Okay, so for 2013 I am going to have FUN! Not that running isn't always fun, but I had a wonderful breakthrough year last year and I want to play this year :) AND get faster! So, my first goal I'm going to put out there is my yearly mileage goal. It is 2,186 miles from my driveway to my sister (QP's) driveway! I want to spend this year on a virtual trek cross country running those miles. So, that is how far I will run in 2013...from my house to QPs. It will take all year and yes, this is measured on Hwys so it isn't really exactly how I COULD run it, but good enough. 43 miles/week...totally doable, and a fun goal to track how far I've traveled as I go along. Who knows...maybe I'll even run PAST her house :)
I will do more trail runs, Boston, Pacing duties, another Half IM and some other tris. I'm excited for this next year and look forward to having fun with all of you out on the roads, and trails! Maybe bag a few peaks this year too!!
Long-Term Running Goals:
Big Dreams: 5K in 20:2X; 10K in 39:XX; Half in 1:29:XX; Full in 3:15:XX; complete the Rim2Rim2Rim run and not die; Comrades; Iron(wo)Man.
Run for the rest of my life!
Personal:
4 children: twelve, eight, five and baby Fartlek - 2 1/2. Wonderful supportive husband that lets me drag him and the family all over for race after race!
Finished 13 marathons and LOVE running that distance! I'm definitely hooked to the marathon monster and hope to constantly improve my endurance, speed and stay injury free!
I've also found a love of trail running! I hope to keep improving on this front.
After being injured with a broken foot at the first of 2012 I found a tri group and started training with them and am now loving tris! The half IM was harder than I'd ever imagined...and am ready to do it again. I'll earn my bike butt and someday have enough time to train for a full IM.
Went to the gym for a good step class and Ab's class. Took it easy, because I think any bacteria or virus that was within 10 feet of me this weekend is now growing in my body! I'd rather take it easy for a couple days than be down for a week or more being sick! Ragnar was amazing and taught me to appreciate myself and what I can do, I loved it!!!
Here is a short story from my daughter's swim coach that I just loved! A little inspiration for all of us, it's intended to apply to children, but I think it hits home with all of us!
That’s Not It
Last week, we had a Mom
come to us and “inform us” that her 13-year-old daughter would be gone for two
weeks vacation in late June, maybe another week after that.
Her daughter was not much
of an age group swimmer, but she has some endurance capacity and comes
regularly to workout at 5:30 am and again at 5:30 pm daily. She works hard,
demonstrates little talent, but lots of determination.
Her mother is not athletic
and clearly does not value athletics. We expressed our dismay that she’d be
missing for 2-3 weeks in the middle of the most important training of the
summer. Her mother’s response?
“Who cares, she’ll never
be an Olympic swimmer, so what does it matter really?”
This is a dagger in the
heart to any swimming coach, and it is to me.
If we only cared about and
worked hard with, those 52 people who will eventually, once every four years,
go off to the Olympic Games, it would be a small, empty and meaningless sport.
My response was “That’s
really not it.”
What is it?
It is the fact that young
people need to learn to dedicate themselves to something that is difficult,
something that requires perseverance, guts and the daily determination to get
your butt out of bed and go out and push your body till it can’t go anymore.
Why do they need to learn
this?
Because their lives are
too easy, too soft, too catered-for. Too many people carry them, make excuses
for them, never allowing them to try to be “heroic.” Is it “heroic” to get your
butt out of bed and go swim at 5 am? It is if you haven’t done it before. Is it
heroic to “make” 10x200 fly on 4:00? It is if you haven’t ever done it before..
Is it heroic to finish your swim and turn around and cheer for the teammate who
is even further behind than you are, and is struggling to make the set? Need I
say it? It is if you’ve never done it before.
And that is what “It” is about. About doing what you haven’t
done before. And learning that sometimes you succeed. Sometimes you fail. If
you fail, you go again until you learn to succeed.
It’s not about being an
Olympian.
It’s about being Olympian.
Learning to be a hero.
And what it takes to learn
that.
Or, you can Be Comfortable
and teach your child that its more important to be Comfortable.
So, if that’s your choice,
I only have one question?
What will happen to your
child on the day when they are made “uncomfortable” by life?
Night Sleep Time: 9.00
Nap Time: 0.00
Total Sleep Time: 9.00
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Maurine/Tarzan on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:02:11 from 63.255.172.2
That is a great story, Rachel. Thanks for sharing. Can I use it in my other blog?
I totally agree that there is so much to learn from struggling at something that is not easy. My daughter found it in the violin. My son finally found it in High School in AP classes and then weight training and running a marathon at 17. I worried about their growing up without struggling because they are both geniuses (particularly my son) - so schoolwork was never a struggle.
