One Year.

I keep debating whether or not to actually push 'Publish' on this one. It just sounds a little too over-indulgent (I guess that's part of the purpose for a blog though). But, honestly, that's not the point here. I'm not trying to fish for compliments. The point is set your mind to a goal and achieve it. Bag the excuses - all of them - and work hard. I don't care what the goal is, that is what this year has truly proven to me. Anything is possible. OK, I feel better now and suddenly a bit more motivated myself.

I mentioned in my last post that running the 5K on Thanksgiving Day marked my one-year 'Runiversary'. I use that day because it was the first time I actually committed to running. Running with actual goals and trying to go beyond the 3 easy, slow miles that I would regularly crank out on the treadmill.

Last year, I completed that 5K in 41:05 by walking/jogging it with my husband. That moment sparked some sort of internal competitiveness that I didn't know I had in me. I've never been the least bit competitive yet have always considered myself a hard-working, motivated person. I know how to work towards a goal. It happened when I lost 50+ pounds a few years ago and there have been lots of other non fitness/weight loss things as well. At that 5k though, I realized these races could be a form of competing against myself. I'm never going to be winning any races, but I can certainly compete against myself in them. I finally understood!

One year later and I completed that same course in 25:07. Funny what you can do when you have an actual goal to work towards. Ever since the weight loss, I developed a love of exercise. I loved the energy boost and craved it if I started to slack. That feeling kept me going back. However, I will say things were a bit stagnant. I was in maintenance mode. I lost all the weight I wanted to lose. With the new lifestyle of healthy eating and moderate exercise, it wasn't that difficult to simply maintain. There weren't really any more goals to work towards, it was just maintenance.

After that first 5K on Thanksgiving day, I signed up for a 5-miler in January. I had a blast at that one and the feeling was even more incredible? Why? It was a longer distance and I actually pushed myself beyond a comfortable limit. That first, slow 5K I didn't push myself at all. After the 5-miler, I was on a high I can't even describe and knew I wanted more, and more and more. Suddenly, I decided on my goal. Build up my endurance to run everything from a 5K to a marathon within one year. I quickly discovered I liked trying to go longer rather than just trying to go faster.

Over the past year, I completed four 5K's, two 5-milers, one 15K, three half-marathons and one full marathon. Never did find a 10K close by that fit in to the schedule! Hooked? Just a bit. Can't wait to start figuring out my goals for the next year!