2013 Personal Development Goals: Four Months Down

(Click here to read my 2013 Goals post from January!) 

Last Friday, I reviewed the progress I've made with my food goals since January. Today is the (somewhat dreaded) review of personal development goals! These goals are a bit more of a work-in-progress because, unlike baking, they can't simply be taken care of on a whim in my apartment. They require more effort, time, and money. With that in mind...

Like in 2012, I made a few running goals to physically challenge myself and help keep my fitness level strong throughout the year. Specifically, I want to run 4 races of varying distances. In March, I completed my second Monument Avenue 10K race with a time of 0:51:26 (4 minutes faster than two years ago!). The following week I ran the Hardywood Twilight 4 Miler. This was a new race hosted by a Richmond brewery and the concept was total fun: it was an afterwork race on a Thursday that ended with beer and a food truck court. It was an extremely social event; and you could tell everyone was having fun with it, chatting along the course. Even though it wasn't timed, I tried to push myself and completed the run with a pace I was happy with.

Now the crazy part...I signed up to run the FULL MARATHON in Richmond this November!!! I honestly haven't quite wrapped my brain around it. I've been silently considering it since the start of the year. I thought I'd be neat to run more miles than the years I've been alive; and really, there's no time like the present for something that physically demanding. In the end, it was a "why not" type decision. That being said, I want to sign up for at least one other race as I'm training for the full...it'll most likely be a half marathon or 10 miler.

I wanted to start volunteering at a food-related organization by March. It's May and this hasn't happened, but not from lack of trying! In dream life, I'd not only have volunteered with a food-related organization but I'd be working for them by now. I'm hoping that perseverance will prevail :)

Attention: BLOG REDESIGN TEASER

Blogging-wise, I've been slowly and steadily working to improve and redesign my blog (behind the scenes). It's hard putting a deadline on something like this because I don't want to rush it and end up with something I don't totally love. Maybe in a few more months you'll see some changes! I also have my eye on Mixed Con as far as a blogging conference goes. It's in November at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia. Not only is the location is ideal, but the focus is food and seemed to be a more intimate setting than other conferences out there.

The remaining goals are easy to discuss: 

Take a photography class --> Hasn't happened due to lack of funds and time (and fairly low on my list of priorities). I got a new camera for Christmas and have been trying to teach myself some basics in the meantime. Can you tell at all? :-P

Go to church at least once a month --> Hasn't happened (again). Probably needless to say: I'm a little disappointed in myself.

Travel to one city I've never been --> Hasn't happened due to lack of funds and time. If only I could just quit work to travel and bake for the rest of my life. Although not technically "new", I did return and eat my way through Asheville, NC for a long weekend in March. It felt like a new place, considering my first visit was super speedy. Here's my review of Asheville's breakfasts and dinners, etc.

Donate blood --> Hasn't happened and I should probably do this before marathon training officially starts! I have, however, done my fair share of [clumsiness-induced] bleeding AND I got my first stitches this year! (Bleeding below and stitches were separate incidents. Wahhhh. Also: guilty of tossing this image in the post because I thought it needed more visuals.)

What have you done in 2013? Any ideas on how I can achieve my remaining goals?