It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week is: My Assessment of 2018

I’m a teacher at heart. (once a teacher, always a teacher.)

And you can’t grow in the future unless you assess the past. 

Yes, it was a good year meaning lots of bling, miles and races.  You’ve seen my pictures but do they really tell the story?

Here’s my story:

1. I ran 894.5 miles.

I didn’t have a goal of 1000 miles but it was a number than I wanted to meet and I have the past two years.

2017 – 1041.5 miles
2016 – 1046 miles
2015 – 969 miles
2014 – 911 miles

not this year

Why did my mileage drop?

I am happy to report that it was not because of an injury. Everything felt fine all year and I never stretched, taped or used a foam roller.

I did not train hard for any race. I shortened or skipped runs and long runs. Those miles add up.

I do not think any of my race times suffered. It’s just a number anyway.

2. I ran 30 races. 13 were 5k races. Ten were new races. Four of the new ones were half marathons (& one 20k).

Again fewer than previous years. I have run 40 or close to it in the past.

But it was a conscious choice not because I was injured.

I’m a social runner and racing to me is a way to run and meet up with other runners. But with the ability to run with runner friends on the weekends, I didn’t feel the need to sign up for as many races.

my BRFs

The ones I did run, I enjoyed and I always try to run different races each year. These tended to be halfs but at least 2 others were new local ones.

I ran 6 halfs in 2017, and 7 in 2016 and 2015.  If you count the Paris 20k then I was close this year (with 5), as well.

3. I continued to win my age group in most of the races I entered.

This happens when you are in an old lady’s age group. But still, it makes me happy.  I am most proud of winning in longer races such as RnR Montreal Half, Brew 2 Brew Half, Pelham Half and in NYC races (Brooklyn Speed Series 5ks, Ice Cream Social 5k, Governor’s Is 5k and Poland Spring 5m)

very surprised to do well on this hard course

4. Although I did have THREE PRs (5k. 5m, 15k), more important were the COURSE PRs.

I know I am slowing down.  I’m not sure how much or how often.  It just feels harder every time I go out there.

But I had many course PRs at races that I have run multiple times – Cherry Blossom 5k, Freihofers 5k, Stockade-athon 15k, Bacon Hill 5k, Summer Smith 5k, Delmar Dash, Shamrock Shuffle, among others.

5. My Finish times were for the most part consistent (at least for the shorter distances).

Considering my lack of training, (I run but don’t follow a plan per se nor do I do any speed drills), I did ok.

I didn’t break any speed records. But I finished 9 of my 5ks under 28 minutes. That elusive sub 27 still stands (and may stand forever.)

My half times were:

Brew 2 Brew -2:19:56
Brooklyn -2:11:23
Montreal -2:11:48
Pelham -2:20:09

Not close to my PR (2:06:52) but the important time (under 2:12:00) was Brooklyn which qualified me for NYC Half and NYC Marathon.

13.1 miles in Brooklyn

So my assessment for 2018 is:

STRENGTHS:

Healthy Miles, Quality and Successful Racing, Consistency

NEEDS TO WORK ON:

Goals, Strength Training, Speed, Leaving my Comfort Zone

Stay turned for next week when I’ll look ahead to 2019.

Happy Running!  Do you assess your year of running? If so, how did you do?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Ok, I promise this is the last post about France (unless I get to go there again LOL).

So here are five non–running-related things that I loved about my vacation in France.

1. The People I met.

I know many people think that French people are snotty. Many people think that the French don’t like us Americans.

I found that both of these feelings to be far from the truth.

All of the staff in our “small” typically French hotel in Paris were so helpful.  They served us breakfast the day we arrived even though breakfast hours were over.  They made me breakfast to go the morning I left before it was too early for the hotel breakfast.  They were always helpful is giving me advice on where to go, how to get there, etc.

I stayed with a family in Sanguinet. The wife got up at 5 am each morning to take the train to Bordeaux where she was getting another college degree and when she came home each night at 7 pm, she prepared us a multi-course gourmet meal…every night!

