I may have made a terrible mistake.

Happy New Year Everyone! Is it just me, or does it already seem like 2010 was a lifetime ago??  I ended the year with an almost 16 mile training run.  The running group that I am training with didn't have our official long run this week.  However, one of the coaches, from a faster group than I am in planned a long run for Friday morning.  My faster training buddy Elizabeth and I headed over to the meeting spot at 5:30 am.  It was already 70 degrees outside.  Yes, I repeat, 70 degrees.  Oh, and humid, did I mention it was humid too.  Now I know some of you are dealing with super cold temps right now, and would probably welcome 70 degrees in December.  But to be honest this is not the kind of weather I want to be running in right now.  I have already had MONTHS of heat and humidity.  I need a break.  I need to be able to breath.  I will take the 70, but please make the humidity go away!  It was a decent run, but about 30 secs slower per mile than my 15 miler last week. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the humidity REALLY has a negative effect on my running.  I almost feel like I have asthma when it is really bad.  I am soooo hoping for a humid free day Jan 30th!

The slower pace may have also had something to do with the fact that the lady I was running with and I got lost a couple of times on the run, and we had to stop and pull out a map.  I am pretty sure I would still be lost on the greenbelts today if it hadn't been for her.  Also, lately, after about 12 miles my hips have been starting to get really sore.  I am not sure what to do about this?  Do I take some Advil before the marathon?  I probably need to incorporate some more cross training into the schedule as well.  Guess I have about 28 days to figure it out!

Now on to my terrible mistake.  I signed up for a sprint triathlon in April.  I mean, it is paid for and everything.  I really don't know what I was thinking.  I know how to swim, in which I mean I don't drown.  A few months ago Jeff bought me a used road bike.  I rode it a couple of times, but am terrified of getting hit by a car.  I used to take spin classes and thought riding a bike outside would be the same thing.  It is not.  I am pretty confident about the run, but can't imagine how I will have the energy to complete it in a decent time after doing  two other activities first.  Not to mention that the bulk of my training time will be during spring break, which is like a second holiday season in retail.  I did an indoor tri in October, but this sprint distance feels like a whole different ballgame!

On the running front, after the marathon, my goal for 2011 is going to be to do a few more half marathons to try to improve on my speed.  With this hip thing happening, and the fact that I am going to be trying out this whole triathlon thing I am not sure full marathon training is going to happen.  Plus, one day, I would like to BQ.......so I really do need to work on my speed.

I have had three very much needed days off of work.  I go back to the grind tomorrow.  Here's to hoping the holiday madness is over!!