Seventeen (Whole5, Day One)

What's up? I haven't visited this blog since last year HA HA HA...ok no more dad jokes, down to business.

2016 was a frustrating year overall, and I will be using my frustration to channel positive actions in 2017. But! I do not want to discount (or forget) the cool stuff that happened, including:

1. A bunch of running "firsts"
1. First official 5K event, The Color Run in San Jose
2. First runDisney event, the 5K at Disneyland Paris
3. First Half Marathon, Disneyland Paris Inaugural Half
4. First runDisney Challenge medal (Castle to Chateau, at the Avengers Half in Anaheim)
5. First Turkey Trot (also first 10K!) on Thanksgiving in San Jose
2. Kept the weight off for the whole year (110+ lbs)
3. Saw all eleven shows in Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season, and re-upped my membership with them
4. Performed in two plays for Shakespeare in the Park (a leading role in one and an iconic supporting role in the other)
5. Performed in "A Christmas Carol" for the third year running, in an all-new track
6. Got one step closer to actually becoming Lisa Simpson (& fulfilled a lifelong dream)
7. Cleaned out my closet, made a bunch of lists, learned a few amazing new recipes and in general set up for progress in 2017

I love the number 17. I always have. The last few years I guess it's been at the back of my mind that I want to make 2017 an easy fun year for myself. But it doesn't look like it'll be that way. So I've spun it in a new direction: I'm spending 2017 taking care of myself and my life and the people around me. 2017 is about self-support and self-love (including the occasional tough love). Starting with food (because, as we've heard so many times, It Starts With Food.)

This year's WholeSchedule is as follows:

• Whole5: Jan 3-7
• (Day off Jan 8 for the Hot Chocolate 15K)
• Whole40: Jan 9-Feb 17
• (Day off Feb 18 for closing of The Country House)
• Whole10: Feb 19-28
• (5 Days off for Seattle trip and Filmapalooza)
• Whole50: Mar 6-Apr 24
• (5 Days off for Ashland Trip I)
• Whole75: Apr 30-Jul 13
• (5 Days off for my 33rd birthday)
• Whole60: Jul 19-Sep 16
• (8 Days off for Ashland Trip II)
• Whole60: Sep 25-Nov23 includes Thanksgiving
• (Day off for Slack Friday)
• Whole30: Nov 25-Dec 24 includes Christmas Eve
• The rest of the year off for Christmas, New Year's, and prep for 2018

If all goes to plan this'll put me at 330 days total for the whole year, which beats my current best record of 300 days and will hopefully help me get some more of this weight off. I'm very happy I didn't gain it back this year but am not pleased that so much of it is still kicking around. I'm not close to goal weight and I don't like this plateau thing.

In addition to the eating, my vision for 2017 includes:

• Brown bagging my lunches to work (and dinners to rehearsal) every day
• Learning to lift weights in order to crosstrain with the running (and hopefully break the weight-loss plateau)
• Continue learning to run and earn 3 more medals (Hot Chocolate 15K, The Color Run, and another Turkey Trot are what I'm aiming for, although something else might come up)

It's off to a pretty good start:

Today's lunch includes two Instant Pot creations, curried broccoli soup and braised kale and carrots, recipes courtesy of Nom Nom Paleo. I got the Instant Pot for Christmas and I. Am. Obsessed.

Although, it is raining outside so I don't know if I'll be able to get a run in. Foo. I'll figure something out.

I *still* have to recap the Disneyland Avengers Half Marathon Weekend, and probably the Turkey Trot, as well. Not sure if anyone's reading this but if you are, please know that I'm on it and I appreciate your patience.

I guess that's it for today! I'm going to be better about record-keeping so you should see more of me than last year.

Happy New Year, friends!