The Requisite Resolutions

Happy New Year!

It's 2008 - a new year and new resolutions to try to keep. I failed in my last year's resolution - start financial planning for college and retirement - but I should be able to get it going this year. I think the only resolution I have ever kept was two years ago when I swore I'd lose 30 pounds. It was three months after my son was born. I joined a gym in late December, joined 2 "Biggest Loser" office competitions (and won), and ran my first race on Thanksgiving. I have always had a difficult time trying to maintain a healthy weight (even this holiday season when I stopped running and started eating cookies I gained enough pounds that my clothes no longer fit very well) and so I'm always dumbfounded when I think of the one resolution I finally managed to keep. I've had this resolution before. Only this time, I found something I loved that helped to motivate me to keep going. I ran a total of 540 miles this year.

My two resolutions for this year are:

1. Conquer my shin splints, and

2. Get up enough courage to run a marathon.

#1 is a prerequiste to keeping #2.

I'm on my way with #1. I bought some new running shoes (the Mizuno Wave Nirvanas 3) that were on sale (the new models are coming out soon) and I was saving them for when my current shoes bit the dust. I have only logged about 220 miles in my current shoes but I wore them when I wasn't running because of the support so I might have almost 300 miles on them. Running shoes should be replaced at 300 - 500 miles. After my first two Saturday MIT runs, I decided to wear my new shoes outside where I usually need extra cushioning. WOW can I feel the difference! The pain after running isn't EXCRUCIATING anymore. It's merely painful. (Sad, really, that this is progress....) I did another Saturday MIT run and felt great. I still wear my old shoes on the treadmill where I don't need as much cushioning and it seems to be working fine.

Mind you I'm not logging big miles yet. This is also part of the plan. I'm hoping my muscles finally start to adapt. Between this and the orthotics I should be getting soon, I'm hoping I'll have these shin splints beat!

I had a lot of really grand ideas to write about as well (the Christmas season, precious moments with my kids, etc.) but like my niece Emma, I'm pooped too. The holiday season came by quickly, but it wore me out, and frankly, I'm glad it's over.

Here's to a healthy and happy 2008!