2013: These Were The Days

The therapist in me loves numbers and data and anxiously awaits each year's end so that I can total everything up and see how I did.  That being said, the therapist in me also knows that there is a lot more to a year than simple numbers.  I didn't officially make a numbered list of goals for 2013, but I had a few things in mind.  Running and fitness are a lifestyle, not a temporary habit so my overall goal is always to be moving forward while having fun.  Girl on Fire...that is how I attacked 2013.

Run 1100+ Miles in 2013. 
I've never had a daily run streak and I never really intend to, it just doesn't fit my training style or my purpose.  However, I seem to have created a bit of an annual mileage streak for myself.  In 2010 I completed my first ever 1,000 mile running year.  This was a good amount of running for me and I decided that I wanted to see how many of these I could string together.  I entered the world of marathon training in 2011 and my mileage saw a slight increase to put me over the 1100 mark.  Since 1100 seemed very manageable, I decided to see how long I could keep that going.  I finished up my year with 1129.3 miles bringing my 1000+ steak to 4 years and my 1100+ streak to 3 years.  Consistency, y'all.  I swear by it!  This year was slightly lower than the last two years, but I attribute that to some of the cycling goals that I was had added to my training and a minor (thank goodness) foot injury in October.

Ride a Century Ride On My Bike.
When I first got my bike in the early summer of 2012, I dreamed of riding a century ride (100 miles).  I knew that it would be possible in 2013 and that my friends had some really great rides on the calendar.  I initially thought that my first century ride would be in late June, but the attempt was moved up to early May when the Shiner GASP rolled around.  Who could resist a ride from Austin to the little brewery in Shiner?  Add in the fact that we had Ninja in our personal "Swag Wagon" providing a great safety net.  So on May 4 I saddled up and rode my first century ride.  Was it hard?  Heck yes, but I had a blast hanging out on the lawn at the Spoetzl Brewery enjoying the shade of pecan trees and all the Shiner I cared to sip.  Would I do it again?  Already signed up for 2014!

The other monumental cycling event came in early June as I rode back to back Grand Fondos at Tulsa Tough.  A mechanical issue during the first day threatened to cut my ride short, but I ended up with 53 miles the first day and the full 63 miles on Sunday.  I am so thankful for my bike buddy, Fi, as we enjoyed all of the Shiner and Tulsa miles together.  I am looking forward to a repeat in 2014.

I ended up with 967 bike miles this year and another 18 hours on the bike trainer.  I don't have a bike sensor to convert those trainer hours into miles, but a conservative estimate gives me in the neighborhood of 275 miles.

Run and PR a Marathon.
I put all of my marathoning eggs in one basket as I train for and run one marathon a year.  This year we chose the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in early October in Milwaukee.  I attacked the training with a great deal of commitment (and sweat....my highest mileage month was in August...who does THAT?).  Race day came and I ran my way to 4:06:28, a PR by approximately 3:30.  I learned even more during my third marathon attempt and know that I am getting closer to that sub-4:00 with each try.  I am not sure where we will be marathoning this year, but I do feel a need to get away from the summer training cycle. I need a break from the August 20 milers! 

I ran ten races this year, down from 2012's total of 17 -- but with good reason as I added six bike rallies (all of at least 100K) to my schedule.  Race distances include 1 marathon, 1 25K, 4 half marathons (life total of 42!), 1 10K, 1 5 mile, and 2 5K.  I managed new marathon, 25K, and 10K PRs. I ran a 1:54:03 half in April at the Oklahoma City Half Marathon, my fastest half since 2011. I consider this my "new" PR half PR as my fastest half happened in 2010.  I was happy to get past the 1:55 plateau that I had been hovering around for far too long.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention the 123 hours spent in the gym, largely at boot camp (thanks Jen!).

The numbers are all very interesting (to some) and give me a measurable look at the year, but they do not tell the whole story.  I could not do it alone and have run many of these miles with my best friend, husband, and training partner Mr K. We constantly push and pull each other and I could not imagine doing it without him by my side (or sometimes just in front of me).  It sounds cliche, but I fully believe that I have been given the best group of friends on the planet.  It has been an honor to cheer them on, both in person and virtually, as they have managed to accomplish nothing short of the incredible.  They push me (and sometimes pull me) and encourage me to dream beyond what I thought was ever possible. 

What does 2014 hold for me?  Only time will tell!

Merry Christmas Y'all: The Great NTX Santa Run

I count the Great North Texas Santa Run as one of the running events that I look forward to all year long.  This year brought the 3rd edition of this race that I have been telling my frunners about every since the first year -- and this year many of them finally joined in the fun.  The race benefits My Possibilities, a continuing education center for adults with cognitive disabilities in North Texas -- a cause that is near to my heart.  Race registration included a Santa suit complete with hat, beard, and belt. We all wore race bibs, but they were just for show as we were not chipped timed nor were we racing for PRs. 

