Month in Review and Looking Ahead!

March crept up and I don't even know what I did for February. 

Here were my goals for February.

    On the Personal front, I think I did all right with the tattle tale, gossipy aspect. I just keep my mouth shut or act busy and remove myself from the situation.                                                                    On the "Do one thing that I won't normally do. Does the push-up challenge count?                         I definitely did well with the cook more, eat less, include more colors and drink more water, as well as the grocery budget. :) I was able to work a recipe based on what's available at the house.       As for the guest bedroom, maybe I really need a visit from a guest to kick my bottom in high gear. 

February's challenge was 400 push-ups. I did 285. A far cry from the 400, but nonetheless, 

it is 285 push-ups I most likely won't do if not for the challenge. I would love to roll this push-up challenge to next month and aim for 400 again - just to stoke my ego, you know. 

March's challenge would be 100 minutes of plank. Oh my gosh! 

I need to Youtube it to get a good idea on how to do a proper plank.   

           Check out Christine's blog for information on the challenge.  

February has me running 75 miles. It is a whole lot compared to last February. 

So while I still have a long ways to go to work on getting my monthly mileage up, I am just excited that I am keeping it in the higher range. 

Sunday, I will run my first 2012 half marathon. 

This will be half marathon #5. 

I will get to meet Christine over at Dream Big Runner (who is hosting the 100x Challenge). 

She is going to pace me and help me get a PR. 

I am excited! 

Since I usually race from October to March, I will probably take a break from racing half marathon distances and focus on ramping up mileage for my 1,000 miles for 2012 goal. 

Christine gave me a good motivation and idea - to run a 13.1 mile distance once every month just to keep all the nuts and bolts in my body moving and ready for whatever life throws at me. 

So, I am going to try and do that from now on. 

In a freaky kind of way, I also would like to log a new distance (anything beyond 13-ish miles) in the next few months.  

Since this is taper week and all, I went for a 2 hours walk with Paddy Wag. I want to say it was leisurely, but it wasn't. Paddy Wag walked me for the first 1.5 hours. Then for the remaining 30 minutes, we kinda walked together. When we got back and had to walk past the neighbor's house, their three meanie wienerdogs tried attacking Paddy Wag. They ganged up and tried to bite Paddy's bottom. I, of course, went on mama-bear mode and shoo'ed them off. But they kept yelping, and following, and yelping, and following.
Argh!!!

Month in Review: January

The last day of the first month of the year. 

It's already 9:45 p.m. and I am sitting here with just one glass of my favorite white wine. 

I don't think I will log any miles on the treadmill tonight. 

January has been pretty darn good. 

I took part in Christine's (Dream Big Runner) challenge to run 100K this month and I did it! 

This month's running total is a pretty 74 miles. 

While I am shy of about 10 miles to hit 84 (which is my personal secret wish), 

the above chart assures me that it is quite ok to just take the 74 and be happy. 

I have outdone 2011's January mileage, and this month's is actually one of my higher mileage logged. 

February will be better right? 

Here's how I have been doing in terms of achieving my big picture 2012 goals. 

I am not quite on track with the 84 miles/month goal but I am getting there. 

To stay injury-free, I have been doing some basic quick yoga stretches. 

I haven't been keeping a good track on the 15-minutes of move but so far, I have been moving more. To be really liberal, I probably miss a day each week. 

My barely-there fitness achievements are likely to help me get Personal Goal #1 achieved. I think I have officially lost 1.5 lb because they haven't really came back. 

I am working on becoming more graceful, patient and kind. I am try to avoid dwelling on less ideal circumstance and talk about something more positive. It is not easy, but I am working on it. 

As far as home front, I am cooking at least 3 times a week (usually with meals that will leave us with leftovers for the next day). I have started back at baking bread.  I am spending more time with Paddy Wag - walking her, and even when I am doing work on the computer, I will take it out to the porch and sit with her.  I do make it a point to take time to put things away at night. Serving the family - YES! I am doing it well. Helped the boyfriend at work sorting wood pieces, sweeping saw dust, getting wood for our uncle and aunt so they can burn it in their wood stove. It's all good! 

Sorry this has gotten so wordy. :)