I'm a rule follower, I like rules.

So my yearly mileage total was not as good as I had hoped. Just about 100 miles less than last year. Not really pleased about that, so in an effort to alleviate a repeat of that disappointing performance, I am off and running again in the new year.

To start with I have set a goal to run one race a month and have February thru September decided on. I did complete 3-1/2 marathons last year which was a record for me. I'll give myself a little credit for that, still have not PRd in that particular distance so that is another goal for this year. The schedule so far consists of 4-10K, 1-15K and 2-1/2 marathons. August's race is still up in the air because we will be taking my oldest to start college in August so I'm looking for a location run.

All of this leads up to why I broke one of my cardinal rules of running on Saturday, which is, 'Don't start a run in the pouring rain'. The problem being, I had already broken the 'No coffee before a workout.' rule, since I was up to transport my daughter to practice on one of the few days I could have slept in and I was planning on running later in the day I decided to stop for my new favorite coffee, Americano with whip cream.

Ok, you coffee purists please climb down off your high horses here. I know what your thinking. Probably what the Barista in Amsterdam was thinking when I ordered this summer and was European enough to just come right out and say, 'WHIP CREAM?! On AMERICANO????'. Yes! I say, just the right amount of sweet and cream without a lot of other junk. Anyway - Since it was so early in the day I was also breaking the 'No coffee before having a least a liter of water.' rule.

Now this may seem like a lot of rules and regulations to you, I am however a rule follower unless of course I am not fully on board with the spirit of the rule then I do believe that they are guidelines and therefore open to interpretation. So if you are sensible and possess some good old fashioned horse sense, which frankly I find to be greatly lacking among the general population, you should fair well.

This leads us to the fact that even though it was pouring rain I really had to get the run in to even out my exercise karma, and as an added bonus I was observing the 'Work exercise into the family schedule.' rule by running to my youngest sons basketball game and meeting them there.

This may still sound crazy to you, I'll own that! Its gotten me this far though at my goal weight for 41/2 years after loosing 53 lbs.  I say -  have said - may times there in no need to re-invent the wheel. If I am motivated by all this crazy stuff, well I should just keep up the good work!

In the end I was blessed by the exercise gods and the rain let up, there was even some sun! See? A healthy respect for the superstitions of life will pay off in the end.