It’s February, the non-official start to 2024. If you struggled to implement your 2024 goals and plans last month, you’re not alone. January is hard- the beginning of the month still felt “holiday-ish” to me, and the second half of the month brought on my post-holiday depression. But now I’m finally ready to dive into the new year.
First, of course, I’m joining Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. I’ll be drinking my usual Earl Grey tea out of my new mug, which was a Secret Santa present from San!
On the subject of January goals, let’s just see how I did. I wanted to read six books (I read five), do the Knees Over Toes exercises three times a week (I did it twice a week) and sleep seven hours a night (which I did some nights, but not all- I’m getting there!) Overall, I’ll call it a January win and re-set those goals for February.
The next thing I would share over coffee is that we have had the most beautiful weather lately.
Several nights in a row it got down to the 40s! And by that I mean, 48 or 49- that’s just about the coldest we get here. Overall our winter has been cooler than usual (thank you, El Nino) and I’m loving it. Maybe I don’t have to move, after all.
The most important thing I would talk about over coffee is, IT IS RACE MONTH. Yes! My big race- the Forgotten Florida 50 Mile- is on February 17th. You’ll be hearing more about this, because it’s pretty much all I can think about. I’m nervous about the logistics- it’s been a long time since I’ve traveled for a race- and obviously nervous about completing the distance (I’ve never run 50 miles.) And I’m also really excited! More thoughts, feelings, and goals for this race will be coming up.
Do you feel like you crushed your January goals? Or did you need time to ease into the new year?
Do you have anything exciting coming up in February?
42 Responses
How exciting. Best of luck and strength for your race.
While you run I will be having pizza at my friend’s house. Ha.
January was weird this year. I feel it is a lost month. So I am with you on starting with February and getting it all moving. Here is to a happy new month.
Happy new month, Tobia! And thanks for the encouragement- I will be needing plenty of luck and strength!
Yay race month! Can’t wait to read about it.
Thanks Sarah! You’ll definitely be hearing all about it.
You are going to do great!!! Just relax, eat your normal food the night before and TRUST YOUR TRAINING!! You have worked hard for this and now you just have to do the “easy” part, have fun! Just think of it as a long training run with company! I love long races, because you can literally talk to the other runners while you are racing and sometimes that is so fun. I have run with people for several miles sometimes and when you get to the end you have a new friend! I also really love the finish line vibe; everyone hangs out and celebrates this huge accomplishment they all just did! It’s such a good time.
Well, you definitely make it sound fun. It’s going to be an adventure on a trail I’ve never seen before, so I’m excited about that. And yes, I’ll have running buddies, which is an added bonus!
I’m so excited for you and your race! The logistics are always nerve wracking but I know you’ll figure them out and then get to enjoy the reward for all your training!
I have a couple long weekends to look forward to in February, which are always much-appreciated. And I’m hoping to do better at my goal to take one rest day from running a week — I only did it once in January and I know my body needs it, it’s just hard to accept!
Are you running seven days a week? The most I’ve ever done is six, and then I get injured (sigh.)
I have a long weekend the weekend of my race. The race is Saturday, I”ll come home Sunday, and then I took Monday off of work, AND it turns out my daughter has no school that day! So I can really sleep in and relax. It’s probably the same as one of your long weekend because I think it’s Presidents Day.
I am running 7 days a week, but a lot of my runs have decent amounts of hiking in them due to the trails I frequent, so I tell myself that it’s not as intense as actually running every day, but it is still time on feet and my PT wants me to take a full day off running/hiking.
That’ll be so nice to have a long weekend after your race to get to just chill! I actually don’t have Presidents Weekend off because where I live, the rodeo is a huge deal for some reason and Rodeo Week falls the same week as Presidents Day, so we have Thursday and Friday off instead of Monday. But I’m not complaining about a 4 day weekend!
January felt hellishly long here and I’m glad it’s a new month, finally. I’m excited for you and your big race! Enjoy that nice cool weather!
Yes, I’m sure January was a long month for you! I think February is going to be a good (or at least, better) month for all of us.
February is going to be a great month for you! I’m so excited for you to conquer those 50 miles.
I hope February is a great month for all of us. We should all have exciting things to look forward to!
You crushed your goals in January-you forgot to mention to ran a marathon all by yourself! So excited for you and your race day. Enjoy your weather
Thanks Deborah! I’m not sure if I exactly “crushed” my goals but I did way better than if I hadn’t set them at all.
I had no goals for January, so YES I CRUSHED THEM. Actually, that’s not true, I had a word count goal and I actually did crush it, even with a week away, so woooooo.
I knew you had a race coming up, but I didn’t realize it was so soon!
Okay, so you DID crush your goals! I know- my race seemed so far away for so long, and not it seems like it’s suddenly here. Gulp.
Happy race month! I can see how travel can add so much to logistics, but what a fun adventure! What is so funny is that I saw we were supposed to have a couple of days with the HIGH of 48* next week and had a mini-celebration at breakfast with Lil Momma about the heat wave haha – now, if we could add in some sunny days, my January blahs might be gone for the year!
Floridians are so wimpy- we’re FREEZING when it’s 48! I love it though. It’s a nice change. I hope you have some sunny February days!
Well it’s been in the high-40’s here this week and I’m loving it, too. For us Iowans, though, it feels joyously warm:-) I’m really excited for your upcoming 50-miler!!
