NYD5K, and five things I want to do in 2---0---1---8!

We all love a fresh start, and that's what a new year feels like.  

For no real reason at all, mind you.  Our "new year" could begin any day.  There's something so satisfying about committing to a new attitude about life and things we want to accomplish when it's on *page one of 365.*

With that said, I started off my 2018 with some solid work in -3*F for the New Year's Day 5K.

This was my third time to run this 5K.  You can't beat the price, and it starts at 11:00am.  This gives us a chance to bust out some New Year's Day miles, and then head over to Rev.

This is from my first time running it -- it was pretty much the same weather conditions this year.  Only about 100 people showed up.  It's saying a lot when my ~28:00 5K makes me 8th female overall.

While running in the cold is always favorable to running in the heat for me (and soooooo many others), at some point, it's very uncomfortable to run.  -something*F is pretty uncomfy.  I was pretty happy to see the finish line.

We didn't waste any time getting to the car after finishing the race.  Harry and I got back to the car, and then were off to scoop up our friend, Jennifer.  Jenn's a fellow Texan, but we met up here via running.  Running brings us all togetherrrrr!<3  Here's a shot of us from 2016 NYD5K.

As per mine and Harry's NYD tradition, we were off to Revolution brewpub for good food, good beer, and good convo.

My usual Breakfastman Burger with home fries.  Heaven.

Needless to say, the rest of the day was pretty chill.  Talk about starting off the new year on the right foot.

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Let's talk about some very generic goals for the year real quick.  I have five overall things that I want to accomplish this year, now that I'm finally healthy and heading into the new year.  We'll get into more specific stuff later.  I know...you just can't wait for that.:)

1.  STAY UNINJURED.  I really mean it.  And the following things that I list will help facilitate how, but for real, this is my biggest priority this year.  And every year thereafter, for crying out loud.  

P.S. I don't even know where this boot is now.  And I'm going to keep it that way.

2.  Create and stick to specific training cycle plans.  As it stands, I'm in a microcycle that exists solely for getting me back to a state of volume.  What I have failed to do in the past is recognize and respect the rules of training, with direct relation to training cycles (periodization).  When building up to, and recovering from races, it's key to vary your training intensity.  Different distances call for different training routines.  There really aren't THAT many differences, but what is important is to respect your body and allow for volume,  intensity, and recovery in timely manners.  

I will not be running a marathon this year, but I have several half marathons all set.  I am looking forward to finding a marathon next year!  You can check out my current racing calendar here!  

3.  Eat like I mean it.  I enjoy food soooooooo very much.  Just like my training, I need to eat in cycles that makes sense to my body.  It needs fuel, not a LOT of pizza.:P  Stricter eating won't happen for a bit, but I'm definitely going to be mindful of adding veggies to my regular diet.

This deliciousness was from Shalane's new cookbook, Run Fast, Eat Slow.  I'm going to do a review of the book sooner or later.:)

Alllllsoooooo, she RT'd me the other day, and it made my life.

4.  PR.  PR, PR, PR.  It's going to take A LOT of work to PR 8K, 10K, and a half this year.  I'm down for the challenge.  To be honest, a 5K PR scares me too much to try for it; I had marathon training mileage going on the last time I PR'd my 5K (22:54).  I would like to try for that next year.

(This picture isn't even from a race where I PR'd -- it's probably the only decent race picture [where I don't look like I'm about to sneeze, or 11 seconds from death] I have of myself.)

5.  OMG RIDE MY BIKE.  I have a VERY nice bike!  It's SO PRETTY!  Lola deserves to be ridden!  Whether it's outside or on the trainer, I'm hopping on my beautiful investment a lot more this year.  She and I already shook on it.

SO YEAH.  That's all I've got for right now!  I'm still on winter break, and we go back to school on Monday.  I've enjoyed the downtime, and am started to get the house and my life together today.  Or I'll just keep watching "Jersey Shore" on Hulu and do all of that tomorrow.  We'll seeeeeeeee.

