2010 My Year of Transformation

"So long as a person is capable of self-renewal they are a living being."

- Henri-Frederic Amiel

If time and space were a mountain that we all were continually climbing, I would take this moment to stop and wave at my past self to yell "Keep climbing and smiling! You'll never believe where I am, where you're going!" Could that be some version of a Guardian Angel? Well, without getting too philosophical, I simply felt the need to briefly reflect on an amazing year in my life, and emphasize those things that have become and remain important to me.

A Rare Opportunity

In 2010, I was presented with an opportunity that many people never get (and I realize that); I was able to take a 6 month sabbatical from my professional career. Granted, it's not retirement but, it was a substantial, meaningful, break.

What Should I Do With It?

I had some vague personal goals that I believe helped me not to squander (at least in my mind) this gift; Maybe not so much as goals, due to some lack of specificity, but more like ideas, i.e.: make some great memories with my family, explore this new found passion of trail running, reorient and and get enthusiastic about my profession again, expect some surprises along the way. With these nebulous concepts in mind and Susannah's help, a plan started to gel, i.e.: A trip to Disney World, a Trip to Yellowstone in conjunction with a trail race in the Big Horn Mountains as well as other trail races, a host of technology experimentation an tinkering, etc.

What Happened?!

Now that 2010 is a memory, I can only express amazement in how much can happen in one years time. All of my personal goals came true but, it's those things I didn't expect, the surprises, that give me pause. Let me list a few:

• Watching my 5 year old twin daughters rapidly turn into young ladies before my eyes.
• Regardless of improving as a runner, making so many new friends while doing it. I plan on keeping these friends for life.
• Gained some perspective on my career.
• Became even closer to my partner in life, Susannah.
• Never really considered myself much of the spiritual type, but, getting lost in the woods on a regular basis reintroduced me to that subdued part of myself.

And, for some reason, after this amazing year, I do not find it difficult to make certain life-long commitments that would have sent me fleeing just a few years ago. Granted, they're still select commitments, mostly to myself but, ones that still surprise me... things like "I will continue to stretch my Achilles for the rest of my life," and "I will jump at the chance to have lunch with a friend for the rest of my life," and "I will continually search for ways to be happy for the rest of my life," etc. Does that come with age? Maybe it's some sort of mid-life crisis (anti-crisis)?

For some more details, read my other entries at your leisure:

• Pursuing Childhood Via a Theme Park
• Inspired by Big Horn
• A Climb for the Legs, Some Friends for the Heart, A Mountain for the Soul
• My Journey to a Texas Ultra Trail Run: Part 1 of 3

Running

Considering that before 2010, the longest distance I had ever run was a half marathon, I believe I can chalk 2010 up to the best year of running I've ever had. I promise to keep this in perspective, allow for future seasons and/or years of recovery and just simple maintenance but, I'm taking a moment to enjoy this first-timer perspective. My friends and coaches at Tejas Trails, HCTR, and throughout Austin helped me get here; and, of course, my family. As I prepare to return to Bandera in 2011, and then attempt 50 miles at Rocky Raccoon, only one phrase comes to my mind: Thank you.

2010 total miles run, training + races + etc.: just over 1500 miles
Of those 1500 miles, ~460 miles were on roads, ~70 miles were barefoot, the rest of the miles were on trails.

2010 Races:
Three 50K's (All trail. Yes, I'm counting my Big Horn 50 mile attempt as a 50K :-)
Three Marathons (one road, two trail)
Two 30K's
One 25K
Nine training runs greater than 20 miles in length
100% of the races were fun

I hope all of my friends and family's 2010 delivered more than they could have wished for. And, I hope every year from here on out is a year of transformation!

Happy New Year,

David.