This past weekend, I turned 48. As I get closer and closer to a new big round number, I keep thinking I'll start freaking out about getting old. But I feel better at 48 than I did at 47 (well, except for that pesky ankle/heel issue.) Last year at this time, I was deep in Marine Corps Marathon training with the Hansons plan. I was also recovering from what had been a month long virus - it started with several days of violent stomach upset that led to weeks of reduced appetite and lack of energy. While I would not recommend that weight loss method (I dropped 7 pounds in 7 days and it stayed off), it was the first time in years that I was not packing on extra marathon pounds. It was also the first time in years that my weight had not … [Read more...]
The summer where no running goals were met
This has been an interesting year for me so far. In some ways it was super planned (our trip to Australia and New Zealand) and some ways it's been completely a "roll with the punches" year. I'm still dealing with the hail damaged rental car, my kitchen is still not started, and Monday I worked 4 different gigs. (I won't be doing that again, see below for what I'm letting go.) But the weirdest part of the whole summer is that I had no real running goals. Well, except to actually start running again, so I guess I nailed that. End of post. No? Ok, here were my goals for the year with updates on where life is. Running Continue running injury free. Ooh, I completely blew this one. I still can't run too many days in a row without my … [Read more...]
My Big Scary Goal for 2018
2018 is here and I still feel like much of my life is in flux. While I am not a Type A personality, I do like to have my life somewhat planned and be in control of the things around me. That doesn't seem to be how life is going to work for now, so my big scary goal relates to that. My big scary goal for the year: Take each day as it comes. Roll with the punches and keep on moving forward with a smile on my face. I do, of course, have a loose framework for our year, but I usually like to set SMART goals and I'm going for a much more relaxed plan this year. Running Continue running injury free. That's it. I'm sure I'll run a few half marathons and I still plan to run MCM again this year, but I need to get back to the joy of … [Read more...]
Evaluating my 2017 goals
2017 is mere days from ending. I still have 6 more runs and 14.4 more miles to complete my year. I'm taking the boys to visit my parents for a few days - where the temps are barely in the single digits. I have a feeling I'll be hitting the treadmill each day for the three days I'm there. Meanwhile, it's time to evaluate my 2017 so that I can start firming up my 2018. Running Get back into the local race scene. I knocked this goal out of the park. I ran 5 races with Pacers Running - my favorite local race company. Over the years, I have run many of their races and never been disappointed. This women led organization ROCKS the DC area race scene. Find some speed again. I did pretty well with this. I hit my goals at the GW … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon 2017 Goals
If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you already know that time goals are not my thing. I run because I need to run, so anything that takes away the enjoyment of running is something I don't do. Speed work is not my jam and tempo runs kind of suck. You also won't find me out there running for 4 hours on a training run (unless that training run happens to be a race). So my goals don't generally focus on pace. I run to finish. To have fun. To see my friends. To do a certain number of states in a row. But to actually hit a number on the clock? Nah, that hasn't been a huge priority in a while. But (you knew that was coming, right?) this year, I have some goals for the Marine Corps Marathon. I know I can finish (this … [Read more...]
Setting 2017 Goals not Resolutions
Here we are at the start of another year. It seems like 2016 flew by. For me as a runner, it was a really awesome year, but I chose goals that played to my strengths: back to back half marathons, trips to races, etc. I also chose typical things like manage my time better and drink more water, which feel more like "resolutions". Today's Tuesdays on the Run topic is "Runner Resolutions" (yes, I know I need to update my page), but I'm going to talk about some specific goals instead. For several years now, I've used this format and it really works for me. Running Get back into the local race scene. I've been really busy with the traveling and racing and only running half marathons. I used to love to run at the local races, so I've … [Read more...]
Wrapping up another year as MCM Mama
In a very few months, I'll be celebrating my 9th year of writing this blog. NINE YEARS! What?? Also in 2017, I will run my 10,000th *recorded* mile. (Yeah, I know I took some months off here and there where I didn't record my runs.) It's hard to believe that when I started, I'd never run a race longer than a 10 miler. Wrap your heads around that. Another big milestone in 2017? ZOOMA Annapolis (where I ran my very first half) will be celebrating 10 years. As a 2017 ambassador, I will be there, probably running my 70th half marathon. But enough about upcoming things, today's Tuesdays on the Run topic is "Wrapping up your year", so I'm going to look back at my goals from 2016 and see how I fared. Running Finish 7 half marathons in 7 … [Read more...]
MCM Goals: The Elephant in the Room
The topic for this week's Tuesdays on the Run is "goals", specifically what goals do you have left for the year. Oddly, the main goal I have left for the year wasn't even on my list of goals for the year. What goal is that? Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon. At the beginning of the year, I had no intention of running Marine Corps. In fact, I had no intention of running 17.75. But then I got caught up in FOMO and quickly registered for the 17.75 race in the five minutes that it was open. How does that even happen? How does one go from not really wanting to do something to participating in the crazy rush to get into a race? Yep, definitely FOMO. Somehow I also entered the lottery. Seriously people, what was I … [Read more...]
Reevaluating my goals
Here we are, just over halfway through the year. I like to do a mid-year checkin to see if I'm on track to hit my goals. Short answer: I am, mostly. But lately I've been questioning my goals. Are they frivolous (I mean, who really cares if I hit Mercury?) Are they milestones towards our personal goals or just stand alone goals that don't get me closer to where I want to be? And does that matter? Does every goal need to have a bigger purpose or could the purpose of simply keeping myself moving be worthy enough? I don't have the answers at this point, but I'm pondering. … [Read more...]
Goals are just dreams with deadlines
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. … [Read more...]
Energized!
I have a lot to say about the two weeks we spent in Oregon and Washington. We did a lot of really cool things and visited some awesome places. I'll get to that over the next week or so, but the most important thing this vacation did for me was to relight my inner fire. Pre-vacation, I was struggling. My runs weren't going well. I was totally burned out by the heat in Virginia. I was just tired all the time. I constantly found myself escaping to the computer, but not to actually do anything productive. I just needed a break from "real life." For two weeks, I took a nice break. I mostly left my job at home. I only ran 3 times all week and two of those were races. We ate out way more than we have on any vacation since we had … [Read more...]
Goalz? I can haz dem?
Source I've been running with very general goals since I injured my achilles back in November. My main "goal" after that was just to get back up and running without reinjuring myself. I accomplished that and then some when I trained for and ran the National Half Marathon this past March. My goal for April was to become a barefoot/minimalist runner. I feel like I've accomplished that. I ran 72.5 miles in April - all of them in VFFs, Merrell Barefoot Pace Gloves, or completely barefoot on the treadmill. I've felt my calves, ankles, and feet become stronger (who knew that running barefoot would make it easier to rock the 4 inch heels!) Now it's time to get serious! So, here are my short term and my long term goals for now (will … [Read more...]
