What's Your Favorite Movie?? It Should Be You!

"All healing, all flourishing comes from the story you tell yourself".
What do you allow yourself to think?  Who do you let in your 'movie'?  (your life is your 'movie')  Are you in control, are you a good director?  The thoughts we let in our head create the actions we do and say with our bodies and our mouth.  How good are your thoughts, how good are your words?  

I don't know maybe I have been thinking way to much lately. Lots going on in my head, my life, and maybe some of its what we all see and hear every day that sometimes gets to us.  I read an article today about a pro triathlete coming to grips with the idea he was turning 40.  He was having a tough time with it, to say the least.  The body seemed to be the biggest hurdle for him.  As it probably should be as being a pro triathlete is tough, physically and mentally.  I know this because I am over 40 and I am a triathlete getting back in the game after turning 40.  I didn't have any real bad thoughts about turning 40, for the most part it was just a number.  My livelihood wasn't based on whether or not I was healthy and racing either, so a bit different scenario.  But in reading his article I realized it was his way of looking at what the number was that was hindering him, not his real ability to still race, physically, and do well.  His 'movie' needed some editing.
So when my 40th Birthday rolled around, I lived in Laguna Beach at the time, and my birthday was three weeks ago, so, Winter, in Laguna, means no Snow!  I wanted snow!  So I drove to Lake Tahoe to go snowboarding, completely spur of the moment.  I needed to be somewhere where I wasn't going to FEEL like I was turning 40.  ( I was having similar age thoughts as the pro triathlete) I needed to do something 'active' not just go out with a few friends and have a salad and glass of wine.  I needed to move and maybe even in that moving it healed my soul in some strange way and let me know that getting older doesn't mean putting your 'toys' in the garage sale and never doing anything spontaneous, crazy, fun, wild and definitely worth remembering!  So I went snowboarding and it was great.

Our activities and how we think of ourselves in those activities can make you heal, they can even make you flourish.  They can make you whole again after you feel like you've been torn apart.  When we do what we love, physically, as in a sport or fun hobby, we even think clearer, although we still can think too much.  When I was training for my first marathon back in 1995 my roommate asked me once what I thought about while I was running 17 miles.  She thought I was nuts, completely.  She figured I would be bored out of my mind running that long with nothing to do other than run.  I told her, no way, just the opposite.  I'm not bored at all.  I think of all the problems I have, all the people that bug me, all the people I love, people I want to love, (yes I have a long list of people I still want to love, haha) and I work it all out.  When I finish those 17 miles as far as I am concerned, there is world peace!!!  How could you get bored??? is what I want to know?  Not a chance.  But it's in that time, where the endorphins are kicking in and you hurt and you feel good all at the same time that the story you tell yourself, when you're on your own out there on the road, is the one you have to make sure is a good story.  

There is so much bad that we see and hear everyday.  People let us down all the time, it's a wonder we ever get out of bed.  It's 'all for one' and all for one, not 'one for all'.  I remember thinking a long time ago, right out of college that I always wanted to be learning and growing and evolving, not someone just looking for the next fix to get them through the day.  I wanted to do or be someone that gave back, that did something that was more than just about themselves.  I need to know that the story I tell myself is better than the story you're going to tell me about myself, because you don't know me like I know me and if I don't believe in me, then why should anyone else.  I guess when it comes right down to it, it's what we think, that are the most important thoughts of all, because it also controls what comes out of our mouths, (which we can't take back after we say them) and what we do with our bodies.  Oprah used to ask at the end of her show sometimes 'What do you know for sure?'  I thought about this a long time and it was a long time ago too.  I know it sounds sort of melancholy, but we, alone, are really all that we have.  I guess the sooner you realize that and know that you have to work on being the best 'you' in your movie and the best director of your movie over anything else in order to really be able to give back to others before you can be of service to others in whatever way you wish.  It's the ultimate 'pay it forward' that starts from within ourselves and then spreads, hopefully, like wild fire.  Think of how amazingly positive our world would be if we all just stopped thinking junk thoughts and doing bad things.  The positive effects of that are mind-blowing to me.  It makes me think that world peace could be possible, as naive as it sounds.  But if your movie is all jacked up and bad, then that's all your going to know, attract and create for yourself and we will all continue to live in the chaos that surrounds us.  Thoughts are things, they become who you are so think carefully.  Whether it's about having a pro triathlete career come to a turning point because your getting older, or it's running your company.  The story you tell yourself is the one that your going to have to live with.

