Goals for 2009

I set this blog up awhile ago to help myself document this year as I train, race, and try to get healthier. Sadly, this is the first actual entry that I am writing. I spend alot of time reading these two blogs (which I will use as inspiration):

http://www.roomonthecounter.blogspot.com/ (my boyfriend's sister-n-law)

http://myrunningclubandmore.blogspot.com/ (my boyfriend's blog)

Unfortunately I haven't spent alot of time blogging myself. So please bear with me as I figure all of this out! The rest of this entry I would like to use to summarize what goals I came up with for the year and what review what I have already accomplished!

I do not normally make New Year's Resolustions but I did decide to make some personal goals for myself this year. Here is a list of things I came up with:

1) Go to Italy (done)

2) See Lance Armstrong race (done, incidentally this was accomplished in Italy)

3) Complete my first 1/2 IM distance - I signed up for Steelhead, MI on Aug 1, 2009 (I will let you know how this goes)

4) Complete my first full IM distance - I am signed up for IM Arizona in Nov 2009 (again, I will let you know how this goes)

5) Stay healthy (so far so good)

6) Spend more time with my family and loved ones (this is an ongoing goal for the full year) .

Italy was an awesome experience. My boyfriend (CT) and I ventured over there for the last 2 weeks of the Giro d'Italia. It was part of a tour called Bikestyle Tours. We met and rode with around 30 other wonderful people. The food was wonderful, the people and guides were great, we got to see some awesome professional riders racing, and view some spectacular scenery. All the above pictures are from our trip to Italy. Since I cannot quite figure out this blogging thing, all the pictures that I try to add seem to appear at the top of the entry!

Watching Lance Ride: He is an inspiration to me. Mostly because he is a cancer survivor and has accomplished great things. It was wonderful to be able to see him come back into the sport of cycling and bring new life to it, as well as his Livestrong campaign. Being able to see him race in Italy and stalk the Astana bus was a once in a lifetime experience -one I will never forget! I will post pictures of the Giro in another entry.

Getting PR's: for those of you who may not do alot of running/cycling, a "PR" is a personal record. It is something most athletes that compete in events will strive for when training and use it as a marker of improvement in training. While it wasn't a goal of mine at the beginning of the year, I am happy to report that I have PR'd in every distance that I have done this year. So far this includes: 5k (1st on the 1st), 4 mile (Cinco 4 miler in Dublin), 1/2 marathon (Flying Pig 1/2), and Olympic Tri (Alum Creek). Hopefully I will finish both the 1/2 and full IM distances so that I can add these to my list as well!

That's all for today, I need to get back to watching the TT for the Tour de France!