New Year Resolutions!

I couldn't come up with anything very challenging this year, as the last two years I did all the hard stuff:

Lose weight: 40lbs (was 50)
Go back to School: Started back Spring 2006, graduate Fall of 2009
Quit Smoking: Jan 1 2008 and I am never going back

Running was never one of my resolutions, nor was exercise, but it was necessary to meet my weight loss goals. I just started with half a lap of walking at the track and half a lap of running. I was able to get up to two miles of consistent running, but couldn't go much further until I quit smoking in January.

On January 1st, 2009, I ran 13.1 miles to celebrate a year without smoking. So in a year I went from 2 miles to 13. In the last 6 months I was able to go from a 9:31 minute mile 5k pace to an 8:32 minute pace. My point here isn't to brag, but to show that even an overweight (6ft tall 260lb), smoking, unhealthy person can become a runner. Running probably isn't for everyone, but there is always hiking, biking, pilates, yoga, etc. Look at it this way, if we all get healthy and eat less, we can use that extra food to make bio-fuel :).

Anyhow, here are this years resolutions:

• Lose 15 Pounds (From 220 to 205)
• -Cut back on Fried Foods (allow once a week)
• -Cut back on Chocolate Deserts (allow once a week)
• -Eat Cleaner (More Fresh food)
• Improve 5K time by 30 Seconds (8:00 Pace)
• Run at least one Half Marathon (Timed Race)
• Run at least one Full Marathon (Timed Race)

I think the hard part will be getting back in the groove of going to bed hungry, counting my calories again, and just watching what I eat. I know how to do it, I have done it before, I can do it again. The running stuff I think I will meet, the 8:00 Pace will be the hardest though.