I know everyone is posting about either recapping 2013 or goals and resolutions for 2014 but all I can think about over here are bulls…as in the running of the bulls and giant, larger-then-life bull fighters in Spain.  Why you may ask?  Well because in 2014 I will be traveling to Spain to compete in the World Championship Duathlon and I think I would rather run with the bulls or attempt to fight one because the thought of the actual competition makes me want to soil myself.  

Doesn't this look like fun?

Doesn’t this look like fun?

I just can’t wrap my head around all that I have to do, and at the same timeI’m scared to sit down and create a plan, because that will make it really real.  My emotions swing from excitement to nausea and back from one moment to the next.  I feel as though I need someone to smack me in my whole face, shake me hard by the shoulders, and then hand me a training plan and point me toward my bike.  Any takers?

I need to get this girl back!  Has anyone seen my game face?

I need to get this girl back! Has anyone seen my game face?

One of my favorite bloggers Cori at Olive to Run wrote a great post about choosing a word to define your year.  Her word?  Fearless.  Yep, I’m going to definitely and absolutely need to be fearless and here’s some more reasons why:

1.  Instead of running my usual spring half-marathon in my home state this year, I’m traveling to NYC to run one – for the first.time.ever.  I’m beyond excited to run (and maybe meet up with some NYC blogging friends?) but also scared of the “unknown.”  The race I usually do, I do with friends.  I’ll be alone in NYC.  The race I usually do, I know the course by heart.  I haven’t a clue what the route is in NYC and even when I look it up I won’t really know.

Be fearless.

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2.  I’m turning 39 in March.  This obviously puts me at the very top of my age group (for racing) and therefore I need to be at the very top of my game.  It’s also the last year of my thirties which has been an amazing decade for me.

Be fearless.

3.  Miles and Vaughn will turn 5 in April and I think this officially makes them no longer toddlers.  I’ve known for quite some time that I’m not having any more kids, but to not have babies anymore, but real life children who will be going to kindergarten makes me feel, well, old.  The boys get more challenging by the day and are growing so fast that I can hardly stand it.  Pretty soon I won’t be able to hold them and they won’t even want me to.

Be fearless.

The boys second birthday.  Didn't I just take this yesterday? UGH!

The boys second birthday. Didn’t I just take this yesterday?

4.  I’m committed to learning at least some Spanish before our crew hits Spain.  When the hell I’m going to make time for Rosetta Stone is so far beyond me but I’ve shunned my Cuban heritage for long enough!…and I need to be able to communicate if I get lost on the course!  Donde esta….er, um….me llamo es…

No tener miedo.  (I so just Googled that)

Think of all the things Pit Bull and I can chat about in his native language!

Think of all the things Pit Bull and I can chat about in his native language!

5.  I’m going to join Pinterest.

Be fearless.

6.  I will celebrate my one-year of blogging in May which makes me feel like I need to take my writing to the next level, whatever that may be…

Be fearless.

I know that you’re supposed to visualize the best possible outcomes for any goal you’re trying to achieve.  When I was a little girl competing in gymnastics, my dad taught me that technique for my competitive routines and I thought he was a genius!  However, I find myself now visualizing the worst possible outcomes of all my fears; not completing or failing miserably in the duathlon, getting injured before I can run my first race in NYC, the boys completely losing interest in me and all the things we do together, not learning one damn word of Spanish.  Is that the worst that can happen?  If so, it’s really not all that bad, is it?  Ok, maybe the part about the boys but then I can catch up on a lot of reading and really let this writing thing take off!

But seriously,  I still have my loving family, supportive friends and the English language.  There’s nothing to be afraid of.  The only fear I should have is of not trying at all, of not setting my goals bigger and higher and farther away from what I think I can achieve.  Some of my dreams for 2014 are big.  Some of them are scary but all of them are 100% possible.

I will be strong like bull!  I will be fierce like bull!  I will be determined and I will dominate in the way of the bull.  What’s my word this year?  BULL!  Oh, it can be used in so many ways.  It’s perfect.

Now, where’s that 20 week duathlon training plan…?

What are your goals for 2014?  What scares you in the coming year?  What’s your word?

 

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