Accurate: 

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How did you start off your 2018?

What's one generic goal you have for this year?

NYD2016 Funsies, and IMPROVE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR!

Hey!  Happy page 2 of 366!  Here's how we spent our day 1:)

My husband signed us up for the 2016 NYD5K in Lincoln Park.  This is the third year that I have run this race; I love that it's a tradition race for us.  My parents came along with us, but dropped us off at the race start  They're both from Texas and not used to the cold....like at all.  I wasn't about to ask them to watch us/wait for us in the ("feels like") 10*F.  Dad, against my wishes, ended up filling up my gas tank, and Mom got herself something from Starbucks while we were running.  I guess everyone won.

Harry and I before the race, and I'm not entirely sure why we're all thumbs-up here.  I'm really not.

Our runner friend Jenn found us at packet pick-up.  What are the odds of seeing someone you know at a race that hosts 1000 people?!

Actually, I know the answer to that question.  Never mind.:)

Much like my first NYD5K in 2014, the course was covered in snow and ice.  I don't know how the lead runner won in 17:__.  Seriously.

Harry had run ahead of Jenn and I, and appropriately got into photo-snapping position after finishing.  He got a few good ones of me finishing.  Thanks, Kid!

 The obligatory "Stopping my Garmin" shot.

VERY SLOW -- VERY SAFE -- 5K to start off 2016.  I was so happy to run with Jenn, as she is coming off injury as well, and was in no rush.

Afterward, Harry and I took my parents to our traditional NYD5K spot for a brew and some awesome food = Revolution Brewpub.

My chicken-fried steak ------------OHMYGOSH.

We had to drop my parents off at the airport:( soon after getting home.  Once Harry and I got back, I threw some edible luck into the crock pot.

It was the right thing to do.  Here's to a year of luck!

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Runner's World recently posted this article, Six Ways to Change Your Running for the Better in 2016, and I am sooooooooo posting this near my bathroom mirror (I still sometimes need daily reminders like that).

Six simple ways!  Two things that are actually built in to my 2016 goals are becoming strong all over (helloooooooooo, strength training!), and trying to find my jolly self once again.

After being inconsistent (also discussed in this article) and injured this year, taking time off has made me appreciate the cold mornings when you don't want to get out of bed.  If anything, this article has helped me embrace the very things that I, and maaaaaany other runners, need to work on for their best running.  Go check it out.:)

And speaking of joyful things...

Before I leave you today, CHECK HERE FOR SUZ'S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR THE NEW YEAR!

My fave.:)

Good 'ole Suz.  When you're down, she'll pick you up.  When you need a giggle, she is there in a flash.  If you need a hug, guess what?  --------> her arms are open to you.  <3 YOU, FRIEND!

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Did you run on the first day of the year?  Is that an important event for you?

How often do you see your family/loved ones?

MAJOR GOALS for the new year?  Work?  Family?  Fitness?  Where's your focus this year?

TOLT: Because Thursdays are weird.

Today's Thinking Out Loud might get a little serious and completely bizarre-o random and nonsensical, but it'll be okay.  We'll get through this together.  With Nutella.  Nutella always helps.

And in fact,

1.  I think our beautiful host Amanda needs this spoon?

2.  Number two is reserved for serious things.  *le snicker*  

Do we ALL have a thousand things to do?  Yes.  Do most of us manage?  Yes.  It's the process leading up to *manage* where most of us differ, and where most of us learn to at which to get better.  It's usually when I have a ton of downtime that my brain starts getting worked up, and my nerves follow.

Case in point:  I have my first triathlon in two years in two months.  My spotty training, the constant sickies (it's SO DUSTY in my P.E. gym!), the lack of motivation -- it all boils down to one thing:  Prioritizing.  That is my BIGGEST "GRRR".  I have felt out of sorts the past couple of days, mainly because I can't decide which way is up with many things.  I got the point yesterday where I felt like I was chasing my own tail.

