Random Rantings |

As each new year dawns, my mind is brought to think about a new beginning, a new start. I supposed I am not alone in this as the most common thing to do upon the new year is to make resolutions. I think psychologically that we look at the new year as a way to reset ourselves. It allows us to say to ourselves, that all our failures and mistakes over the last year do not matter and we will start fresh, start anew. For those that embrace this belief, it gives hope that things can change, that our life is not as miserable as we think because we can change it, starting now. Ironically, most people fail to actually change anything about their lives over the coming year. I guess it is the hope that is the important thing.

For me, this new beginning is always more poignant as I get depressed during the holiday time. Yes I admit that I am one of those people that get depressed at Christmas. Now understand, I do not get so depressed that I begin to think of thoughts of ending it all, but the depression does put me in the frame of mind to take a hard long look at my life. A few years ago, I hit the dreaded Mid Life Crisis (yes I am old enough to appreciate the movie ‘Lost In Translation’). Now, I didn’t get the ‘Divorce your wife, get a sports car and a 20 year old blond’ version of that affliction. No, instead I got the ‘make a list of things you want to do in your life’ variant. (This version of the crisis was much more appealing to my wife.) After I made the list, I went back in figured out why each item was on the list and it was very eye opening about myself (but that is another blog entry). Two years ago, I began working on that list. The first two items kind of went hand in hand: get back into shape (ie, lose 130 pounds) and participate in some endurance event. For the weight lose, I started with Weight Watchers, mainly because I was traveling for work and they didn’t require me to each special food that I would have to take with me. In that year I managed to lose 70 pounds. For my endurance event, my thought was to do some long distance bicycle race. Running a foot race was the last thing on my mind as I did not like running. Well, when you are travelling all the time, it become problematic to haul around a bicycle with you to train with. Most hotels have an exercise room (and the elliptical equipment is almost always busy), so I started using the treadmill. As it turned out, the project I was one, many of my co-workers were marathon runners. including the guy that was sitting next to me. In fact, he could be called a marathon maniac. However, the title of maniac implies someone that eats, drinks, breaths and thinks only marathons and that is not this guy. Although he as run over 27 marathons in his life (and a could of ultra marathons), he had the best attitude about marathon running. If you look at books and magazines on running marathons, they all talk about running faster, like that is all that matters in a marathon. This guy’s attitude was not about running the fasted marathon, it was about just finishing the marathon and having fun doing. He was (and is) a great coach and I am proud to say a dear friend. With his help, I managed to run a 1/2 marathon that same year. This last year, I managed to run another 1/2 marathon in the spring before I hurt my foot and was forced off my feet. As for my weight loss, that has stalled over the last year. So, that is where I am at today, with two of my life goals being 1/2 done and I am not happy about it.

I think the key for anyone in meeting a goal is to understand what motivates you. What makes you do something. For me, I am a deadline kind of person. If I make a date to reach a goal, then I will work hard to make that goal (especially if there is money involved like spending money for admission for a marathon). Now, believe it or not, you do NOT have to be in shape to run a marathon (not if your only goal is to finish). However, since losing the weight is another goal and the two go so well together, those are my goals (resolutions?) for this year. Of course, if I am going to make it, then I need to set a deadline. And that deadline is May 15. That is when the Famous Idaho Potato Marathon is. It is a local marathon (so I get to sleep in my own bed) and I did the 1/2 marathon last year. I have 18 weeks till the big race.

Today is Thanksgiving (here in the US). I don’t have a recipe to post today because my wife cooks both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. (Yes we both cook, but she really enjoys cooking for these occasions.) Do due medical reasons, my wife and I were not able to eat with my family this year, so [...]