Pursuing Conflicting Goals

"The secret to change is to focus all of your energy NOT on fighting the OLD but on building the NEW." Socrates

I am at the beginning stages of accepting reality. My yesterdays are gone, it is time to focus on my todays and embrace my tomorrows.

• New Goals.
• New Adventures 
• New Attitudes. 

I have a few conflicting goals this year. Between ultra running and wanting to qualify for Boston I have to strategically plan my training.
There is a big difference between road running and running trails.
The running terrain is just the obvious. But the training is all together different as well. Running Yasso 800's are not necessary for running a 50k. It is rather pleasurable walking the hills on a 16 mile trail run in comparison to trying to maintain your speed up a hill on a long run. Running trails I rarely look at my pace because you run on EFFORT Level. However, running roads I am married to my watch. Marathon training comes with tempo runs, hill repeats, progressive runs, track work and each one placed perfectly in your week.
They are like the Jekyll and Hyde of running.

My weeks have been balanced with both road running and trail running.

Monday: 
Where: Holly Rec
Distance: 11miles
Misc: Wet, cold, rainy trail run. So sloppy and fun

Wednesday:
Where: GAC
Distance: 7 miles
Misc: 6 miles @ 8:10 pace TM. 1 mile walk around the track.
Strength; roll, stretch, core and legs

Thursday:
Where: Started at Seven Lakes & ran backroads
Distance: 16miles
Misc: Fun group run, ran 2 miles earlier with Claudia. We over shot our miles, but my legs kept up.

Saturday: 
Where; Holdridge, West Loop X2 and North loop
Distance: 10 miles
Misc: FUN group run. Every time I got tickled laughing I fell then peed my pants. Double Wammy.
I purchased the some new lighting, Noxgear. I just love how I glow in the dark now!

Sunday:
Where: Around town, Road running.
Distance: 15 miles
Misc. Lacey had a very intentional plan for this run. The first 10 miles, at the top of each mile add a 20 second walk break. The last 5 miles remove the walk break and PICK UP the PACE for a negative split. I felt great on this run today. I was able to pick up the last three miles and not even realize that I had. It was a good day in the running world for me today.

NEXT RACE: Saturday February 3rd. Snow Moon Trail Run. 6:30 PM. Nite RUN!

It was important to get back on the trails this week to be better prepared for my 25K next Saturday.
It is also equally as important to have a strong long run on the pavement to prepare me for a road marathon.
For me it is finding balance and trying to find a road marathon. Lacey and I are racking our brains to find the perfect placement for a marathon. The beginning of May would be great, one of the problems is I need to find one on a SUNDAY! Even the Beginning of April would be doable.
So until I find one we will keep on trying to find balance between the two!


Pursuing conflicting goals. I am really good at fudging my goals up because I do not plan properly. I am great at planning out my running and training. My daily life is another story. Getting a pocket calendar was a big step for me. Prioritizing is an organizational skill I need to work on. I have every day packed to the gills and it is no ones fault but my own.
Meal prepping and planning has really helped me stay on task. 
It is the little things that make a big difference for me. Sometimes the goal has to change, or be altered, the only thing that is the end of the world is the END of the world.
Anita~

Information VS Knowledge

Monday: 
Solid run.
With who: Chris, Kris, Matt and Rachel
Where: We met at Seven Lakes, however, we did not run trails. We ran backroads and paved roads through the park.
Distance: 10 miles
Pace: 9:33

Wednesday:
Felt good, adding some speed and picked up my pace from the previous week.
Where: GAC (Genesys Athletic Club)
With who: Met Jeff.
Distance: 6 miles total. 5TM miles @ 8:20min/mi, last 200meter pick ups.   1mile recovery
Misc: Core and legs

Thursday: 
Great weather, ran in my Katoolas.
With who: Matt, Kris, Rachel and Ken
Where: Holly Rec. We didn't run trails. We ran Back roads and a lot of HILLS.
Distance: 11.5

Saturday: 
HUFFING and PUFFING, so pathetic
Where: Downtown Holly
With who: Lacey
Distance: 3.5 /
Pace: 8:12min/mi

Sunday: 
Long Run
With who: Lacey
Where: Through Holly and 7 Lakes
Distance: 15.25
Pace: 9:15min/mi
Misc: We saw ERIN while we were running! I just love that girl! She makes me SMILE.


