Well, it’s that time of year. (Well, maybe a little late. Better late than never.)

Time to pick ONE WORD to focus on for the entire year. (If you’ve never heard about the My One Word approach, 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.)

I started this in 2014 and have continued the tradition every year after:

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

2018:

And 2019:

So in 2019, this is how I said I would RE-FOCUS:

1. This is the first thing that I will change. It applies to running as well as life. Less STRESS in 2019. In other words, some runs won’t happen, some races will suck, PRs may be elusive. My job is just a job. It is what it is.
2. So this one has to do with priorities. Trying to do it all means not doing some things well. The hard part will be deciding what is important. In the past year, I was trying to keep up with tennis, maintain decent speed on short races and complete a few half marathons. In the mix was traveling as part of my job, vacations, family events and seeing my friends, etc. There were days that I was just going through the motions. In 2019, I may just have to let some things go and concentrate on those things that matter most.
3. I admit that this past year, I may have been in a running rut. I got complacent with my training because I was still successful …enough. I feel like I need a change. I want to do something different and something that involves effort. Once I decide, there will be no excuses. It may be joining a gym or signing up for yoga classes or trying spinning or even playing on a tennis team. I may even start to quilt again. I could even start a new job.

So how did I do?

1. I’ve ACCEPTED my job for what it is and instead, focused on its benefits. I felt less stressed about race finish times and PRs and enjoyed my runs and races more than in the past. CHECK – change
2. I made the decision NOT to play tennis. I instead concentrated on family, friendships and racing. CHECK – priorities
3. I ran my first MARATHON!! CHECK – effort

Re-Focusing in 2019 was a success in my opinion!

And now on to 2020…

What is my word? Should I pick one this year?

1.My first thought was skip the whole “word” thing. I tend to forget about it until it’s time to pick another word.

2. On the other hand, it’s a good way to look back on the past year and also look ahead to the coming year.

3. What word should I pick?

many ideas for this year and future years…

4. So my word for this year is:

So what does it mean?

1. the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint
2. steadiness, endurance, or perseverance in the performance of a task

5. So how will PATIENCE fit into my running in 2020?

On the whole, I am not a patient person. In fact, I am pretty impulsive. So this will be a BIG challenge.

• If I cannot run, find another activity rather than whining about not running.

• When I was healthy, I signed up for a lot of races..and then things changed.  So I need to hold off on clicking that “Register” button from time to time so I can properly train for a race rather than just “do” it.

AND PATIENCE

• PRs may happen. PRs may not happen but you often can’t predict when they will happen.

• I have to start out races slower so I can negatively split a few. I must remember that it should feel easy at the start of a race and that I need to keep my energy under control so I don’t fade in the latter parts of a race.

Here are some links related to running and patience:

• https://blog.runkeeper.com/3793/five-ways-running-teaches-patience/
• https://www.womensrunning.com/2014/10/news/nyc-running-mama-patience_31724
• https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/patience-is-probably-the-best-quality-in-a-runner-
• http://www.tips4running.com/Patience-When-Running.html
• https://talk.brooksrunning.com/blog/2016/07/12/running-taught-patience/
• https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20788560/all-we-need-is-just-a-little-patience/
• https://elevatesyracuse.com/running-and-patience/

So how am I am doing so far with relation to PATIENCE:

• Several times a week, I am using the stationary bike at the gym in order to avoid running too many weekly miles (until my foot is pain-free.)
• Although I could have qualified or registered for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May, I decided to wait and sign up for a local May half (if I am healthy).
• I did run the Fred Lebow Half Marathon but very cautiously with zero expectations of a good finish time.

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It’s Friday so I’m linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Happy Running! If you were to choose ONE word for your focus throughout this year, what word would you choose? Are you PATIENT when it comes to running?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week is: Looking Ahead to 2020

I’m not into goals but last January, I posted about my plans for 2019 and last week, I reflected on them.

I didn’t do so well but that did not discourage me from setting in motion some plans for the coming year.

(Warning: I wrote this post before my sore foot woes and I decided not to delete it cuz you never know…)

1. Run 1000 miles.

It’s a number that I strive to meet each year. I may or may not reach it but I should come close if I have been running consistently all year and I have not gotten injured.

2. Add another physical activity to my life besides running.

I’d prefer it to be tennis but that will probably not happen until I retire or get a different job.

