A New Year: New Goals for 2011

I warned you yesterday that I like, ok, love, goals.  By nature, I am a planner and goals are a natural part of that process.  Here's a look at what I'm aiming for in 2011 (in no particular order):

• Read through the Bible.  Both PC and my grandparents gave me The Daily Bible: In Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings.  It's something I've wanted to do, but I always get sidetracked or forget where I am and I haven't ever followed a plan.  What's neat about this Bible is that it's chronological so I'll be reading the events as they happen.
• To go along with the above, I want to spend more time studying God's Word and spending time with Him.  I've tried the get up thirty minutes early thing and it hasn't seemed to work for me as I'm not really a morning person, but I really feel like that's what I need to do.  I'm planning to start getting up earlier than I have to, making some coffee or hot chocolate in the Keruig my sister gave me for Christmas, and spending time with God before I start my day.  
• Memorize three Bible verses a month.  I really want to have God's Word in my heart.  Sure, I know some verses and can stumble around general ideas and stories, but I want to make a conscience effort to hide God's Word in my heart.
• Tithe.  This is an area in which I can definitely improve.  I used to always tithe, but the last year or so, I haven't.  I give money, but I don't always tithe.  I want to tithe each week in 2011.
• I want to be more conscience of spending quality time with the ones I love.  A good friend of mine from college used to always say: "Be Present."  That's what I want to be for all those around me.
• Save more.  I want to save each of my expense checks in my regular savings account, plus start investing some on my own in addition to what I do through work.
• Pay off all debt.  My car will be paid for in a few months and I'd like to pay off my credit cards.  My mortgage doesn't count in this, but it would be great to sell my house considering no one lives there!  (That's too long of a story for the blog.)
• Exercise regularly.  Generally speaking, I go to the gym a few times a week and do weight training and cardio, plus PC and I run a trail a few times a week when the weather is normal (not like the 20s and 30s we've been experiencing in sunny SC the last month or so).  In 2011, I want to make a concerted effort to exercise more regularly and not take weeks off at a time like I have the last few weeks.  The holidays are to blame of course!  Realistically, I'd like to go to the gym at least twice a week to weight train and do cardio and then run a few days a week in addition to my gym workouts.
• Run a half marathon.  This has been a goal for years and I haven't done it.  There's something about devoting that much time to running that is hard for me.  It's one thing to run a few miles on the treadmill a few nights a week and do some 5K's and 10K's throughout the year, but the idea of actually running 13.1 miles and training for it is something I haven't ever done.  I have my eye on the Governor's Cup in Columbia in late 2011.
• I'm repeating this from last year, but I want to continue relaxing and taking time for myself and doing things I enjoy.  There's something so freeing about taking care of you and those you love.
• Ask for a raise.  I'm perfectly content with my salary, but as it goes, if you don't ask, you won't know.
• Read.  I love to read, but I find it hard to find time to read as much as I'd like.  In 2010, I read quite a few books that were great including Fair Game, Spoken from the Heart, Eat Pray Love, Committed, The Beach House, and Staying True.  I have four books to get me started this year: first, I need to finish George W. Bush's biography, Decision Points, William and Kate A Royal Love Story (I started this Monday.  I don't think it's factual, in fact, I'd bet on it, but I've always loved reading about Princess Diana and the royal family, so I'm enjoying it.), Steve Martin's An Object of Beauty, and Steve Martin's biography, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life.  
• Learn to play the piano.  My mom is a phenomenal pianist and even has a degree in piano performance, so naturally, you'd think I would've been made to learn piano.  She tried to teach me, but there was something about the whole sitting still and practicing thing that didn't work so well for me.  I can read music and play some and even took a few semesters of piano in college, but it's something I know I can definitely do better if I take the time to focus.  This year, I'd like to learn a new song each month.
• Blog regularly.  Several years ago, I blogged.  I blogged almost everyday and had several hundred readers.  Then I stopped.  I started this blog a few months ago and I'd like to blog more regularly about my life, the things I care about, and of course, randomness.  I also plan to comment on the blogs I read more often.  I usually read using Google Reader and don't click over to the "real" blog.

