Revising My Fitness Goals for the Rest of the Year

Oh 2016, I had such big plans for you! I was going to travel and run all over you. Even though I started off the year with that pesky foot issue, I worked through it and got to the start lines of my 2 bucket listers, the Sarasota Half Marathon in March and the Big Sur Marathon in April. I returned home from California full of hope and ambition! I felt euphoric and fulfilled. I set my sights on a few half marathons for the rest of the year.

Naturally, fate had other plans for me. My son broke his leg and we got a new puppy. I could roll with that, but after a fall on a rock last week, my plantar fasciitis flared badly. It has yet to calm down. As you read this, I'm getting an x-ray and spending the morning with my sports medicine specialist. No matter what the outcome of that visit, it's clear to me that a revision of my goals for the year is in order.

What's a runner to do?

It isn't as if I haven't been in these shoes before. Literally and figuratively. Does it even matter what's wrong with my foot? No matter what the diagnosis, I'm still going to have to take some time off. Again. So I took a look at the goals I set for myself this year and made some alternative goals that will keep me in shape and ready to run once I can hit the road again.



1. Recover from injury. Hip strengthening, particularly the left hip: in the past, I've been told that I have weakness in my left lower kinetic chain. I haven't been focusing much on my left hip lately and I'm certain that some of my issues are due to that. As Dr Jordan Metzel says in this instructive video, I need to wake up in the morning and say: "Thank you kinetic chain!" More specifically, clamshells, supermans, lunges, squats, hamstring curls, and monster walks (with resistance band). 1-2x/week

2. Continue cross training via bike, yoga, CrossFit, and pool running. Yes, I think it's time to invest in a pool pass. When I start running again, I need to continue to incorporate these workouts into my weekly regimen.

3. I still would like to run 2 more half marathons this year. I have Panama City Beach, in December, penciled on the calendar. I have yet to pick a fall half marathon. Ideally, I'd like to run one in late September or October.

4. Continue to work on my strength goals with Becky. This upper body stuff is fun. And as it turns out, it was a wise choice to focus on these goals, since they all involve upper body strength. I'm getting closer to that unassisted handstand/handstand pushup and rope climb. The pull up is going to be a bigger challenge for me. It's all a work in progress.

This week's rope climb. Working on positioning.

5. I might not be able to run right now but I can ride my bike! Venus de Miles on July 23--my 25-mile ride is still on the plan! This non-competitive ride that benefits the Greenhouse Scholars fits nicely in my goals. By the way, since I'm an ambassador, you can sign up and save $10 using the code LONGWAY. Come join my sister and me! If you can't ride, you can always donate to my fundraising page (look under Rivard).

I've said it before and I'll say it again: PF is the devil. With some attention to that side of my body, hopefully, I can get the devil in my foot to go dormant. Having to manage all these other issues in my life made me put my own health on the backburner. Now that things are settling down, it's time to practice self-care again.

Actually what doing anything with PF feels like.

That's the ultimate goal for the rest of 2016.

Do you neglect your own health when life gets overwhelming? Or do you practice self-care? What do you do to prevent injury?

I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta of Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia for the Friday Five!