Goals for the next (Nov 1 2013 to Oct 31 2014)

Start of my goals for the coming year.....

1-exercise AND track the exercise more consistently

2-Run more miles--according to my dailymile thing I've done 785 in the last 4 years; 75 in the last year--must aim higher LOL.  start low aim big. 3 times a week I will be out running; as the miles increase, when I reach 4 miles, I will only run long miles ONE time that week. the other two days will be 3 or 4 miles run.

1st week run 1/2 mile

3rd week run 1 mile

5th week run 1.5 miles

7th week run 2 miles

9th week run 2.5 miles

11th week run 3 miles

13th week run 3.5 miles

15th week run 4 miles

17th week run 4.5 miles

19th week run 5 miles

21st week run 5.5 miles

23rd week run 6 miles

25th week run 6.5 miles

27th week run 7 miles

29th week run 7.5 miles

31st week run 8 miles

33rd week run 8.5 miles

35th week run 9 miles

37th week run 9.5 miles

39th week run 10 miles

41st week run 10.5 miles

43rd week run 11 miles

45th week run 11.5 miles

47th week run 12 miles

49th week run 12.5 miles

51st week run 13 miles

52nd week run 13.5

Ugh....my heart dropped to my stomach

It's official-I canceled my trip to Philly today. I hate being an adult sometimes...but I had to do it. While the government "shutdown" is over-we STILL don't know when we will get paid (it sucked working for free for 3 weeks but sux worse not knowing when you're gonna get paid for that work). I'm trying not to be disgruntle (besides what good would it do?) and it's definitely given me incentive to become "debt free" and use the money I would have used for Philly to pay on my credit card.

A bonus for not going to Philly is that I don't have to feel ashamed for not being further along on my training. I used every excuse in the book to NOT work out and 80 percent of the time it worked.  Sometimes old dogs just don't learn new tricks! But I'm not going to feel bad anymore for slacking (no one knows how much I slacked besides YOU guys and who YOU gonna tell!!??? LOL) and wipe the slate as clean as possible. Today's a new day and there are several races in the future.  I'm opting to stay pretty close to home for races until further notice.  This shut down really got to me and really showed the importance of being frugile.  My health IS important but I don't need to travel 870 miles and need to stay in a hotel for 5 days.

Have a great night!

knocking me down but not out....

Not really sure what to write except that at least writing isn't costing me money!! What a last few weeks many of us have had. Realizations setting in that some things just aren't in my future. Like participating in the Philly Half Marathon and spending a wonderful few days in the city in which my family grew up in. As all of you know, the government has "shut down" and are with-holding funds from many folks, including myself. While I am not "furloughed" I am working for no pay; as are many who work for them. Programs are shut down and money is running out for many. I really have no idea how or what to think and what thoughts do come into mind aren't pleasant. Since there is no money coming in and we are needing to dip into savings I've canceled my trip to Philly. Part of me is heart broken while the other part of me senses it's for the best. Due to family health issues I've spent most of the summer driving back and forth from my folks house. While I can't do much to ease my fathers pain and my mothers dispare; I CAN and WILL be there. These trips cost more than just money, it's cost training plans/time needed to prepare. While I know I can complete 13.1 miles, I wasn't going to complete it as I hoped-running. I know there is a bigger better plan and I'll patiently await said plans. And boy does it get dark early! boooooo, I like my sun light! sorry...ding...subject change! Anyhow...what's a girl to do while waiting for the bigger better plan to show? Make her own plans! Ha ha I haven't decided on a plan but I'll get to it. I did pack 285 packs with my "Think of Me" AdvoCare postcards! I'd show you a picture but my ipad does not like blogger. I've also started plotting local races I'd like to do with my running buddy (gingerbread run here we come!) and expanding my reading list. ok so..not such a fun blog post BUT I wanted to write something. I miss writing! have a great rest of the week!

what can you do in 5 minutes or less?

Ok...so I often sit here doing what I do best (Kate is right maybe) and that's being a lil hard on myself. I continously think "how can I do better?" "I need to be better at time management" "I need to do this more or that more" blah blah blah. Often times I forget that MY strengths are not always another persons' strength and by comparing myself (including my body size) I could be setting myself up for failure. And I don't REALLY want that. It's ok to strive to be better and it would certainly behoove me to use my awake time better....well my time in general better.

Every week day morning our alarm goes off at the same time (before crack of dawn) and sadly on the weekends the pug alarms go off about that same time. During the week rather than getting up and staying up I get up, walk the dogs, lay back down and then an hour before needing to be AT work, I scramble to get dressed, walk the dogs a second time and get out the door without forgetting something.  This makes me sluggish and crabby; and I'm having a heck of a time breaking the cycle.

So today I was thinking (again ha ha) about how I could fix this.  HOw can I use the 3 hrs plus before work to my advantage rather than my demise.  I thought about my January list of goals and about how I LOVE the one minute rule (where if something can be done in 60 seconds or less go ahead and do it rather than waiting and having a shit load of things to get done). It has certainly helped me keep a cleaner house. Anyhow I was reading a Real Simple magazine article about what you can do in just 5 minutes that can help start you day off in a more positive manner. Some of the items I wrote down from the article are to drink a tall glass of cold water; make my bed; and a 5 minute stretch routine.  Some other things that I know I can do in 5 minutes or less is empty/fill the dishwasher; floss/brush my teeth and rinse; make a cup of coffee and spark drink. With a little practice I could turn my 7 to 10 minute walk around the block (.46 mile) into a 5 minute jog.

What can you do in 5 minutes that could start your day off in a more positive manner?