2010: A Recap

I love the end of the year.  I don't know why, but there's something about reflecting on the past year and looking towards the future that makes me happy.  It's the goal setting, I think.  I love having goals.  Big ones.  Small ones.  Don't worry, I'll be sharing my goals for 2011 with you.  (I know you're interested!)  (No, I don't make resolutions.  There's no reason in particular other than the fact that I like making numerous goals.)

Here's a look back at some of my 2010 goals (those in italics are copied from a private blog I have for myself that's a journal of sorts):

• Save more.  I did well in this category.  I saved my planned amount, but unfortunately, had to use some to pay for some unexpected expenses like a new transmission for my car.  Oh well, I've been told that's the point of saving.
• Take better care of myself. Relax more. Read more. Be selfish sometimes (as in don't over commit. I find that I hardly ever turn down an invitation and it sometimes leaves me stretched thin among things I want to do, family, friends, work, volunteer things, church).  I definitely did this.  I am a pretty hyper, always on the go type person and it's hard for me to really relax.  I did that this year though.  I can thank PC for that.  He definitely balances me out and makes me relax.
• Spend more time with the ones I love and show them my appreciation.  I feel like I did this.  I want to do more next year.
• Be less critical of others and be less critical of myself.  I think I did better on the less critical of myself side (it's that Type A thing), but not so well on the being less critical of others part.  I'm definitely not one of those people who criticize people to their face, but I can be judgmental and share my not-so-nice feelings with PC, my best friend, and my family.  This is a quality I want to get rid of this coming year.

There were also two goals I didn't accomplish:

• Ask for a raise.
• Take a kickboxing class at my gym.

Here's to a new year!

13.1 Miles. Am I Crazy?

I have decided to run a half marathon.  I think.  I've always wanted to run a marathon (really, just to say I've done it, but isn't that why we do so many of the things we do?), but 26.2 miles requires tons of time and preparation.  And I just don't have that.

Enter the half marathon.  I figure 13.1 miles can't be that bad. 

In January, there will be a marathon and half marathon in Charleston, and I think I'm going to sign up.  I've run the Cooper River Bridge Run a few times and PC and I did the Ray Tanner Home Run several weeks ago, but I haven't ever "trained" to run anything or had a specific time goal - I've always just enjoyed running. 

In a normal week, I run three or four times a week depending on what's going on and usually 3 miles, so 12-15 miles a week.  For all you runners out there, I know that's not much, but with everything that goes on, I'm happy to get those miles in.  In addition to running, I usually do strength training at least 3 times a week.   

For me, running is many different things.  When I've had a stressful day at work, pounding the treadmill is my easy stress reliever.  It's also something PC and I both enjoy doing, and doing together, so running a trail together is something we do several times a week.  It's also the way I totally clear my mind when I'm running alone through the countryside. 

I started running really regularly when I was around 14, so really, 10 years ago.  There have been some short periods of time when I haven't enjoyed it and it's felt more like something else on the "to do" list than something I'm doing for me and because I want to.  That's what I don't want to run into with this half marathon training thing.

I'm trying to decide how to best train for it.  There are 12 weeks, so I've thought about following Hal Higdon's plan, but I don't always have five days a week when I can run due to work and other obligations or have time to do a long run on Saturday or Sunday because of fun weekends that I'm not giving up.  (If you've figured by now that my goal is to run this half marathon [with a goal of less than 2 hours (PC says I have lots of goals.  I think I do.)] without changing much about my lifestyle, you're right!) 

I think my goal is going to be to run 3-4 days a week and fit in a long run on whatever day I can.  I'll continue doing strength training twice a week like I do, and keep eating healthy without any caffeinated drinks or soft drinks, but add in some more "good" carbs (how I wish Mexican food could count!) and protein and more vegetables. 

Am I crazy?  Maybe.  But I'm really looking forward to that satisfied feeling I'll have when I cross the finish line.  And really, it's all about a healthy lifestyle.