Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

February Goals 

Oh heyo February!

I am kind of glad January is done for the year. This happens to be my least favorite time of year. The days are short, winter is in full swing, the holidays are long over and spring seems forever away. But this year more than ever I am not wishing the months away. Cannon is growing up so fast, sometimes I just want to press pause to really soak in who he is now, he is so sweet and fun and precious.


But since I don’t have control over time I guess I will just move along with goals for February.

I always like setting goals for a month, the time is long enough to really get things accomplished but not so long that it’s overwhelming.

For February my goals are:

1. To run 120 miles. This may not seem like much, especially since I am in the thick of marathon training but I am determined to build up slowly so I don’t get injured. I set a goal of running 100 miles in January and just made it with 102 miles.

2. Run everyday in February. I don’t think that a “run streak” is necessary but for me I like the idea of not thinking about when to run and just setting up really good habits of running everyday. It doesn’t have to be long, just 20 minutes to count in my book. This is a fun goal but one I will give up on if I feel that I am going to get injured.

3. Strength train at least twice a week

4. Try to post on the blog at least twice a week, three would be better but I want to be realistic. I really want to remember this time in my life and documenting it here means a lot to me. I would like to include marathon training updates for my first big race back after baby.

5. Continue to prioritize and put family first. January was pretty crazy with some life changes (more on that later) but I was happy that I was still able to be present and prioritize time with my family. This one is a bit intangible but I think I will know if I have been successful.

2016 Intentions

This year thinking about goals or resolutions has been harder than past years. Normally I love this time of year with the fresh start and the feeling of all the possibilities that the new year could bring. I also would have my race schedule pretty well laid out with excitement at getting after some juicy training.

Obviously this year will look a little different, with a baby due in June there will likely not be any big race adventures for me in 2016 and definitely none in the first half of the year. But it is very important to us to continue to have an active lifestyle after our baby is born. I am certain it will look different and be much more complicated but we are committed to continuing in endurance sports.

In my wildest hopeful dreams there could be a marathon for me at the end of 2016, but I have never given birth or recovered from something so big physically so I will be patient and kind to myself and see how things progress. If that means the big race for 2016 is a half marathon or even a 5K that is fine too as long as I am back out on the trails.

Working on goals for August ....never stop dreaming #goals #dreams #thisgirlcan #IMLakeTahoe

So instead of setting data based goals and locking in training cycles I will keep my eye on the big picture and try to keep the following intentions in mind for 2016:

Chase the light

Take risks

Find Patience

Practice Kindness

 

Fourth Quarter Goals 2015

I really love this time of year….September has always had a special place in my heart. To me it feels like the real start of a new year. I guess this comes from years of loving school and working in education since graduating from college.

The year feels fresh, I love the leaves changing and it feels like you get a new start. To be honest I don’t love the shorter days, but you take the good with the bad.

Dark chilly mornings at the pool means the seasons almost over #IMLT

Dark chilly mornings at the pool means the seasons almost over

Luckily in Colorado it stays pretty warm most of September so we can still enjoy dinners al fresco and runs in the mountains so summer isn’t over just yet!

My goals for the last few months of 2015 are very simple and have shaped some of my recent decisions. I have two main goals:

Find Fun and Seek Peace.

These are simple but difficult tasks but will frame my decisions…if an activity will be fun then great, yes please. If a decision will disrupt the peace in my life than no thanks….I’ll move on.

One of the ways we are look to meet these goals is to book a trip to Disneyland in October just because it will be fun. I grew up going to Disneyland almost every summer but haven’t been back in almost 10 years. Cory and I went back in 2006 and had the best time! I am so looking forward to a trip that is just about having fun!

Also I am looking forward to planning some fall adventures on trails. I love trail running and don’t get to do as much of it as I would like when training for triathlons. So more time and trips will be planned to find more dirt on my shoes while thinking about BIG future dreams.

Super inspiring weekend cheering and volunteering at the Leadville 100 #lt100 #ultramarathon #trailrun

Super inspiring weekend cheering and volunteering at the Leadville 100 #lt100 #ultramarathon #trailrun

What are you plans for the last quarter?

2015 Intentions

I have been thinking a lot about 2015 goals and resolutions lately. They rattle around in my brain one trying to edge out the other in terms of importance. I want to show up and race an ironman, run 50 miles for the first time be consistent and stay healthy, etc. All of these goals and many more are very important but for the entire year I want to set intentions. If I keep these four things in mind for 2015 then it will be a great year no matter what else happens outside of my control.

chase big DREAMS
BELIEVE in Possibilities
put in consistent WORK
Dwell in GRATITUDE and peace
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In November

Happy November everyone! After my month of debauchery and unplanned fun it’s time to get back at it and it seems important to set some month goals to help me stay focused. November Goals.jpg

1. Follow training plan and train at least 65 hours this month.

With big races coming up it’s time to refocus.

2. Hit the trails at least once a week twice would be better.

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With my first ultra marathon coming up in three months with 8,400 ft of climbing (more than Ironman Lake Tahoe bike course)

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3. Clean eating 6 days a week (must have cheat day)

4. Take time to be thankful for the big and little things

What will your November goals look like?

