Year in Review - 2013

I can hardly believe the year is almost at an end. 2013 certainly didn't end the way I expected - there was heartbreak on and off the roads, but I find myself filled with memories that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Of course the biggest moment was the marathon - training for it, raising money for MOCSA (and you can still donate if you want a chance to pick my finish line pose for each 2014 race!), and then the marathon itself - well, I believe I've written enough about how awesome all of it was.

So, I find myself at a loss for words as I reflect on this year. The best summary of my 2013 I heard on the radio the other day, so without further ado, thank you Katy Perry for "Roar":

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything
You held me down, but I got up 

 Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up 

 Get ready 'cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
Now I’m floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero
You held me down, but I got up 

 Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up 

 Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You'll hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar...
 

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Much love, 

Eliz 

Another PR

Deadlift: 125 pounds

Tried to do my body weight but it wasn't happening.

Ultimate goal: 300 pounds

Christmas Light Run RR

I signed up on a whim for this race - my bestie, Cynthia, had signed up for it a long time ago and asked me to do it with her. I said I was taking December off from races.

Riiigghhhht.

Of course, then the forecast came and it was supposed to cold. I really hate running in the cold.

But, I paid for the damn thing, so you can bet I was going to run it. I had my fleece-lined running tights under my star-spangled shorts, a cold-weather thermal under my rockin' tank top, a neck gator, and a jacket over all of that. THEN, there was a stocking hat and gloves and mittens.

I really don't like running in the cold.

There was one new accessory I was looking forward to sporting:

A back story bib, created by Races 2 Remember. They are awesome.

When it was all said and done, I looked pretty good:

Did I mention this was a night run? I did my best to add Christmas cheer to Wonder Woman.

The race started and while I was lined up with my friends, my goal was to see how much I could push myself. Of course, had I remembered Tjom (Garmin), this might have been a little more successful. He was even in the car, but I didn't remember until we were lined up at the start. Oh well.

Being Tjom-less, I did my best to keep myself honest. It's so much easier to run faster when you have a group of people running with you. When you're by yourself ... uff-da it's hard. It's also maddening when you have no idea how far you've ran. All I knew at that point was I kept passing people, and while a few were passing me, these were few and far between.

At one point, I was passing through an intersection where I volunteer had a long line of cars stopped. There was an impatient woman who actually was asking the volunteer if she could make the runners stop. I yelled, "Yeah, sure we'll stop for you."

Perhaps that wasn't my most ladylike moment.

Somehow I figured out there was less than a mile left and I must  have been slowing down because a heavy breather that I had passed earlier had gotten in front of me. I have a new rule: runners that get nicknames from me are not allowed to beat me unless the nickname includes "Bad Ass". So, I had to pick it up and pass Heavy Breather again. All I could do at that point was pick out people and work to pass them. When I finally got down to the final stretch I was trying to make myself go faster, but it seemed like I was going at full speed. It wasn't until I felt like someone was just barely going to get me that I got a last spurt and got the best of whomever that was.

Ugh. <---- that was how I felt.

When I felt a little better, I went back for my friends and ran the last .2 miles in with them.
Then we went to a nearby brewery where I the following conversation ensued:

Manager/Owner/Guy in Charge: That's a fancy headband.
me: Thanks, I'm hoping it will get me a husband.
M/O/GiC: Well, Santa's got a hefty list this year, doesn't he?
me: (in mock offense) I'm not sure how I should take that!
Bestie: You totally owe her a beer for saying that!
M/O/Gic: Oh man! I didn't mean it like that! I totally do owe her a beer, don't I?

It was all in good fun, so I was a bit surprised when he came back with two shooter samples - one cider and one oatmeal stout that wasn't even on tap yet.

This headband won't get me a husband???

The stout was delicious. (shhhh dont' tell the gluten gods I was drinking stout)

After I got home, I decided it was time to put up the race swag. It was a little something different.

Winter Ice Games

So, I bought this Groupon to a Cross Fit gym less than 3 miles from my apartment. $50 for two months unlimited - a deal I simply couldn't pass up.

And, of course, within a month of me starting, the gym hosted it's first Cross Fit games. As someone who really needs to meet people who aren't married ... well, I decided it was time to really get involved.

I spent most of the past weekend in that gym. Friday night, setting up and helping out Saturday and Sunday. It was pretty amazing to watch all of the athletes compete. It wasn't as intense as I thought it would be, but it's completely different from the competitions (races) I'm used to. At the same time ... it's not all that different.

It's easier if I explain in bullets.

Differences:

• The obvious: there's weight lifting involved. And burpees. And pull-ups. 
• The athletes pretty much stay in one spot. Very convenient for the spectators. 
• There is a lot more Reebok being worn. 
• No numbers, just names.

Similarities:

• "Free" t-shirts 
• Food and beer
• Warm ups are taken very seriously. So are shoes.
• If you are close to a certain finish time, the crowd cheers harder and louder to get you to the end. 
• It's awesome when the chicks beat the guys. 
•  Parking is a nightmare.
• Foam rollers and Sticks are in abundance. 
• Pre-competition poops are important. 

It was a long weekend, and I didn't even help out the full day either day. But, I did get to know more of the people who go to the gym, so mission accomplished. I'm really loving the workouts and having a great time with the group with whom I work out.

I've definitely drank the Kool-Aid, but don't worry: I'm still a runner that does Cross Fit. :)

Random Thought from Eliz

Christmas lights are awesome.

Turkey Trot for Education RR

Wow, I've done a lot of these recently! It feels a little odd, but good! It's fun doing lots of races.