Turkey Trifecta wrap up

A sampling of the medals and shirts from 2013. 

Flying Turkey 5K: 29:36
Schaumburg Half Marathon Turkey Trot: 2:26:50

With Saturday's half marathon I have ended my 2013 racing season. And it was on a high note, with a new personal record cutting almost four minutes off my previous best half marathon time.

Thanksgiving morning was also a highlight, finally breaking 30 minutes for the 5K. Now I'm not going to lie, my official race time for the 5K was 30:05 but my watch had me going 3.2 miles and a new 5K record. The start of this race is so crowded and I had to do so much moving to get around folks I'm going with watch time on this one. This was another cold race, in the mid-20s and gusty winds.

Saturday's half marathon was nice weather, upper 30s. Didn't dress well for that one but still managed to cut some major time off my half. This was another nice race, a little crowded at the start but it eventually thinned out.

This was quite the running and race year for me. Fifteen races all told and a number of highs and lows. The Chicago Marathon would be on the low side of things. Yes, I finished but I wasn't happy with how that happened. Sadly, it will be a couple of years until I am able to avenge the marathon as Rory and I are expecting our first baby in May. The training for the marathon is just too time consuming.

On the up side are my last two races. I know it's just a 5K and 29:36 isn't fantastic but completing a race with a 9:30 pace makes me incredibly happy. And I like that my half marathon times are getting better and I'm inching toward a sub 11-minute pace for the half. After my one long run a couple of weeks ago I was really worried about that race. I also have to thanks one of my training buddies to helping me through that half, she kept me going.

For the rest of the year I have my goal of surpassing 900 miles, which should be doable as long as the weather and my health hold out. I'm also looking forward to doing intervals on the indoor track at Evanston Township High School starting in January.

As for 2014, it will be many fewer races. I have the Polar Dash 14-miler on Jan. 11 and the F3 Half on Jan. 25 and might also be doing the Get Lucky Half in March. I also signed up for the Lakefront 10-miler again. It's a great race and at $40 too good of a deal to pass up.

The Lakefront 10 will most likely be my last race for a while. With the baby due in May I will be taking some time off. I would like to do the Chicago Half Marathon in September and maybe the Monster Dash half in October but I'll have to see what my training regiment will look like. Next year it's likely I'll be pushing a jogging stroller for a couple of the Turkey Trots.

Also, Rory is not only pregnant but out of work. That said, boot camp is coming to an end for me at the end of December and I'm going to join a gym and find some classes that can fill in where needed. Also, can't splurge on race fees with one income.