I’m a decision maker. I know what I want and I go after it. My 2015 goals were set and published before Christmas. I had a serious plan to have it all (marathon, BQ and Triathlon Nationals) and dominateΒ this year with ferocity, determination and fun. I was basking in the final weeks of living without a training plan and having dessert whenever I felt like it.

Life was good.

And then I got this email from the NYRR (New York Road Runners):

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Indeed. Now what the hellΒ do I do? Arghhhhh!!! I had my plans all laid out – run a conservative marathon in April to qualify for Boston in 2016 and then attack the triathlon and qualify for nationals this summer. But now I have the opportunity to run the freakin’ NYC Marathon, a marathon that is 100% on my very short list of marathons to do before I die.

After eight years without racing 26.2,Β could this be the year of the marathon?

All of a sudden I’m dreaming of running the NYC marathon and crossing the finish with an insane PR. The thought of it makes me giddy. If I’mΒ thisΒ excited about it, doesn’t that mean it’s the right thing to do?

YES, of course it does.

As you know, I took almost a week off after the death of my close friend. During that time running was my savior and I realized that I want to make this year simple and justΒ RUN IT OUT. Look out NYC, I’m coming for you in November!

On with The Rundown…

DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 18TH, 2015 (yes, that’s a hell of a long time!)

RUNNING: Whenever and whatever I wanted was the theme of these past severalΒ weeks and I loved it. I ran a ton of miles, mostly pain-free and got a new pair of Brooks delivered overnight, to my doorstep from my local running shop, at no extra charge. So awesome.Β I’m going to be needing these often!

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CYCLING: I gave up my Thursday spin class and so far I have made up those miles on my bike trainer. It came in very handy when the boys came down with colds, my sitter’s baby was sick, and I was left to sweat and pedal in my basement while watching a Super WHY marathon. #Itcouldbeworse

SWIMMING: The line in the email from my coach that gave me pause: “I guess I can understand the change of plans (but should I REALLY let you off the swimming hook, I wonder ?). :))” I have made so many advances in swimmingΒ but it will have to be a cross-training only event this year. I’m sure I’ll survive somehow.

CROSS-TRAINING: I’ve been slacking here but I’ve been doing all my physical therapy work so that has to count for something, right? I knew you would agree with me.

RACING: This is an excellent question. Someone asked me the other day when my next race is. Before I knew it, I was saying “I’m running a marathon in April.” It sounded weird and scary coming out of my mouth but that’s exactly what I’m doing for my next race.

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FUEL: After running a seriously hillyΒ 11Β miles in 17 degree weather, I came home and made the most delicious pancakes. I searched Pinterest first but I either didn’t have the right ingredients or the recipe was gluten free. No thanks. So I ended up experimenting:

1 banana, a bunch of blueberries and 1 1/2 cups of Almond milk in the blender

1 1/2 cups of whole wheat pancake mix

1 tablespoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons oil

1 egg

And presto:

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I felt like a million ducks afterward. Yes, ducks.

THINGS I LOVE:Β Taking the boys to NYC for the first time! It was everything I thought it would be, minus my husband because he had to go to Tulsa at the last minute for work. Papi and Memere completed our group and it was truly magical and went off without a hitch.

The way the boys screamed when they saw the Toys R Us display of Skylanders is something I will never forget…nor will the people who were unlucky enough to be in the store at that time.

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Pictures from top left: Smiling with the statue at the Empire State Building, Mailing letters to Santa at Macy’s, building excitement at the Empire State Building before the long walk/ride up, lobby of Empire State building, sitting on Santa’s lap at Macy’s, SkylanderΒ heaven at Toys R Us in Times Square, build a bear (or reindeer) workshop, window gawking at Macy’s and seeing the tree atΒ RockefellerΒ Plaza!

THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Getting back to reality. It has truly been a fantastic two weeks of celebrations, reunions, meals, running, relaxation and minimal trips to the grocery store. I wish we could live in this mode of just a little bit of everything, everyday without any worries or pressure. #RealityBites

READING: Snow reports! I rented skis for the boys for the winter season, we have a trip planned and now I need to get them out on the slopes!

MUSIC: Each New Year’s Eve the television is on mute as the backdrop to our celebration. Each year it reminds me how old and out of touch I’m getting because I cannot recognize one damn person besides Miley Cyrus and that’s horrifying. It’s a testament to MTV because although I know the songs, I wouldn’t recognize Iggy Azalea if I fell over her at Rockafeller plaza. #IWantMyMTV

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We’ve got our party hats on! …and that’s Vaughn sans glasses…not sure what happened to them?

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It’s group photo time…we have about 80 of these.

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Show me your muscles! I think I win this one, right? I’m sure my husband would beg to differ,Β butΒ we can all agree that his mouth is bigger then anything in this picture.

TV: I was able to catch-up on all my movie watching and it was fantastic…for the most part…actually it kind of sucked.Β It was book turned movie week andΒ I watched them all. Bottom line: The book is always better.

First up wasΒ This Is Where I Leave YouΒ and was so excited to see it On Demand because I loved the book. The movie was just *meh* and I actually didn’t bother to pause it when I got up to refill my wine in the middle of it.

Next up wasΒ Gone Girl.Β I absolutely loathed the ending and was hoping against hope that they changed it for the film version. No such luck, the ending was just as bad on film. AlthoughΒ the actors were spot on, and I especially loved Neil Patrick Harris’ performance, IΒ just cannot get over the ending. My husband loved it, which made it that much more annoying.

Lastly, and against my better judgement, I watchedΒ The Fault In Our Stars.Β I knew what I was getting into and I still watched it. I made it about 30 minutes in and then cried for the rest of the movie. #selftorture

RANDOM QUOTEΒ OF THE WEEK:Β β€œNow there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you’ve met your New Year’s resolution.”— Jay Leno

How are you? How were the holidays?

When is your first race or event in 2015?

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