A New Year with a New Goal

Inevitably, I find myself feeling overwhelmed at the beginning of a new year. This is partly because January 1st is my birthday. It's funny how as a kid I couldn't wait to be another year older and now I find myself wishing I could just slow down the hands of time a little bit! That, and there is the pressure of the New Year's resolutions, there are so many new things that start up at the beginning of the year, the weather starts to get cold and the days are so short..... it just doesn't seem like there are enough hours to tackle everything that needs to be done!

However, this year I am trying really hard to avoid the "overwhelmingness". I am trying to focus on the things that really matter to me and my family and let the rest slide a little bit if I have to.

I am not really a fan of making New Year's resolutions. Instead, I am a goal setter. I set goals all year round. I make a 'to-do' list of goals at the beginning of most days, I make meal/food goals at the beginning of each week, I set financial goals, housekeeping goals, weight-loss goals, organizational goals, parenting goals,....really my list of goals is never ending. However, it seems that the only ones I'm really good at sticking to and achieving are my running goals.

So, here it is, my running goal for 2012. I've been thinking this up for a while, but I feel like I'm finally ready to tackle it! I am going to run 12 half marathons in 2012 and try to raise some funds for the Canadian Cancer Society in the process....and I'm going to blog about it!


Why? - My Motivation
Why Run?

So what's with all the running? It seems that running is one of those things that people either love or hate. I LOVE running. The list of reasons why I like it so much is virtually endless, but more than the rush of endorphins or the sense of accomplishment I feel when I cross the finish line at an event, running has given me a new lease on life. 

Suffice it to say, that there was a time, not so long ago, when the thought of lacing up a pair of sneakers and logging a few miles was COMPLETELY foreign to me. Not that it just wasn't something I did regularly, it was something I had NEVER done or even thought myself able of doing.

During this year, I will share my "running story" with you and hopefully it will become obvious why I've chosen to set this goal.  I want to celebrate my health and I feel like after everything I've gained from running, maybe I can use it as a way to help others. Which brings me to the next question.

Why the Canadian Cancer Society?

There are many worthy causes that rely on fundraising support, so why choose the Canadian Cancer Society? This decision was an easy one for me for a few reasons.

In Saskatchewan, 14 people are diagnosed with cancer every day. So, there are few of us who haven't been impacted by this disease.

My family and my husband's family are both predisposed to various cancers. We lost my mom's sister to breast cancer at the young age of 40. I would love it if my boys could live their lives without this fear or the fear of passing it on to their children.

Finally, a close friend of mine was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Heather has tumours in multiple locations in her body and there are no treatments to offer her. She is 31. So, while I feel helpless because, other than being there to support Heather and her family, there is nothing I can do to make her better; I am hopeful that raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society will help people like her in the future.

Why Blog?

My good friends will have heard me say on more than one occasion that, "I would never blog". Mainly, this is because I feel like blogging assumes that what I have to say is worth the time it would take someone to read it. I am afraid of wasting people's time.

I'm not an expert on anything, my opinions on things are generally pretty straightforward, I don't have a witty sense of humour that would keep people engaged, I don't like to ruffle feathers, etc., etc. For the most part, my life is pretty standard and, in my mind, not worthy of a blog.

So, here's the BUT. But, I've had a tiny change of heart and am going to make this exception for one year because: 

I AM just a normal, average, happy person; and that's what makes this worth sharing. I haven't always been "average" or completely happy. Getting to "normal" has taken me a lot of effort....a lot of baby steps. But, if I can do it, anyone can! My hope is that, by blogging, maybe I can help someone who is struggling with their weight, see that normal, average and happiness are do-able.....

I also realized that I'm not forcing anyone to actually follow my blog. I'm just putting it out there. Whether or not you choose to come along for the ride is up to you....but I'm excited for what this year has in store and I hope you'll join me.

• If you're a runner (or have ever thought about trying it), pick one of the events and lets tackle it together! If the 13.1 miles of the half marathon seem a bit daunting, most of the events I've chosen also offer a shorter distance run. 
• Not a runner? Then why not come out as a spectator or volunteer and offer support from the sidelines. There's nothing like a smile and a cheer of encouragement during a race! 
• I would be extremely grateful if you would make a donation and help me support the efforts of the Canadian Cancer Society. 
• Finally, you can join me here as I reflect on the baby steps I've taken to get to this point and the elements that are motivating me to "put myself out there" (WAY out of my comfort zone) and we'll see how this all plays out!