C25K

Going back to one of my new year resolutions, I have started making progress on my resolution to run a race this year. Last week my wife wrote a post about the running plan she has started and I have decided to undertake the same plan.

Couch to 5K

I'm big on researching before buying/starting anything. I was all ready to go with the "Nike+ Walk to Run" program on NikeRunning.com. It seemed like a pretty good plan to get started. Sarah, on the other hand, started on the C25K program and as she was telling me about it, I realized that the C25K plan would probably have me ready to run a 5K race MUCH sooner. By the Nike plan, it would take me about 24 weeks to be ready for a 5K. Maybe that's good for some people, but I'd like to progress a little faster. C35K's 9 week plan sounds much better to me.

A popular question is always, what gear are you using?

The shoes: Asics Nimbus 11

One of the perks of working for Hibbett Sports is that I get a pretty nice discount, which I must say I've taken pretty good advantage of. Another perk of the job is that I get to spend a LOT of time trying on different kinds of shoes so that I can know how to describe them to customers, while at the same time learning which ones I prefer. It came down between the Nimbus and the Mizuno Wave Creation. The Nimbus is probably the most comfortable shoe I have ever put on. I've now been running twice and have had no trouble with shin splints. That's a big deal for me.

Under Armour

I just can't justify UA's standard prices, so yep, there's my employee discount being used again. However, being that the temperature has been in the low-40s both times I have gone running, these two items have been life-savers. I'll be straight up with you - I don't like skin-tight clothing. At. All. But I have to admit, these work. I'll have you know, though, that I am mindful of the general public and wear a t-shirt and shorts over both.

For those of you keeping score at home, I've added a box on the right where you can track my progress and times. Call it a way for you to keep me held accountable.

As for my next run which is schedule for Friday, I'm looking at anywhere from 98-100% chance of rain. All. Day. This ought to be fun.

New Year resolutions

My first questions is, who has made a new year resolution in the past and actually kept it? Seriously, I'm looking for success stories here.

By and large, I've pretty much come to look at NY resolutions as set-ups for failure. This is predominantly because of personal lack of success. Over the past couple years, I've made a point of not making resolutions. Looking back, I think that was weak. So I'm attempting it again, and since this is public, we'll be able to keep track throughout 2010.

Because its the system I am most familiar with, each of these are intended to be S.M.A.R.T. goals. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound)

So without further adieu, in 2010, I will:

1. Successfully RUN an organized race - I am not being specific about what race because I don't know where I'll be at different points of 2010. That being said, the Warrior Dash or the Peachtree Road Race look to be good races for a first-time runner. This resolution is in place of the typical "exercise" resolution because in order for me to run in a race, being that I am not currently in the practice of running - I will, by default, be exercising in preparing.
2. Graduate from Kennesaw State University with a 3.5 GPA. Right now, I am sitting with a 3.49 GPA. This coming semester, I have 13 hours, followed by a summer internship that counts for 12 hours. (On a side note, my GPA actually fell after this last semester, during which I made 5 B's.) The fact that I'm above a 3.0 makes me happy when I remember my GPA when I left Harding U.
3. Educate myself a little better on Biblical history. Over the past few years, I've come to feel worse about the fact that I can hold my own in a conversation pertaining to baseball, yet when a Bible study turns to the historical stories that I should remember from my childhood, I can't really offer anything because I don't know. As long as I can remember, I've been more interested in the New Testament - the nuts and bolts of how I need to live. I know this resolution isn't really specific, because I'm going to talk to my preacher about this and get his recommendation. I'll update this one within the coming week hopefully.
4. Make a final decision on whether I am going to use my guitar or sell it. I've been waffling on this for the past couple years. I bought my guitar from a church friend back around 2003 I think. I started off taking lessons regularly, but then ran out of money and stopped. Since then, I have yet to really apply myself with it. Each time I've come close to listing it for sale however, I've failed to pull the trigger because I really want to learn to play it. So if, by the end of 2010, I have not taken up a course of study with it and have not made significant ground on learning to play - I will sell it.
5. Purchase a life insurance policy. I've known about the importance of this ever since Sarah and I took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Stupidly, I've dragged my heels in actually doing it. Sarah has one through work, but right now I've got nothing, leaving Sarah unprotected if something bad happened. (Do not use this to infer that Sarah is pregnant, this is just something that I need to do, period.)

So there you have it, my 2010 resolutions. Are you making resolutions this year? What resolutions in the past have you successfully followed through on?