Great weekend to cap off the year and start structured training

Heading out Ridge Road just before the blizzard started. Gorgeous day!

2011 was a year of ups and downs with running. On the plus side there was a ton of running done, trail enthusiasm was properly nurtured and grown into an addiction.
Highlights was a top 6 (I was 6th) overall at my first trail race, a 13 mile race that was seconds off my PR (despite 3 months of dismal sleeping with my wonderful but nighthawk new infant son), and some monster cycling in the summer in the Gats with friends, and Prince Edward County. Low-lights was months of preparation for my first Boston marathon to end with a walk/run second half to the race due to exhaustion. I knew it was possible it was going to turn out like that but it came as a disappointment. I took the experience very positively nonetheless as I had written about in my race report on Packed Apps.
http://www.teampackedapps.ca/race-reports/boston-confessional
The only other disappointment was not getting back into triathlon but on the other hand I am very focused on running and am enjoying it so much that its all good.

This last weekend of 2011 was about the pure enjoyment of the change to winter, the camaraderie of training with friends, and trying new things. Got out for the Winterman with Mike and Steve- a 20k run in a blizzard of fat flake snow. Hard to see, it was piled up thick on my eyelids and eyebrows which made it all the more fun. 350m elevation gain and pushing through 4-5 cm of new snow.

Pre-run chat with Steve and other attendees

The next day was getting out on the snowshoes. a 45 min. run that was slow, a crazy hip workout and fun being alone in the woods listening to the crunch of the snow and clack of the shoes. Wanted to go longer but for the first day out took it easy.


So now its into a structured routine- although I haven't looked at the schedule yet. Today is an easy ride but look forward to seeing what is planned. Will it be too much? Will it look like too little? Regardless, I am very excited for the coming year. I have so high hopes and lots of motivation for the marathon and then take on an ultra. 50k? 50 Miles? Not sure yet but- 2012- Bring. It. On.