Un-goals for 2012

Last year, on New Year's Day, I registered for my first marathon.  I made it another goal to find a group of runners to run with regularly and could keep up with me. ( and by keeping up with me, I mean staying way back in the "dust zone").

 

That second goal was very successfully achieved.  The first one, no matter my intentions, was not -and it bothered me immensely longer than it should have.  So, I think this year, I am going to resolve to set some new year un-goals for running.

1. Get better, in "general".  I'm still on the comeback from the summer disaster, from a Christmas eve sprained ankle and general aches and pains associated with getting way out of shape and putting on extra weight.  I want to feel stronger again, healthier and harvest a positive mental state.  I won't lie and say that one and only (probably mismarked from the outlet) size (very small number) skirt in my closet is something would like to get above my right thigh again, but, unlike in the past, I want to ignore the vanity numbers and focus on vitality in my running and health.

2. Do more yoga.  I rented a yoga DVD on Netflix because I want to continue working on strength through balance. The DVD I got was fantastic. By the end, my whole body felt open and limber.  Then, I started some quick and dirty internet research on running and yoga and it looks as though the marriage is a positive one.  Not that I am on track to becoming a die hard yogi, but it's something I want to experiment with, just because.

3.fuggediboutit.  I've tried being the runner who wanted to PR everything, analyzed the mile splits and count the miles run in a year.  Sometimes I still care about pace, but that's not always fun or rewarding.  In fact, it has caused some downright awful race experiences.  I won't be giving up my garmin anytime soon, but miles and smiles matter more than time.

4.  Cut the w(h)ine.  Quit complaining so much at the expense of a few self-deprecating laughs.  Stop continuing on the path of being known as the Lake Effect Run Club lush.  (note:  it was the holidays, alright?)

Well, these sound like real goals, I know.  But, I'm taking my running day by day, being thankful for the good runs I've had, and leaving the bad ones out on the road.  Maybe by mid spring I will have a different mindset.  Maybe I will get hurt again or be a better, faster, sleeker runner than I've ever been.  Who knows. "I can't stop thinking big".