My Mom sent me letters when I was in college.  She put a poem in one letter, where she got it, I don't know.  It's dated February, 1990.  February is a few days away, Spring is around the corner and these things have been on my mind.  I'm not sure if the rest of you have a day, literally, one day of the year, where things, multiple things, over multiple years, have happened to you or in your life on that very same day, but for me that day is February 12th.   So when it is close I get to thinking even more.  I know it's significance now, for me it's about change.  Something I love actually.  Big change, awakenings, opening up to new opportunities, creatively, spiritually, for the better. If your 'movie' isn't going how you want it to, now is the time to make the change.  Alter your thoughts, think positive, don't let the junk in.  And start planting those flowers because the sun is going to be out soon enough.
So I leave you with this...                                                                               

Comes The Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.  
And you learn that love doesn't mean security, 
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts  
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,  
And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain.  
And futures have a way of falling down in midflight, After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn
With every goodbye you learn...                author unknown

Caroline / Triathleta         




 

Where is your favorite place to race?

So I've been doing some reading and a little research lately for something I have an idea for in the, hopefully, near future.  It has to do with all the Ironman races selling out like 'hot-cakes' and at, what I still consider to be a higher price tag than I'd expect. (that's another story)  But it's a question that I think needs asking.  So I am going to think out loud for a bit here.  Before I do here's a little of what I am talking about.
This is courtesy of 'Triathlete' europe

Demand for racing Ironman hits an all time high, with six out of nine Ironman races in Europe now sold out. The season kicks of with the Spec Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa on January 20th 2013.
The iconic IRONMAN series of events is targeting a record year in Europe. Six out of nine IRONMAN races have sold out of as today: IRONMAN Canarias Lanzarote (Spain), IRONMAN France (Nice), IRONMAN Austria (Klagenfurt), the Frankfurter Sparkasse IRONMAN European Championship (Frankfurt, Germany), IRONMAN UK (Bolton) and IRONMAN Sweden (Kalmar).
General entries remain available for the Spec Savers IRONMAN South Africa (April 14th 2013), IRONMAN Switzerland (Zurich) powered by ewz (July 28th 2013), and IRONMAN Wales (Tenby, September 8th 2013), with each event comprising of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run.
“2013 will be an exceptional year. Our record number of entries indicates the amount of trust and loyalty athletes put in us“, says Thomas Dieckhoff, WTC’s President Europe, Middle East and Africa. “It just shows that – on top of already high entry numbers last year – there’s an unprecedented wish on the athletes’ side to experience the high quality of our races, the dream of finishing an IRONMAN race that unites us, and the amazing and diverse race locations we are able offer. Wales and Zurich are just that – amazing races that are now also on pace for sellouts.“
“We’ve spent the last months planning and now we are ready to deliver“, adds Kai Walter, WTC’s Managing Director International Operations. “Racing means to push yourself to the limit. We have meticulously prepared ourselves over the winter to do just that to provide athletes with the unique atmosphere of IRONMAN. There’s no bigger reward for a hard-working operational team than seeing satisfied athletes at our events.“
The IRONMAN season kicks off with the Spec Savers IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa (January 20th, 2013) and ends of IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote (October 5th, 2013). 
'Triathlete' europe

I have yet to compete in an Ironman.  It's still a goal, but first I want to hit the Half and there is one here in Boulder that I believe is still open.  Aug. 4th, it's on my mind, in my calendar and the focus of many a workout.  But I wonder with all or many of the Ironman races selling out so fast, where do the remaining athletes go when they can't get in a race.  There are not many other choices that are out there.  I know Ironman has history, presence, reputation all of which are important, but there might need to be a bit more competition in the race offerings category.  I can't be alone in this, surely, and there are a others but without a ton of advertising on their part, all over the country, you have to go looking for them.  There is the 'Challenge' series,  http://www.challenge-family.com/ and for triathlons and a bit more, this series has adventure races as well, there is the Rev3 Triathlon Events http://rev3tri.com/events/

I think we could use a few more Half and Full Distance Triathlons and hopefully soon, there will be.  But if you, by chance, get to the computer a few minutes too late in signing up for a popular Ironman, you may want to check out those two and look for others as well.  Check out the race course, read the reviews of previous racers to see what they have to say, you might still be able to become an 'Ironman' but it may not have to be at an Ironman race.  140.6 is 140.6 and 70.3 is 70.3 wherever you race, in my opinion, so don't stress if you miss an Ironman race, there is more where they come from and more to come, so stay tuned and enjoy the view!  Don't lose Hope, you'll get in one of these days! 

