This Scares Me

My 2012 is beginning… Now. I was too tired from night shiftin’ to make resolutions on the 1st. So here it goes, the few resolutions I’ve made for myself to ring in the New Year!

Get My Bootay Back to Bikram!
I miss practicing yoga more than anything! It’s been a few months, and I’m craving the regular sweat seshs. I need to make time in my life for this. I feel my absolute healthiest when I’m regularly in the hot room!

Camel, I’m coming back for you!

Go Gail Vaz Oxlade with My Finances
I’m awfully dependent on my debit card. I need to break this habit and get used to taking out set amounts of cash each month and spending from that. Hopefully this will also help control “mindless” spending, which happens when I use my debit card to purchase something, and then when I’m going over my accounts at the end of the week, I’m looking at the purchase wondering “when did I buy that?” Ya, not good!

My other finance-related goal is to not accumulate any debt while going to school. Thankfully I have been saving up for awhile, but pursuing studies means I still have to stick to a budget!

Take a Vacation!
I haven’t taken time off to do anything fun in over a year. Sometime in the second half of this year I want to do a little traveling. I’m undecided where, but it definitely won’t be Vegas! Am I the only twenty-something who has zero interest in going to Vegas?! Probably…

Run a Marathon
I haven’t written about my half-marathon experience because it sucked. It was the worst run I’ve ever done for two reasons.

First off, I had begun experiencing pain in my ankle about a week or two before the race. I was like, ahhh hell no! I’m running this race. Eff off! But it didn’t. And so I’ve been out of the running game, dealing with a very swollen ankle and foot.

It’s kind of got in the way of running for the past six weeks, big time!

Secondly, my bowels started bugging me the night before my run. Stomach aches are pretty normal for me unfortunately. Thank-you gluten intolerance and IBS! But when I woke-up the next morning with what I like to refer to as “gut rot,” I knew this wasn’t just a tummy ache that was going to go away. At one point I had to spend nearly 7 minutes in the outhouse during the race. Yaaaaaaaaaaa, TMI?! Sorry…

So I didn’t exactly cross the finish line with the time I was aiming for or the euphoric feeling I was hoping to experience. I crossed the finish line completely concerned with where the closest washroom was and how quickly I could get there. Regardless, my “crappy” experience made me realize (a) I want to give racing another go, but (b) I need to train smarter the next time around.

I’m excited to get “back on my feet” and train smart VERY, VERY SOON.

Vancouver, I’m talking ’bout you!

Be Open to New Relationships
This doesn’t necessarily mean romantic relationships, although I want to be open to the prospect of *maybe* meeting someone. I don’t know if this is the year for it, but if it comes my way, I won’t complain!

This is more about being open to new friendships. In the past year, I’ve been pretty selective who I let in my life, probably as a protective mechanism. I’m at a point now where I’m ready to open myself. Meeting new people is exciting, especially when I realize how many kick ass peeps are out there! Let’s make friends!!

Do Anything and Everything That Scares Me
Somersaults (I’m irrationally scared of snapping my neck doing one). Bungee jumping. Swimming in the ocean. Trying out CrossFit. If it scares me, I’m doing it!

~~~

So, that’s it for 2012! My resolutions are pretty simple (I think), but they are important things I want to see happen in the next year. They’re also things that are going to take me outside my comfort zone!

Question
Do you have any resolutions that you find “scary” or that will push you out of your comfort zone?

Running Pet Peeves

CAUTION: This post contains 6 swear words. Proceed at your own risk.

~~~

Over the course of half-marathon training, I’ve become aware of things that I need to have a successful run. 2-4 of my favourite tunes “at the moment” playing on repeat throughout the run. My bangs pushed out of my face. A good pair of running socks on my feet.

I’ve also become aware of things that annoying the living sh*t out of me when I’m trying to maintain my running headspace. I’m sure we all have our own little running “pet peeves.” Here are mine:

1. Dogs

I’m terrified of dogs. Big dogs, little dogs… If it barks, I get scared.

Running down back country roads, I’ve come across quite a few dogs. The majority of them are either chained up or fenced in. Regardless, they all bark when I’m running by, and my heart never fails to race as I wait to see if I’m about to be chased down by a rabid canine.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore animals! And there’s really no way around this because people have dogs, and as long as they aren’t running free, it’s really not a problem. But the barking still gets me everytime!

2. Words of Encouragement

I don’t mind when I’m running a race, and someone hoots or hollers, or yells out a “good job!” But I’ve had people slow down in their cars, roll down the window, and say “good for you! GOOD FOR YOU!”

I know you’re trying to be encouraging, but could you please roll-up your window and STFU. I’m in my f*ckin’ ZONE! If I wanted inspiration, I would switch the song to J. Bieb’s “Never Say Never” or something else “inspiring” and “motivating” (i.e. probably Celine Dion). I don’t need your ass slowing down to 10km/hour and whispering what you think are sweet words of encouragement. My mom told me not to talk to strangers, so how about you just honk some encouragement and not have me thinking I’m about to get kidnapped… K THANKS!

3. PANTS ON THE GROUND!

You know when your pants slither down your hips while you are moving?! Does this happen to anyone else?!

I do have one pair of Lulu running capris that don’t find their way down my hips because they have a drawstring, but constantly having to tug your pants up while running gets to be bloody annoying! (I read somewhere this is caused by pants being too small, and somewhere else I read it’s from pants being too big… Erm, let’s just find a happy medium and say they don’t fit properly?)

4. PEOPLE (MEN) HONKING

Really?! While I’m a sweaty mess?! REALLY?!

5. MY BOWELS

My f*ckin’ intestines and all their sensitivities (i.e. Celiac, possible lactose-intolerance, query IBS). I have to be careful running in the morning because if natures calls and I’m 10km from home with no rest stop in sight, I am hooped.

Source

~~~

Question for all runners, joggers, walkers, whatever you wanna call yourselves…
What are your running pet peeves?