Living bold in February was all about one event: the Moms RUN This Town virtual winter half marathon.  Part of the reason I chose this word (or, really, this word chose me) was that I wanted to have the confidence to chase audacious goals again.  Sure, there are plenty of people who are all “Half marathon?  I eat half marathons for breakfast!” and to you I say, rock ‘n roll.  For me, though, a half marathon is a pretty big achievement and one that I don’t always believe is within my reach.  Well, this month I proved that it is within my reach.  I proved that I’m capable of running 13.1 miles in the ice and snow, and in temperatures dipping down to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.  (Yep, that actually was the RealFeel on the day I ran my half.)

Sometimes I don’t like to talk about running because I feel like I’m too slow to be a “real” runner (and what is that about?  If you run, you’re a runner.  Period.) and in the past, I haven’t always gotten votes of confidence when I share running goals with everyone in my life.  But you know what?  I don’t actually need votes of confidence.  If I learned anything from the winter virtual race, I learned that I do have the ability to put in the work and reach my goals, and that the only person I need to approve of my efforts is ME.  I think that’s pretty darn bold.  And along those lines, I went out on a limb and shared some of my other running goals for the year.  (I do have goals that I like to keep to myself, and obviously I’m not ready to chat about my hopes to run a “big scary dream race” just yet, but I’ll get there sometime soon.  One thing at a time.)

If you chose a word for 2014, how have you been living it this month?