What a crappy month.  I’ve been sick for most of the month.  I got strep throat within a week of being home from Indiana, then picked up pink eye.  Just as I was finishing up the drugs for strep I started getting a sinus problem that stuck around for the rest of month and continues to rear its ugly head.  It has been very frustrating because I was hoping to get some nice base training in before my training program started (which is this week).  Ugh.

Here are my goals for 2012 and my progress towards them:

Goal #1: Finish Buffalo Triathlon on June 3.  1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run. (Under 1:15)

I did a total of 8 workouts for January. Which sadly, is the same number I did last year. The added frustration for this year is that the weather has been perfect for running outside!!

Goal #2: Improve on my Square Lake time from last year (1:58) 1/2 Mile Swim 16.5 Mile Bike 5 Mile Run

See above.

Goal #3: Use and write about the FIRST Method for my running. 5k for the spring and 10k for the fall.

I’ve only run a few times.  Fortunately, I don’t have to start the FIRST training until March.

Goal #4: Complete Project 345 Bible Reading plan – takes you through the New Testament in the year.

I’ve been able to keep up or catch up using their 2 catch up days in this plan.  This year it comes straight to my inbox.

Goal #5: Read a variety of books (genre, style, authors).

I finished Run Less, Run Faster book and training guide.  I also read, The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules.

Goal #6: Document my thoughts on at least 6 of the books I’ve read.

nothing yet!

Goal #7: Blog.

• Running  – not a very good job!
• Midtown Phillips – averaging one post a day
• Nadia – averaging one post a week

Goal #8: Project 365

This has actually been hard this year.  I’ve done almost every day.  I can’t really put a finger on why it is hard, but I think just being super busy and sick I’ve not spent much time thinking about it.

So there you have it a crappy start to the year!

Running: 15.7 miles

Swimming: 400 yards

Biking: 8.5 miles plus 72 minutes on the trainer.

What is in store for the new year? Isn’t that the million dollar question.

As I noted in my reflection piece, I’ve already signed up for the Buffalo Triathlon and Square Lake Triathlon.  Buffalo is a traditional sprint distance race in the spring and I’ll try to improve my performance at Square Lake in the fall.  In between I’ll stay in shape and have fun racing if I want.  I also want to continue developing my mind and spirit alongside of my body so I’ll continue reading and spending time reading the Bible.

Goal #1: Finish Buffalo Triathlon on June 3.  1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run. (Under 1:15)

Goal #2: Improve on my Square Lake time from last year (1:58) 1/2 Mile Swim 16.5 Mile Bike 5 Mile Run

Goal #3: Use and write about the FIRST Method for my running. 5k for the spring and 10k for the fall.

Goal #4: Complete Project 345 Bible Reading plan – takes you through the New Testament in the year.

Goal #5: Read a variety of books (genre, style, authors).

Goal #6: Document my thoughts on at least 6 of the books I’ve read.

Goal #7: Blog.

• Running
• Midtown Phillips
• Nadia

Goal #8: Project 365

What’s missing?

I’m not setting any mileage goals.  I would obviously like to improve over my 500 miles of running last year, but mileage goals are a good way to get hurt.  Ragnar – I’m not planning to organize a team this year.  It is a lot of work, especially coordinating care for Nadia. If someone invited me on their team, I might join! I’m also not planning on any “A” running only races this year. If the year goes well in training I might do more next year. I would still also like to run around all the named bodies of water in Minneapolis (from 2010), but that doesn’t seem like a smart goal for this year. I’m sure there are other goals or ideas I haven’t thought about nor articulated.

What are you planning for 2012?

Last year at this time, I outlined a few goals that I wanted to complete in 2011.  Sadly, I didn’t meet all of them.  As I noted during the year the camera goal was a little ambiguous.  Looking back the Blog Regularly goal was pretty obvious, but again ambiguous and should have been broken down based on my several blogs. The Reading Books goal was a good goal, but I ended up not keeping good track of the books I read towards the end of the year. I read at least 18 books.  You can look at the list and judge for yourself if there was variety or not.  I completed my first triathlon and have already signed up for Square Lake again and Buffalo Triathlon.

Read 12 books with a variety of topics, genres, and styles. Done.

Complete a Triathlon Square Lake Short Course, September 10. 0.5 Mile Swim 16.5 Mile Bike 5 Mile Run. Done! I am a Triathlete! I unofficially finished in 1:58. Results still aren’t posted. Check out my full review.  But I was happy and am thinking about doing it again next year.  

Finish this YouVersion devotional plan (Bible Study).  Done.

Make a substantial change to one of my programs at work. Done.

Blog Regularly. Kind of.

Learn how to use my digital camera and experiment with its features. Abandoned.

2011 Mileage:

Run: 449.66 miles

Bike: 1436.65 miles

Swim: 20,350 yards (12.7 miles)

Read 12 books with a variety of topics, genres, and styles. I read Teatime in Mogadishu which was an inspiring story about a Somali man who tried to spread peace in Somali.

Complete a Triathlon Square Lake Short Course, September 10. 0.5 Mile Swim 16.5 Mile Bike 5 Mile Run. Done! I am a Triathlete! I unofficially finished in 1:58. Results still aren’t posted. Check out my full review.  But I was happy and am thinking about doing it again next year. 

Finish this YouVersion devotional plan (Bible Study).  Continuing to go well.

Make a substantial change to one of my programs at work. Completed. I’m about 75% into the second programmatic change which is creating a school supply store with an all student staff.

Blog Regularly Getting sick and then not running for several weeks have left me not very motivated to post.

Learn how to use my digital camera and experiment with its features. I’ve abandoned this goal.  There is still time, so we’ll see.  I’ve been using my phone a lot since it has an 8mp camera and my camera is 10mp.

Curing Plantar Fasciitis, was the most viewed post again. The order doesn’t change: number two was Treating Plantar Fasciitis, and a close third was Twin Cities Running Stores.

September Data:

Running: 20.9 miles

Biking: 137.1 miles

Swimming: .5 miles