Winter Wonderings and New Year's Resolutions

Happy 2011!  I hope the holiday season treated you as well as it treated me.  After spending a few months wondering how I ended up on someone's naughty list, I am happy to say 2010 ended with me counting my many blessings. 

The last two weeks of vacation have been marvelous and I have savored each day.   It's great to spend time with family and friends but there's nothing like winter break to completely de-con-tract.  No alarm clocks, no classes,  no tests, no lunch lady.  Forget the ties, forget shaving, I've worn a single pair of cargo pants for 16 days straight.  Awesome.  When I did try to clean up a bit and give myself a haircut I forgot to put on the plastic #1 attachment and I gave myself a true buzz cut.  Frickin' Full Metal Jacket.  I don't think my wife has ever laughed so hard.  These are the days.

As usual, I watched too much TV but somewhere in those lost hours in front of the boob tube I found my first New Year's resolution. 

Over the hill?  No, more like top of my game. 

It came in the form of Wes Anderson's The Fantastic Mr. Fox, an inspirational reminder that you're never too old to dream the impossible dream, along as you have a plan, or two, or three . . .

Christmas came and I actually got what I really wanted: running gear.  And even when I did receive the occasional hideous sweater this year , I took it back to the store for credit to get what I really wanted: more running gear.  Who cares if the compression socks make me look ridiculous?  Who cares if a bare dome doesn't suit my facial features?  I'm rebuilding myself for one sole purpose:  I'm going the distance; I'm going for speed.  Gear up!




Resolution#2: Bring the right gear . . . and your game face!

 And more important than gear is attitude.  It seems like I ran every day during the break no matter the time or the weather.  If anything, I relished the rain, I plowed through puddles and I whistled through the wind.  This is my favorite time of year to run because it's just so exhilarating, so rejuvenating.  While everything around goes dark and silent in December, I feel reborn.   The roads belong to me alone and I'm alive.   I think Winter has become my Spring.  Resolution #3: Don't forget to savor every mile of it.  The clock is always ticking and whether it's a bad race, a personal best or maybe even my last lap, I'm going to enjoy my run.

 

Don't worry about the horizon . . . it's just the Winter Solstice

 

So I've got my plan A, got my gear and got my goofy smile.  What are your New Year resolutions?  Feel free to add a comment and share your resolution.  It doesn't have to be running-related or some pathetic metaphor for life..  Posting it makes it that more likely to come true and don't forget that each month I'll have a lottery to give out a gift card to anyone who comments on a blog or becomes a follower.  I'll also enter anyone who is willing to donate to the Lodi High Track & Field fund.  I don't mind running in the mud but our local athletes deserve better.    

Year-round dedication in tough conditions

 

Next week, stay tuned for the first 2011 race reports:

Crystal Springs and the Cal-10.