Real David H.

10 years ago I started this journey on a hike. 10 years later I’m not where I want to be, but I’m certainly in a much better place.
While everyone else is doing a year in review, I’m looking forward. Reflecting on a calendar year’s successes just isn’t in the cards for me right now. I’ll only find myself in this circle of wishing it could have been a better 365 days. It was good, not great. I’m injury free. I’m in a perfect spot to do what I think I can do over the next 12 months.

As the calendar changes, though, I came across my photo from Jan. 1, 2004, that started this whole journey. Today I took a similar profile photo to see the changes.

I’ve kept at least 30 pounds off for 10 years. I’m much healthier and in far better shape. I could recap a lot of what’s happened in the past 10 years, but I know all that already. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this journey as I’ve gone from my mid-20s to my mid-30s.

But the journey isn’t over. It will never be over. A year from now I want this story to be different than it is today and be planning another path that continues what I’ve started.

Another chapter begins tomorrow with fresh shoes and a new training log; new socks and underwear arrive Thursday. Goals for the Shamrock Half will start to take place over the next few weeks. I’ll have ups and downs, but I feel much more ready for them than I was this year.

Have a happy and healthy 2014!