2017 year in review

I guess 2017 was the year of running.

In 2013 and 2014 I was into trampolines. 2015 was trapeze and barre. 2016 was my year of trying new classes and 2017 was my year of running.

I ran more than 1,000 miles, which I think is amazing.

I joined the Athens Road Runners, I started going to weekly speed work sessions, I made running friends, I did races, I found new places to run. I got faster.

Races: I did 8 races this year. Some of them were awesome. Some of them I would NOT do again (that 4-H race was THE WORST and I never want to race in 44 degrees and windy again).

Favorite race: I’m going to say the Chick Fil-A half the half, because it changed how my whole year went. I did well in that race and it propelled me to keep going, to start doing speed work, to join the Road Runners, to meet new friends, and get involved volunteering at races and working on the Road Runners newsletter. It was a turning point.

Favorite race #2: I also really loved my last race in Florida. It was flat and perfect temperature. I had a fast race and I got to share it with my brother, who I don’t see much.

Favorite gear of 2017
Favorite shoes: Nike Pegasus. I finally went to a running store and got fitted instead of buying what’s cute and on sale. I love running in these shoes. (And they come in so many colors and I can get the old models on sale, so WIN.)
Favorite running clothes: My go to running outfit is a Lululemon sports bra (run stuff your bra is my favorite), a Lululemon or Under Armour tank, and Lululemon fast and free crops (my absolute favorite.)
Run hats: I’m all about run hats and this year I like my Oiselle hat, my Headsweats hat and a Run Georgia hat from the local running store.
I picked up a pair of arm warmers, which I’ve only used twice, which I also like.
Compression socks are a must after a race or long run. Love them.

Favorite place to run: Cook’s trail. Because it’s mostly flat, gorgeous and a nice long run.

Favorite distance: I’ve been running longer and longer this year. I do like an 8 mile long run, Six easy miles are nice too.

This time last year I was running 10-12 miles a week, and maybe had done one six-miler ever. I’ve upped my miles to 25 a week and run 4-5 days a week. I try to do two yoga classes a week.

I KNOW I should lift weights, but it makes my muscles tight and more prone to injury, so that’s something to work on.

Also, there’s now a Lululemon outlet in North Georgia. It’s 90 minutes away. It has a good sized selections. The sale prices vary. Usually you can find a deal. And usually I spend too much money. (I went this week and got 4 sports bras, shorts, a dress shirt, run gloves, and a Sea Wheeze tank top.)

And I found some new run gear: Gone for a Run has awesome run stuff and I have a “Kinda wanna go on a run, kinda wanna take a nap” sweatshirt from Sarah Marie Design studio.

I also volunteered at my first race and want to do more of that next year. And it's really fun to hang out at races (as in taking pictures or supporting friends while not running.)

2015 year in review

As 2015 is coming to an end, I'd say it was a great year fitness wise.

I was pretty diligent about working out 5-6 times a week. (Gotta have that off day. I get hurt when I try to skip my rest day.) I think I was eating healthier and when I started running I actually slimmed down some (for the first time in two years! Nothing else worked.)

2015: The year of the Gym Rat.

1. I tried lots of new classes.
1) Above Barre
2) Rush fitness classes
3) Flying trapeze at Leap and Cirque Fit
4) Sparc fitness classes
5) Body Shred at Chase Street Yoga
6) Beginner Pole
7) Gymnastics at Oconee Gymnastics
8) Handstands at Canopy
9) Pilates—tower and mat
10) Walk Georgia Boot camp
11) Walk Georgia Fitness at noon
12) ice skating. (no class, but counting this as something new).

I did nine months of Pure Barre—for a total of 120+ classes. I made it to the 100 club in about six months. Pure Barre was my obsession for the first half of the year. I even took a class at their Destin studio. I let my membership expire in August—mostly because of cost. At $150 a month, it was just too much and I really like to do more classes and try different things.

2015 was definitely the year of flying trapeze. I did my first class on my birthday and did classes until the rig closed. I learned

Tricks
1) Knee hang
2) Whip
3) Split catch
4) Seat roll from whip
5) Pullover shoot
6) Single Reverse
7) Never caught my cutaway—WANT TO GET THIS
8) Backend split
9) Backend straddle
10) started learning straight jump —COME back to.

Running
I ran 245+ miles in 2015. I started off running once a week—just to vary up my workout and get some cardio in. I tried to increase my mileage too fast and had IT band issues for about 6 weeks, but then kept it up strong, bumping it to twice a week and then three times a week in the fall when I killed my barre membership (and needed to workout without the fees.)

By the numbers
Miles ran: 245+
Best mile: 7:19
Best 2 mile: 15:35
Best 3 mile: 23:02 for 3 miles on an indoor track
Furthest ran: 4.5 miles

In high school I was a runner. I honestly haven't run this much since 2001 when I graduated high school. I was a speedy little thing and I trained so hard. Two-a-days when I could. I'd run a mile or two in the morning, or do weights, and then running and or weights after school. I ran six days a week—most days between 2 and 6 miles. My best times ever were a 62 second 400, a 2:17 800, a 5:58 mile. I don't remember my 2 mile time. 12 and change? And I think I got under 20 minutes for a 5k.

In college, I didn't have time to workout. I went to college full-time and worked 20+ hours a week. I didn't really have the time to workout until I switched jobs three years ago. Once or twice a year, I'd try to get back into running but this is the first year it stuck. I have a $15/moth gym membership and feel like I need to use the indoor track once every week or two so I'm not wasting my money.

I dropped my barre membership to pay for playing trapeze—and started running more as workouts. I'd run trails when the weather is nice and on the indoor track when the weather was cold. In October I really amped up the miles and my times started dropping. I don't feel the need to run every day. I think running every other day suits me just fine.

In 2016, I should run a 5K and I want to join a running group or get a coach to help me drop the times. I think it's something I want to make time for.

Tumbling

I'm working on my front fly spring—hopefully I can double this in 2016. Maybe even work on a front handspring on the floor.
I'd like to work on my front and back walkovers too. I need to go back to my kickovers and work some.

Still working on my handstand but it's getting better.

I got my pull-up!

I started missing trampolines so I need to go once a week if I can. I just love bouncing.