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Looking Ahead to 2017


In 2016, I did not have any GOALS.  No yearly goals. No monthly or weekly goals. Not even any race goals.

But I still had hopes and dreams and those morphed into thinking about speed.  I often whined about my finish times and lamented that I could have done better in many of the races where I didn’t PR.

But in truth, I am not one of those runners who thinks that “they have a faster race in them.” I really have NO IDEA.  I may.  I may not.  That doesn’t mean that I won’t try. And I will give each race my best efforts.

It means that I don’t want to obsess about it.  I don’t want to be disappointed with my speed. It is what it is.  I am neither fast nor slow.  I am a MIDDLE OF THE PACKER (MOTP).

In 2017, I want to enjoy each race and focus on what is good about each one.  I mean running is a gift, right?

We take it for granted until we can’t.

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I want to run as long as possible and even when I am a “back of the packer.”

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just switch the gender… and this would be me and my hbby

So again I am going to pick ONE word.

The My One Word approach is popular every year. If you’ve never heard about it, here is a summary:

Lose the long the list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick one word. This process forces clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. Your one word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future.

2014 was the first time that I tried it. My word was:

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In 2015, the word that I chose was:

Las year, I picked:

This year, I am choosing the word:

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I wanted to choose stress-free but it is actually TWO words.

Why did I choose “Relax?

2016 was a stressful year. I was unemployed for 12 weeks and wondered during that time how we would be able to pay our bills.

Then I did get a job, but it is the most stressful job I’ve ever had.  Lots to learn and eventually, a lot of travel. Not what I enjoy but it is a job. Could be worse (I think).

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truth??

Running can and should be relaxing.

But not when you put pressure on yourself to be fast.

As runners, I think (myself included) we focus too much on mileage totals, PRs, bling, etc. And we expect to improve or run at a certain pace and when we don’t, we get depressed or even stressed.

Especially as we age, we need to concentrate on RELAXING and enjoy our runs.

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How will I focus on my word?

  • Be more positive.
  • Post more about the good things that happened during a race or a run.
  • Run & race happy.
  • Run more with others (and not only chat about our finish times & PRs!!)
  • Leave that watch home!

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I should add that this doesn’t mean that I don’t want to get faster. I do. I will try to.  I hope I will.  Who knows I may even do some drills… Go to the gym? Get a coach????

But what I am saying is that if I don’t finish a race with the time that I’d like, I won’t get down on myself.  If I have a bad race, I will just sign up for another.

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I am also  I’m linking up with these wonderful ladies:

Erika @ MCM Mama Runs, Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty @ My no-guilt life for

Happy Running! If you were to choose ONE word for your focus throughout this year, what word would you choose?  Do you have any goals for 2017? Do you put pressure on yourself to get faster?

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31 thoughts on “Looking Ahead to 2017”

  1. I do try to get faster but it’s not an obsession. I do feel that I have a faster race in me still.
    I’ll have to think about a word for 2017. I have one in mind, but I just thought of it.
    Happy new year!

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  2. I did know I had a faster race in me. I absolutely believed it.

    I don’t have time goals for most of my races, and not calculating times in my head served me very well in 2016. 2016 was a good year of running for me.

    I don’t know if 2017 will be. After a good year, it’s a little much to expect another good year. Which doesn’t mean I won’t try, of course. I will always try. I will always have goals (although I haven’t yet made them for 2017, other than wanting to add another 3 states).

    And no doubt I will be trying a new training plan, because I like to try stuff! Something I need to work on today. At least start.

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    • I thought you did you. I think I have more confidence for others than myself.

      But when you get to a certain speed, I do think it is hard to improve.

      What that speed is??? Who knows. It’s different for everyone. Sub 30 was very easy for me. I did that after a few months. Sub 27 well that may never happen.

      I do use plans so that’s easy LOL.

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  3. Good goals. I don’t know what 2017 is going to bring for me. There’s so much uncertainty now! I’m going to work on my goals for Wednesday’s post but I do know one thing, I’m going to have a lot of fun with running! I may have to let go of time goals. We’ll see how things go.

    Happy New Year!

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  4. I like your acceptance and pride at being a MOTP runner. That’s definitely what I am. And to be honest the only thing that’s getting me through this injury (broken ankle) is to think that I’m going to be a runner till I’m 60. Or 80. Or literally until I’m told to stop! I’m only 25 now, and I have to think of the long term. A few months out isn’t going to kill me ultimately!

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    • I had a really bad broken ankle in 2012. I was out for almost 5 months. It was terrible at the time but I survived. Then I wound up with a stress fracture in the other foot because I started running too soon.

      Good luck with your recovery.

      You’re right. Think long term.

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  6. I don’t put any pressure on myself to get faster. My goal is to be able to run forever, which is also why I do a run/walk. Keeps my shins & joints happy. Looking forward to following you this year !

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  8. I like 2017’s word. I haven’t thought about one for me, but like you, I didn’t have any goals for running last year and that ended up working out pretty well for me, too. 🙂

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  10. I am stressing because I haven’t decided on goals for this year. My goal last year was to have fun, so I may have cheated a bit I knew I wanted to have fun and it was a very low bar goal but still. I feel like this year I need to make a goal, a challenging goal that is. Time is running out too. Stay tuned, hopefully I’ll get together soon!

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  11. Been a follower for a long time and am constantly amazed at your running and all the races you do. I do think you’ve still got some speed in you! Keep up the good work.

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  13. I absolutely LOVE this post! This is what attracted me to running in the first place. It’s so easy to get caught up in numbers, time and distance. But when it is all said and done, I just want to run. I want to run to feel the wind on my face, hear my feet pounding the pavement, feel my heart beating in my chest, take in all of the scents around me and allow my mind to wander …wander to whatever it wants, as long as it’s not wandering to how fast I’m going or how far have we gone! Yes, you have the perfect perspective for 2017!

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