New Year's Resolutions

I set the following new year's resolutions for 2010. How did I do?

1. Run three marathons--I ran 3 full and 8 halfs
2. At least two of them have to be international ones--three were international races
3. Better my biking time by .5 mph in a triathlon--bettered time by .5 in a May triathlon
4. Write the draft of my book--92,000 words done!
5. Go out for New Year's Eve--going out with three friends

Highlights of 2010:
1. Accomplishing my goal of running a marathon on every continent
2. Getting a lot of press for it. I am even on the cover of a magazine.
3. Going brunette--I do miss being blonde though...
4. Running in China, Peru, South Africa
5. Running my new favorite half marathon in Santa Barbara, CA.

Goals for 2011:
1. Doing an ultra marathon
2. Bettering my bike time by another .5 mph in one triathlon
3. Completing my book--almost done :)
4. GANJ (This is cryptic for personal reasons)
5. Letting go of something personal that needs to be let go

Thanks!

This has been a great few months for me. I've been getting so many nice emails from people on the press that has come out about me running marathons on 7 continents. Strangers have been emailing me with amazing stories on their weight loss goals and wanting to do races overseas now! I've also been asked to do some public speaking engagements. I am one lucky chick.

I also had a photo session with Elvis Castillo Photography and he wrote many nice things about me on his blog posted on December 20th, 2010. He is very talented and super nice to work with--check out his site.

Happy Holidays!

12Ks of Christmas

Just as in the 12 Days of Christmas, I did a race of the 12Ks of Christmas. It started at the "North Pole" aka Gilbert, Arizona. We were all given Santa hats to wear along with special Christmas socks. Most everyone dressed up. I found a red technical t-shirt to get into the spirit of the race. Dogs were colorful with wreaths around their necks and red and green leg warmers on their four little legs. One man was a human wreath; one girl dressed up as the Grinch and dyed her hair green; some just colored themselves all red and green. One guy dressed up as Scrooge and wore a top hat and a full suit. Along the route were choral groups including a children's bell group and a choir dressed to the nines in Victorian fashions. I loved it. Santa was there with his reindeer (dogs with antlers). However, there was a police officer who stopped all the runners to allow traffic to cross. I was stopped for 2 minutes by a cop who held out his hand and let cars go by...say what?? There goes my pace. It was a timed event and the race directors paid money for that road to be stopped. But the police officers decided that cars were more important than runners. I appreciate the volunteers (in this race they were called "Santa's Helpers") and the cops who make races possible, but come on...we were in a timed event and held off running.

Training hard

The training for the 50 mile, or 80K race, has begun. I now have 1 track session/week, 1 double day (run in the morning and at night) and two long days back to back. It is going to be interesting. I can already feel my legs getting tired and complaining. Hopefully it will go well. But I can always back out if my body doesn't hold up.

Race Report and Cover Shot

I completed my 26th half marathon this past weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. I love this race; unfortunately, my quad does not. I pulled it on Tuesday and after mile 4.5 I struggled with pain. I had to walk a bit, so my time was 50 seconds slower than last year, which is unacceptable. But I do LOVE this race.

Also, just last November I finished an Ironman. This November I was featured on the cover of Scottsdale Health Magazine. November is a good month for me :) I don't recognize myself with my new dark locks, which actually are even darker in person.

The article can be found by clicking on the magazine's site here.

Gone!

My Rapunzel hair is gone! Vanished to a dark garbage can in a salon in Mesa, Ariz. My Lady Godiva hair is no more! I have hair that reaches just below my shoulders and is a brown/reddish color. It is now life on the dark side for me. I have in extensions for volume. I am trying not to pull it out, so wanted to do something to help. Hopefully this will.....but it is just hair and can always be changed.

Race Report

I finished Iron Girl today--10 mile run around Tempe Town Lake. I ran into an old friend and we got to talking. It slowed my pace down, but sometimes good conversations are better than PRs. Love running during the winter here. I love getting bundled up and peeling off the layers as the sun rises. So a half marathon on Sat., 10 mile race today and half marathon last Sat. Is it time to slow down? Never.