New Year, New Fitness Goals

Happy New Year!

It's been a rough couple of post-marathon months thanks to a bout of patellar tendonitis on my right knee, but it looks like my running is finally on back on track. I've been able to handle running 25-30 miles/week, which puts me in a good spot to start training for the New York City Half Marathon in March.  I'm pretty pumped for this one since I qualified for guaranteed entry and was able to skip out on the lotto.  Plus, I haven't attempted to run a half marathon at an all-out race pace since my ill-fated attempt at the Brooklyn Half Marathon last May. Watch out, sub-2 hour half marathon, I am coming for you!

Marathon training might be time consuming, but it's so worth it.

On top of training for a big goal half marathon, I also plan on finally making a decent effort to learn how to swim.  I mean, I can get across the pool without killing myself (I did grow up in Miami after all!) but I'm quite inefficient slow. My first lesson with my local tri group starts next Sunday. Here's hoping I don't make a complete fool of myself.

Except for spinning once or twice a week, the biking is going to have to be put on hold until spring.  It's hard enough to run in the cold, but getting on the bike? Forget it! I guess I'm just not that hardcore.

Since I have all of these big plans for 2012, I thought there was only one fitting way to kick off my New Years celebration - a midnight run!

Getting ready for our run

NYRR hosted its famous Emerald Nuts Midnight Run this year as per usual. It's the typical 4 mile Central Park route but with tons of holiday festivities.   There's a DJ, midnight fireworks and even a "champagne" (i.e. sparking apple cider) spot halfway through.  The run was an untimed "fun run" so I was more concerned about enjoying the run and having a fun evening than my pace - big change for me!


2012 is going to be a fabulous - I just know it!