New Year's Resolutions:

Use the "Iron Year" to improve in all areas of life, not just as an athlete, but as an attorney, father and husband, by cultivating habits that will maximize and optimize the use of time, minimize stress, and create a stable, balanced platform for succcess in all areas of life. 

I.  Consistent Training - Early to Bed and Early to Rise

Less nighttime eating. Less TV and mindless computer time. 

Go to bed early. 

Wake up early.  No snooze bar. 

Train consistently and early - try to get the day's training done (or at least most of it) before 6:30 a.m.  That's the only time I can truly count on.

II.  Make the Workday Count; Clear the Decks

Manage stress.

Manage time.

Stay organized.

Get things done, don't procrastinate.

III.  Balance and Mindfulness

Be with family when with family.  Be working when at work.  Be training when training.  Being present in each role will do the impossible - "create more time" in the day by making time count. 

Don't forget that even during the demands of Ironman training this year, family and work come first. 

Limit conversations about racing and training  (that is what this blog is for). 

IV.  Focus on the Less Obvious Components of Training:

Get more sleep.  Actively focus on recovery from hard sessions.

Eat more fruit, veggies, whole grain, fish.  Less fried food, less fast food.  Better portion control.

Do more strength training and more flexibility exercises (stretching, yoga, etc.).

Use visualization and meditation to develop mental toughness and a positive mentality.

Minimize race day stress by being better organized and prepared.  Pack the night before, from a checklist, wake up early.  Warm up.  Mentally Rehearse.

V.  Very important HAVE FUN! 

Every time a race gets really hard, I remind myself - this is what I wanted to do.