Yep, it’s that time again. Damn Melissa at The Valentine RD keeps forcing me to check-in with my New Year resolutions! It’s actually a great thing and, in 2015 I’m making a goal of ‘setting better goals.’
You see, my first go-around with this, way back in January 2014, all I could think about was my big race in Spain. Who can blame me? Well, you totally could because really, let’s not be so short sighted and put all our eggs in one basket. However, that was exactly what I did so, I had to revamp my goals for the last check-in, and I have to say that I think I’m doing pretty well. Let’s take a closer look:
1. I Will Not Worry About Workouts
Just stop laughing please because I’m actually doing this! That’s right. Of course, I’m still training like an animal but I’m not tied to a strict training plan, nor do I have lofty PR-setting goals going into my half-marathon. Now, if I happen to run the hell out of that race, and end up with a PR, then so be it. I think that will only prove I should train like this more often.
I even brought my kids to the track for a few of my workouts. Let me tell you, there is nothing more distracting, interruptive, and less serious then bringing your 5 year-old twin boys to a track. My speed work quickly turned into intervals, with too much ‘recovery’ in-between. Especially when Miles found a path into a cornfield! #countryliving
Yes, that’s my husband photobombing. I guess I should have said I brought my triplets to the track…
2. I Will Not Be A Slave To Cleanliness
I’m a super type-A personality and I can’t stand for the house to be a mess, for any laundry to not be done, and for things to generally be out of place. I started to realize how much of a time suck this was, and I just need to get over it.
I am definitely trying to relax a little on this one, but my OCD usually gets the best of me. And, if I’m being completely honest, then I have to admit I did a HUGE toy clean-out in the kids playroom. And if I’m being really, really honest then I have to admit to cleaning out the playroom so I have room for my bike trainer because winter is coming!
As a testament to my craziness type-A control freak nature, I took the below picture for the babysitter, who was helping with the boys, while I was out running all over New Hampshire. I thought she would need a visual on exactly how to pack their snacks for school. Please also notice how sparkling clean my counter is. #issues
However, keeping the house clean and the laundry done has not stopped me from doing all the things I enjoy, both by myself and with my family. I’m going to call this a win, but has a lot of room for improvement.
3. I Will Not Play It Safe With My Life
By this I mean taking more chances. After competing in Spain, and traveling there (and to Portugal) with my entire family, I was changed. I started to believe that I could do anything, and that there was so much more to see and do, if I just took more opportunities, even if my instincts were pleading with me to play it safe and stick to what I know.
Exhibit A: I ran the Reach The Beach Relay race having no clue who my teammates were (save for two!) or how I would fare during the two-day experience.
Don’t worry, these are the two people I actually knew. And yes, that’s me buried under the Oiselle hat!
Exhibit B: I swam in open water with zero fear, and actually really enjoyed it.
I made this lake my bitch. Well, not really, but I did have a lovely swim.
Exhibit C: I’m setting some lofty goals, race-wise, for 2015 and I cannot even wait to start training!
I declared 2014 to be the Year of the Bull and I have to say, that I have taken it seriously. I’m inspired (and reminded of my accomplishments in Spain) by my bull tattoo, and I love that one word, one image, can have such an impact!
Horns down and charge!
The mark of the BULL!
Do you remember your goals for 2014?
Do you set new goals quarterly, yearly or at all?
Did you have a word or phrase for this year and how has it impacted you?
Number 2–we are peas in a pod. It’s just a tough area to let go of, isn’t it? I think you’re having a damn good year and I also think you are making unstructured training look amazing! Keep the momentum going!
YES it is! So glad you can relate. Thanks Amanda!!
I am laughing at #2! Thanks for the idea – I may leave pictures of everything for my parents when they stay with the kids for a week while Ron and I are in Hawaii. Of course my parents will laugh at that and do the complete opposite. You are having a stellar year and it just keeps getting better!
It really works! I was trying to figure out how I could communicate it all, without being able to show her, and then I was like “duh! a picture!” I’m sure she thought I was nuts. My husband did. Thanks Angela!
Yup, bit of a neat freak and OCD on it at times. I am trying better myself, but still got to talk my A type personality down on this quite often! 😉 But still think you are doing great, Allie!!
Then you totally understand! Thanks Janine 🙂
I love the photobomb picture!! i also love your training method. I’ve seen so many bloggers get caught up in PRs and strict training that they end up burnt out and over it before the race even starts. I love the pic of you Melissa and Christine! #favoritegirls the check in is a great idea and a great way to keep on track (pun intended??) also yes, I approve of the spotless counters and the mass toy declutter! I’m in the middle of one myself. I am so determined to live more minimalist in 2015!
