2014 Race Schedule

Happy New Year! 2013 flew by and I can't believe it's 2014. This is a somewhat special year for me since it is my year - the Year of the Horse!

 

 

New Years Lunch with Mom

 

 

Last year I completed 15 races (all running) ranging from 5Ks to full marathons. This year I'm cutting back on my racing a bit and mixing things up as I prepare for my next big goal. So far this year I've run one 15K and two half marathons. My first race this year was the Resolution Run 15K in January which is my standing 15K PR from 2012 when I finished in 1:14 (7:58 pace). This year I finished in 1:26 (9:15 pace). Not my best time, but not my worst. After finishing race after race last year with my slowest times ever, I'm happy to be slowly recovering from chemo and getting my speed and endurance back.

 

 

Resolution Run 15K

 

 

World's Happiest Runners

 

 

Best Husband/Race Support EVER

 

 

Earlier this month I ran my next two races, the Mermaid Half Marathon and the San Dieguito Half Marathon. These races were on Saturday and Sunday of the same weekend, and I'd like to think that they take the place of a second 20 mile training run which I wasn't able to squeeze in this marathon training cycle.

 

 

Mermaid Half Marathon - Team Peacock Pants

 

 

The Mermaid Half Marathon is also the course of one of my PRs, with my 2011 finish coming in at 1:49 (8:23 pace). My finish time last year was a far cry from that - 2:13 (10:09 pace) - so I was happy to have somewhat split the difference at 2:03 (9:24 pace) this year.

 

 

Twinsies! My Favorite Running Partner

 

 

I was a bit slower in my second race for the weekend and finished San Dieguito in 2:09 (9:52 pace). Not great, but I'll take it. There were a lot of hills and I walked most of them, with the course rivaling the difficulty of the San Francisco Marathon for me.

 

 

San Dieguito Half Marathon - Team CAT PANTS

 

 

Cat Pants in Action

 

 

Cat Pants Close Up - Don't Be Jealous!

 

 

Next up on my race calendar is the Napa Valley Marathon ... this weekend! Marathon #21! David and I are flying up to San Francisco on Friday, having dinner with my dad Friday night and spending the night at his house, and then heading up to Napa on Saturday. I'm excited that my two marathon wifeys are both running this race (love you Christina & Tara!) and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with them and several other friends in Yountville.

 

 

Final 20 Mile Training Run

 

 

After the Napa Valley Marathon I'm actually going to *gasp* cut back on running a bit as I gear up for my next big challenge. My original goal for 2012 was to finish marathons 19 and 20, and then complete a Half Ironman (70.3) in 2013. Well, cancer got in the way and I didn't cross marathons 19 and 20 off my list until last year ... so that means this year is the year I'm going to cross a Half Ironman off my list by completing Barb's Race - a women's only Half Ironman on the same course as the Vineman full Ironman.

 

 

First Bike Ride in Over a Year!

 

 

I've also signed up for two shorter distance triathlons to help me prepare for Barb's Race and to get used to triathlons again, and will be doing the Spring Sprint Triathlon in May and the San Diego International Triathlon in June. I'm also doing the San Diego Century again (metric distance) in May to stay accountable with my biking.

 

 

Morning Swim Lessons in Coronado (Not Mexico ... my iPhone is confused)

 

 

The swim leg of a triathlon is definitely my weakest leg and to help myself prepare I've hired a swim coach that I will be working out with once a week for the next several months. We've had two sessions so far and just in the few hours we have spent together I've already seen noticeable improvement.

 

 

New Swim Tools

 

 

I'm excited for my marathon this weekend and even more excited for the races following it! Send good vibes this Sunday!

 

 

 

2013 Year in Pictures

Happy New Year! I'm a bit late for the calendar New Year but I'm just in time for Lunar New Year. Whoo hoo for the Year of the Horse!

 

2013 was a big year full of a lot of races, a bit of travel, a lot of doctor's appointments ... and best of all a wedding! The wedding and surrounding trip to Maui was the highlight of my year, and I'm excited to be starting 2014 as Mrs. Allen.

 

 

2013 Races

In 2013 I ran five 5Ks, one 4 mile run, one 10K, two 15Ks, 3 half marathons, 2 full marathons, and was the runner in one triathlon relay.

January - Resolution Run 15K
(first race during chemo)

 

 

 

 February - Cardiff Kook Run 5K

 February - Mermaid Half Marathon
(first long race during chemo)

 (Cardiff Kook & Mermaid Half Recap)

March - LA Marathon 

(Marathon #19, first during chemo)

 (LA Marathon Recap)

June - San Francisco Half Marathon

 (San Francisco Half Marathon Recap)

 

June - Los Angeles Brain Tumor 5K

July - Coronado 15K

 

August - End of Summer Fire Run 4 Miler

(first race with Devika!)

