Jan SECOND ! Already ??

Wow ! That went fast :)

Let's see - I joined a new Gold's that is opening here in March. I'm a tad bit frustrated it's not open until March, but here's my positive spin:

1) Technically, I'm still on 'no impact'. I go back to dr on Friday and I'll see what I get cleared to do... so maybe this is the stars aligning and telling me to lay low for 4 more weeks or so

2) if a gym opens in March, I won't have all the Jan / Feb New Years resolutions gang in there .. and they are usually gone by March anyway

3) i can still use a) the gym downstairs and b) the gym at work. And there's a StairMill at the station I can use too !

So there... a gym... pretty happy about that. It's an 11 minute walk from the condo so it'll be a good warmup. Also, it's in a business tower, so most of the folks will be LONG gone by the time I get there in the evening and it should be fairly quiet on a weekend !

SOOOOO.... now that's it's January 2nd already... how are you doing ?

Keeping motivated isn't easy (really... i know this... try doing nothing for 8 weeks !)

But... think of what you're working for .. energy ? to feel better ? to look better ?

I need to buck up... I've got a Vegas trip in June that I think I'll be the oldest one there.. so I gotta look presentable. While I still wanna keep my run mileage up, I seriously will be focusing on weight training as well. I miss my triceps !

Here's some ideas to keep moving :

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD FOR A GOLD STAR, says Sacramento-area running coach Shauna Schultz. Plan your workouts a week in advance, then place a star sticker on the calendar for each day you meet your goal. "Visualizing your progress in this manner is very encouraging," Schultz says.

BE REALISTIC with your training. Sticking to a schedule of three workouts per week feels a lot better than quitting a more demanding plan. Go to runnersworld.com/smartcoach to customize your training program.

INVEST IN GOOD GEAR. For beginners, this may mean a good pair of running shoes to avoid injuries and technical clothes made of fabric that wicks away moisture and prevents chafing. For others, experimenting with the latest GPS unit or shoe pod can be a fun way to track training progress and stay motivated.

EVERY MILE YOU RUN burns roughly 100 calories. Think of that next six-miler as two slices of pizza.

YOU'LL BE WEARING A BATHING SUIT in another month or so, won't you?

WRITE IT DOWN - The best way to track your progress is to write each of your workouts down in an exercise journal. Chart every exercise, set, rep, type and duration of cardio, and the date. Your exercise journal can be anything from a notepad, to a piece of computer paper, to a chart you made on the computer.