Walk Into the Future

Category: Leadership

  • My Reading Progress

    “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.

    (George R. R. Martin)

    My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily.  I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul.  This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish. 

    Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward.  I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.

    I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily.  My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen.  I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong.  Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings.  This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.

    My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly.  There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track.  Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do.  I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby.  My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way. 

    The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics.  These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth.  I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going.  We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading.  It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own.  I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.

    The following books were referred by book club members:

    • Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
    • Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
    • 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication:  Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell

    FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking.  It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily. 

    I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.

    Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.

    I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library.  This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.

    How are you doing on meeting your goals?  What books are you reading in 2023?

    Irie!

  • Navy SEAL Museum (teambuilding)

    “No one can whistle a symphony.  It takes a whole orchestra to play it”.

    (Booker T. Washington)

    My Walk into the Future continues to expand and grow tree branches.

    I am always looking for ways to enhance organizational growth and find opportunities to thrive.  I am still active with my consulting projects and this work expands my ability to develop new ways to inspire my team to meet organizational goals.

    Teambuilding activities have been the springboard towards enhanced communications, better work production and overall success.  This is an ongoing process, there are more opportunities for the organization to grow, and teambuilding will be a driving force towards this goal.

    The national Navy SEAL Museum is in Fort Pierce, Florida.  This is a fun fact, and most people ask why.  The shores of Fort Pierce were utilized as a prime World War II training location to prepare troops for beach invasions.  The underwater demolition program was a key component of the training program and was a precursor to the Navy SEAL program we know today.

    What does this have to do with teambuilding?  Great question!

    Many folks on my staff knew the Navy SEAL Museum was in Fort Pierce but only a few had been to the museum.  I went for the first-time last year with a student organization and enjoyed the experience.  I shared this with a few folks at work and we discussed a team visit to share the history and do some team bonding.  It took a bit of scheduling and adjusting calendars, but we agreed on a date and time for the team visit.

    I did not have a preset idea of how many folks would come to the museum but was happy when 10 folks showed up with smiles on their faces.  This was a voluntary outing for the team, and they took time out of their weekend for team bonding—I was impressed!

    We got an introductory briefing by the museum staff, and this set the stage for the team to explore the multiple displays and artifacts within the museum.

    I did not know how the team would respond to being in a military museum, but they were very active learning the history of the Navy SEALs and campaigns they fought in.  The ability to touch the equipment and sit in an actual helicopter allowed the team an interactive experience while touring the museum.

    The museum has displays outside as well: boats, statues, and monuments.  We got some great pictures of one of the combat boats that was larger than most of us thought it would be.  The obstacle course was popular with other tour groups present but we only tried a few of the obstacles.  I tried the rope swing but sunk quickly into the sand—I traveled 3 feet before my momentum was broken.  Think we all had a good laugh at my lack of movement on the rope swing.  A few others took a turn on the rope swing, and they had better outcomes than I did.  I may have to go back to the Navy SEAL Museum to redeem myself on the rope swing.

    The visit to the Navy SEAL Museum is another step towards making our team stronger.  It was a great way to highlight the ultimate team (Navy SEALs) and how they come together to complete missions.  The importance of teamwork on mission outcomes was a great reminder for my team as we look for ways to get better daily.  Always looking for ways to get 1% better daily.

    What are you doing to become 1% better today?

    Irie!

  • National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2023 Annual Conference

    NACE23

    “Continuous personal and professional development is your key to the future”.

    (Brian Tracy)

    The NACE22 conference was held in Portland, Oregon last year.  I chronicled my experience traveling out to Portland for the conference in a previous Walk into the Future article.  This was my first time in Portland so was excited to venture out and take in the sights.  NACE22 was also part of my professional development as I served as Co-Chair on the Mentoring Taskforce.  The role allowed me to present during the conference to share the activities the taskforce had worked on during the academic year.  FYI, we redesigned the NACE mentoring program to modernize how we recruit and onboard new mentors.  I was excited for the opportunity to network with my peers and share the hard work the taskforce completed to enhance our organization.