For the full list of Ironman Races this year, 2013.  Check it out here.  http://www.ironman.com/events/triathlon-races.aspx#axzz2J99TRYNc 

Until next time, see you on the road.

Caroline / Triathleta 

The Past, closer than you think and inescapable!

You can't erase the past no matter how much you want to. 
That's what I keep thinking of lately when I see and hear all the discussions and interview clips from the last few days with Lance Armstrong.  So many have weighed in on what he said, what he didn't say, how he said it.  I think in a way, how he said everything gives insight into who he is more than just what he said.  You can see how methodical he is even when he speaks.  How you do anything is how you do everything.  This is a lesson to be learned about ourselves.  If how you do something is so wrong on so many levels, at some point you are going to have to pay the piper, look in the mirror and admit to yourself that what you've been doing, how you've been behaving is just one big facade of lies, intentional deceit to a degree only a psychopath could comprehend.

I had no idea how far the ripple of his grip trickled down in the cycling world.  I have been a follower of the Tour de France since around the time of Greg LeMond.  My brother got into racing when we were kids, and I followed him a bit.  I've always loved cycling, it's what made it easy for me to get into triathlons.  Listening to how unemotional Lance is when he speaks, even of how this has effected his children, made my skin crawl.  I am such a woos, I get emotional at sappy commercials and he barely gets emotional at the idea his son Luke is out there defending him to whomever he comes across.  To what expense he has altered people's lives, the lives of his kids knowing their father is a fraud, I am not sure we'll ever really know.  So many people had him on a pedestal for soo long and all of it, possibly even before he had cancer was tainted.  Oh the wicked webb we weave, the more complicated the lies the harder you have to work to keep it going.  I'm sure somewhere in that, is why he wanted to sue people for what he called 'slandering' him, when in reality all they were doing was telling the truth.  He must be exhausted!  He is a pro at compartmentalizing, shoving everything somewhere no one will ever find it.  That's a recipe for disaster, and I unfortunately say that with personal experience.  Everyone has there way of dealing with the stuff in life that shakes you.  Some let it all out, see a therapist, drink til the wee hours of the next morning, whatever your poison, somehow we all find it.  I kind of feel bad for him in a way, because I don't think he really gets it, even now.  I don't want to say I sympathize with Lance, but in a weird way, I know how he did it.  I, myself, want to squash the nay-Sayers who told me I couldn't do something because I was a girl, because I wasn't fast enough, strong enough, talented enough, whatever not enough.  I get it.  I just didn't want them to know I wanted to squash them.  I just used it as fuel.  But Lance is different.  It's like 'Revenge' on testosterone!

When you can't erase or run from your past, no matter how much you want to, you deal with it in the only way you know how.  His way was athletics.  Punish anyone and everyone that came in your way, excel at all costs, never give up.  And when someone, anyone, tells you that you're not good enough, you'll never make it, never amount to anything, well that's just mountains of fuel for your fire, burning inside you to prove them all wrong.  If you ever read his book, It's Not About The Bike, you'll see it's true.  It's not about the bike.  It's about his need to make everyone who ever said or did a bad word or thing to him, his mother, his family, his life with no father etc...pay for their disbelief in him by making them eat their words, because in the end, he would win.  Now we know for sure that he did it, and at 'no matter the cost'.  It was a bit surreal watching him, sort of, tell the truth, in a very round about, cherry picking sort of way.  If it doesn't stop to give you pause about what is really important in the end, then you may need to take a few minutes to reflect on what makes you move every day.  When I think of why I train and race triathlons, why I had to take a break from it and what was it about racing and training that made me want it back again.  It has nothing to do with wining at all costs.  I am not at the age or level of a pro, so maybe its a different mindset, and that's a good thing I think.  But after the life of a pro, when you move on, what's your legacy, who will you inspire, coach, talk to, train, mentor to unload all your expertise and make others prosper from all the knowledge you have in your head and your heart about whatever sport you have excelled in.  What will you do?  Why will you do it?  Is it all just ego or is it for some greater good, something that you can share in a microscopic way to help someone else rise above some challenge they have had in their life and be better for it because of what you gave them, how you shared with them, how you coached them.  Isn't that better than winning?  Somewhere in your head, Lance there has to be that idea.  Right??

