2015: Dream Big and Start Believing

New Year’s is a time of renewal. It’s a new year, a fresh start, and the perfect time to set goals/resolutions.
For the past few years, I haven’t really spent a lot of time doing this. I’ve had my typical race calendar, and goals for PR’s and finishes, but nothing truly focused on personal growth.
However, this year I wanted things to be different. I wanted to really take time and focus on my goals and dreams and to set resolutions that would help me grow and achieve all of these things.
2015 has quickly become dubbed “the year to BELIEVE”.

Like a lot of athletes, I struggle with self-doubt. I am constantly questioning my training, my abilities, and the reason behind why I do what I do.
I want to change this.

This year my first resolution is to focus more on the positive. I am learning to find happiness in the imperfections that come with balancing life and training, and learning to be happy with every training session. I know there are still going to be days when I walk away wondering why things didn’t go exactly as planned, but I don’t want to dwell on them. I want to be able to process it and then be done with it. I am also hoping to carry this over into my daily life.
There are days when I don my “Supermom cape” and try to get it all done, only to find myself a frazzled mess because there was a hiccup or two along the way. I want to finish these days looking back at everything that I DID accomplish and to have the ability to turn my focus back to what is truly important.

The second resolution I made is to manage my time better. While most days I am able to get everything done, it is usually just by the skin of my teeth. I find myself having to jump quickly from one thing to the next, feeling over booked, and ending each day completely drained. This year I am believing in balance. Balance is attainable, but only if I manage my time better. I recently bought a large calendar for our kitchen and have filled it with important dates and appointments for everyone in our family, and it’s all COLOR CODED!!! I also bought myself my own daily agenda that is not only large enough for me to put appointments in but also all of my workouts. I then go back and write the results of things that have happened that day which helps show me what I have accomplished and to focus on the positive (see resolution number 1).
Writing out all my workouts and obligations not only helps keep me organized but it is also helping with my accountability. I know when I have to get things done, and I have to stick to it otherwise there will be hiccups and I will feel frazzled. With each thing blocked out things that were once overlooked (folding laundry, tidying, prepping meals, etc.) are now actually getting done in a timely and orderly fashion. No more tackling huge mountains of clean laundry or struggling with the dinner menu. I am also finding that I have more time for relaxing at the end of the day, reading a good book, or even just watching the news or a T.V. show.

My third and final resolution is to dream big and to start believing in my dreams and in myself. This may sound like an easy task, but the last part of this resolution is the hardest part for me. While I have no problem dreaming big, I have found myself struggling to believe in my capabilities as an athlete who juggles with family, training, and work. I constantly find myself looking at the big picture paralyzed with thoughts about “what if this…” “what if that…”, only to realize that I may have let an opportunity pass by because of my fears. Scared of how I compare to others, scared of what people will say. Dwelling on past negative experiences, and hurtful words.
NO MORE!!!

This is the year where I will test my body and mind, and pour my heart into everything that I do. I may get hurt, I may be sore, but I will accomplish everything that I set out to do, and I truly believe this!!
My time is managed, my thoughts are positive and my dreams are in place, the only thing left is for me to go out have fun and try.
My dreams for this year are to race in long distance triathlons with the goal of crossing the finish line of an Ironman Race in 2016. I want to have fun with my training. I want to find the speed and fitness that I once had and that I know I am more than capable of. Because of my new positive thinking and a belief in myself I will no longer listen to those that say “I can’t”. Life should be fun, and I want to have fun. I want to smile more, laugh more, and surround myself with people who share these views.
I believe I can do this!!

And to start this year off right I have been given the amazing opportunity to pair up with two great companies who believe in me too! A testament to how dreaming big can pay off!

Nuun Hydration- 2015 Nuunbassador
Pearl Izumi- 2015 Champion Team Member

So here’s to 2015: The Year to Dream Big and Start Believing!!!