    Fast forward to 2023 and NACE23 was held in Orlando, Florida at the Disney World Swan, and Dolphin resort.  My travel itinerary was a lot less of a hassle than catching multiple connecting flights to get out and back to Portland.  My school saved a bunch of money by not having to fly me all the way to the west coast and back this year.

    Another bonus for me is I did not have to present this year, so I got a chance to enjoy myself while networking with friends from around the country.  The Career Services world is a tight knit bunch of professionals, and it was great getting a chance to see folks again.  The NACE conference provides a great platform for networking, and I made a point to talk with everyone I could.  Please note, this level of networking is needed for future growth within the organization.  I served on the Mentoring Taskforce because the NACE past-president reached out and asked me to Co-Chair because this was his passion project.  The incoming president made sure I knew she needed help with an upcoming committee and spent the week recruiting me to join her project as well.  It took a few follow-up meetings and calls, but I agreed to serve on one of her committees for the 2023 – 2024 year.  My end goal is to get a seat on the NACE Board of Directors soon and it helps to be connected to the right people.

    I’m not a huge Disney person but made sure to explore the Disney Boardwalk area for food, drinks, and night life.  I took advantage of the workout facilities located on the Swan side of the resort and got in a few training runs while on the property.

    Several of the NACE23 vendors host afternoon and evening networking sessions to connect with Career Services professionals.  These sessions are paid for by the vendors and they routinely provide food and drinks for all attendees.  Nice way to get a free meal, drinks and enjoy time with friends.  Yes, I made my way to as many of these networking sessions as possible. LOL.  

    A true highlight of the trip for me was a visit over to Disney Springs.  One of the vendors hosted a large event in an Irish Pub in Disney Springs.  I left one event with friends, and we decided to ride over to Disney Springs to enjoy the night life and hit the party at the Irish Pub. 

    Chef Art Smith’s Homcomin Restaurant is in Disney Springs and is world renowned for great food and atmosphere.  I need to make a full confession to my readers.  Art Smith is a world-famous chef and has cooked for Oprah Winfrey and a host of others.  Very impressive resume!  Also, Art is from Jasper, Florida which is my hometown.  He moved back to Jasper a few years back and is our most famous resident.  Where am I going with this?  Great question.  I texted Art before heading over to Disney Springs to get a reservation at his restaurant and he was great at getting me and three friends in on short notice.  Thanks Art!

    https://www.chefartsmith.com/

    The Homcomin menu has a ton of great options and I highly recommend making your way there when in the area.  I had Art’s Famous Fried Chicken and Sweet Tea moonshine.  My friends tried other items on the menu, and we all agreed this was the best food we had while in Orlando.  We got a treat with the Signature Sampler which has 3 of the best desserts you can find anywhere.  All were fantastic but the Hummingbird Cake is my favorite and will get that when I visit again.  Stop and see my friend Art when visiting Disney Springs—you will thank me for the recommendation!

    http://www.homecominkitchen.com/pdf/Homecomin-Menu.pdf

    http://www.homecominkitchen.com/pdf/Homecomin-Dessert-Menu.pdf

    NACE24 will be in Phoenix, Arizona next year.  I anticipate being on the agenda again to present to my colleagues.  I’m sure there will be great networking opportunities out there and looking forward to great food there too.

    What networking opportunities are you pursuing this year?

    Irie!

  • Negril, Jamaica (Repost)

    Resized_20220717_190710

    “Mi come soon!”

    Decided to activate my Walk into the Future and make my way back down to Negril, Jamaica in July.

    I made a point to visit Negril on an annual basis prior to COVID-19 and this was my first trip back down since May 2019.  I felt comfortable when I traveled out to Portland, Oregon for the NACE2022 conference back in June and got the urge to get down to Jamaica since COVID restrictions were scaled back.

