Sisters in Sport Update and Club XC in Kentucky

As I shared in some previous posts, I have some big changes ahead (I'm moving to Ohio!) and so with limited time left in San Francisco, I set a goal to enjoy every run, even on days when I worked 10 hours or it's raining and thus near impossible to get my butt out the door... 

In the past month I've discovered that there's no better motivator than knowing that the end is near. With a finite number of SF running days left on the calendar, each run has become a gift. Rain or shine, early or late, even if I don't feel great, I've challenged myself to soak up every run and take in the scenery, because there aren't too many SF runs left... 

Pausing mid-run to capture the joyful moment

Great Highway, SF - making the most of final SF runs

Last long run in SF - across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin and back

In the spirit of goal-setting, I used my Believe I Am training journal to help me think about what I want to accomplish in December:

I've been dealing with a tweaked hamstring (note to self: sitting in a desk chair for 8 hours is BAD for a runner's body!) so this month I've committed myself to HEALING. This means slightly modified training and hours spent on the massage table enduring grin-and-bear-it treatment sessions. Proper recovery and rehab take time, but I'm feeling much better than I did 2 weeks ago.

Also on December's list of to-do's is to RACE WELL AT CLUB XC! I'm currently in Lexington, Kentucky with my New Balance Silicon Valley teammates gearing up for the National Club Cross Country Championships. This event is one of my favorite races of the year - it's all about the team and competing hard together. While I'm chasing some individual goals, I'm really focused on racing my heart out for my teammates.

I've had some solid workouts leading up to this race and am excited to see what I can do tomorrow. The course is hilly, the grass uneven, and it's been raining all day - in other words, tomorrow's race will be true cross-country! I'm pumped to spike up, duke it out in the mud, and race joyfully!

In advance of tomorrow's race, I did an interview with Freeplay Magazine - check it out here. Thanks to the team at Freeplay for their great coverage of Northern California female athletes!

If you're looking for race updates, be sure check out Runnerspace for on-site meet coverage or follow @NBSiliconValley on Twitter for live race updates! The gun goes off at 12:45 pm EST - go NBSV!

Champions 3 years and running!

This past weekend I raced at the Pacific Association Cross Country Championships here in Golden Gate Park. It's a course I know well, having run parts of it nearly every day since living in SF. I've raced at this meet numerous times over the years; it's crazy to look back at the time I ran here as a freshman in college in 2005 and compare it to my first post-collegiate race here in 2010, to this past Sunday's result:

2005 PA Championships:

2010 PA Championships:

  

2012 PA Championships:

This weekend's race was so fun, just like high school and college cross-country all over again. The meet was about the TEAM and about competing hard alongside teammates. The course was a little muddy but nothing compared to years past, and on race day we were lucky to get a break in the rain.

I was a bit anxious to race, as I've been dealing with a nagging hamstring issue (probably due to sitting in front of a computer for too long and not getting proper recovery post-run). I can't tell you how many times since starting full-time work that I've finished a run, dashed off to a meeting (hair still dripping from the 2-minute shower I took), and proceeded to sit in a chair for hours while my muscles screamed at me. Ah, the life of the working runner... sorry, little hamstring!

Thankfully, my hammy held on for the 4 mile race and I finished comfortably in 4th place, leading the New Balance Silicon Valley women to our 3rd straight Pacific Association and West Region Championship title! Wohoo!

Champs 3 years and running! We are happy :-)

 

Now both the men's and women's teams are off for Lexington, Kentucky in 2 weeks for the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships. Look for to a strong showing from NBSV!

But first, there's a Turkey Trot to be run! Yup, just a few days after running PA's, I'll be back at it, racing the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in the elite women's 5k. I ran this race last year (finishing 8th in 16:35) and can't think of a better way to start off Thanksgiving Day! Especially this year, when I've got so much to be thankful for.

Happy early Thanksgiving to all - and if you're able to, lace up your shoes before digging in to the turkey and pecan pie and head out for a joyful run :)