Happy New Year Everyone.  I hope you had a safe and happy ring in to the new year.  2016 is now a thing of the past, and thank goodness because I had a down year according to my mileage.  With the start of 2017, comes a new year for running.  I challenge you to consider running for the new year.  Below are going to be my new running goals for 2017.

1. Return to Walt Disney World for a RunDisney race
After running the inaugural Star Wars – The Dark Side Half Marathon at Walt Disney World last April, I have decided this will be my annual Disney race.  It was so exciting last year running this race and I look forward to it again this year.

2. Complete five half marathons toward my 50 By 50 Challenge
Mississippi (January 7, 2017) – Mississippi Blues Half Marathon
Arkansas (March 5, 2017) – Little Rock Half Marathon
Kentucky (April 29, 2017) – Kentucky Derby Half Marathon
Delaware (October 21, 2017) – Monster Mash Half Marathon
New Jersey (October 22, 2017) – Atlantic Beach Half Marathon

3. Run for 1000 miles
I am setting a goal for 1000 miles.  This has been my goal for the last 4 years and I have only surpassed it once.  So this will always be my yearly goal until I surpass it on a regular basis.

4. Stretch and foam roll regularly
I can always do better.  With most of us, we can all use a little improvement in this area.

5. Run with someone slower than you to help them achieve their running goals
Helping other runners is one of the greatest joys of running.

6. Reduce my weight to 190
Since 2015 I have continued to put on some weight.  It didn’t effect my running much; however, I could tell it in my hips, knees, and ankles.  So I am going to work hard to get this down this year.

Have a safe and healthy 2017.  I look forward to hearing your running goals in the comments and/or your blogs!

Happy New Year Everyone.  I hope you had a safe and happy ring in to the new year.  2015 is now a thing of the past.  With the start of 2016, comes a new year for running.  I challenge you to consider running for the new year.  Below are going to be my new running goals for 2016.

1. Return to Walt Disney World for a RunDisney race
This race will come in the fashion of the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side in mid April.  How could I pass this up?

2. Complete five half marathons toward my 50 By 50 Challenge
Louisiana (February 28, 2016) – New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon
Minneapolis (May 15, 2016) – Hastings Apple Blossom Half Marathon
New Mexico (September 18, 2016) – Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon
Oregon (October 9, 2016) – Portland Half Marathon
Michigan (October 23, 2016) – Grand Rapids Half Marathon

3. Run for 1000 miles
I am setting a goal for 1000 miles.  In 2015, I started with a goal of 900 miles, and then at mid-year increased it to 1,100 miles.  I ended up splitting the gap with 1,000 miles.  I will try and maintain that this year.

4. Stretch and foam roll regularly
I did well at the stretching in 2015, so I want to continue, and do better.  This is something many runners neglect, but it is important to help prevent injury. Take the time every day to care for your body. Five to 10 minutes every evening could do wonders for you physically and mentally.

5. Run with someone slower than you to help them achieve their running goals
Helping other runners is one of the greatest joys of running.

6. Reduce my weight to 190
In 2015 I put on some weight.  It didn’t effect my running much; however, I could tell it in my hips, knees, and ankles.

Have a safe and healthy 2016.  I look forward to hearing your running goals in the comments and/or your blogs!

Happy New Year Everyone.  I hope you had a safe and happy ring in to the new year.  2014 is now a thing of the past.  With the start of 2015, comes a new year for running.  I challenge you to consider running for the new year.  Below are going to be my new running goals for 2015.

I start the year with a change.  For the past 3 years I have ran in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races in January.  I have decided to remove this from my immediate future of races because of how expensive they have got.  Another reason is so I can focus on races toward my 50 By 50 Challenge.

1. Complete at least one local race to support the local community
I am planning to run the Save the Light Half Marathon on Folly Beach, SC on February 7, 2015.

2. Complete four half marathons toward my 50 By 50 Challenge
Indiana (May 2, 2015) – One America Indy 500 Half Marathon
Ohio (May 3, 2015) – Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon
Maryland (October 17, 2015) – Baltimore Half Marathon
Pennsylvania (October 18, 2015) – Hershey Half Marathon

This will be quite a challenge.  If you look at the dates, I am going to be two separate back to back weekends in May and October.

3. Run for 900 miles
I am setting a goal for 900 miles (75 miles per month).  I am increasing my running in 2015 to include a fourth day of running each week.  This extra day with be spent doing some form of specialty running to increase my running skills (track intervals, tempo, hills, etc.).  With this extra training day, I want to regularly get my weekly mileage over 20 miles consistently.  Hopefully all of this will help get my half marathon times in the low 1:50s.  In 2014 I averaged about a 1:57 in my half marathons.  My training plan through May is already posted if you would like to have a look.

4. Stretch and foam roll regularly
This is something many runners neglect, but it is important to help prevent injury. Take the time every day to care for your body. Five to 10 minutes every evening could do wonders for you physically and mentally.

5. Run with someone slower than you to help them achieve their running goals
Helping other runners is one of the greatest joys of running.

6. Reduce my weight to 185
In 2014 I put on some weight.  It didn’t effect my running much; however, I could tell it in my hips, knees, and ankles.  I have not been 185 since college, so this is quite an extreme goal.  I would like to reach this target weight before my first back to back half marathons in May.  The problem is I love sweets!  So I need to get this out the house fast!

Have a safe and healthy 2015.  I look forward to hearing your running goals in the comments and/or your blogs!