Back to Basics in 2015!

Happy New Year to you all! A fresh, new start to a lovely, perfect, unspoiled new year is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a time to set new goals, dream a little and start over. I love it and it's exactly what I need to kick start my activity levels right now. 2014 was disappointing from a running perspective:(. I'm not going to go over all of the goals I missed for a change - I didn't do so badly in all areas and I've decided to just be kind to myself and look forward instead :). I am very happy to say that I did manage to end the year much more committed than I started it, and I've been running regularly again lately and am nearing completion of the Couch-to-5K program! I feel super proud of the training plan on the fridge with sessions actually crossed off to schedule!

I'm not sure that these goals won't change but feel like I should write them down anyhow so here goes for 2015...

1. Work out more often (3 times a week at least)
2 12 events
3. Any of the following: 10K, sprint tri, bike 25 miles
4. Increase my walking
5. Lose 15 lbs!

 

These seem to be in line with where I am at right now and I know how to do this so it's time to get back to basics and make it happen! Happy New Year!

Making progress finally!

I pulled off a virtual 5K today for diabetes on the treadmill at lunchtime! It was tough and slow but I am so stinking proud of myself that I got it done!

 

 

So that's 3 races out of the 14 that I had planned done so far for this year - I think I'll sign up for another one and see if I can make some more progress:)

My new plan

The year is flying by and I have made little progress with my 2014 health goals:(. I've been wondering how to get back on track and whether or not these goals are even relevant to me any more? It feels so strange but I just haven't felt motivated to race lately and I'm not even sure if I ever want to get back to running at all. I have been dabbling with it the past few weeks on the treadmill for a couple of miles a couple of times a week but that is all. I don't have the confidence for an in-person 5K right now but I don't feel ready to throw in the towel yet either. I think I'll have a last 'push' and then decide if I want to continue with running or try something else completely. So here are my original goals and a new plan:):

1. Work out more often (3 times a week at least) - I'm doing much better here lately:). I am still walking regularly and even managed to hit the work gym for a run at lunchtime this week. Working a midday run in twice a week when my energy levels are goo will really help me fit in my activity more regularly.
2 14 in-person events in 2014 (one each month and a couple of extras). I think it's unlikely at this point that I'll get this done if they are all in-person :(. So rather than give up, I'm going to sign up for a virtual event so that I can still align with a good cause, have accountability to record my time, and share the experience with other runners, albeit electronically:).
3. Any three of the following: 10K, sprint tri, bike 25 miles. I need to get started here - Biking once a week shouldn't be that much to ask surely!
4. Either PR or complete a 5K in under 30 minutes during an event. I'm not even going to think about this one for now...let's see how I feel after a month.
5. Lose 15 lbs! So I am about 2 lbs down. Eating clean and staying active is the right way so I need to knuckle down and get it done!

2014 has been an amazing year so far with a fantastic new career start for me! I would love to end the year re-energized physically as well and there's still much of the year left. Rebuilding the habit will be tough but I know I will feel great and I have done it before so I know it's possible!

I'm a CROW pro!

Canoe Races of the World, also known as C.R.O.W., is a beloved, annual event that dates back to 1963. Scores of Disney Cast Members arrive at Magic Kingdom before sunrise each July to participate. About 80 teams (each has 10 people on board) compete on the Rivers of America before the park opens in canoes that were part of the original Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes attraction. Teams that row around Tom Sawyer’s Island with the best times, averaging around five minutes, advance to the finals and get a chance to race against the clock in a championship round.

This was my third year as a CROW participant so I was only eligible to compete in the pro league which was a little intimidating! I wasn't sure how I'd even find a team since I had just transferred to my new position in the Workforce Management team in May so I was really thrilled to learn that the local CROW coordinator was in the office next door to mine. She got me hooked up and I was really happy to be able to participate for the third year in a row!

The first year my boat came in at just over 7 minutes. Not fast enough to place, but a very respectable first-time performance. (link here!). Last year we came in at just over 6 minutes  (link here!) so that was the time I was looking to beat:)

My new boat buddies...

