Resolutions? Whatever!

New Years is always about resolutions. You know, the things you're excited about until you actually have to do it. We all do it.

Instead of making some resolution that I know I'll give up on almost immediately. This year I decided to do something I know I'll stick to. Maybe push me, but that I can actually do.

So this year I'm going to do the following:

• Write down positive moments. 
• No matter how small they will seem, just write them down.
• Train for the Chicago Marathon properly.
• I tend to fall off the training wagon and I want to get that out of my system.
• Drink water. 
• I barely drank water the past months, so even one glass is better than nothing. Eventually I want to drink at least 8 glasses, but I'm okay starting small.
• Workout at least 3x a week.
• I need to take care of myself. If I can't give myself even 30 minutes, then I need to prioritize my life.
• Go to one exercise class a week.
• I love to never go to the gym even though I'm paying for it. If I go to a class at least once a week the membership pays for itself. 
• Write more.
• Whether this is here on the blog or in my journal, just write more. 
• I did get a 5-Year Memory Journal that I've been filling out daily. 
• Read 40 books.
• I'll set up a page with what I've been reading.
• Donate to a cause once a month.
• It feels good to help other people. I'm not looking for a lot, but just helping out a cause is nice.
• See new places.
• I'm not specific on new places. It could be a new town, a new part of a town I've been in, a new state, or a new country.

Drinking Water is a Must!

A couple weeks ago a girl who I went to high school with invited me to an event she is hosting. The event is help everyone in the event drink more water. I have been slacking on the water intake lately and was back to drinking soda regularly. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to get me back on drinking more water.

The challenge will last for 4 weeks starting January 1st. The ultimate goal? To drink 1 liter of water a day.

My friend Carrick gave me a new Bobble water bottle for Christmas. I was super pumped after the last 2 that I had got thrown out. This water bottle has a filter. I love this because I can just go into the bathroom at work and use the sink to fill the bottle instead of having to find time to run to a store to buy a bottle of water.

You just need to buy a new filter after 2 months/40 gallons of use. I have 2 filters from my previous bottle so I am ready to filter for half of the year! 

Back to the challenge!

The few days before the January 1st we were told to figure out what our daily average water intake was. Once we got our average intake we were to subtract that from 128 oz (or 1 liter) and divide that number by 4. Once we got that final number we are to drink that much more each week to reach the final week of 1 liter a day. 

Here's what my break out for the next 4 weeks looks like:

Week 1: 92 ounces

Week 2: 104 ounces

Week 3: 116 ounces

Week 4: 128 ounces

I know that the next week in Disney will be slightly more difficult to keep up on my water. (I promise I will nix the soda when I get back!) Water is really important for runners, especially when they are doing the Dopey Challenge! 

I hope that I can report back that I have done a good job of keeping up with my water intake. I'll be honest about how much water I have taken in each day and at the end of the week will report of this little blog. 

Goodbye 2014!

I'm not too sure how I feel about ending the year and talking about it. Yet here I am. Maybe because I feel like I need to. Or maybe because I want to see what was happening this year. I'm not really sure. 

Here's what went down in 2014!

Total Races:

 21

Virtual Runs: 

3

1 mile: 

1

5k:

6

5 mile: 

1

10k: 

3

6.5 mile: 

1

7 mile: 

1

10 mile: 

1

Half Marathon: 

6

Marathon: 

1

Challenges: 

3

 (BAA Distance Medley, Runner's World Hat Trick, Triple Threat Half Marathon Challenge)

PRs: 

5k (30:58), 

10k (1:09:40), 

Marathon (6:05:57)

I PR'd in all the major categories except for the half marathon (which I came pretty damn close to). 

Do I have any goals for 2015? I'd like to get a half marathon PR (I'm looking at you Zooma Half!) and I'd like to break a 30 minute 5k. 

Are these crazy goals? Nope. 

Can I accomplish these goals? Hell yes I can!

I leave for Disney in a few days. I'm ready to take on the Dopey Challenge. (As ready as I can be at least!) 

2015 I'm coming for you!

January 3rd

This guy was sleeping on the ice.

#newyearnewyou

Earlier today Coach Laura (meet her here at Fuck Skinny) posted an article about a photographer who took a picture a day of things she was grateful for to change her outlook on life. (Read it here)

I think that this is a lovely idea. So let me do two: one for today and one for yesterday.

January 1

Relax

January 2

As much of a brat he can be,
I wouldn't ask for another boy.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year.

It seems like we just did this for 2013. Now it's 2014. This year went by quick.

I'd like to go on about what I want to do this year and all of that, but mostly I want to live today. Not worry about tomorrow or about yesterday.

So what I should have posted yesterday is this:

2013 was quite the year.

Cue the recap!!!!!

January
I finished a marathon. Holy shit! That was one of the craziest things I've ever done. I'm not saying I was the fastest. I'm not saying I was the slowest. I'm saying I'm a finisher.

Everyone loves a Dole Whip!!!!!

I officially began my season with Team in Training.

February
Nothing is fully sticking out to me. Maybe it was a slow month? I can share this video one more time with you though!

This is funny.

March
I made my goal of raising $2,900 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I could not have been happier & a little less stressed.

April
Such a lovely month led to such a tragedy. A tragedy led to support.

April also held my first non-Disney half marathon, the Nike Women Half. It was an emotional race. It was an amazing race.

May
I took some time off. I tried to just live. I stepped foot back on the streets that changed so many peoples lives forever for the first time.

June
I turned 26. I turned 26 thinking I was changing. I think. Maybe I wasn't. Maybe I'm the same I was my entire life. I'm not sure. I did spend a little time with some really lovely people though.

Climbing to the top of the Bunker Hill monument with Rob

Add caption

July
There was a 3rd of July party.

There was a wedding.

There were also some new friends made. These are the best friends I've had.

August
Spartan Race!

Muddy & Gorgeous! 

Finishers!

My first trip to the West Coast also happened this year.

Godney

C2C Challenge Complete!

September

I ran my very first Disneyland Half Marathon. It was different than Disney World, but still an amazing experience.

I also ran my 5th & 6th half marathons.

October

I got to participate in the B.A.A. Half Marathon and my only 2 nighttime runs. Then I ran my very last race for the year. The Cause 4 Paws in Quincy helps the Quincy Animal Shelter. My friend has even adopted his cats from there.

"Who's Nadine? Could she get it?"

November

A lovely month of not running. Rest can help immensely! There was also turkey. 

Thanksgiving Day Sleepover

December

Holiday was crazy in the retail world. 

I got to experience some amazing moments with my friends. From giving Nate a wonderful birthday present. Shared a present exchange with some crazy amazing friends. Spent Christmas Eve with some friends for dinner. Also learned one of my oldest friends is expecting a baby this summer. 

Hey 2014 what do you have for me?