Kota Kinabalu

We had a great 1st day in eastern Malaysia. Our hotel is really nice and the beach is great. I joked with Ryan that this is what I really pictured when he said we were moving to Malaysia. It's nice to get out of the big city of KL and relax! We have a large balcony with an outdoor tub and huge lounger. There is a nice sea breeze and we love it. Brady says he is never leaving.

Nothing New Here

I follow several other blogs and tend to look at them daily. I expect to read something new and when I don't I'm disappointed. Why didn't they give me an update? I want a follow-up on the previous post. Then I start to worry about those bloggers. Is something wrong? Are they too busy to even post a picture?

I have been thinking the same thing about myself these last couple of days. So here I am, just now posting again - over 2 weeks since the last one.

Well, we made it back to KL on an uneventful, yet entirely too long of a trip. Those boys were worn out and just before the last flight Mason was protesting that he didn't want to get on anymore airplanes. The jet-lag is a killer, but we have once again survived. They are resilient kids and good travellers.

Last week, I made good on my promise to hit the ground running. I ran a 10K a day for a total of over 30 miles. I wanted to get on top of my running and the goal. I didn't want to run 30 miles in a week. That's more than I would like to run, but the point is, I told myself I would and I did.

Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.
Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog

 

I don't know about Eat that Frog, but I like that quote. My plan now is to run 4-5 miles a day Monday-Friday. So far, so good - right on schedule. I'll be honest, last week was NOT EASY. I was tired and not running well. It was obvious that running had taken a back-seat (to what I don't know?) But, I was on a mission and I was just wishing that it would hurry up and get easier. I used to crank out the miles. However, last week I was struggling. Part of it was the heavy increase in mileage, jet-lag and being a bit out of shape. I was also frustrated that after all that running the scale was not budging! I need to shift this holiday weight.

The good news is this weeks runs have left me energized and they do feel easier. I've even thrown in some sprints, just for fun! I do want to get faster and work on the speed that I have lost. Today I saw the scale move in the right direction (finally!). And so it begins, the journey to 1000 miles.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau

 

 

Hello 2013!

Happy New Year! We have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year - with pictures to follow. We received a new camera for Christmas so hopefully they will be of better quality. We have enjoyed spending time with family and friends (and while I have loved being in TX) I know it will soon come to an end. We will be back to Malaysia and into the routine of work and school.

 

A new year makes me think of new beginnings and how I can make a fresh start. What's my goal? What would be fun? What would be a challenge?

 

I'm not typically one to make resolutions. But, this year I resolve to run more. That's not a well-defined statement, so I needed to make it measurable. I am regarding this as a year long goal. I've tossed around the idea of a running streak, but I don't want to run everyday and I can't run everyday. It doesn't take into account travel, sickness or even rest days. That does not sound appealing at all.

 

My running goal for 2013 is to run 1,000 miles. 

 

 

Why 1,000 miles? Because I can. If I don't believe in myself, who will? I have the time and I want to challenge myself. Do I think it'll be tough? Of course. But it's attainable. Every time I think about it I get nervous. Much like I did 10 years ago when I announced, "I'm going to run a marathon" (before I had even started running or a training program!) Incidentally, that was the last time I kept track of a mileage log. Maybe it's the fear of the unknown or just being held accountable. Which makes this exactly what I need - accountability. For the last 6 months I have missed the running/racing scene. I have not focused on anything in particular as far as my running or fitness. I need something to aim for - otherwise I'm an aimless person doing aimless workouts.

My other goals are to not get injured and not fall behind in the mileage count. This is going to demand consistency.

I'm trying hard not to focus on the total number, but focus on the run for today. My challenge is already underway. It's taken me 2 days to write this post, so I have already run 7.5 miles. Only 992.5 to go!

In case you're wondering it breaks down to 2.7 miles a day or 20 miles a week.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

 

Run on, Friends!