November Recap

But seriously... how is it December already?

Total run mileage: 123.69. Goal demolished. New highest monthly mileage ever! 

Highest weekly run mileage: 48.9. Holy cow, no wonder I was so tired! Highest weekly mileage too!

# Runs: 23

# Rest days: 11 

# Cross-training workouts: A few walks. Not enough that I should be doing, given this month's mileage.

# Races: Lots of races! Pacing mostly, but a few for fun. More to come in December! :)

     - Revel Canyon City Half Marathon

     - Lexus Lace Up 10K Palos Verdes

     - Surfers Point Half Marathon

     -  USA Invitational Half Marathon

     -  Riverside Turkey Trot 15K

Favorite run: Revel Canyon City. I seriously had such a blast that day and though I was in it for fun (pacing), I've never had that much fun running a half marathon, nor pacing, before! It was a beautiful day, a gorgeous course, and a new race for me, so all things stacked up to be a pretty fantastic Saturday morning. 

Hardest Run: Not a run, but that Baldy business was a little real. I'm working on a post all about it, but 15 miles round trip of a hike, working muscles I kinda forgot that I had, and 15 degrees at the top of the mountain? 

There's a Six Peak Challenge coming around Southern California next year and I'm half tempted to do it - just as another way to ensure I'm doing some extra training outside of running. My quads haven't felt that worked in a long time. But for the beauty, the serenity, and the sheer satisfaction of making it to the top of So Cal's third-highest peak? Priceless.

Current need: Officially, a new Garmin. My baby is well over three years old and is starting to die quicker and quicker, despite being on the charger all night. I'm already eye-balling my new one and am gifting it to myself once I hit my #1000orbust goal (1000 miles on the year) -- 117.63 miles to go and she's mine! Can't wait! 

Current favorite: Christmas at Disney. Duh. 

Current goal: There are exactly 117.63 miles that stand between me and my reaching 1,000 running miles in a year for the first time ever. I am way freaking stoked and ready to earn that IERC pin! Bring it on, December.


Month Goals: I made most of my November goals, or at least made good progress towards them, so I am super pumped about that. 

• 115 miles: Demolished. 123.69, woot woot! December goal: 117.63 to finish #1000orbust and do it before December 27 so I'm not cramming all the miles in between Christmas and New Year's. And then extra mileage is just fun. 
• Strength train at least one time per week: I didn't do anything. Seriously. I need to get on it to get strong for some spring races. December goal: strength train at least one time per week.
• Keep up 95oz water per day / 1-2 sodas per week: I'm doing better at this and have definitely watched my soda intake while eating out. Water + Gatorade. Holiday season time is hard with all the wine (!) but I know that if I keep up on my water, indulging in wine and holiday cocktails won't be the end of me. December goal: Keep up 95 ounces per day. 
• Pay card minimums + pay off half of Denver trip with remaining budget: Denver isn't quite half paid off, but I have some major financial planning to do this month between Christmas and budgeting for the new year. However, I've chipped away at it as best as I am able and that's all I can do! Progress. December goal: Pay off one more credit card (already in the works) and create financial plan for the new year. Big things coming in 2016! 

November was awesome, especially with all the races I got to squeeze in between pacing and running with my bestie. December's got a few exciting things coming up between races, my sister coming home for the holidays (and Disney with her!) and other general life fun. I can't wait - it's my favorite time of year!

What are your biggest accomplishments from this month? What are you looking forward to next month?

November Recap

Total run mileage: 91.71 miles
Highest weekly run mileage: 28.5 (woo!)
# Runs: 17
# Rest days: 10 (five of those were sick days in bed)

# Cross-training workouts:  6! Look at me... finally doing something other than running. These were walks and hikes, but at least different! 

# Races: Just one... Doug's first 10K! 

     - Dino Dash 10K 

Favorite run: 70 minutes, 7.8 miles. I nailed this run more than I ever thought possible. On a Wednesday morning, our training called for 70 minutes, so I figured at the least, I'd knock out 7 miles and if I got to more than that, that'd be a super duper win. Of all my usual routes around here, the longest is 5, so I knew I'd need to change it up a bit and find some extra distance. I even went and ran the hill that I've thought for a long time would be a sweet hill training place - it kicked my butt pretty hard, but didn't knock me down, that's for sure. I've never felt that good on a decently long run in a long time, especially considering I didn't fuel at all. It was a perfectly gorgeous, sunny, and cool morning and I couldn't have asked for more! 

Perfection. 

Most hardcore run:  I really wouldn't call it all that hardcore, but it's been awhile since I've run 13 miles without wearing a bib on my shirt and without getting a medal at the end. The fun of marathon training has certainly begun (erm, sarcasm) and we're gearing up for some realllly long runs. IERC does this right, though - especially for the newbies who had literally never gone so far. So they celebrated with (milk chocolate) medals and a finish line! 

Current need: Good vibes for my interview on Thursday, please! I'm really excited about this one and am hoping it turns out to be the thing looking for me, too. 

Current favorite: I'm super excited Sparkly Soul released gift cards, just in time for all the holidays - because people know I love them, and have a billion, so what on earth color to choose? Well, now you don't have to decide for me, kids. You can just gimme the card and I'll decide for myself! 

