2014 Resolutions and Races

Last night, as we watched various "looking back at 2013" shows while waiting for the ball to drop, there was one segment wherein celebrities weighed in on making resolutions. The statistic thrown out there was that only 8% of people keep them, and therefore it's stupid to make them.

We spent the new year playing games and cooking over a bonfire.

I don't know; in the case of all those celebrities, I think admitting you're too flaky to commit to a goal for the year isn't something to be proud of. And I do think setting goals throughout the year and re-evaluating as necessary is really important, too.

But for me...well, running-related resolutions have gotten me this far, and for me they've become an important tradition that keeps my training focused and moving forward.

Last year, my resolutions got a bit long-winded. This year, I'm going for simplicity in statement, but the resolutions themselves are going to be challenging.

My main goal this year is to strengthen my body in order to improve my over-all fitness for running. I am going to really focus on incorporating squats and lunges into my rest days. I've also been doing two planks a day, one as soon as I wake up, and one before bed; among other core-strengthening exercises, I plan to keep that up.

I'm going to achieve this goal by researching different exercises to avoid getting bored and going to the gym more consistently.

I need to be more conscious this year about how I treat my body daily, not only for running, but for my health in general. I'm going to be smarter about eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, and getting to bed at a decent hour. I also need to continue to be smart about my training, taking breaks if necessary, and adjusting my training plans to what fits my needs.

This goal always serves me well. Like last year, and the year before, I plan to run a race a month. However, certain months don't offer nearby races to choose from, and I wanted to add some flexibility in case of injury. So I've edited this one to be a little less stringent but still meet its main purpose, which is to make sure I run 12 races a year.

This may be the most important resolution of all! I began 2013 in a slump and it took until the RW Summer Run Streak to really break out of it fully. I don't want to face that again. I'm starting this year motivated and excited to run, and I want to keep it that way!

Of course, the question of how exactly is a little tricky. Sometimes we get into ruts and it can be tough to get out. So I'm simply going to do my best to avoid getting into a rut in the first place; I have races lined up that I'm excited for, I'm not focusing too much on numbers and stats, and I'm just enjoying it.

Later this year, I'll probably start to work on improving my times again, but I think it's more important to have fun during training right now, especially with a half and Ragnar just around the corner!

Which brings me to races! Here's the line up for the year so far:

January: Suncoast Half Marathon
February: Ragnar and possibly the Paradise Coast Half Marathon
March: Komen 5k Race for a Cure, possibly the Marco Island Bridge Run Half Marathon, and the Fast and the Furriest 5k.
April: Shark's Tooth 10k

 I'm still working on piecing together May through December, but I'm hoping to run some of the races I did last year again, and I'm considering adding another half marathon in November or December.

Cori at Olive to Run posted the other day about choosing a single word to represent your goals for the year. After some thought, I've chosen "dedication" as my word. In order to fulfill my goals and resolutions, I know I will have to be dedicated to putting in time and effort, even on the days I'm not feeling it. Hell, especially on those days!

As it is, I'm actually really excited for this year. I have a good feeling about 2014!

Have you set a race calendar for 2014?
What are you most looking forward to this year?
What are you letting go and leaving behind in 2013?

ABK