Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee

I’m not one to stay up super late on NYE, but ironically, last night I was up late thanks to insomnia. Thank you 2020 for one last kick in the teeth. So, I’m up a bit later than normal and sucking down caffeine like it’s my job. Seems appropriate to hook up with Deb and Coco for a coffee date.

If we were having coffee,

I’d tell you that normally I spend December wrapping things up here on the blog and setting up my goals for the next year. Last year was so weird that I just couldn’t seem to wrap (ha!) my head around it. I’m pretty sure I didn’t run a single in person race. I ran a ridiculous number of virtual races, but I never got more than 4 miles from my house in any of those races. I even ran a 50K in 2 mile loops near my house. I’m just gonna go ahead and add that to my list of thing I NEVER hope to accomplish again.

If we were having coffee,

I’d tell you that we were incredibly fortunate as a family in 2020. While there were many events we missed out on, we were more inconvenienced by things than devastated by them. One of my few goals in 2021 is to keep that in the forefront of my mind. I know we still have months of crazy ahead before life returns to something resembling pre-pandemic behavior (and I do believe some changes may stay), but having made it this far, I know we need to just dig deep and continue on.

If we were having coffee,

I’d tell you that I’m moving north for a couple of weeks in January. I’m pretty sure that’s the definition of crazy, but I have to move Jones up to his dorm. I’ve decided to take Shoo with me and don’t want him to miss virtual school. So, we’ll try to do most of our travel on days he doesn’t have synchronous learning. Plus at this point, any chance I get to have different walls surrounding me (safely), I take. I’m hoping I can get in some mileage in a much colder, snowier area. I have a feeling I will be missing my treadmill and my exercise bike.

If we were having coffee,

I’d tell you that I’ve made some plans for 2021. I’d call them goals, but I’m not sure that they are S.M.A.R.T goals.

• I’ve joined Run The Year for the first time ever – I have zero interest in running 2021 miles, but last summer when I was walking for hours every day, my body and mind were in a much better place than they are now. So, I’m using this as an incentive to walk more. My goal is to hit 1200 running miles and make up the rest with walks.
• I’m working hard to get into a routine with work. I LOVE my job with ZOOMA, but I tend to never step away from it, probably because most of the time it doesn’t feel like work. It will never be a traditional 9 to 5 job (and I don’t want it to be), but I need to build actual breaks into my schedule so that I get in those walks and runs and actually remember to stop and eat meals instead of constant snacking.
• At the same time, my goal for 2021 is to stay flexible. College is going to be weird for Jones as his campus is pretty tightly locked down and classes are online. He may need me more than he would have as a normal freshman. Shoo is doing better than most with virtual school, but he still needs more guidance and interaction than if school was normal. I never know from day to day or week to weeks where I might need to turn my attention.

But my first run of 2021 is in the books and I have started my year off on the right foot.

Happy New Year to everyone! May you look back on the good things from 2020 and may 2021 bring new blessings and a return to a more normal way of life. Fingers crossed we start seeing more in person races and fewer virtuals!