Two more weeks of "off season" and I can hardly stand it!! When everyone is just ending their race season, I'm itching to start back to base training. Really. Seriously. But I think that's what happens when you end your season early ... like really early ... like at the end of July. Ha! Ha! But I needed the money and I didn't really have any BIG goals or races for August and I had a new distraction to focus on. *wink, wink*
Having all this time "off" has been good in a number of ways, but most of all, it has given me time to reflect and assess. First month was "PARTY!" Second month was, "what do I want to accomplish next year?", and third month has been, "what is it going to take, mentally, to get ready for a breakthrough year?" because it's gonna hurt - in a good way, of course.
For the first time in a long time, I am really excited about next years goals. They are just enough of a stretch to be a challenge, but also attainable with hard work, focus, and some sacrifice...
... and THE biggest sacrifice is something I have struggled with for a long time but is also something I am finally ready to give up.
I'm going to quit drinking.
Of course, I'm talking about alcohol. And when I say it like that, "quit drinking", it sounds so much worse than it really is ... today.
Without getting all "woe-is-me" and cliche, I have had a problem in the past. I have had it under control for a while, but it's time to finally get the monkey off my back for good. And I'm in a place where I feel like I can finally do it.
So for the past three months I have been working on the issues that cause me to drink and mentally preparing myself for how I will handle parties and holidays ... or Tuesdays ... and I've come up with a pretty good plan and some substitutions that I really like!! I also have the most amazing support system (RDJr. and The Aubs) who will help remind me why I am doing this.
This post is starting to sound all sad-gloom-and-doom but honestly, I am in such a good place now that I don't even think it will be all that hard and I'm really happy and excited about all of it!! For realz.
Yes, I will likely be caught with a glass of wine in hand at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and I'm not going to go all "holy-ier than thou" on people at parties and, for crying out loud, my bike team is sponsored by an AWESOME brewery (which I still promote and love all of their products!!) but, for me, right now, it seems like the right thing to do.
And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Cheers to 2011!!
