I never would have suspected a year ago that 2012 was the year I would become a runner, but that’s what happened. In May 2012, I set myself a goal: complete the Couch to 5K program, and run a 5K race. I finished the program, and ran my first ever race: the Shipyard 5K in Portland, ME. By the time 2012 ended, I had completed four races, lost 40 pounds, and was training for my first half marathon!
As I gradually eased myself into the cult of running, one thing that was really helpful in keeping me focused was having clear goals to work towards. In the beginning, it was to complete the C25K training program (and on tough days, that simply became making it to the end of the run segment of a workout). Then, each race became its own goal, and finishing each one gave me the confidence boost to tackle the next. Since I took my first step on this journey in May 2012, setting and reaching my goals has created the momentum to make running a regular part of my life.
So now it’s 2013, and I want to set a few goals to start the year. Some are goal races, some are more about the perspective I want to keep, and one is a simple mileage goal. Because life is full of surprises, I’m sure that these goals might morph or change or grow over the course of the year, but I think they are a good place for me to start.
Goal 1: Princess Half Marathon!
So I’m not going to lie, watching a video of the Princess Half Marathon was the spark that inspired me to try running in the first place. I am such a Disney nerd that the idea of finding another way to experience the Happiest Place on Earth was a huge motivation for me. When I am in the middle of one of those “bleh” runs, I try to envision myself running triumphantly through Cinderella’s Castle. I am thrilled to be tackling this race, but I have a feeling it’s going to act as some sort of gateway drug into a full blown runDisney addiction.
Despite my excitement for this race, I am a little apprehensive. The Princess Half is run in February, and while winter running conditions might be great in Florida, they are a bit more challenging in Vermont. In addition, the holiday crunch of December (both at work and at home) really threw me out of my training groove. In short, as my training distances should have been building, they started to flounder. Right now, at roughly six weeks out from the race, I am playing catch up. Everything I’ve read, including several training plans, say that if I can get to 10 miles in training, I will make it through the race, but I really wanted to have the confidence of knowing FOR SURE that I can run 13.1 miles.
Fortunately, the Princess Half is not a race I was planning to run for time. The things I am most looking forward to relate to the experience: the costumes, the characters, the Castle, and the overall energy of 20,000 princesses! While my primary goal is to finish, I also want to be able to get out of my own head enough to enjoy and appreciate everything happening around me.
Goal 2: Log 500 Miles in 2013!
When I started on my running journey, I discovered the amazing tool that is Runkeeper! The site is an easy way to track results, goals, routes, just about anything you can think of. Runkeeper tells me that in 2012, I ran just under 250 miles. Considering that I started running mid-year, and most of the first few months were distances of 2 miles or less, I really think this is an achievable goal for me, especially now that I’m tackling longer distances like the half. I also think this goal will be a good bridge to carry me from race to race, so even when I am not working on a training plan for a particular event, every mile I run will count toward this goal.
Goal 3: Shipyard Half Marathon, Portland ME!
When I was trying to figure out which 5K would be my first, I decided on the Shipyard Old Port Half-Marathon and 5K in Maine. Yes, there are a ton of races in my own Vermont back yard, but there were several things that drew me to the Shipyard. First, it would mean a fun weekend with my sister-in-law in a great city. Second, races sponsored by a brewery often tempt you with a free beer at the end. In this case, runners were offered free beer, pizza, ice cream, and other goodies. These incentives sounded good to me, but even more importantly, they sounded good to my husband and his sister, which meant they committed to racing with me. We had such a blast, and it was an amazing feeling of accomplishment that I got to share with two of my favorite people in the world.
This year, I want to focus on completing the half-marathon portion of this race. There’s a feeling of incredible pride and accomplishment to even be considering this half, when less than a year ago completing the 5K seemed like a daunting idea. I’m really looking forward to coming full circle, in a sense, so it goes on the goal list!
Goal 4: Let Go of the Feeling I’m Not “Fast Enough,” and Appreciate my Successes
Okay, so this particular goal isn’t necessarily one that is specific or measurable, but important nonetheless. I know for a fact that I will never be the fastest runner on the road, and I accept that without any problem. However, I find myself with a tendency to compare my performance to others, whether it’s a real-life friend or someone online. Somehow, I always feel I come up short by comparison; I’m not running as far or as fast as others in my world.
The bottom line is, I am an individual, and my path is never going to be identical to someone else’s. I need to embrace that, and stop beating myself up that I don’t “measure up” to some standard that I’ve put on myself. I need to be kinder to myself, and allow myself to unabashedly celebrate my wins, without side by side comparison to someone in different circumstances. Having said that, I know that there are things I can do to improve my own performance, like strength workouts, and being consistent in following my training plans. If I want to be the fastest runner I can be, I will look at those things I can control, not what I can’t. Easier said than done for me, but that is my goal for 2013.
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