Consequences

To those folks getting ready to jot down your 2014 New Years Resolution such as

• "FINISH A (enter choice triathlon/race here ->) _______" 
• "COMPLETE IM # ____"
• Run a 5k

be careful.  There are a ton of consequences that you will have to deal with once you start down this path.

...here are some of the ones I've run into in no particular order...

friends...You'll meet some really good folks.  The triathlon community has become some of my best friends.  The majority of people in the triathlon/running world are very TRUE and KIND.  You will actually WANT to get up at 5 am to spend the whole day with them on the bike.

weight loss...it took me 3 IM's before I figured out the secret of weight loss during all the hours of training and if you do it right, you'll loose some of those pesky lbs...bummer, I know.  Trash in = trash out.  Feed to fuel.

passion...More than likely you'll develop a sense of passion for sport.  It's what lights the fire in your belly when that pesky alarm blares at you at 4:30 am M-S.  It's a common thread that unites us as athletes.  You may not even be able to describe this devotion to your training and racing.  Feeling something stronger than just day to day living is pretty incredible.

confidence..."i cannot believe I just did that...I just took my body across 140.6 miles, self propelled"...I often say this when I finish a race. What else can I accomplish?  "'Belief in one's abilities to perform an activity comes through successful experience and may add to, or consolidate, a general sense of self-confidence."  **Studies have also found a link between high levels of confidence and wages. Terrible, right?

It's pretty powerful stuff, this journey to YOUR finish line.  I wish everyone a successful 2014, no matter your sport/hobby of choice.

DREAM BIG

“Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.” – Peter McWilliams
 

 “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Anonymous
 

 “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

2012 Goals - A List

Remember @ Christmas, or your birthday, or graduation when a relative (usually my aunt) would write you a check for the amount of the year?  Like in 1997 I would get a check for $19.97...or was I the only one?!  Well in light of that, here are my top 12 goals for 2012 (in no particular order and subject to change).

12 - open 1/2 marathon PR
11 - complete a 50k trail race (i.e. long slow run)
10 - loose those pesky 15 lbs
9 - PR @ IMAZ (sub 11 - 10:30 preferred)
8 - MASTERS 5:30 a.m. M/W/F/and sometimes S
7 - train everyday with purpose (this includes rest days)
6 - volunteer @ races (@ least 2-3)
5 - when faced with a decision to train or socialize with wine, choose training every time...then have some (a little) wine
4 - blog on a regular basis (i.e. more than 1-2/year)
3 - get the remodeling projects done @ the house
2 - balance life, love, family, friends
1 - get better goals for 2013

Mark Twain
New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

Happy New Year!  May all your goals and resolutions be fulfilled in 2012!