I actually didn't see the 'whole' interview as I don't get the Oprah channel, OWN, but I saw many clips from CNN and Twitter etc...and I not only watched Lance's face, but I looked at Oprah really well too.  Having seen her show for oh, 25 years off/on, you sort of know what she's thinking from her facial expressions.  She is, even though I don't know her, a person who has delved deep into her own psyche for answers and life lessons of her own and shared some of those with the world.  Yet on her face, for me at least, I saw a woman who was in disbelief about what he was saying.  The little remorse he expressed in his words.  The body language and how was he able to do this for so long, ruin so many lives and he seems to really not be affected by it all.  How do you do that, really?  I think I saw that on her face.  Which for her is big, cuz she's interviewed a ton of people, some of them very 'interesting' people, let's just say that.

So for the people left behind, picking themselves up, starting again, it feels like another Hurricane Sandy went through the cycling world and the ripple effects will be felt for years, the rebuilding will take many years as well I'm sure.  But where to start?  I have learned over the course of my adult life, that as much as you can, you have to learn to be the cause of your life.  Not the affect.  This story has affected many of us, regardless of whether Lance Armstrong directly knew us.  But at what point do you say, to those who have been directly in his wake, that it's time for it to stop.  You need to decide that you'll get up everyday and make a conscious effort to move on, to create something else, something positive and you decide that you are no longer going to let the actions, lack of actions or words from someone else alter your life anymore.  You are the creator and cause of what happens to you.  You choose the thoughts that enter your head and the words that leave your mouth.  You're either going to let someone like Lance Armstrong or the guy in the car who took your spot in the parking lot, you were so patiently waiting for, piss you off so bad that the rest of your day, week, month, year is ruined or your going to move on, call him/her a dumb jackwagon and know that Karma is a Bitch.  Whether it's 10 minutes, 10 years or 10 decades, this life or the next, they will get what's coming to them, you can be sure of that.

This lesson came crashing down on my about 10 years ago, February 6, 2002 to be exact.  It was a tough day for me.  I was told some news that I never thought I would hear.  I had an auto-immune disease that would change my life as I knew it and as I thought it would be in the future.  It was a tough day, a hard pill to swallow at 33, a triathlete training for a marathon, for an Ironman I would  now, never be able to compete in.  You change inside when someone tells you that something inside you doesn't work.  You keep getting up though, hoping one day you'll feel strong enough for a run or a ride, that you'll be able to fix it, just like you fix everything else.  The lucky ones, like me, do find a way.  You decide that you are going to be the cause, that you'll look into yourself in a way you haven't done before, realize that you have to talk to people, not just tuck your shit into some dark space inside your body, because your body is going to fill up with all this crap and eventually tell you, it can't take anymore and the workouts aren't enough anymore, there are not enough endorphins to fix it all, you have to do something else.  And then you do.  You learn your lesson, and you move on to the next one.
December 6, 2002 was a better day for me.  I learned that I hadn't gone over the edge completely, there was a life line still hanging around that I grabbed onto and climbed out of a hole.  I had some good friends during that time who were compassionate and supportive when I needed it.  One of them gave me something that I will pass on to you.  I am sure this will never come across Lance Armstrong's computer screen, but if it enlightens someone else along the way, then it's not wasted.  He could use it, no doubt, but the work he has to do will only come from inside him.  I honestly hope he gets there though, as I think we all need redemption if we truly seek it for the right reasons.  Because in the end, there are rules that we have to live by, laws as we call them.  Spiritual Laws, Universal Laws, Governmental Laws, you get the idea.  Well this is 'Rules for Being Human'.  They are not complicated, they are very simple, very basic, yet very hard to get sometimes.  This was given to me by my friend, a missed friend, but not forgotten. 

1. You Will Receive A Body.
You may like it or hate it but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.

2. You Will Learn Lessons
You are enrolled in a full time informal school called life.  Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant or stupid.

3. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons
Growth is a process of trial and error:  Experimentation. The 'Failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works'.

4. A Lesson Is Repeated Until Learned  (this is important)
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it.  When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson. 

5. Learning Lessons Does Not End
There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons.  If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. "There" Is No Better Than "Here"
When your "There" has become a "Here" you will simple obtain another "There" that will, again, look better than "Here".

7. Others Are Merely Mirrors Of You (this is important)
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate in yourself. 

