New Years Resolution for Running & Fitness

Happy New Year!  It's time to make some resolutions regarding your fitness.  Maybe you want to run your first 5K.  Maybe you want to run faster or simply lose weight.  Perhaps you'd like to try a new distance like a half or even full marathon.  It's really up to you.

If you did not meet your goals for 2011, there is no reason to give up.  2012 is a whole new start.  If you are a runner, look back in your running log (or computer) and I bet you will see why you were just short of your goals.  The training log does not lie.

There are lots of reasons we don't hit our goals.  Perceived lack of time, personal matters, injuries, etc... All of these can be fixed. 

Perceived lack of time:  Treat your fitness like any other necessity...make an appointment.  Set a time of day, on certain days of the week, and commit to that time just as if it were an appointment. Let's face it, we could all watch a little less T.V.  Actually, watch all the T.V. you want...but work out while watching, on commercials, or record your shows, exercise and then watch them commercial free.

Personal Matters: While going through difficult times, the last thing on your mind is probably fitness.  But keep this in mind.  Exercising can actually clear your mind...make you see things more clearly.  Most of the solutions I've come up with to problems, have been while I was training or shortly after.

Injuries:  Let's face it...it's hard to log miles while suffering a leg or foot injury.  However, that doesn't mean you have to stop training.  Work your upper body with weights.  Get in the pool where there is no impact at all.  Be creative and you can stay in shape through cross training.

One other reason for not hitting our fitness goals is not having a proper plan.  If you are doing the same thing over and over, and not seeing results, something is wrong.  Maybe you're not training hard enough.  It's even possible that you are training too hard.  Again, review your exercise log and a lot will be revealed.

Good luck in 2012 - as the Mayan Calendar shows, it's not the end, but the start of a new beginning.