Total weekly Miles: 46

Quote for the week: "Information is NOT knowledge." 
Just because you have a lot of information does not mean you have to share it. Sometimes, I will want to pipe in on a conversation to share "My Information" or I will hear wrong information said and want to correct it. But this week I have been very conscious of just listening. Not adding my random facts or correcting someone else's. 
You can be the smartest person in the world but TRUE Knowledge is HOW you share it.
Knowledge is not about being right, or having all the facts. 
"KNOWLEDGE is facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject:"
I would rather hear knowledge than information. I receive it better, I apply it and find that knowledge allows others to hold a conversation without insecurity or being discouraged by a lack thereof. 
Knowledge is more interpersonal, deep, personal experience, wisdom. 

Anita~

Safe Pick Ups.

"Being mindful of your effort puts you more in tune with the running experience. Focusing on your effort, your breathing, your gait, and how you feel increases your awareness of the moment."

Runner's World Train Smart Run FOREVER.

I was trying to recite these words, this quote, less than a mile into my run on the TM this morning. Jeff was on the TM next to me sweating with a very serious look on his face. To my right, I could see the track as I watched this man running like a gazelle. He ran effortlessly in his white high socks and hipster beard. 

I was trying to tap into their suffering to inspire me to embrace the SUCK.

"BREATHE"

"RELAX"

"PICK UP YOUR FEET ANITA" 

Here is the ULTIMATE GOAL for this SPRING. 

**To PICK UP MY PACE W/O GETTING INJURED OR DAMAGING MY LONG RUN. 

How I plan to do it, besides carefully.

• Add a 5th day of training 
• Add strength at least one day a week
• Be mindful of what I am eating. 
• When adding strength you can do legs and run but run FIRST. I do this on Wednesdays @ GAC
• I am running 2 of the 5 days short. Less miles, FASTER PACE. 

WEDNESDAYS WORKOUT:

Treadmill workout. 

I started the TM punching in 7.2- 8:20min/mi. 

The idea is to get comfortable running this pace and slowly get faster.

2 weeks ago, I was running a 7.0 and my heart was beating in my ears. The problem is with the ultra training my body got used to a slower pace.

One of the things I did 2 weeks ago is I TIMED how long it took for me to get settled into that base pace of 7.0. 

5 minutes. 

Timing my agony helped to remind me that I was not going to DIE. I just had to count down the minutes till I could breath, talk or smile. 

BACK to TODAY. Even though I was running my base pace faster than I had been the last 2 weeks, I actually felt better sooner and my "BAD" feeling wasn't even as bad as it had been 2 weeks ago. This was a good sign. 

• Goal Mileage: 5 miles. 
• The TWIST. Don't let your body get too comfortable. Remember, this is what got me in this mess. The only way to get faster is to GET FASTER and for me, without injury. 
• The LAST 200M of each mile I picked up my pace to a 10K pace. 
• After doing 5 miles like this, I ran another 800M's, running strides. 

I felt GREAT. My face looked like a cherry tomato and my chin was dripping sweat but I felt accomplished and uninjured. 

Prior to running Jeff and I stretched, rolled and did abs. And again after we ran we walked a mile discussing training, stretched, rolled and I did legs. 

THE key for me is I do NOT want to sabotage my Thursday group run, often a long run.  I can run a little sore, however, it wouldn't be right to make others run slow because I put myself in the hurt locker. It is finding balance and being considerate. 

Increasing my speed, my distance and not getting injured. 

"Finding the right type and amount of training is the key to maintaining running as a healthy lifelong activity."

JEFF'S Golden nugget: Run NUMB. When doing a faster long run if you "feel" your legs towards the end of  your run you need to go faster. Finish feeling NOTHING, Empty the tank.

*One of the things I enjoy every evening is enjoying a cup of tea. Paula gave me a box of assorted teas at Christmas and I am going through them fast. Faster than my running fast! 

Tonight's tea: English breakfast with sugar cubes, sugar cubes because they remind me of tea time with my grandma. 

If you are running on the TM avoiding the icy roads and bitter temperature play with different combinations of intervals. 

Todays run: Faster than AVERAGE pace. Pick up the pace for the last 200 meters of EACH mile. Keep your incline at a .05%. 

Anita. 

Find the Silver Lining

This week I made a new discovery within myself.  I have mixed emotions on this enlightenment, however; I am clinging to a happier perspective. Or at least trying.

