Ciao 2008

2008 was certainly a crazy year. Unfortunately my worst year athletically coincided with Janda's best year. I languished on the track, running 2+ seconds off my PR, while Janda was chalking up podium finishes where he outran or outbiked (or both!) just about all the other top pros. 2008 started with my slowest 200m since I began training again post-college, but on a happy note it finished with my fastest 200m since Feb. 2006. Things are looking up for 2009!

Janda and I also traveled a record amount, and even left the country, although Canada isn't exactly foreign. We look forward to traveling less next year but more significantly. A trip to France is being considered to celebrate my 30th birthday. Hopefully everything will work out and it will happen next summer.

Janda and I have also been househunting and I think that it's safe to say that we will finally find a house that we both love by the spring/summer.

Now that I think about it, 2009 could be a banner year for us! Happy New Year!

The highlights of '08!

Our first trip of the year- Columbia MD.

The best surprise of 2008- Girly-Girl's kittens.

Summer is always too short.

Us at Niagara Falls (I look a little crazy!).

Finishing the season at Clearwater.

Us and the babies by our perfect Christmas tree.

Christmas Week

Training the past 2 weeks has been a little jumbled up because of snow and the holidays, I got all the workouts in but not exactly when and how I wanted to. The result was the fastest 200 that I've run since February 2006, 27.70. I don't attribute it to the wacky training schedule, I guess it happened in spite of said schedule. But the good news is that it happened and maybe by outdoor I'll be back to where I was from 2004-2006.

Christmas

Our apartment all Christmased out.

Of course we also had Christmas and I got some great presents, which I love. I also gave some pretty cool presents, so I hope that all the recipients love theirs too!

(almost) The whole family

My sister, mom, aunt and cousin

Janda and my cousin's daughter

Most of my Christmas presents and the cat who loves them.

The presents under the tree.

Snow

Our first snowstorm of the season! I'm pretty excited as I love snowy nights. When we were fist dating, Janda and I had an awesome date during a snowstorm that dumped 27 inches on Cape Ann in one day - even with all that snow we were still able to get Chinese food! I also strangely enjoy shoveling and there's nothing better than being outside late at night shoveling in total quiet with the snow falling.

This Week in Training

Monday: (First day of coaching)
.5 mile warmup, drills & strides
4xbounding 10 steps, 6x10m starts
6xflying 30 3 min rec

Tuesday:
.5 mile warmup, drills & strides
2x100m, 2x60m
Weightlifting

Wednesday:
.5 mile warmup, drills & strides
10x100m strides 100m walk rec

Thursday:
Off

Friday:
.5 mile warmup, drills & strides
4x40m

Saturday:
Meet
55m 8.09
200m 28.47

Sunday:
Weightlifting

Still got a long way to go to get back to peak form!!!!!

Fun-filled weekend

Our weekend started last night with a bowling game with some friends who are moving to Vermont today. Janda won round 1, and I sucked with a 43! Then I got my mojo back and started out round 2 with a spare and a strike! I won round 2 with a 103, maybe my best score ever.

Today was the first indoor track meet of the season. I had high hopes and they weren't really realized, but at least I ran faster than I have since 2006 (albeit only slightly). Hopefully my next meet in two weeks will be better.

After the meet we went to Harvard square to do a little shopping and then we met Amanda & Matt and Nick & Maya at the Border Cafe for lunch. It was a tight squeeze in our booth but we had a good time. Unfortunately I was starving when we got there and I ate way too much. I didn't feel better until dinner time, which I am skipping today since I'm still completely full from lunch.

Now it's time to get back to the drawing board to figure out what to do to get me faster.