October - San Diego Brain Tumor 5K

(Team Mokie representing!) 

(Brain Tumor 5K Recap) 

 

 

October - Long Beach Marathon

(20th marathon, 2nd during chemo)

October - Long Beach Marathon with Barb

(Long Beach Marathon Recap)

 October - Esprit de She Triathlon Relay

(participated as the runner)

(Esprit de She Recap) 

November - Silver Strand Half Marathon

(Team Minion for the win!)

(Silver Strand Half Marathon Recap)  

November - Hagerstown Turkey Trot 5K

December - Jingle Bell 5K

 

 

 December - Hot Buttered Run 10K

We made the news!

I also participated in one non-endurance event called Over the Edge which involved rappelling 365 feet down the side of a building while raising money for brain cancer research.

 

 

Over the Edge for Brain Cancer Research 

(Over the Edge Event Recap) 

2013 Giving

Speaking of fundraising, in addition to the $1225 that I raised for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure for the Over the Edge event, Tara and I also raised $2310 for brain cancer research for the Kesari Lab, and also returned for the fifth season as a $500 Mile Marker Sponsor for the Girls on the Run San Diego 5K via our tutu business Glam Runner.

Selling Tutus at the GOTR 5K 

2013 Travel
This past year I traveled a lot less than usual, and visited:

• San Francisco, CA (2 times)
• West Allis, WI (1 time)
• Las Vegas, NV (1 time)
• Nashville, TN (1 time)
• Maui, HI (1 time)
• Shepherdstown, WV (3 times)
• New York, NY (1 time)

 

 

Easter in San Francisco 

 

 

 Carlson Reunion in Wisconsin

(Two Weeks in Wisconsin recap) 

Stupid Cancer Conference in Vegas

(OMG Cancer Summit Recap)  

Getting Married in Maui

Marrying the Love of My Life

 (Wedding Recap)

 

Wedding Celebration Part 2 in West Virginia

 (Wedding Celebration Part 2 Recap)

2013 Cancer Fun

I spent the majority of this year going through treatment for my wonderful brain cancer, and had bi-monthly blood tests, monthly (and then some) doctor's appointments, and quarterly MRIs. Over the course of the year my tumor managed to slightly shrink (~5%) and as my body adjusted to each cycle of chemo I got more used to things and felt better each month.

Blood Tests, Blood Tests, Blood Tests

Pills, Pills, and More Pills

 

 

 

December Celebration Dinner

(David's Birthday & My Last Night of Chemo)

 

 

 

Christmas Cookies for My Oncologist

 

 

 

2013 Hair Watch

Most important of all this year ... my hair started to grow back! Half of it was shaved for my Oct 2012 brain surgery and then another ring of it fell out the following month when I went through 6 weeks of radiation. The shaved part started to grow back right away but the part that fell victim to radiation didn't start growing until a few months later. Over the course of the year I had hair extensions to make up for most of what was missing and in November after 11 months of extensions I finally took them out, chopped my hair off (several inches longer than the length of shaved hair growing out underneath), and dyed it back to my natural color. As much as I loved maintaining my full, long hair, I just couldn't deal with the extensions anymore. Neither could my wallet. My shorter hair continues to grow out underneath and I'm hoping that by the end of this year everything will be even again.

 

 

My Hair Sloooooowly Growing Back

Radiation Hair Grew Back in Curly!

Hair Extensions Out, Cut, & Color

2013 Crafting

I dabbled in crafts this year and went to a Paint Nite event with Tara and also relearned how to knit over the holidays with David's mom. My grandmother would be so proud! I obsessively worked on a knit infinity scarf over Christmas and am now the proud owner of a beautiful merino wool creation of my own!

Paint Nite with Tara

Future Picassos

 

 

My First Big Knitting Project

 

2014 Outlook

This coming year will be full of more races, more travel, but fortunately less doctors appointments. I've finished chemo for now and I've started the quarterly MRI "wait and watch" protocol. It is such a relief to be done with chemo, but absolutely TERRIFYING to be going through no treatment at all. At least while I was on the chemo I knew that something was working for me in my corner. Now I have nothing ... but healthy eating, healthy living, exercise, and a good attitude. Which together, really isn't nothing, it is everything I have.

 

I'm looking forward to a great 2014, and hope you have one too!