I made the trip down Woodward Ave towards St.Joes Hospital to visit maw maw on Friday.
She has been in the hospital now since Thursday struggling with a bowel obstruction and diverticulitis
On the way out of the hospital, I had many memories and thoughts filling my brain like a tidal wave.  I didn't know if I should laugh, cry or chalk it up to raging PMS hormones.
Multiple emotions erupted, crashing into one another.

I came to the conclusion, I was grieving the loss of My Heritage.
I took this drive many times to discover my mothers fate at 18 years old. I watched my mom for almost 8 weeks fading away in a coma at this very hospital. Just a few streets away was my grandmothers church that I grew up in, All Saints Episcopal Church. And just a couple miles away is where my Aunt Mary lived, where I would see my dad and all my Mexican cousins. On the ride home I would pass N. Telegraph rd, a little ways down my grandmother lived on Apple lane, 24 Apple lane I believe it was. I little hole in the wall apartment I would visit her at almost every Monday for years.
Its now just memories.
Good memories, bad memories, all part of my existence. My make up.

These are not the emotions you want to be dealt with when you are struggling in the hormone dept.
Missing your culture, your ancestry or what you believe to be your make up.
Missing you parents, your grandparents, your cousins, your aunts, your uncles, your BLOOD.
I have my brother and my sister, and they are both AMAZING, but even they live hundreds of miles from me.

I was quickly reminded of all the people God has put in my circle. He has surrounded me with so many people to love on me.

I reminded myself it is O.K. to go "there" but not to camp "there" too long.
Find the Silver Lining.

Today, I have new routines, new friendships and I am privileged with incredible parents, my husbands.
By the time I arrived back in Clarkston, I was smiling and counting my blessings.


My heritage is what drives me. It is what quietly fuels me, often without making its presence known.
It presents itself in the form of Stubbornness, Strong will, Passion and many other character dispositions I carry.

My thoughts and my running: Collide

I thought about this today when running with Lacey.

Our Goal: 12 miles @9min/mi
Our Plan: Run at my gym. Lacey designed a 4X3. 4m on the track, 4m on TM then 4m to finish on track.

Our first 4 miles on the track were easy. We chatted, smiled and kept good track of our laps.
Be both DREADED the TM. We were side by side onTM's. My original thoughts were that the TM would do all the work for us, making us maintain our 9/min/mi and turn our legs over.
As painstaking as it is running on the dreadmill I knew we could not settle into comfortable. I looked to my right and would throw up digits on my fingers indicating to change the incline on the machines.
I could see Lacey poking at the buttons. I knew SHE had to get the training in for Boston. I was hurting more than she was. But she needed this.
The dialogue in my mind was annoying. I kept hearing my heritage over talking my weakness. Lacey looked smooth as silk. I had sweat dripping off my chin and felt like my 4 miles was more like 40 miles. My inner temperature was what I wanted the outside temps to be as I could feel every pore sweating. And in my suffering, I continued to add inclines to our TM workout. I continued to fight throw the defeating conversations.
Even after the TM workout we still had 4 miles on the track to finish it up.
The only dialogue that was speaking was between my ears because even Lacey wasn't chatting. I counted our laps, our miles, counting down the time, the miles and trying to program my legs to get comfortable.
With a little more than a mile left a group of about 8 boys game out onto the track. They ran in a line doing a Indian Run. I was SPENT! But I was actually sparked back up watching the boys raise their hand indicating for the last boy in the back to speed up and run to the front.
"Lacey, lets catch up and join them!"
Lacey knew I as serious. And she was not liking this plan.
Sure enough, we caught up to them. I saw the front boy raise his hand I jumped in behind the last boy and OFF WE went racing together to the front. The boys turned their heads and started laughing.
Their coaches were just a few feet away.
Out of breath and laughing I yelled, "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself!"
The coach responded "HA, that's great! They needed the motivation."

Lacey and I finished our 12 miles. We ran our plan and ran it well. There was no OTHER option.
That's My Heritage.
I am reminded this week. I grieve my ancestry. I grieve the Murdock in me. The Gonzales in me, my family, my customs, my routines and my memories.
But its perspective. I live My Heritage out in my actions.

Rundown:
12 miles@9/min/mi.
Track,TM,Track.
Stretch and roll before and after. Along with abs, Lacey rocked out the cold plunge as I fed her an apple and enjoyed the Jacuzzi!

