Goal Check (Update)

With a little over a month to go in the year, I thought it would be good to take a few minutes to evaluate yearly goals. Back in January, I wrote about setting goals instead of resolutions, and I want this to become an ongoing process with me. My first update can be found here. As I said before, I like having the accountability of reporting to others. It keeps me in line.

For the three areas of my life where I set goals, I can see some progress. I also see areas where I need to either focus more or completely change specific goals. I'm not making excuses, but a lot can happen in a year.

1. My Faith: My daily quiet time became a priority for a good portion of the year, but when school started, I had some trouble. Then in October and November after I started working part-time, I got derailed. I'm trying to get my morning routine back. Reading my Bible daily was the same as above. I failed on the scripture memorization goal. I even tried to do it with the kids, but it didn't become the priority I wanted it to be. I know how important this is, so I don't want to scratch it. I just don't know how to get there.

2. My Health: I did read more books this year. Next year's goal should probably be to turn in a library book before I have exceeded all my renewals. Finishing a book within two weeks would be even better. Getting up at 5 every morning is habit now, since Ashley has swim practice early each weekday. But I'm not getting the productivity here I wanted. With my running, I have become a stronger and faster. I still hate my scale. I try to eat better, but I also indulge. I'm anticipating a new personal record in the marathon next week in Dallas. You will probably get an update on that soon after.

3. My Work: I roughly finished my first book, but it's different from the one I wrote about in January. That one is still in the works. I did launch a running blog in January, so I don't have to bore my non-running readers. You can check it out here. Weekly posts will hopefully be routine on this blog again, now that my training has scaled back and marching band/football season is over.

I hope you were able to set some goals at the first of the year. It's a good time to evaluate where you are, and there is still time to finish some up. I'd love to hear about your progress! 

Goal 3: My Work

When I originally wrote out my goals by hand, I titled the page "My Career."  Later, as I looked down at the list, I felt a little funny because nothing I wrote brings home a salary. I think I should have titled it something like "Things I would like to be paid for."  Instead, I put my focus on calling these goals my work.  It's part of who I am and what I do whether I earn money from it or not.

I don't feel as vulnerable as I did sharing my faith goals, but I still feel a little nervous sharing them.  They reveal more about me on a personal level, and I'm the type of person who likes to stay in the background.  Yes, I'm a wallflower.    

1. Finish my book.

I started a book last fall that is meant to be an inspirational pick-me-up.  The trouble is that on the tough days, it's hard to write inspiring thoughts for others. I've had to  to give myself some hard deadlines to work on this no matter how bad the day is. These deadlines include a book proposal and sample chapters to be completed. Soon.  This goal is also dependent upon 5 a.m. mornings. I can write when my mind is fresh and not impeded by teenager attitudes or whining youngsters.  This goal is probably one of my biggest challenges.

  

2. Launch a running blog.

Running has become a passion of mine, like writing, but I didn't want to bore my nonrunning readers with the details.. So I'm working a separate blog. It's a little scary to try something different, but exciting too. It is tiered for beginners but I hope it will appeal to runners of any level. 

3. Continue with weekly posts on this blog covering topics as they come up in my life.

I've tried to write ahead and schedule posts, but something more interesting always comes up. I'm going to let my day to day life continue to direct my writing.  I enjoy writing, and this blog lets my personality come through for those who don't know me very well (because I'm so quiet).    

4. Establish more of a local running community.

I'm still working out these details.  I'm a solo runner most of the time, but I enjoy sharing goals, chatting with other runners at local races, and encouraging others.  Again, I'm an introvert so this will truly challenge my comfort zone.

This sums up my goals that I've set for myself.  Next week, I'll post on my progress and how I've fared for the first month of the year.

Accountability.  It works. 

Goal 2: My Health

I started lining out some of my goals with last week's post.  I wanted to start with my faith to keep my priorities straight.  It seems logical to me that the next area of my life to focus on would be my health.  I'm not just talking about my physical health, but my mental health is just as important.  I tried to keep them simple, because I could easily overload my mind trying to improve myself.

Mental Health

1.  Read 12 books this year (6 nonfiction, 6 fiction)
Some of you out there may be rolling your eyes at this one.  Only 12 books?  Well, it may not seem like a lot, but for me to take the time to sit down and read consistently (and stay awake) is a challenge.  I'm also very picky about what I spend my time doing.  I don't want to read garbage.  To keep things fresh, I'm going to alternate between fiction and nonfiction each month.  The good news is that I'm one chapter away from finishing my January pick which was nonfiction.  If you have any suggestions for good fiction, please let me know.

