Now It's 2016!

It's hard to believe this is where we are. I was just updating a few things here and noticing that last year was abysmal for blog posts. Only six all year. I didn't even bother updating my goals page, which is something I've already fixed for this year.

I mentioned in my last post that my struggle currently is balancing everything in my life. My choices are these: make sacrifices or be better. They're both punishing options, just in different ways. Before the holidays, I opted for the former. Now I'm going to give the latter a try and see what happens.

I've always dreaded January to March as a time of frigid, soul-crushing weather. The last few years, I only got through it by making frequent trips to the gym to run on the treadmill. A warmer, if less challenging and more appealing alternative to running outside.

But in the last couple days, I've begun to consider that maybe I've just been going about this all wrong. I decided to try thinking about it differently. Maybe these few months are when I get to set the stage for the rest of the year.

In terms of my athletic endeavors, I want to make these months about putting in the miles. And you know what? I'm off the treadmill right now. Bring on the gross cold, because there is joy that can't be found in the confines of a gym and that's what I need right now.

10 Day Challenge: Report Card

I started out really strong, but ultimately finished the challenge 70% successful. I guess that's a C in report card terms. My biggest victory was probably on Wednesday, when I went to work, ran home from work, ran to the PIT for my intern shift, then ran home when I was done. I was very determined and wish I could have carried that through in the following days.

Unfortunately, I had some stuff happen on Thursday that made it a little hard to do much of anything other than try to take care of it. Friday I managed a little over five before I met someone for drinks. Saturday was good and I got in 10-11 with Amortya in the morning. Sunday was so so and again, I only managed about 5.

Today, I didn't run, and that was probably the worst of the whole thing. I didn't really have a good reason, only general disappointment at the rest of the challenge. What I learned was that running 10 miles a day is a vastly easier task when you don't have too much going on than it is when life is in full swing. When I try this again, I'll have a better plan in place.

That aside, please take a look at this fundraiser and donate, if you can. Nathan Gonzalez is a hasher from San Antonio, and he needs to get his wheelchair fixed before the manufacturer closes on 3/31. This particular wheelchair has the ability to climb stairs, which I imagine greatly increases his mobility. Take a look:

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/ds44/save-my-wheelchair-fund