Monday, December 28, 2009

Another Suitcase In Another Hall

As the year ends, we, type A runners, start counting and recounting numbers, piling them up and calling them the stats of the year. Well, I ain't no different.
  • Total mileage 567 over 8 months of running (May-Dec).
  • Participated in 24 races (eighteen 5K; four 10K; one 12K; one Half)
  • Got a nice 5K PR of 27:27
  • Got a "for sure" 10K and Half Marathon PR, as it was the first time I officially ran the distances (1:00:31 and 2:23:21 respectively)
  • Got two 1st places in my division (5K) hurray!, two second places, one third, and placed nicely in most of the rest 5K. At longer distances (i.e. 10K, 12K and Half) I placed in the middle of the pack.
  • Didn't run a Marathon
My favorite 2009 running pictures are shown here. One, above, was in the Fall Classic in Monroe. The photographer really captured my state. It was my hardest 5K race, to the point I thought I was going to DNF. Following Pre's words I ran with everything I had: "If I am still standing at the end of the race, hit me with a board and knock me down, because that means I didn't run hard enough". I almost collapsed at the finish line, interestingly, it was not my best race. The second picture, below, my Half marathon medal, with our beautiful city icon in the background, Seattle's Space Needle. Awesome picture taken by my daughter in law, photographer Shelly K. Moreno


On the personal side, this was the toughest year of my life. I started and finished cancer treatment, and lost one of the most important persons in my life, the father of my children. Still, I needed to move on. At 52 years of age, I really discovered that tomorrow we may not be around. Though I lost my father 16 years ago, I discovered, with Luis' passing, what death really meant. So those 24 races were my escape to somewhere, to the infinity, to freedom, to acknowledgment of what life is. I breathe, I see, I feel, I sense, I walk, I run. Therefore, I race. No matter the weather conditions, from hot muggy days, to freezing temperatures, I race simply because I can. I am alive.

To give a twist to the year to come, I decided to place
Another Suitcase In Another Hall: To change marathon season, marathon venue and marathon plan. I officially registered for a Spring Marathon at Eugene, OR, the mecca of running, and my training will be based on Arthur Lydiard's methodology...

Thanks to my runner-blogger friends for a year of sharing, looking forward to more adventures together. Special thanks to Craig.
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The last two races of the year
:

12/12/09 - Christmas Rush 10K, Kent, WA: 1:02:02

















































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12/20/09 - 12Ks of Christmas
, Kirkland, WA - 1:15:39
Division 33/76 - Overall Female 406/744 - Overall 785/1180


Great HILLY race. I did better than expected.


7 comments:

JeffM said...

Put up a tutu picture for you.
Great numbers and a busy year for you! Next year Eugene. I've just started looking for hotels in Eugene and they're filling up.

Susan said...

That is an awesome medal rack!

You've had such an amazing year, in so many ways. You define inspiration. Now let's see how 2010 plays out!!!

Backofpack said...

You have been an inspiration this year - every step of the way. Looking forward to reading about your journey to Eugene!

Petraruns said...

What an amazing year. It has been nothing less than incredible to see you taking so much inspiration from such hard times and turning things into positives. I am very lucky to know you dear Lizzie Lee - may 2010 bring you joy and happiness.

Anonymous said...

great ...........................................................

MarathonChris said...

I hate to be redundant, but you have had an AMAZING year. So much there.... and you are so strong for it. What an inspiration to all that in life's tough times, we can press on and accomplish untold things!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you race through 2010!!

Those who endure, conquer!!!

ShirleyPerly said...

That first photo of you is AMAZING!!!

Great look back on your 2009 year. You certainly did have a lot of ups and downs and yet you came out rockin'. Best of luck to you in 2010!