So having ended 2009 on a high by completing my first task, I had every intention of dialling up a gear at the start of this new decade. After all, time is a-ticking and I'm not getting any younger. But the snow hampered the things I had planned. Excuses, excuses, I know! But it's hard to run when it's icy, cup cakes don't really seem the thing to have and while a big woolly jumper would have been ideal (still would!), various days off working from home meant factoring in a meeting with the knitting guru was just too hard.
But, I'm happy to report that three weeks on things are starting to happen. You will see by the pic that the knitting has started. I'm now on row 21. At this rate it will be well into spring before I wear it, but wear it I will! (for anyone interested this is what I'll be modelling at some point) I'm enjoying my evenings in front of some educational documentary with the needles clicking away, feeling all is well with the world (actually, in reality, the tv has to go off or I can't concentrate, and the clicking is...somewhat stilted! Still practice makes perfect - my current mantra!).
And I have now also been for my first run of the year. How depressing is it when you know you got to a stage that could actually be described as 'fit', only to take a few weeks (OK, months) off and be back at square one? However, the road to the half marathon will be a long and painful one, but it must start with a first step. Today I managed 21 minutes of running. And I reminded myself how much I can enjoy it. The weather was perfect (freezing and sunny) so I got to see Crystal Palace Park in all its glory. Lots of folks were going about their Sunday stroll (or jog, or skate, or cycle), and it's a nice way to feel part of a community. I like the smug feeling I get when I get home, and it's nice to feel like I've 'used' my body after so much lolling around. I did though remind myself of all the things that will get in the way of me achieving this task, or prevent me from enjoying it. And in no particular order they are:
- I will only enjoy going out at the weekends, which isn't enough for decent progression
- I will sign up for races before the big event, and then get so excited when I do them I will relax into a false sense of security
- I will spend a long time asking people with much more experience for tips, and then promptly ignore them because of course I know best
- I will 'let myself off' for good behaviour before reaching the target, as I have no discipline at all!
But hopefully recognising all that will at least go some way towards me finding ways to avoid it all. And if I'm going to be eating cupcakes all year the only motivation I should need is to avoid ending up like the side of a house!
