It might be time ...

I've been thinking it might be time to give Boston a go. I've qualified before but never really felt the urge to do it. Walking home after a coffee with Katy today, all of a sudden I just wanted to do it. Now this could have something to do with recovering from the flu, when just the walk of 2 blocks a few days ago would have wiped me out. I have never slept for 4 days solid before and don't get me wrong, I am not even planning a decent walk yet. I realize, it could be Christmas before I'm right to go again. Experiences like being knocked off my feet, tend to come out as positives for me these days. So now, I've got the motivation to have a go.

2009 has been a good year:

3 marathons 3:18, 3:10 and 3:19 all Boston Qualifiers and a PB.
Overall PB at Warwick, 3rd in age group in Jetty to Jetty half marathon and a PB 1:28 in the Noosa half-marathon plus the 10:46 3K time trial PB in May.



Cutting through the results, what it does mean is that I felt strong through 2 marathons and can hold a pace that will either get me under 3:10 or perhaps a little better.

I figure there are 3 things needed to run my best:

1. Courage to give it a go (great to see so many on the start line these days and even put a goal out there they feel unsure about), 2. Brains to train smart (some experience helps) and 3, Heart to maintain form when it hurts (and do the sessions when you might not feel so enthusiastic) ... Isn't that right Dorothy?

It might just be time to work the 3 elements and see what happens ... get a little closer to the edge (hope you appreciate my creative writing link).

Recently, I have been sitting around (because I have to) and taken to the wisdom of Boston Legal. Something stuck me when Shirley said that we all "live on the edge" ... edge of sanity? edge of loosing it or giving up?, edge of our paycheck? I always felt these things, but never really had the words or words that summed it up for me. But not just me, I feel many people feel the same without saying it.

And something else ...

I have survived another corporate restructure this year (did alright) and more importantly have my own staff in China. I know a lot of people have their views on China, but it has just occurred to me ... I can make a difference. So 6 our 1.4 billion doesn't make me the Chinese government, but how these people are treated and what they experience, I can do something about. I am excited about this ... keeping them safe at work, for example, might not seem big to you but it is to me.

I'm proud of my children and my time with them is precious ...



I'm also very lucky to have such as wonderful person as a partner. I love you, Katy.

I wonder if there are any new words of wisdom? ... this was a great find for me in the year and I wish to share it with you:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Source:Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

And again in an expression some may need to google "Av-a-go-yer-mug".

Happy 2010