The new year has come, 2011, still no flying car in the driveway but considering the cost of gas I’m sure I wouldn’t be even be able to make it to work if I had one. To be honest I don’t really care about flying cars… Lasers… I care about lasers. Moslty in regard to when their connected to giant robots, but that’s another blog entirely, much less a post here.
It also has nothing to do with triathlon…. Which is unfortunate.
That said, I’m not one to attempt great change or proclaim grand statements on December 31st at 11:59PM. I think if your going to make a change it can come at any point in the year if you truly want it bad enough. New Years Resolutions are a copout. It’s an easy time to make a resolution, but also a even easier time for your alcohol fueled resolutions to be easily forgotten until January 2nd. Then the easiest bit, simply discarded January 3rd. Retailers know this, all it takes is a quick look at the Sunday paper. I haven’t seen so many treadmills on sale since… well since last January 3rd.
NOTE: A few notes to those just starting out, and trying desperatley to keep with your fitness resolution.
- Make it easy at least at first…
- … in pace (keep it slow to start).
- … in your expectations. If your goal is a marathon put it off a year, wet your feet in something shorter while you build some strength and enduracnce. You’ll stay healthier longer because of it. Think lifestyle change, not run one marathon, then take 5 years off to recover from it.
- … in time and time management. Keeping too rigorous a plan to begin with can often lead to getting discouraged early, then overuse injury, more missed workouts, then giving up.
- … keep it FUN! This is supposed to be enjoyable (READ: not work) Most of us are not getting paid to do this.
- Run outside! Cold weather running gear is a hell of a lot cheaper than any treadmill I saw for sale. Yes I know the cold hurts your delicate sensibilities. Sorry.. toughen up. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. (I know that goes against the prior point, but not everything should be easy)
(Off my soapbox now)
But I have to admit, I am more optimistic about 2011 than I have been in recent years for a number of reasons.
- I’m healthy, no real nagging injuries and I’m not afraid to jinx it by writing it here. (knock-on wood)
- More solid and focused base training is going well, and my fitness is improving with eyes solid spring. (being healthy helps)
- This is the first off-season I’ve had a coach, so I feel someone other than myself, is invested in my progress.
- Because of my coach I’m not blowing out every workout. I’m learning to go hard at the right times and easy when directed.
- The key words in that last statement is “I’m learning…” I think from pros-to-joes endurance sports is a work in progress, never finished and never beyond repair or improvement.
- Finally I’m taking more pleasure in the little things when training. Small bites. Gaining satisfaction from smaller gains as hey come, winter is long I want to race ready in May, not December.
I have some more news coming in the next week or so, so be sure to check back soon or use a news-reader and get updates sent to you in real time. It is 2011 after all, news readers are so 2007. Plus I promise a more ridiculous post as is accustomed here.
