2015: The Year of Awesome

Also known as the annual goals and resolutions post!

If I've learned anything over the last few years, it's that I think I set my goals too high. Granted, I don't think I set them out of the realm of achievablity (did i make that up? i think i did ...), mind you, but as I mentioned this past fall, I fear success, and think I subconsciously self-sabotage.

Therefore, the number one, above all else goal this year is the following: 

Embrace my inner awesome.

(yes, that gets bolded, giant-sized font, italicized AND underlined.)

I don't think I do that. I don't give myself enough credit. I am my harshest critic and no one (except for maybe my brother) can put me down more than I can.

And really, I'm the only person who can change the above. So that's what I want to do this year. Be more awesome.

That being said, I do have a few other goals related to the purpose of this here triathlon/fitness/whatever blog ... ones that I came up with randomly back in July when I was dreading the rest of the year.

They are:
Ride 5000 miles.
Swim 250,000 meters.
Run 500 miles.

Yep, that's a lot. It will take a hell of a commitment on my part (well, both our parts, really - Brandon's in on this ... except for swimming. He's only going for 175k thanks to his job and also because he doesn't need the work as much as I do), but I'm excited to do it. I'm five days in and so far, so good.

We've mentioned those numbers to several people close to us; some people think we're going to fail, and fail horribly and others think we'll be able to do it no problem. I think it won't be easy, but I'm willing to try a sheer volume goal as opposed to time goals in races - a "goal is in the journey" type of thing, I guess.

There's another reason for wanting to put in this massive amount of volume this year and for us scheduling two 70.3s a month apart ... we're trying to set ourselves up well for next year.

That's right, we're already planning 2016 'round these here parts.

If you look back at 2013s numbers, they were enough to get us through Ironman, but let's be honest - we were way undercooked going into IMAZ. Particularly me, and particularly on the bike.

2016 is going to mark our fifth year of marriage and, if the trend/weekend holds, Ironman Chattanooga will fall on our fifth anniversary. I've already told Brandon that racing an IM on our anniversary is how I want to celebrate, and he's all for it.

And I'm still not sure how it happened, but the idea of also racing IM Boulder that year popped into our heads ... which, if we did it, would mean two 140.6 races six to seven weeks apart. It would be difficult, but not impossible - we saw our friend Ann do it this year and rock BOTH races (although Ann is also a freak of nature, so you know) - third overall female at IMMaryland and then followed it up with another third overall female at Beach2Battleship.

So yes. Tons of mileage this year and closely-raced 70.3s to build a solid foundation going into the double Ironman year of 2016.

If you think we can do it, great! Encourage us! Come train with us! (with that many bike miles, we'll need some company ...)

If you don't? Well, screw you; I don't want your negative energy harshing my awesome.

Here's to a great year!