This feels like the first month in a while where there’s been some significant movement on some of these goals. Last month, to be quite honest, I didn’t feel like there was much to write in this post. Today I have a lot to say.

So here’s where we stand with the goals at the halfway mark of 2025:

Running/Exercise Goals

Take a Peloton Class in Studio: We’re getting down to crunch time on me figuring out if and when I can make this happen. It will definitely not be on my birthday, as I came into the year thinking.
100 Day Streak Challenge: Check. Completed. This is feeling like a distant memory. (Also, there was a summer 100 day streak that there is no way I’m doing.)
Complete at least 1 Marathon and 1 Half Marathon: We have finally reached Chicago Marathon training season…which will also serve to build me up for the BAA Half in November.
Complete the B.A.A. Distance Medley: Two-thirds complete here now. I gave a little update on how I was feeling about it, which also has links to the individual races if you’re interested.
Run a sub-5 hour Marathon: We shall see.
2026 Boston Marathon: I think I am pretty much qualified at this point to enter the lottery, so at least I have a shot. If I don’t get it, I’ve at least enjoyed everything I did to get to this point.

Writing

Finish Book Draft: So, things have changed a little bit. My adjunct teaching is done - I was planning on not doing it anymore after this coming year, but the school changed some of its procedures regarding out-of-state employees. I’m not heartbroken - it was becoming a lot with working outside of home again. The reason I say all of this here, though, is because it should open up some time for me to finish at least this draft that I’ve kind of paused more than halfway through. So I feel hopeful I can get back to this.
Document 2025 on this blog every day: There were some dicey moments here the past month or so. I was wondering if I was going to run out of material, if I’d be able to keep this up…but I feel like I’ve gotten a second wind - I don't exactly have posts stockpiled, but I feel like I’m not running out of ideas. I have plenty. And we’ve reached the point where I’ll also be documenting marathon training so I feel like this is great timing for that, kind of giving us a little boost through the second half of the year.
Publish a Written Piece: This still falls in the category of probably ‘least likely to happen.’

Other

Read More: Safe to say I’ve ended my reading slump - you’ll see. I’ll be writing about a few reading experiences soon.
Learn New Things and Experience New Things: This is happening in different ways and I just haven’t been finding much writing fodder here. I’ll see if I can put some of them into words.