The 2012 Running Report....A Look Back At The Miles That Were

I am so excited about 2013 and I am so ready to share some of my new goals for you, but it is a tradition that I take a look back at 2012--evaluate where I have been, how far I came, and where I want to go next. I kept the goals fairly simple in 2012, with the focus on consistency and good running health-both mentally and physically.  Running and being active is something that I love deeply and I never want it to become like another chore to me.  This is a lifestyle, not just a temporary habit.  So without further delay....a look back at the goals that drove me in 2012.

1. Run 1,000 miles in 2012.  I ran over 1,000 miles in 2010 and 2011and I wanted to add to add another 1,000 mile year to that streak. I ended the year with 1179.47 miles run, which brings my 1,000+ miles a year streak to 3 years and my 1100+ miles a year streak to 2 years.  I ended up with about 13 miles less than 2011, but much of that can be attributed to my marathon training plan "Run Less, Run Faster." I am very pleased with the quality of miles this year, for the first time consistently adding track intervals and tempo runs.  I have noticed a big difference in myself as a runner and I look forward to continuing this progress in the new year.
Grade: A

2. Run at least one race out of state in 2012.  When I started running I made the half marathon distance a goal because I figured that it would provide a great opportunity to travel and see other cities. Team K went above in this goal with races in Oklahoma City, OK; Prescott, AZ; and Chicago, IL.  It really was terrific to get a feel for the running communities in such varied locales.  I look forward to exploring more areas via destination racing in 2013.
Grade: A+

3. Run my 2nd marathon in 2012.  I ran my first marathon in 2011 and had a great time despite the rainy and cold weather.  I have since settled on a "one marathon a year" limit as I think that will allow me to fully enjoy the training without it becoming a grind.  February 1st was a very exciting day around here because it is the day that registration opened for the Chicago Marathon.  I was determined to really "race" this one to the best of my ability and I embarked upon an aggressive training plan.  I was handsomely rewarded with a 4:10 finishing time in Chicago--a 32 minute PR!  I could hardly believe that had happened to me and it opened my eyes to some exciting possibilities in the future!
Grade: A+

4. Listen to more classical music. Yes, this is not technically a running goal--rather something that I wanted to work on this year. This odd phenomenon happens to music majors sometimes--the very thing that we love can evolve into something that we avoid because we feel burned out and beaten down by it. Couple that with a career in music and a bad experience last fall and I found that I have completely turned my back on classical music. It is kind of like vegetables to me--I don't seek them out, but once I have them in front of me I really enjoy them. The plan was to listen to the local classical music station any week day that I am in my car between 10:00-12:00. It sounds very specific and it is for a reason--I am a traveling music therapist so I am in my car frequently during those times and also it does not conflict with my favorite sports talk shows on The Ticket. Music may be my first love, but Dallas sports is my second and I have to keep up with my teams.   I started out strong with this goal and found myself really enjoying classical music again....but then the school year ended and my routine was interrupted and I never really got back into it.  While I will not make such a specific goal for myself this year, I would like to continue to seek out quality music and perhaps dust off my clarinet and join a group again.
Grade: D

I ran a total of 17 races this year, down from 2011's count of 23--but with good reason since I was focused on following my marathon training plan to the letter for 16 weeks of the year.  Race distances include 1 marathon, 1 25K, 8 half marathons (bringing my life total to 38!), 3 15K, 1 10K, and 3 5K.  I was even lucky enough to snag 1st in my age group at a 5K and a 15K and I managed a new 5K, 10K, 25K, and marathon PRs.  The most exciting thing about those 5K and 10K PRs is that they occurred before I added in all the speed work.  I am really looking forward to trying those distances again now that I am trained a little bit more specifically.

I still work hard in the gym every week and clocked in 146 hours in the gym in 2012.  The biggest addition to my training came in June when I became the owner of a shiny, new-to-me Specialized road bike.  I rode 870.83 miles on the open roads this summer and sure had some great fun with my frunners-on-wheels.  I am looking forward to many more adventures on my trusty steed in 2013.

I would be remiss if this blog entry was only about numbers.  I could not do it alone and have run many of these miles with my best friend, husband, and training partner Erik. We constantly push and pull each other and I could not imagine doing it without him by my side (or lately just in front of me--he is getting wicked fast!). I know that I would not have made some of those early morning runs without him. I am very lucky to have a spouse that shares my same excitement for running. I have also been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with a supportive group of friends (the frunners and/or Team FIGJAM).  It has been an honor to cheer them on, both in person and online, as they accomplished nothing short of the incredible this year--a 100 mile trail run, numerous triathlons including an IronMan, century rides, and a double century (yep, that is 200 miles all in the same day), and the Texas Time Trials--12 hours of bike racing.  I have watched these people set the bar high and, on many occasions, surpass their goals. 

So there it is....2012 all wrapped up in a tidy little package.  It is going to be hard to top, but I can't wait to try!  My next task is to sort through the hundreds of pictures taken this year and select my very favorite to share with you in my annual Year In Pictures entry. Not an easy feat!

Happy New Year!