So happy I ran today

I'm starting to be a runner again.   It's come and gone multiple times within my adult life.  Luckily for me a few friends wanted to start doing the C25K program (coach to 5K).   It was the right re-start for me.  It's a slow and steady progression,  and our secrete group on facebook really helped keep us motivated and accountable.   I unofficially finished the program earlier this week - according to the app I'm ready for the 5K. LOL

The group is planning to do a 5K sometime in March.  We haven't picked a run yet.  I'm looking forward to it, and also to meeting some of these ladies in person for the first time.  I knew only two of them when we started the program.

Today I continued with the next program level C210K - with the hopes that will get me in shape to meet my Crazy Legs personal goal of finishing the 8K (4.96 miles) within 1 hour.  That's a 12 minute mile - which is considered pretty slow but it's faster than I am now.  
I have 2 friends running it and I think they are at about the 12 minute mile - so it should be good and fun to be able to run it together.  I really want to be in shape so that I'm not holding them back or they are dragging me along.  I want to be in shape and comfortable with that pace and enjoy the ability to run together and talk.

But I started this post because I was so glad I ran today.  The weather here in Austin, TX was in the high 70s - maybe a little warm.  But honestly I'm not complaining!  It's so cold back home I'll take the extra heat.
The run along Lady Bird Lake was very pleasant.  It's a nice trail, there are lots of people and it made me feel good.  

Just this week I switched out my reminder mantra to "Respect Yourself".  With that in mind, I have been making a few changes to take care of me, and respect myself,   Going for the run today was respecting myself.  It was a little longer than I would normally want to be away from work, but my team can manage it. It's time I take advantage of these opportunities I have.  Not in a negative opportunistic way, but in the venue that not everyone has these opportunities and I should take advantage of them when they come up

A few pictures from my run today - beautiful trail and beautiful weather.  Well work the extra 30 minutes at lunch!

January Update

This is the first of what's planned as monthly updates for my 2014 Resolutions.   The hope is that having a monthly checkpoint will keep me accountable to myself and help me from slipping off the desired track.

 the Year of Use It or (and) Lose It
and my goals are:

• Lose 14 pounds - I am down 1 pound.  I think that is a good start.  January was a stressful month and could have lead to a lot of stress eating.  Also I was trying to clear out the pantry and freezer to prepare for my month away, so that was not as healthy as fresh fruits and veggies.  Overall this is a good start.  
• Keep bank fees under $50 for the year - I'm under but I'm already over half way through this budget ($26.08) in the first month alone!  Yikes!  I knew I was letting my quicken and bill paying slip.  I have enough automatic transactions in place to no longer get the dreaded late payment fee - but since the automatic payment does not necessarily cover the full balance sometimes (as it happened here) I get the finance charges.   I need to keep a better eye on this one.  Still good, but I've burned a lot of the workload already.
• Average $30 or less per week on Groceries - I'm well under this for January ($82.72) - mainly because of trying to eat from the pantry and freezer to clean out those areas before my trip so that nothing goes bad.  I expect the February number to be much higher because of the lack of a pantry for the rental - plus eating more prepared foods.  So I'm expecting this to even more out by the end of February.
• Average $400 or less per month on Household - This one is also well under (only $95.63), and again I think it's an impact from the Texas trip.  I was doing less shopping and trying to use up more from home as I prepared for the house to be empty for a month.   But since then I spent around $360 for lawn services for the year (prepaid to get a small 3% discount, but every dollar counts) so I can see how this category will have big swings in it from month to month.   
• Do not purchase soap before Nov 11 - I did purchase the planned exception for the after Christmas Bath and Body Works sale.  Other than that, nothing!  and I'm making use of some good soap I had been 'saving'.  Saving for what, I'm not sure.  But I'm glad I'm using it now.  It smells good and brightens my day.  

Overall a very good start to the year.  My world is thrown off by living and renting in Austin, TX for a month - I can see it affected, mainly in a good way, my January numbers.   I can only guess what it will do for my February numbers.