Are we friends? I mean are we friends in the modern odd way that people are friends now? I am of course speaking of the parallel universe that exists just outside the parameters of our very own physical existence….Facebook. If we aren’t we should be and you should also do a wee search on the ol’ Facebook machine for a little page called 100poundsago and you should most definitely click “Like” on that rascal. I threw out a dare right before New Years saying it “Would be rad if 100poundsago could get 100 fans by 2011.” Some folks were added but not even close to 100 so get on it people!
I have a few e-mails in my inbox asking “How was the Polar Rhino Ride?” My immediate rebuttal has been “I guess it was fine, didn’t make it this year. I started out the New Year puking my shoes off.” This of course is not even in close proximity to how I actually wanted to spend News Years Day or several days following. I wanted to go on that dang ride dangit! I wanted to go bad too. For crying out loud it was 45 degrees that day, which alone is a welcome respite from the winter doldrums. Nay! In bed I laid shivering and miserable secretly cursing everyone on the ride because I was bitter that I could not be. So if you got a flat or some other form of cycling atrocity on the ride I apologize it was my fault. If you have been a reader for a while you will remember on the 2010 ride I beat myself up pretty bad I opined about stagnation in weight loss among many other complaints about myself. I was going to use the ride this year as a time to reflect over the 2010 cycling year, oh well I’m flexible reflection can be done anywhere I suppose.
I have also more than a few E-mails asking what my “Resolutions” are or where? Honestly I don’t make them, haven’t in years. I use to make them, for example, “I am going to stop smoking in 1994…the same one was made in 95, and 96, 97 98, 99, 2000, 01, 02…you get the point right? Each year it was an abysmal failure, each resolution lasted until about noon on January 1 when I would run out and buy a carton of cigarettes and chain smoke the New Years in. It’s a societal joke really, they are expected to fail there is really no pressure to actually succeed at them. They are in reality forgotten about and breezed by no guilt attached. I make goals for myself and have done so for the past few years I break them down to small manageable and realistic benchmarks. Will I be challenged to reach them, yes most definitely but therein lays the fun. Let me give you an example: I got it into my head not too long ago that I wanted to run a 5k. Now if you know me you know I despise running with every thread of my being. So what did I have to do? I had to build up to it, I know I would have failed if I laced up some running shoes and tried to run a 5k. I did the “Couch to 5k” program. Each day building on the last until bingo bongo you just busted out 5k’s worth of pavement pounding which I did and I am pretty sure it was the furthest I have ever run in my life. 5k….check! Now on to the next one. Not resolutions….goals.
What are your goals today, or this week, or this month? Leave some comments, lets discuss.
100 Pounds Ago 
Congrats on the 5k, Gene. I’ve done several and a couple half-marathons too, but of course, it’s been walking – not running. I think my years of extreme body abuse have resulted in crap knees, BUT, I’m not giving up either.
Never made resolutions either, for the most part. Goals – yeah, I think I set them sometimes, but I’m just not a very regimented person that way. Seems like maybe I have subsconscious goals and when I get there it’s like…”hey, I just met a goal”. Weird, I know.
So, my goal is to start setting goals and working toward them – in manageable pieces, like you suggest. Goal 1 – return to school in the fall. Goal 2 – get off my ass more consistently during the winter and stop using all the excuses I tell everyone else not to make to keep me from doing it. Goal 3 – work with Mr. Butcher to form the highest-grossing, most awesome Tour-de-Cure team that has ever pedaled across the planet.
Jon
Speaking of Teams…..I have people who are interested in joining and I have people itching to donate…..we need to get that page set up homie!
Gene
I am on it. A link should be coming to you in your email soon. You have to register yourself, then she will make both of us co-captains.
I couldn’t muster the discipling to complete C25K, sooooooooooooooooooooo,
I just went and did a New Year’s day 5K. It was run on the beach in my town because the town couldn’t clear the snow in time for the event. My time, you ask? 40:30. the 12 year old that lives in the house behind mine beat me by 17 minutes (or was it 13..who cares, he kicked my a$$).
Anyway, I’m back on C25K so now I can try to improve my time!
Call this one a goal, a resolution or whatever you please. 8 days into the new year and I haven’t had a sugar’d soda. Slipped twice and had Diet, but that’s it. Down 7 pounds this week. Go figure.
Gene, I so agree woth the idea of setting goals instead of making resolutions. Goals proomote progress and forward thinking. resolutions are so negative. As I’ve said I have 3 main goals for 2011 myself: Complete 2 triathlons, complete a century ride and lose 100 lbs. I now have to break these into smaller, more maneagable bites so I can celebrate the successes along the way.
Are you still looking to complete a triathlon this year?