From Nevels on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:04:02 from 131.204.15.93
Fantastic story, and I agree whole-heartedly. The vast majority of us will never have any hope of being a world-class athletic performer, and many will never get a chance to win a race, so I particularly like the statement, "It's not about being an Olympian. It's about being Olympian."
Thanks for sharing.
From Kelli on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:10:34 from 71.219.76.64
I was gonna say pretty much what Nevels say, that was my favorite quote!!! Awesome story and way to be smart at the gym. I hope you stay well. I am sure our entire van is gonna get the swine flu from Walter!!!
I am so tired, i need a nap! I am jealous of your ability to sleep, you lucky thing.
From RAD on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:12:58 from 67.166.99.8
Maurine, you are more than welcome to use it anywhere...I copied it so copy on! :) Yeah, I think its a good story for any parents, but I sure could use it as a 'child' as well!
Nevels, That was my favorite statement! The story went on to talk about a swimmer in a HS that was always the slowest, but always did everything with every ounce of strength and persistence he had! That training helped him become a hero when he rescued 4 fellow crewmen in the navy when their helicopter crashed in the ocean. It said: “being Olympian” hit it perfectly. All of us will have our “Olympics,” when the very best we can bring is called from us. We don’t get to know when that moment is going to be. We have to constantly prepare. We may have no one to help us. No one may ever know." I loved that story...just amazing!! I needed that today, and probably tomorrow too :)
From RAD on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:14:53 from 67.166.99.8
Kelli, I sure hope you don't get swine flu! I just can't believe how taxing that race is on your body, the running part was easy...its the eating and sleeping that get you!!! Go take a nap and I'd be happy to send some sleep vibes your way!
From Maurine/Tarzan on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:32:42 from 63.255.172.2
Speaking of Swine Flu - my co-worker admitted that the Influenza A he has been coughing all about the office is probably Swine Flu - because both his Grandfather and Mother have been officially diagnosed with it.
I handed him back my clorox wipes and told him to keep using it. My developer just went home with stomach problems and our receptionist is feeling horrible. (Must hide in my cubicle).
From RAD on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 14:48:23 from 67.166.99.8
YIKES!!! How scary? Why doesn't he stay home??? Or at least bring his own wipes?!? I hope you don't get it!!!
From marion on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 17:37:01 from 71.213.113.143
Awesome story Rachel! I love it :)
Flu information, may sound like I am typing this in a snotty tone, but it's not ;) **Swine flu IS one of the influenza A's. Influenza A covers many many flu strains including the Swine flu. The influenza A classification is the most deadly of the flu families. The state quit testing all of the influenza A swabs about 6 weeks ago, as up to that point, 80% of the cases were of the H1N1 variety and the swine flu is not any more deadly than the rest of the Influenza A family. Anyone with a cough and fever SHOULD STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE and get into see a Doc. (Oh- that last statement was snooty, bossy and perturbed!!!)
From RAD on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 18:02:05 from 67.166.99.8
No, it's not snotty!! You've been through the worst of it and you KNOW what you're talking about! No 'snot' about it!! I think you are totally right!!! This whole flu thing is completely out of hand and is causing a lot of suffering. Thanks for putting it out there!
From Bec on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 18:20:09 from 67.177.35.60
Wow RAD, you have inspired me today! I completely agree with that mother...NOT! There is so much more to life than being the "IT." We struggle through life and some of our greatest accomplishments can be accomplished by the sport or area of interest we invest our time in. Do we wish we could be Kara Goucher, Ryan Hall, or Michael Phelps? You bet we do wish that, but we're not! Why not try the best you can with what God has given you? Isn't that enough? But the fact is we have to TRY our BEST!
From RAD on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 18:34:01 from 67.166.99.8
I totally agree. I'm just working on being the best Rachel I can, right now that includes some radically fun running! But maybe in a year it won't, I just love doing what I can with what I've been given. This totally makes me want to get up tomorrow to run!!! (oh, and not be lazy and get my daughter to swim lessons this evening :) )
From cheryl on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 11:21:00 from 76.27.66.153
Great story, loved it!
Missed you this morning. Recovering from WBR?
From Leandra on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 12:12:18 from 71.219.43.110
Great Story! I'm gonna go read your WBR race report now, reading everybodies makes me so sad I didn't do it this year, but determined to do it next year.
From Brent on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 22:14:40 from 66.7.127.219
Devine Miss M - great story, very important to support each other on the blog, from the youngest to oldest, slower to faster, race winner to all winners that race. The numbers are growing each day, the coach potatoes slowly rise, venture out in sunlight, some disappear, but, many see the change and join our cause. Live, Breath, enjoy!
B of BS Rools out
From marion on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 22:56:10 from 71.213.113.143
That was PERFECTLY said Brent!
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