2013 - What a Year!

Normally I am not a look back type of guy.  But with 2013 in its last few hours, thought I'd spend a few moments reflecting on the year.  2013 started with a fun new years eve black tie party and is ending with a trip to Sanibel Island.  The 365 days in between had many highs and yes some lows.   But every moment came with lessons being applied to the future (looking ahead).  

Here are a milestone from 2013...

Completing Ironman Coeur D'Alene

Has to be the top of my list.  I accomplished my goal of racing 140.6 miles (still in awe that I did it).  IM CDA was just one-day, but the training took up a big chunk of my life this past year.  Besides being all consuming from a time perspective (my life was scheduled in hour chunks - the training alone was epic and came with some sacrifices in the form of my social life).  However, I would never have changed a thing.  I am an Ironman and in doing so honored my father and gave back to physically challenged athletes.

The finish line video still makes me smile.

Having An Amazing Support Crew (a/k/a Friends/Social Network)
You learn a lot about who is in your corner when raising $10K+ (and asking for money from your friends) and training for an Ironman (yes that again).  Luckily my triathlon friends/network understood what it takes to get from the start to the finish line and that raising money for CAF meant a lot to me.  When my non-triathlon friends finally stopped asking if I was crazy, ceased making fun when I left bars/dinners at 8:00pm to sleep or passed on parties, they were in my corner in terms of support and helping to accomplish my goals of racing and fundraising,

The Support of My Family/My "Rocks".  My family (blood and otherwise)  deserve a special call out from what I put them through this year.  From being nay-sayers to being the first people I needed to see before the start of CDA and wanted to see at the finish line (after trekking to Idaho).  I promised not to do another IM...until 2015!

Having a Work/Life Balance:  Boy did this come into play this year.  Accenture's culture really allowed me to handle working 40+ hours a week, taking on new management responsibilities, and of course training (on average) 15-hours a week.  My colleagues tolerated the countdown clock on the white board and the constant smell of chlorine in my office.  Having everything so scheduled, actually made me a better, more focused employee too.  I also managed to weave in my love for triathlon into two Accenture-sponsored races in Oceanside (CA) and NYC (Paratriathlon).  We also launched a new sponsorship of Dark Universe at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH); go see it (and explain it to me after). 

Pursuing More Coaching/USAT Board: Opportunities: I coached someone to his first full marathon and advised a few racers for the NYC Tri; learning a lot and honing my coaching skills along the way.  Being a member of the USAT NE Board (chairing Paratri and Grants Committees) offered new perspectives and opened new networks.

 Enjoying the Off-Season - Finally!  Boy did I enjoy this and made up for 10-months of being on the social-life bench.  A trip to Peru, a few days in Ocean Beach (Fire Island) and in Denver (ah those margarita's at Rio Grande), celebrating my bday in Vegas, watching and not running the Komen Race for the Cure, heading to Barbados for my sister's bday  and enjoying a rum punch tour (thanks Clare and Geoff), learning the butterfly stroke (thanks Earl!), studying Florence and the Machine's music in time for the AMNH's Fall Gala, spending a weekend in La Jolla with CAF friends at SDTC, cheering on NYC Marathoners and finally, the holiday season in NYC.

Here are some random photos from Facebook.  Enjoy the year in pictures.

Looking Ahead to 2014
While not resolutions, here are some milestones I look forward to in 2014....Will check back in 365 days and see how these go.

• I have joined a new triathlon team - Tailwind Endurance wih new teammates.  Project Faster will (hopefully) get me to a new PR in the half-ironman distance
• Taking a more active role in the International Paratri movement
• Taking on new challenges such as a back-to-back century ride in August
• Serving as a change agent at work and being a better manager/mentor
• Pursuing new opportunities outside of triathlon (a/k/a making a priority for a vibrant social life)
• (Yes), Not being so attached to my iPhone...

For now, a happy and healthy new year.