Long Term Goals...

Long Term Goals...  What a big, scary phrase! 

I was talking to my older brother yesterday.  He was back East visiting the family.  He was going to be heading to Buffalo soon to catch his flight back to Washington.  During our conversation, we got on the topic of goals.  Things that we want to accomplish, not really short-term goals, since they are things that we can't do right now, but things that we look forward to doing once we can get the time or we feel like it is in our best interest.

I started running in Feb of 2009.   I started running because I was overweight, well, obese (what a horrible word to hear someone say to you!).   In April 2009, I was diagnosed with hammertoes and had to get surgery on 3 toes to correct it, which consisted of removing bone.  There went my running for about 2 1/2 months.  The furthest I had run before the surgery was a 5K on a treadmill.  In June, when I could start running again, I found a half marathon to sign up for.  I signed up, and started training.  In October, I finished the Warren Co YMCA Super Kwik Half Marathon in 2:33:55.  I was very happy to have finished.  I crossed the finish line with my husband, three children, brother and his wife, sisters, bro-in-law and nephew cheering me on.


I have completed 2 marathons, they were both last fall, and I didn't come in last. Sept 25, 2010, was Akron Roadrunner and then Nov 13, 2011, was the Richmond SunTrust.  When I was in college, at the ripe old age of 19, I took a class where we were essentially asked to make a Bucket List.  I have no idea where the list is now, or very much that was on it, but I do remember that one of them was to finish a marathon without coming in last place.  At that age, I was not even a runner (I was that horrible O word at 19).  I think that I had run a few times here and there, but I always remembered that as being a goal. 

My goal is to complete two more marathons. I want to be able to give a marathon medal to each of my children.  They are essentially the reason that I run, that I lace up my shoes and head out the door.  There are many times when long runs, we are talking 10 miles or more, would  take a couple of hours at least.  It was time away from mommy, but they never complained that I was gone so long.  They understood that it is something that I want to, need to, do.  They saw me cross the finish line at the Richmond Marathon, holding signs and cheering me on.  It brought tears to my eyes, seeing how devoted they were to me and how much joy it brought them to see me following through.

I learned to love running, I believe, because it is a fast way to burn a lot of calories.  Well, only as fast as you can run, which isn't very fast in my case, compared to others. When I am running though, I am running my best.   I know that I will never be at the head of any pack of runners, but someday I may win my age group, if I am 80 and still running, which I hope that I will be.  That will probably be because I am the only one that is 80 and running, but that is okay :) I do it because I enjoy it.  I know that I am helping myself live a healthier lifestyle than I did in the past.  Therefore, I believe, that I will be around longer for my children, and then, hopefully grandchildren, and so forth.

I told my brother, that I hope to be running again in January.  I realize that after this pregnancy, and the c-section I will have at some point in October, I hope no sooner, it will be most likely January before I run again.  I will have to start slow, probably with walking during the couple of months before January to start to rebuild my cardiovascular capabilities.  It is amazing how fast they dwindle.  I am sure I will be elated when I run my first 1/2 mile, then my first mile, and so forth.  It is starting over, but it will be so worth it.  The marathon training probably won't start until the baby is one or two years-old.  I will be doing 5 Ks and 10 Ks until then.  I do know that it will start eventually though.  I think that my children may want to join me for some of the shorter runs.  They seemed to really enjoy running, when we used to do that together. 

What are some health goals you have set and/or accomplished?  What are some ways you have attained these goals, or plan to?