2012

Well hello 2012!! This post is about 2 months after I started it but ohe well. 2012 has gotten off to a very busy but exciting start, but first things first, a little 2011 recap. 2011 was a great year for me. I ran my first and second marathons, ran a handful of half marathons and became a Half Fanatic!!

Half Fanatic #1683

"Pain is temporary, Pride is Forever."

I’ve added a few more medals since the above pic. 2011 was the year when I really became a runner. I was a runner before then and did maybe a race a year. In 2011 I ran 2 marathons and 4 or 5 half marathons. I also began to use social media sites like Daily Mile and Twitter to connect with other individuals who enjoyed running just as much as I do. But as 2011 was coming to an end, I was still unsatisfied with my health. i had hit somewhat of a plateau fitness wise and wasn’t seeing results like I used to. Soooo I decided to make a few changes. 2012 has become the year of clean/green eating.

One of my biggest enemies to my fitness was my nutrition. I would run upwards of 30 miles a week and then waste away all that hard work by eating poorly. No matter how many miles you run, that’s not an excuse to eat anything and everything in site. So I found Jennifer Jordan and For the Glow and began 2012 eating a lot cleaner. I started off the month with a detox. I know what you might be thinking, another New Year, New You detoxer. But this was a different type of detox. Instead of any crazy pills or liquids or starving yourself. I was to spend one or two weeks depending on how toxic my body was eating fruits, veggies and good grains (such as buckwheat and quinoa). I was to do three days of veggies, then the next day I could add fruit and the good grains, then two more days of veggies and then resume my regular HEALTHY diet. Writing it down it seems so easy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The first few days were hell and truth be told I didn’t finish the detox. (My boyfriend literally dragged me to Joe’s Crab shack because I looked so miserable). But I did learn a lot about the foods that I put in my body. Since then I eat at least one large salad a day, I try to have a green smoothie several times a week, take my vitamins and continue my exercise routine while incorporating more crossfit. My new lifestyle is definitely working. I have more energy, I feel lighter, and I feel…cleaner.

Running wise, I ran my first half marathon for the year two weeks ago at RnR St. Pete and finished in 2:04:15. I did much better than I anticipated given the fact that my training had slacked a bit and it was 36 degrees and windy on race day.

My next race is RnR DC on March 17th. I ran it last year, before RnR became a sponsor and it was pretty cold so I’m hoping this year it will be a little warmer. I have also decided to run the Chicago Marathon this year. I had not planned on running this race. I was planning on registering for the Marine Corps Marathon, which I will still register for, and the ING NYC Marathon. But for some reason I saw someone make a post on facebook about how the race was almost full and the next thing I knew I was registered. After registering I also realized that Team LIVESTRONG would be participating in the race, so I decided to turn my 3rd marathon into a race to honor my Dad, Aunt and dear friend Jarret. You can see more abou the race and my donation page here. I will also be representing Team Sparkle as well and wearing one of their cute sparkling travel skirts.

My goals this year for my running are to push myself to the next level. I am hoping to break my half PR of 1:58 at some point this year (maybe DC?!) and to conquer the last 6 miles of a marathon. I am also going to register for the Marine Corps Marathon, which means I will be running 2 marathons in one month. Part of me is also tempted to sign up for the ING NYC Marathon and see if I get in. If I do, then I could qualify to be a Marathon Maniac (God willing I finish them all). But if I don’t get in through the lottery then at least I’ll still be eligible to be grandfathered in to run…..in 2014. 🙂

~T