New Year, New Me?

Ringing in the New Year!

Happy 2013!  I know this posting comes five days after the start of the new year but I think there is a window for still wishing folks well in the new year and for finalizing resolutions (some might say goals).  And if there isn't a window, then I am declaring the entire month of January as open to well wishing and yearly goals.

I don't normally make goals.  I just take one comes at me and look for opportunities to get better or take new challenges.  However, seeing how a lot of the bloggers I follow set goals for the year and then review them at the end of the year and I find those posts to be interesting.  And, given the fact that, according to the thought, you don't know where you are going without goals to see if you get there, I will set some goals for the year. So, here goes, in no particular order:

Goal #1: Improve my brain.  Now that I am done with school for the time being, I want to continue to challenge my brain and learn.  My first step towards this goal is to sign up for lumosity with the the objective of regular training and improvement.

Goal #2: I want to read at least 1 book a month.  I read often from a variety of sources (websites, books, magazines) which distracts me from finishing the books I start.  This goal will encourage me to finish the job.

Goal #3:  Lose weight.  I want to get down to my "playing" weight of 180 this year.  I am considering joining healthywage as a way to put my money where my mouth is and make the goal real.  After changeing my diet in 2011 and losing a bunch of weight, I was pretty stagnet in 2012.  I had no real motivation to lose any more weight and towards the end of the year my diet really went in the toilet.  I need to get back on track.  In order to reach this goal, I will need to focus and do things different.

Goal #4: I need to improve my strength.  In order to take the next step in my running (and just to stay healthier), I need to improve my overall strength.  I am mulling over options (trainer, crossfit, or something else) and recognize I need to do it consitantly to see the results I want.

Dawn of New Day!

Goal #5: Racing.  I start the year with my biggest callenge to date, the Walt Disney World Marathon.  The only other race currently scheduled in the fall Market to Market relay.  In between I would like to run a couple more races of some distance (marathon, half, 10K, 5K?).  This goal depends on schedule and marathon recovery.

That's it!  Too many?  Maybe, although I have already started making concrete plans to move each of these from goals to reality.  2013 will be a great year and will set me up for more success in 2014. 

What are your goals for 2013?

Where Have You Been?

Try as I might, time seems to slip away even with the best of intentions.  I will use this post to briefly update my past couple of weeks and the next post will preview my next training plan.

I managed to survive the taper without my head overpowering my common sense to make it to race weekend.  The race packet pickup continues to be held in a space to small for the number of participants, but on the bright side the process seemed to be streamlined compared to previous years.  On the bright side, the expo contained some great deals, including Newton Shoes.

After last month's Runner's World article on the company's founder, I was intrigued to try a pair.  However, seeing a price tag of $175, I decided that exceeded my appetite to try something new.  Newton provided the opportunity, during the race expo, to try and buy a pair for $100.  So, I tried and purchased a pair of my very own.  I have not yet worn them, on account of the race and recovery, but plan to start easing into them soon.

Race morning was stormy and wet.  We drove through a stiff rain storm and by the time we reached Lincoln the sun was starting to rise with the clouds breaking up humid and warm.  I lined up between the 2 and 2:05 hour pace groups with optimistic aspirations.  After the starting gun, it took me near 20 minutes to reach the start line and I launched with an easy pace.  A quarter mile in I looked down at my watch and realized that I was going out faster than I planned and faster than my smartpacer wrist band said for mile 1.  I tried to slow down, but felt good (famous last words).

Long story short, I ran out of gas at mile 10 and walked/ran the rest of the way on guts, finishing in 2:09.  Not my slowest time, but not close to my fastest time nor my best time.  My lungs didn't quite on me, my legs did.  I have spent this last week recovering from the run and spend most of it in Tuscon for work.  Next post will talk about my future training goals.