8. What You Make Of Your Life Is Up To You
You have all the tools and resources you need, what you do with them is up to you.  The choice is yours.

9. Your Answers Lie Inside You
The answers to life's questions lie inside you.  All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

10. You Will Forget All Of This!


'keep going.  Even when you hit the wall.' 
Thanks Charlie!  I love you and I miss you buddy.

Caroline / Triathleta

Positive Thinking Day Today...Everyday!

Reading Positive Affirmations create positive thinking.  There are so many good things that come from keeping a positive mindset but especially in the midst of any crisis or challenge.  So think of any and every way you can project positive thoughts in your head and to others.  You might be pleasantly surprised at what comes back to you.  Today is an important day for this, so make an extra effort every moment you can.

My Wish ~

I hope that days come easy and moments pass slow and each road leads you where you want to go.  And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose, I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.  And if one door opens to another closed, I hope you keep on walking til you find the window, if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile, more than anything, more than anything, My Wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to, your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, you never need to carry more than you can hold, and while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the sames things too, Yeah, This is My Wish.
I hope you never look back, but you never forget all the ones who love you in the place you left, I hope you always forgive and you never regret and you help somebody every chance you get.  Oh, and find God's grace in every mistake and always give more than you take.  Oh and more than anything, Yeah, more than anything.  My Wish for you is that life becomes all that you want it to, your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, you never need to carry more than you can hold, and while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too!  Yeah, this is My Wish!

Rascall Flatts

...'the gunfire around us makes it hard to hear, but the human voice is different from other sounds.  It can be heard above noises even when it's not shouting, even when it's only a whisper.  It can be heard over the loudest army's especially when it's telling the truth'.

movie, The Interpreter

Live your own Truth and listen to the whisper of your inner voice when it talks to you.  Your Soul will never scream at you, it will give you little nudges and 'whisper' in your ear, so hone the skill of listening to your Soul, it will be a beautiful, constant guide through this crazy, inspiring thing called Life. 

Thank you Light, whomever and wherever you are!!

Have an awesome day, always!
Caroline / Triathleta

My new (old) workout music...what's in your ear?

I wish they had music at my pool! 

As of the beginning of this year I am back into training mode, 100%.  I've had more than long enough of an 'off season'.  It was actually a complete off racing for some time but that is changing this year.  I've been in the pool after a really long time out of the water.  Guess I must be part fish, and may actually be, a Capricorn, because whenever I get back in the pool I always think to myself how much I love to swim.  Granted my arms are wicked sore and I have to take a breather every once and a while more than I used to but, it's getting better and will get even better than that.  I am also running much more, pretty much every day now.  And I have to say I am so happy that it is without any pain in my left knee.  IT band syndrome had me running in pain for years until my chiro told me my foam roller was my new best friend and thank god he was right.
So now that I feel like a new human, old tri-geak come back around, I want music when I run.  Who knew! 
I never would train with music in the past especially when I would run.  I did for a little while, when people would put there cd player in a little fanny pack, god that seems forever ago.  But I did that, when I needed music. I know, complete nerd!  But this was before IPod's and Iwhatchamacallit.  But for whatever reason I just stopped wanting music when I ran.  I needed to hear myself breathe, it was my own 'heart rate monitor' of sorts I guess.  I also would run at night by myself and honestly, I wanted to make sure I heard everything around me.  The curse of being a woman wanting to still get her workout in even though she shouldn't be running anywhere alone at night.  Thank god for 24 hr fitness and treadmills I guess!

So a friend of mine from college posted something on my Facebook page and it opened up a door from my past that I guess I had closed.  Nothing bad, but you know how a song can bring you back in time, just hearing it and all of a sudden your somewhere else in your head.  Well I guess that's what happened to me.  Remember that commercial for Nike I think, someone is running on a muddy, puddled trail, all secluded and quiet, just you and the forest, and this voice comes on and says, ever get a song stuck in your head when your running?, then the song 'Jeremiah was a Bullfrog' comes on, and the voice says, 'You will now'!  I loved that!!  That was sort of how I felt, except with other songs.  When I was a kid, I loved, loved the Police.  It was a bit crazy, but I opened myself up to new stuff in college back East, Rochester, NY.  I listened to what everyone did back then, in the late 80's early 90's, the techno / punk rock.  But one group that came out of all that, and in the same neck of the woods, was the Goo Goo Dolls.  So when my friend made her post on my page, I all of sudden remembered that I loved those guys.   Where were all my cd's?  So I went looking and realized I was missing a few, only some cases, no cd's, probably lost to some old roommates, can you blame them really.  
(Picture of me on 01/01/2013, Commitment Day race, with my tunes.  It was chilly that AM, 9 degree's at start of race, music made me run faster to get back to my warm car)

 This is what got me...How could you resist, honestly???

