Now it's 2012

So 2012 arrived without much fanfare as most New Year's do.  Along with Halloween and Valentine's day I find New Year's Eve to be one of the most overrated holidays that I still feel required to do something fun.  Plus it's a great excuse to drink lots of champagne and go dancing with your friends!

Plus NYE is a great excuse to wear whatever you have that has sparkles on it :)

Along with a new year comes new resolutions.  I was asking my good friend (that cute one in the photo above in fact) if she had any new years resolutions and she told me that she doesn't do resolutions but sets goals for herself instead.  I like the way goals sound so I'm going with that.  Here are a few of my fitness/healthy living goals for this year:

1. NO fast food: Yep, none...no late night McFlurry's or french fries from McDonald's for this girl.  This won't be too difficult since I rarely eat fast food anyways but this year will be the year to banish it for good!


2. NO bread or pasta products: I haven't mentioned on this blog yet but I've pretty much been doing this for a couple months now and I feel amazing!  No more stomach issues, I feel lighter in general and never feel bloated or weighed down after meals.  I haven't been eating grains either but I don't want to include them since I know some grains are really good for you and I like to include them sometimes.

3. Run a sub 2 hour half marathon: This will happen this year during one of my two half marathons or I'll just sign up for more half marathons until I do :). 

4. Do a pullup: Just one pullup is all I ask, unassisted, just my body weight.  I've been working hard using Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer and I'm definitely stronger, but still not quite at a pullup yet.  This goal will help me to remember to do strength training along with running as well.

5. Get more involved with Girls on the Run: I was a running buddy last year and it was an amazing experience.  I volunteered at the winter 5K a couple months ago and was introduced to a couple ladies that I'm anxious to get more involved  with helping.  I'm kicking off this goal by going to an auction committee meeting next week to see what I can do.

I think that is enough to focus on for the year in addition to a couple other personal goals I have.   I'll be back next week with my plan for the Mercer Island half marathon on March 25.  For now I will leave you with the most amazing sunrise this morning...and yes this is my view from my office.  It literally lasted about 5 minutes and then the sky went dark before it even got light and has been pouring ever since...oh Seattle!

Question:  When is your first race this year?  Maybe you were one of those crazies who ran one on New Year's Day!

Where has Marathon Lar been?

I know my 33 followers and probably 5 other readers are just dying to know what I've been up to since the marathon and I'll be honest, I do miss blogging...and I'm just grateful I haven't lost any followers! I still stalk blogs every day and start to get jealous that I'm not posting. 

So, what the heck have I been up to since the marathon?  Well, in a nutshell, NOT running!  I love running and I still get out there once a week to make sure I remember how to do it but I'm also enjoying other things at the moment including not having to schedule my weekend around a long run, hanging out with friends, lots of cooking, and focusing more on weight training instead of cardio.

Halloween with the bro!

As far as fitness goes (this is a fitness blog right?) I actually started a program I found via another blogger Meals & Moves from bodybuilding.com.  It's Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer and it looked very doable, especially after running my butt off for 6 months I figured I would welcome the change of just lifting weights.

source

I'm currently on the 1st phase, week 3.  So far I really like it.  Jamie really emphasizes NO cardio in the first month but I haven't listened to her.  I've done a couple short runs, played soccer and went to one spinning class but I don't think it will affect my ability to do the weight exercises since I had a decent fitness base to start.  As I attempt to get back to a regular blogging schedule I'll attempt to post a weekly wrap up of this program, but I'm not promising anything :).

I'm not following this schedule at all but I am getting in all the workouts...flexibility people!

What about running you ask?  Well, I am signed up for 2 half marathons in 2012 so far and I WILL run one of them in under two hours.  I'm halfway considering the Portland marathon...halfway!  Plus the title of my blog is Marathon Lar so I guess I have to run marathons right?  <---worst reasoning ever!

March 25, 2012: Mercer Island Half Marathon

I ran this race back in 2009 as my second half marathon and really enjoyed it.  You run around Mercer Island (literally!) and it's often promoted as the first race to kickoff running season in Seattle.  It's relatively small, the weather is usually perfectly cool and well organized.  I ran the 10K option last year and PR'd!

Way back in 2009, the last time I ran the Mercer half!

My goal is to start officially training for this at the beginning of 2012 and work really hard to incorporate speed work like crazy to try for a sub 2 hour finish.  It's amazing how simple a half marathon seems now that I've done a full marathon but I know I'll be humbled as soon as I attempt to run faster than then the 10+ minute miles I became accustomed to during marathon training.

June 23, 2012: Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon
Three months after Mercer I'm running my 4th Rock and Roll race in Seattle. I LOVE THIS RACE, but I'm not in love with the fact that they are completely changing the course and the anticipation of how hilly the new course will be is already stressing me out.  Last year I PR'd but didn't quite get that sub 2 hour goal. 

So bloggy friends that is what I've been up to lately.  I'll try to keep more in touch with you all, I feel like a bad friend!

Question: Anyone out there running any crazy races next year?  Any ultras out there?  I can't say the thought of an ultra marathon didn't cross my mind post marathon, but those crazy thoughts will be pushed in the back of my brain for now.

xoxo,
Marathon Lar