Happy New Year!

(source)

I hope that everyone had a very happy, fun, friend and loved one filled, but most of all safe New Year’s Eve. Saying goodbye to a year gone by can be bittersweet, or it can be just what the doctor ordered. Depends on how you look at it.

I have had years where I was so happy to see go, I couldn’t toast my champagne fast enough. I have also had some pretty not-so-memorable New Year’s Eve experiences in the last couple years. So where I don’t think that 2012 was a crappy year by any means, I am ready for 2013!

I had a blasty last night ringing in the new year and have some pictures to share, but more on that tomorrow.

For now, lets talk about 2013 goals and resolutions. I am a little behind on posting my resolutions. I have been reading those of many other bloggers out there and have been feeling super inspired. Last year, I had a crap ton of resolutions I wanted to fulfill and I don’t think I even met half of them. Not because I didn’t want to or because they were unrealistic or anything, most didn’t happen because things change. My life changed quite a bit over the year and some of the resolutions no longer really needed to be met for various reasons.

So this year, I have a couple resolutions but mostly, I have a few goals I would like to reach in 2013. So here we go, resolutions first…

1.) Cultivate new friendships. 

I have a few really good friends and a whole bunch of “friends I hang out with sometimes.” There are a couple people in my life that I’d like to get to know better and hang out with more. With that intention, I plan to reach out to these people more and maybe gain a couple new really good friends.

On that same note, I have a couple good friends I don’t talk to enough. I need to make more of an effort to call or write and keep up with what they have going on in their busy and fabulous lives. Like this girl…

2.) Continue to maintain a clean diet for the best race performance.

With only a few weeks of the vegan diet left, I need to make sure I don’t lose any focus on eating well. Will I stay 100% vegan after the 12 weeks is up? For the most part, I expect to with a few exceptions. But once the experiment is over, I need to maintain a plan to keep me as healthy as possible during marathon training.

Which brings me to my 2013 goals. These are different than resolutions, I guess. To me, resolutions are things like, “I need to lose weight.” Or, “I resolve to curse less.” Which is not a bad a idea actually, with the influx of small children in my life, maybe I should put the F bomb away. But then again do I want to create a resolution that I am unlikely to keep? Sigh…

I digress, as I was saying I have a few goals this year. They include…

1.) Run the Cleveland Marathon at a SUB-5 PACE!

All caps is internet shouting! That’s right, my plan is to include the Pittsburgh Marathon as part of my training for the Cleveland Marathon, and with my new advanced training program, my goal is to run another 15 minute PR, at least, and run a SUB-5 MARATHON!

More yelling. This is a big deal. And my big 2013 announcement. I plan to revamp my training to a more advanced program that will include higher milage during the week and two 20+ mile long runs. I’ll be sharing this plan in the coming weeks.

2.) Get (a little) ripped. 

I have never done a lot of weight training and other than yoga, I haven’t done much core work either. I think this is why I tend to hit the wall around mile 22 or 23 of the marathon. I don’t feel mentally tired and I don’t lose my breath, but my legs just quit on me. They get tired of carrying me and mile 22 or so gets very distressing. I think with a little weight training I can tone and strengthen my legs to carry me the distance I need and possibly increase my speed some more.

And I won’t lie, if it is as hot this year at the Cleveland Marathon as it was last year, being fit enough to run in my sports bra would be pretty satisfying. No judging.

3.) Run and defeat the “Justin Challenge”

NEO Fit Coach Justin came up with this sadist/masochist idea to run the Akron Marathon the last week in September, followed by the Cleveland RnR Half the next weekend, the Towpath Marathon the very next weekend, and the Columbus Marathon the weekend after that.

A very “Man Up” month. I am not sure I could run 3 marathons in a month. So as of now, my plan is to run: full, half, full, half. But if my 2 marathons in 2 weeks works out in May, maybe you will see a 8th full marathon. If other “Justin Challenge” participants drop out, I might switch up the Columbus half for the Detroit half. I’ve always wanted to run the Detroit race because it’s international and sounds awesome, plus, after Capital City in May, Columbus has a left a bitter taste in my mouth. So we will see, that will be determined later.

I ran 2 marathons in 2012, and I am talking about running 4 or 5 in 2013. Maybe I am crazy, or maybe this is the year of Julie.

What are your resolutions? Any big goals for 2013? It’s going to be a good one.