HOW is 2018 just hours from being over!?
It’s New Years Eve and I’m chilling out whilst debating on whether to sit in or head the local to bid farewell to 2018 and embrace 2019. Either way I shall be taking it easy as my running year kicks off tomorrow with the Tom Brennan Memorial 5km in the Phoenix Park at midday.
2018
It’s been a funny year. After running Dublin City Marathon 2017, I had decided to take a short hiatus from running. Just to have a few weeks of not being so tied to training plans, to have a few mornings and weekends back to myself. Those weeks turned to months though and basically 2018 as a running year was practically non existent. I mean I did manage to partake in four Half Marathons (runDisney Star Wars in Florida in April, Rock n Roll Liverpool in May, Rock n Roll Dublin in August and then runDisney France in September) but there was little to no training and certainly no PBs.
Every week I swore I was getting back into it. I mean it should be easy – lace up the runners and hit the road. But it rarely happened. The mojo was just gone.
2019
But I’m coming back with a bang in 2019.
How will things be different in 2019 you may ask? How will you motivate yourself to get back into it?
First up, I’ve signed up for my second Marathon – Dublin City Marathon 2019 and my plan will be to run that as fit as I was in 2017 (if not fitter!)
I’m also mentoring the Lord Mayors 5 Alive Challenge again this year so differing to this year, I plan to use this challenge as a means of motivating myself and getting to love running and the social aspect it will includes.
A.L.A.M.A.D
To really kickstart it all off though, back in 2017 when I felt I needed a kick up the bum I decided to run at least a mile a day (ALAMAD as I like to call it!) in January. It wasn’t just about burning some of those extra calories from Christmas but moreso about getting back into the habit… the commitment that running involves.
So with the first run of the Lord Mayors Challenge being tomorrow, January 1st, I figured it was a good plan to do ALAMAD again!
And then just tonight I spotted a great initiative by RunRepublic.ie – RUNATHON . A monthly competition, conveniently starting in January where you can win prizes for running any distance each day. Perfect complement to my ALAMAD goal so obviously I’m signed up and excited now to get started. 
Check the guys out on Facebook and Twitter and get signed up too?
Facebook –
Twitter –
@runrepublicie
You’re going to be hearing a lot more from me in 2019 so bring it on
Happy New Year to you and yours 
~ Keith
