Friday reflections – my 2014 goals and how I’m doing

Hey there, hi there, ho there!!

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It’s Friday!!

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So, um, did you realize that it’s October already?

I mean, I knew it was October but I didn’t really comprehend that it’s OCTOBER already.

There are only 82 days until Christmas, which also means that there are only 89 days until it’s 2015.

What?!

In the middle of my mild panic attack, I remembered that I had set some goals for this year.

Let’s see how I’m doing.

1. Get a BQ at the Flying Pig Marathon

Well, that didn’t happen.  And, way back on January 16, I KNEW it wasn’t going to happen which is why I reevaluated my goal and edited it to breaking 4 hours.

Which didn’t happen either.

But, that’s okay. I had FUN and sometimes, that’s the most important part. 🙂

2. Run a 50k

Hmmm.  The 50k is in 8 days and you know I’m not running it. 😦

BUT, I’m not letting it get me down and I’ve already started thinking about next year now that I’m out of that stupid boot!

The time IN the boot, as much as I hated it, was really good for me to evaluate who I am, as well as helping to heal my injury.

I’ll be back to running soon and I CAN. NOT. WAIT. #patiencegrasshopper

3. Upgrading my pantry, cutting out processed foods, and recipe development

Well, I think I’ve done pretty well with upgrading my pantry and cutting out processed foods.

I didn’t really eat too many to begin with but I’ve definitely been more conscious about what I buy at the grocery store.

As for recipe development, I think I’ve been doing pretty well!

I’ve made

Triple Chocolate Avocado Brownies

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Brownie Cookies

Bacon Bourbon Blue Cheese Bison Burgers

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Salmon Fillets

Crockpot Tomatillo Salsa Chicken

Quick and Easy Crockpot Roast

Wow! I’ve been busy!!

And, there’s still 89 days left this year for me to come up with some more new stuff!

4. Have fun

I think I’ve aced this goal so far. 🙂

I went to my first FitBloggin‘ conference, got to hang out with my blogging buddy Lena, and met a whole bunch of  awesome new people – including Arian Foster!!

lemme take a selfie

We went to Colonial Williamsburg, I took Thing 2 to Busch Gardens, went to our first Navy Dining Out, my sailor got promoted to Master Chief!, we went hiking, I saw a bear, we went antiquing, got gussied up and rode a water taxi to the Navy Khaki Ball, etc, etc, etc.

Yeah, definitely hit the nail on the head with this goal. 🙂

So now, it’s time for me to start evaluating and thinking about goals for next year.

And, some short term goals for the rest of this year.

Like, finally trying my hand at some homemade barbecue sauce.

Or, power cleaning more than 95#.

Or improving my overhead squat.

And definitely – MOST definitely – having more fun. 🙂

Talk to me: Did you set goals for this year? How are you doing on them? Do you reevaluate your goals regularly or do you forget about them until faced with a new year?

Thursday Thoughts – I am what I am

Hello, hello!

So, I totally dreamed about running last week.

I’ve never done that before.

Not even once.

I mean, I’ve had those nightmares where I’m trying to run but it’s like I’m slogging through the thickest mud ever and I can barely move but that’s not the same thing.

This was joyous and free and FUN!

I guess I’ve solved my potential identity crisis – I am DEFINITELY a runner!

(seriously, like I didn’t REALLY know that down deep inside. sheesh.) 😉

In fact, the desire for me to get out the door is pretty overwhelming these days.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to.  The doc says I need to wait and I’m going to wait.

I might even add a couple of extra weeks to the wait just to be safe.

That’s how important it is to me.

I don’t want to run on my foot until it’s ready to be run on.

But, boy oh boy, do I want to run!

I’ve even, and don’t everyone start yelling at me at once, started thinking about what 50k I might want to train for.

*ducks head*

Stop throwing things!  I’m not going to run until I can and then I’ll take it slow! I’m not talking about running a 50k in a couple of months from now.

Maybe Springtime – are there any 50ks (boy, that word looks weird but I refuse to make it ‘s because it’s most definitely not possessive!) in the Spring or are those mostly Fall races?  I’ll have to research! I definitely want to run the one that I can’t next month.

I just can’t imagine my life without running.

It’s been such a big part!