    I went back and forth on when to travel to Jamaica but decided to just look at hotel and air prices to determine the best time for me to travel.  Found dates that were compatible with my work and life schedules and booked a trip to my favorite spot, Samsara, which sits on the cliffs on the West End of Negril.  I found Samsara years ago and always stay at this resort when I’m in Jamaica.  The location is great for snorkeling, catching sunsets and experiencing Jamaica in a more authentic manner than staying at a large resort and never leaving the property.

    The staff at Samsara is great and most remember me when I return which makes me feel like a family member.

    My overarching goal for this trip was to get down to Negril and relax.  Yes, I could have found a spot closer to home to relax but the Irie vibes in Jamaica kept calling me.  I made sure to pack my snorkel gear since I wanted to spend as much time in the water as possible on this trip—mission accomplished.

    Arrived at Sanger International Airport after my 2-hour JetBlue flight from Orlando.  Made my way through customs, got my luggage, and headed to the Jamaica Tours counter to catch my shuttle to Samsara.  The airport is about an hour and a half away from Samsara, so I got a Red Stripe beer at the airport and got on the shuttle for my ride over to Negril.

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    Samsara has gone through a remodel since my last time down there.  They added a couple new buildings, a new infinity pool and deck overlooking the water.  These additions were a complete hit with me as they brought a new level of adventure to the resort.

    My room was in the newest guest building and was steps away from the infinity pool.  This view created some unique pictures for me with the sunsets bouncing off the pool and the ocean.  I did not get in the pool but appreciated the addition and several other guests were regulars.  Guess not everyone goes to Jamaica to get in the ocean. 😊

    I did not book the all-inclusive packages since I wanted to explore and not have to be at the resort at a determined time for a meal.  Also, there are other options close by and I like to experience different venues for my meals.

    One of my regular spots on this trip was the 3 Dives Jerk Centre on the West End.  This spot has some of the best jerk chicken on the island and the price is fantastic.  I’m not a huge fan of spicy foods but the seasoning they use is great and they provide the jerk sauce on the side so I can add more or not.  Mostly, I don’t add sauce and just eat the jerk chicken with rice and peas.

    I made another stop at the Rock House to get lunch and had the grilled snapper, peas and rice and plantain.  The chef at the Rock House has an international reputation for great Jamaican dishes and I’m never disappointed when I dine there.  The rum punch is pretty good too!

    There was not as much live reggae available as past trips but believe this is because the island is still adjusting to having tourist back.  Legends on 7 Mile Beach is a sister resort to Samsara and they host a live reggae band on Sunday nights.  This is a new music spot from the last time I was in Negril and the band was good.  The larger venues had DJ music which was fine but I’m a huge fan of live music so gravitated more to the bands/groups that were playing.  Hoping the live music continues to come back since I’m already planning my next Negril trip.

    This song was a surprise request for the band:

    I was able to snorkel daily in the morning before leaving the resort for my food and music excursions.  The water off the cliffs is calm in the mornings and provide a perfect place to float and see a wide variety of fish.  There were no jelly fish this time, so this allowed me to stay in the water for extended periods of time.  There were only a few other folks in the water, so it felt like I had the ocean to myself.  😊 Plan to get out to the reefs my next time down to explore a bit more.

    I was able to get 4 full days during this trip and enjoyed every minute I was back in Negril.  Hope the become a regular visitor again so I can enjoy the irie vibes, food, and great views. 

    (more…)

  • 2023 Goals progress

    goal-g9f3555e2d_1280

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    “People with goals succeed because they know where they are going”.

    (Earl Nightingale)

    I start each year by sitting down and creating goals that will help me navigate the year.  I stopped with the New Year’s resolution stuff a while back and made sure to create goals in multiple areas of my life:  professional, personal growth and health.

    Some of my goals carry over into the new year with modifications based on how well I did the previous year.  Examples of this include volunteer work, my reading program and how often I write weekly.

    A big carryover from 2022 to 2023 was the concept of purchasing a townhouse. 

