Staying Steady: Run 1,000

Last week, I posted at Circle of Friends about how one of my goals for 2012 was to stay more consistently disciplined in all areas of my life, with new daily habits of discipline as opposed to catch-up habits. I have a pattern, as I do when I drive, to hit the gas, then coast, then hit the gas, then coast. I didn’t realize just how bad I was until I logged into Daily Mile and realized that I hadn’t run in three months! That’s quite a long coast!

Yes, I took three months off. I didn’t run, I didn’t walk (other than to the fridge and back!), I did nothing physical at all. Every year I have no trouble staying active through the spring, summer and fall, training for a handful of half marathons. Then October hits and I feel I deserve a break. So I take a few weeks off. Then the holidays hit and next thing I know, it’s January and if I don’t start doing something fast I’ll be shopping for all new pants.

Really, all I want do do November through March is sit on my couch with a cup of coffee, curl up under a blanket and just hibernate. I think the bears have it figured out. So I was puzzled how to get motivated and avoid the winter workout wasteland (or should it be waist-land since mine tends to expand?!). Besides not wanting to shop for new jeans, I struggle with the blues through the winter months. We barely see the sun, and it’s not easy to get outside. Exercise helps battle those winter blahs.

At the end of the year I saw my Daily Mile friends posting their total miles for the year. That’s when I got the idea to run 1,000 miles in 2012 (I did less than 500 in 2011!!). That turns out to be not quite 20 miles per week. I can do it if I stay consistent. It will mean being the most consistent I’ve ever been. It means I can’t take three months off.

I’m off to a slow start (8 miles last week, 13 this week), but I know I can’t just jump right into 20 miles a week since I took three months off. I ran my first six-miler on Saturday and by mile five, my legs felt like lead. What I love about using Daily Mile is it helps me keep track of what I’ve done, just like my prayer journal does. I can look week by week and see those glaring holes of inactivity.

If you’re on Daily Mile, look me up – I’m Amelia R. If you’re not on, check it out. It’s like Facebook but for exercise. No matter whether you run, bike, swim, do yoga or lift weights, Daily Mile can help you track your workouts, as well as encourage others to reach their goals. They also have fun little widgets that show how many doughnuts you’ve burned, how far around the world you’ve gone or how many tv’s you’ve powered.

Here’s to staying steady in all areas!!