Generic Title: Year in Review

Last day of 2013.  I got one last run and weight session in.  It gave me time to think about the past year.  Here’s what had happened…

It started by running the 20th Anniversary of the Disney Marathon in Orlando…

Medals dang near big as yo head!

As part of that, the boy ran the Kid’s Race and won his heat!

I can’t believe he has better form than I do. He also has better race photos.

I also kept my streak alive of being undefeated against celebrities in races.  You can read about the others HERE, but this time I beat Joey Fatone….

It’s the guy from that boy band – I think it’s named – My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Explored the Orlando Theme Parks with…

Moms, Pops, Boy.

Celebrated the boy’s birthday at a fire station (his choice)…

Unfortunately, the did not serve us chili.

I then ran the Too Cold to Hold 5 miler.  You can see the recap HERE – A bunch of friends joined me…

We should’ve ordered brighter shirts for TNSR.

I ran the Dallas Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon.  You can see the recap HERE…

I know it looks like Brooks threw up on me, but don’t care cause it was cold! I needed more of that tin foil stuff to wrap me up like a baked potato.

I then got to produce a bunch more videos with the hilarious Flula…

Like our dope videos or we will fight you…in a non violent way.

I got to celebrate my birthday and St. Patty’s Day in a special way, which you can see HERE…

I’d be a giant in leprechaun village.

Then I won my age group in a very special 5k that you can see the recap HERE…

I’ll treasure this one fo shizzle.

I then got to meet up with my sis and sis from another miss in Raleigh, NC…

With my sis and sis from another miss.

After a few days of fun, we were off to the Outer Banks to run the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, which you can read my recap about HERE…

My sis and I after a recent 1/2 marathon in OBX, NC.

We had a bit of fun exploring the site of the Wright Bros first flight…

Gotcha!

And celebrated on the beach…

Here’s your typical beach photo of legs and feet.

Unfortunately, the next day was the bombing of the Boston Marathon.  I wrote my thoughts on it HERE, which I got a huge response from.  Apparently I wrote what others were feeling.

At Fenway Pahk watchin tha Red Sahx play the wicked Yankees a few years ago.

I then ran another 5k, you can read about it HERE…

Takin it to da bridge!

Then my soccer team finished in second place after losing in a shoot-out after double overtime…

No smiles for second place.

I continued running with Thursday Night Social Run...

We run. We socialize. It’s cool.

I ran another 5k, recap HERE…

Posing with a patriotic trash can.

I re-incorporated trail running into my repertoire…

It’s best to run in the back so the leaders are 1st to find snakes and spiderwebs.

Got to play a ninja in a music video…

In between takes with some “Felvis” dancers (female Elvis).

I then ran in an unofficial 4×1 mile relay race, recap HERE…

At the Relay Race – We’re both rockin the Pure Flow 2 by Brooks.

I then ran my first Beer Mile race (4x 1/4 mile + 1 beer at each).  I finished 2nd overall.  Recap HERE…

A trophy, yay!

I became a part of a new run training group – Project Run 214…

Bright and early!

Got to see Mumford and Sons with family and friends…

Went to the local Oktoberfest so that I could drink free beer cheer my friends running the 5k…

My friend wore lederhosen during the race, so we decided to celebrate.

Enrolled the boy in his first hockey class…

He looks serious!

Went to the coast of Texas to teach a class on TV production and collect some awards…

Boats on the water.

I ran my first 15k race.  Recap HERE…

Say ahhhhhh!

Tested out a new mode of transportation…

Howdy pardner. You like my ride?

Went trick or treating with the rug rats…

I’m a ginja (ginger ninja).

Do not cross him.

Cowgirls are udderly cute.

I then went to the Alamo to look for my bike…

Alamo selfie!

Won two more Emmy’s for the mantle…

Emmy #6! I’d like to thank the Academy, etc. etc.

Hung out with Nitro from American Gladiators…

Right before we went through the gauntlet!

I then tweaked something in my knee…

My tape job.

Cheered for more friends running a Thanksgiving day race…

The turkey was probably sad because it was Thanksgiving – a sad day for flightless birds.

Survived a North Texas ice storm…

All that white stuff looks like fun snow, but is actually pure evil ice.

