Goals for 2017

It's 2017! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and have enjoyed the time with friends and family, doing the things you love. As the first week of the new year comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my goals for the new year. Last year was a big year for me, logging the most mileage ever and completing my longest race to date. I wanted 2017 to be bigger and better than ever! Because my big running goal is a really BIG goal, I am only going to focus on the first half of the year with regard to my running. I'll reassess things when that goal has been reached and I'm ready for something else. Could I be any more vague? Well, without further ado, here are my 2017 goals:

But wait! Before I spill the beans, I must tell you that I'm linking up with the ALL-NEW Friday Five 2.0 link up, hosted by Rachel at Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness. When you're done here, be sure to check these ladies out!

Ok, here we go:

1. Run a 100 mile race. Yes, 100 miles. This is the big goal of the year. I've registered for my first 100-mile race, the San Diego 100 Mile. I got my acceptance letter yesterday and I'm officially on the entrants list. You have to qualify for these big races by either having run a certain distance ultra in a certain time or by just completing another big ultra. So I've met all the qualifications, it's all set and this is what I'm gunning for in 2017. All other goals lead to this one (sort of). The race is June 9th, which is why I said I'd reassess things when this one is done. I'll have almost 6 months of the year left, so we'll have to see what I'll have the desire to do next. Probably sleep :) Until then, I'm running all the miles and many of the races too. For training, I'm running:

• Griffith Park Trail 50K
• San Diego Half Marathon
• Encinitas Half Marathon
• Ragnar Relay SoCal
• Leona Divide 50K
• PCT 50 Mile 

2. Complete the San Diego Ultra Slam. This is the culmination of completing the 4 big mountain ultras in San Diego within a 12-month period. You must complete the Noble Canyon 50K, the PCT 50 Mile, the Cuyamaca 100K and the San Diego 100 Mile. I started my quest for the Slam with the 2016 Noble Canyon, then completed the 2016 Cuyamaca 100K. I'll be doing the PCT 50 for a third time this year and then end my quest for the Slam with the San Diego 100.

3. Make more time for yoga. I reignited my love for yoga this past year by participating in several yoga challenges on Instagram. Typically, someone hosts the challenge and posts the pose to do for each day of the challenge. You do the pose and post it. Sometimes there are prizes by sponsors (I won a bracelet that I'll feature here soon). It's super fun and allows me stop, drop and yoga. I can tune out, practice a little yoga sequence to warm up and then do the daily pose. It also allows me to be creative with my pics and I've met a ton of new yogi friends. I've also been able to get to some classes at my local studio more often, which has been great fun. But yoga also helps build strength and balance. I want to place a special focus on balance work as I train for the 100. This is so important for climbing mountains and I want my body to be as strong as it can be, on every level. It also helps calm my mind, something I'll need as I know I'm going to freak out about this race from time to time!

4. Volunteer for at least 3 races. I really want to give back to my beloved running community and this is the year I'll volunteer more. I was only able to help out at one race last year, the Surfing Madonna Beach Fest and it was so fun! I plan to volunteer at the San Diego 50-miler next weekend and I'm so excited! I can't wait to be on the other side of the aid station table, so to speak :)

5. Have at least one adventure with my family every month. After my surgery back in October, I was not able to run much. I was able to go on an adventure with the kids every Sunday until the holiday season. We went for hikes or the zoo or some other fun place. Then over the holidays when my husband was able to join us, we did even more. It was so nice to just focus on each other for a while. I hate to admit it, but this past year was so busy that we didn't do nearly enough fun stuff as a family. I really want to change that this year. And I think once a month is attainable.

There are a few other things I'd like to work on, such as not letting mom guilt (or any guilt) eat away at me so much. But these are the main goals for 2017! What goals do you have in mind for 2017?

I'm also linking up with for the Coaches' Corner blog link up with Susie from the Suzlyfe, Lora Marie from Crazy Running Girl, Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs and Rachel from Running on Happy. Check these awesome ladies out!