It's not 1/2 bad!

      The new year has begun, and I am ready to start working on one of my goals. You see, I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, I believe in goals.
      This year will be my year of the 1/2.. I am not talking about a 1/2 marathon, I'm talking about the 1/2 iron man! Yes, its out of my comfort zone, a little irresponsible, and a tad bit risky,  yet, I have been contemplating this for two years. I have competed in road races, 5k, 10k , and 1/2 marathons. I have participated in triathlons and a mud race(Tough Mudder), but nothing will quite compare to this. This is a race that is a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run (70.3 mile race!) This will be a race, that I will only have 9 months to train .
       However, for most people, dreams are just that "dreams", some fairy tale that they wish for, imagine, but never pursue. For me,turning my dream into a reality, makes it my goal. That is the difference.  Goals are supposed to be a little crazy, a little far out of your reach, even a little silly. It's something that excites you, scares you and exhilarates you all at the same time. I think a goal should be something that requires commitment, of your time and energy. A goal should be risky, but attainable. It should be something that engages your whole body, mind and spirit.It should teach you, reach you and challenge you. It requires faith. Goals, keep us alive, they give us something to strive for,something to believe in (mostly ourselves) and something to anticipate. Goals will take all of your courage, your strength, and  your passion. It is life. I think without  goals in our lives, we fail to see what we are fully capable of, and created for. Usually, when someone has a goal, its never just about the goal itself, it becomes about the experience, the journey,and  the lessons along the way. For me its about having hope, defying doubt, and pursuing life head on.
     I've already been asked,"Why, would you want to do that?", and I think with goals, you don't always have to have the answers,you don't always have to know the outcome, you don't always have to understand the reason, after all that is part of the appeal. I think you you have to hold onto the reason that you started, but, I think you also figure out all the reasons that you weren't even aware of along the way.
     I will have to stay focused, and motivated for 9 months,when the excitement of training wains, the monotony of running the same course, swimming the same lengths, and biking the same route become boring, (and they will) I will stay committed. Part of my process will be to stay in it, even when I want to quit, or give up, when I start doubting myself, my body, even my goal( and I will). I will continue, in spite of it all, because those are the moments  when you truly find out who you are, what you stand for,what your made of, and more importantly, that is where you will find yourself. 
Today, 9 months seems like a life time away, and yet it seems like tomorrow, all at the same time.  I probably won't win, okay most definitely, but that isn't my goal. (that would be a dream:) Right now in  my life, it is to compete in the race, complete the race and cross the finish line.My dream-turned reality,became my goal, and that's not half-bad!