In awe

Tag: resolutions

  • [697] New Year 2026

     (last year‘s Vision vs this year)

    Every year I seek for something that inspires me and propels me foward to a new year.  A few years ago, it was a combination of long distance running and standing on top of a mountain.  2024, I received it and stood on top of the high Sierra. To my wildest dream, I did the Western States. It was an unforgetable moment. Breathtaking beauty. It might have been once in a lifetime. Of course I wanted more of it after that and thinking of Leadville and The UTMB.

    I long for that in 2025.  That brought me to back Utah for the Wasatch and back to the valley of Shenandoah of Old Dominion where I did some of my hiking and running.  I hope and drive myself forward to 2026 and 2027, to seek for something  much more.  Life is exciting.

    The last 10 years, I ran 99 marathons/ultras, actually more ultras than marathons to a ratio of 2:1 (68 ultras and 30+ marathons).  I also earned 7-8 Dnfs along the way (They are races that I did not finish, all of them being ultras).  So it brings the number of races I finished around 91-90 races.  In 2026, I hope to run 9-10 races to reach the perfect 100!  That will be a milestone for sure. Or really, I won’t make a beep once I cross the 100.

    I started running in August 2016.  My 10th year running anniversary is around the corner.  Thus, I wanted to reach 100 marathons in 100 days!  Joking. But would not that be cool for 2026 though? Is it even possible, of course not. A 100 mile takes me 30+ hours to finish. Anyway…

    Here is my new year resolution:

    Resolve: 2026.001 Run 10 marathons/ultras.

    Resolve: secret goal:001.  A few years ago, I embark on plan001.  I think it is time to bring it to a close.  What is plan 001?  I almost forgot what it is.  Only last year was I think I know.

    Resolve:  2026.002. A lot of Caroline’s goals are becoming my goals. One of her goals is to visit the Grand Canyon.  Marking late March or Late November the date. Putting a circle on that.

    Resolve: 2026.003.  Visit Cape May. Put another circle on that

    Resolve: 2026.004.  Run the first landing 50k! woohoo.

    Resolve: Running is every part of my life, and as I shift from going back to my hiking adventure  instead of running, I need to resolve to hike more.  2026.005

    Resolve: I signed up for some pretty hard races, MMT, and Eastern States, Vermont 100, Devil Dog, and Hennepin. I need to train for them. Resolve to train hard for my races. 2026:06

    Resolve:  My friend Jeremy is running a 300 mile race.  I don’t know if I could be there to crew him.  I resolve to make the time to go out to Arizona to crew. 2026.07

    Resolve: 2026:008. Every year I said I would excercise more and eat healthier.  This year is the year. Same every year.

    Resolve:  2026:008.  Read the bible more.  Seek God more and be well balanced on the inside.  2025 was a tumultuous year.  I hope to get a clearer focus as 2026 and 2027 come into view.

    Resolve: 2026.009.  I settled into a grove of what to do the next year based on the stuff I did not get to do the previous year.  It was almost a cookie cutter.  I started this journey a few years ago to challenge myself to real the “next” challenge. I resolve to seek the next part.

    Resolve 2026.010.  I resolve to be clearer with my goals and vision and know my mission for the next year.  Mission is always the same.  However, it can be stated and apply differently to the new circumstances. It might need some reformulation. Finding an inspiration. Vision though has to be inspiring at least to myself.

    Resolve. 2026.011. I resolve to add more resolutions.  It doesn’t have to stop there.  Maybe part of my downfall is stopping short. 

    A few years ago, I read a fellow blogger on new year’s statement instead of making new year resolutions.  I came up,  borrowed a verse from the Bible:  Knock, and the Door will be open.  It has been a tremendous run with that verse alone.  It taught me to be bold and Daring.  I have not turn back on doing hard things.  I soared high beyond I could dream.  While, I would love to continue on this theme, I got a new one for 2026.

    2025 taught me my limitations and to live in what I am capable of (especially in light of my DNFs).  To some it seems a step backward, from reaching for the sky (see my plate).  I think it is part of growth of being realistic of part where I could change as well as also pushing the dream of doing great things.

