Forward....

It's little secret that I've not really "trained" since finishing Ironman CdA. We could attribute that to allllll sorts of things... but let's just leave it at, "I didn't feel like it", shall we? Ok. Good.

I haven't been COMPLETELY inactive. I've done quite a bit of yoga and core work plus a bit of running and a tidbit of swimming. I think I got on my bike once.... but I'm not entirely sure. Guess what's happened? No... I didn't turn into a fat lardo... I totally wasted away! Ok. That's a bit dramatic, but let me explain. I've always been a skinny bastard. I mean.... I've never been accused of being "chubby". Usually... if and when I'm not training, or if I'm training lightly... I'll weigh a comfy 162 to 165 lbs. That's probably still pretty light for a guy my height but its a weight that's healthy and strong. I weighed myself yesterday at the gym... and I'm a

WHOPPING 155 lbs... naked... dripping wet. That's NOT good. Basically what's happened is that all of the muscle I gained in my ass, shoulders, and chest during training has wasted away. Don't laugh... I know you're all going, "What ass... you never HAD an ass!". Well... I assure you... I did... and it was super cute. Anyway, I digress. So this is what happens to Rob when he doesn't train and is under a significant amount of stress.

What's the good news? The good news is that I'm heading into a new year with tons of potential!

Here's the thing... we all tell ourselves stories. In our own heads we carefully construct elaborate narratives about our lives going forward. More times than not, those stories aren't necessarily true. All you have is a general outline... and the story just happens as you move forward right? So you have a choice in the story you're telling yourself. Actually, you can choose to NOT tell yourself a story at all... you can choose to stay in the moment and let the story happen. WAY easier said than done. We're all kind of meticulous. We're planners. I'm not quite sure how it works... the whole "stay in the moment" thing... when you have all this stuff in front of you... that you have to think about... but you're not supposed to and if you spend too much time on what's ahead of you... then you miss what's in front of you... yeah... ok.... huh?what?

where was I? Oh! Yeah... stories. My story, going forward, has been F'ed up. I've grown tired of the story I've been telling myself for the last 2 years. It's old... tired... bogged down... tedious... pretty freakin sad, and to be blunt, bullshit. I'm changing that story.

2010 is going to be an interesting year. I've made tentative plans about training and racing. Base training has begun... as of yesterday... and I have the stiffness to prove it. I plan on going coach-less for a little while... rebuild my base on my own... then have the fine-tuning handled by a professional. Racing... I've got some ideas: Boise?, Vineman? (wait-listed), Calgary?, Lake Stevens? All or none of that might happen. I'll be taking a trip up to Coeur D'Alene and Canada to spectate and Wisconsin to spectate and very likely sign up to race in 2011... like I said, I have unfinished business with the full iron distance.

So there's my 2010 triathlon story outline! Pretty excited to get started! Rob does better while training.

Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole. Enjoy the rest of the holidays!

Breathe...

Evolution.

I looked up the actual definition of the word the other day. I kinda thought that I knew exactly what it meant... but it turns out that there are a number of definitions. I think I like this one the best tho:

"A motion incomplete in itself, but combining with coordinated motions to produce a single action."

What I like about this particular definition... is that it implies that there is no end... and its never alone. It takes OTHER motions to coordinate WITH it to produce something. In other words, you never stop evolving... and you don't do it by yourself! How great is THAT? I mean really... think about it. We all stagnate at times... it's inevitable... but while you may appear still on the outside... your brain can be chewing on something... working it out... mulling it over and over until you find a direction... and then? Zip... you're off... in motion... trying that heading out... seeing where it takes you... which is ultimately, onto the next thing... right? AND its always combined WITH something else... or someone else! It never stops. To some that might be unsettling. We're always trying to arrive somewhere. We have goals, destinations, decisions... but there's always the next step to take. Like a decision. "I have decided that I am going to do..." whatever. Well? Ok. Now what? See? The decision is NOT the endpoint... its the beginning. That is just SO cool.

Who's with me?

Thank you for taking the time to read. Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

Breathe...