Santa Frunners!  (Photo: Mama C)

This race has grown by leaps and bounds and was moved to a new location this year as it has outgrown the original race site.  The official word is 3,500 Santas and $120,000 raised for My Possibilities!  Have you ever tried to meet up with your friends at a Santa race?  Hilarious. "I'm the one dressed in red." We all look alike!



So. Many. Santas. (Photo: Mama C)

It was a terrific sight to look out over the race course and see so many runners dressed in red suits.  I never laugh as much during a run as I do during the Santa Race each year.  Mark L is always the star of the show with his Elf impersonation "HEY SANTA!! I KNOW YOU!!" I think that his college daughter, Briana, was both amused and mortified all at the same time!  We were all having a great time post race until a very sudden cold front blew in, the kind with winds that will cut right through you.  Everyone sought shelter in their warm cars fairly quickly.



Newly BQ'ed Drum had a bit of an issue....(Photo: Mama C)

After the race a new tradition was born as most of the FIGJAM girls gathered at Casa de Team K for breakfast tacos, yummy bread pudding, mimosas, and a scarf exchange.  It was terrific to have everyone together, a rarity as we are spread out over all four corners of the Metroplex.  I sincerely hope that this is something that we continue to do in future years.

FIGJAM Girls in our lovely new scarves. (Photo: Mr D)

I hope that your holiday season is merry and bright and filled with all of your favorite things and the people that you love most!

Dallas Marathon Half: Insert Race Report Here

As you have probably heard by now, the Dallas Marathon was one of the victims of Winter Storm Cleon (aka Icemaggedon '13).  We were all on pins and needles on Friday as the city around us was literally "entombed in ice" with no promise of breaking freezing before race time on Sunday.  Ultimately the race officials made the right call as it is now Monday and the city is still not functioning at full capacity.

It would take more than some ice and cancelled race to keep Team K from having some race day fun.  The day started with an appearance by this guy in our back yard.

Dallas area runners will recognize one of the most famous Dolly Partons from the mile 20 Dolly Parton hills.  I am not sure that anyone was more heartbroken than the Dollies, for marathon day is their big day to shine!  Worry not, runners, the dresses and wigs have been packed away with great care, ready for next year's race.

Running on a sheet of ice sounds pretty impossible, right?  That is what I thought until Ninja showed us his innovative screw shoe method.  Mr K fixed up a pair of Ninja Screw Shoes for each of us and we were off and running.  I felt as if I had a secret super hero power as I ran...yes RAN on the ice while walkers and cars were slipping and sliding.  It was no half marathon and it was slower than my usual pace, but I got 6 miles in on a day when I wasn't supposed to be able to run.

There has to be good post race grub, right?  Thanks to Mr K's mad ice driving skills we were able to pay a visit to the local taco shop for some good tacos and chips and salsa. 

Was it the race day that I envisioned?  Nope, but it is a day that I won't soon forget either.  Here's to a cool, dry, and perfect Dallas Marathon in 2014!

Thanksgiving Adventures in the Tennessee Hills

As has become tradition,Team K headed to the beautiful hills of Tennessee for the Thanksgiving holidays.  While it was a little chilly (17 degrees on Thanksgiving morning!) for many of our plans, we still got out and enjoyed the sights.

No trip to Nashville is complete without a trip to Percy Warner Park (my Happy Place).  I blogged in detail about this park last year, it really fills my heart to the top with happiness and peace.  We made one spin around the 11 mile main drive.  It is the most challenging run of the year with all of the huge hills, but it is also my favorite.  It ends with a wicked screaming downhill filled with hairpin turns that make me want to scream "I love running!!" at the top of my lungs. Last year I noticed I inadvertently started a photo tradition.

    2011

    2012

    2013

On Thanksgiving Day we wandered over to a beautiful town park near my my Mother & Sister Inlaw's place.  I hope to get a chance to explore the tails in the park next time we visit.  Maggie and Mr Sir had a great time on our long walk.

Thanks to some new bike racks for Subie, we were able to take our bikes on the trip. It was mostly too cold to ride, but we did get out on the last afternoon of our trip. We explored a small portion of the Natchez Trace. It is a cyclist's dream with rolling hills, a smooth surface, and no commercial traffic. Natchez Trace is 444 miles from bottom to top, starting in Mississippi and ending outside of Nashville. I look forward to many cycling adventures on this beautiful stretch of the South. My highlight on this short bike ride was riding across Birdsong Hollow Bridge. It rises 155 feet above the valley below and the views are breathtaking!  I wasn't brave enough to stop on the bridge and take a picture of the view, but we did get a few shots from below. The tiny spots in the first picture are people! 

 

Our time in Tennessee is always too short and we are always sad to leave. It is so exciting to discover a new, beautiful place each time we visit.  I can't wait to go back again and explore in depth the new places we found this time.

AMTA Conference: Here's to the Frundraisers!