    I listed this as a goal and put some effort into it by working with a realtor and viewing multiple townhouses on the Treasure Coast.  Never found what I was looking for in 2022 so this remained a goal for 2023.  My house hunting efforts heated up in March of this year and I closed on a townhouse in Fort Pierce on 5/11/2023.  This goal does not have to carryover anymore!

    I scaled my reading program back a bit from 2022 but still wanted to stay active.  I love to read and learn new things, so this goal never goes away for me.  I decided to ensure I read a minimum of one book per month.  This is in conjunction with my daily Bible reading to gain additional wisdom (Proverbs) and overall insight from other areas in the Bible.  I am eager to learn more and actively explore for new insights I can leverage in my daily life.

    My writing goal centers around daily activity to include blog posts, poems, and LinkedIn articles.  There are days when I miss my writing window, but I continue to generate content for the Walk into the Future blog and get new posts/articles on LinkedIn to share my views of the world.  I still have time to get caught up on this goal but happy with the quality of what I have produced so far this year.  Always looking for new topics to add to the blog and will take recommendations if YOU have something you want to read about.  My racing season will start back in August 2023 so there will be multiple training and racing articles coming to your inbox soon.  LOL.

    I am currently ahead on my exercise goals!  I’m hitting the gym as prescribed weekly while my running consistency is similar to how I prepared for the 2022 Palm Beaches Marathon.  I run early in the morning on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  My long runs are completed on Saturday mornings.  I have begun to incorporate speed work into my routine which was an addition to my running goals.  This approach should put me in much better shape physically and mentally to get ready for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.  I set an aggressive 2023 running schedule and need this new base mileage approach to get me to the start line and over the finish line for these races.  Excited to see how this training approach translates to the actual races.  FYI, I am 75 miles ahead of my mileage the same time last year.  This is BEFORE I crank up my full marathon training program.   I completed three half marathons so far this year with three more coming in the fall and the full marathon.  I missed the 2023 Virginia Beach Half Marathon due to injury in March and the 2023 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon due to a schedule conflict—the NACE conference was in Orlando, and I couldn’t figure out a way to be in San Diego and Orlando on the same day.  I registered for the 2024 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon in June to get the best prices and fingers crossed it doesn’t conflict with NACE next year. 

    I continue to leverage goals to guide my daily efforts towards making a difference in this world.  Happy to report I am making good progress and will continue to move forward.

    How are you doing with your 2032 goals?  What adjustments do you need to make?

    Irie!

    “A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement”.

    (Bo Bennett)

  • Race Medals

    Medal Rack

    “Racing is the fun part; it’s the reward for all the hard work”.

    (Kara Goucher)

    Runners sign up for races for multiple reasons.  Some are there for the competition, others are chasing a specific time, and then you have the running tourists who are looking to see new places while testing their mental and physical stamina during the race.

    There are other reasons to toe the start line and cross another finish line but we all happily collect race medals when it is all said and done.  Larger races have bigger budgets to invest in the hardware they provide to runners, but each race looks to create a unique medal experience for runners. 

    My medal collection continues to grow as I enlarge my running tourist program as I add more yearly races.  Extremely proud to have crossed the threshold to become a full marathoner. 

    Decided to highlight a few of my most recent medals in this post and provide a better view on the design of each of them.  Please note, I plan to run these races again next year so will collect a new medal design and will share those in the future.  😊

    Palm Beaches Marathon

    Medal Palm Beach

    Ran the 2022 Palm Beaches Marathon in December 2022 and chronicled my training that led up to the race.  This is my favorite medal in the collection since it is the first and only full marathon medal I have collected to date.  I have already signed up for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon and begin my training cycle again the first week in August.

      OUC

    Medal OUC

    My first half marathon was the 2013 OUC Half Marathon.  This race launched my running program and got me invested in distance running.  I planned to run one half marathon just to say I did it but have not stopped competing yet.  Running has become a huge part of my daily life and I can’t imagine what I would be doing without my running program (training and racing).  The 2022 OUC Half Marathon was used as a training run to gauge my progress for the Palm Beaches Marathon—enjoyed the race and happy with my efforts.  The OUC medals are always colorful and depict the Lake Eola area in downtown Orlando.

