Posts in Category: Other
2013: It went exactly as planned
The re-streak didn’t last long. It was kind of like a lot of things that happened this year — it didn’t make any sense. I was forcing something that seemed fun — and was for a short time — but wasn’t satisfying.
As I look back on the year and think about some missed goals along the way, it turns out that this year went exactly as planned. This year was always going to be running a little bit less and putting my focus elsewhere, and that’s exactly what happened.
And as the end of the calendar year draws to a close, I’m surprisingly content with where things stand heading into my 10th year of running. I’m much more relaxed and casual about the goals I’ll set over the next few days, and I have this year to thank for that.
You won’t see a year in review from me this year and any type of top moments — the special things already have their mark on this site and I want to keep them in their place.
It’s time to look forward, set goals and make 2014 the best yet!
Day 15: I’m thankful for …
Apples.
Actually, this is more along the lines of discovering a new way to eat an apple.
Yesterday I saw this video shared more than once on Facebook:
Then I tried it today. This is all that was left …
Day 8: I’m thankful for …
Running.
I’m a little surprised I waited a week for this, but I wanted to make sure I put this out there in a way that makes sense. For the rest of the month, I’ll very likely have many more things to do with running, but for one day I wanted to express my true thanks for the sport.
The running community in the past year has had major ups and downs, but after reading this story about Mike Cassidy and Meb Keflezighi finishing the New York City Marathon together, I’ve never felt prouder to be a runner. While at times we’re all selfish, we’re all in this together. We share the same experiences, no matter how fast or slow we are.
I give thanks for the opportunities that running has given to me, both personally and in many ways in my career (and perhaps future career).
If you’re not a runner and happen to come across this, give it a chance. It’ll change you, one step at a time.
Grateful.
There’s a new baby on the way. My 4-year-old is more and more active each day and interested in doing more things. I started a new job. I’m getting ready to move in a week. Potential freelance projects require my attention.
Through life’s changes, there’s a still one constant thing that remains the same – running. There is always time for a run.
It may not be as fast as I’d like right now and I may not get as many miles as I would like, but I find myself feeling grateful for the opportunity I do have to run nearly every day.
Happy National Running Day everybody.
13 goals for 2013
One of my shortcomings last year was not checking up on myself much. At the end of 2011 I had a post with 12 “thoughts” about 2012, but I didn’t revisit that post until recently. I realized after reading it that I could have had an even better last year if I would have occasionally taken a few minutes each month to see where I stood with things.
This year, though, I’m doing something completely different — I’m setting goals and each month I will have a short post updating where I stand with those goals. Since I’m no longer doing “things” posts, my “13 goals” keeps me focused and it satisfies my fascination with numbers.
As you’ll see, not all of these are serious goals — some are easy, some will be crossed off quickly and a few others will take a year-long effort. These goals are designed to help me get healthier, improve my cross training, strengthen my core, get faster and still have fun doing it.
In no particular order, here are my 13 goals for 2013:
1. 5k PR - official or unofficial
After running only 1 5k last year, I want to focus on this distance later this year. By the time I can get back to PR speed in that distance, It’ll be 2-year-old record going down.
2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
This should be easy. Of the 3 races I’m registered for this year, two of them are ones I’ve never done — Disney next week and the Richmond Half in November. I’d love, though, to cross this off by mid-summer as I do smaller races.
3. Run a 5k - official or unofficial - with my friend Brandon
My roommate from my first year in college suggested I run a 5k in a skirt in less than 25 minutes. I’d rather just go for a run with him. I’ve run with him a few times … back in 1996.
4. 50 consecutive push-ups
I don’t know why I’ve quit on the 100 push-ups program so many times, but this year I’m going to go for 50 first, and then see what happens.
5. Ride at least 200 miles
I dusted off my bike in spring 2012 for about 30 total miles, only to move to Richmond. My bike is still in Bedford, but it will eventually get to me. 200 miles sounds like a good number to get me started on that cross training.
6. Weigh in at less than 180
I should call this “Project 179.9″ or something. I got to the low 180s in the summer, but the same old excuses continued when I was in the middle of marathon training. Enough of that this year.
7. Do a plank at least once a week
This should be another one to mark off easily come Dec. 31, 2013, but it’s here to help me stay consistent for the next 52 weeks.
8. Run a race without a watch
This is here because it’s been too long since I did this. I need to remember that feeling of freedom in a race sometime soon.
9. Run with my sister Heather
We live 10 minutes from each other, but with various family events, different schedules and never really making plans, this didn’t happen last year. We should run with each other at least once.
10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
A few years ago I was going to start the year doing 31 different exercises in 31 days. That didn’t work out so well. So how about just 12 different exercises in 12 months. While it sounds simple, my goal here is to challenge myself to do something different.
11. Eat at least one salad per week
Sounds easy, I know, but salad and I have a love/hate relationship. I’m trying to find some middle ground this year.
12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
Last year I quietly went from mid-July through November without a soft drink. Then I fell off the wagon. Now for me it’s about making a Coke or Dr Pepper more of a special thing.
13. Run ON the beach
Not just the boardwalk … I’m talking about on the sand, next to the waves crashing down.
Image courtesy of Dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
2012: The good, bad & ugly
I’ve run nearly 1,200 miles this year — far and away the most miles in a 12-month span for me. What’s behind those miles, though, are a bunch of stories — some (really) good moments, a fair share of (really) bad moments, and quite a few that were simply ugly.
I’ve thought about all those moments and decided to do a “year in review” of sorts with “winners” of each of those categories and linking to a few older posts along the way.
The Good.
Record mileage with no major injuries is almost the biggest highlight for me. Getting a 10k PR in May is also up there as one of the big moments. PRs aside, the entire race weekend at the Runner’s World Festival in October was huge.
Nothing, though, can top that feeling in March when I set a new mark at the Shamrock Half Marathon. While I didn’t get my sub-1:40, nearly everything fell into place that day for my best race experience to date.
The bad.
While 2012 was mostly good, the bad moments were definitely forgettable.
This comes down to a toss up between the Cleveland Half Marathon in May and the Richmond Marathon in November. Miserable weather impacted Cleveland; exhaustion likely caused a miserable day for Richmond.
Richmond, though, had more elements that I could have controlled, so that wins out as the biggest “bad” of the year.
The ugly.
Here was my debate — do I go literal or figurative? Richmond was ugly. The weather in Cleveland was ugly.
But blood is also ugly, and way back in January I had an awesome experience in the Frozen Toe 10k in Roanoke. That awesomeness included blood.
Blood always wins.
Recent Comments