one of my goals for 2016 is to run 300 miles. this is a big endeavour for me, but i wanted to set a good challenge for myself that would encourage me to become more consistent with my running. i have never run 300 miles in a calendar year before, so i am going to have to work hard to keep up with it.

i have two challenges going with friends on the nike+ running app, both so we can compete against each other and also to keep me motivated. my brother has already soared past me, but i’m holding my own in the other, and i might be slightly obsessed with checking the standings every day to see who has run and where we each stand.

i knew january was going to be a low mileage month for me since i was just getting back into regular running after recovering from the virus i had last september. i started slow to build my speed and endurance back up, and i was able to wrap up the month by running the 5k at the pinkathon, the first time i’ve run that distance without stopping in over six months.

and now i have gotten past the 25-mile mark. i know the year is still young and there are 275 miles yet to be run, but i’m pretty happy to have crossed my first milestone. i still need to work on my cross-training and conditioning to build up my muscles and strengthen my core, but i’m pretty happy with how my runs have been going.

summer is beginning to set in, so my morning runs are becoming warmer and warmer. pretty soon the sun will be rising earlier, so i will be as well, but i have to keep reminding myself that i feel so good on those days that i get up and run. i get such a great start to my day, and i often get more accomplished before 1pm than i do all day when i don’t run.

my next goal is to find a 10k to run in bangalore in march. i am well on my way to being back in 10k shape, and i am always better at keeping with it when i have something i am working toward. if i can find one for march, i can then focus on attempting a 10k pr when the tcs world 10k comes to bangalore in may. it could be fun.

there’s still a long way to go before i hit that 300-mile goal, but i think it’s safe to say that i am well on my way, and i am enjoying running again for the first time in a while.

do you enjoy running? what’s the most you’ve run in a month? my record is 60 miles from when i was training for the nike women’s half — maybe i’ll get there again by the end of the year!

xx