Mid-November brings what is easily a highlight of my year, the American Music Therapy Association Conference. I always say that I'm lucky enough to work in a field that feels like family with conferences that feel like family reunions. I find this to be more true with each passing year as friendships grow and evolve. This year's conference was held in Jacksonville, Florida -- a perfect warm escape as Texas was blasted with a nasty cold front.



We were treated to this spectacular view each night

We arrived in Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon and immediately found ourselves in a shuttle with some of our favorite North Dakotans -- Meganne, Natasha, and Emily.  Texans and North Dakotans...sounds like an unlikely pairing, who knew we would be the best of friends?  Turns out that running and music therapy also go hand in hand as we have established a diverse group of Music Therapy Frunners.  We scheduled runs each morning of conference and I made it a goal to be at all of them.  This would be quite a feat with sessions starting at 7:30 and evening activities stretching long into the night. 

Kicking conference off frunner style w Meryl, Deb, & Emily (photo: Meryl)

My conference started before the official Opening Session as I serve on the Student Affairs Advisory Board (SAAB). Sounds pretty fancy, right? I will spare you the long explanation...the SAAB is made up of a student and professional from each region of our association. I have served on this committee for many years now and I LOVE it. I always tell the students to find their "niche" and serve it the best that they can. This is totally my "niche". This has to be one of my favorite committee meetings of the year. If you want energy, go to a music therapy student meeting. These kids are so smart and so tech savvy and I am thrilled to know that they are the future of our profession.

SAAB Committee -- you are looking at the future of music therapy

I love the energy that opening night of conference brings.  It is hard to believe that conference is finally "officially" starting as I have been in meetings and busy all day.  This might have been the latest night with festivities scheduled until 11:00 pm and beyond.  I could already tell that this was going to be one of my favorite conferences.  I had the honor of serving on the official conference Social Media Team.  It was so much fun to live tweet various conference events under the official conference Twitter handle.  I loved this opportunity and I hope that they continue to have it at future conferences.

These statues were a hit!  Thanks to CJ for one of my new favorite pics.

The MT Frundraisers were buzzing with excitement on Friday morning as we had a very special announcement to make at the business meeting.  As you know, I have decided to "give" my annual marathon to AMTA via fundraising.  This idea came about last year when the Chicago Marathon was the same week as AMTA conference, which was also in the Chicago area.  I would have never dreamed of running to raise money for AMTA until Andrew, who was also running the Chicago Marathon, brought it up one day.  We had a spirited "competition" between regions (which I won) and ended up raising $3,338 for AMTA.  Click here for more of that story and a hilarious video.  Our efforts were such a success that Andrew had the brilliant idea to expand our efforts and create a team of frundraisers (frunner + fundraiser = frundraiser).  We amassed a team of 16 dynamic, creative, and energetic music therapists and raised a total of $6,670 between our kickoff in August and our conference in November.  This brings our two-year total to just over $10,500 -- I am so proud and a little overwhelmed!  These projects are ongoing, so be sure to check out FirstGiving to see who is still hard at work and give them your support and watch Andrew's video to meet the Frundraisers and hear a little of their stories.  It was an honor to work with and get to know these Frundraisers better over the last few months.  I can't wait to see what is next for our group!

"What They Didn't Teach You in College" with Stephanie, Mary, & Carolyn

On Saturday morning Mary and I represented our internship in the Internship Fair.  It is so fun to see so many music therapy students shopping for their ideal internship experience.  We met so many students who were interested in our program and eager to come and intern with us.  I hope that they all apply, but it is going to be hard to pick just one!  In the afternoon Mary, Stephanie, Carolyn, and I presented "What They Didn't Teach You In College: Internship and Employment Tips" to a full house.  We had a great time sharing our experiences with students, young professionals, and interns -- we hope that they learned a little something and had fun too.

A visit with Touchdown -- the Jacksonville Jaguar

Our frunner group had a great time too.  I managed to make it to all of the morning runs, as many in our group did.  It is amazing how I can feel so tired when the early alarm goes off and then so alive once I start running.  I think that the daily runs really helped me to feel more alert and "with it" and I plan to continue my conference run streak in the future.  It is a relief  to know that we have established this great network and I will never have to hit the streets of a unfamiliar city alone again.  Jacksonville afforded us some terrific running and we visited Touchdown, the Jacksonville Jaguar mascot, twice during our time in Florida.  I should note that the notoriously bad Jags have gone on a 3-game win streak since we visited Touchdown.  I'd like to think that we had something to do with that. You are welcome, Jacksonville.

One conference run with Andrew, Meryl, and CJ (photo: CJ)

The whirlwind that is conference always seems to come to an end too soon.  It is a blessing and a curse to have created such great friendships with music therapists from all over the country.  I am so lucky to know all of these people, but I always start to miss them before I even make it home.  It just seems unfair that we only see each other once or twice a year.  Until then I will look forward to our Southwestern Region Region conference here in Big D in late March and, of course, the next AMTA conference in Louisville, KY.