More minimalist yes! I have to keep reading the great advice from Tara Newman on that. I also love that pic of the three of us, since we didn’t get to see Christine as much as I had wanted. Good luck with your toy clean out. If there’s any doubt – get rid of it!! hahaha 🙂
You are doing so well! Allie, that is very admirable that you are doing so well at things that are not easily to go against. Especially the cleanliness one. My mum has OCD with cleanliness, and I know how hard it is to relax off that. I personally know a lot about not worrying about workouts, you know I am working on that too, not easy! Keep up the good work, every day you are moving one step closer to the being the best version of you 🙂
I love that – the best version of YOU! Yes, that’s exactly my goal. You’re doing a great job too and I’m seriously so pumped to see what happens in Chicago for you. Can.not.wait!!!
I really hope you do not get a PR. I love you, but if your not stressing leads to one then you will stress about not stressing and could result in some sort of vortex…
I seriously laughed so hard and loud when I read this!! YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL because that is exactly what I will do!! I love you Tina 🙂
The level of clean in your house is the level of clean I want in my house but never have the time or energy to really do it!
My only real goal for this year is have a healthy baby. Next year I have a lot of goals!
I don’t either but I still do it. And that’s where the problem is!! Ugh. Thanks Brittany…I think 🙂
Can you come clean my house for me? You could run here…that would check off lots of your goals all at once! Love your tattoo and what it symbolizes. :)-Ashley
YES! I’m sure you have some fantastic running routes around there. Plus, then I could see the creepy Ryan Gosling doll in real life!…um, wait, maybe that’s a reason not to go… 🙂
Yup, pesky me again.
I love seeing you let go a bit. I know your fierce stringency with training and cleaning (both places where we differ – I like clean but I just like someone else to do it…..if someone could train for me too, that would be nice) spills over into all that you do but I’m glad to see that the snark also gets a chance to spread it’s wings and fly as well (just not in an airplane – I feel your pain there).
I’m glad that you’ve continued to participate in the goal check-in’s with me and I can’t wait for the wrap up of 2014 and to see your reflections.
Start working on those 2015 goals because I’m definitely going to do this again!
You are too funny. Love the airplane reference! And, the worst part about the cleaning thing (which I did not admit to!) is that I have a cleaning lady. Yeah, I do. She only comes twice a month though so…
I will absolutely participate next year and I’m already thinking of ways to improve my goal setting so it lasts more then 4 months, and isn’t so broad! Thanks Melissa!
Can’t believe you took a photo of the way to pack a snack for the babysitter! But I am sure it was helpful… she better not have left any crumbs.
I’m sure she couldn’t believe it either, but visuals are always helpful!! God forbid they got the wrong juice box 🙂
You made your goals your bitch! I say that you had a pretty amazing year so far and it’s not even over yet! I have to say that I’ve totally enjoy reading all about it! I had 3 goals and I really only accomplished one and that was my first half marathon. Kid issues and injuries curveballed my mini duathlon goal and lack of funds didn’t allow me to dive into my online business like I wanted to. This is not to say I can’t do this in 2015.
That’s the great thing about goals – you can keep trying to achieve them! I’m sure you’ll be able to cross off at least one of those in 2015… Thanks Kris!
Please, can you pack my lunches for me?? Or my kids.. er.. Not me.
I love the photo with you snuggling with Christine! So cool.
I don’t remember my 2014 goals.. Oh yeah! One was to see a moose. Well, we still have over three months. And there was one running around town this morning. A bull!
There was?? That is crazy! Although, there was a moose running around downtown Manchester last year. With all these moose sightings, you’re bound to see yours!
I love number 3-I think that’s my resolution this year and each yea from here on out!
It’s a good one!! 🙂 Thanks Lauren.
I’m pretty lame these days and don’t really have any goals – but I’m ok with it.
Can’t wait to see what sort of races you have coming up in 2015.
That is NOT lame and, you’ve done some pretty amazing things this year like – run your first half with your son, and then there was the time you ran 26 miles (for fun!) on a random Saturday…just because you didn’t lay out concrete goals doesn’t mean you haven’t achieved!!
#3 hit home for me – not playing it safe. I know it’s not the same, but we’ve been thinking about taking the kids to Europe this summer. It makes me anxious; planning a trip and going to a new place where English isn’t the first language is very scary for me. But the alternative is staying in my comfort zone and not going, and who knows what amazing experiences we could miss?
It’s hard, isn’t it? But I can tell you from my own experience that you should 100% GO!!! The good far outweighs the bad and it can only bring your family closer!!…plus Europe is amazing.
As you well know, my 2014 went all topsy turvy so I sidelined any concrete goals. However, I am a big believer in aligning my values, vision and goals so even when I don’t have goals, I am still making progress toward my life’s vision. So, hey, boom!
For someone without a hard set of goals, I feel like you accomplished so much. Just in terms of the blog – you had set some high goals of redesign and the newsletter – and both have been very successful!
Your description of being OCD about cleanliness and things staying in their rightful place – yeah, that’s me. I hired a housekeeper to help out now that I have four kids, and so far, she’s doing really well keeping my OCD-ness up 😉
I actually have a housekeeper as well, and she’s amazing, but she ‘only’ comes twice a month!