2.  Start getting up at 5 every morning.
This goal helps me in other areas of my life.  I've started the last two weeks getting up at 5:30 so I can get in my quiet time and a few other things before I start waking children for school.  If I can bump it a little earlier, then I can accomplish more.  I'm taking it a little at a time so my body doesn't shut down at 8 p.m.  By the end of the month, I plan to meet this goal and February will make it a habit. 

Physical Health

1.  Become a stronger, faster runner 
This step requires a few mini goals, such as: 
a).  Add more "runner foods" to my diet
In the past I've had the attitude that I can eat what I want because I run.  Lately, I found that I was running solely to burn the donut, cake, hot fudge sundae, etc...  I want to improve my diet so [most of] the foods I'm putting in my system are making me faster, not fatter.
b).  Add strength training to my routine
Research shows that a strong upper body can help you run faster.  Ugh!  I'm a little weak in this area.  I've never been able to move below the first or second weight on the machine for arms.  It was quite entertaining for my children this week to witness that I can only complete (not quite) one pushup.  I hope I can work my way up to 5 by the end of the month.  This is my least favorite goal.   

2.  Run a half marathon below 2 hours, and set a new personal record for the marathon.
I'm working on my calendar this week planning my next races so that I can meet this goal.  It looks like my first shot to break my half marathon time goal will be on January 28.  The second part of this goal requires I find a race to run that does not involve north wind and a downpour.
 
These goals are going to keep me busy, and some of them are going to challenge me physically as well as mentally.  What about you?  Did you set any goals to improve your health?

2012: The Year of...?

This is the time of year when you hear people talk about making resolutions.  I stopped doing that a few years ago, when I realized my yearly attempts would most likely be broken.  Then I would feel bad about myself for my lack of follow through. 

Now instead of resolutions, I make goals for myself.  I don't wait until the last week of December to do it either, this is a continual process throughout the year.  But each December, I do look back at what I've achieved over the year, and instead of seeing lack of ambition, I view my successes.  This is much more rewarding, and helps me move forward and build on my goals. 

2011 for me was a big year with beginning this blog, starting to write my book, and undertaking the huge task of homeschooling my high school aged son.  All of this started in the summer.  I ran my first marathon this December.  If I had set resolutions at the end of 2010, I guarantee you none of these things would have made the list.  In fact, after I finished my first half marathon in December 2010, my first words to my husband were, "I'm not ready for a marathon."

Don't wait until the end of the year to make the changes you want to make.  Set goals year-round, but use the end of the year to reflect on what you've accomplished.

Next December, you can look back and say, "2012 was the year of..."   

First Marathon

I ran my first marathon on Sunday.  It was a big day.  The notion of running a marathon first came to me in high school, when I chose it as the subject of a research paper.  It was one of those way out there goals that I would get to “someday.”  20 years later, I can say I’ve done it.

My training began on August 1^st with typical dry, Texas temperatures of over 100 degrees.  Sunday’s race had temperatures around 40 degrees and falling, rainy with a blustery north wind.  What a difference!

Even with the weather the way it was, I was determined not to let it dampen my mood.  I was going to soak in the whole experience.  

Now I'll stop with the bad weather puns.  Here are a few of my initial thoughts after Sunday's marathon.

·         Nike Dri Fit really works!

·         I don’t want to look at another banana for the rest of the year.

·         The hardest part was the walk to meet my husband and daughter after the race.

And most importantly - 
 

·         Why can’t I take a good post-race photo?  I always look completely beaten down. 

On a more serious note, I was excited to be there.  I loved the fireworks during the national anthem, the number of volunteers handing out water and Gatorade, and the cheering spectators who braved the cold, wind, and rain, and lined the miles of the course.  It was a tough run, and I did struggle with some of the later miles more than I thought I would.  Miles 21-24 were the toughest, but I finished.   

I don’t know if I can accurately describe the feeling of crossing the finish line.  To complete something I’ve worked so hard for.  It was worth it.  Running a marathon may not be anywhere near your list, but I encourage you to find a big goal to work on.  It's amazing how it feels to finish.

