2009 Finishing Strong!

It is hard to believe that we are already 40 days into 2009. Last year was a blur.

So here it is February 2009 and I am ready to start blogging again.

""Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."

I agree wholeheartedly with this comment so for those of you that read my blog thanks!

My theme for 2009 is finishing strong. I picked this for many reasons. The biggest being that I turn 40 in Jan 2010. That's right the big 40. I haven't talked with many people who have hit this mark but I am sure they were just like me and wanted to reach milestones at the 40 year mark. I have set some goals for myself and will post my progress on my blog here. So first my goals.

Goal #1 Complete a Sprint Triathlon before I turn 40

Goal #2 Memorize the book of James form the New testament

Goal #3 Run 3 miles at an 8 min/mile pace (with my heart rate at 141)

Goal #4 Complete P90x with Caleb

Goal #5 Weigh 190#

Goal #6 Complete a 9 day Fast

I will add others as they come up...but first let me explain why I picked these

#1 I have wanted to do this for a long time, why I am not quite certain. I have never swam mulitple laps in a swimming pool much less in open water. But what is driving me to do this is the Air Forces big push on physical fitness. Over the last 4 years I have been able to pass the PT test but it was always tough and I was way too close to "not passing" for me. I will test this week for 2009 and expect to pass again with great effort. My goal by being able to complete Sprint level triathlon's is to increase my fitness to a new level that will allow me to easily excel at the AF Fitness test.

#2 I have always been good with memeory and many years ago had this as a New Years resolution but I never followed through with it. So I am going to in 2009.

#3 As part of #1 and being able to excel at the AF Fitness test this goal will allow me to get two birds with one stone. While getting psyched up for a Sprint Triathlon I came across the following webiste http://www.markallenonline.com/heartrate.asp . I am going to use this method of heart rate training with my running. To give you an idea of where I am at, this morning I ran a mile at an 8:30 min pace and my heart rate was 175bpm...now you see what I mean by "with great difficulty". Currently my MAHR (Maximum Aerobic HEart Rate) is 141 and I can run a 5MPH pace and keep my HR in my MAHR range + or - 5 bpm. I am sure this goal will require all 12 months but I will give you a monthly update.

#4 Caleb is 15 and a Freshman at O fallon Township Highschool. He was on the school's wrestling team until he damage a nerve in his back and was placed on a 6 month pass from contact sports. Caleb has been doing great and both of us wanted to do P90X so by making it a goal it will give us something to shoot for and will also allow us quite a bit of Father-Son quality time. And help me get more fit for goals #1 & #3.

#5 Everybody, well 98% of us are not happy with our current body weight. I am so unhappy that I am not going to share it with you right now. After I finish p90X I will share my starting stats.

#6 Earlier this year Carrie and I did a 21 day Daniel's fast and enjoyed the experience both physically and spiritualy. I want to complete a 9 day fast. More details to come as I get closer to the fast date.

So there they are, a few of my personal goals for 2009.

Another area that I want to push on my blog is politics. I am a staunch fiscal and moral conservative. So it should be no surprise that I am not excited with our current political leadership. My goal in this area is voice my concerns, opinions and sometimes disgust with what happens in DC.

Stay tuned more to come.