So I got that handy-dandy “year in blogging” report that WordPress thoughtfully pulls together for everyone. Somehow it was less than stellar, since I only posted 28 times in 2012. 28 times? Damn, Africa, what happened? Remember the million times you said you’d post more and not totally suck as a blogger?

Anyway. I could make the same claim now, but I won’t, because what’s the point of setting myself up for failure? I will try to post more, but I won’t promise it. That’s too much pressure and too much disappointment when I don’t deliver the goods. One of my goals for this year is to stop setting myself up to fail.

I’m not sure that I like the word “resolution,” similar to how I no longer make myself “to do” lists. I feel that there’s too much of a negative connotation if I fail. Instead, I make goal lists. Sometimes it’s weekend goals (laundry, run, errands) and other times it’s long term, without a specified end date (fitness). I feel better about the list, it no longer stresses me out, and I feel okay if it takes me awhile to achieve everything listed.

Some of my goals for 2013:

• Complete the Pittsburgh & Marine Corps marathons (primary); finish sub-five (secondary); finish close to 4:30 (tertiary)
• Complete a number of trail races & hikes (primary); finish strong & run as much as possible (secondary)
• Train hard and well for both marathons, incorporating strength & cross-training this cycle
• Become the fittest I have ever been by trimming the extra fat & poundage (ideally 30-35 pounds, but we’ll see)
• Write in a journal, just small things – record memories, because the one in my brain sucks
• Record on paper the things that made this year amazing, as they happen, and place in a jar to be opened New Year’s Eve.

I’d also like to do the cliched things such as becoming more organized, but let’s be honest, working towards all those other things won’t make that easy. Still, 2013 will be the best year of my life so far, and I will work hard to ensure that this happens.

let’s do this shit.