(I know I skipped a few training recaps, but since this will be a long post let’s just say that I ran 62 and 74 miles over the last two weeks and leave it at that.)
To sum up 2011 in racing: it was the year where, from the very start, I had a vision of what I wanted to accomplish. 2010 was a year of changes and surprises, but this time around I had a better idea of what to expect. Things didn’t always go according to plan, but I had one.
yearly summary:
swimming: 412,800 y (over 234 miles!). A huge bump in distance thanks to UCSD Masters, but I didn’t really get faster. Moreso than worrying about my yards for 2012, I need to keep learning how to swim. We’ll start working on that again in a few weeks.
bicycling: 2133.8 miles. Also a sizeable bump in distance relative to last year, and the work started to pay off. I’m still quite a ways behind the triathlete competition, though, so I’m hoping to come in with a higher total next year.
running: 2073.7 miles. Not what I was hoping for here and a decrease from last year, due to taking April and May off with a stress fracture and coming back very carefully. The second half of the year had about 1300 of those miles.
January
Started fast, then had a major meltdown at the Carlsbad Half, squeaking out a small PR but ultimately missing my goal of 1:30. Learned two lessons: life stresses do not make for good racing, and 7 weeks after a goal marathon is NOT a good time for an goal half marathon (for me)… especially if you do, like, one tempo in between.
February
Scared the crap out of myself by running in the national XC championships at Mission Bay. While I was very obviously outclassed and I don’t need to do it again, I got to stand on the same starting line as Shalane and Kara, and I didn’t pee myself in the process. (And I wasn’t last! Did I mention that?)
March
My first California triathlon, where I fell in love with my Cervelo and the flat roads of Palm Springs. Also had my one inexplicably awful (OK, possibly explicable by overracing) race of the year at the St. Patrick’s Day 10K. Even though I was a little shaken, I trusted what my workouts were telling me, rested, and regrouped with a 3K track PR at SDSU.
April
Had a breakout race at the Carlsbad 5000, a 20+ second PR made even better by being on the winning Prado Racing open women’s team. I learned I could push myself in races beyond even what my workouts suggested. Unfortunately the race effort revealed a stress fracture (R sacral ala), my 7th, and I spent the rest of the month not running and in quite a bit of pain.
May
Still no running and I was forced to change the plan, swapping Vineman 70.3 for Barb’s Race to give myself a shot at being able to race. Keeping that carrot in play helped me stay positive while I recovered, and I swam enough to make some friends at the pool to boot.
June
Along with getting to explore more of SD on my bike, I very cautiously started to run again, and started to work with new coach Mario. It was frustrating at times for the first few months, as I hated doing drills and constantly stressed about how slowly my miles were building. However, with a little more hindsight, I am pretty sure this has been one of the best things that could have happened for my running- regardless of how my goal race turns out. I’m really looking forward to triathlon season 2012, in no small part because coach has never done a triathlon, so one or both of us are going to learn something.
July
Oh, this is the part that stings. Swim PR, bike PR, and a collapse and DNF at Barb’s Race. In my book, you’re only as good as your PRs and so I still have to be an almost 6 hour half iron person no matter what I know internally. Still have a chip on my shoulder about not being able to take more shots at it.
August, September, October
Racing into shape! Ran the AFC half as a last-minute training run and kicked off XC season with team Prado. At the end of August started off with a 19:41 5K and made it down to 18:46 by October, missing my “Lauren Fleshman challenge” goal but notching a course PR. Also did the SD Triathlon Classic and was reminded that I REALLY need to bike more hills, but turned in the fastest female run split.
November
Had a lackluster race in the midst of heavy training at the Dirt Dog championships, but finished 5th on a stacked Prado team that won its first season. Things started clicking again with a 10K PR on Thanksgiving in the Bay Area.
December
Ran out of my mind at the Santa to the Sea half, closing out the year over 4 minutes faster at the half marathon distance than I ran in January. Got a pair of shoes in a raffle. Did some running in the Chicago suburbs over Christmas, where I put my running tights and hats to use for the first time since moving to SD.
It was a good year. I remain, as usual, convinced that my best year (running and otherwise) is still ahead. 
I don’t usually make sweeping resolutions, in part because I think every day can be the start of something new, if you want it to be. (Also, I’m convinced that my year actually goes through January 15th, but you can remember that wisdom whenever you screw up on your resolution.) Furthermore, the right thing in January may not be the same as the right thing in June. All I can say is that I hope to give 2012 my very best when it counts.
Love your 2011 recap – from my point of view, it was a very successful year for you! Hope 2012 will be even better
Great wrap-up! And I really like your point about resolutions, same here. I’m sure you’ve got lots more to come, it’s been really fun and inspirational watching you surprise yourself. Here’s to more of those in 2012!
Wow! You had a TON of PRs this year! Way to go! All of your hard work is really paying off. I’m sure there will be more of that to come in 2012. Happy New Year!