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I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions in years. Back in January of this year set a goal to run 1000 miles by December. It seemed almost impossible and honestly a little scary. What if I tried to do it and fail? What if I got hurt? At any rate, I made up my mind and decided to do it. I figured setting a goal that big, keeping track and consistently trying to achieve it would serve a dual purpose: keep me active and give me something to work on that was good for both the body and mind.
I reached the 800 mile mark in August [READ: #RapOnTheRun: Rick Ross, Setting Intentions & Taking Action] and felt pretty good so I decided to keep going for 1000 miles.
Yesterday I hit the 1000 miles ran in 2014 mark. It was an ordinary day for me. I woke up about two hours before running and ate a bowl of oatmeal and a pear. Twenty minutes before running I took a couple of shots of barley grass juice and a double dose of ENERGYBits. I did some dynamic stretching, laced up my sneakers and then headed out. Upon stepping outside it felt extra cool so I turned around and grabbed a running jacket to put on.
I ended up running twelve miles yesterday. It was actually my first run since running last week with Atlanta’s Movers And Pacers. My hamstrings felt tight throughout yesterday’s run. I hadn’t stretched or moved in days and definitely felt it. Last week was the longest I’d gone without running since March.
Today I feel regular as all get out. Matter of fact I’m sitting here like “yo I really ran 1000 miles this year?”
On top of that, I’m trying to wrap my brain around where all of them 1000 miles went. The time and miles both feels like they flew by. It seems like it was just January when I sat and made up my mind to do it.
Now that the excitement of running and reaching 1000 miles is over, I’m trying to figure out what my next goal will be. I read on Instagram a few weeks ago that the journey (for anything) is the fun part, once you reach the destination it’s like “now what?” (I’m paraphrasing). I feel like that right now. I understand know why it’s important to enjoy something while you are actually doing it and try your best to fully enjoy the experience, including the ups and downs. While it was a pain in the butt to run some days and uncomfortably hot or near unbearingly cold on other days, I’m glad I ran anyway.
At this point I’m not even sure what the next “big” goal will be. I still plan to run the Greensboro Marathon in a few weeks. But beyond that I’m kind of clueless. To be honest with y’all, reaching the 800 mile mark back in August felt more exciting than reaching the 1000 mile mark on yesterday. I’m one of those people who has to have “something” to be working on, so right now I’m feeling a bit lost.
At any rate, I am happy to have set the 1000 miles goal and thankful to have reached it. Running is an activity that helps keep my head clear and fills me with gratitude for health and strength.
Have y’all ever set a “big” goal, reached it and then felt a bit anti-climatic? I’d love to hear from you and read your comments below.
Y’all can connect to me via Twitter (@nancioishiphop), Instagram (@nancioishiphop), Facebook (Nanci O Is Hip Hop) and the blog for all running updates.
#RapOnTheRun