3.  So I calmed myself by hopping on the bike for a bit.  I decided to celebrate the Lost lottery numbers (4.8.15) while spinning.  And taking weirdly suspicious pictures of myself.

  

 3.  I have no idea where we got these enormous apples, but I swear that they're on 'roids.

'Roid apple + Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt + Raw Wisconsin honey = happy tummy.

4.  WHAT.  Why are you on MY street?

5.  800s at the track with the /R/iver /R/unners crew last night.  It was a strange evening, where we  (okay, maybe just) I wanted nothing to do with running -- the temps had dropped throughout the day, the sky had been overcast and it was starting to drizzle just a little.

We still got through it, 95% of us together (since the Hobbit always runs away after the warm-up).

6.  And we were off to Revolution Brewery for beer and pizza.  The way God intended it. 

7.  Seven is my favorite number.  So I'm going to put something special here.

8.  Today is a great day for doing nothing but Netflix'ing (I made that a verb, and hopefully it'll someday become a sport).  I got kinda lucky this week, in that I'm nearly *forced* to chill out.  As busy as I'm used to being, and how much I love being that busy, this has been seriously wonderful, no matter how bonkers the downtime has made me.

9.  And on that note, a rarity is happening this weekend:  We have nothing to do.  This happens maybe once every other month, where we just have absolutely no social engagements to attend, no Sophs, and no races or events.  I'm kind of digging that, mainly because I want to watch more X-Files and can't do that without Harry.:)

10.  Thanks for sticking with me this far.  We're almost done with this terribly rocky stream of thoughts, but thanks for reading/listening.:)  Your *Brain Hug* for today -- Because Thursdays are tough...and Corgis make tough days turn into wicked-awesome days.:)

Also, honey, can we get a Corgi?  <3 <3 <3
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What do you do when you feel like stuff is piling up in your brain?

FAVORITE PUPPY?

Kayla is forever my fave!

Plans/No plans this weekend?!

Country-Fried Chicken Pizza.

So here's to starting off the year in style!

This was my first day of the year for 2014.

Not a far cry from this year, temperature wise.  As far as what was on the ground, it was snow and ice free!  What this picture doesn't show you is the "Feels like"...which was "4*F".

An 11:00am start to this (what is now) tradition race for me = I'm starving by the time we get to the start line.

And after my slowest 5K last year (by far...Harry and I scoffed at the thought of racing it in 2014 with so much snow on the ground), it was fitting that I came back, wearin' the 4-5.  #Encore

Harry and I took it relatively easy.  I just owned this up to a bit of speedwork, rather than a race.  I really didn't see a point in trying to PR, but we'll get to that later in this post.

Off to Revolution brewpub for tradition noms!

Harry's pizza.  Oh...my...gooses...!  Country-fried chicken pizza = the best thing of my life!

My delicious breakfast burger.

Harry and I finally got home, and I took a long, hot shower.  I was FREEZING and couldn't warm up for the life of me.  We turned on some jazz tunes and just chilled out for the rest of the day.

Dinner:  Nothing brings you more luck than black-eyed peas on New Year's Day!

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In related news, I've taken quite a break from regular training since the marathon in October.  Some swimming here, some cycling there, a dash of Yoga, and some running.  Nothing structured, nor major in terms of intensity or volume.  Yet, still eating like I did during weeks of high mileage.  So essentially, I'm a lazy eating-machine.

*le smirk*

I'm actually really excited about getting back into a more structured training cycle.  After what is essentially overtraining (marathon training), different levels of "wanna" go away for different people.  For me, I need a mental break from it.  My go-to sign for a break is when training feels like a chore.  I'm happy to say that after several lower mileage weeks, I'm ready to get back at it.

I'm looking forward to updating my training calendar this weekend.  I have a lot of work to do; just PLANNING everything will take a while!:)
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How is your training going?  Are you looking forward to a new goal?

QUICK:  Favorite (training) headband?

QUICKER:  Last delicious dessert you had?