Back in the Saddle...

(Editors Note: This blog is published late because not only does the writer procrastinate running, she also procrastinates writing about running) 


Or... The Good News and the Bad News......

First, the good news... I can run again!

My quacky doctor ordered another X-ray and has said my toe is healed. He also said that I can go back to my normal activities, including running, but starting off easy.
I know it's not my doctor's fault that I broke my toe. But he certainly made me run the wickets of Army bureaucracy before letting me know that I was cleared to run. I will spare you the rants on the Army medical system and all of it's woes. The good news is that I can get back to running

Now, the bad news....I am so out of shape!

Despite my best intentions, I really fell off the fitness wagon. I gave up any extra exercise just before Christmas and haven't really regained any schedule. So, once again I find myself just beginning to be a resolutionary deep into February. I'm really frustrated, because my 2012 racing season seemed so promising and now I feel like I'm starting right back at square one. It seems like my goals for 2012 look mysteriously like my goals at the beginning of 2011.

• Drop 10 pounds
• Qualify for Boston
• Run 1200 miles for the year
• Eat like an athlete
• Keep weekly mileage at least 20 miles per week
• Take speed work seriously
• Keep better records
• Become more flexible
• Practice Yoga
• Become more athletically diverse
• Blog weekly 

 Even though I cracked last year's 1,000 mile goal  early, it still seems like a repeat of the last two years.

I'm trying not to become discouraged, but admittedly it's hard. So this weeks small goal is to rededicate myself to my fitness goals. I hope that by the end of the month fitness is a solid part of my life again.

In Summation: Goals=Unrealized; Blog=Dusty; Eating Habits=Grotesque; Yoga Practice=Non-Existent; Faith in Mankind=Hanging out on Heartbreak Hill

Is a Resolutionary...As Long as It's Still January Right?

Or...The Road to Resolution and the Deterioration of Resolutions Past
 Every year, I make a vast list of New Year's Resolutions. Seriously, it's nearly a page long, sometimes more. Every. Single. Year. Apparently I think I need significant self-improvement. But mostly the list looks something like this: Finish Degree, Write a book, Lose 10 lbs. Run Boston Marathon. Stop Biting Nails. Etc. etc. Except for a few items this list has evolved into a list of goals, or a To-Do list for the year. Thus far this has been a great system for me and I've since completed my Bachelor's degree in English and Finally stopped biting my nails. However, I seem to remember writing, years ago, on a list: Stop Procrastinating. Unfortunately it seems this nasty little habit has crept back into my life again. I've placed 'Stop Procrastinating' in the number one spot of this year's list which on the 22nd of January has just became a realization. Agreed, it's a little pathetic, but as the title states, I'm still a Resolutionary as long as it's still January...Right? Right? Right.
 Although I won't bore you with entire list of Self-Improvements 2011, in the number 2 slot is:

Qualify for the Boston Marathon

Read about it here: http://www.baa.org/

I've made only 3 bona fide attempts at this goal, as from Sept 2009- Sept 2010 I was busy leading the Life Parenthetical in the capitol city of Afghanistan. 

Now with 2009 and 2010 thankfully in the rear-view mirror, 2011 is destined to be my year for all positive accomplishments!

Basically this is a long run-up (no pun intended) to invite you to join me, at least virtually on my journey toward a Boston Qualifying marathon time. I'm hoping that publicly chronicling this endeavor will help to hold me accountable to my training program and keep me motivated! Please feel free to read, comment, commiserate and encourage, I need all the help I can get! 

In Summation: Procrastination=Sucks and I hope it's a thing of the past; Resolutions=Are cool, I don't care what anyone says; Introductory Blog=Ran a little long;