2013 Race Recap

2013 has been a great year all around.  It has been a long haul in terms of returning from a fitness level of basically zero after having a baby last October, so logging several personal bests.  After having my last race of year two weeks ago, I am happy to have a bit of a break, but also full of excitement and anticipation for next season.  I have some really big goals and exciting ideas for 2014.  But before all that, here's a recap of my 2013 racing season:

Mercy Health 15k: This was my first official race back.  It was freezing cold and snowing at the start.  It is one of my all-time favorite races because I ran with my sister, side by side the entire race.  It was the longest she has ever run and it was so amazing to finish it with her!

Smokey Mountain Relay: 212 miles through the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina.  This was a tough, but fun relay.  We finished in a solid time, and the hills kicked my butt.  And I got a $260 speeding ticket.

Girls on the Run 5k: I was a running buddy for a 4th grader.  She finished in 32 minutes and some change.  I was so inspired by her!

Flying Pig Half Marathon: I love the Flying Pig, kind of like my "home turf."  It's the third year out of four that I've done an event there (full marathon in 2010, half marathon in 2012).  I walked away from this one with a brand new PR of 1:50:18!

Summerfest Rock n Sole Half Marathon: A last minute entry, but well worth it.  Decided on this one because it was part of the M2 challenge with the Madison Mini later in the summer.  The start of a fun summer of racing in Wisconsin...got another half marathon PR of 1:49:45!

Canoefest Biathlon: First time entry in this race that included a 9 mile canoe and a 6.7 mile run with a partner.  By the way, we won the all female division!  (And flipped our canoe into ice cold water, got a lovely bruise that lasted about a month that took up my entire shin!)

Madison Mini Marathon: I deferred my entry into this race from last August...this is a family affair!  I did not feel well before and during the race, did not make it into my start corral before the race, stopped to help a struggling runner on the course, and (best of all) got to finish holding hands with my 2 year old daughter....oh, and scored another PR: 1:49:42!

Brewers Mini Marathon: I set a goal for this race...finish under 1:48.  I started out a little too fast on a course that was harder than I thought it was going to be.  I did not make my goal, and I paid for my fast start at the end, but still had fun.  Finished in 1:49:51.

Bourbon Chase: 200 mile relay with a great group of people...another solid team performance, and a great personal performance.  And another race with my husband (who vowed that he did not want to become a runner--he ran the Smokey Mountain relay and the Brewers Mini, as well).  I ran 19.4 miles in all, and averaged 7:43/mile over that distance!  This was a great way to end 2013.

So, what's in store for next year?  Fewer races, bigger challenges.  Why am I already thinking about next race season?

1. I need a goal.
2. It's exciting!
3. I am a cheapskate and I like early-bird prices.
4. I work a lot of weekends, and I have little kids, so racing takes planning.

I am already registered for two races: Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (I hear just wonderful things about this race, and I love the scenery of the Bourbon Chase, so this was a no-brainer), and the Flying Pig Marathon Relay with a group of girls that absolutely rock.  I decided not to run the half or full at the Pig because...I am aiming to make the jump to triathlon for next season!

I am really, really excited about this.  I'll always be a runner first.  I love cross-training on my bike.  And I think I'll barely survive the swim.  This idea was born out of an impromptu race in the lake this summer.  Could I complete a triathlon?  Swim, bike, AND run?

My goal (having never done any distance of triathlon before, this seems a little nuts) is to complete a half ironman (70.3 miles) in July 2014.  I have not registered yet; I have time before the price increase.  I know I can finish, I think I can post a reasonable time, but I'm a little worried about finding the time to train with two small children.  So, registration is going to wait, just a bit, while I change up my training now to fit in "multisport" workouts (this week I've done a bike/run, swim/run, swim/run, and long run....and, I'm sore!)

Second, I want to tackle a full marathon, my third.  I have my eye on Twin Cities next October.  I want a new race, and there is a high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifying times that come from Twin Cities (as IF that is possible--but, hey a girl can dream, and I might as well set myself up for success if I am going to put in the time to train).

I want to try to add in a sprint triathlon or two, and a relay or two, but those are not yet set.  I can't wait!

And, I hope to use the blog to document my training more.  If I'm going to be spending even more time training, I will have lots of time to think about aspects of training, and this will be a nice avenue to share it.

Do you have any goals for 2014?  Triumphs from this year to share?