2014 - New Year - New Places - New Races

It's hard to believe that it is already a week into another new year. It'll be fun to see what this year brings for myself, for friends and for family. While I have some races already scheduled and registered for and flights booked and reservations made I know that a plan is just that a plan. I'll take it one day, one race, one trip at a time and see what happens. I've learned that plans are like goals, you should have them so that there is some direction in your life but they should be flexible so if you have to make changes, your world doesn't come tumbling down.

Four days into the new year and I managed to get two races in. It was interesting because for a week or so before I ran them I wasn't looking forward to them. I think part of it is just the time of year. While the holidays bring a lot of good times and new memories they also bring up a lot of things that may or may not contribute to feeling good. The other thing about this time of year that often affects my motivation or lack of same is the shorter hours of daylight, the earlier darkness that in my case usually also means an earlier bedtime and the cooler temperatures. The good news however is that I ran and enjoyed both races and I'm looking forward to my next one in Florida later this month.

The first race was run on New Year's Day and I ran with my niece Brandy. It was her first 5k since high school and she did a great job and had a good time; we are already talking about maybe doing another together in February. The race we ran was in Tracy and was called the Polar Run and Dunk 5K. There was an option, we both passed, to jump in the lake for a brief swim at the end of the race. No thanks! Although I believe the lake water temperature was warmer than the air temperature. They kept a nice bonfire burning before and after and provided hot coffee, hot chocolate and cookies for the runners. Another nice perk were the mimosas that they offered to those over 21 to toast the new year. It was a fun event and one that we would both go back for.

Then home to a nice cheese and meat platter and fufu drink that my sister made for New Years!

It was colder at the next race that I ran partly because it started an hour earlier. It was another 5K and was run to support adolescent cancer treatment. The family who sponsors the race lost their son to cancer and started the race four years ago as a way to honor his memory. It was a fun, well run event and one I will plan to do again next year if things work out.

People might want to think twice before complaining about port-a-potties!

AM I HAVING FUN YET???

The races proved that you don't always have to feel great before you decided to do something if you can just make yourself get to the event you may surprise yourself and have a really good time. I definitely gained a lot more for having done the races than I would have done sleeping in or just doing nothing.

Between the two races I spent one night at Brandy's house dog sitting while she and Donna took a quick overnight trip to Oregon and back. Big dogs.

DOT

STOLI

Next up, a trip to Florida that will include a race in New Smyrna Beach, seeing my son and his family in Daytona Beach and hopefully a reunion with a friend from the 60's in Jacksonville. We'll see!