I run for...routine.

Sounds boring I know. But I would be nothing without the routine that running and training brings to my life.

This winter has SUCKED! I typically like the cold and snowy winter months but this winter has been outrageous and we still have roughly 2 months left of it. My point is…I have not ran as often as I would like. I love running outdoors but when it is -15 degrees outside it is hard to motivate myself to get out there. Not to mention the amount of prep and recovery time involved. So for about the past month I have only been running once a week.

This is where routine becomes important. I notice a HUGE difference when I don't get at least 3 runs in a week. I'm more irritable. I'm more stressed. I'm more tired, lazy, indulgent, etc. I was really becoming restless staying indoors and needed a fix and quick! So I bought a treadmill.

I think I've mentioned before that I absolutely loathe treadmills. The majority of my runs are done outdoors. There are a lot of reasons for this but namely I like the environmental connection and it most aptly prepares me for races - since they are solely ran outdoors.

But I've had a treadmill for the last 11 days and I've ran 5 of those days for a total of 22 miles. Ahhhhhh! That feels SO much better.

Getting back into a routine is now even more important because this week marks the first week of my half marathon training program. I am also set up to complete a new challenge for the month of February. I will be running every day! Can't wait!

This February challenge is part of my New Year's "resolution" to complete a different challenge every month. Not every challenge is devoted to fitness/running but I thought I would highlight them here in this blog. Maybe it will inspire you to do the same.

FUN FACT about me: I have never NOT completed a New Year's resolution. I am tenacious. When I make up my mind to do something, I do it!

So here are my monthly challenges for the year 2014…

January - 21 Day Sugar Detox - Successfully completed as of yesterday!

February - Run every day. - Developed to jump start my half-marathon training program and keep me motivated through the winter.

March - Meditate every day. - Switching gears to focus more on spiritual development and mental well being.

April - Push up challenge. - Let's face it. I'm a runner. My legs are strong but my arms are puny. This will hopefully help me bulk up my upper half.

May - End each day reading a book. - I love to read but don't do it enough. Ending each day reading a book will hopefully get me in the habit of reading for pleasure more often.

June - 30 random acts of kindness. - This year I turn 30. *gasp* And it just so happens that the month of June has exactly 30 days leading up to my 30th birthday on July 1st. This way my turning 30 will not be defined by growing older but rather by helping others.

July - Spend an hour outside every day.

August - Write every day. - I have a lot of stories up in my head that I've never put down on paper. This challenge will hopefully inspire me to write the children's books that I've always wanted to write. I might even start journaling and writing poetry again.

September - Go Vegan! - I've been a vegetarian in the past. Longest time as a vegetarian was 5 years (sophomore year of high school through college). I just want to try something different and see how being vegan feels.

October - 31 movies I've never seen. - I've already got my list of movies. A lot of them are scary movies which is appropriate for October. I'm so excited for this one!

November - Write a letter every day. - Writing letters is unfortunately becoming a lost art. I'm hoping to write meaningful letters to loved ones that they may cherish for a lifetime, including a letter to my son to open whenever he turns 18.

December - Technology Fast. - This was a hard one to come up with because I know December will be so crazy and hectic. But that is ultimately why I decided to do a technology fast. So that I can spend all my free time, enjoying the holiday season, with the people that mean the most to me.

Stay tuned for regular updates now that my training is in full swing!

Happy running!

Amanda