December Goals

Last year, I did the Runner’s World Run Streak, where I ran one mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. I missed one day because I was sick, but I made up for that day with a two mile run later that week.

This year, running isn’t a possibility because of my recent surgery and I was sad that I was going to have to miss out on participating. 😦

Also, it was easier, weather-wise, to run outside every day because we were in Oregon and the weather never really got below freezing the entire time. Now that I’m back in Minnesota, it’s a different story. We have been lucky in the fact that it’s December 1st and we still haven’t had snow that’s stuck around, but that definitely won’t last.

I can’t do the run streak this year, but what I CAN do is have a walk streak for the month of December. I’m going to walk a minimum of one mile every day this month. I was inspired by my friend Jeremy’s 30-day goal posts on his site. But, instead of 30 days I’m going to make my goal follow the calendar month to make keeping track easier.

This poses a few challenges:

Needing a place to do this when the weather eventually turns to actual MN winter.
Done! I have a membership at the YMCA and they have an indoor track which will make the indoor walking much nicer than walking on a treadmill.

Holidays.
Last year, since I was able to do everything outdoors (even in the 40-ish degree rain/drizzle), holidays didn’t matter. I just laced up my shoes and went outside. This year, it’ll be different as I’m pretty darn sure the YMCA will be closed on Christmas Day. I guess I’m going to get all my warmest gear out to tromp a mile through my neighborhood that day. ❄

Motivation.
I’m having a tough time with motivation because I’m not in the best head space right now. Still struggling with grief from my Dad’s passing and the shorter days/colder weather is making me want to burrito myself in a fleece blanket and never leave the house. Working remotely: the struggle is real.

However, when I put my mind on doing something, I’m going to do it come hell or high water. Then, hopefully, this month of activity will allow me to start going back to CrossFit. I miss the hard workouts, but I also have to realize it could take 6-12 months before I’m fully healed from the hysterectomy and able to push myself as much as I used to. I’m so impatient!

What goals have you made for yourself this month?

Six Weeks

I realized today that it’s been six weeks (and one day) since my surgery! Back on my last post, which was one week (and one day) post surgery, I was feeling so frustrated in not being able to do much of anything. Now, I’m getting around much better!

In fact, I had my six-week checkup yesterday and my doctor said I’m healing up nicely and that I’m able to resume normal activity again. YESSSSSS!

I know, right?
I know, right?

I’m not immediately going back to CrossFit; I’m going to wait until after the first of the year before I start up that again. My doctor said that it would take probably six months before I’m 100% back to normal again. The idea of doing a burpee makes me cringe. I can’t even sleep on my stomach yet!

Instead, I’m going to start a couch to 5k training plan to get my endurance and strength back which will hopefully put me in a better spot for when I go back go CrossFit. But, I’ll still have to go slow because if I overdo things now, my incision lets me know. Jerk.

That's pretty much how I feel if I overdo it.
That’s pretty much how I feel if I overdo it.

Today is also Thanksgiving Day here in the US. My family is having their big dinner (at my house!) on Saturday, so we drove down to my brother’s house and had dinner with my Mom and one of my sisters instead. The rest of my siblings were at their in-laws, per tradition. That’s primarily why my family never celebrates the holiday on the holiday: the in-laws are insistent it be the day of, and my parents never gave a shit – they just wanted all of us to be together.

This year I’m thankful for family and that I got my own health problem taken care of so now I can focus on getting back in shape. This year taught me a valuable lesson about not taking things for granted and to live more in the moment, not wasting so much time and energy on things that you can’t control. It’s why I got this tattoo earlier this year:

Just a reminder to always breathe. Happy Thanksgiving!