Fitness Recap December and 2012

Happy 2013 folks!  This is a really special New Year for me.  Because today marks 10 years since I made the New Years resolution to stop smoking.  I haven't touched one since.  But oddly, I frequently still smoke in my dreams when I am asleep.  This always upsets me - I often dream that I have forgotten that I stopped smoking and have taken it back up without realizing it.  This is certainly NOT in my plans, and I am proof that resolutions can stick when you set your mind to them.  Of course, in conjunction with the 10 year anniversary of stopping smoking, it is also the 10 year anniversary of starting running.  Which has played such an important part in my life for the past 10 years.  I've run on mountains, on beaches, on pavement and trails, in other states and even on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.  The only times I have stopped running have been for a knee surgery, for injuries, and at the tail end of both of my pregnancies.  Today I'm looking forward to starting my next decade of running! 

Just for fun, I went back and totaled up the past ten years.  I ran 9,176 miles total.  My highest mileage year was in 2007 when I ran 3 marathons and finished the year in 1264 miles.  My lowest mileage was in 2006 when I was pregnant with Pierce and preeclampsia kept me from running in the latter half of the pregnancy - I only got in 389 miles. 

As for this December, my IT band injury has slowly continued to improve.  I'm not pushing it too hard.  I've mostly stuck to 3 and 4 mile runs.  I've had to do a lot more running on the treadmill this past month than I like, due to the boys being on winter break.  I'm hoping to get outside more in January.

Shred 1 or 2: x 8
Running miles:  63
Yoga: x 4

Next month should be similar, with hopefully a slight increase in mileage.  And while I did make it to the track once in December (see the picture below for proof - the boys had fun playing on the playground while I ran in circles around them), I am hoping to do so again in January.

My overall year end mileage for 2012 is 1170.  I'm happy with this, particularly considering the injury that has held me back the past couple of months.  I met most of my 2012 goals: I PR'd in the half marathon, and I completed marathon #9.  The only goal I didn't meet was staying injury free.  Also for 2012 I lifted weights 44 times, did yoga 24 times, ab workouts 22 times, and Shred 17 times.

Now for 2013 - I am not actually setting any racing goals this year.  It's just too hard to do coming into the year with an injury.  So really my only goal is to get stronger, and to heal my IT band, and to just enjoy my running.

How about you, readers?  Got any goals for 2013?