Official racing season over...which means...
I think before I do my 2017 goals/what's next post (I have so many notes for that one), I need to wrap up 2016! This seems early for an annual wrap-up, but it was quite the year and I feel I owe a lot of thanks to my running crew here for all the encouragement and the thousands of tinkerbell emojis and even just stopping by to "like" a post! It really does keep me motivated.
Looking back at my 2016 goals, I had quite the list (I must have been motivated when I wrote them, cause that was a lot of things to try to achieve in one year) and now I'm happy that I didn't give up on all of that. Not all were 100% successes, but I'm happy with how many I hit on. I definitely know where I can improve and so I'm thinking about that with my list for next year.
1)
Run an 8k - ACHIEVED!
2)
Run a 10k - ACHIEVED!
3)
Run a 15k - ACHIEVED!
4)
Complete Evergreen Park challenge again this year - Wasn't possible for me due to date conflicts.
BUT I did two of the races and hubby completed 4 so he got the medal. So at least now we both have one
5)
PR in 5k - ACHIEVED! (eeked that one in; I had kind of put that goal on the back-burner to focus on distance, so Yay!)
6)
try to run three times a week as much as life allows. Include some cross train to keep life exciting and to make me stronger - First part ACHIEVED not perfectly but pretty close!, Cross-train - not so much...but if I add that in this month I can count it that I did it at least a lil bit, right?
7)
hydrate better and eat better this year with end-game being at least 10-15 lbs lighter - ACHIEVED off and on but currently ON!...Now to keep it off (I see you half training 2017, don't think I don't see you.)
2016 Stats
14 races (1 was virtual), 2 races registered for but Did Not Start (1 lazy/travel related, 1 cold)
first rundisney race
first 8k, 10k & 15k
first challenge weekend
first age group placement (even if at a super-small, rainstorm race, with low attendance that I ran fairly slow during...I am counting it!)
New PR's
5k 27:49 (down from 28:57)
8k 50:02
10k race 1:05:31 (down from 1:07:13)
10k split 1:01:08
15k 1:33:06
THANK YOU
@DopeyBadger for taking so much time trying to figure out how to get me across more than one finish line this year in times I didn't believe were possible. I know I threw some oddball race lengths at you and I appreciate you figuring it out for me when I was a little lost on how to get to those next steps. Introducing the "80/20", and effort-based, and blind runs, and "A-race" concepts made a world of difference for me in my whole attitude towards running. But mostly just the fact that you believed in me that I could do these plans and cheered me on. When I doubted myself, I just had to remind myself that the numbers said I could
You sir, are awesome!
Sorry for the lack of graphs in this post.
Gotta give my hubby a shout out even though I don't think he comes on here that often. It takes a lot of moving parts to get us both out the door and running and signed up for races and packets picked up and babysitters arranged and travel plans worked out. He encouraged my new meal planning and portions and veggie onslaught. And I can't tell you how many times I heard "you could do an 8k right now, or a 10k right now, or a half right now" which just fuels my belief that maybe I can. (and I guess since this has evolved into an acceptance speech of sorts...I'd like to thank the grandparents for babysitting way to often...because we signed up for way too many races this year)
Reading this back to myself is helping me finalize what I think I want to do with 2017
Why isn't there a love button!!!
but I will comment on the skipped run: IT IS OKAY TO SKIP A RUN! I think we all know by now that you are serious about running and your training, and I am sure it's a decision you did not make lightly. 
