End of 2012 and looking ahead

Today I am officially RETIRED after 25 years, I retire with no regrets only looking forward. 2012 has been a year of challenges that I want to leave behind so I anxiously await 2013's arrival. One of my close friends has had a goal of RUNNING not walking a 5K for quite some time. For some that may not seem like a huge task but for others their 5K is their Marathon their Ironman. Before I started all my marathon and triathlon craziness that too was my goal, to run 3 miles. So I GET IT. It will take commitment from her to achieve that goal just like the rest of us. To plan that workout, manage life, work and family around that commitment just like we all do when we are training. I believe in her, I believe that she has the desire, the passion, the drive to do it. Talking with her about the 5K and hearing the excitement reminds me of how this all felt for me in the beginning. A fire I have lost this past year but through talking with her and helping guide her I can see a little ember still smoldering that can be turned into that fire of passion inside of me again. So you see her 5K is also my beginning again. Yes I can do Marathons and I can do Ironman races but to me if it is with an emptiness on the inside what is the point. I race for me except for when the race is raising money for Cancer or another foundation. No one makes me race, there will never be a cash prize at the end but sometimes that feeling you get when you cross that finish line, well you can't put a dollar figure on that. It is a sense of accomplishment that nothing can ever take away and helps you to see anything is possible. It will be one of the greatest moments of my life to see a friend I care about cross the finish line and SAY I DID IT.

Last Official Workday

November 28th was my last official work day, HAPPY DANCE. Now the fun of out-processing, papers, more papers and running around. Although it is not the retirement day it is so very close. As I think about people that I have worked with over the past 25 years that have retired it seems funny that now its my turn. I have seen many who have said I can't wait to retire then when they day comes they wish for more time. Me, I am ready, new adventures and new chapters. More, much more time to train. To fully live my TRI passion.