ANITA~

Running isnt a Free Sport.

Every sport has a cost. Running can be less costly and on the flip side it can cost you a second job to pay for registrations, accessories and travel expenses.

This year I am signed up for:

• Snow Moon Run: 35$
• Highland Loops: 55$
• Detroit Marathon: $102.65
• Three Sisters ultra: 75$
• Woodstock 100K w/camping: 155$

These alone add up too!
I still have to sign up for:

• Pot o Gold: 30$
• Mohican50: 115$
• Clarkston Backroads: 50$ before Feb1st

Total: 617.65

Items to add on:

• This does not include the races I don't know that I will do! 
• Shoes, trail shoes and road shoes
• Lodging
• Clothing, I love running clothes!
• State, county and metropark pass stickers
• Accessories, head lamp/night gear, water bottles, gear, ect.

All this being said. I am so thankful for all the Christmas gift money that my clients gave me. I was able to purchase 2 registrations. 

I have to ration myself. A little here and a little there.  

This year I will look forward to 3 new races: Snow Moon Run, Three Sisters and Mohican50. 

I am just keeping base miles right now.

RUNDOWN
So today was a fun run with the gang out at Seven Lakes.
Our January thaw left the paved roads mostly clear with a few patches of ice. The snow had melted and the water damn was spewing.
I was extra courageous wearing a running skirt and compression socks.
I looked cute until I took a body slide into and across the melted mud. Then I looked official! 

We ran a little keeping a good pace until someone picked up snow. From that point, I am not sure what happened other than body plants in snow banks and snow balls flying everywhere.

At 44 years old, it is soo good for the soul to laugh and be a kid. 5 grown adults acting like kids chasing each other with vengeance.

Knobby knees, wrinkles Mud!

With muddy biff produced some good laughter. But even I got my revenge when we came to the back of the camping area and looked straight up a big ole HILL.
"COME ON, Lets RUN IT!"

It took a little convincing. We took off our coats, you know to get SERIOUS and UP we went. And back down too. It was muddy, steep and tough. I was trying so hard to calm my breathing, the more I did the more it made me want to laugh.

Mud slide hill

Today we ran 10 miles. We ran a solid pace including our shenanigans and challenges.

I am looking forward to training with my group. We all take our running serious but we also know how to make an adventure out of it too!

Enjoy what you do. Play out the unplanned adventure. Take the side route, climb the tree, and do the Happy DANCE!

Anita~

Seriously, No Goals

RESOLUTION

Synonyms: Decision, Settlement, Dedication, Aim, Pledge, Promise

As soon as I mention "So, did you make any New Years Resolutions?" to most people, most people respond:

"I don't make New Years Resolutions."

"Oh, I didn't really even think about it."

Last night at our teens small group I LOST MY MIND. 

We had about 30 kids and 3 of us leaders in a circle. I always like to start out with and icebreaker. 

I did a very SIMPLE icebreaker. I asked them about Resolutions. 

Within the first few students I was instantly discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm and interest in participating in the EASY icebreaker. 

By the time the circle had finished, I was fuming. I was now finding myself discouraged by their poor attitudes and lack of participation. 

Before we started the lesson I had a few words to share with them.

My thoughts on RESOLUTIONS or GOALS.

The last I checked, most of have not "ARRIVED."  I know for me personally, I am always trying to be a little better than I was yesterday. Some days are better than others but many days I Fail. I lick my wounds, dust myself off and try again. 

I set resolutions, or goals to give me something to aim for, to work towards. It gives me purpose, a plan to the strive towards, not just beating the air aimlessly, without direction.

"Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.."1 Cor 9:26

Without a goal, a purpose, I can be easily discouraged. 

Without a goal or a plan I SETTLE.

I find myself comfortable in the land of being mediocre. I wasn't designed to be mediocre, and NEITHER WERE YOU. 

Without a goal, we get stuck on stupid. Complacent. Often backslidden and not moving forward at all. We allow things to creep into our lives that hold us back. 

I was so discouraged these young people not only had any resolutions but basically stuck their middle finger up at the whole idea, had a bad attitude.

Because if you take it to the WHOLE NEXT LEVEL......as I am about to..

As a CHRISTIAN, we should be training every day to be better. 

25. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. 26Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 27No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.…". 