So I’d like to take a yoga class now and then, go for lunchtime walks or even hit the gym. 

this instructor is my favorite – she has monthly 2 hour sessions on different parts of the body – geared toward runners

3. Participate often in local running group runs.

This was an unexpected activity from last year.  I ran in many of the ARE summer trail runs. I started late because I hesitated on joining this group. I plan go to ALL of them this year even if my friends are not going.

Huyck Preserve

I also started attending some other group runs such as SOAR and Ice Cream Runs.  If they are scheduled again, I plan to participate.

4. Set a PR or Course PR at any distance.

Realistically I think PRs may be out of reach as I age or my foot continues to be a problem.. But since I often run the same races, possibly I can improve at one race.

maybe at Race to the Lakes 15k?

And first time races or distances do not count lol.

5. And finally…. Run a Half Marathon 15K or Half Marathon Every Month.

Yes, you heard that right. Twelve Distance races in Twelve Months.

(Ok maybe I jinxed myself when I came up with the Half Marathon goal in November – right afterward, my foot started to hurt… so I edited the goal to include 15ks as well)

So it may not happen but it will be fun trying (virtual ones count.)

• January – Fred LeBow Half Marathion in NYC or Winter Series #4 15k
• February – ZOOMA Bermuda Half Marathon 
• March  – NYC Half Marathon 
• April – Helderberg 2 Hudson Half Marathon
• May  – Sacandaga or Steel Rail Half Marathon
• June – Race to the Lakes 15k
• July – Boilermaker 15k?
• August – a virtual 15k
• September – Adirondack or Palio Half Marathon
• October – Finger Lakes or Smuttynose Half Marathon
• November – Stockadeathon 15K
• December – Ted Corbitt 15K or Palm Beach Half Marathon?

Feel free to recommend some…

Happy Running!  Any goals or plans for 2020? When you get injured, do you re-write your goals? Please share.

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

My Topic this week is: Looking Back on 2019

I’m not really into goals but last January, I posted about my plans for 2019.

Here’s what I wrote:

1. Run 1000 miles.

It’s just a number.  But that number means two things to me.  I have been running consistently all year and that I have not been injured.

2. Take some yoga classes.

I’m not good at yoga. I have zero flexibility. But it is relaxing and my life is not. So I think it will help me both mentally and physically.

3. Do some strength or cross training.

I hope to play more tennis starting in June but I do have access to a local free gym. I’d like to get there on some of my rest days.

4. Train seriously for One Race.

Not sure which one but I have already registered for five half marathons so maybe the local one. Or maybe a 5k.

5. And finally…. Finish a 26.2 mile race.

Yes, you heard that right. I haven’t registered yet (next week) but it seems crazy not to take advantage of qualifying for this year’s NYC Marathon.

So how did I do??

1 . Run 1000 miles.

Nope.  947. If not for my calf injury in February and sore foot in December, I may have reached that number.  As I said, “It’s only a number.”  I am NOT disappointed in my 2019 mileage.

2. Take some yoga classes.

Not until November.  I blame it on work travel which was often insane and marathon training.

So better late than never. I have taken a few classes in the last two months of the year. Maybe that will be a sign of the future.

3. Do some strength or cross training.

No on this one, as well.  I decided to not join a tennis club and play weekly. As a result, I played during my May tennis vacation in May and not again since then.

As far as the gym, just an occasional trip to use the arm machines or the treadmill or recently the bike. Nothing to write home about for same reason as not going to yoga classes.

4. Train seriously for One Race.

A big No on this one too. Due to work travel, I didn’t participate in the Freihofer or Troy Turkey Trot training groups.

No drills. I just showed up for a race now and then and did my best.

5. And finally…. Finish a 26.2 mile race.

Yes, Yes, Yes.

My success story of the year. I ran my first full marathon.

The funny thing about posting these plans/goals is that I don’t remember writing them. So I didn’t think about them all year.

I’m not disappointed at all in how my year turned out (even though 4 out 5 of my plans didn’t materialize.)

2019 was still a good year in my book. (I am trying not to focus on the month of December and how the year ended.)

It’s also that time of the month…

…to join up with Coco & Deborah for their ultimate coffee date.

Happy Running!  Any goals or plans for 2019? If so, did you meet them? Please share.