We're nearly three weeks into the new year and I have now realized I haven't treated you, dear reader, to any ramblings in over a month... Consider this your Christmas present...
The Christmas break was both pleasant and miserable... Mom fractured her arm on Christmas morning, which made things pretty tense in the Aurich household... I managed to keep up with workouts pretty well while I was home, but the stress of having to pull my own weight while at home was pretty tough... Yes, I'm aware that this makes me sound like a total princess (and I won't deny that)... Regardless, I tried to use the break to get back to consistent training, and, to some degree, I was successful...
This is the time of year that people flock to the gym, resolving to get in shape, eat better, spend more time with friends/family, read more, manage their money better... all that shit... And yes, I have been that person who has done all of those things in the past, and failed miserably! Over the past few years though, I quit making resolutions and starting making a yearly "to-do" list-- more of a collection of thoughts and goals that I can reference throughout the year to remind myself not to take things too seriously.... Cause when I start taking things too seriously, that's when things start to unravel (for examples of this, read every triathlon related post from the past year!)
Inevitably, my list grows shorter and shorter year after year... I guess this is a function of me being able to weave the list into the very fabric of everyday life, at which point, the list becomes more of who I am than what I think I should be doing... For example, years ago, I listed "Spend more time with the Lord" as an item on my list... I did so during that year and definitely saw results, both in my personal and professional lives... I've also listed "Lead a healthier, more active lifestyle", which in the past I have failed at many times... But since 2009 and the entry of triathlon and endurance sports in my life, leading that lifestyle has become a part of who I am...
What I've learned I suppose, is that I am not some list to be managed month after month... I wrote a song many years ago that alluded to the unique position that I am, working in Higher Ed... It's called "Two starts to the year, two slates to wipe clean" and although it's an instrumental tune (as most of my compositions are), it sort of follows the idea that January 1st is always a time to make resolutions, or wipe the slate clean... Then the beginning of the school year, at least for me, is that time where I can start over if I've muffed the first set of resolutions... I can start over, and no one knows it but me...
I don't really consider 2012 a "starting over" year for me... In fact, far from it... I'm proclaiming that 2012 will be a "building" year for me... A year of construction and renovation, personally and professionally, that will set me up for years to come... Over the past couple of weeks, I've tried to spend some time thinking about what I'd like to accomplish this year, and the list is pretty short... Some of it is related to triathlon, some of it isn't, but it's all relevant to my health and happiness...
As of now, here's the short list:
1. Finish my dissertation: Clearly, this will probably be the biggest accomplishment for me in 2012... The next 8 or so weeks will surely test me in every way imaginable-- physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually... But with a 3 week break on my side, I'm hoping that the process proves to be manageable... I've also got some great people in my corner that I anticipate leaning heavily on to help keep me sane!
2. Find a job: I should add "and not compromise" to this... I sold myself way short when I took my first job out of my Masters' program, and I am all out committed to NOT allowing myself to do it again... This is somewhat of a sore spot with me and my parents, because our views differ a bit on the quality of the job/experience... Dad says, "Some job is better than no job", and while I agree, "some" job is going to have to meet some pretty high standards for me... I will not compromise on location of my next job- I did that once and it had horrible consequences... Like location, I don't want to have to compromise on the existence of an endurance sports/triathlon community wherever I live next... I've come to love Tuscaloosa for its swimming, biking, and running communities and the endless opportunities for training... I want that in my next town, and don't want to have to go without...
The actual job itself is also under some scrutiny... Between you and me, dear reader, I don't know what I want to do once my time here in Ttown is done... Sure, I have some lofty ideas, but at this point, they're just that- lofty... I'm not opposed to full time faculty life, but it has to be the "right" job at the "right" school for me to take that route... Ideally, I'd be able to work in Student Affairs again, doing Academic Integrity related work... This spring will be a big test of my faith in the Lord that He will provide- He brought me to Tuscaloosa and has taught me that He'll do His part if I do mine, so I am trusting in that this will hold true when it comes to the job search.
3. Enjoy triathlon again: I should add "and not worry about being fast" to this one... last season, my ambition far exceeded my talent, and it showed... big time... this year, I'm taking a different approach... I've talked to Kendrick and told him that in order for me to enjoy this again, I have to admit that I simply cannot train and race effectively in the heat... That being said, I have decided to focus mostly (if not solely) on sprint distance races during the upcoming season... Since most sprints start at 7 or 7:30, and I'm done no later than 9, the weather (fingers crossed) shouldn't be too much of a factor in my performance... Sure, I know it'll still suck to train and race in the heat, but after falling so short of racing goals this past year, I'm actually looking forward to focusing on shorter races... I feel like I'd have a better shot at improving my times at these shorter distances and who knows, maybe finally making it onto the podium in the Clydes division... I know I've said this for years, but this time, it's different... I'm merely going to try to ENJOY what I'm doing and honestly feel that if I do that, the speed and great race times will follow... I know that it's only January 16th, and there's A LOT of time to go in the year, but though several conversations with Kendrick (and Chad and Hallie), I feel more comfortable about who I am as a triathlete... Sure, I'd love to be able to compete at the Olympic distance, but right now, it's just not happening... So, I'm excited to see where this season goes and what I can do when I'm being honest with myself about my limitations...
4. Confront the diet/nutrition issue: yeah yeah, I know... everyone says this... but I'm already trying to do what I can to manage this... I'm now using an app for the iPhone called "LoseIt", that John Fell used to drop weight before Kona this past year, and it's already exposing some HUGE faults in my day to day food choices... I'm not saying that this app will be the magic cure for my size (in fact, I'll never be a six pack havin, shirt off while runnin type of guy, which I'm ok with), but it is stating to hold me accountable for food choices and has shown me how off my previous thinking about my diet really was...
I have enlisted the aid of my friend Deb, who is in the Ph.D. program in Kinesiology, as my "unofficial" sports nutritionist... I helped her pass our stats class last fall, and in return, she agreed to work with me to nail down my day to day diet and more importantly (to me at least) my nutrition while training... Simply put, I cannot have another season like last season... the sheer stupidity I displayed towards nutrition during training and racing was the stuff of legend... As in, it could have been used as examples of what NOT to do... I'm optimistic though, that with Deb's help, I can address this issue which, I believe, will make training and racing fun again...
Other than these 4 items, there isn't much on my plate that I think I need to address or set as a goal in 2012... There are some other things in the works right now that I will refrain from posting in case they go South or don't materialize... No need in putting the cart before the horse, right?
Overall, I am excited to launch into 2012 with the attitude I have right now... Things are looking good for me, and hopefully for those around me... Life's not all about triathlon or training and racing... In fact, I'm starting to buy into the idea that if your "non triathlon" life isn't in order, it will no doubt impact your triathlon life...
Here's to getting both on track in 2012...
I am the New Year...
Thanks for reading...
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