January Challenges

I LOVE challenge calendars! You know the ones I mean! Someone, usually from a blog or a Facebook page, picks a body part to focus on, and challenges you to work it every day for one month. I love the motivation, the support, and the challenge!
Being that I gained about 8 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's, which I swore I wouldn't do, I went a little overboard on the challenges for January!

14 in 2014 is actually a year long challenge, but I will complete my first Half Marathon in January next week, during Marathon Weekend!

Check it out here!

 This is another long challenge, that started in December, with a goal to run 100 miles by February 28. I am almost halfway there, and after Dopey, I will be almost finished!

 This challenge is through Goodreads, and you can choose any number of books as your goal. When you check the site, it will tell you how close you are to completion, and how far you have to go. I am more than halfway through my first book now! This is also a year long challenge! I need to read a book every 10 days, I figure, to get it done!

 Another challenge hosted by Jill Conyers, this one involves your diet. Jill is going gluten free, I am aiming a little lower! I have the worst time getting in my freggies so I made that my goal for January. At least 5 a day! I got 6 in yesterday, wooohooo!

The gals who created the Race Addict app got together with Girls Run the 901 to make this awesome challenge to get your heart rate pumping in January! SO easy to do, I plan to do these while I watch my shows at night, along with the next challenge:

These are, by far, my favorite and most often used calendars! The ladies at Shrinking Jeans put one out every month, and all of their calendars are posted on their website, so you can go back and choose an older one if you want!

Run With Jess is hosting this FREE challenge, which challenges you to run  between January 6 and March 2. You choose your level, which determines your mileage.

Beginner: 10 miles each week

Intermediate: 20 miles each week

Trainer: 30 miles each week

Advanced: 40 miles each week

Ultra: 50 miles each week

I chose beginner, since I will be recovering for part of the month! You can purchase a medal and there are a variety of shirts as well! There are also PRIZES!!! If you hit your  mileage for the week, you are entered to win the prize!

Week 1 (Jan.6-12) - YakTrax
Week 2 (Jan.13-19) - ProCompression Socks
Week 3 (Jan.20-26) - Milestones Jewelry & Apparel
Week 4 (Jan.27-Feb.2) - Heart Rate Monitor Watch **
Week 5 (Feb.3-9) - Fitsok Socks
Week 6 (Feb.10-16) - FlapJacked Protein Pancakes
Week 7 (Feb.17-23) - 110% Compression Socks
Week 8 (Feb.24-Mar.2) - Hydrapak & GU Energy

register here!

Because I have so much to lose in 2014 (about 25 pounds, give or take) I joined a 2 part dietbet challenge. The first round just started, so you can still join! You pay $25 to enter and if you lose 4% of your starting weight in 4 weeks, you get your share of the pot! You can roll it over to the second round,  or keep it! The pot is currently at $11,200 with 448 players! I am super excited about this challenge, I have never made it to the end of one, and I have tried a few times! I made it within one pound last year, One Pound!!! This challenge, I will be victorious! I am down 1/2 pound already ;)

I love this Challenge Loop challenge, by Kat from Katrina Elle. You get to choose your one thing to work on during January. I chose planks, to keep me motivated to get back into #plankaday. From the challenge page:

Deets: We all ended 2013 with a BANG I’m sure and are ready to kick off 2014 with even more UMPH! We all know that good habits aren’t made easily and you can’t FORCE them, that’s for sure! All this challenge aims to do is have you think of JUST 1 THING to change. One habit. One priority. It takes 21 days to build a habit, but just ONE step to start those good habits! No one needs to be perfect to see any fitness results – making substitutions and taking the right steps towards good behaviors will help you progress in a POSITIVE direction!

Here’s some ideas of those 1 THINGS you can change or do:

* Park farther away at work

* Take the stairs instead of the elevator today!

* Stop to do a desk stretch

* Play at a playground for a workout WITH your kids this week

* Plank, don’t worry about time, just PLANK!

* Swap water for all of your beverages today

* Grocery shopping tips

* Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier to get in a quick circuit workout

* Add one group fitness class to your workout schedule

* Swap one sweet treat with a fruit

* Have your wings naked instead of breaded

Get it?!

Tasks:

Use the official hashtag: #JUST1THING on your Instagram / Twitter / Facebook posts throughout the month of January! It’s that simple!

Prizes?

Yes! There WILL be prizes! At the end of the Challenge, those who have entered at least 4 times in the month will be entered in to win FABULOUS PRIZES!

Have I lost you yet? My next challenge is another Challenge Loop Challenge, this one sponsored by Fit Betty.  The challenge is simple. Move.your.butt. Every day. 30 minutes a day. LOVE it! There will be 5 randomly selected prizes throughout the challenge.

Run This Year is a year long challenge to run 2014 miles in 2014. What?? No way will I be running that many miles! BUT

there are options:

Run This Year Challenges:

Challenge 1: Run the year in miles: 2,014 miles in 2014.

Challenge 2: Run the year in kilometers: 2,014 kilometers = 1251.4 miles.

Challenge 3: GYOG! Select your goal and go for it!

I chose option 2. I counted up my planned miles for the year, and they total about 1269 miles. Still nervous? Check out this page with all of the details, including your plan of attack! 

WHEW!

That is a lot of challenges! I will keep you updated on my progress, but not until *after* Disney! I am half packed (my costumes are packed, priorities you know!) and SO ready to go!

What challenges are you taking on this month?