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Happy New Year!

We had a great time ringing in the New Year.  Scott and I headed downtown Anchorage for the festivities. We stopped in at Ginger’s for drinks and apps before heading to town center for the fireworks.

 

We met up with Matt, Sonja, and the kids and had a blast!

 

The kids, initially, were not that thrilled to be hanging out in the cold but they warmed up to the idea pretty quick and had fun. It was a really fun time for all of us. Love hanging out with family!!

I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions.  I usually feel a little sad that another year has ended so the last thing I  want to do is make the usual resolutions of eating better, giving up my cokes, losing weight, and that kind of thing. I don’t want to take away all those comfort items and add more stress at a time when I am not feeling my best soooo….no resolutions for me.

But, I have made a goal (actually sounds more like a resolution haha)…

This year I want to get in better shape, get stronger, run faster and qualify for the Boston Marathon. And I have decided to run the Humpy’s Marathon right here in Alaska, on my own turf, in my own time zone to do just that.  The course is a bit hilly in places, but I feel like I have a better chance at a BQ here at home.  Some of the temperatures in other places have turned my race into a just finish scenario.

Having taken the last month or so off from running, I have just started from the bottom to building a base again. Training in the winter in Alaska is not easy, but I try to get out when I can. I have tried running on the dreaded treadmill but it is simply not ideal for me. I am a heavy foot striker and this type of running causes my calves to tighten more than usual which leads to achilles problems which leads to injury.

So, I have been trying to get most of my runs done outside. Most of the days have not been too bad, but today the temperature was only 15 degrees! I thought it has to be better than the treadmill so I ventured out. The run ended up being pretty awesome and the scenery simply spectacular!

I feel so fortunate to live in such an awesome place!

So, I’m off to a decent start. I am getting my full plan together on how I hope to accomplish this hefty goal and will share it in the next blog. Until then…

Happy Running!!