Runner, author and blogger Matt Frazier (of No Meat Athlete) and his sister Christine (of the Better Novel Project) have done a great thing.
Taking the New Year’s resolution idea to another level, the two have established an effort for those looking to make some changes for the better in the year ahead. Which I am — and, specifically, I’m looking to write more and run more. These are two things I’ve admittedly put off time again out of my own anxieties (which, as I elaborate on here, are what I feel cause for so many in life to hold back on doing what they love).
I have frequented Matt’s site and blog since I started running nearly two years ago, and loved his book, No Meat Athlete; while Matt certainly focuses many of his efforts on plant-based eating, he’s also got some great thoughts and tips when it comes to running and changing one’s habits for the better.
And so, enter the #WriteandRun31 challenge.
I stopped short when I saw Matt’s e-newsletter announcing this; it was exactly what I’d been craving. While I write and edit frequently as part of my day job, I’m actually talking here about writing creatively, that is anything in the form of fiction, creative nonfiction (be it blog posts, essays, etc.) and poetry. I personally strive to write more in all of those areas, though primarily fiction and poetry.
Running is something I’ve loved for quite a while, but it took me a long time to give it a serious commitment. I’ve tapered back a bit on it recently, so getting back into it in full form is a welcome challenge. When I started running regularly in the spring of 2013, I kicked things off with the renowned Couch-to-5K plan, and that led me to eventually taking part in three 5Ks, a 4-mile race and a 5-mile race, all within the span of a year (this is not meant as a boast; rather I only mean to tell that small beginning efforts can lead to great things).
If you’re new to running and aren’t sure how to get started, I couldn’t recommend the C25K plan enough. It’s ideal for beginners. And while I’m looking to run a marathon at some point down the road, I know I’m far off from that goal, so I figured this new challenge would be a great start to getting back into the habit; this year I’m hoping to stretch forward into the 10K and possibly half-marathon arenas.
So, I filled out Matt & Christine’s commitment sheet, focusing on completing the following tasks every day for 31 days, starting Saturday, Jan. 3 (I’m a couple days late to the game, but anyone can start anytime; the final day being Monday, Feb. 2):
- At least 10-20 minutes (1-2) miles of running each day
- At least 500 words of writing fiction, poetry or nonfiction each day
If I can do more of that, great, but with a full-time job and family responsibilities, I’m also realistic. My hope with this is not to just do this for a month and stop, but to spawn a snowball effort of good habits, and after Feb. 2 I may look to tweak my running plan and writing practice. I’ve also learned that once you stop, it’s harder to get back in the game, whatever that game is.
I think this is a great project Matt and his sister have established and I’m glad to be apart of it. I’ll be tracking my progress daily on my Twitter feed @MattBPerk, and encourage anyone looking to make some changes in their lives to take part. As Matt clarifies, this does not have to focus on writing and running specifically, so you are clear to make any substitutes you wish.
Here’s to good habits in 2015. Cheers.
