Let's be honest, 2012 rocked and I'm determined to make 2013 even better! But before we get to goal setting for 2013, I've got some recapping to do in order to close the books, once and for all, on 2012.First, let's talk about December. I haven't blogged in December. Not once. It's not because I didn't run. In fact I'll get to that in a second. It's because my blog served the purpose I set out for it in January of 2012 - to log my running goal to hitting 1000 miles. Anything beyond that was just icing on the cake. So tonight I'm writing one last post to recap the year and set the stage for 2013 when I will launch back into blogging with gusto and new goals to track.
As far as running goes December was a bit of a rest month. Over the course of the past year I've pushed off giving my body a real break to heal injuries and refocus my mind. So that's what I've been doing. While running a few miles in the process - almost 46 to be exact (low mileage, I know). Though low in numbers, the December miles came with a few high points. It started with a great run with friends through Annapolis to see our Christmas tree all decorated for the holidays and to spend some quality time on the playground with kids and the camera.
December also was great for getting out and viewing the Christmas decorations all around Washington, specifically Capitol Hill. I fancied myself a judge of sorts, looking for the best decorated houses - or at least good decorating features. I found a few that were good enough to stop and take a photo of. Some gave me new ideas for my own decorating and others gave me ideas of what to avoid.
Then came the real icing on the cake...a new 5 mile PR at the 2012 Celtic Solstice 5 mile run in Baltimore. My previous PR was 42:19 set in November 2011. Now I'll be chasing 40:38 for the next year! I wouldn't have been able to have hit that time without my CS sidekick - Sophia - who prefaced the race with "I'm not feeling great today...so we'll have to go slow." I think we both really surprised ourselves when the race finally started and it just felt right. There's nothing you can't do when you've got motivation and good friends.
Who can complain finishing off a year that way? Not this lady. So here's how 2012 went...I set out to run 1000 miles (check in the box November 2012), to complete my second master's degree (check in the box April 2012) and sell one of my two rental properties (didn't happen...just too much going on to put the necessary effort into it...so I'll roll that one over to 2013). Not just icing....but cherries (GREAT BIG CHERRIES)...was a goal I didn't set at the beginning of the year because you can't predict these things...but I became the mother of a gorgeous, smart little girl from China (a journey we've been working on since 2007). She's been running with me since August, and I think she'll be a big part of my running in 2013.
Now to looking forward....here's what I want to reach for in 2013:
- I will run 1245 miles in 2013...this is 200 more than 2012, and I believe well within my reach.
- I will reach new time goals for myself - 4:30:00 marathon, 1:50:00 half marathon, 1:22:00 ten miler, 39:30 five miler.
- I will pay more attention to strength training and aim to do more than 3600 push-ups, 3600 squats and 12,000 sit-ups in 2013.
- I will try to unload one of my other properties in 2013.
- I will become a RRCA certified running coach in 2013.
- As a family, we will seek out and try one new family-friendly activity for the diva in our area each month in 2013.
- As a family, we will learn about and incorporate at least one Chinese tradition into our family traditions in 2013.
