New Half PR!

2:02:35

Apparently not training sometimes works! race report to come!

New Year, New Job, New Everything

I start, sort of, my new job today. While it's in bad taste to celebrate my good fortune right now, at a time when so many of my friends and family in Spain are either out of work, or working harder than ever for much less money, I must say I am very, very happy to have the opportunity to write, research, travel, and basically work my ass off for the next few years. However, all big running plans (and other life plans: children, thesis) have been put in a weird holding pattern. I know I have to keep up with running in order to stay healthy and sane while working for my new boss, but I also know that planning is now out the window. (Why, suddenly, when you realize you can't start a family or train for a marathon or start cooking vegan food , you really, really want to?) I will basically be on call for the next four years. But my running shoes will be in my desk drawer awaiting any free moments and, also, can't you run with a Blackberry?

I have to take things step-by- step and week-by-week. Oh 16-week-Excel plan, I already miss you and all the control you provide me! This week I'll be straddling both jobs: starting to go to meetings at newbie and trying to train my replacement at oldie. Actually, they still don't have a replacement, but that's a whole other train of thought.

For now, I'm just concentrating on getting enough sleep to be able to do another half on January 30th. Last Saturday I had a beautiful long run: first half up to the Montjuïc castle with Charles (see pic) and the second half solita along the beach. Up to the castle was tough and I had to walk on the last set of stairs. Sunday I rested, so this morning I'll head out for 10k before embarking on a marathon day of meetings. This week I want to get in 55k and next week I'll taper for the BCN half marathon, which I really haven't trained for. In between meetings, I'm also going to sign up at the gym next to my new office. It's small, it's dirty, it stinks, but I must have a shower on hand for those upcoming lunch runs. I'm back to my dream job, a very high pressure job, after four years, but this time I'll be a better worker because now I'm a runner.

Does running make you more a more productive worker, a sharper thinker, more patient?

Do you run at lunch?

Summing Up

2010 meant
- My first half marathon. I know it sounds dramatic, but finishing that race is what I’m proudest of in life. I’ve done more important, more impressive things, but nothing else has filled me that glowing, overflowing sense of pride. Go figure. I want to write a long post on running, women and self-esteem one of these days.
- Two more halves, which weren’t perfect, but have made me stronger.
- A big 10-k PR at La Mercè.
- Some aches and pains, and two missing toenails, ah but so much glory!
- 1134 miles run

2011 is going to mean:
- A new job, which will make getting runs in a little more challenging, but I’ve already got a plan involving lunch-break runs and showers at a nearby gym. More on that soon.
- I wanted to train for a full marathon for this spring, but, due in part to this new job, I’m going to work on improving my half. Training tips welcomed, y’all.
- 1500 miles run. Hold me to it!

What are your 2011 running goals? Why do you think running makes you feel so happy, so strong, and so confident?

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Here were my goals for the holiday season:
1. Brave the weather. Yeah, suck it up and run outside in 20-degrees. I'm already shivering. CHECK
2. Stretch and do yoga twice a week. Baby that hip! UH, DIDN'T HAPPEN. I'm Irish, we don't do therapy or yoga over Christmas, instead we fight, and drink, and talk a lot.
3. Maintain my weight. Losing weight will be impossible, I know that, but I'm going to try not to gain. CHECK! BEING SICK THE FIRST FEW DAYS MAY HAVE HELPED OUT.
4. No drinking. I've been drinking less and less lately, but sometimes in Spain one ends up drinking wine to be polite. Wine = empty calories and mindless eating I DRANK, AND IT WAS FUN, WHAT CAN I SAY? NO WINE AT WORK LUNCHES IN 2011?
5. Become a soup master. Yes, I want to make all kinds of soups with all sorts of different winter veggies. I DIDN'T COOK ANY SOUP, BUT I DID GET A GREAT NEW VEG. COOKBOOK