    Vero Beach

    Medal Vero

    The Vero Beach Half Marathon is a small race with only about 250 runners.  The race takes runners through multiple neighborhoods and the famed beach.  The medal highlights the beach and turtles which gives it a unique look and feel.  Lots of color and surprisingly heavy.

    Town of Celebration

    Medal Celebration

    Ran the Town of Celebration Half Marathon for the first time in January.  I ran the fastest time in the past 3 years during this race.  The town of Celebration really comes out to welcome runners, and they throw a great after race party with lots of food and drinks.  I plan to run this race yearly since I enjoyed the entire experience so much.  The medal is a homage to the movies with the 2023 theme:  Take 10.  This was the tenth running of this half marathon so next year will be Take 11—get it? 😊

    Nashville

    Medal Nashville

    The 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon medal continues the trend of highlighting the great music in Nashville.  The Honky Tonk Wings were a new addition to the Nashville medal and provide a fantastic back drop for this medal.  I love Nashville and will run this race every year until they tell me to stop coming—won’t be anytime soon.

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    Can’t wait to collect more medals in 2023 and beyond.

    Which one is your favorite?

    Irie!

  • Poetic Flow: Beach Life!

    Disney Springs

    Sitting on the beach living the life I live 

    Prophetic sound because it’s the life I need 

    Positive energy leads the way 

    For the journey I’m on today 

    No worries, no hurries, no issues 

    Will stop the flow of the joy 

    That sitting on the beach 

    Enjoying the sun, sand, and waves 

    Can bring to my soul!

  • Busy or productive? (Repost)

    Busy or Productive

    “Beware the barrenness of a busy life”.

    (Socrates)

    Dictionary.com defines busy as having a great deal to do.

    Conversely, Dictionary.com defines productive as producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.

    So, which of these definitions describes your daily endeavors in the workplace?

    People use the terms in a similar fashion, but I am quick to tell folks my goal is to be productive daily. 

    Busy can quickly become a mindset that leads to staff becoming overwhelmed with the tasks they must handle in the work environment.  I ask staff members how they are doing throughout the day and when I hear someone say they are busy I simply ask:  are you busy or productive?

    This makes folks pause for a bit and then they want to know the difference.  Again, I refer to the two distinct definitions.  Someone who exclaims they are busy is identifying they have a lot of things to do, and they are thinking about that workload.  Some will just come out and say I have a lot on my plate and need to get things done.  Sounds reasonable but it can also cause a mental drain on the staff member and anyone else who hears a constant “I am busy” drumbeat in the work environment.  Yes, there may be a lot to do but saying ‘busy’ does not move the needle to get things done. 

    Flip the script!

    My goal is to be productive daily, and this starts with the concept of coming to work to get things done.  The old saying talk is cheap would apply here.  Talking about being busy does nothing to get task accomplished.  A productive mindset allows staff members to come in with focus and take an active role in getting things done.  Tools I use to increase productivity:

    • To Do Lists (daily, weekly, monthly)
    • Outlook calendar (meeting reminders, team time off, out of office reminders)
    • Face to face conversations
    • Email
    • Large Post It Notes on my office walls
    • Staff meetings (group, 1:1, virtual)

    I have used To Do Lists for most of my professional life and these lists help me plan/organize my day to keep me focused on deadlines and work products I need to complete.  I begin each morning before going into the office with a list of action items I want to accomplish for the day.  I sync this list up with any items I did not complete the previous day once I arrive in the office. 

    FYI, I am also the first person in the building most days so I can have 45 minutes to consolidate my lists and build a game plan for the day.  Yes, I put this much thought into my operation to ensure I have a productive day.  I am trying to maximize my opportunities to be productive and leverage all the tools available to help me with this.  A secondary benefit of my lists is they allow me to pick up where I left off when I must help staff members with a task or problem.  I can come back and pick up where I left off without wasting time trying to remember what I need to get done.  Please note, staff and clients take priority, so I get a lot of practice coming back to my daily lists.