 

We were doing so well on the big day but unfortunately the boat in front of us ran into trouble and obstructed our final approach:(. We still beat the time but lost about 30 seconds in the near collision. Regardless, we had a great time and there's always next year! So happy I signed up and made some new friends!

Clare is Walking :)

I always think that "not enough time" is a poor excuse for not working out. So I'm not going to say that:). I'm going to need to find a better excuse for why I haven't done hardly anything for literally months now...umm... how about "not enough energy"? Well it's still a bit of a lousy excuse but I think that's as close as I can get to why I've not stayed in any kind of training program for weeks. Truth is I have been completely and 100% focused on getting (and getting started with) a new job and everything else has been put to the side. I have managed to keep up with walking though and do about 10K steps almost every day now which is about double where I was at the beginning of the year. There are so many benefits to walking. It makes vacationing easy when you don't have to worry about tired feet. This is my 'highest steps' day of the year so far in DC - I had a blast :)

 

And you get to see really cool stuff if you walk at night. Like this massive, amazing wolf spider with her babies on her back...

 

Or this beautiful yellow rat snake...

 

And this Mediterranean Gecko :)

 

Best of all - our family walks are a great chance to catch up with each other and stay connected:)

My family has been so supportive through the transition and now I've been in the role for 30 days I think it's time to get active again. I'm excited :)

March for Meals

This morning was a *landmark* moment because we did our very first event together as a family :) :). We supported Meals for Wheels at their 11th Annual March for Meals walk by beautiful Lake Monroe in Sanford...

 

They had a great network of volunteers, sponsors and participants that all showed up despite the overnight rain to support their mission to feed homebound seniors in the local community...

 



 

Since I got my Fitbit for Christmas, I've discovered just how sedentary my lifestyle is:(. It's been a big wake up call actually - I've learned that when I am not running or working out, I am basically sitting which is something I need to change by incorporating walking into my daily routine.

 

 

And I'm also learning that I really like walking:). You can explore a new place in a different way, see new things and have some great conversations too! We also have a walking group now at work to stretch our legs during the workday:).

 



 

We saw a ton of ospreys :)

 

 

Too cute :)

 

 

After we were done I ate my first Meals on Wheels breakfast (which was really good) and one of their volunteers played guitar. He was amazing and only 11!!

Mike loved his shirt!

 

And I won one of the drawings! A Target gift card - yes please!!

 

 

Great cause, beautiful scenery and my little family all together - feeling so grateful this morning :)

 

 To find a local Meals on Wheels program, here's the link:) http://www.mowaa.org/findameal

Mike's Mud Life Crisis:)

It was Mike's birthday this week so he was determined to celebrate with his very favorite mud run!

 

Before...

 

 

During...

 

 

And After...

 

Congratulations Mike!

Team Daaaaaamn!!!!

Cool action shots from the race...

Event 2 of 14 in 2014 - Winter Garden 2 miler and 10K

Team Daaaaammmnnn!!! showed up for the annual Winter Garden 2-miler and 10K this weekend! I didn't feel quite ready for the 10K yet this year so rather than give up altogether, I decided to focus on running a bit faster for the 2-miler instead.

 

I came in at just under 20 minutes which was the fastest I've ran in some time so I was really pleased! Mike did the 2-miler as a warm up for the 10K :). It was fun to be a spectator and cheerleader for his race a change!

 

We went for a coffee at Axum - the best coffee shop in the world - while Mike was setting the pavement alight...

 

And just over 50 minutes later - he was in so we gave him some 'over-the-line' love :)

 

He looked great and earned some fabulous bling...

 

Great job Mike!

 

My activity levels are gradually increasing in 2014 now and I've even tried hot yoga a couple of times (which was tough but made me feel really great afterwards). This week I also played tennis again after a 15 year hiatus and totally loved it! Getting back to regular activity has been so much tougher than slacking off was but it's coming back together now and I'm starting to feel much better. I'll get there :)

West Orange Trail

We finally got around to biking the West Orange Trail at the weekend as a family:). After several failed attempts and some help from google we managed to figure out how to get all three bikes on the back of the car safely...

It was a lot of hassle the first time but once we got out there it was so beautiful and totally worth it :)

And most importantly we got the bikes back on the rack afterwards. Nice work Mike!

