faster than anticipated.

I spent the day before the half-marathon coughing and cranky, although I did fit in a lovely 4-mile walk with a friend and an ice-cream date with El Bandito. We were smart enough to go park the car in the neighborhood of the finish line, and then wind our way home via a grocery store, public transit, and the fancy new ice-cream shop and soda fountain.

I've had this lingering chest congestion (which I still have) for a couple of weeks, and it was worse the day before the half-marathon than it had been. So I was a little worried.

There are advantages to a race in one's own backyard. I got to go back to bed after eating breakfast. El Bandito came and saw me off at the start -- the previous two years, I've done the 5K at this race, so he's gone straight to the finish rather than the start, to be sure of getting there in time. This year, he got to see the chaos of nearly 10000 people, and then head off to mile 6 to wait for me.


I was afraid I was going out too fast. But it felt good. and I did force myself to take my scheduled walk breaks.
I got to high-five El Bandito and keep on moving.

Two friends were standing on a corner at mile 7ish, and that was awesome.


I need to remember to do either gu, sharkies, or something a little sooner -- I swallowed half a stinger waffle around mile 8, but that was later than I should have.

El Bandito was waiting around mile 12 again, then at the finish.

I had fun. I crossed the finish line smiling, and didn't even think to check my time...

which was better than my stretch goal.

it was actually a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.

I'll do another.

the year is flying...

2012.

It's hard to believe it's already February.
And February, short month that it is, is already booked.

Sunday, I'm running a half-marathon.
Aside: how the hell is it I'm getting a cold now? (Apart from the fact that El Bandito's been sick intermittently for the last 3 weeks, and I've been fighting it off and fighting it off.  I'm going to be very cranky if I'm sick on Sunday. (See previous instances of bad timing).

Later this month, I'm auditioning a trapeze piece.

El Bandito and I are taking a long weekend trip to the desert (lowest, hottest, driest National Park). I am excited.

El Bandito is job-hunting -- not because he doesn't have a job, but because it's time to move on. I should be doing the same. I am, just much less actively. Because one thing my job does give me is time -- and giving that up will be hard.  Vacation time, for which I have more adventure ideas than I can afford -- or fit even into my generous vacation time. Flexibility, so I can run out the door to a trapeze class. or take an hour-long run at lunch.  Time to day-dream -- and I am full of adventurous day dreams right now.

One friend just returned from a (nearly) spontaneous week in Thailand. Three other friends returned from seeing an amazing circus festival in Paris.  Another friend is off to Hawaii.  Despite our 2011 being *stuffed* with travel, I want to go more places and do more things.

How the heck I'm going to fit it in? I don't know. Maybe I'll think about that on Sunday, since I'll have a couple of hours to think while running...

I just hit enter...

on the registration for my first ever half-marathon.

Despite the fact that my long run today didn't go well -- not enough sleep, not well-timed nutrition, too much sun, and legs much too tired from the week's workouts, even though I only ran one other time this week.

I may not finish it quickly. I certainly won't run every step.
But I'm fairly confident that barring injury, I'll do just fine. It won't be under 2 hours. It will probably be under 3.

And really, it's about the challenge to myself. I turn 40 late this year (how the heck? I swear I just hit 30.  Somehow, a half-marathon seems like a good way to kick off the year.

and hopefully, trapeze performance at the end of March, although I'm half-afraid I'll jinx it by even mentioning it.

and then, we'll see.
I came up with the crazy idea of hiking the Torre del Paine circuit in Patagonia for my 40th birthday, if I can get some friends who are equally as crazy to join me.

But first things first. Wish me luck.

how is it the second week of January?

2012 keeps flying.  The holidays already seem a long time past.

There's a lot going on already in 2012, most of which I won't talk about publicly. At least, I won't talk about it publicly unless and until things are more definite. So, I'm a little more on edge.

Which probably means that it's a very good thing that I am (somewhat haphazardly) training for a half marathon on Superbowl Sunday, though I haven't yet fully committed to it. We'll see how this weekend's long run goes -- it's weird training on 2-3 runs per week, but I can't fit any more in around circus training. That's more important to me, even though it has less tangible goals right now.

However, last Saturday's long run was beautiful. A lovely morning run with some good hills and beautiful vistas and a good pace for the 10 miles of running (11.5 with walks and warm-up/cool-down).

Normally I'd do my long run on Sundays, to give my body a day off after the week's crazy workouts. This past weekend, however, I was holding Sunday open for a hike with a pal. I wasn't sure if she could make it, but she surprised me slightly by jumping on the opportunity Saturday night. The weather continued to be gorgeous. The scenery was amazing, and the company awesome as always.

It's good to have these times, where my needs for exercise and company are met simultaneously.

the first evening of 2012

I am sitting on the sofa with one cat curled around hugging my left thigh.
The other cat is on my right shin, left foot, and El Bandito's arm.
El Bandito is dozing on the other end of the sofa.

I had ...

a lazy morning.

a completed NYT Sunday crossword.

a lovely long run in the park this afternoon.

A good dinner and delicious wine.

2012 is off to a delightful start.

Happy New Year!

I have half a dozen half-finished gratitude posts. They may find their way up yet. They may not. The last week or so of December, one of the things I've been most grateful for? free time, and lack of (too many) responsibilities, even self-imposed ones.

I love how Jote's project has spread, and how many people have found things in their lives to be thankful for.

2011 was a good year for me, for us.  Ups and downs, like any year, but full of travel and adventure and fun and friends and family.

Sometimes, I wish I could find that myself as angst-filled teenager and tell her -- your life won't be anything like you imagine. But it will be *awesome*.  Having that urge makes me realize just how lucky I am.

Life is an ongoing adventure.  May 2012 bring you and yours (and me and mine, for that matter) joy, peace, and a whole new set of fun and exciting challenges -- in the best possible ways. 

bubbles

Maybe tomorrow I'll take a better photo of the empty bottle (and thus remove this disclaimer).

But a nice bottle of champagne.
Shared with family, to celebrate my birthday.
A good end to a lovely visit.

Thankful that I get to spend this time with them.

Thankful that El Bandito takes long walks with me on these visits, and buys fancy sparkling wine to share.