Tuesday, December 30th

9 miles - track workout
45 degrees, night

Met at BCCHS with Klim, Bain, and Melissa to run a track workout. After the usual 2.5 (or, as Melissa unfortunately corrected, 2.33) mile warm up and strides, we began a 6x800m workout. We took a 400m jog rest between each interval so we could push it during the workout. For the first time in weeks I felt great running hard and I averaged 2:27! Jarrin joined us and ran the 1.5 mile cool down.

Splits: 2:30; 2:29; 2:30; 2:29; 2:23; 2:22

Monday, December 29th

3 miles, easy + Gym
50 degrees, night

Despite the office being "closed" I still managed to work until 8pm. When I finally got away I hit the gym and warmed up by running a 3 mile out-and-back down the Potomac. First lifting I've done in weeks too. I'm noticing a pattern here...

Sunday, December 28th

14 miles
55 degrees, oddly enough

Met up with Bain and Peter for my first long run in a few weeks and ran the Zoo Loop from The Line. It was great to run with somebody else for the first time in nearly two weeks. I struggled through miles 9-13, but somehow found a second wind for the last mile.

Saturday, December 27th

0 miles

Travel day back to DC!

Friday, December 26th

5 miles - easy
35 degrees, windy

Snuck in a quick loop of Otsinengo Park on a busy day. The pace noticeably quickened when I started playing Fight On State on my iPhone...

Thursday, December 25th - Christmas Day

10 miles - moderate/hard
35 degrees, windy

Ran my traditional Airport Road-East Maine Road Loop on Christmas Day between opening presents and dinner. I decided to make this run my workout of the week and I ran a farlek (8 x 3 min./1 min.). The first half of the run was difficult, slow, and cold. Then I realized I had been running uphill into the wind for five miles. The trip back went much easier.

Wednesday, December 24th - Christmas Eve

8 miles - easy/moderate*
40 degrees, cloudy

Woke up and ran for an hour at Otsinengo Park. The pace at the start was easy and the last 3 miles I picked up the pace to feel slightly uncomfortable.

I'm glad I made my run the first thing I did today since it would have easily been forgotten otherwise. I did 95% of my Christmas shopping this afternoon... a feat I hope to never repeat.

*"moderate" today would probably qualify as "easy" 6 months ago.

Tuesday, December 23rd

6 miles, easy pace
25 degrees w/ 12 degree wind chill, clear, dusk.

Ran the first and last 5Ks of the Vestal XX course. I had intended to run the full 20K course, but it started to get dark and it was so cold my headphone chord stiffened. I had a good stretching session afterward, though; I'm definitely starting to regain some flexibility. Take that yoga.

As a side note, I started my run late because I was bonding/geeking out with my father at the former IBM Powerhouse and learning all about chillers and cooling towers. I am such a dork.

First Post

I have a confession. I've known this about myself for years but I always denied my true identity. I just didn't fit in growing up in Upstate New York. In college I experimented a little and by my last year at Penn State I was living a double life.

After graduation I moved to Washington, DC, voted for Obama twice, and have spent more money than I care to think about at the Apple Store. Now I'm even starting a blog. Yes,

I AM A YUPPIE.

Now that I got that off my chest, I want to state my goals for 2009 in no uncertain terms:

• My resolution for 2009 is to take my running more seriously and I will track my training on this blog at least every other day.
  
• By March 1st I will run at least 70 miles per week and maintain that mileage throughout the year (& hopefully stay healthy and injury free while doing it).
• I will go to the gym at least twice per week to do core work, stretching, and weight lifting.
• I will NOT do yoga. I have to draw the line somewhere...
  
• I will train for two distinct and measurable peaks this year: In April will attempt to set a new PR at 10 miles and help win a team title in the Penn Relays 20K. After the Spring I will establish goals for the Fall and plan a series of races and a training schedule.
• I will balance all these goals with my masochistic work hours and my relationship with my wonderfully supportive boyfriend John.
  

This blog will be a tool to track my progress, celebrate my successes, and despair in my failures. Those reading this blog (if anyone does at all) are encouraged to stay on top of me to pursue these goals. A hint: I was raised Catholic so guilt works. So does quoting the bulleted list above.