So long 2013!

13 in '13

Today is the last day of 2013 and boy was it a great year!  I ended up racing 13 times (I was signed up for 14 but ended up canceling my trip to Fort Worth so didn't get to race there) in 2013.  Whew!  No wonder I'm tired.

I had a year full of awesome races. Well, 10 for Texas wasn't so awesome but it taught me a lot so I'm going to choose to look at it as a positive experience.  I couldn't have been more pleased with how I performed this year.  I felt stronger than ever mentally and physically AND I was having lots of fun.  

I've been thinking about my goals for next year and as always, I immediately start thinking about time goals.  I want to break 2hrs in the half marathon (current PR is 2:02 so I'm so close).  I want to break 6hrs in a half Ironman.  I want to finish an Ironman in less than 15 hours (way less).  It's great to have time goals but at the same time, you can get so caught up with a completely arbitrary time or number.  So instead, I'm going to work very hard on focusing on execution rather than a time.  I'm going to focus on training smarter than ever before.  I'm going to build on everything I did in 2013 and see if 2014 can't be just a little better!  I'm so excited. 

So what's on the calendar so far?  Not much!  I'll be doing the Houston Half Marathon in January.  This will not be a PR race for me as I've really dialed back training since the marathon.  I'm going to focus on enjoying the race though.  I'm super excited to be running it for the 7th time!  In March I'll be racing The Woodlands Half Marathon and assuming the weather cooperates, I will likely be chasing a PR there.  Other than those two races and IMAZ, my calendar is clear.  There are a few races in my head I'd like to do but I want to make sure everything makes sense for IMAZ.  Remember, I'm training smarter in 2014.  ;)

In other news, the end of 2013 brought me a new sister (Regan) and a new niece!  Miss Olivia Rose Hernandez came about a month early and is as cute as she can be!!!  We already love her to pieces.  Keith & I just got back from an awesome trip to San Diego where we got to visit with the Buttenob family.  Addison & Morgan are the cutest little girls and are so fun to play with.  Mike & Heather are awesome parents and it's so cool to see them in this phase of their life.  

Before heading to San Diego, we got to spend quality time with the rest of the Chalfant gang as well as my family.  I'm already looking forward to Christmas 2014!!  

Doug & Regan's Wedding

Family fun at GenuWine

Hannah & Keith at Kirby's

Miss Olivia Rose going home

Christmas Eve fun

The Buttenob family at Del Mar

Papa & Nana Jenny with the girls