The question was recently asked of me, “Will you do it again?” 

What do you think?

Reasons I Run

It was late at night, after the kids had long been asleep, when I took a break from my computer and made my way to the kitchen.  That was my first mistake.  My second mistake was taking the container of ice cream out of the freezer.   Using my best motherhood justification, I reasoned there wasn’t enough ice cream to split four ways.  I saved myself the trouble of a dispute between children. 

In the past, this scenario would've loaded me with guilt, and I would’ve gone to bed beating myself up over my lack of willpower with food.    

No longer.

There are people who don't understand why I run.  There are people who think I'm crazy for wanting to run a marathon.  Why would I want to spend hours running each week?  Why would I want to run 26.2 miles all at once?  

Well, for those of you who feel that way, here's my list of the most important reasons I run:

1.  Donut shop Fridays 

2.   I buy treats for the kids that I like too (see above example).

3.   There are some days I just want to run away (Who can't identify with this?)

4.   It’s hard to cry while running (goes along with reason #3).

5.   It’s cheaper than counseling (see reasons #3 & #4).

6.    I’m trying to set a positive example for my children (the antithesis of reason #2).

7.   To prove to my first track coach (my dad) that I may have some athletic potential after all.

8.   I’ve seen parts of my city on foot I would never have seen otherwise.  

9.   Donut shop Thursdays 

10. I just like to run. 

   

Crazy, I know.  But I'm okay with that.

Baby Steps

This is not a new concept, nor is it something that is unfamiliar to people.  Baby steps enable you to make small changes, one step at a time, to reach big goals. 

I’ve been thinking about this idea and how I’ve used baby steps to accomplish some major goals in my life the past few years.  I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing at the time, but looking back now, I can see that the process was so simple.  I followed this concept to finish my college degree, reach my weight goal, and run a half-marathon.  I put together this list of the steps that work best for me when I want to achieve an extensive goal in my life.

1.        Set the big goal first, but not a date.  I’m sure by not setting a date, this information conflicts with other advice out there, but I simply move the completion date to a different step.  When I decided to go back to school and finish my degree, I simply said, “It’s time to get the piece of paper hanging on the wall.”  When I set my weight goal, I wrote it down.  It is more important for me to first identify what I want my specific outcome to be. 

2.       Decide what smaller goals will enable the big goal.  One of my big goals I’m working on now is to run a marathon.  I started out over a year ago by making the decision to train for a 5K (3.1 miles) and then worked my way up to a half-marathon (13.1 miles) last December.  The goal of running 26.2 miles is colossal in my mind.  Fortunately, by adding a little extra distance each week of my training, the goal is achieved in manageable amounts.  There are accomplishments along the way when I realize I’m now running farther than I ever have before.

3.       After identifying the smaller goals, set deadlines.  This is where I go back to the second part of Step 1.  I pull in the dates for my small goals, and that helps me see the end date for the big goal.   To finish school, I had an idea of how many hours I was going to take each semester, but I was still limited by my work schedule and the class schedule offered.  When it came down to the last two semesters, I had my graduation date in sight.  With my running goals, I found that if I register for a race, I’m more likely to stick to my training.

4.       Celebrate the little accomplishments along the way.  I didn’t wait until I reached my weight goal to buy some new clothes, but I didn’t replace my whole wardrobe either.  I needed to reward my effort, but still have some motivation to keep going.

5.       When the big goal is achieved, don’t stop there!  This is when I look at the different areas of my life to see what I should work on next.  I set new goals for myself and start the process over again.  Two of my current goals (in addition to the marathon) include de-cluttering my house, and having some of my writing accepted for publication.  Funny how the latter goal seems more achievable.  It’s going to take a bunch of baby steps to have a clutter-free house, but one day my house will be in order.

What goals have you set for yourself lately?  Have you found a different approach that works for you?    

   

       

A Nice Ride

Do you ever make a well thought-out decision, only to have a "What was I thinking" moment?

It happens to me more than I care to admit.

In an effort to improve my marathon training, I started to look for a way to change up my cross-training.  The running miles are increasing significantly now, and I want to keep boredom at bay.  One day a week of cross-training is a regular part of my training schedule.  The last few weeks, I've just walked at the park on my non-running days while my son runs.  I've wanted to do something different, and I prefer to be outdoors when the weather is nice.

