Time to start fresh

I am not really going to get into the whole New Year’s resolution thing, but with 2010 on the horizon, I will look at January 1st as a symbolic starting point.

As I said last week, I put the whole weight loss challenge on the back burner for the holidays – way too much great food and drink to pass up. Plus, I think that chillin’ with friends and family takes priority over any training or racing goals. You can’t do too much damage in 1-2 weeks can you? Actually, I have. But that was on a one-week cruise vacation. I believe it was 20-25 pounds. Quite scary, but I took pleasure in trying to gain as much weight as possible. And I worked out every day for at least one hour on the ship.

Those days are long over because I know how much hard work it takes to lose those pounds. No more intentional and recreational weight gain for me. I will start re-start my assault on the 20lb Challenge on January 1st. If you also need to shed a few pounds (it surely doesn’t have to be 20), then maybe some of you will join me.

I will kick things off by participating in the Markham Running Room’s Resolution Run on New Year’s Day. I definitely would have been sleeping in that morning so this serves as the perfect lure to get me out of bed. They even give you a snazzy jacket too! It should be fun.

Finally, I just want to send a few quick thank you’s to some people and organizations that made this year my best ever.

In no particular order: My wife, family and friends (you Markham Tri crew dudes have taken things to a whole new level), Running Free (great store, great support, even better owners), John Salt & MultiSport Canada (the best race series period), Kevin Mackinnon (Triathlon Magazine Canada & Ironman.com) – huge influence and truly a super guy, Tony at Physiobility (got me back to racing after my Achilles surgery), Acid Zapper (give it a try it really works), Mike Cheliak – I don’t know what possessed you to give me this forum to spew my thoughts but I certainly appreciate it, and of course all of you that pay this column a visit each week. I hope I do provide some entertainment, insight, and a bit of usefulness from time to time.

I raise my glass/water bottle with you to an awesome 2010.

May you achieve all your goals.

Roger