This page was last updated December 15, 2006

While I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions, I do believe in setting goals and personal challenges. Why don't I believe in resolutions? Because they are finite. We set them. We break them. We forget them. Goals, on the other hand, are something to work towards. When we make a mistake it's just one more step in reaching the goal...a learning experience, if you will.

So below are my personal challenges for the year 2005. I'd love to hear yours!

Food related goals

Replace carby snacks with fruits and vegetables.
Reduce refined sugars
Stop eating when no longer hungry
Develop a training diet

Exercise related goals

Run every day of the year a minimum of one mile. Will be adjusted if I have to go into the hospital or for pancreatitis bouts.
Complete at least three triathlons and at least one must be an Olympic length.
Consider a half iron man. That's all I will commit to. Considering. I've always felt that people who intentionally do ironman triathlons were a little bit crazy.
At least one marathon. At least two half marathons.
At least 24 races...with a "sky high" goal of 50. That's two-four a month.
Improve my weight lifting so that I'm lifting at least three times a week and have some actual feminine bulk on my arms and legs.

Relationship Related Goals

Friday night date night; no computers, no other plans (except the occasional school related item). Just the two of us.
Celebrate every 20th of every month

Personal Goals

Work on my negative thinking about other people. Every time I have a negative thought, turn it into a positive.
Take my Network+ test
Develop at least one new hobby or interest
Scrapbook all my pictures

Updates on August 14, 2005

• Food: I have replaced some carby snacks, but realized that a lot of times I was eating those snacks after or before a workout. That's when I need carbohydrates the most. So my goal is to really make sure I'm eating those snacks specifically FOR workouts, and not just to nosh on.
• I have run over 1000 miles so far this year. Haven't missed a single day!
• I have decided to put off the Oly length triathlon and am instead training for another marathon. I will still do Danskin (a week from today).
• Relationship is going strong! We put in a game room in our new house for Friday night date night. We celebrate the 20th every month.
• I am working on Network+ and plan to take it and my CCNA before the end of the school year.
• Don't ask about scrapbooking. With a new job and a new house, that one has had to go by the wayside.

December 2006 Updates!

• I did manage to run every day in 2005, but in 2006 I had a severe bout of Pancreatitis that kept me in bed one day. So in 2006 I have run all but TWO days. I am actively taking a rest day each week from now on because honestly, it's better for my body.
• I have cut down on refined sugars. I've been seeing a Sports Nutritionist and together we've tweaked my diet to be much healthier.
• I did only one triathlon in 2006, but I'm aiming for more in 2007 and have even hired a swim coach with the elusive "Half ironman" in mind.
• I'm not sure how many races I ran, but I know I did a lot of them! I've run five marathons and am registered for an ultra marathon in March 2007 and the Rock and Roll Marathon in June 2007.
• I have developed a training diet.
• Relationship goals have been pretty good. Friday night is date night, and we do celebrate the 20th of every month.
• Personal goals haven't gone as well. I didn't take either CCNA nor Network+. It's just hard to motivate myself to study when I have so many other higher priority things. I have been doing more digital scrapbooking, and then emailing the pages to family. That seems to work best for me.
• My new interest would be kayaking. I'm also taking ski lessons in January!

I haven't thought too much about 2007 yet, beyond the races I've signed up for. I know I'll do my first ultra marathon. I also know I'm going to conquer my swim fear, and do the Seattle to Portland bike ride. Beyond that, I'm not sure yet!