Staying on the wagon

As much as I like to run and know that it’s good for me, sometimes, like this past week, it seems as though the fates conspire against me. We’ve had illness all around, parties, houseguest, holiday shopping, and getting ready to go visit grandma for two weeks. This is a good time to step back and instead of beating myself up about the miles I didn’t run I try and focus on the days I did get to run. Sometimes you just need to give yourself permission to take a little break or do a little less. Just resolve to get in an extra run when you get an unanticipated break or if you can’t squeeze in a run, do something else like chase your kid around the park.

I’m also thinking about my 2010 plans. I like to use the upcoming New Year as an opportunity to set some new goals. The goal setting is also a way to ensure that if I slide toward the end of the year in my running routine I know my 2010 will start out on a good foot, so to speak! So far I’m thinking for 2010:

• Run the Chicago Marathon
• Keep track of every mile I run in 2010
• Do at least one triathlon

How do you stay on course as the year winds down? What are your goals for 2010?

Yesterday a friend was going to the Nutcracker with her four year old and I was thinking that I can’t wait until my little girl is old enough to go. I love the Nutcracker, hard to believe that when it premiered it was not quite embraced, a critic said “For dancers there is rather little in it, for art absolutely nothing, and for the artistic fate of our ballet, one more step downward.” I’ll take the Nutcracker over Dora the Explorer any day. Here’s a little bit of the Nutcracker for your holiday run mix.