July Goals

I am late on a race report AND a vacation update. But we just rolled in last night and I haven’t even located my camera cord to download photos. I LOVE traveling but I am back at work today with loads of laundry to do, bags to unpack and less than 12 weeks until Ironman (YIKES)!
But I wanted to jump in with July goals before July is half over. Time really does fly so I want to get these goals down before I forget.

1.  No eating out in July – This will be easy to start with since on our road trip we had to eat out more than usual and we are looking forward to our usual home cooked meals. The hardest part of this goal is following it on weekends after a long hot training session. The last thing I usually want to do is wait until I get home to make food. So often times the weekend includes grabbing something on the way home (hello Café Rio) before passing out on the couch for a while. To combat this I am going to try to pack healthy food in a cooler to have immediately after working out. This means more time preparing but I am looking forward to seeing how it goes.


2.   No soda. I don’t drink a lot of soda but I LOVE a coke after a long ride or run (I am seeing a theme here). With going into peak training soon I should be filling my body with healthy things not junk.
 


3.  Roll and core work at least 5 times a week. I need to get my in good working order to tackle the next couple months of training.

That’s it for me, do you have any goals for July?

June Goals

Hello Friends! I can’t believe that it’s June 4th already, time to get on those monthly goals. My first triathlon of the year is this month and it’s a half ironman so I really want to focus this month. I started last year with a half ironman so why change things up?!? My goals this month are simple but if I can stick to them I will be very happy. So here they are:

1. Blog at least once a day for all of June

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2. Follow training plan ( I can add a little more swimming or yoga but nothing less)

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3. Eat clean except for one cheat meal a week (have to have some fun)

Simple but probably not easy for me, here we go!!!

In May…

I haven’t lived in Colorado long so it really freaks me out to have 5+ inches of snow in MAY!
I am not going to complain though since last year we spent the summer with half the state on fire, we will take every bit of moisture we can get. I am excited for a fresh new month.
April was a hit and miss month for me in terms of training. I was sick for the first two weeks and had a pretty crappy race while coming down with the demon cold. Then just as I was recovering it was off to Moab for 4 days of triathlon fun. I was not 100% but I was at least well enough to participate and that made me happy. I came back to town and got a fairly decent week of training in with a killer brick in the sunshine. Then the end of the semester hit. I am just entering finals week so there is a lot of work to do for school, luckily this week is a recovery week so I can focus a little more on classes/finals/research/etc. Then after finals are over in a week I have almost four and a half weeks before summer semester starts (bliss).
In May…..
May will be a little hit and miss as well for training but I knew that was coming. I am going to Baja for a research trip for work. This won’t be a cushy work trip with hotel pools and gyms to work out in. This is sleeping in tents and avoiding scorpions. I don’t know exactly what the conditions will be but I am hoping I can get some running and hopefully ocean swims in while I am away for 12 days. Obviously there will be no biking. I am nervous what this will do to my fitness. But I have three weeks before I go so I will try to get as much time in on the bike between now and then and just deal with the consequences when I get back. So my goals for May are simple:
  • Follow training plan completely for the next three weeks
  • Foam roll and core at least 4 times a week
  • strength training two times a week
  • Yoga two times a week
  • Work on our yard during school break so we can enjoy it during the summer

Anyone had to travel while training for a race for so long without equipment? Did you lose fitness?

January Goals Check In


WIth the month almost half over (Already?!?!) I thought it was time to check in on my January goals since there is still time to make them happen if I have been slacking:

1.    Train no less than 45 hours total for the month On course to complete this one
2.       Miss no more than 3 planned workouts Missed two already better stay focused and not get sick again!
3.       Don’t buy food out more than twice Bought dinner once, not too shabby
4.       Blog at least 20 times (5 times a weekish) this is to work on the consistency Only 8 times so far this month, so best get after it
5.       Get organized before classes start and stay on schedule I am ready and got ahead of some work, so this ones a win
6.       Take more pictures Extra big fail =( I have barley taken any pictures this month, good thing I still have time to get it on film (thanks blazeman)

So to work on #6 I snapped a quick photo of an exciting purchase from yesterday

Our first Le Creuset Dutch Oven in a pretty robins egg blue. Winston wondered what all the excitement was about. 

He still dosen’t get it but he sure is funny!

January 2013 Goals

 In an attempt to get to my BIG 2013 Resolutions I think it’s helpful to make monthly goals. I am a few days behind but that’s ok better late than never, riiiiight.
January is a hard time to train, it’s cold and dark 80% of the time. But it’s time to get after it anyway. Time to invest in cold weather gear to ride in and get used to the trainer again. Anyway here are some goals I would like to achieve in January:
1.       Train no less than 45 hours total for the month
2.       Miss no more than 3 planned workouts
3.       Don’t buy food out more than twice (traveling doesn’t count) I did this way too much in Dec. and it’s not good for the wallet or the waist!
4.       Blog at least 20 times (5 times a weekish) this is to work on the consistent
5.       Get organized before classes start and stay on schedule
6.       Take more pictures
There it is, hopefully January won’t hold any surprises for me, until then I will be dreaming of palm trees and Miami ING Half Marathon