was your December as craaaaazy as mine?

December Recap

december.

Total run mileage: 113.13     highest monthly mileage ever!
Highest weekly run mileage:   35.47   highest weekly mileage ever! 
# Runs: 17
# Rest days: 13

# Cross-training workouts:5

# Races: 3 

     - Inaugural Walton County Half Marathon
     - Wiseman 5K
     - Operation Jack Half Marathon 

WOO DECEMBER!

Favorite run: The Walton County Half. I felt so strong the whole race, put my 4-1 interval training to good use, and while it wasn't a smashing PR (just 49 seconds off), it was a PR nonetheless. I think the best part was pushing a lady to a nearly 5-minute PR when she didn't think she could pull it off. So much fun, not to mention a beautiful morning in Georgia countryside. And you know... the first-place age group win didn't hurt too much either!

Most hardcore run: The 17 miler, obviously! That was the first huge mental test of marathon training - the 20 miler this weekend was hard but good, but doing 17 miles by yourself on a Saturday morning really pushes your limits. It was then that I knew that I was making progress, making the work count and that if I put my mind to it, it would happen and I could do it. Cliched, I know... but so true.

Current reads: Guh, nothing this month. Failing at the book reading goal still. Oh well?

Current obsession: Getting in as much home time as I can. It's been a great trip, it's been great being home and I'm just trying to soak up every minute of it while I can. 

Current drink: Water. It's hard at home, while we're out and about, to make sure I'm drinking the same amount of water as I do when I sit at a desk all day chugging bottle after bottle. Only home for a next few days, but man! I need to get on this and make sure I stay in the habit and don't fall off the tracks.

Current song: No songs - looking forward to finding new music for the running playlist over the next few weeks. I've got some steady songs that will never leave the list, but there are quite a few that I'm getting bored with. Suggestions, friends?

Current need:This cold to go away! And for my suitcase to pack itself, preferably.

Current triumph: My first 100-mile month ever! I'm so excited - I knew that given that last run was 20-miles (and even only doing 15 of it), I only had to run 3 miles to break 100. So excited, so proud, can't believe I made it! 

And with that, through the longest month of marathon training. Two more weeks of hardcore work to get done, three weeks to taper, and then it's race weekend. WHERE have the last 18 weeks gone, but seriously?

On the run that broke 100!

Current bane of my existence:This head cold that I will not let ruin my new year! Or that pesky red-eye flight home tomorrow...

Current goal: Still identifying all my goals for 2013. I've got a few (though not as many as 2012), but need to fine-tune some plans and details. Stay tuned later this week!

What are your biggest accomplishments from this month?