It’s hard to believe that we are already more than a quarter of the way through the year. It seems like just yesterday I was waking up stupid early to start my year off right by putting on my big girl panties and driving in DC. While not an official goal, I’ve now done it twice and lived to tell about it. I still don’t like it, but I know I can do it.
But the big question is “How are the other goals going? And does it still make sense to have them be goals?” Join Patty, Marcia and I for Tuesdays on the Run and fill us in on how you are doing on your goals.
Running
- Finish 7 half marathons in 7 days. I have now run three Mainly Marathons series: Center of the Nation Series in 2015, Riverboat Series in 2014 and the Dust Bowl Series in 2013. CON was 6 states in 6 days. Why not up the ante one more time? This year Beer Geek and I will be heading to the New England Series. I’d be lying if I said I was trained for this trip which is less than a month away. I am, however, mentally ready for the time away with Beer Geek and a chance to reconnect with so many friends.
- Run my first ultra. Yep, I’m going over to the dark side. My plan at this point is Across the Years in December where I’ll see how many miles I can run in 24 hours. I make no promises that I won’t find one to do before then… This goal will need to be adjusted. I’m not giving up on an ultra yet, I just can’t run this particular race. It’s just too darned expensive to fly our whole family out there. Since I got into MCM again this year, I do plan to be in a mileage place to run one though.
- Pick up the pace. I have really slowed down in the last few years. I don’t know if I can get back down to a sub-2 half, but I’ll be spending the first few months of the year trying to push the pace again. I’m a long way from a sub-2, but I ran one of my fastest half marathons in the last two years this past weekend. I have a goal of a 4:30 marathon, so after the New England Series, I’ll be focusing on speed.
- Moon up in Half Fanatics. This is really iffy. To get to Mercury, I need 23 half marathons in 23 states in 365 days. I’ve got 7 already (CON + RW) and I’ll get 7 more at NE. That leaves me with 10 states. 3 are easy (MD, DC, VA), 3 are relatively easy (WI, WV, MI) and that leaves me with 3 more to figure out. I’m torn on whether it is really worth the time and money investment for basically nothing but bragging rights (and only a small number of people actually care.) And I’d kind of like to do another Ragnar or other relay race and I can’t really justify both. Oddly (or maybe not), this somehow became a real goal. I’ve now done 11 states with DE and NJ coming up. Then I’ll hit the New England Series (7 states) plus Michigan and Wisconsin this summer. (If you’ve done the math there, you’ll see I’m one state short. It WILL happen – somewhere, somehow.)
Fitness/Physical Health
- Continue to try new things in the kitchen. My “Cooking with Beer” series will help me with this, but I also want to get less meat centric. We’ll see how that goes. Doing ok here. I could always be better though.
- Figure out how to use the weight machines in the gym. I’ve joined (and am good at using the cardio machines), but I need to actually figure out the weight machines as I used to enjoy those more than free weights. Oh, and then use them at least once a week. (I’ve figured them out and actually used them a few times. Still need to make weights of some sort more of a priority.)
- Drink more water. ‘Nuff said. Some days are better than others.
Work
- Follow through on my new work schedule. I’ve set it up to have one full day off to run errands and such. Now I need to actually get my work done on my work days. I’m doing pretty well with this. Some times my schedule is not under my control due to client meetings, but I’m getting in all the hours I’m supposed to and most weeks I have one day where I don’t work much if at all.
- Blog/use social media more efficiently. I often get sidetracked. I’ll go to find one link and end up wasting 20 minutes on one of the platforms. While I realize that social media is important, as is being engaged with my readers and other bloggers, I need to figure out how to set parameters and find some balance. Ugh. Too many social media options.
Personal
- Do something social at least twice a month on my free days. It can be a run, coffee, lunch, whatever – I just need to get out of my house and out of my head on occasion. Only averaging once a month on this. I need to run with my peeps more.
- Take a trip with Beer Geek. New England Series here we come! Less than a month!
- Read more but not binge read. I love books and I tend to not put down a good book once I start. I need to get better about putting down a book and going to bed. I also need to occasionally read books that do more than entertain. I’m better at putting the books down, but I still need to read something besides mind candy…
- Make a master To Do list. I’m carrying a lot in my head. I need to just get it down on paper and start knocking off things bit by bit. I use a daily to do list and generally get 80-90% done each day, so I think have a master to work off of would be useful. Meh, this is overrated. ;o) I just keep plugging away at my daily lists and slowly things get done that are on the mental list.
- Get more sleep. Said every mom everywhere. Occasionally this happens. More often I doze off at my computer.
In some ways, I feel like I’m making good progress on my goals, but in some ways I’m feeling like my goals are frivolous. Part of the reason I’m struggling to train is that I have way more demands on my time with working extra hours and Shoo’s soccer (although the boot did free up some time for me, but he goes back to practice on Tuesday). Then I remind myself that I’m pretty frugal in general, so if I’d rather run races than update my kitchen, that’s ok as long as it makes me happy. And running races makes me happy.