So I've become a bit re-obsessed with the Goo Goo Dolls of late. I'm learning new songs I've never heard before that I love, love even more than the Police!  But I get on my bike/trainer in my apt and stick in the videos/live concert from Buffalo and Red Rocks and ride for all of it.  The Red Rocks one is sort of surreal because, when there isn't a ton of snow, I train at Red Rocks, run the stairs and bleachers.  I was living in CA when they filmed that concert, and so bummed I missed it but at least when I go again, I will have them streaming through my Yurbuds to help me up the stairs a dozen times or so.  Music has always been a big part of my active life since I was a toddler, literally.  I started dancing at age 4, to Rockn' Robbin and I can still remember that!  I couldn't or didn't really 'dance' back then, but I still can remember the music and the point-step-point-step I was learning.  Those were the days, I wanted to be a Rockette, then I got too tall!  Such is life...there loss right?!  Anyway, whatever your poison in music, be it Poison or Police or something from a Boy Named Goo, I say keep it coming.  Music is such a great partner when your working out, I just wish I had music when I was in the pool!

The Goo Goo Dolls are going to be releasing a new CD this year, this Spring I think, I hope, so I will have a dozen plus more songs to add to my IShuffle.  I might have to transfer all of it to my phone cuz I am almost maxed out on my songs for the little guy.  Gotta run for now, literally.  After all this talk about music and working out, I feel like moving again!
Until next time...
Caroline / Triathleta

Discipline is actually easier.

Ok so the last few weeks I have been off the typical triathlon training regimen and was messing around with other workouts I have at home.  But after the New Year and my birthday, Jan. 2, I always take a big look at what I want to do, how I am going to do it and try, (the operative word) to create a path that will lead me where I want to go.  So since I didn't have a place to swim I needed to get that in place immediately, and sure enough as soon as I did, my birthday present to me, I was back in the routine. 

I remembered one thing of what I know so well about myself, is that I love structure.  Some people hate discipline, kids hate being 'disciplined', but in reality it actually makes things easier.  Having a plan, some sort of structure to your day planned out makes my life so much easier.  Oddly enough, it actually allows me to be more spontaneous with my free time, because I know the stuff that I was supposed to do is done, so now I can do whatever I want. 
The last few years have been a bit crazy, job layoff, trying to stay in a career field that wasn't hiring or if  they were hiring, it was kids out of school, no one was adding anyone who knew a thing or two about design and architecture, so trying to have my normal 'routine' over this time has been futile at best.

Creating this website was the best idea I've had over this time and it's something that I am working on every day to try and grow.  I am working on getting a store open to support the website and want to do even more than that, but I'm going to try not to jynks myself and spill all the beans just yet.  Hopefully you'll stick around to see what it is.  But I am psyched about getting back into full training mode, back in the pool, back on the bike and up'g the mileage on my runs.  I have to say I do feel it more now that I am older, only by three days as of today, but I feel like it's going to be a good year.  So many possibilities to all the ideas I have and so many more with the triathlon season just on the horizon.  Spring will be here before you know it and the running club will be under way, races will be filling up.  It's a great way to spend your life, being a triathlete.  Even when your sore from running to much, spend an extra 500 meters with your kick board, it really helps loosen up the legs.  I did that the other day and it felt great.  I don't know, maybe I am just bias because I have loved this sport for so long and I know how much better my life is when I am in 'discipline' mode, training, getting what I need done, done, and move on to the next project.  It makes me feel like I am moving forward instead of just doing the same ole' thing and feeling stuck.  I know I hate that stagnant feeling, I have always loved change, big change at that.  I've always learned new things I never would have had I not made the effort.  So when you really think about it, those old commercials about the military getting more done before 9:00 AM than most people do all day, is probably very true, because those guys/gals are disciplined!!  And I bet they love it...

So get out your training log, set up your week next week, first full week of January in the new year 2013 and set up your goals.  Be disciplined, you might find that you like it to.

Cheers
Caroline /Triathleta