2011: A Time For Change

New Year's Day has always been looked at as a time for renewal and new beginnings.  It's a time to forget the past and look towards the future.  It's a time to start new goals and resolutions…or re-start those old ones that sort of fizzled, in the previous year.

The start of 2011 really did not bring any beginnings my way.  The day was pretty much just a continuation of life in general.  I actually ushered it in while listening to Sick Puppies' “Maybe” and thought about how fitting it was.

The new year will definitely be sending me some changes, however.  Whether those changes will be considered as new beginnings or not, depends on how you look at things.

As each day passes, one change that continues to occur is with my health.  Naturally, I have the typical moments of soreness that comes with running but am feeling stronger, faster, and fit.  I'm not going to say that I still feel 25 but I'm done comparing.  Age is just a number…and my number is 43.

In some ways, this push that I am making with my running could be considered a farewell tour.  Farewell to the competitive side of track and field.  Farewell to some great training ground that I will have called home.  Farewell to a lot of great times.

It will not be a goodbye to running and not a goodbye to those who have supported it all.  But when it's all said and done, changes that I have held back from making will be made.  Farewells just bring about more hellos and new adventures, you know.

I won't have the fanfare of a world famous athlete and there definitely will not be autograph seekers surrounding me.  This blog will barely even see a hit or two.  None of that matters, though, because it is all about accomplishing something that is means a great deal, personally.

In two short weeks, the actual racing part of this modest farewell tour will begin - I can officially say that the butterflies have already started.  Holding back my anxiousness will be a tough task, for certain.  I pray not to trip when that first gun goes off…

So, keeping this week's entry short, I will say that my year began in a very quiet manner…without a worry and in great anticipation of things to come.  And most importantly, it began healthy and knowing that a positive voice is just a phone call away…or a text…or a Facebook wall post.

To all, I hope 2011 and beyond brings you much happiness and health!  Cheers and Peace…