    An important theme I picked up during the Virginia Marathon was:  He went leaping and jumping and praising God.  Thus, this will be my personal theme for 2026, continuing to do the impossible with joy and help others to do the impossible in the name of Jesus.  (Acts 3:8-9)

    *My dear Friend Caroline said I have two different visions for 2026 in two different places on my Blog.  I was shock, really!? where? Oh one at the Blog I wrote the other day and one at my race plan that is always being modified on the racing page.

  • Day662 Midlife crisis

    [updating a post written in 2023, might not have published back]

    oh no…January 2, I don’t have a new year resolution this year. I will resolve to be purposeful!

    This probably will be a weird post. I haven’t figured out what I want to do for this year.

    Last time I was in this state was back in 2016. I ended up buying a truck, fell in love with a woman, and somehow running a marathon (actual a 5k, but it led to signing up for a marathon). Then ended up going up a mountain like Moses, experienced a life changing event at a burning bush. No not like Moses, I did not lead his people out of Egypt afterward. I’m kind of seeing myself doing it again now.

    I still drive a truck! Loving it. People I knew started calling me Bear for my outdoors adventure image though I am nowhere near the macho-ness.

    Here am I now, what should I do?? I did all those things because they were new and hard and adventureous. They are no longer new to me now. I still love to spend time on the mountains.

    I am not into creating a new branding of myself. Usually though soul seeking time would result in remaking myself like back in 2016. Maybe I am pivoting to something new.

    I think it comes down to what is worthwhile to do. This time I think would be less dramatic. Actually, I kind of remake myself the past year.

    I need to realign my mission goal again. (I did during 2023, but it was not published).

    I still want to run across the continent. I do want to travel more. I do want to race more.

    The last few years were fun. I got myself to be an ultra marathon runner. And claimed the title of runner of the year in my running club.  It was fun. It took me longer to get where I am. I am still not very good at it but I can say, distances no longer scare me. Anything under 100 is doable. Anything over 100 is probably doable with some planning. The mystery is no longer there.  I am itching to try a 200 miler.

    It opens door to many races. What I really want to try is the Atacama Desert Crossing. I want to try some multi-day running adventures.

    Couple friends wanted to do Vol State or HOTS. Someone suggested the trilogy. I want to do the Tuscarora trail or something similar like the Mid state trail. Here I am dreaming.

    *Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon. While driving up to Pennsylvania, my friend mentioned something she wanted to do is to hike from Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon. I did something similar (I only hiked down to the River and back up) and at the time I was not an ultra runner yet. I don’t know if I can fit that into this year. It would be dope if I can do it. Saying this, because I would go just for a hike, even though truly I wanted to run across the Canyon and back in one day.

    Another thing I want to do this year is the Sierra Club One Day Hike (100K). I was interested in this before I was an ultra runner. At the time Hiking one day from DC to Harper Ferry seems interesting because it was impossible for me at the time. Of course if I get accepted, I would run this thing instead of hiking. Probably will take me 16 ish hours.

    I need to make more friends who is into what I am into. Meeting Caroline was something like that. We are both seeking to cross off 50 states marathon. She is like 10 states ahead in 2023. And she did it, finished all fifty states.

    Funny nothing much has changed since 2023.  My goals still are same today as two years ago. A lot of changes are in the air though, vaguely, my career, having a new roommate, moving to a new place, starting a new relationship, and future. Only till 2026 will we know.  My life might turn upside down.  I might have to put aside my personal goals for something bigger. Well I don’t have to have everything together. Once😀😛 I have a clearer picture, I will post again like I did in 2023, likely though it will be 2026 or 2027.  As I get older, pace slow down. I can’t accomplish as much as before, so 2023 goals are still 2025-2026 goals.

    A couple more resolutions

    *Be laser focused

    *overcoming my fear of starting new things

    My previous goals

    1. 2023 published version

    2. 2024 goals

    Last year, I was aiming for finishing the race called Western States.  It was everything to me.  This year, I get to cheer other people doing it. I really want to do it again or to be there.

  • Day525 resolve

    New Year is already here! I am behind on making my resolutions. I am not a big fan of making resolutions because I usually fail after a few days. I also the type of person who needs to have them because I love structure.

    I did not start the year with a bang, but I did start it off running. Seriously, I ran a 50K on January 1st. I still need to write a report on that.