You can order gift cards here for your favorite sparkly runner or fitness enthusiast in your life! (Hint: I'm one of them)

Current triumph: Knocking out almost another 100-mile month, despite not running for 6 days because of that damn cold. It is beyond helpful that IERC is starting to rack up those long runs for LA Marathon training, otherwise, I don't think I would have gotten as close, considering compared to past months, I only ran 17 times this month. Pretty amazing. 

Current goal: One more 100 mile month to wrap up 2014, please. If I can knock out 100 more miles in December, that'll put me at almost 5 100-mile months in a row: August, September, October (98.5), November and December. Which means that in the last 5 months of the year, I ran almost double of what I did in the first seven months (282). I call that a victory, don't you?

Looking forward to: Christmas, all things December, my sister coming home for a few days, Vegas for Doug's 30th birthday... and wrapping up 2014. Looking forward to saying good riddance to this year and kicking off 2015 with a hopeful bang! 

What are your biggest accomplishments from this month? Goals to wrap up the year?

November Recap

november.

Total run mileage: 89.18 miles     highest monthly mileage ever!
Highest weekly run mileage: 29.74 miles     highest weekly mileage ever! 
# Runs: 17
# Rest days: 13

# Cross-training workouts: 3

# Races: 2

• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
• MDJ Gobble Jog 10K

Check out that November. Awww yeah.

Favorite run: Disney Half, hands down. First Disney race ever, and it's true when people say that runDisney doesn't disapppoint. Awesome expo, great race, good friends all add up to an amazing weekend. Looking forward to seeing if I can afford/handle Coast to Coast 2013! 

Alicia, me, Heather & Amma before Wine & Dine.

Most hardcore run: That first longer-than-13.1 run just to weeks ago - 14 miles set a new PDR, and was only a number of minutes longer than my first half just ten months ago. It was so exciting to know that yes, I could do it, and yes, it was going to be work the next few weeks, but it would be so worth it. I felt great at the end, didn't hurt, and was ready to get moving with the next few weeks of training. Fun times to be had! (Remind me I said this in like three weeks when I want to cry)

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

Current obsession: Christmas music! Christmas decor! Hung for the Holidays ornament exchange! I love all things Christmas - despite that fact, I do not allow music or decor to go up until the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That's the way we did it as kids and that's the way I continue it. Soooo the stockings are hung, candles are out (mmm cinnamon and pine and sugar cookie!) and I'm ready for the holidays! I can't decide if I want a tree or not this year, only because I'm not actually here long enough to enjoy it. The woes.

Current drink: It's hot chocolate season! Hooray! And water... lots and lots of water. And, obviously, continuing the major influx of Gatorade. Can never go wrong.

Current song: Much like Gangnam Style, I'll only admit this to other runners/readers: Ke$ha is unfortunately a damn good running buddy. She's taking over my playlist lately. </ end shame>
 

Current wish-list: Just waiting for the end of the semester so I know it's time to go home for Christmas already! Really excited about my plans and lack there of while on the west coast for a week and a half - on December 21, I'm flying to Vegas to meet Doug, his roommate (Chris) and his girlfriend (Nancy), and another couple we're friends with for Chris and Doug's birthdays and a fun way to kick off winter break for all of us (Chris and Doug are teachers, Nancy's a grad student). Looking forward to that! On the 23rd, we all drive back to southern California and get ready for Christmas. Insert preemptive content sigh.

Current need: Nothing, really. I feel really lucky to be able to say that. I could always use more cash here and there, and have some good debt to work off, but nothing a little good budgeting can't fix. I've been messing around with paychecks, savings, and my student loan and am excited to say that my loan will probably be paid off by this time next year - which is only a 5 year pay-off plan. Boom!

Current triumph: That PDR this month - 14 miles felt almost unreachable and knowing that I did it, I did it well, and there's more to come is really exciting! The week following was not as much of a high, but I know that there's a lot more up and down emotions and feelings about running to come and that's just part of the game.

Also qualifying for Half Fanatics last month with a Neptune classification – sending in my membership fee today and then I'm legit. Yessir.

Current bane of my existence: Nothing, really. I wouldn't call it the bane of my existence, but December's going to be pretty grueling with marathon training, so I need to get mentally psyched for it, basically. Excited, but nervous, but feeling motivated coming off this weekend. Let's hope that motivation continues!

Current goal: I've got two: a) set my goals for 2013. I've got a few mind and am really excited about them, but would like to better define them and set some attainable ones. Some of my 2012 goals weren't as realistic as I had thought they would be, so I'm re-evaluating to see what's realistic for 2013 and my dreams! And b) have a really great month of marathon training. Not only will it  be a mental challenge, as I said, but it'll be a challenge while I'm in California for the holidays to stick with it, but I did well last year and am looking forward to making great progress again (and who doesn't love not running in 30 degrees? Hello 65 degree Christmas!). 

Current indulgence: Every Christmas/holiday baked deliciousness that comes across my face/desk/work breakroom. Oh the torture!

Current excitement: The end of the semester is near! Woot! 

Can you believe Christmas is almost here? Insanity. What are your biggest accomplishments from this month? Goals for December and the end of the year?