Event 1 of 14 in 2014 - Seasons 52

It feels like such a long time since I've done a race and one of my goals for 2014 is to do at least 14 in-person events. So we signed up for Seasons 52 which is a beautiful 5.2K in pretty Winter Park to get the year officially underway! It was really cold - just above freezing point - so I broke my golden rule never to wear cotton during the run. After a nerve racking start we were off and warmed up in no time! My goal was just to run the whole thing which I did for the first time in weeks! 

 

 

Mike has discovered photobombing....:)

 

 

He was done in just under 27 minutes!

It was Lu's birthday!

 

It's a Team Daaaaaammmnn!!! reunion - Happy New Year:)

Goals for 2014!!

Setting goals is one of my favorite things to do:). It's a time to imagine the future, dream of what's possible, celebrate past accomplishments and put failures behind you and move forward:). So with that in mind, here are the not-so-spectacular results from 2013...

Goals for 2013:

1. Run more often. This one was an epic fail:(. I ran less often in 2013 than during the previous two years. I'd love to make it all better by saying that I fell in love with another activity but that would be a lie. I fell in love with laziness:(
2. Do at least 12 in-person events, and one each month. I completed 16 in-person events in 2013 but missed an event for two months of the year :(
3. Complete two Half Marathons. This time I mean it :). Apparently I didn't. I completed one Half and a 10-miler
4. PR at two different distances - existing ones. I PR'd at the Tower of Terror:)
5. Lose 15 pounds. Ruh roh. I weigh exactly the same today as at the beginning of 2013:(

So what happened??? There were some really bright spots to the year but part of the problem with hitting the goals was simple lack of motivation. I fell out of love with running during some of the year and didn't switch successfully to something else to stay active. I need to build that flexibility into my goals for next year for sure. June was tough - with more focus on proper sleeping habits I would have had a better chance at getting up to run more easily which is key when it super hot. I also wasn't very organized which would have helped me bike and swim when I didn't feel like running. Eating has been a bit of a hot mess this year. Too much sugar and mindless overeating.

So, here are my goals for 2014...drumroll please...

1. Work out more often (3 times a week at least)
2 14 in-person events in 2014 (one each month and a couple of extras)
3. Any three of the following: 10K, sprint tri, bike 25 miles
4. Either PR or complete a 5K in under 30 minutes during an event
5. Lose 15 lbs!

How am I going to do all of these? Firstly, I'm making the commitment by writing these goals down! I've already signed up for Janathon (which means I need to work out every day for a month) to start out the year on track:). I've also signed up for '14 in 2014' which gives me access to a group of people on Facebook doing the same to keep me inspired and motivated. Planning is going to be really important so my next job is to make a race/training plan for the year, to include some speed work. On the weight loss front, I'm wearing a new Fitbit and tracking calories on myfitnesspal. To help manage the sugar cravings I'm going to be relying on my new, trusty Yonanas machine which is a great alternative to ice cream which is frankly the devil's spawn. I've also signed up for yoga with a friend so that will help me stay accountable and keep the stress levels down which has been a major driver in recent overeating episodes. On the motivation front - I'm also going to try and align my activity with good causes. I've signed up for www.weightlessproject.org to help fight malnutrition through activity and I'm going to pick some races with worthy beneficiaries. In 2014, my mantra is going to be "Running for a Reason"!!! I'm excited...

Turkey Trot 5K

Today we celebrated Lu's 3rd year runniversary! Track Shack hosted a fantastic Turkey Trot benefiting Seniors First in downtown Orlando. It has been a while and it was 38 degrees when we got there so we were freezing and full of nervous energy at the start line!



Thousands of people turned out - many in costume - and loads of families to celebrate the day together. We felt so happy and positive with such great people around us :)

 

I saw the lovely Sheila after the race - she finished in under 30 mins:)

We came in at right around 33 mins however :) but managed to run the whole thing which was exactly what we had hoped for. The route was so pretty - I love Lake Eola!

 

 

Today was perfect. I am so grateful for my husband, my daughter, my family, my town, my health, my work and my running partner :)

 

 

Running friendships are as beautiful as they are STRONG!!!