Accountability/Goal Check

Halfway through the year seems like an appropriate time to check in on annual goal progress...

1) PR a Mile
Accomplished 1/1/17 with a 6:14 mile at Resolution Run
Revised goal to 6:00 for the year and have had two other attempts: 

• Little Kings (injury siderailed training- 6:34)
• Braves (long course, no chip time, giant hill- 7:34 for 1.17mi by watch). 

Have two other attempts scheduled for fall, and will fall back on SpeedworkThursday track run of this if it doesn't happen at my September races. I know I can do this one. I can, and I will. Watch me.



2) Strength-train Regularly 
Measured by doing (2) - 30min strength sessions per week: 

• January: 4/4 weeks (9 total sessions)
• February: 3/4 weeks (6 total sessions)
• I fell off the wagon here due to our Groupon running out, work stress, and a lot of sickness. It was a conscious decision to "take a break", though. Fortunately, I had Brandi to pull me through again. She kept the consistency and her dedication encouraged me to get back to it so that she wouldn't be alone. 
• March: 2/4 weeks (6 total sessions)
• One of the "off" weeks was a continuation of my intentional "break". The other was just laziness. This is also the month where we tried out that other bootcamp that was NOT to our liking. 
• April: 3/4 weeks (7 total sessions) 
• Getting back to Matthew's helped solidify this month. 
• May: 4/4 weeks (10 total sessions)
• Heeeeeeeey, I'm back
• June: 3/4 weeks (8 total sessions)
• Had one week with only one session, but was, otherwise, "on the wagon"

This has been much harder for me than any of my running goals. You'd think that, after six months, this would be somewhat of a habit for me. Nope. I need a lot of motivation to keep this going. I need to pay money for classes (proven by our "let's stop paying for classes and see if we can do it on our own" attempt in February/March), and I need my accountability partner. Otherwise, I'd be pretty darn content to just stop. 

That said, I have seen a lot of benefits from the short time I've been doing this. Yeah, I'm more toned, but, beyond that, I feel better. I feel stronger. I run stronger. It's good for me. Now, if only it was as integral with my life as running... Maybe by December, it will be? 

3) Break 23:00 in a 5K

Accomplished 2/11/17 with 22:37 at Hearts and Soles 

Alright, so it would appear that my time-based goals were low-hanging fruit. I accomplished both within the first ~50 days of the year. My 5K training has taken a backseat to my chasing a 6:00 mile, but I'll probably aim for another race this fall to knock that PR down a bit more. Clearly, I'm faster than I give myself credit for...



4) Feel like an athlete.
...and prove it by racing in just a sports bra and shorts.
Accomplished 6/10/17 at the Braves Mile
Let's just say this meant a lot to me and leave it at that. Confidence = here. 




So with only one real goal left for the year, I'm finding my training a bit desultory. Considering adding something else, maybe:

• eat clean (no processed stuff- we're talking straight up nuts, veggies, fruit, and meats) 3x week- this is the most likely, since I've been feeling blurg about my diet and need something to "commit to"
• give it my all at a Spartan Sprint competitive wave- on the fence about this due to 1) money, and 2) FOMO of the Atlanta 10 Miler
• 10min of stretching 2x week- probably will need to do this in the mornings, since NOTHING happens in the evening
• PR a Thanksgiving 10K - super likely