Farewell 2006

The last morning of 2006, Goddess made her debut as a Club Strength Instructor. She was "just subbing," but the whole class ... present company included ... simply loved her despite the fact that she took our behinds and handed it back to us, thoroughly whipped and beaten. Numerous parts of me were involuntarily shaking as we progressed through her profile, and a few tears did shed from my sweat encircled eyes.

We all made plans on attending tomorrow morning's super spin class, and Goddess will be instructing, so I really wasn't going to do any type of exercises until then.

H and I went out for lunch to Old Man Rafferty's (no table cloth, but it wasn't a bar and there were utensils ... so I'm okay with that), and my waistline that's already well stocked with some extras had only expanded more. With the sun shining coupled with the mildly cool weather, and my pudge jiggling about, happy in providing a muffin top to my silhouette, I decided that it would be poetic to go on the run that started my affair with running this year.

Around 2:45, I headed out to Johnson Park to tackle the very first 8 mile outdoor run I completed this year. I remember the day well. I just met a friendly stone contractor by the name of John, and we decided to go long that day. I remember my heart rate being up at 85% after the third mile, and I was already deliriously tired. I tend to be a quiet runner, but he really wanted to chat with me. Most people do chat while they run, so not wanting to seem rude or abnormal, I chatted. It only made the run harder than it already was. In addition, our starting origin is also our finish destination, and it is at a higher elevation than the bulk of the course. So we had to finish this sucker uphill, chatting the whole way. Needless to day, we were one of the last ones in, and we got lost on the way back since we were both new comers and weren't too familiar with the course. I hadn't really seen him since, and I've stopped running with that group since the days became shorter and they run during the early evening hours.

As I plodded through this course, I remembered that day, and other running moments during the year. It feels like I'm starting the process all over again, but this time a bit stronger and wiser ... like I've taken 26.2 steps blindly forward, and 16.2 steps consciously back. I'm a bit out of shape, but I don't really mind because I'm still 10 steps ahead of where I was a year ago.

As I've said before, 2006 was very kind to me, and 2007 will be a challenge. With my friends and support network, I feel confident that each goal will be met, and I know I will go to Boston in 2008. So I sealed off the year with a serious strength work out, and paid homage to the path that has brought me to where I am now. There will be chocolate fondue and champagne to celebrate all that was 2006, and to embrace all that we hope for in 2007. Tomorrow ... we will buckle down and get the game plan started for Destination Boston.

So Happy New Year Everybody!

Live well, be well, love generously and above all else, be happy and just keep going.