The holidays are behind us, and now is the time to focus on where we want to be by this time next year. I’ve enjoyed all the friendships I’ve developed since I started this fitness journey, and some of them grow stronger each and every day. I started planning goals for the new year, but as you know life has a way of altering your course . . . in amazing and wonderful ways!

1. Run another marathon – This was pretty easy, since I enjoyed my first one so much! But I was thinking along the lines of Chicago or maybe Kansas City. I also wanted to pay it forward, to help others as my friends and mentors and coaches helped me along my path. While I am no expert, far from it, I have made enough mistakes and missteps to be able to tell someone “don’t do that.” Well now I get my chance: I have been asked to be one of the mentors for the iCan Running group this year. For those of you who don’t know what that is, Coach Loran Storts takes approx. 10 people who think that they could never run a marathon and transforms them into marathoners. They go from “I can’t” to “I can”. I ran with them for a lot of my training, and the lessons, advice, tips, and encouragement they gave to me was invaluable. It probably was the “make or break” portion of my training, and because of it I can proudly say I’ve ran 26.2. iCan!

2. Run at least two half marathons – I had already signed up for the Hy Vee Road Races half, so finding one more shouldn’t be too hard. Once again life made it easy. I planned on running the Dam to Dam again, a great 20k race. The organizers for the race got into a debate with the city over street closures and such, and as a result, they changed the race from a 20k to a half marathon. See . . .Easy!

3. Complete a century ride – this one will take a lot of training, as the longest ride I’ve completed is 75 miles. But I know that I can do it. With proper training, nothing is beyond reach!

4. Complete the 100 day challenge – this is a running challenge, of which I am 22 days into. The rules are: run four days a week, never go more than three days without running, and never, ever miss a Monday! I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

5. Get in the pool more often – If I’m ever going to compete in events in open water, I need to train. So I need to start making time to swim.

So there it is, my main goals for 2014. I plan on a lot of races (completed 16 last year) so I will have lots to post about. Here’s hoping your 2014 is everything you planned, and then some!

Live healthy, be happy!

Travis