2011: July-December

First part of my looking back at 2011 is here.
I had 7 races in the first 6 months and 10 in the second half of the year for a total of 17 races this year!

Here is the second part of the year: (for race recaps click on the race name)

July:
Races: 4th of July 5K
             Cypress 10k

2 races in July that were not great and not that bad.  July = HEAT here in Southern California...well anywhere really right? Here it is 100 +.  So heat does not = PR for me.  I have to accept it and do the best I can during those months.  I did not do terrible at either one of those races, no PW so that is good!!  I will do those races again this year.  The 4th of July 5K is local and I try to do the few local races we do have near where I live.  Cypress I will go back even though 2 things bugged me there: 1) It is a double loop course...not always easy mentally...but the course is flat so I cannot complain too much and I can see the kids at mile 3! 2) One cop STOPPED me to let traffic go! During the race! That was not cool.

In July, ex-blogger and swell guy (his own words I would never use the word swell !) Chris K..remember him? CK? Are you reading? We miss you....(EMZ is lost without you..no really)..ok where was I? Ah yes so Chris had this idea to make us play Q&A in July.  It turned out to be a great idea.  So I played here, here, here (this one even has a video of me talking and here.

August:
Races: 5k Pride of the Valley
Another one that I will do again in 2012.  It was a small race, close to home with a fun kids race.  I got a PR (went from 29:52 to 29:29) that day and I ran negative splits...something that does not happen often enough for me.  I had a strong finish, also does not happen often and I even chicked a couple guys at the finish!

This was the race where little brother (first red shirt) beat big brother (2nd red shirt)....

September:
2 Races: Disneyland Half Marathon
                9-11 Tunnel to Towers 5K race.

Disney was Half Marathon #3.  I got a PR there taking another 9 min off my time.  I am happy I did it.  I don't think I will do this one again.  They are raising the cost this year by $25 I heard.  That will be way too much for a race even at the Happiest place on Earth!  This was a fun race, got to run inside Angle Stadium and in the parks.  The kids race was fun but not the best one of the year for sure.  Run Racing has the best kids races.  At the Expo I got to meet Jeff Galloway, really nice and friendly guy.  We also met Drew Carey and Megan Price, that was fun.

On 9-11, I ran a very emotional race; The Los Angeles Stephen SillerTunnel to Towers 9-11 5K run.  Tunnel to Towers honors the courage and dedication of 9/11 first responders, our military men and women and their families. You can read more about it here and find out who Stephen Siller was.  It was an honor for me to be a part of this one.  I will do it every year for as long as they have this year here in LA.

October
Races: Long Beach Half Marathon
             Race for Rescues 10K

Ah Long Beach....that was a tough one.  Half Marathon #4 and it did not go well.  I got very dehydrated and had calf pain and chest pain.  It was not good.  I should have stopped around mile 7 and I did not.  That cost me big time and I ended up in the ER and admitted to the cardiac unit for 36 long hours.  This was probably the lowest point of my 2011 running year.  I am already signed up for Long Beach 2012. REDEMPTION.

 I loved the town and the course.  The kids race was fantastic. Next year will be better.

The night BEFORE this, we went to see our famous BFF, Keith Urban, play some tunes in Los Angeles.  I got to meet him with Jonathan before the show.  Such a nice guy and not bad looking also :) What a great night! But I have to say, I do not recommend going to a concert the night before a half marathon.

November

Races: Mission Inn 10k

             Turkey Trot 5K

It was my 2nd year running Mission Inn 10K.  This is not an easy course, it is pretty hilly.  My goal was to do better then last year and I did just that: 9 minutes better.  I was happy with that.

At the Turkey Trot I got my PR for 5K, I went under 29 minutes for the first time: 28:59 and ran negative splits! I was really happy!

.

December

Races: LA Holiday Half Marathon

Race #17 for 2011 and Half Marathon #5.  This was the hardest course I have ever ran.  I had ZERO expectation...well I did not want to do my worst time but other than that I just wanted to finish.  This ended up being my best race not only of 2011 but ever (I have done 31 races since March 2010).  I PR on a very hard hilly course.  I still cannot believe it but it is true.  2:24:05.  Took 2 min 34 sec off my Disney time.  It was not easy, I collapsed at the end.  I still need to figure out a better way to fuel and HYDRATE.

They had a fantastic kids race at this one also, pretty medals..Again Run Racing team.

To  finish the year, I had the honor to be featured on the Another Mother runner's blog for a guest post, you can read that here if you missed it.

So that is it for 2011!

I am happy with what I accomplished!

17 races.

I will end the year with 1228 miles.  I did not even think I could reach 1000!!!

• I took 3 min off my 10K time.
• I took 1 min and 2 sec off my 5K time
• I ran my first 5 half marathons this year and took 18 minutes off the first time.

