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“THAT’S A WRAP” ON 2014!
Hi everyone!
…auld lang syne anyone?
I hope you all had a fun-filled Christmas and that Santa gave you mounds of great presents (perhaps some cool running gear or a new GPS watch).
As 2014 draws to a close and Baby New Year prepares to make his grand entrance, we all naturally take a look back… at the good and the not-so-good. The resolutions kept and the ones that fell by the wayside.
But before I finish the final chapter and close the book on 2014 (and start a new one for 2015) I wanted to give a recount of my running year that was.
And it was a doozy.
Here are some of my running “highs” and “lows.” Read the rest of this entry
I AM A “MANIAC” AND VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
A special kind of crazy.
Back in October I joined… or should I say I “qualified” for the Half Fanatics, a group of 8,000+ runners (and growing daily) who tear through races like happy hour patrons tear through a free buffet.
Yeah, the Half Fanatics run a whole helluva lot of races.
They’re my “running fraternity” and I wrote a post about ’em a few months ago. Check it out here.
Well there’s one thing to note about the Half Fanatics; they are actually a “spin off” of another popular running group. Yup, for all intents and purposes, they are the “Laverne & Shirley,” “Mork & Mindy” or “Joanie Loves Chachi” (best include ’em all) to the “Happy Days”* of running groups: the Marathon Maniacs.
THE SAN DIEGO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MARATHON EXPERIENCE: POST MORTEM
Hi Trippers!
At least my thumb was working.
So yesterday I ran the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and I think one of my running friends said it best when she described it as a “challenge” race for me.
In the past I’ve typically run 6 half/full marathons in an entire year. I’ve equalled that amount in just the first 5 months of 2014. And before this year I’d never run more than 2 full marathons in one year. I’ve now done 3 full marathons in less than 90 days (85 days to be precise)
I’ve been pushing my body really hard since October and while I’ve been thrilled with the results, I guess it was bound to catch up with me a some point. Perhaps I was due for a “less than ideal” race.
This was not a race where I excelled. Nope, this was a race where I survived.
AVENGING LAS VEGAS!
Warning: Crazy ahead!
“I may be crazy, but it keeps me from going insane.” -Waylon Jennings
When I lined up my race schedule for 2014, I decided to go way outside of my comfort zone and see just how far I could push myself.
I signed up for 14 halfs/fulls (twice as many long races as I’d ever done before in a single calendar year).
I challenged myself to PR in the marathon distance and break the 5-hour barrier. I PR’d at the LA Marathon, still working on the 5-hour barrier. My next chance is May 4th at the OC Marathon.
MY RUNNING FRATERNITY
Half Fanatics Unite!
In college I didn’t go Greek; rather I stayed in the dorms all four years serving as a Resident Assistant (in charge of 72 Freshman/Sophomore students). Sure it was hard work, but quite rewarding to help others. Oh, and I got free room, board and tuition… so Woo-Hoo!
So, while I was ecstatic to graduate without owing a penny in student loans, I always wondered what it would have been like to be in fraternity… to know that I could run into fellow brothers (or sisters) anywhere around the country or recognize someone wearing our emblem and have something in common.
Well, I did finally join a fraternity. It just took me twenty more years.
Tripping The Kenyans 