Goals (not in the trendy way, but in the literal sense)

We are back from the holidays and let me just say, we didn't do as much running as we had hoped.

And when I say we didn't run much, I mean we ran 4 times in the last 18 days.

We spent some time in Montana and were expecting to spend our days not running, but skiing and snowboarding, however, we ended up having to take a few days off due to negative temps and gale force winds!

I wanted to mention a few goals that I have for this training period and then for the actual half marathon:

To start with the obvious ones:

• I want to finish under 2 hours. Lofty for a first half-marathon, I know, but I need to have a goal that will push me. Difficult and achievable, but not impossible nor easily doable. 

• I want to finish without walking. 

• I want to run the last 3.5 miles at a somewhat steady pace (the course climbs over 400ft over the last 3.5 miles).

I'm sure I will find more goals the closer the race gets, but for now, here are the not so obvious ones (and some silly ones):

• I want to find the perfect outfit to run in. So far I have ruled out 5 of my leggings. I refuse to wear a shirt with sleeves (I hate running in sleeves- short or long) or shorts (cause chaffing). Therefore, capri leggings and tank top it is, assuming weather is nice. 

• I want to figure out what is the best breakfast for me to eat and how much water to drink the night before, the morning of and during the race, and at what times so that I don't have to pee (or poop) during the race. This goal seems a little lofty, but hopefully I can figure all that out. Surely. 

• I want to discover the best socks that won't give me blisters over 13.1 miles (I am open to suggestions!)

• I want to secretly beat Hunter. I know that won't happen, but goals are goals, amiright? 

• I want to eat cleaner, fresher, unrefined and healthier. I have a friend who ran in college for the UA and he once mentioned to me that food is fuel and the cleaner the food, the cleaner it'll burn when you work out. That has always stuck with me, but know that I will continue to eat chocolate and ice cream every now and then (or more than every now and then). 

Lastly:

• I want to know exactly why I'm running this. When you run without headphones, as I do because they bother me to no end and throw off my groove, you have a lot of time to mull things over and think. Instead of focusing on the pain of my legs and the burning of my lugs in their oxygen deprivation, I have to figure out what to think about that will get me to the end. There must be some reason for pushing myself through this pain. Is it solely for the humility as previously mentioned? Am I running because I am physically able? Am I running for myself? For the Lord? For my children? For my husband? For my friends? To prove something? To disprove something? To learn? To be taught? Just for funsies? (Nah. we know that one's not true). Whatever it is, I hope to find that out along the way. Surely I will.