Oh, How I LOVE GU. Let Me Count the Ways...

I love thee for the depth and breadth and height of energy
My body can reach, when racing out of sight of my competitors.
For the ends of training and racing against the clock, and my age group.
I love thee to the energy levels you give for every day's training's
Most quiet needs of swimming, cycling or running, by sun or moon light.
I love thee freely in gel form, as I strive to perform my best;
I love thee purely in my water bottle as I compete.
I love thee with the passion put to use in my old gel flasks,
And with my childhood's faith that you make me faster.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my long runs.
I love thee with the breath between swim strokes, Smiling cyclists I pass,
And my silent tears as I left it all on the run, all my life!
And, if God choose;
I shall but love thee better after a race, win or lose.

New Years Resolution - New Training Goals Ahead

Jordan and I are finishing up a 10 day trip that started in Houston, then went to Dallas, and now has us flying back to Atlanta. It has been a quick trip to see family and friends and it has made me appreciate the good health and wonderful lives we have both been blessed with.

As the new year approaches, I am thinking of all the training and racing goals I had planned for in 2009. Most of them were thwarted by our busy lives with work and getting married. At the time, I found myself trying to make up for those missed goals by over training or racing when I just wasn't ready. Consequently I ended up hurting myself more than helping due to sickness and injury.

This year, I am still planning some aggressive goals. They will include things like healthy eating, consistent training, and well thought out races that make sense to do over the course of the year. I will likely do a marathon or two and getting back into triathlon racing is not out of the question.

One constant reminder will be that if things don't go as planned I should not freak out and try to make up for lost time. I love training and I love racing, but I also love just being healthy so if that is all I get out of this, I should still be thankful.

I will have my resolutions on this blog by the first day of the New Year. The plan will be set, and I'm looking forward to trying to follow that plan as closely as I can for health and happiness. And if by chance my resolutions fall apart, I'll remember to stay positive and not to freak out by training 2 or 3 times a day to make up for any perceived lost time!

A missed run in Boston

The weather in Boston was a chilly 20 degrees this morning with a wind chill of 7. I decided not to take to the streets since my colleagues and I spent a good bit of time in a pub last night. This trip was more for a celebration then really an opportunity to train in the cold weather but I do admit I feel like I missed out not running around the water this morning.

Not sure when I'm going to get back up to Boston. My Boston marathon qualifying time is now 3:15 since I'm a bit older then I was last year. So the marathon idea is still on. ING Georgia Marathon and then maybe another marathon in April. Good long runs would make for a great foundation for racing next season so the good out weighs the pain an suffering that will go into the training that will need to go into getting me ready for March 21st.

Looking forward to heading back to Atlanta and getting some miles in before Monday. Long slow miles will be the theme for a while. Might try getting some long distance swims in as well to keep the body healthy for next year.