Using Jan 1 as a calendar date

Don't get me wrong...  It's a good idea to use January 1 as a calendar date to set goals, etc.  I just don't understand why people feel they must use it to start getting healthy -- not when you can do this at anytime of the year.  Just like setting goals can be started on any day of the year.

So I met a major goal for last year: finish a sprint triathlon in less than 90 minutes.  I also met another major goal: become more comfortable and more efficient at swimming.

I missed other "numerical" goals.  Such as run 250 miles between Feb and Sept.  Swim 4.5 miles in June.  Bah.  Those don't matter.  The other two did.  :)

That being said...  Just for kicks I signed up for 2 challenges on DailyMile.  Run 720 miles in 2013 and swim 100K in 2013.  I DO need to set up my mileage for running and cycling.  And I do need to increase my time in the pool.  So while these aren't a "must do in 2013" goals, they are a means to an end.  However, I won't judge my performance in 2013 based on the completion of these goals.

Shit happens during the year.

Work becomes overbearing.  Injuries happen.  Life gets in the way (ain't that the truth?  Lol).  Loss of focus and drive.  Etc.

So those are two goals that just so happen to start on Jan 1, but they have an end mark: 12/31/2013.  It's not one of those resolutions that states, "I'm going to lose weight starting on Jan 1."

I have other goals.  I've already signed up for 5 triathlon races instead of three.  I'm not doing the Peachtree SuperSprint like in the past 2 years.  I'm doing the Peachtree International Triathlon instead.  Same event.  Same day.  Different distance/course.  And I'm doing 4 races in the Tri the Parks series: John Tanner #1, Blalock Lakes Intermediate, Mistletoe SP, and John Tanner #2.  The only month I don't have a race is August.  Which is fine.

I've decided to do two standard/Olympic/international distance races (yikes for me) instead of all sprints.  The swim distance freaks me out the most.  I'm glad the John Tanner #1 is in April and the PIT is in May.  The John Tanner race has a 600 meter swim while the PIT has a 1400+ meter swim.  So the John Tanner race will be a good building block to help me complete the PIT.

I don't have much of a goal for John Tanner #1.  It's the earliest tri I've done so far, so I just want to use it as a stepping stone.

My goal for the PIT is to finish.  It'd be nice if I could finish in 3 hours, but not necessary.

Blalock Lakes (intermediate) has a 1500 meter swim.  My goal for that race is to see if I can slightly improve my time from PIT.  But my main goal for both of these longer races is to try and learn a better nutrition, hydration, preparation strategy.  Then use that information to help with the sprints and future longer races.

I don't have a goal for the Mistletoe SP race yet.  For John Tanner #2: I want to finish faster than I did last year.  I want to come out of the swim and be stronger on the bike than I was last year.  The longer swim definitely affected my performance on the bike and my jelly legs during the run lasted longer than usual.  I wouldn't mind finishing that race in 90 minutes....  :)

Given that my work schedule will be busier this year than last, we'll see how I handle the stuff for the triathlons.

Remember -- stay true to yourself.