February 1st

Off to a new month. January was a crazy start to a new year, full of highs and lows. I have feeling that is how all of 2011 is going to be.

When I named my year, it was The Year of Positive Health. It started off great with running my first ever 10K. I was REALLY proud of myself for that. I have been doing my best to stay on top of the Marathon training, but have had a few struggles along the way.

The weather has made a huge impact in my ability to train. I'm so disappointed that I can't get outside with the 65 or so inches we have had since Christmas. Last week I hit a huge low and didn't run at all! I can't even believe I skipped a whole week!

I went back on Sunday and again yesterday, but honestly, it was a struggle. I originally was going to go tonight, but again, MORE SNOW. It took me about a 1/2 hour just to get my car parked in my driveway (after getting stuck THREE TIMES.. I am not even kidding!) This weather is KILLING me!

I am determined to focus and make sure I get in and log my miles. I really need to make sure my long weekend runs are on point. That will be HUGE for me and for my success.

As part of naming my year, my New Year's Resolution was to pick two positive and healthy habits to try every day for full month and review them at the end of the month to see if they are things I want to continue. Then the next month, I will pick 2 new habits to try.

January I started with a spending journal to work on my financial health and then my second was to hold the plank position for at least 1 minute every day. Holding plank didn't go well. I kept forgetting about it. So I made the decision that it would be a habit for February since I lost it before mid January.

The spending journal is still a work in progress. I had so many days that I didn't spend any money at all. Then I had crazy bills, the $250 registration fee for the marathon plus the $100 deposit. It was $119 to get my taxes done, plus I owed still for the football pool I had been in and that was $50. I spent $110 between a couple of nights out, including a fundraising cabaret show a friend was in (including what I spend for the food and drinks we brought in). $45 was at Target on undies that fit and ear buds for my IPod (mine stopped working and I use them for running). I spent $80 on a massage, $15 on 2 exercise classes. The rest was food and bills (car, car ins, rent, electric bill, cable bill, etc).

SO to get a better idea on where my money is going, I want to keep going with this, at least for another month. I want to really figure out what I'm doing and I think I need more time for that. I know I'm getting my federal taxes back soon and I know that I will be spending money differently when that comes in, but I still need to know where this $1300 is going to go.

I will continue to use the spending journal. This is something I still need and a tool that I will continue to use to determine where my money goes. I'm chalking the plank to a failure for January. I made it maybe 10 days.

My February healthy habits... take 2 on the plank position. I need to find a way to make sure I hold myself accountable for it. I just wrote it "done" in my spending journal. At least that's a habit I got use to, so if I write in there, I'll have a way to remember.

My second habit for February? Well, seeing as it is almost 10pm on the first of the month, I need to come up with one I can do now. Hmm... Ok, not thrilled about it, but I will write 3 things each day that I am grateful for. I guess that means that I have 2 hours to come up with 3 for today? Why am I not excited about this?

First thing I am grateful for... I am grateful that I have a very large and amazing support system. I have great friends, old and new. I have a huge family I can count on. People I would never have expected it from have supported my marathon fundraising efforts and encouraged me in my training. I am incredible grateful for the people I have in my life.

The second thing I am grateful for... I really am grateful for the opportunity to run in the Boston Marathon. I am so terrified, but this is HUGE HUGE thing. SO many people can't do this who want to. And here I have the chance! I am scared and I struggle with the training and fundraising but I am so grateful for the chance to accomplish this.

The third thing I am grateful for today is that my boss listens to me. I had an amazing review yesterday but was told that I was not getting a raise. I was obviously extremely unhappy with that. I needed to wrap my head around it, digest it and get my thoughts together. I emailed her last night and asked her if we could talk today. My desk is in a semi private area, but one wall only goes half way up and others sit on the other side of it. I called her tonight from home and she listened to all of my concerns and hopefully I will hear back something better.

And funny, now that I started, I have more to add. I am grateful for my neighbor who has a snow blower and did my sidewalk and also the end of my driveway after he saw me get stuck in it when I got home from work. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't done that.

Ok, for now I'll stop there. I guess this is something I am going to have to do daily now too.

SO... Goals/Habits for February.

1. Continue with my spending journal to determine my spending habits.
2. Do plank position every day for at least a month.
3. Write out 3 things I'm grateful for every day.
4. Be on top of my running and training schedule.