I want to thank all of you for reading my posts and for supporting me and giving me so many great advices.  This year I met Julie (Hotlegsrunner), Carrie (family fitness food), Heather (365 days of awesome) and on Christmas Eve I saw Sandy (Boston Bound Brunette) on my local trail!  I hope to meet many more of you in 2012! Come race in Southern California! We have great races and pretty good weather!

I want to wish you and your families all the best for 2012, HEALTH and lots of joy!

Here's to many happy injury free miles for all of us!

CHEERS!

2011: First 6 months

The year end post...

2011

That was a good running year for me, I learned so much.
It was my 2nd year of running and racing and I feel like I have made progress.  That is a good feeling.

17 Races this year:

• 5K: 6
• 10K: 6
• Half Marathon: 5
• I improved my times in all 3 distances.

I met some famous people

• Dean Karnazes
• Jeff Galloway
• Drew Carey
• Keith Urban

Some highlights of 2011 (click on race for race recaps)

January:
Race: I ran my first Half Marathon!  I made a lot of mistakes, wrong clothes, wrong shoes, wrong fuel, wrong pace, you name it I did it... but I finished.

February:
Races: 10K in Pasadena and
I ran with Dean Karnazes 5k that ended up being 8k because we got lost in the trail!
This was a great experience! What an inspiration this guy is!

March:
Race: Susan G Komen 5k Race for the Cure.

Saddest month of 2011.

This guy ruined my month

 and I cried.............

but I am over it now.  Be afraid of the Blue Machine....

WE still have THE Sportsman of the year and Arizona still has...hmmm whiskers? Meow!

April:

Race: 10k Race Seal Beach

and I went to the Royal Wedding...

just kidding...I had to decline: no babysitter...they were crushed of course.

May:

Race: Half Marathon #2: OC Half Marathon.

Took 7 minutes off my first one.  I did a lot better in every aspects of the race compare to what I had done in Carlsbad except for the finish....I ended up in the Medic tent...

I celebrated 10 yrs of being married to Bill and I tried my wedding dress on...turns out it was a bit big!!

I went back home to Quebec!

I wrote a few posts on that on course! Here and here and also here

June:

Race: La Descente Royale 10k (pics here.) That was my 10K PR.  1:00:00.  I am still chasing a sub 1h...2012 goal....This was my first time racing in my hometown, my family was there and I ran with one of my best friend..it was really nice!

I had my 25th High School Reunion in Quebec.  That was a awesome night! I am so happy I went!

Next Post July-December!

Oh! Remember the family I mentioned in my previous post? I found them yesterday!
I got to give them all the groceries that we bought for them!
I was so happy to be able to do that.  It is a good feeling to help people even if it is just a little.



Post Christmas....

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas this year!
Tell me what Santa brought you!
The best and the worst!!!!

I love to read about the worst ones!!!

We made Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve for the guy in the red suit!

Boys opened one present: new PJs and slippers for Christmas from my parents (safe to say they were happy):

I had a lovely day on Christmas.  For the morning it was just us 4.  The kids were so happy and amazed by everything.  Coming down the stairs...they saw the cookies were gone from the plate we left for Bill Santa.   Jonathan: "Will, Will, W I L L!!!!!!!!! Santa CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We opened the many presents that were under the tree and had breakfast..croissants and pain au chocolat for everyone but me..boo hoo.

This is when they opened THE gift the each asked Santa in person!

I was half awake....! Beautiful John Wooden book.

Of course Mini Urban had to get one guitar!!! A Paper Jam..those are very cool.
(for the new readers who dont know our Keith Urban story it is here)

He will not let ANYONE touch it.

After a few hours of mommy sitting on the floor we got this and a major back pain:

Bill's dad came over for a late lunch and more gift opening.  Our boys are lucky little guys. I hope they know it.  I try to tell them over and over that they need to appreciate what they have. 

On the 23rd we went to the movies and saw Arthur's Christmas.  Loved it.  On the way out we were stopped at a light and we saw a family of 4.  The mom and dad had signs "Please help, no job have kids to feed".  That made me so sad.  It is not like I don't know there are people in trouble, of course I know it but when you see it, it is different.  So we went to the closest grocery store and bought food for them.  We drove back to the spot and they were gone.  I was so disappointed and sad. We returned the next day and they were not there.  I will go today again.  I want my kids to know that there are kids who are not as fortunate as they are and I want my kids to know it is important to share with others.
Christmas has turned into this huge material holiday a long time ago and that part of it, I don't like.  It gets to be too much and or never enough....

We had some special food for Christmas in the house, croissants, cookies, pies.  I wanted to taste something just one little bite...of banana cream pie.....it was good but not worth the pain it caused me.  I spent the whole night sick and yesterday all day in bed also sick.  I don't know if it was just that or I had a stomach bug also...but it was no fun.  So no running for 2 days in a row. Cannot remember the last time I did that.  I stepped on the scale...down 3 lbs.  Who does that on Christmas?? Boo Hoo.
Going for 3 shaky miles at the gym. 
My legs feel like Jello.