August Goals

This isn't going to be a LONG blog, but it's going to be meaningful.

It takes 28 days to create a habit.  I want to create a healthy lifestyle, and healthy habits.

Tom Rogers - who runs for the Red Sea, an amazing and meaningful running group out of Joplin (the same guy who willingly purchased a pair of shoes for my wife and I - over $100 each... and did I mention that he and I have NEVER met?), said something on Facebook today about wanting to run 200 miles in August.

Now, I don't think I can do 500 - I'm still learning, but I went back into my pedometer to see actually how far I have walked the past few months.  It was pretty good compared to what I THOUGHT it would be - but that only confirms that I know I am capable of big things if I really put my mind and effort towards it.

In June, my pedometer (after some crazy math) told me that I had moved 111.66 miles in the month.  That averages out to 3.72 miles a day.  Now, this isn't just intentional running or walking on tracks.  This is walking to the fridge and the bathroom.  This is walking to the car to go to work.  This is walking through the grocery store.

But, it's moving.  It's not sitting on the couch.

July's numbers were a bit better.   This is no surprise, as I have been getting up and moving more.  I did three 5k's over the course of the past 9 days, and I went on an intentional after dinner 1 mile walk last night.  I'll be doing more of that, and I'll talk more about that later.  July's pedometer recorded a total of 128.64 miles - or an average of 4.19 miles a day.

So, getting back to Tom.  This guy is talking about doing 50k and 100k runs.  I'm nowhere near that.  However, I know because he spoke at our church about a month or two ago that he wasn't always there either.  He had his own personal demons (as I do with my eating obsession), and he chose to fight them off.  Running was his path out, and I think that God is telling me that I need to do something similar.

From what I'm gathering from his Facebook (stalker, much?), he is setting a goal of running 200 miles this month.  I think that's awesome.  According to my numbers, I moved 128 miles.  Over the course of when I started writing this blog last night and this morning, I have realized that my 128 miles and his 128 miles did not equal out.  His are intentional - "I'm going out to run or walk" - the walks to the fridge don't count in his book.

But he's inspired me.  I'm going to be setting a few goals today, and I'm going to hope that you all keep me accountable to follow them throughout the month of August.  

My first goal is my "INTENTIONAL" miles.  These are the miles that I will intentionally step out of the house, set my MapMyRun app up, and record the miles that I go out and spend on the roads or trails.    Last month, I had about 13-14 of those types of miles.  I ran on Wednesday nights, and very occasional on and off again walks with the family.

My "INTENTIONAL" miles goal for this month is going to be 30 miles.  With August having 30 days, that means I plan on walking an intentional ONE MILE A DAY.  I know that I will not have 30 days in a row that I have the chance to go out and do my mile.  Between my wife and my schedule, along with the older kids' schedules and having 2 babies, I won't have a time tonight to go out and get it.  But, that doesn't mean that I can't do TWO tomorrow.   So, goal one:  30 Intentional Miles in August.

My second goal is my "PEDOMETER" miles.  These miles gauge my overall movement during the course of a day.  I've had 0.96 and 0.11 mile days (although I think the 0.11 mile day I didn't have my phone on me all day, to be honest), and I had 12.09, 9.92 and a few 10 mile days.  My trend the past two months was 3.7 miles in June per day and 4.14 miles a day in July.

My "PEDOMETER" miles goal is to run 5 miles a day - or 150 miles over the month of August.  That means I need to keep my phone in my pocket and make better choices about how I move.  If I'm at work, I need to stand up more instead of always sitting down.  I need to park farther in the grocery store parking lot.  And frankly, I need to up my "intentional" miles - that'll be the biggest focus.

So, here I go.   I was talking to a few of you who have similar weight loss goals, and I encourage you to start a blog, a Facebook page, or any other way to keep yourself accountable.  I'll cheer you on the way you've cheered me on.  Whatever it takes, I'm going to be healthy for my family.  One day at a time, right?