Taken at the Femme Fondo women’s bike ride.
On Saturday, November 16 I participated in the Viva la Diva Run, which supports FiftyForward, where I serve as Development Director. The “Viva” was the final event in the Making a Move series. My goal this year was to complete all five events.
Mission Accomplished.
My Viva experience wasn’t what I’d anticipated. I’d registered for the 5K. But I worked 12 hours the day before (packet-pickup), was too wired to sleep the night before (will the race go off hitch-free?), and on race day I was at the site at 4:50 a.m. helping unload the huge cargo van and set up the packet pick-up/race day registration tent. When it was time to line up for the 5k at 8 a.m. I was beat and still working the event. I knew I needed to have enough gas in my tank to help with event tear-down so I decided to drop back and walk the one-mile event that would begin an hour later.
My friend and training pal, Lynn, ran the 5K and then very kindly walked the one mile with me. We reflected on what a year it’s been as I recovered from my foot surgery:
- I limped through the first event: a 5K that took place about 6 weeks after I was out of the surgery boot.
- I had the slowest recorded time at the second event, a women’s triathlon. I still had a lot of post-surgery pain and I had to walk to the transition areas and on the run course.
- I spent a glorious fall morning in beautiful Leaper’s Fork, Tennessee riding the Femme Fondo with several friends.
- I walked the Race for the Cure 5k with my boss. Thank goodness I really like her.
- Viva la Diva!
Singularly, none of these events were particularly challenging, well, except limping through the first one six weeks post-surgery. But I know myself. I needed a goal that was achievable but that required a bit of work on my part. Otherwise, I risked giving in to pain and staying on the couch.
Last night I attended the Making a Move celebration dinner. My boss, who’s on the MaM steering committee told me she really hoped I was available to attend because I’m one of the “elite” who completed all five events; there were three of us. 🙂 I’ll crawl on broken glass for a finisher’s medal or a cute race shirt, so of course I’ll attend the dinner and pick up a finishers certificate! A work colleague took a pic of me and my certificate, but it was at the end of a 13 hour day and I looked exhausted, so you’ll not see that photograph.
Now that I’ve completed my 2013 goal, I’ve got an eye on next year. I continue to have tendonitis in my left foot, so I’m not sure how that will limit me. But I’ve downloaded a couple of half-marathon training plans. We’ll see how it goes, but I can be sure of one thing.
I’ll plan something that doesn’t involve couch-surfing.
482gr8 
Goals are great. I like writing short, mid and long term goals. It is great to see results at varying times of the year. Then when you look back at the year, you realize how much you have accomplished. I find it better than writing one big goal.
I love that approach and will try that with my 2014 goals. Thanks!