Happy New Year! - 01/03/07

Happy New Year!

OK, so now's the time when I start to really look at my 2007 goals. Not coincidentally, this is the beginning of the new year. While my preparation on 2007 began back in October, I tend to use the new year as the litmus test to re-scrutinize my Plan to see how it is coming along thus far and if it needs any tweaks.

I understand the need for New Year's Resolutions. We just finished off the holiday season where for the past 6 weeks or so, we have been exposed to multiple holidays, holiday parties and countless opportunities to binge on food, drink and junk food. And it's all OK. But, now we've turned the corner and we're ready to cleanse ourselves of our glut and get back on track with our focus. Our motivation has been re-doubled and we are ready to kick butt.

While I understand the whole resolution thing, I don't necessarily get it. I can't remember the last time I actually made a New Year's Resolution. The problem I see with resolutions is that they are unachievable (usually). They tend to be extreme and absolute. "This year, I must lose 30 pounds." Really? Or else what? And, how do you plan to lose those 30 pounds. And, when the first 20 come off fairly easily but the last 10 just aren't cooperating, will you give up or forge ahead realizing that losing 20 is a great accomplishment? And so on.

If you like to make resolutions for the new year, or if you have some things in mind you would like to accomplish, my suggestion would be to use moderation with your goals and expectations. Make your resolutions achievable, even if by achieving them you need to stretch yourself to do it. If your resolutions are out of the realm of reality or if you need to give up a lot of things to make the resolution happen, then the resolution becomes a prison or a punishment, not a goal for which you are excited to strive. If your goal is a drag, then it will just become heaped upon the enormous pile of unmet resolutions. Then, you lose. You don't win. And you're not happy.

Goals and resolutions should be challenging, but not impossible, to achieve. Same goes for your racing and training goals. If you think about it, everything you strive to accomplish is a resolution of sorts. Give yourself enough respect to achieve what is realistic. And give yourself that same respect to say "no" to unrealistic resolutions. They don't do you any good if they only set you up for disappointment and failure.

Here is to a great 2007!

Happy Training,
Nate Llerandi