Monday, January 9, 2012

A Second look back, and more looking ahead

Sorry to be repetitive here, but I wanted to share this video clip of the Team Aquaphor highlights.  I submitted a lot of photos, so I am in here quite a bit.  This isn't the final version of the video, so I may have a few photos cut depending on how many people watch it and realize they are missing.  That is fine with me, though.  Anthony, from my guest post, put this together. 

Also, I have been working on my "official" plan for 2012.  Um, yeah, it is pretty much not stable whatsoever.  I had this huge email sent off to Cristina with my plans.  Then I started checking facebook.  Kari signed up for Muncie, same weekend (we think) as the Cardinal Tri that is here.  What???  We spoke, and then I realized that she had weighed both races, and that Muncie is better for her and she really wants the Ironman experience.  I don't blame her.  I wanted it too.  The WTC kool aid tastes pretty good!  Swimming in the Ohio River likely doesn't, and I probably ought to get some sort of flu shot or tetanus shot first, right?

So, here is what I am currently thinking:

BOSTON!  Yeah baby!  This is the A race of the year. 

Taylorsville Tri or half marathon Mid May.  I am getting really annoyed.  Headfirst Performance doesn't have its 2012 calendar posted STILL!  It is driving me nuts that I can't really plan any local races right now.  There aren't any half marathons that look good this weekend, so the thought to run a fast half marathon after training for Boston isn't looking too promising.  We want to attend the Kentucky Derby, which takes out 2 big flat halves, Capital City in C'bus and Indy 500 Mini, both on May 5th.  I think I will not be ready for the Derby Mini, but I haven't totally counted it out yet. 

May 25th- Horsey Hundred in Lexington.  I am not sure if I will do the full century ride, but I want to do at least the 50.  Valerie will be doing this with me most likely, so if her husband, Kent, pushes her to train for the century, that will be what I do.

June???? Nothing so far.  Maybe the triceratops tri, but maybe not.  I need to see if there is something local or just take the month off racing and train/taper

July- Cardinal Harbour or Muncie 70.3.  Like I stated above, there is no info on the Cardinal Tri due to HFP not having their site updated.  They are typically both the same day.  Cristina has mentioned doing the Cardinal as practice for IMLOU, and there are a few other Michiganders that may do it.  It is a much cheaper option than Muncie for me and Cristina.   It would be in town.

July 28th- Tree Farm Relay.  This is just too fun to miss.

I will not be doing the USAT Age Group National Championships, even though I did amazingly qualify.  I don't want the expense to get creamed.  It is also after school has started, so that causes more problems with childcare. 

September- Oldham County Mini Tri.  This is where I qualified to the USAT Nationals, so I want to do it again and keep up my qualification.  It was inexpensive, local, well run, and had a great pizza party afterwards with nice raffles and awards. 

October.  This is the kicker.  I wasn't planning on running Detroit again in 2012.  And then, I saw it was only $45 to enter.  That is like FREE almost.  The next thing I know, I signed up.  Total impulse buy.  I did it with 15 minutes to spare before the price jumped up $30 to $75.  I was pleading with Ryan, "but it is ONLY $45!!!!  I have never run a half that cheap before". 
Ryan, "um, you ran 13 this morning for free". 
"But it wasn't a race"
"whatever"
And then I signed up.  I mean, we all know I am going to run a half marathon this fall.  If I waited and ended up wanting to do Detroit, then I would be out an extra $30, plus a tank or so of gas.  If I opted to do another race, I would be out that entry fee, and possibly more gas, if I went to Columbus instead.  I don't get another hotel room for a half marathon, after doing so many this past fall, so it was either do one here (which I might still do), Detroit, or Columbus.  Well, it is officially Detroit now.  I feel good about this.  I think I am going to use the Run Less Run Faster plan for this race.  I thought about it for Boston, but I didn't start in time.  I might use some of the workouts on Tuesdays, but I honestly can say that I was afraid of the FIVE (5) Twenty Milers!!!!  Yes, that scared the crap out of me, especially because I had trouble doing 3 of them last year.  So, there isn't an 18 mile run or a 19 mile run that I am doing, but replacing them with 20 milers is adding another 20 minutes or so to the workouts.  That is time I may or may not have.  Ryan had to work on Saturday, so I got out really late for Saturday's 13 miler as is.  I may try the plan next year, but not this year.  I would need to do my first 20 miler in 2 weeks, and I am just not mentally ready for that.  I know the weekly mileage is about the same, so I should be able to handle it, but it was just building a bit faster than I thought, considering I was jumping in a week late.  I want to have time to read the whole book before starting the plan, and honestly, I am not looking to PR in Boston because I want to have a little bit of fun in the city while we are there.

That's all I've got.  I want 2012 to be a bit less racing and more quality.  Ryan has a few cycling trips planned.

Oh, and I have one more goal for 2012- to be able to do a press handstand again with out the help of a wall.  Ryan watched it on the yoga video below and was like, look how cool that is.  Um, yeah, I used to be able to do that.  I did 5 today using a wall to help.  I need to just keep trying with the wall and increasing my numbers, and then start trying without the wall.  There was a lot of other cool stuff in the yoga video, but I just want the press handstand part (25 sec to about 40sec).  Not the lotus handstand. I plan to do it with pointed toes, gymnast style. 

The one thing I never could do was press up from a sitting position to a handstand.  Not sure if that will get put on a list or not.  Even at the top of my game, I always got my feet stuck and had to adjust them to get them through.  I could never get this down:

4 comments:

Canuck Mom said...

That lotus handstand always impresses me. I to do the stands against the wall, but want to do them without it. Working on that. What a great video.

Matty O said...

Loved the aquaphor video :)

I hate planning out my years. I wish I could just show up on race day and race and not have it all planned out haha, it is so much easier to me that way.

Sounds like an awesome year for you!

I honestly wish I had that much control of my body as those yoga people. I have never been that flexible or able to control my body and poses like they can, however I LOVE yoga and have done it somewhat faithfully for three years now... I will never be able to do the handstand stuff haha.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

I need to get planning on my year. I have 2 in mind, but nothing planned 100% yet. You inspired me to get on it!

Unknown said...

That aquaphor video was awesome! :)

Sounds like you have some fun things lined up in 2012! I would totally have jumped on a $45 marathon! That's SUPER cheap! Good job on finding that steal! :)