Happy Fresh Start
Every day offers a chance for a new start. New Years Day seems to carry more weight. People make resolutions every year. Statistically 12% of them succeed. Studies have been done to see why these succeed. This website focuses in on success. Plan to succeed!
Focus on one goal: My goal is to run a 10k in less than my age. I turn 55 in a couple of weeks. The goal then
breaks down into running about 8:52 miles for 6.2 miles.
Have a Plan: My plan first is to be able to cover the distance. I will be running the Green Bay Half Marathon (13.1 miles in May). My goal for that race is 2:11:00 or 10 minutes per mile. It is realistic my PR(personal record) half is 1:57:45. Hopefully as training progresses my time will land a little closer to my PR. These last couple of years have been a struggle with back and achilles tendon issues. So, I have set an attainable goal.
Work the Plan: The most common resolution is weight loss. That is a great goal. Follow the process. Eat Healthier. Eat less. Move more. Too many people throw the towel in on resolutions because of setbacks. You did not lose that 2 pounds this week, so you give up. Plan what you can control. I will exercise a minimum of 30 minutes every day. You can control that.
Get Back On The Wagon-NOW! There will be days that you fail. For instance I might schedule a 5 mile run in say 47:30. Maybe I will get really tired 3 miles in and be forced to walk some. My time might come in at 50:00. I failed. I refuse to beat myself up over a failed daily goal. Maybe things get tight as they often do in this business and you did not get your daily 30 minutes of exercise. Don't beat yourself up, but don't make a habit of it either.
Break the Goals Down: Right now it takes me about 20 minutes to run 2 miles. Have a plan every day. Have weekly and monthly plans. For instance my goal could be to be able to run 2.5 miles in 25 minutes by the end of the week. By the end of January I will be able to run 6 miles in an hour.
Have a Partner: For me our little training group for the marathon is more than 200 people. They miss you if you aren't there. For OTR truckers challenge a friend to share the goal. A nightly phone call might constitute peer pressure for you. Join a face book group. Our truckin' runners face book group has 325 members who support each other.
I came home this week to fresh fallen snow. The same snow that I had been fighting for the last week just seemed fresh and peaceful. It symbolized a new and fresh start to me, just like the new year. SO-HAPPY FRESH START DAY-and let me know how you are doing.