    Face to face conversations are a great way to keep the productivity flowing.  I find simply getting up from my desk and going to have a conversation is more productive than emailing back and forth.  We can talk things through, come to a consensus and eliminate potential misunderstandings.  Of course, this only works if the person is available to have a conversation. 😊

    Busy or productive office

    The large Post It Notes on my office walls is something I started while working in the Florida State University’s Career Center.  The concept was for me to put big projects on Post It Notes so staff could come into the office and add updates to each project.  I began to allow staff to build their own projects and put them on my office walls so we could work them together.  I got the Post It Note idea because my white board was not large enough to highlight multiple projects.  I purchase the Post It Notes from Staples and they stick to the wall.  These notes provide a great visual to highlight how productive we are on any given day.  One of my current staff members said coming into my office and seeing the notes is like being ‘in my mind’.  I quickly told her to get out of there because there is a lot going on up there. 😊

    There are other ways to become productive in the work environment, but these are a few that I leverage daily to help move me and the organization forward.

    So, I ask you, are you busy or productive?  What tools are you using to help your productivity?  I welcome your thoughts—thanks!

    “Focus on being productive instead of busy”.

    (Tim Ferris)

  • Poetic Flow / Life can be so nice!

    FP Inlet

    Eliminate the hunger and take away all wars,

    Break down all color barriers and bring equal rights to all.

    People living in unison, all getting along.

    This would make the world a better place for you and for me.

    Maybe one day kids can play together and have some fun.

    No war, no hunger, no racial wall.

    Life could be so nice.

  • 1,300 in 2022

    Sunrise

    “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably end up somewhere else”.

    (Lawrence J. Peter)

    I start each year by creating a set of goals for myself to ensure I continue to Walk into the Future.

    Past years I created a goal to run a set number of miles during the year (example:  1,000 miles) but decided to eliminate this practice and concentrate on run quality instead of quantity. 

    My 2022 run goals centered around 3 quality runs weekly without the shadow of a set number of miles as the goal.  I always found myself singularly focused on the end number instead of the impact each run had towards my goal and fitness level.  Mentally I was always chasing a number I made up in January and that was not always a fun activity.

    Fast forward and the 1,312 training miles I completed in 2022 is the most yearly mileage I have ever completed.  Launching my full marathon training program in July helped me clock miles but I was well on my way toward a mileage personal record (PR).  The marathon training process highlighted I needed to add training sessions and mileage to fully embrace the run challenge of a full marathon. 

    I routinely ran 3 days a week prior to my marathon training program and needed a 4th day to continue to build my mileage base.  I also needed to create a true run plan to identify the targeted mileage for each session.

    Prior to 2022 I would just go out for a run and then determine how far I wanted to go during that session.  Running in 2022 forced me to lay out a detailed weekly training program to identify how far I would run during each session.  I know this sounds simple and I’m sure most folks do this, but my running program had structure but needed more focus to get me to the start line for the Palm Beaches marathon.  I discovered putting a number on the training session (3 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles on Wednesday, 8 miles on Thursday, 10 miles on Saturday) made me hit my mile markers each session.  Anything less than what I projected left me looking for ways to get my miles in.  Weekly mileage numbers were critical to my running success in 2022.

    Mile by mile, day by day allowed me to top 1,300 miles in 2022.  I’m sure I could have surpassed that number if I put more focus on the mileage for each session prior to July 2022. 

    My 2023 run goal is to run 4 days weekly (25 – 30 miles total) with one day dedicated to speed work.  I am registered for 10 races for 2023 with a combination of 5ks, 10ks and half marathons.  I don’t know if I will tackle another full marathon in 2023 or ever but never say never.  I will let my weekly running sessions determine how many total miles I run in 2023.  Excited to track my progress and growth as I expand my running base and test myself with road work.

    What goals do you have for 2023?

    FYI:  Clocked 127 miles in January 2023! 😊

    Irie!

    “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time”.

    (Zig Ziglar)