*sigh*

Another year begins.  Blah blah blah.  Lol.

I don't really believe in the whole "it's a new year!  I'm going to change all of my bad habits starting on the first!"  Ha!

New Year's Day is an annoying holiday -- especially when it comes to fitness and health.

A vast majority of society says, "I'm going to lose weight and get in shape starting on January 1!"  So those of us who have been training and working out at various facilities have to deal with the sudden influx of people over flooding said facilities for 3-6 weeks.

Example:  A few years ago, I used to live off of the Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna, GA.  Very popular for cycling, walking, run, rollerblading, etc.  I decided to go for a ride on the trail in early January.  It was so packed with people that I couldn't really ride.  I just turned around about 15 minutes in and went home.  90% of those people on the trail had no clue of the "etiquette" of the trail and had no common sense or courtesy.  I ended up avoiding the trail until end of Feb.

It happened in college too.  The student gym would be overrun with so many people nobody could get a decent workout in.

Unfortunately, I've gotten into a cycle of taking November and December off from training for anything and starting back up around NYE.  But not because of the "New Year's Resolutions," but more for starting on a training regimen for upcoming races.  However, I have to design my first 4 weeks of training around the New Year's crowd.  I won't be riding my bicycle after work at the SCT until mid-Feb.  I was going to go swimming today at the local aquatic center, but I figure I'll start next Saturday.

Don't get me wrong.  I think it's great that people want to lose weight and get in shape, but why use Jan 1 of each year to start?  Why couldn't you start Nov 8?  Sept 23?  August 3?  June 4?  April 11?  March 20?  Feb 15?  Why Jan 1?  You can decide to "get healthy" any day of the year.  I started on my triathlon adventure in the end of Jan 2011.  I decided to get better at swimming in April 2012.

Don't use Jan 1 as an excuse to get in shape.  Dig deep and develop your own reason for getting shape and shedding those pounds.  Don't conform to what society thinks and does.  Be unique and follow your dreams for YOUR reasons and do it on YOUR turf.