We're already 6 weeks deep into this half marathon training plan, and man is it getting tough! The speed work is handing it to me, the tempo runs are rather lengthy (and fast!), and the long runs are creeping up little by little. I've got several double digit runs under my belt now, giving me some confidence that my body can handle lots of miles at a time. Some of those long runs have felt easier than others and I have a ton of work to do if I'm going to maintain the pace I need to reach my goal finish time. I'm not 100% sure it's an attainable goal, but I'm certainly going to try.
With the flip of the calendar, I've been thinking about what other goals I'd like to set for 2015. Racing in 2014 was so surreal, and it feels like I'm coming down from a magnificent high as it gets pushed into the past.
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While it's fun to set the bar high with big goals for a new year, I think it's almost more important to set smaller, less glamorous goals as well. I got a big, sexy goal out of the way early by setting up my Etsy shop on January 1st...I really loved the symbolism of opening on the first of the year and busted ass to make it happen. I keep showing up for my workouts to set me up for success in reaching my big goal for the Shamrock half, but I thought it was important to set smaller goals in the meantime and let little victories motivate me along the way. Here are a few of those little goals:
1) Wake up early enough to do my strength workouts from start to finish. No more "40 minutes (instead of an hour) is better than no minutes" crap. Get up. Get it done. All of it.
2) Hip strengthening exercises twice a week. Period.
3) Plank. Every day.
4) Wear sunscreen on every outdoor run this winter, including on my hands. The temporary rosy cheeks I get after a sunny winter run isn't worth the wrinkles (or worse) that are becoming more and more evident.
We're already in mid-January and I'm pleased to report I've been diligently sticking to these goals. They're little things that have been making a big difference in how I feel about myself, which is why I feel it's so important to have them. As great as it is to work toward my big goal for Shamrock, the feeling of accomplishment I get completing these little things is just the Scooby snack I need to stay motivated for the long haul.
I'm giving myself until the end of the month to add at least two more spring races to my calendar, as it's looking pretty empty with just the Shamrock on March 22nd. It gets a little complicated when Mr. Fancy and I both want to race and each have different goals for the year, but I know if we just sit down with a race schedule, we'll work it out.
Your turn now...what are your goals for 2015 (big, small, running, non-running...let's hear 'em!)? If you're a runner, what races are you doing this winter and spring?
With the flip of the calendar, I've been thinking about what other goals I'd like to set for 2015. Racing in 2014 was so surreal, and it feels like I'm coming down from a magnificent high as it gets pushed into the past.
While it's fun to set the bar high with big goals for a new year, I think it's almost more important to set smaller, less glamorous goals as well. I got a big, sexy goal out of the way early by setting up my Etsy shop on January 1st...I really loved the symbolism of opening on the first of the year and busted ass to make it happen. I keep showing up for my workouts to set me up for success in reaching my big goal for the Shamrock half, but I thought it was important to set smaller goals in the meantime and let little victories motivate me along the way. Here are a few of those little goals:
1) Wake up early enough to do my strength workouts from start to finish. No more "40 minutes (instead of an hour) is better than no minutes" crap. Get up. Get it done. All of it.
2) Hip strengthening exercises twice a week. Period.
3) Plank. Every day.
4) Wear sunscreen on every outdoor run this winter, including on my hands. The temporary rosy cheeks I get after a sunny winter run isn't worth the wrinkles (or worse) that are becoming more and more evident.
We're already in mid-January and I'm pleased to report I've been diligently sticking to these goals. They're little things that have been making a big difference in how I feel about myself, which is why I feel it's so important to have them. As great as it is to work toward my big goal for Shamrock, the feeling of accomplishment I get completing these little things is just the Scooby snack I need to stay motivated for the long haul.
I'm giving myself until the end of the month to add at least two more spring races to my calendar, as it's looking pretty empty with just the Shamrock on March 22nd. It gets a little complicated when Mr. Fancy and I both want to race and each have different goals for the year, but I know if we just sit down with a race schedule, we'll work it out.
Your turn now...what are your goals for 2015 (big, small, running, non-running...let's hear 'em!)? If you're a runner, what races are you doing this winter and spring?
