Sunday, December 12, 2010

Running Thoughts...2010 in Retrospect

Jeff, my crazy/funny running partner, tagged me to respond to a list of survey questions. I'm doing it today because I am a horrible procrastinator and thankfully it was a short survey!

1. What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?
I am proudest of FINALLY training for and running in the 2010 P. F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll AZ Half Marathon, my first half marathon. I had been talking about it (mostly to myself!) since it started many years ago. I never got it together previously and always told people that it was 'too late to train' when I saw the fall/winter promotions. I ran an AMAZING race and made 2010 my year of running. Honorable mention is that I ran 10 races in 2010! I also ran a 5K with my brother and sister which is a fitness tradition I want to continue and add more family members! :D

2. What are your running goals for 2011?
I want to continue running without over-training, stay healthy and run 11 races in 2011! I want to run a half marathon in each quarter and continue the race tradition started with my brother and sister and hopefully another one with my cousins. I want to expand my list of running partners because I need that accountability. And I am committed to eating more TRUE food and losing 20 pounds that I do not need on my body.

3. What is your favorite race?

The P. F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Half Marathon. It was my first race in 2010 and I was ready to sign-up for 2011 as soon as I finished (well almost...as soon as I could walk without pain)! I really liked running through my town, from my former downtown digs through my current 'hood and into Tempe.

4. What is your favorite holiday guilty pleasure?
Eggnog...duh! And the FULL FAT version, not the low-fat crap...Christmas only happens once a year! Well, food is always at the top of my guilty pleasure list. After that, mocking hideous sweaters and vests that people persist in wearing during the holidays. Come on, people, some things should stay lost in the attic or basement!

5. What was your most embarrassing running moment?
During my July 2010 visit to TN, my brother, sister and I ran in the 1st Annual Race Across the Spectrum 5K. We arrived at the check-in table with plenty of time before the 7:00 A.M. start. I waited in line for 15 minutes, then stepped up to the front of the line to pickup my race bib and Tshirt. Only to find out that another 'Suzanne Johnson' had picked up MY goodie bag! Seriously...an imposter at a 5K...in Brentwood?! Joel and Tara (with verified race bibs attached to their shirts) were impatiently waiting so we could take the pre-race family photo and I had to provide blood and urine samples and run the 50-yard dash before I can get another bib! WTF...WTH...AYFKM?!? To add to the insult, her running time (1o minutes after me) was recorded under my name and original bib number. Apparently the race organizers were only indulging me with another bib and did not really intend to update the new bib number in the race results. Arrrggghhh!! In the post-race survey, I fervently recommended that they require fingerprint scanning next year...hehe! [It was still a FUN race with my siblings and we laughed about the mix-up the rest of the weekend!]

Tagging...hmmm...I only have a few followers at the moment...so I guess Jai (BIL) and Julia (2YO niece) need to start running and setting their goals!