GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!

Today I'm talking about goals. And although we all LOVED the Bruins' big win in 2011, I'm not talking about that kind of goal. I'm talking about the goals that we set for ourselves, the ones that drive us forward, that make us reach a little out of our comfort zone. The goals that help us realize the potential we actually have within us.

As Ironman Arizona draws near, people are frequently asking me "Why on Earth did you sign up for this?" (in addition to, "Did your parents drop you on your head when you were younger?" followed by the statement, "...because you are crazy.") To be honest, a little over a year ago I sat down and made a list for myself. That list was all of the things that I wanted to accomplish before I turned 50. I would call it my Bucket List, but I sure hope turning 50 is not my end of days. Some of the items listed were things I knew I could easily accomplish (i.e. get a dog - easy to do when you fill out the application while your husband is at a bachelor party), things I thought I could accomplish with a little effort (i.e. take/pass the orthopedic specialist certification exam - hours of studying but I managed), and things I knew I had to work my butt off to accomplish (i.e. small little triathlon happening in 4.5 weeks). I'm proud to say after a little over a year I have 3 items checked off (but many more to come).

Now it is one thing to set a goal. But it is a completely different to actually see it through. It takes planning, financial resources (usually), determination, passion, and vision. If you can never truly see yourself meeting your goal, maybe it was set too high or it was too unrealistic. But the great thing about writing a goal is that it is not set in stone - you are allowed to modify it.

Since signing up for Ironman Arizona I have done nothing but set goals for myself. They started out simple: Register for Ironman Arizona (kind of necessary to move forward with this whole process). The goals became progressively bigger from there. I had daily goals: to wake up and get to the gym by 6 AM, to complete all training sessions, to eat better at most meals. I had weekly goals: to stay positive, to not dwell on the frustrations of training, to keep my family and friends up to date on my training (as most of them are far away). I made goals during each of my workouts, I made goals during each of my races. I made goals to keep me on track mentally and physically. I have set goal times for each of the 3 events of the day. I have set a goal time for my overall finish. I have also set a goal on how many high 5's I want to give out as I run down the finishers chute (10, I want at least 10).

The 3 most important goals I have set for myself during all of this were simple: 1) Finish Ironman Arizona in under 17 hours 2) Have fun while doing it 3) Raise money for a charity I am passionate about.

As you can see my goal of $500 was increased to $1000 for American Lab Rescue - as I said before, goals are not set in stone. So, in an attempt to get you all to help me achieve my goals, I will dedicate a mile to everyone who donates to American Lab Rescue. I have about 100 miles left to dedicate, so open your hearts and open your wallets :o). During "your" mile I will think about you non-stop. Some miles will take me longer than others, but I appreciate you all the same. Not only will you be donating to a wonderful animal rescue group but you will help give me the inspiration to continue on my 140.6 mile journey.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed so far. Much appreciated!