Time to jump back in...

Almost two weeks since Tucson - I can't believe it! It's like one of those events on the calendar of time where it feels like yesterday yet also, because of the whirlwind of the holidays, feels like months ago.

I finally got online and looked at my official race placement - I was surprised I placed so well:

Overall: 343 out of 1246
Women: 80 out of 519
F 45-49: 10 out of 87
Age/Grade: 67.29% Place: 113 (anyone know what this "place" is?)
Finish: 3:46:00 Pace: 8:38

Wow! Yes, pretty pleased :).

It's not that I don't want to get back out and start running again - I truly do. I'm just feeling a little lost and confused. It's been a couple years since I've done a schedule all on my own and I don't really enjoy this part of my training. For me! Now give me a thousand clients and I'll be thrilled to make up their schedules but I just question so many things for ME because I just like the support. But I'm working on my Boston plan and it's coming along pretty well. I think I'm using a combination of Jack Daniels coaching and using the book Brain Training for Runners. I have a few days to finalize the schedule as I intend to "officially" start on Jan 1 (okay, maybe Jan 2nd...Jan 1 may be a "recovery" run from the night before festivities. I just go over to a friends and we play cards on New Year's Eve...but he makes one wicked appletini. This followed by an earlier-in-the-day run with the group and we have a couple toasts-to-the-past-year drinks along with lunch [which makes an interesting run back]). In the mean time, I am back to running...and the legs are finally feeling well. Thursday, I ran a tempo run at the gym on the treadmill - not my first choice of terrains to run on but 8" of snow the night before left me with not a lot of choice. I'm all for running outdoors in cold temps but when there's a mound of fresh snow on the ground, running becomes a bit challenging. Too challenging. Dangerously challenging. The last thing I really need to do is slip on some ice as I rev up my training. I ran outdoors on Wednesday when we only had about 4" (see pic) and that was more than enough, so the gym had to suffice for Thursday. I was going to run 6 easy but pressed for time, I ended up with 4 but at a pretty quick clip (1WU, 1@8:00 , 1.5@ 7:35, 1/2 @ 8:00). I felt good. The ol' legs really had a pretty lengthy recovery time this round but I think they are in the clear now and given the ok to hit the road running. Snow on the ground for Christmas today, and a lot of it (though nothing like our dear friends in the Mid-west - sorry guys!), making it cheery and festive for this special day - but also making my run tomorrow of 10-12 a question mark on where to run it. I'll wake up and assess the outside situation and decide on which terrain, indoors or out, to run on.


Happy to report that my ebay blackberry has arrived and two runs later to the Sprint store, is working well!! Ah, isn't she a beauty? Now if I could just learn HOW to use it, all would be good! One thing I learned today is that one who tends to easily get a little motion sickness should never sit in the backseat on a 45 minute commute home after consuming 4000 Christmas dinner calories and start messaging and reading email. I thought all that food was going to come right back up. Probably better if it had...but yikes-o, I felt miserable for awhile. Nothing like rolling down the window in 18 degrees to get a little "fresh air." The kids are young, they'll live.

I started working on a little of my 2010 race calendar but the vast majority of the year is going to be a big question mark. I can't commit to too much right now other than Boston and a few local races, but I am at least putting down some possibilities in case I can work them out. One thing I DID learn today though, while combing through the billions of races out there: The CO Outward Bound Relay I LOVE to do has been moved up a few weeks to Aug 20-21. This poses a small problem with going back to school that week but it also pretty much solves the problem of Hood To Coast (HTC)- which is the following weekend. I can't believe it!!! I don't think my body can handle two major sleep-deprived relays two weekends in a row! BUMMER!!! I even got an Oregon map today in my stocking, Santa must have been telling me that I should do HTC - I really hate disappointing him. I'm still going to mull over this another day but I really think I have to bag the HTC relay...argh!! I really love the CO relay and that's probably the one I need to stick with.

Having logged a bit over 1800 miles for the year, I think one of my 2010 goals will be to run 2010 miles. Had I not had to taper for 4 marathons and Pikes Peak, the mileage would be much higher. We'll see how it goes. I can't help but think that all of us out there pounding the miles we do are just one step away from an injury. I need to be careful and listen. This body's not getting younger (whaaa!).

I hope everyone had the merriest of holidays and lots of smiles were had by all. I know here in Jill land, it was a grand day! Well, aside from the almost puking-in-the-car moment.