2011 Recap and My New Year's/Running Resolutions for 2012

I started participating in races in 2010 and only did two my first year (a half and a full marathon).  I really started getting serious about running in 2011 and signed up for my first 5K and 10K. I participated in seven races in 2011 and would love to participate in at least ten in 2012.  In 2011, I PR'd in a Half Marathon, a 10K and a 5K and in 2012 I will shift my focus to my Marathon time!

Source

I love running and races are so fun!! I find that I have amazing energy when I am around other runners who love the sport just as much as I do!  Although I have my list of on-going Running Goals that are mainly related to improving my times, I have decided to focus on a specific set of achievements for 2012.

1) Run 3 Marathons in 90 days and become a bronze level Marathon Maniac. There are no time requirements, you just simply have to finish!!  It's not about the time, it's about the finish line."

2) Run the remaining two marathons needed to earn the Beach Cities Challenge Medal in the OC.  The Long Beach Marathon is the first one in the series for me and I completed it last year so I just need to complete the remaining two.

"3:59:59"

3) Run a marathon in under 4 hours.  I have to figure out how to shave off 5 minutes and 17 seconds off the clock since my current PR is 4:05:16.  I will continue to work hard so that my goal of running the Boston Marathon is that much closer to becoming a reality!

"In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail."Anonymous

4) Continue to stay committed and train hard, work on my speed, and push myself to do my very best. Time is my main issue since I work full time and get home pretty late. I also have a family so sometimes running has to take a back seat so that I can take care of my priorities at work and at home. I also want to remind myself that in spite of my running goals, I need to make sure that the sport continues to be fun for me.  My last race of the year was ran strictly for fun and I had a great time. I think it may have been one of the most enjoyable runs that I have ever had because I wasn't focused on my Garmin and I actually enjoyed the scenery and the holiday atmosphere that this race provided.  It was a great way to end 2011. I think that sometimes we get too caught up in PR's and competing with others that it really takes the fun out of the sport. We are all human with different levels of ability and there will be times when we fail to meet our goals and that is what makes us strive to work harder. My belief is that the only time we truly fail, is when we fail to try!

I should probably have a resolution to eat better but I love to eat so I will save that one for next year!

Have you set any New Year's/Running Resolutions for 2012?

Am I Going Insane or What?

I'm in a weird state where I feel great and empowered about running and then I can't get my brain to stop spinning and I feel stressed about running period! I keep having paranoid thoughts that maybe I won't do so well in the Long Beach Marathon or be unable to finish it!  What in the world is going on with me?? This race is 23 days away and I need to pull it together!!  Whenever I feel this way I start signing up for more races or looking for new ways to improve my skills and confidence.  These feelings started with my 20 mile run last Sunday.  I felt that I should have done way better than I did and I really got discouraged.  I had no reason not to do well on my 20 miler because the weather was perfect and the sun never came out during the whole run.  On the bright side, I will be tackling 22 miles this Sunday, the weather will be great and I need to redeem myself or else this is going to be ugly.

The last time that I had these weird feelings I signed up for four half marathons. I played it safe and signed up for half marathons...not full marathons.  Chicken!  Well this time I came up with two really crazy thoughts.  My first crazy thought....Why not tackle the Beach Cities Challenge?  This consists of completing this series of marathons:

1) Long Beach International City Bank Marathon on October 9, 2011, which I am already registered for and will be tackling in just a few weeks!

2) Surf City Marathon on February 5, 2012

3) The OC Marathon on May 6, 2012.

So what do you get for doing all of these marathons?  You get this lovely medal:

The Queen Mary signifies the Long Beach Marathon, the Surf Board represents the Surf City Marathon and the Wave is for the OC Marathon.  Kinda cute huh?

I got this neat medal hanger for my birthday from my husband and it's looking pretty empty these days.  I only have three medals to date and he must be giving me a big hint because this sucker is huge and can probably hold 50 plus medals.  I guess I better sign up for some more races so I am not feeling embarrassed of how empty it looks.

My medal hanger currently has three medals :(

My second crazy idea is to become a Marathon Maniac!  In order to achieve Bronze Level status, I would have to complete one of the two options below.  I think I would prefer to complete "3 Marathons within a 90 day time frame." 

The three marathons that would qualify me for Marathon Maniac status include the following:

1) Surf City Marathon on February 5, 2012

2) Los Angeles Marathon on March 18, 2012

3) OC Marathon on May 6, 2012

Since I am already running the Surf City and the OC Marathon for the Beach Cities Challenge, why not add one more marathon and kill two birds with one stone?? What do you think?  Would you take on both of these challenges?