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Sunday, January 26, 2014

January: Choco Loco 5k

One down, eleven to go!

For January, I ran the Choco Loco 5k.  Get this - you run your 3.1 miles around the lovely Uptown Park area in Houston, and finish it off with a chocolate buffet.  Hey there, motivation!

The course was lovely.  I work in the Galleria area and drive by Uptown Park all the time.  I didn't realize, though, that there is a secret neighborhood behind it.  Winding little streets, beautiful houses, and all those old trees.  Lovely, I tell you.


What we did not bet on for this race was the arctic conditions!  It was below 40o!  And y'all, for a Houston girl, that is COLD.  But do you know what goes perfectly with a chilly January morning?

Hot chocolate!

and chocolate covered strawberries!
and chocolate covered bananas!
and chocolate covered pretzels!
and chocolate chip cookies!
and maybe a brownie bite or two...

Yeah, I was pretty excited about that chocolate buffet.  Sean was a little less motivated by the chocolate and just wanted to get somewhere with a heater.  Once my fingers went numb, I had to agree.  Especially when all the chocolate fountain goodness froze together on my plate.

I had a great time with this first run of 2014.  For me, these themed runs give me something to look forward to, rather than just lacing up and taking to the road.  I know there's something special at the end, and a little adventure along the way.

Happy resolutions!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

new year's resolution

Because you've gotta have one, right?

 Let's be honest - there are very resolutions that I have kept in the past. I always start out with the best intentions, but usually break whatever self-improvement goal I've made before the end of January. Learn to sew? Dust is gathering on that machine. Read a new book every week? Well, maybe if the first one hadn't taken two months. Give up Dr. Pepper? Ha! Jokes on me.

 So this year, I had a brilliant idea. Why don't I make a resolution that I could actually keep? My attempts in previous years had either been too vague or left no wiggle room for slip-ups. If I just want to "learn" or "get better at" something, there was no starting point and no measurement. If I try to do something every day that I've never done before, what are my chances of succeeding?

 So instead of choosing some arbitrary goal, I picked a resolution that I have been working towards already. I am trying to be more diligent about sticking to an exercise schedule. And what I've learned is that if I don't have an event on the horizon, I don't have the motivation. So here's my resolution:


This year, I will complete one active event per month.


These events can include 5ks, 10ks, bike races, triathalons, and whatever other fun things come along. Theoretically, with one event a month, I will always be in training and always motivated! BUT since the resolution is a once-a-month activity, I have wiggle room. And if I don't stick completely to my training schedule, I haven't automatically failed a "work out every day" kind of resolution.


2014 is the year that I will keep my resolution. I've got January, February, March, and April events in my calendar. And the best part? I am excited about this resolution, inspired to succeed and looking forward to what the year will bring.

 Come along for the ride!