In many of the cities, we got lost. Each person we encountered was super helpful in getting us directions. (We even had to stop at a vet’s to use their landline the first night we arrived in Sanguinet…long story!)

I could go on and on about other friendly folks – the runner on the subway and the lady in the airport shuttle.

2. Their Transportation System

So easy to get everywhere…subways in Paris, TGV from Paris to Bordeaux, Tram in Bordeaux, train from Facture to Bordeaux, RER from Paris to St Germain-en-Laye.

Not to mention boat tours, train tours and bus tours.

Wish it were that easy to get around here.

3. The Food (and Wine)

I got spoiled. But everything tasted so good. Did I eat healthy? Well, most of the time…but those desserts….

4. The Architecture

Since I had visited Paris at least 10 times prior, I wanted to see things esp. buildings that I had never seen before.

I visited districts in Paris (new to me) like La Bastille, La Nation, Vincennes, Saint Sulpice and St Germain en Laye. I also toured Bordeaux, Bicarosse, Arcachon and Cap Ferret (SW of Paris).

5. The Art Museums

I’ve always loved art.  When I was a kid I wanted to be an art teacher. That was before I realized that I had no talent.

To get my fix, I would illustrate everything when I taught French and I would visit art museums when I got the chance.

Well, as you probably know, France is a mecca for art.

I have in the past visited Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musee Marmottan, Louvre, Rodin museum and more.  I wanted to see the special exhibits in the Petit and Grand Palais but no time.

I did get to see the new Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Happy Running! What are your favorite non-running-related things about your favorite city? 

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Ok, you are probably tired hearing this but I RAN.In.France.

As a former French teacher, this was a dream come true. So I am pretty much obsessing about it until something better comes along.

So here are five running-related things that I loved about my vacation in France.

1. Running in person with someone I met online.

I first met Karen virtually through her blog. (Now I follow her on IG.)  I also have met her IRL during two of her trips to NYC. She is as nice in person as she is online.

She lives in Paris and I was excited to run with her there.

It was a real treat to meet up, run, chat, and experience in person the route that she normally runs on.

2. Running in Bois de Vincennes.

On a previous trip to Paris ages ago, I visited Bois de Boulogne. But I only know Bois de Vincennes from Karen’s IG posts.

I was able to run there at both the beginning and end of my trip.  I entered the park in different locations to be able to run on different paths..

As you can see it is beautiful!!

3. Running in a small rural town.

I spent several days staying with a family in Sanguinet which is located in the SW, not too far from Bordeaux.

It was totally different experience than running in Paris. I ran there almost everyday. Luckily I spoke French because I did get lost the first day on my way back from the lake.

But I ran the next two days on different roads without getting lost 🙂

4. Walking on an above ground walkway (Coulee Verte).

I asked the hotel owner for a different place to walk/run besides along the Seine and in the parks.  He explained that I could take some stairs near Place de la Bastille and walk/run forever on this walkway.

He was right. It was a great place walk or run.  If it weren’t the day before my race, I would have joined all the other runners on this path.

5. Running a Race.

I was fortunate to find a race that was scheduled during the time that I was in France. (That was part of the plan.) I ran the 20 km de Paris at the end of my trip.

It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget.

Happy Running! What is your favorite city to run? Why?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

I was pretty naive about running in Paris and let’s face it, anywhere besides America.

So here are five things that surprised me about running in Paris:

1. Running is really popular.

All times of day and all places I went, I saw men and women running!

Over 26,000 runners finished the 20 km race and another half marathon was scheduled for the following weekend.

2. The runners are serious and fast.

Hey, I finished 23,xxx out of 26,xxx.  I’ve never considered myself to be a BOTPer. Well, I guess I am in Paris.

3. There are so many beautiful flat places to run.

There are many parks, paths along the river and to my surprise, la coulee verte – above ground walkway for runners.

4. There are more public bathrooms and water options.

Public bathrooms are easily accessible and there are many water fountains (as pictured above.)

5. Female runners don’t wear skirts.

Shorts, capris or tights. I am pretty sure that I was the ONLY one running in a skirt!!

Happy Running! Have you ever run in Paris or another foreign city? If so, anything surprise you?