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You’ve got some great goals & it sounds like you are slowly plugging away at them. I made a number of goals at the beginning of the year and can’t believe it is 1/3 of the way over…I need to get moving!! We have a few in common: More Sleep, More Water, & More efficient use of social Media/blogging time… I am doing ok with the first 2, but would love some tips on the third one 🙂 Have a great week!!
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com recently posted…70.3 Training: Back on Track
Yes to more water and more sleep!! Solidarity!
I think you are doing darn well on your goals. Half of the battle is putting them down, then taking baby steps to get there.
Karen @ Fit in France recently posted…Home sweet home
You’re doing great this year! You have alot of goals so it’s awesome that you are moving along with so many of them. I definitely think that checking in with my goals regularly helps to keep me on track, otherwise I completely forget about some of them!
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine recently posted…A Crazy Week and First Race of the Year
I love setting goals and it’s great when you can look back and hold yourself accountable. You’ve been doing fantastic this year! I had a goal to read more books, I did finish one career-related book, but I need to find something more fun!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…2016 Run For Clean Air 5K Race Recap
You set some big goals this year and are doing great with them! I think Mercury is a fantastic goal – that takes a lot of determination and planning! I really didn’t set a whole lot of goals for running this year. Instead I have been setting monthly goals. I did well in Jan/Feb but the last couple of months have been rough. My big goal was a 2:10 half, but now that’s being a bit overshadowed by trying to get over an injury so I can be healthy for MCM training!
Sam @ See Sam Run recently posted…2016 Vermont Half Unplugged – A Race Full of Lessons
How exciting you want to run an Ultra. That was a goal of mine as well and last December I completed it w a 50k. So fun and less competitive than marathons I thought. As your goal is to finish and not worry about your time.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com recently posted…The Evolution of a Running Goal
I love that you have goals for so many different aspects of your life!! I set precisely two goals for myself this year! Haha, they are pretty big goals (like run my first marathon) but maybe I should make a few more…
Michelle @ LivelyChicken recently posted…My Knee Does Not Hurt…
Not binge reading is difficult. I bring books to read during lunch so I have to put them down. I’ve taken a little break since I’ve got PT to do during the week, but there are a couple books out there I want to get.
Lesley recently posted…I Love the Treadmill
I’d say you’re doing a great job with your goals!! With so much on your plate, it sounds like you’ve prioritized the ones that are most important to you and are focusing the most time on them. That’s perfect! The others will fall into place when you have the chance to focus on them.
Jenn @ RunWithSole recently posted…Checking in on our goals for 2016
Thanks, I’m trying to juggle it all…
You are doing really good with your goals!!
I don’t know what that dish is, but it looks delicious!!
Ana recently posted…Gettysburg Marathon Training Week #14
It’s the DuClaw lamb tagine that I posted last month. So very good.
With all the endurance under your belt, I think it’ll be easier to pick up some speed. As my kids get older, I figured that would free me up a little, but until Thing 1 drives it is quite the opposite. I am consumed with shuttling and attending to these 2. Love the line in your first paragraph: does it even make sense to have certain goals? Truth!
Marcia recently posted…Goals: A Slippery Slope
More sleep! Yes!! Your half marathon schedule is so impressive! I hope you get that last state figured out soon!! That will be an amazing achievement.
Sonia recently posted…Dreams with Deadlines
Luckily, Beer Geek is on board with my goals, so one way or another I’ll get that race in.
You’ve set some big goals for this year and it sounds like you’re doing great so far!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Weekly Wrap – RtR Week 6
Thanks! Things seem to be going well so far.
Looks like you are making good progress on your goals. All I can say is WOW to your running goals!
vicki recently posted…2016 Goal Update
I used to be career driven. Apparently I’ve now channeled that into my running…
Seems like you’re making a lot of progress with your goals! Nice job, mama. And I’ll see you at MCM!
Rachel recently posted…Half Marathon Training: Week 10
Thanks! And yay for MCM!
When I did my Ultra last July, I also did Grandma’s Marathon 5 weeks prior. A lot of people thought I was crazy doing those two events back-to-back….but my strategy was to do the marathon kind of as a training run. The timing was perfect! I’m doing the Ultra again this year (but am doing the 12-hour instead of the 6-hour. YIKES.). I also have Route 66 happening in mid November and have been looking for a half (most likely Des Moines, mid-October) to also add to my roster 😉 Good luck with all of those races!!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Got goals? Run happy!
I really like to do races as training runs. I’m pretty good about not pushing too hard and it gives me the miles I need in a fun way.
This is one of my fave fave quotes ever as well.
FOR ME it means I havent lost em even if Im not nailing them right now.
They may have reverted back to dreams—but thats TEMPORARY and all kinds of ok for now.
<3
CARLA recently posted…The Power of a Personal Catchphrase.
Yes to all of that!
I just came up with a new goal for myself. GET FASTER. In the past 3 years of running I’ve been focused on distance and my pace has stayed the same. Time to mix things up a bit and feel the windy in my hair!
This time of year we’re all a little hit or miss with goals, but it’s definitely a good time to re-evaluate. I feel the same way about social media – there are just too many things! I gave myself permission this year to just let that nagging “should do better” thought go and it has been glorious!
Jessica S recently posted…New goals this year for Earth Day