Setting a goal

I am not a consistent person. Though I have plenty of initiative I lack follow through; there are very few things that I have started and finished. This is a fact that I am not proud of by any means. I know this, yet it continues. I needed something that I could start and finish that would improve my health, and set a standard for my future. What in the world could I try that I had not already attempted?
In comes Ashley. Though miles separate us, our friendship has not wavered. She lives in Little Rock, AR, I in Portsmouth, VA. =( So one day we are talking and she shares with me that she and a friend have started running. Good for her I think. Then she says they are actually training for a 1/2 marathon. HUH?

Now there was a surprise. Ashley and I are a lot alike when it comes to exercise, what's the point? When we lived together in Oklahoma we got a Golds Gym membership together and did pretty well, until it became aware that it was more of a pick up joint. Then we lost interest. Neither of us were unhealthy. We lived pretty active lifestyles of biking, hiking and camping, so considered that to be our exercise. That was 11 years ago. She has continued that lifestyle, I on the other hand moved to Virginia, got married and had a baby. There are no hiking places around me and pedestrians are not too welcome on the city streets. So you can guess how I got the extra 25 pounds. Excuses.

So she's training to run a 1/2 marathon. This definitely piqued my interest. She explained her training plan, and what their goal was. It sounded easy enough. So I had her send me the information. After looking it over I decided that I too was going to finally get it together and run a half marathon.

I jumped on our local running stores website to check out what local runs I could participate in, and low and behold, the Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon was staring me right in the face.

So there it is. My nemesis! =) I couldn't help but chuckle and believe that God was smiling with me. Looking further I also found a 1/2 marathon in NC that I could run in November. So I decided right then and there that I was going to run a 1/2 marathon before this year was out. I set up a bake sale to raise money for entrance fees, new footwear, and hotel. I started telling everyone I knew about my plans. I wanted everyone to know so I couldn't back out.

I have raised enough money to pay for my entrance fees. Now I just need to figure out my footwear and the hotel. But the most important thing to me, is that I have a goal, and a means to accomplish it. Start to Finish.