What a Frosty 5K

I ran my final 5K of 2013 last Saturday.
It was the Inman Frosty 5K and I ran it with my friend Erin.
Erin has been my consummate running buddy this year. I've enjoyed running with her and getting to know her better.

Before the Frosty 5K

Erin's 2013 resolution was to run 13 races in the year. A baker's dozen. As it turns out, I ended up part of Erin's resolution. I ran all 13 races with her!
This was my first time running the Inman Frosty 5K, which is in its second year.
Not surprisingly, I woke up to rain, and a cold rain at that. Yep, my final race of the year was going to look a lot like my very first race of this year -- cold and wet. Way to bookend the year, Mother Nature.

I'm in the blue poncho and Santa hat. Looking pretty miserable

 I was also fighting off the start of a cold, so didn't run particularly well. Erin did, which was wonderful. She completed her goal AND in a nice race time.

Erin completes her goal

Looking Poncho-licious

 Despite the rain, and the cold, it turned out 2013 was a great running year for me.
No, I was not running faster. And I entered a whole new decade, and that didn't mean I was winning any awards in the new age group.
But, I returned to endurance running. I ran two half marathons this year, and at the beginning of the year, that was not even on my radar. At all.
I thought half marathons were behind me. I was beginning to think 10Ks were going to be my new "long runs."
Thankfully, my running buddy Jessica showed me that half marathons were not behind me. They were ahead of me. My favorite running was all ahead of me. It's all ahead of me.
So although I've ended racing for the rest of the year -- a little respite before I start again Jan. 1 -- I'm starting to look for half marathons for 2014, ones that will also help me tick states off my bucket list.
Let's just hope I can retire the rain poncho at the end of this year.

First 5K in my 50s

Yikes! Did I actually admit to being in my 50s?
It seems so strange, because I certainly don't feel 50. But here I am.
Saturday I ran the One Love, One Heart 5K at Medlock Park in Decatur with my friend Erin.

Erin and me ready to run

I've run this race for years, since it is about 3 miles from my home. This race used to be in February around Valentine's Day, but several years ago it got moved to the first weekend in December.
This year's race was overcast and cool, about 41 degrees, but it was also a bit breezy, so it felt colder.  Note the gloves in the photo! It threatened to rain, but never did.
I did get to wear my new Skirt Sports capris. I bought several items from Skirt Sports with my birthday cash.
I didn't feel like I was running my best during this race. I hadn't run in 2 weeks and my legs felt a little sluggish. But when Erin and I got to the finish, I realized we had run a nice race.
I didn't win in my new age group, but that's OK.
I'm smart enough to be grateful to be in a new age group. Honestly, I feel younger, and I hope I always remain young at heart.