I give up.

I need a new challenge.

I love ‘running to run’ and I love my commitment to the barre (and recommittment!) and continued focus in a healthy, fit and happy lifestyle. But I feel like I am going into a bit of maintenance mode and whenever I hit that I fear one thing: stagnation. And challenges are what drive me, let’s face it. Everyone needs a break from a challenge, whether it be physical, career or life-related, but then there are times where you want to – as one of my besties says – amp it up and challenge yourself.

So, this is me, challenging myself anew.

There are a few things I am toying with, mind you. One of them?

Running, of course. Relearn to breathe in humid conditions. Don’t let myself get to the panic point where the only way to calm myself is to stop running. (sometimes that’s just unavoidable but most times, it can be controlled before it gets to that point – that is the point I need to get to). And? Run farther. I’d love to hit 10 miles again. And I’d love to do it ‘sherpa-style’ and run with my sister on one of her long marathon training runs. So that’s my goal. Fix the breathing. Hit double digits. At least once before the summer is over. Just to prove I can do it (again). Faster, stronger, more confident.

The other challenge I am toying with?

Getting a road bike and – gulp – ride…clip-in style, to boot. (go big or go home, right??). I have a bike, but it’s not a road bike and I don’t even need a fancy one, just something beginner, something used, no bells and whistles (friends! any suggestions on brand, type etc?? Locals – recommendations where??). I want to ride. I want to feel the air rush past my face as I whiz past those runners (since I always swear at them as they glide along past me as I am trudging along feeling uber slow in comparison!).  I just think it would be the perfect complement to running and barre and an opportunity to also go long. Explore the area I live in. There are SO many great areas to ride here and running can only take me so far. 

So that’s my goal. I need to investigate and do some research but any tips and suggestions would be awesome. I think M will get one with me and it’ll be such a fun way to work out together, in addition to running together.

Challenges anew. Let’s do this!

(hop on over to NEW half marathoner (woohoo!) Melissa’s blog to see the Weekly Chase in Action – I completely forgot to add this earlier when I blogged this, so here you go! Mini update! Check it out and get motivated!!)