Which forced me to the dreadmill to continue my training…

That took forever.

Helped a friend run the final few of his 30 mile run for charity…

At the mile 27 station.

Celebrated the holidays with family and friends…

All our ornaments on the bottom half of the tree.

And ate a buttload of tacos…

Mmmmm, tacos.

BTW, my knee is feeling pretty great.  I’m almost done training for next week’s Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2) at Disney World!  Can’t wait to get these 6 medals!

My neck feels heavy just looking at them.

In between we just kept on trying to keep on.  Hanging out at home with the fams and dogs.  Making videos.  Yoga-ing.  Working out.  Cooking.  Laughing.  Oh, and blogging.

 

How was your year?  Did you make the most of it?  How’s your 2014 looking?  Big plans?  Holla!

Project Run 214 – Training Bonus #1

I’m part of a true grassroots run training group.  Project Run 214.  We’re small right now, but most start-ups are.  I am really excited to be a coach and taking part of this group.  We’ve had countless meetings over the past year in preparation for launching this group.  We wanted to make sure it was a well rounded training program.  It’s no secret that to be a runner, you have to do more than just run.  If you want to prevent injuries, you better be doing other stuff.  Yes, we have the weekend long run that almost every other training group has, but we also have some bonuses throughout the week/program…and guess what?  It’s all included in the price of the program!  Like I said, we really want this to be a well rounded program that strives to prevent the typical injuries that most runners get!

Today I’m going to write about one of these bonuses our members get as part of PR214.  Later on I’ll post about other bonuses.  But the focus today is on cross training sessions.  Last night we met at a track.  The workout included some track work, but also some resistance strength training.  Various lunges, dumbell work, core work, etc.  If you’re not doing strength work as part of your run training, you’re setting yourself up for a greater chance of injury.  You’re also risking cramping, as some cramping is a result of weak muscles.  You want strong muscles and bones and joints and such to help carry your body over the course of your race.  You should be doing this on your own, but by making various sessions part of our program, we can ensure that you’re actually doing it!  No person left behind!

Some of our group doing some of their exercises.

Anyway, that’s bonus #1.  There are lots of other exciting bonuses, including different cross training sessions…but I’ll get to them later.  Personally myself, I like to lift weights, yoga, trail run, play soccer, and occasionally swim or ride my bike.  What kind of cross training do you enjoy?

Week 6 Disney Dopey Challenge Training

I finished the 6th week of my Disney Dopey Challenge Training (if you can’t tell from the title).  It was my last unofficial training week, because this week begins week 1 of the Hal Higdon training plan.  Why did I have to do pre-training training?  Because week 1’s long run is 13 miles.  So I have to be prepared for that.

Week 6 was supposed to include a kind of an easy weekend of running.  The weekend long run was supposed to be only 6 miles (but I accidentally did 7) with Project Run 214.

A few of us from the group…bright and early!

It’s still miserably hot for running around here, no matter how early you get up.  So humid too.  After the run I sat down on the ground for a minute and left a heart shaped stain of butt sweat.

Awww, my sweat is so sweet.

Afterward we did my fave thing to do after an early run, we went to breakfast and exchanged running war stories and ideas.  Yes to eggs, must satisfy that “Runger”!

Then Sunday Runday was supposed to be only a cross training day.  I made mine a 6 mile trail run with friends.  We ran through Erwin Park in McKinney, TX.  It’s a great park, but there are usually lots of mountain bikers on the trail that you have to watch out for.  It was also kind of freaky hearing all the gun shots going off from the surrounding fields – apparently dove season has opened and people were out shooting birds.  Only one of us was hit, but luckily he had on a bullet proof vest.  Just kidding.  But not kidding, it was cool to see the recreational hot air ballooners flying from and around the park.  My one friend snapped this pic as we were leaving.

How does one decide to buy a hot air balloon?

After the run we did my fave thing again – breakfast!  Where for some reason we took a group photo in the restroom.  Runners are weird I guess.

I was caught by surprise by the camera lady.

Anyways, pretty good weekend of running and eating.  No the training officially kicks in, and I’m ready.  I’m also ready for some cooler temps.  When football season starts, I know we’re close to cooling down some (I hope).

Hope you got a good sweat or two in this past weekend!

Peace!