Last year, for the first time in the whole history of my whole life, I managed to keep both of my New Year's resolutions. So I thought, a) that was hard work, so I'm having a year off, and b) I enjoyed them so much I'm going to keep up with them, but now I suppose that technically they are Old Year's resolutions (which doesn't have quite the same positive sounding ring to it).
It being the first time in 30 (ok, 30ish...oh, who's counting anymore anyway?) years, I've managed to resolutely resolve to stick to my resolutions for 365 entire days, I paused to ponder, why this sudden, unexpected success?
Usually, my New Year's resolutions are decidedly vague. "I will be a better runner", for example. Well super, good for you, but how can you tell if you've become a better runner? What does it mean? That you're faster, or run further, or run even in the rain, or will compete at the Olympics, or will enjoy it more? Too vague. So how can you tell if you've acheived it? You can't. Then it's easy to get demotivated, and wonder what the point is, and eventually give up. I'll never be a better runner, so I'll just carry on as usual.
Not last year! Last year, I made my resolutions SMART, oh yes I did. SMART.
Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. Timed.
Alright, smarty pants (I hear you cry!). What were your Old Year's resolutions? And why are they so smart anyway?
Resolution 1: I will train for a 100 mile event in May, sensibly and without getting injured, and complete the event within 46 hours
Specific - yes
Measurable - definitely
Achievable - we'll find out
Realistic - ?!?! But 5 months to train does seem realistic I suppose
Timed - yes, I have to do it in May, and we'll get timed when we do it
Resolution 2: I am going to have reached my all time total of 50 marathons by the end of the year
SMART - pretty much the same as above
So, both done!
I realised I didn't mention that I completed my 50th marathon at the Steppingly Step in Bedfordshire back in November. All went well, surprisingly, given my consistent disasterous run of runs in the lead up to it. I celebrated at the end with beans on toast in the village hall with Andrew, a bloke who had just finished his 100th marathon, and another lovely bloke from the 100 Marathon Club. There's no better way to be brought back down to earth than by having your hard worked for achievement immediately outshone by someone else. He had a cake, and everything. Although it was pretty much gone, because he's finished that far ahead of me. After popping to the bathroom for a baby wipe shower (such is my glamourous life) I went back to the car, and found this!!!
CAKE!!! Thanks Andrew!!! Fortified by some cake and in the warm glow of the candles, I immediately felt a little less outshone, and instead just massively motivated to do 100 marathons. If you get a cake with this much chocolate at 50, what do you get at 100?
Happy New Year folks! May 2017 be filled with smiles, laughs, health, and all the things you wish for! 🍀💖😆
