Running goals for 2012

Just went back to December of 2010 in the blog archives and found my running goals for 2011. Here's the entry:

Setting goals

I'm thinking that by writing this down, in front of everyone, that it will force me to follow through with this.

Last summer, I had built my way up to running 4 miles, then some things happened and my running fell way off. Okay, my running stopped altogether. I am fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it) to be in a Sunday School class full of runners who talk about it all the time and make you want to run as well. So one of those friends and I decided to do the following runs this next year.

5k on January 30: Groundhog Day Run 
This 5k is all underground, in the caves of KC.

10k on April 2: Rock the Parkway
This 10k winds around Ward Parkway.

 Half-marathon on June 4: Hospital Hill
This is the GrandDaddy of all races. 

Now, dear readers, hold me to this. Make me do it. For the sake of my genetically high blood pressure and (slightly) high cholesterol, make me do it.

That was from December 2010. Now in January 2012, here's my update.

I really didn't do too bad--I actually did better than this. Here's my running history from 2011:

April 2 was my first ever 5k, Rock the Parkway. Heres's the blog entry for it.
May 21 was the Girls On the Run 5k, Macy's 1st 5k too! Here's the blog entry for it.
June 5 was the Hospital Hill 5k. Didn't quite make the half I had planned on, but here's the entry
August was the Susan G. Komen 5k. Apparently this one didn't rate a blog entry.
October 15 was my first half marathon! Man, can't believe I did that. Here's the blog entry

So ended the year with 4 5k's and a half marathon. Not bad for this non-runner.

Here's my running goals for 2012: Again, written down to force me to do it. (hopefully)
1. Keep track of my running miles so I can total them up as the year goes on.
2. Lose about 10 pounds to make running easier.
3. Add cross training/weights to make core stronger.
4. Try to run faster as the year goes on. 

Here's the races I want to run. Not picking the distances yet in some cases to see how the year goes.
 I will be in Seattle and can't do Rock the Parkway, which makes me sad. I liked that one.

February 5--Trail Run 5k
April 21--Oz race, distance TBD
May 8--Mother's Day 5k
June 2--Hospital Hill, distance TBD
October 20--Waddell and Reed half marathon

That's my plan. We'll see what happens. Need to consult with my running friends to see what they are doing. A HUGE part of my motivation is having someone to run with, even if it's only at the starting line and finish. Anyone want to run with me?????

New Year's Eve

I grew up spending NYE at Junior and Ellen's (Hi, Ellen!). Adults would play Pitch for hours, kids would run around playing, lots of good food. Ellen would make sure to have treats for the kids, and  the TV would come on about 11:45 to watch the ball drop. Midnight would come, and we'd pack up and be home by 12:30.  Great memories I will always have with me.

We hosted NYE last night again. We've done it for a few years, not sure how many. Bobby has managed to be off somehow (except for one year). Same events at our house. Adults play games, kids run around playing, some crazy dancing on Just Dance 3 on the Wii, lots of good food. TV on at 11:55 last night (cutting it close) to watch the ball drop. Several left right away, some stayed, and some stayed until 2 am.

It makes me sad when I see people post on Facebook how they put their kids to bed at a normal hour and watched movies. One friend said they set all the clocks forward and pretended 8:00 was 12:00 so they could put their kids to bed early. 

If you've read here for any length of time, you know creating memories and traditions for my kids is huge for me. I want my kids to remember how Mom and Dad let them stay up until 2 am hanging out with friends one night a year. I want my kids to remember our house as a welcoming place where friends would come over. I want my kids to remember NYE as a fun time.

Welcome to 2012!

fun on break

I love making the most of our Christmas break. Fun mixed with REST. I haven't set my alarm for a week, and don't plan to until Tuesday morning.

So yesterday's agenda was roller skating with a group from church. We cleaned the living room in the morning, then headed out. Macy got her skates and was off--didn't see her much for the next two hours. I stayed with Kaylin. We hadn't even made halfway around when she fell, grabbing me and pulling me down in the process. She sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. I forced to finish the loop; can't exactly stop on a skating rink. She sat down on a table and cried. After a bit, this mean mom forced her to go back out, and she cried through another loop. Eventually she settled down and went around a couple times by herself. Later Bobby mentioned that she might have gotten a concussion due to the size of the knot on the back of her head. Felt a little guilty when he said that, but oh well.

Today was a beautiful day for December 29, and we went hiking with my sister and niece. Went farther than we had intended, but it was fine. Kaylin stopped frequently for "pretzel breaks", but it was a beautiful day and a nice hike.

Tomorrow's agenda? Not sure. Macy wants to go fishing on Saturday with the new fishing pole Santa brought.

I'm still here!

Well, well, well. Who was going to be a better blogger? Oh, that's right, me.

How do you catch up on the last month where you have basically not blogged at all? You really can't. But I will try a bulleted list, in no particular chronological order.

1. Macy was a reindeer in her drama club play. Cutest little reindeer.
2. Girls had a choir performance at church. Macy had a solo. She has a sweet little voice.
3. Bobby's been working a lot, between the winery and the fire station.
4. Bobby surprised me with the newest iPhone for Christmas. I am in love with it--old one was soooooo slow and updated. Love this super fast new one!
5. Girls had a great Christmas. Spending time with family is so important, and we did a lot of it!
6. Basketball practice has started for Macy. Yeah.
7. Basketball practice for Kaylin has not started yet. Yeah.
 8. New Year's Eve is at our house again. I'm thinking of just making things from Pinterest.
9. I haven't ran since the half-marathon. Time to get back on the wagon!

That's it for now. Once again, setting a goal to keep this updated. See, my students found this for a bit, and that was awkward. But they have short memories, and have moved on. Also, I like to tell funny stories about the girls. However, they are getting old enough that they recognize this, and I respect their privacy. We'll see what happens as we move forward.

 

Merry Christmas!

Getting our Christmas tree

One of my favorite family traditions is going to the tree farm to chop down our tree. Even though Bobby wanders all over and takes 20 hours to find the tree, it's fun. This year, though, we found it quickly and were in and out fast.

The girls and Santa. The same Santa has been there for the 7 years we've been coming here.

Lots of horsing around while picking the tree

Macy and Bobby on the hayride up to the field

Me and Kaylin on the hayride

Even though we found the tree quickly, and it is outwardly pretty, it has been my least favorite tree. Something is different with the branches, and the ornaments keep sliding off and won't stay on. We keep finding ornaments at the bottom of the tree. Oh well, it's still pretty, and I would take it and the experience over a store-bought tree anyday!

Thanksgiving Day...way late

Here's Macy with the shot I get every Thanksgiving--- watching HER parade.

We spent the day with my parents. While it was quiet and I usually like busy, it was a nice, relaxing day and I think grandparents and grandchildren both enjoyed spending time together.  Here's my mom instrcuting Macy about the parts of a turkey.

Showing her some part of the turkey...

Macy picking out the innards of the turkey. Yes, that bag with turkey innards is still in our freezer.

Kaylin had a nice round of basketball with my dad in the driveway. It was so nice to see him able to go out and play with her outside.

Macy showing Grandpa the bag with turkey guts..

Macy and the turkey heart

Kaylin and Papa planting a tree in a flowerpot.

Kaylin and Papa planted this tree when it was tiny, and so was Kaylin.

It was a great day!