As I mentioned in my last post I won’t be ramping up training for my next marathon until January meaning that for the next 7 weeks I will have a huge block of time each Saturday (or Sunday) morning now that I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn for a daunting long run. Having run 17 races this year, and with all the traveling I’ve done, I have definitely let a lot of things fall to the bottom of the priority list. Here are 10 things I plan on conquering:

1. Clean out cabinets and closets: My tupperware runneth over, my clothing runneth over….heck everything runneth over

2. Read! I have 2 great books to start reading and I’m 2 issues behind on Runner’s World and Fitness magazines

3. Create a plan for cross training and strength training for 2014: Since I HATE to strength train and I tend to let cross training become less important than running I want to focus on these and come up with a surefire way to keep up with this for 2014. Any advice would be appreciated. Right now these have been collecting dust in my living room. #fail

4. Print and frame some photos: Now that I’ve given MarathonFoto a million dollars, I’ve got all these great photos I’d like to frame.

5. Enjoy some creative outlets! I’m a creative person. A graphic designer by day and I moonlight every now and again as a photographer. It’s great. But it’s always for someone else’s benefit. This time of year I get to work on my annual holiday card. I’ve already got the idea for it. I just need to do a little photo shoot. These are a few of my past cards…

I also might just grab a sketchpad and a go sit in the park and draw. I’m also planning on re-painting all the rooms in my house so there will be a trip to the paint store for sure. AHHHH! I love paint chip cards.

6. Cook and bake! I hardly ever cook but when the weather gets colder I get the urge to make pies and quiches.

7. Plan a hike with the hound! It’s been a while since we did a full fledged hike. Now that the temps have dipped below freezing the ticks and other buggers won’t be an issue.

8. Get into the holiday spirit! The season creeps up so fast each year and sometimes I’m just too tired to deal. But I am looking forward to spending a weekend morning sipping peppermint mocha, hanging some twinkly lights and playing my favorite holiday songs. And there WILL be this one organized run. Each year my friends and I go for a very relaxed run through NYC stopping to see the tree at Rockafeller and all the fancy department store windows.

9. Clean out/organize and back up computers. No picture necessary. This is just a necessary evil!

10. Celebrate! I worked hard this year training for so many races. I don’t have a tally just yet but I’ve logged well over 1,300 miles. There were plenty of nights I went to bed early while everyone else was out partying so I could be up at 5am to run. With Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas coming I am going to enjoy some real celebratory weekend hours. Maybe go for a manicure or meet friends for brunch. Mimosa anyone?

So there you have it! I’ll be very busy during my “off” season.

Question: Do you have any other ideas to add? Especially in helping me find the love for strength and cross training. I’ll make you a quiche!