Thanks Kim! It’s funny because your high is our low. We thought 48 was SO COLD.
If all you can think about is your upcoming ultra, then you’re doing it right!!
You are so well prepared, now it’s time to reap the benefits. Don’t forget to download the route on your watch!
I have a 10k tomorrow and then a half marathon in two weeks. These are little milestones leading up to London in April. Which is all I can think about, and it’s still two months to go!!
Ha, then it sounds like you’re doing it right too!
My race actually requires you to download the GPX file, AND get a separate app called “Far Out” (I think.) I still have to do both those things.
Our winter has been warmer, so if yours is cooler then yay! North and South are both getting the best!
You rocked it in January! Yes, I can well understand that the only thing that you’re thinking about now is your race. All I know is that I’m looking forward to cheering you on virtually on the 17th and yes yes yes yes yes I want to hear every last detail that goes down between now and then.
Oh, don’t ask me for every last detail! You would hear all about the weird twinge in my achilles, the debate about which route to take to get there (I95 or the turnpike?) etc. etc. Your eyes would be glazing over pretty quickly.
I have zero goals for this year, so no crushing necessary which feels…wonderful.
I do not love winter and I really can’t wait for it to be over, but I’m TRYING to make the most of it. I didn’t love January, so I do feel a bit energized that it’s a new month which feels…nice. Also, it’s a short month, so a few fewer days to go awry 🙂
I am here for all the race posts!!! It’s so soon, Jenny. I am very, very excited to follow along <3
Yes, I can see how having no goals would be liberating. You might notice that my goals are pretty modest. And I’m not beating myself up for not quite reaching them, so not quite as relaxed as you, but close.
February was always a hard month for me up north, but you’re getting closer to spring! I hope things go well for you.
I set Q1 goals and I definitely failed to do much of the January Cure. It did motivate me to clean out some kitchen cabinet drawers and I deep cleaned my fridge. So some good came of it at least. I feel like the style of the January Cure has really changed and was more designed focused which I just really don’t care about especially in this stage of life but maybe not ever. Ha. No one will ever come into my house and be like – wow, did you work with a designer? 😉
But on the positive I do have a date booked for tomorrow. Feels precarious to count on anything happening w/ all the canceled plans we’ve had!
Ha!!! No one would ever come to my house and think I worked with a designer. My house still looks like it was “designed” with toddlers in mind, and as you know my kids are now 15 and 21.
The thing about setting goals is, I still feel like I got more done than if I didn’t set them at all- even if I didn’t actually achieve them. So it’s probably the same with you and the January Cure. Just deep cleaning the fridge alone is an accomplishment!
yes to HEAVEN weather this winter!!! I think we end up 3-4 degrees warmer than you but still good!!!! can it please stick around until after our races in 2 weeks!?!?!?
Oh, I know- I’ll be pretty upset if it’s hot that weekend! But… what can we do, we just have to roll with it no matter what. It’s fun that we have a race on the same weekend.
Super excited about your race! How are you preparing it? have you decided on your fueling plan? what’s your pre-race dinner/breakfast? I’m always curious about that.
Feb is supposed to be an intense month for me. Life wise because my mom and mother in law are coming to celebrate chinese new year this weekend and stay. IT will be a packed house. Work wise, I should be interviewing for a dream, so that will be stressful. Then more running I guess, to deal with the stress and seeking quiet/solo time.
Your mom and mother-in-law are coming at the same time? Good luck! And…. I’m pretty set on my fueling for the race, the same stuff I’ve been practicing with on my long runs. I’m sure I”ll be writing a post about it (but it’s mostly Tailwind, Lara bars and gels…) For the pre-race breakfast, it will probably be oatlmeal but I do have to check what my cooking options will be in the hotel. And pre-race dinner- I’m not sure yet! I’ve been thinking about it but unfortunately there’s nothing I’ve been eating consistently the night before my long runs. I guess nothing spicy or weird, and otherwise I’ll be okay.
Yay, so happy to see the mug in use <3
And I superexcited for your race? Do you feel you're ready? It sounds like it was perfect running weather!
I hope we have perfect running weather two weeks from now!
Yes, the mug is so nice! I’ve been getting lots of compliments on it. : )
I feel like beginning-January still felt pretty holiday-y too, hehe. I did okay-ish on my goals but a number of them did get derailed because I got sick (sigh). Kindasorta reset for February! I hope you have a great experience + amazing weather for your upcoming race!
Thanks Farrah! Yes, a lot of people got sick in January, which made it hard to start the new year off great. I have a good feeling about February though!
Your race is this month! WAHOO! I am so excited for you.
The weather has been so great, hasn’t it? I love this time of year. Of course, we’re having some weather in the 80s already and I AM NOT READY. Ugh.
Great job on your January goals! I need to look at my Garmin and see how my hours of sleep went!
Your 50 miler sounds amazing and I can’t wait to hear how it goes! I know you’ll do great!!
I did okay on my January goals, but I think I can do better in the coming months! I’m so excited to hear you talk about your race logistics. It’s getting CLOSE!!
OMG, I am so excited for you! Can’t wait to hear about it.
That is great weather but I would also be cold. Do Florida homes/buildings have sufficient heat? If not, that could make it really hard!
Cannot wait to hear about your race! I know it’s getting closer and closer!