It’s given me so much and I love being outside and seeing the world (or my cute little town, even though there are bears). 🙂

And, I’m definitely going to be doing a CrossFit Endurance training plan once I start back up.

I really enjoy the blend of the two sports.

My running definitely benefits from CrossFit and my CrossFit workouts benefit from my running – hello, endurance! 🙂

I feel a little bit like I have a new lease on life, as silly as that may seem, and I cannot wait (but, I will. patiently, even.) to get back out the door with my running shoes on.

Talk to me: Do you dream about the sport you love? Are you a good patient? Are you patient?

– jennifer

Injury update – Who am I if I don’t run?

Hi there!

If you remember from last week, I was waiting for my referral to get approved by Tricare so I could meet with an orthopedist. Well, I got confirmation of the approval on Thursday afternoon and was told that the clinic should be contacting me to schedule the appointment.

Yeah, I’m not that patient.

I waited until about 2pm on Friday and then contacted the clinic myself to “see if they had received my referral yet.” (what can I say, I know my way around scheduling appointments!) The lovely lady that answered the phone pulled me up in the system and got me all set up!

For Monday!!!

As in, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, MONDAY!!!  Whoop!

That NEVER happens in military medicine. I actually pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

I did, really. Got a bruise and everything! No, I didn’t take a picture. Sheesh!

So, the orthopedist – pretty sure she’s brilliant. She listened to me (this is a BIG deal for me as I’ve had doctors who haven’t and I’ve been misdiagnosed and treated improperly), checked out my pudgy foot, reviewed the x-rays that were done last week, and we talked about the present and the future and what we were going to do.

And she gave me some fancy new footwear.

Isn’t it spectacular? #sarcasm

So, here’s what’s going on.

Best case scenario is that it’s a stress fracture.

Never ever thought I would say those words. Why the hell would I want a stress fracture?

Well, because, I don’t want Freiberg’s disease which, according to the orthopedist, is a possibility.

I should be able to recover quickly from a stress fracture. Freiberg’s may have lasting complications.

So, I’m in the boot until at least September 8 when I go back for more x-rays and another appointment.

Obviously, that means no running.

That would be awkward. Could you even imagine?

She did say that I could use a stationary bike (got one of those in my garage!!) and that I could still lift weights – upper body, etc.

She gets me. She really, really gets me! 🙂

So, I went to CrossFit last night!!!

#awkwardmirrorselfie

I hadn’t been since last Monday. I was literally suffering withdrawals!

But, I think it’s apparent that the 50k is out of the question.

I really wanted to do this 50k. I was really excited about it!

I’m disappointed.

I’m disappointed in my body for letting me down. Especially since I was really paying attention to it and I was feeling really confident!

I’m disappointed that no matter how hard I work and do things right and train properly, I end up with injuries.

Since 2008, I’ve had 4 injuries that forced me to stop running for an extended period of time. 4!!

And now, I need to really think about what my running future is.

It feels like I’m always in the “rebuilding” phase.

Maybe it’s time for me to be done running the long distances. Maybe 8 marathons is enough?

Maybe it’s time for me to be done getting up at 4:30 on a Saturday morning to get out on the road for a 20-miler?

Oh, but the sunrises! And the birds! And the quiet! And the peace!

Maybe it’s time for me to just run whenever I feel like it (if I still can) for the sheer joy of it, rather than for training purposes with specific mileage and paces required.

Maybe it’s time for me to focus more on CrossFit. Maybe that’s what’s next in my fitness life.

I don’t know.

I definitely have some time to think about it and really evaluate what I want to do.

I’m trying to stay focused on the positives – it’s just an injury, I’ll recover, I’m still healthy, I can still workout, the boot is black and goes with everything……

But, that’s not always the easiest thing to do. I’ve been guilty of some “woe is me” moments over the past week. There were plenty of times I felt like curling up in a ball and crying at the unfairness of it all. And, I’ve been a little grouchy.  I’ve kicked myself in the ankle like 4 times since I got this dumb boot. *sigh*

Again, trying to focus on the positives. Like, at least this didn’t happen.

But, I’m a runner. Straight down to my core.

It’s my me time – it’s what I do – it’s what makes me happy.

Who am I if I don’t run?

 Talk to me: Anybody else dealing with injuries right now? How are you coping? Are you completely unable to workout or just limited?

– jennifer