I explained to the kids that setting resolutions or goals gives you something to work towards. Its not something that is easy and even always comes with success. But letting fear of failure prevent you from setting goals should NOT be your back door. Failure is not the end of the road, it is just a bump in the road.
I have more failures than successes. I have plenty of people that would love to share some of my blunders, mistakes and failures with you.
See its PEOPLE that keep track of your failures, not GOD.
And its Satan who wants to remind you of them. He wants you to wear you fears and failures so you won't want to try and be more Christ like. To be a better person.

It hurt me to see the kids so complacent. They are our tomorrow.

Each one of us can set simple goals, even daily goals. You don't have to advertise them to the world but I would encourage you to write them down even journal them.
Don't settle on coasting because it is easy.
Like my dear friend Rachel says, #DOTHEHARDTHINGS

This years goal...New Race at Woodstock
The Happening 100k

Rundown:
Where: Trails/backroads Holly Rec
Distance: 6.5 ish (I forgot to start my watch)
We had so much fun today. With the snow fresh and untouched we were excited to put our prints in the snow. The tempertures were warmer and I was shedding clothes before we even started. We started on the trail but got off at the first chance we could, hitting the backroads. The snow was too heavy to trudge through. But it sure was pretty.
We ran some good miles, steady, hitting most of the hills running and breathing really heavy. I felt so much better hearing the others breathing as hard as I was. Misery likes company!

Because it warmed up so much, when we finished we went for a little lake asventure. This lead to creeping across the lake, snow angels and a little mayhem. SNOW BALL FIGHTS.

It has been soo cold that we have all been running and hustling home to get warm. Today was great. We enjoyed running and the adventures in it.

Anita

Running the Numbers for 2017

2017 was a year of victories and failures.
I ran new races, I met new faces and to keep this rhyme going..you got it, I ran in new places!
 
It wasn't a year of PR's. But it did hold a new distance for me, my first 100 miler.

For Christmas, Lacey gave me a very nerdy gift. 3 spreadsheets with:

1. My races (mileage, time, pace) 
2. My 16 week training plan for Glass City Marathon
3. My 25 week training plan for Hennipen 100. 

I have also crunched a few of my own numbers. 

Total miles for 2017: 2,451 yearly miles

• That's an average of 6.7 miles a day, a 10k a day or 3.1 marathons a month.
• 1,320 miles to see my brother in Stuart, Florida, I could almost make it back home, I would have to hitch a ride!
• I have always wanted to go to the zoo in San Diego, California, 2,354 miles!

Glass City Marathon 2017

I trained for 16 weeks starting January 1st. 

• Total Training Miles: 702.7
• Highest mileage week: 51 miles
• Lowest Mileage week: 22.2 miles

Hennipen 100 2017

I trained for 25 weeks, using Glass City as my starting training week. 

• Total Training Miles: 1435
• Highest mileage week: 100.50
• Lowest mileage week: 28.8

Races:

1. March 17th, Pot O Gold: 4 miles, 33.05
2. April 9th, Run Michigan Cheap Millington: 13.1, 1:47:54
3. April 23, Glass City Marathon: 3:46:20
4. May20, Highland Loops Trail Run: 16 miles, 3:03:16
5. June 11, Run Michigan cheap Lk. Orion: 13.1, 1:54:47
6. June 24, Wings of Mercy 5K: 3.2, 25.09
7. August 10, Great Pizza Challenge: 3.2, 25:09
8. August 26, CRIM festival of Races: 10miles, 1:24:04
9. September 9, Woodstock: 50 miles, 10:27:22
10. October 7, Hennipen 100: 23:13:19
11. November 12, Clarkston Backroads: 13.1, 1:58:32

My greatest Victory was running my first 100 mile race, Hennipen100. Not only did I finish but I finished in my goal time. This was pretty epic considering most of the time you don't set any goal other than JUST FINISHING!

And of course my biggest failure, Glass City Marathon. I tried to qualify for Boston.

My favorite new Race: Highland Loops



2017 was a year of strong friendships. Team Squishy toes was birthed out of long trail runs and ridiculous hashtags.
#Sosalty
#lilbit
#sunshineinmypocket
#Irun4hugs
#99bottlesofbeeronthewall
#thelilthings

Part of Team Squishy Toes

This girl put many many miles in with me. Not only did she ran her first 50k for me, she also held my hand through sweat, vomiting, pee pee pants, she was there for my greatest victory and loved on me in my failures. 

LACEY!! 

Now to start planning 2018!

