I had lots of time to reflect on the first 31 days of 2011as I spent th e day shoveling piles of snow while being snowbound in my house with three kids on day two of "Snowmageddon 2011." After shoveling for an hour here and an hour there; throwing countless loads of winter wear in the dryer only to load it all on again to shovel some more; fighting with the garage door that apparently is also a culprit of the blizzard - frozen and refusing to budge; and lastly, fighting with the masses to get through to American Airlines to rebook a flight for a long awaited trip to Austin, TX to meet up with the rest of the LIVESTRONG Mentors (an exciting turn of events this year....I was asked to be a LIVESTRONG Mentor for the Chicago Marathon!).
Finally shoveled out - thanks to two strapping teenage boys and one very pink 7-year old, as well as meeting a new neighbor a few doors down traveling with a snow blower (THANK YOU!!). As I finally got around to changing the calendar on the kitchen wall, it hit me....January is over. Did I accomplish anything?
- I ran 94 miles.....all indoors on the dreadmill or track. I probably could have run more but this is a lot considering I have had a nagging reoccurring injury the past two years....and could barely walk the weeks leading up to the Chicago Marathon.
- Watched a lot of junior high basketball.
- Completed my first indoor half marathon as my first 2011 event for RunningSTRONG for Hope (read about it here)
- Signed up for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May as a member of Team LiveSTRONG
- Committed again for the Philadelphia LIVESTRONG Challenge as a member of Friends Fighting Cancer (FFC) with the plan to ride a very hilly 45 miles.
- Made updates to my blog (I consider this blog a technical developmental opportunity)
- Added a logo (thanks Joyce at Juice Marketing & Design)
- Created a memory wall - for a $25 donation to LIVESTRONG, your loved one can be memorialized or honored on the RunningStrong for Hope Memorial Wall
- Completed several long runs in preparation for the Honda LA Marathon in March on Team LIVESTRONG. OK, not such a big deal BUT these were a test of my mental toughness as the winter weather has not cooperated with long runs...so.....my 12, 14 & 16 milers were all completed on an indoor track (9 laps - 1 mile). I overcame monotony and did these runs alone. To be honest with you, these runs were some I've been proudest of when all said and done.
- Shoveled A LOT of snow.
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| That's me swinging a hammer on the left....a GREAT stress reliever |
- Tried out a new strength program (much needed) at CrossFit Bloomington-Normal....and was somehow given the green light to move on from the newbies class. (I hate, hate, hate strength training because I'm pretty weak but this program is a blast....they don't let me swing a sledge hammer and flip a tractor tire at the local gym down the street).
- Raised $1,500 towards my $15,000 goal for LIVESTRONG. Not bad for one month.
- Started sending letters to potential RunningSTRONG for Hope sponsors. This is something I've never done before so it was with a bit of anxiousness that I sent a few requests out....and got my first RunningSTRONG for Hope sponsor! Monster Pawn - thank you Kathy & Ed!
Now the challenge....to get even more accomplished in February.....28 days.....a piece of cake!
Please consider helping continue to meet my fundraising goals for LIVESTRONG by clicking the link below:
Barb's LIVESTRONG Online Fundraising Page
Congrats on being a mentor!!! It will be so rewarding - you will love it!
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