Looking forward: 2014

It was the best way to start the new year.

One of the members of the run club, on Monday, invited everyone to begin 2014 with a run. A resolution run. There were no frills, no set distance, no guidelines. We were to show up at the running store at 10:30 and head off with friends, new and old. But, if we were struggling for conversation along the way, we should talk about our goals.

Running goals for 2014.

I started off with Dave, whom I've run into from time to time but don't know really well. We made chit chat and when I didn't know what to say, strange for me, I asked him about goals. He answered. And then, being the nice guy he is, he politely asked me mine.

::birds chirping::

I stumbled over something and went back to chatting about him - his daughters, work, how sad we were that a downtown coffee shop had slowed. A mile or so in, he fell back a bit and I ran with my buddy Joe. Running with him semi-regularly, I didn't need to come up with a big goal to share. I didn't need to do anything but one foot in front of the other.

After I was finished with the run, I met Mark and Miles at Pizza Hut for lunch. We chowed down on salad and pizza, and once again I was asked about plans for 2014. This time by Mark. (Miles only asked me for more noodles.)

Again, the birds chirped and words were hard to find.

One of the things I've struggled with, if you can say that, as I looked toward and then celebrated the new year is that there is no goal on my mind. I am not itching to PR or complete a new distance. I am not running another marathon. After traveling for three half marathons and Hood to Coast last year, I don't plan to take many racecations in 2014. Outside of running, I don't plan to lose weight. I am not going to try a new diet. I don't want to overhaul my life.

In fact, I think I just want to be. Just be. Me. I want to live my life, a life that includes running, and see where it takes me.

Sweet November

Pre-workout breakfast: Whole-wheat waffles with sliced banana and honey (far, far too much)
Workout: 2.2-mile walk with Denali, 20-minute OnDemand boot camp and 10 minutes of weights to round it out

So, November. It's time to say adieu.

Sure, we've had some good times. There was the 15.9-mile W.O.O.F., where I placed first in my age group. I won't quickly t forget the rainy 101st annual Thanksgiving Day 10k with the family, either. We celebrated the winter harvest with a POM Wonderful party and took things to the Xtreme with Jackie Warner.

We covered 92.43 miles over the course of 19 runs. Our farthest distance was the W.O.O.F. and our fastest run was a short Sunday jaunt with Mark (8:25 pace). We even hit the 1,000-mile mark.

But that's all you get, November, as we say say goodbye. It's time for December and its snow-covered sidewalks, icicle eyelashes and Christmas break jaunts with Mark. There will be 10K-shape maintenance and more QT with Jackie Warner. Maybe I'll even try an ab challenge (I saw Jillian Michaels' 6-pack abs on On Demand this morning) ... or not.

How was your November? Any goals for December?

Belated September recap and October goals

Pre-workout fuel: Cinnabon Cream of Wheat
Workout: 45 minutes "Biggest Loser Bootcamp" and 2.2-ish mile walk with Denali

September, by the numbers:

1 - Half-marathon complete

2 - Number of scraped knees

4 - Number of free water bottles scored at F4F health expo/F4F

6.7 - Average distance per run

8:32 - Pace of fastest run

9:10 - Pace of slowest run

16 - Total number of runs

107.25 - Total miles ran

And now a look at October ...

Goal No. 1: Complete Tall Mom's 83 Miles in October challenge. It will average out to about 21 miles a week, which is close to where I wanted to keep my base. I'll continue to run four times a week - Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday - and do a long-ish run of ~7 miles on Sunday.

Goal No. 2: Follow the "Biggest Loser Bootcamp" program three times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I will follow Level 2 for the first two weeks and up it to Level 3 for the last two weeks. I have taken my measurements and have a "starting" weight so I'm curious to see how things change over the course of the month.

Goal No. 3: Not eat myself into oblivion when I go on a mini-vacation to Louisville. On the opposite end, I will use the hotel gym at least once while I'm there.

What's missing from this list? The River City Rat Race 10K. The run just happens to be the same day as my friend's baby shower (she's expecting twins!). It wouldn't be a problem normally but the race starts at 2 p.m. and the shower at 3 p.m. Factor in that I need to make and deliver the cake, and I have a scheduling issue. Instead, I plan to run a 10K on Thanksgiving day in Cincinnati.

What are your goals for October?