    In other areas besides running though, I have some “debts” to repay. I felt behind on a bunch of things. There are two race reports to write! I need to prepare for several trips this spring (Texas, Canada, Outer Banks, Roanoke, and Massanutten). One is next month and I haven’t reserved my flight. And most importantly, I need to refocus myself for this new year.

    Originally, I was going let it slides, like I have been for the last few years. This year was going to be like the year before. It is not far from the truth. Same old same old. I figured the previous year resolutions should do for this year.

    However, after reading some other people posts, I want to give this year a serious thought. I lile from RunningOnFumes of choosing a word or phrase for the year. For me, I would like 2023 to be *resolved*. Hopefully, I’ll reach some goals.

    SeizeLife at LiveTheMoment/EatTheMoment mentioned about 168 plan. We have 168 hours total in a week. How do we use it? I Googled and downloaded the spreadsheet. Basically, it helps listing out what things are important and ideally helps you to focus your time to have a fulfilling week. I will look into it and hopefully will use it.

    Resolve 2023.1 – practice and use the 168 plan

    I know People/cities die for lack of vision. I live by purpose. I want it to be meaningful.

    The last few years I have been quite unfocused. I tried aiming toward a target to transition from road running to trail running, and it took over three whole years to do it. Looking back, it wasn’t bad, just me stumbling through life.

    What does this mean? Running 100 mile races helped me understand pace degradation. You know I could run a marathon between 4-5 hours, 26 miles. In my head, I know the pace. Miles just fly by. Every couple hours, you get 12 miles.

    But in a hundred mile, you experience the pace slowing down. In your mind you still want and hope to run a 12-13 min mile pace. Reality is your body is moving much slower.

    When I run, I set goals, like by what time, I should be at a certain place. Pace elongation stretches out the time. a five minute wait becomes 10, and 10 mins becomes 20 and so on. It seems a step taken should be closer in distance to the finish yet would take much longer time to get there. The famous Zeno’s Paradox! Every step only brings me half the distance closer but never reach it.

    This is how I feel with planning the last three years. Originally, things I wanted to do in 2018/2019, finally only got them done last year. Yes, what or why did it take me so long!

    I still love setting resolutions! Eventually, I will get there right? I recheck my to-do bucket list and glad some of them are finally coming off it. Yet there are still so much more to do.

    This morning I was exploring from 100 mile races in the Philippines! They have The Hard 100 – they give 40 hours to do. So it got to be hard. I want to do it! Now I am aware of it, it probably will take couple years for me to get there.

    Three years ago, I would not dare to dream about running this 100 mile race, but now, ya, it is more about when I can go and how it will fit into my schedule.

    Last night, I met up with David, my running friend who has been doing runs and races together this past year, and we were talking about tons of races through out the night. One of our mutual friend wanted to her first (half/full) marathon. We were excited of sharing our knowledge. At the same time, I was checking my schedule to see how they would fit in, because I want to run races with them. Our friend Siri has interesting idea of going to the spa and hot pot after “our” race — DC rock n Roll, which I haven’t signed up yet.

    Marathons on my new lists to check out is Las Cruces in NM, Burlington in VT, Space Coast Coco Beach in FL. I can’t do the first two yet because of scheduling conflict this year, but Space Coast is a possibility!

    Oh yeah what about my resolutions?

    I resolve – 2023.2 – to not be lazy with my training, specifically waking up in the morning to train

    2023.3. plan better

    2023.4. sit down and get my Annapurna trip together. It is supposed to be this year but I am so scared with the planning

    2023.5. put sydney marathon on my planner. I could definitely go this year, because my schedule is open, but need to take that step to make it happen. Also so scared about travelingbout the country. Going oversea isn’t scary but how to meet up with my cousins and auntie there, is. idk, it should be excited, but i’m shy.

    2023.6. mexico trip: likely won’t happen this year, but good to dream to run with Ramamuri (Tarahumara). Caballo Blanco Ultra 50 mile in March. From The book Born to Run. One of my favorite ultra running books to read.

    2023.7. walk the talk (resolve to get things done). Pretty much this year theme. Resolve to resolve.

    conclusion: the whole post is about to get myself to make some goals and they don’t usually get done on my time table. This leads me to not make more goals. However, I should look hard and get my things done. So I made some new year resolutions. Let’s be bold!