Two Little Runners in 2014

January

Kristen, finally 100% recovered from a sprained ankle (injured in May 2014), runs 2 PRs - in the 15K at the Resolution Run in Mission Bay, San Diego (1:06:55 (7:11 average pace)) and in the Carlsbad Half Marathon (1:33:42 (7:09 average pace)).

Penny moves back to Australia. Runs her first 5K, hates life, and vows never to do that shit again. Runs some cliffside trails and hangs out with bebes instead.

February

Kristen runs the UT California 10/20 in Del Mar in 1:09:55 (7:00 average pace) and enjoys temperatures in the 70s while the rest of the country experiences polar vortexes.

Penny moves to Sydney and starts a new job. Gets up to about 50 mpw.

March

Kristen PRs in a downhill 5K at the San Diego 5K (18:47 (6:03 average pace)).

Penny gets a stress fracture in the incredibly random cuboid bone. Goes undiagnosed for about 2 months. Quietly goes insane doing pool running and throwing heavy metal around the weight room.

April

Kristen runs some major hills in the Xterra Black Mountain 16K trail race (1:17:07 (8:03 average pace)) and the La Jolla Half Marathon (1:37:21 (7:27 average pace)), which is good enough for 2nd in the female 30-34 division in a pretty big regional race!

Xterra Black Mountain 16K Elevation Profile

Penny injured. Don't talk to me.

May

Kristen ran the Navy's Coronado 4-Mile Coronado Bridge run in 27:07 (6:47 average pace), placing 3rd female and winning a baseball autographed by Tyson Ross (the Padres' only All-Star this year). 

Penny still injured. Running, you are dead to me.

June

Kristen's main goal race this year was the San Diego Rock N Roll Half. Came close with 25 seconds of the goal 1:30:XX with a 1:31:24 (6:59 average pace). It's hard to be too disappointed when it is still a 2 minute PR!

Penny refriends running. She's fickle like that.

July

Kristen ran the Coronado Independence Day 15K and broke her January PR in the 15K by 1+ minute, finishing in 1:05:28 (7:02 average pace).

Penny injured again. This time its something weird in her ankle. Mother f**ker.

Explores some more of sydney and drinks an unreasonable amount of wine.

August

Kristen placed first in the San Diego Track Club's Balboa Park 8 miler in 58:25 (7:17 average pace). Kristen also ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon in 1:32:52 (7:05 average pace), missing the 1:30:XX again, and realizing that the warm SoCal weather is not so great when you are trying to race!

Penny starts running again again. 

Dont get too comfy in that thar running gear

September

A few days after writing on the blog, "I've figured out how to run hard and stay healthy," Kristen goes to doctor and finds out she has some scar tissue covering a tear in her hamstring. Womp-womp. 

Penny runs a bit. Gets excited. Does too much, too soon. Knows she will probably pay.

October

Kristen, still not running, takes up spinning. Spins so much that she gets runner's knee. Womp-womp.

Penny does in fact pay. Gets a small tear in her hip cartlege (labrum). Gives up and goes to Vanuatu. 

November

Kristen's back to running - 5 minutes at a time. Womp-womp. 

Penny still not running, drinks all the margaritas in Cabo to console herself. 

Occurs to her that she definitely has a margarita face.

December 

Kristen's back to long runs now. But any runs faster than 8:00 pace bother hammy. Contemplates ultras for a minute...and hopes for a healthier 2015!

After a tough year in and out of injury, Penny starts getting back into it. Runs a gorgeous but slow 6-miler for the last day of the year, spending most of it planning how to break out of the injury cycle in 2015. Declines to contemplate utras, but wishes KA all the best for that hot noise.

Happy New Year!

xx

Kristen and Penny