Go(al)ing for it in 2015

Last year, right at the start of 2014, I made a list of goals I wanted to conquer during the year. By typing them out and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards), I was holding myself accountable. I also felt I was very realistic with my goals so it was upsetting that some of them were not reached. But all hope is not lost! There did happen to be some that I was able to accomplish and will keep up with but I did not achieve a majority of them and they are very much still works in progress.

Out of my eight goals, I was only able to really achieve two and a half of them. I was able to complete a five minute plank, I was able to get more involved with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA), and I was more conscious of what types of food I was eating (that's why this counts as half), although not consistently. So two out of eight it was. Blah. Better than zero out of eight.

Holiday Happiness

Winter break is just around the corner and I for one, cannot wait. I need a break. I big one. I need to just lay around in my pajamas and not do anything for a few days.  (Or at least have the option to do that since I can't really do that for too long because I get antsy.) It's been a crazy few weeks with the holidays coming and basketball season in full swing now. It's been pretty great though as my team is now 5-0 and hopefully will remain unbeaten going into winter break. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I have been trying to enjoy holiday time in New York as much as I can with everything else going on. It's one of the best times of the year here. (I feel like I say that about every time of year though.)  I love the changing seasons here and taking advantage of what the city has to offer. When my parents were here for Thanksgiving we obviously watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which is always super fun. It was both their first times seeing it and I loved watching them watching it. Well, my mom at least since my dad wasn't so into it. It's okay, it totally wasn't his thing but he was a trooper. While they were here, we also looked at the holiday windows a bit and went to see the beginning of the set-up of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It was a mob-scene even though the tree hadn't even been lit yet, but there were tons of tourists there to see what it was anyway and to ice-skate on the rink. Needless to say, it was C-R-O-W-D-E-D. Not so much my scene. I think in my first year in New York City I went to see the Christmas tree after it was lit and it was so crowded and unenjoyable, I hadn't gone back.

Also, I remember being totally underwhelmed by it as well. Needless to say, I was in no rush to go back. But after going with my parents, I realized I did want to see it again when it was all pretty and lit up. I had let enough time go without going to see it, so the time was now. But how would I do it without having to deal with the crowds?!? Then came my brilliant idea: I would run there. Yes, a destination run to Rockefeller Plaza! I would run there in the morning while its still dark out and get a glimpse of that beautiful tree.

I'm Actually Doing This

On Wednesday, I had a kind of surreal experience. (One that is going to become a regular thing though.) I was coaching a girls varsity basketball team. In a game. Like for real. Well, almost for real, since it was a scrimmage. But it was me on the sideline leading the pack. I was calling out plays, yelling at my players, making subs, using the white board, giving words of encouragement, etc... I was really actually doing this. And it was so freaking fun.

After weeks of practice, my team finally had our first real test with this scrimmage. Full uniform, with a referee and running our plays. Even though I have coached a real varsity team before with flag football (and bowling), this was different. A gym basketball court is a much more intimate environment versus the football field. Saying my loud voice carries in there would be a great understatement. And lets not forget, basketball is one of my great loves so this is a big deal for me. This is special to me. I literally cannot wait for the regular season to begin. With a few more practices and one more scrimmage to go, we still have some learning to do and kinks to work out, but we are looking decent.  This whole thing is certainly a learning process for myself and the girls.

Some New Great Things, Some Old Issues

It's been two whole weeks since I ran the New York City Marathon and five weeks since the Chicago Marathon. Between the two marathons I was in a bit of a funk because of the disappointment of not PRing in Chicago. And although my head wasn't totally in the game for NYC, I knew I would have regretted not doing it and I was right. I was so happy to have done it and don't know how I can NOT continue to do that race every year. (Does that mean I sign up for both again next year? It just might.)

Anyway, as it usually is for me following any big race (or even big trip), there is feeling of "Now What?" afterwards. When you look forward to something and have spent so long working toward a single goal and it has now come and gone, it's hard to figure out what the next step is. I treated myself with a SoulCycle package and two new pairs of gym shoes to help with some of the post-race funk, but there is still a little void. I know it will go away soon though; it always does and life will resume back to normal.

New York 26.2: A Recap

Two marathons in three weeks! Chicago and New York. Numbers 8 and 9. I can finally take a sigh of relief and give my body a rest. And perhaps chill with all the crying too. Yikes. As I lay here in bed with sore legs and a full heart, I think I can actually say that I am proud of myself. This is quite different than the feelings I was having three weeks ago after the Chicago marathon when I was a big ball of disappointment. Sure, I ran this race slower than Chicago, but I wasn't running this race for me and wasn't concerned about getting a PR. I was running this race for a fantastic cause (Team IBDKids), wanted to enjoy the ride, and really just wanted to finish it (in under five hours). And that I did with a time of 4:42:50. I'll take it because once again, it wasn't an easy road to the finish line and I am just so happy to be healthy enough to make it there once again.