1200 miles

My husband and I joined the Birmingham Track Club for the first time last year. We mainly joined because they were offering a great value on BTC sponsored races in 2013, but it has become something more than I expected. Each year BTC proposes a challenge for members to run 1200 miles in a year. As this year started I was preparing for my first half marathon and so I thought I'd give the challenge a try. I started running in the spring of 2011 and had worked my way up to running 14-16 miles a week. Once I started training for the Mercedes half marathon I obviously stepped things up, but I was far from the 23-25 miles I would need each week during the course of the year. January 2013 was a good month with 111 miles, but February was short and tapering for the 1/2 marathon cut my miles short, but I decided to stay with the challenge. It has been a long year, but I have learned so much about myself and running. I have completed 2 half marathons, and many races from 5k's to10 milers. I feel like the challenge has taken me from someone who just jogs for exercise to an actual runner. The challenge is one month from completion and I am feeling so accomplished because I know I have less than 100 miles to run! Of course with the WDW half marathon in January I will get more miles in than 100 :) I also know that the challenge will just start all over come January 1, but I'm ready!    

Weekly chase

We had such a nice holiday and now to survive the next 3 weeks before Christmas break! I have so much to do- grading papers, Christmas shopping, writing a semester exam and prepping for the WDW half marathon in January just to name a few! It is also the last month of the Birmingham Track Club 1200 miles challenge. It will be my first year to participate and I am so excited that the goal is in reach (just to start again on Jan 1 of course!).

On to the chase- (last week's updates follow)
Goal 1- Figure out how to get my afternoon runs in with the rainy weather we have this week, yuck :( I also need a 7 or 8 mile run, WDW weekend will be here soon! I am shooting for 25 miles this week.
Update- I managed to get 25.25 miles in, yay! I had two 6+ mile runs, but didn't get in anything longer. I am lucky that I teach and can start a run about 3:30, but I still have to pick ME up by 5 and get home and get horses fed and homework done. I need a free Saturday morning to get a longer run in! 

Post run in the rain Monday!

Goal 2- Type the minutes from my last Garden Club meeting. Somehow I am the secretary and have really not done a good job! The next meeting is this weekend, so I NEED to get the minutes done!
Update- Minutes done and sent to members!

Goal 3- Grade my creative writing classes short stories, that I have had for way too long!
Update- Well, these are still in my school bag. I'm going to carry this goal over to this week. Grades are due soon, and there are more papers coming, so this goal will be done this week!! 

Last week- 
Goal 1- I only need 20.5 miles by Sat for my 100 this month! My goal is to get my normal 23-25 so I have some leeway going into the last month of 1200 miles!
Update- Well... I met one part of my goal :) A combo of extremely cold weather and the holiday prevented me from getting my normal mileage, but I did get 20.75 so I completed just over 100 miles for the month. 

Goal 2- Get my house clean Wed. because everyone will be at my house for Thanksgiving!

Update- Success! I rescued the house (well the public parts, don't open any closets or my bedroom door!) and we had a lovely Thanksgiving!