A few weeks ago, I was searching for something in the garage, and noticed my husband's bike.  It would be nice to be able to get out and ride for my cross-training.  I mulled the idea over for a while, mostly to justify purchasing a helmet.  Last weekend, my husband adjusted the seat for me, filled the tires with air, and other general maintenance.  I broke down and bought a helmet.  I was ready to ride. 

Did I mention I haven't ridden a bicycle in over twenty years?  Well, you know how the saying goes...

It's not true.  Okay, let me back up.  It's partly true that you never forget how to ride a bicycle.  I was a little shaky, but after a few turns around the yard, I was fine.  So maybe you never forget how to balance on two wheels, but I don't remember the gears being so complicated.  My husband's bike has 21 speeds.  It's made for off-road.  I asked him how I'd know which gear to use.  His answer to me was "You'll figure it out."  I took a few test rides around the house before I took to the road. 

This is the point where I really started to question my decision.  We live at the top of a hill, so no matter which direction I went it was downhill first.  I headed east because that part of the road is straight.  Going west would involve curves.  As I gained speed on the downhill, I started to feel completely helpless.  I pictured myself wiped out at the bottom of the hill.  A phrase I’ve heard ran through my mind “has book sense, but no common sense.”  Amazingly enough, I made it to the bottom without crashing.  I curved around to face another monstrous elevation.  Halfway up, after I had shifted through 14 different speeds trying to find one that would help, I pulled myself over to the side of the road.  I was huffing and puffing.  How can I run 13 miles, but can't get myself up this hill?

I finally made it to the top and took a side road to get more familiar with the riding and shifting, only to discover this road was hilly too.  I turned around.  I had only been "riding" for ten minutes.  I started to feel a little better going down the hill this time, and the shifting was starting to make sense in my warped mind.  I rounded the curve again, to begin the uphill climb home. 

The worst thing about living at the top of a hill is that no matter which direction you're coming from, you have to go up the hill to get home.  I rode into my driveway out of breath, with sore legs and a sore seat.  My total ride time was barely 25 minutes.

As tough as it was, I will get back out there again.  Only next time, I think I'll head west.

Porta-potties, bananas, and safety pins

This weekend marked a big moment for me.  A year ago, I decided to train to run a 5K in August.  What surprises me the most is that one year later, I'm still running.  So, what better way to celebrate this occasion than by compiling a list of the top three things I learned my first year running road races.

1.  I can use a porta-potty.

This may not seem like such a big deal to some, but I'm the girl who would seriously restrict fluid intake to avoid this unpleasantry.  I've made it through concerts and soccer games, bypassing large drinks to the point of near dehydration.  I would walk the extra half-mile to use the flushable toilets for our family reunion at the lake.  But, thanks to having four kids, and the need to increase fluids before a race, using a porta-potty is inevitable.  But you can bet if there's an alternative, I'm standing in the longer line to use the indoor facilities.

Note to other runners/spectators:  Never use the porta-potties after a race.  Enough said.

2.  I still can't eat whatever I want.

I started running as a way to drop a few final pounds.  Then I gained seven more.  The post-race recovery fuel can put back every calorie I burned while running, and sometimes more.  This is especially true if the race is followed by a stop to bring home donuts (for the kids, of course).  In the very early days, I would have no appetite once I finished a race.  Alas, those days are gone.  Race sponsors go all out providing bananas, chocolate milk, yogurt, fajitas, baked potatoes, granola bars, and bagels.  The bigger the race, the more to choose from.  There's always something I can't pass up.  And I've earned it, right?

3.  I'll never have to search for a safety pin again.

I recently cleaned out my car, and unloaded at least 20 safety pins.  These were used to pin race number bibs to my shirts.  Gone are the days of digging out my seldom used sewing box to make a temporary clothing alteration.  But still, when I go pick up a race packet, if they ask me if I need pins, I say, "Yes, please."  With the races I've done this past year, only once did I need to pull from my stash because no pins were included.  It was a good thing I saved all those.

I could continue with how I've learned to avoid the oblivious runner in headphones, the chronic spitter, and the walkers stretched four across (who must have missed the announcement for slower runners to start at the back).  But I guess those are just pet peeves.

So, I'm eagerly anticipating what the next year of racing teaches me.  With the marathon goal in there, it's sure to be a doozie.