Anita~

Goals 2018: FOCUS

2 Chronicles 15:7 " But You, Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for you work shall be rewarded." 

January 1st.
That's it. I'm done. Back in the saddle again.
TRAINING Time!
Its time to purge bad habits, junk food, junk miles and get Focused.

I need to lick my wounds and prepare for more.
No more whining, crying or making excuses for being a slacker.

I love when I get my mind into my goals. There is something magical about setting goals, putting my mind in that place and Focusing on each goal.

I get excited knowing that each target requires sacrifice, commitment, dedication and a certain amount of discomfort.
Its the challenge that gets me charged. The fuel in my fire.

I am still setting my goals for this year. I am planning my races for the year and making a few new years resolutions.

I set my goals to challenge myself,  try new things and even some old things with a new perspective.

New years day always brings so much hope. The coffee was perfect setting me up for a great day to follow. 

Lacey texted me first thing this morning reminding me that it was freezing out. 

Lacey sent me this....It is posted at the Track at Genisys!

I decided to start my wearing my butterfly running skirt. I was giddy when I discovered my newer running shoes matched.

As ridiculous as it sounds, I felt like a princess. There is a lot of girl in me. I love feeling pretty. 

Todays GOALS:

1. Double digit run.

2. Hold an average pace of 9min/mi

I wanted to run with a lil bit of distress. Training has to have a certain amount of displeasure. The pleasure exceeds discomfort when you reach your goals. 

I had to park in the back of the parking lot at Genisys. I couldn't find a parking spot. The massive gym was packed with New Years Resolutioners. 

All the faces get me so excited. Its hard to not get stoked and be an extrovert. I was grinning from ear to ear wanting to share high fives to random people. 

I put my ear buds in and headed upstairs to stretch and roll. 

The track is hard to walk past and was easy to come back to. Walkers, runners and a lot of high school students were sharing the very large track. As one of the largest tracks in Oakland county, it appeared small with so many people using it. 

The first lap my legs wanted to hop skip and jump. But that second lap was a great reminder that the endorphins were short lived. 

I felt great, making my first mile actually fun. 

By mile three I still felt great, however, I was actually concerned play time would come to a screeching halt and I would be suffering on the second half of my double digit run. To prevent that the dialogue in my head began to debate my miles. 

9 strong miles sounded better than 10 miles of suffering. 

By mile 5, I was still on pace and feeling great. I got a second wind from a young guy who was running what appeared to be 100m repeats. He flew by my so fast that my heart actually skipped beats and I found myself laughing out loud. Watching him was impressive to say the least. 

I couldn't help myself, I had to tell him how fantastic he was to watch. 

But I didn't miss a beat. I stayed focused on my pace. I even shared a few encouraging words to random runners on the track. 

Giving others encouragement always encourages me. Smiles help to put a little more pep in my step. 

By mile 6, I decided I was going to run MY GOAL. 10 miles. My pace was a bit faster than I wanted but I knew I could hold it, I knew I needed to try to hold the 8:40min/mi. 

Chris Swanson stepped onto the track. He looked at me but I don't think he associated me with church. 

He was just the right fuel to finish out the last 3 miles. We went back and forth passing each other. He picked up his pace on my 8th mile. I didn't think I could hold on to the 8min/mi. 

I kept my eyes on the back of his head and his large headphones. 

Focus. I focused on the goal, I focused on my breathing. I focused on my posture. I kept everything running in my vision. I counted my laps, I counted my minutes. I pumped my arms, picked up my legs and stayed just a few meters behind him. I could see him looking behind him. 

The last quarter mile I decided I was going to finish by passing him. 

NOO I am not competive....

I quickly picked it up knowing the 10 mile marker was just a few feet away. I hit the last gear I had and flew past him holding on as I ran beyond my marker. 

I smiled inside, giggle a little, then went to the side thinking I was going to puke my brains out. 

Friendly competition, not malicious in any way. I was able to use someone to help me make my goal. 

And it was FUN! 

It felt so good to run a little faster than I have been. To be able to get my blood pumping and my legs turning over really helps me mentally. 

My wobble sticks are sore and tired, but even that is like a trophy for hitting my goals. 

I have to add up my 2017 miles this week. 

I will share those later this week.

I Hope You set some Goals for 2018. Goals prevent you from getting complacent. They remind you that there are great things out there. But you have to work for it!

Anita