Thursday, December 31, 2015

Holiday TRAINing Derailment

Finally back for an update on my BREAK-over goals.  Seems that Christmas Break didn’t slow down the crazy that much.  I have made progress toward some of my goals, even with some obstacles in my way. 
For example, I finally got my Christmas decorations up about 2 days before Christmas.  Nothing like cutting it close.
A few other goals, cleaning out the barn, redecorating the upstairs bathroom, and working on the taxes… well, they were not completely neglected but not finished either.  I still have a few more days off.
I did finish a good book, A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck.  His Grandma Dowdel books always bring me joy.  I also got to spend some quality time with my Granny, my Mama, and my brother’s family.  Good stuff!
A super-cool surprise was getting some GUITAR time with my favorite guy in the world… and I did say GUITAR TIME—not singing time.  He taught me four songs that now I am accountable to practice.  HMMM… it’s interesting.  The more classic 3-chord numbers I learn on GUITAR, the more inspired I become to write my own classic 3-chord numbers.  Anyway, more about that later.
Here’s the update you may be waiting for… DID I finish 40 miles by the end of the year?  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I gave myself 14 days to finish 40 miles. (Click HERE to read about it in this POST.)  
Fighting last minute Christmas must-dos, crazy weather, and illness, I am close, but don’t know if I’ll fully meet the goal.  Today is my last day, and it’s not over yet, but I still have almost 7 miles to go. 
I went into this knowing that I might not make it, but with 3 days to go and only 12 miles left, I was feeling good and SURE I had this.  THAT’S WHEN IT HIT ME… and I do mean HIT me, like a Mack truck hauling it on the interstate… the stomach virus from… well you’ve heard of the place. 
I’d already lost one day (Day 4, Monday) doctoring my poor baby with this horrible thing. (She proclaimed her sick day THE WORST DAY EVER, and I was inclined to agree with her.  I can’t stand to see my baby sick.)  Truthfully, I thought I had a touch of her virus the next day (Tuesday), so my time on the RED DIRT was shorter that day, only 2 miles instead of the 4 in my plan…

BUT I HADN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET.  Monday, I was up and raring to go—super productive and on the right track.  I finished 4 miles and was feeling great.  I came in, had a healthy lunch, and BOOM!  Mack truck!  Out of commission all evening and the next day.  I did lose 4 pounds in 2 days, but I do not recommend this plan! So yesterday, still a little weak, I got back on the RED DIRT track, walking like a wounded turtle, but I made up a little by doing 5 ¼ miles.  Today to finish out my goal, I’ll have to do almost 7 miles.  I’m not saying I will, but I am not giving up either.  God has given me the GRACE to want to finish, but I am still a fallible girl. I’ll let you know what happens!  

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Christmas Break-Over

My life has been CRAZY. The word routine seems to have been deleted from my vocabulary, along with the words rest and organization. So for Christmas Break I am determined to get some things done, clean some things up, set & meet some goals. The Christmas "Break-over”, I'm calling it.
The last bell rang Friday, and I started to make a to-do list in my head. How will I get it all done?  I started thinking how I hate to tell people my goals because then they'll know if I fail. I hate the idea of anyone thinking I'm all talk and no action, and what if things don't work out?  Sometimes they don’t.  What if I lose focus? 
Then I’ll feel the guilt of being a failure, and who needs that? But suddenly I realized that maybe somebody out there does need that, to know that failure can happen, but fear of failure doesn't have to stop anyone from trying. Maybe I'm not the only one. Or maybe this will keep me on track since I wouldn't want you to see me fail.
So here goes... Cue appropriate sound track... Christmas Break-over Goal 1 is to run/walk 40 miles by the end of the year. This may sound totally unreachable to some while others are thinking "so what, that's no big deal".  Let me explain that there are 13 days left in 2015. That means I can only skip 3 days of 4 miles each day to do this-- 4 days actually, since I killed 4 miles yesterday on day one of Christmas Break-over.
Another note, I am not one of those folks who counts every step I take all day long; I am only counting specific RED DIRT Gym time, only those miles set aside for the purpose of getting me fit.
I CAN do this, but it's gonna take focus, dedication, and maybe some new Nikes; mine have just about had it... So Santa if you're reading this... ;)
GRACE and peace to all through this wonderful season.

Goal
40 miles by year's end

Day 1 Friday 12/18.....4 miles