Looking back at 2011

Looking Back at 2011

Lets hear it for 2011!  Hooray, huzzah and all that goodness.

Talk about changes – 500 miles closer to the equator, warmer, under new employment, engaged to be married, 18 pounds lighter, so many new places to explore.

Many of my 2011 goals were met or exceeded – which has caused me to set even more ambitious goals for 2012.  This may pose to be a problem, since I tend to be a “list-maker” and like to track data from all sorts of things.  I’m stepping back to look at my goals for 2011 before I finalize the 2012 set and see how I did:

• Ride 1000 Miles and finish a Century:  Last year I fell a few hundred miles short of my cycling goal and it really bummed me out, so I set out in 2011 determined to meet my goal, and to push myself more than ever before by finishing one century ride.  Well I met my goal 1011.7 miles, and I completed not just one, but 2 centuries (100 Miles of Nowhere, and Seagull Century) Goals Met!
  
• Run 200 Miles and a Half Marathon:  This was a huge accomplishment, seeing as I am not a runner.  But Not only did I run 233.9 miles this year, I also completed the Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon in June just under my goal – 2h29m9s.  Goals Met
• Get Engaged: Maybe this is a resolution more than a goal?  But on May 14th this year at Fort McHenry in Baltimore Kate and I got engaged.  Resolution Met
  
• Lose Weight:  I started 2011 about 10 pounds above where I was for most of 2010, so I knew that I wanted to shed that weight – and them some.  I set an ambitious goal of losing just over 30 pounds.  Well I didn’t make it all the way there, but I did lose 18 pounds – and I feel so much better. Partially Met
• Healthier Living: This one was simple, eat healthy, with good portion control, more greens, and less junk food.  This one was one goal I didn’t work too hard for.  Not Met
• Read More:  Over the past few years I have taken to reading (only a tiny bit) so I wanted to push myself to keep pace with 2010 by reading at least three books.  I may be missing something, but I know I got through at least 3, possibly 4 and have started two others.  In 2011 I read Jonathan Franzen’s “The Corrections“, “Freedom” and Fat Cyclists “Comedian Mastermind“. Goal Met
• Make New Friends in DC:  This was a weird one because I am not sure how to qualify it.  I met some great people in DC this year, and hope to meet even more in 2012.  I still don’t feel like I have a core group of friends like I did in Boston – but I’ll have to work on that.  Partially Met
• Work out at least 10 times per month: A simple fitness goal, and I am going to claim victory even though 119 “activities” is slightly under the 10 per month average.  All told, the year ended with 119 work-outs, 1254 miles cycled, run or hiked, 124.6 hours of activity and 91646 calories burned. Goal Met
• Participate in a DC Randonneurs Event: Failed, no more to say. Not Met
• Drive Less: I used to drive somewhere near 25,000 miles a year – many of them driving to out-of-the-way destinations around New England for work.  This year I wanted to cut that down to less than 17,000 miles.  I am happy to say that I drove less than 14,000 miles – significantly cutting down on my emissions.  Goal Met

January 2011 - Such a change from January 2012

Theme of 2011: Changes

February 2011 - A New 'hood

First Nats Game (I still don't like them, Red Sox or O's for me)

May 2011 - New Orleans for Jazz Jest

I read an article that quoted the chef from H Streets Granville Moores that said if you are ever not wowed when you see the Capitol Building, then your time in DC is near an end. I am still amazed when I see that building.

Favorite Photo of Myself in 2011: Seagull Century

Coffeeneuring Challenge

Happy Thanksgiving

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I’ve taken a longer than planned break from writing thanks to the hectic holiday travel, family visits, spotty wi-fi and assorted other things.  I have a bunch of ideas for new posts, so I look forward to writing a bunch before year’s end.

2011 is nowhere near over – but there are already many things to be thankful for, and I wanted to touch on a few of them .  Not that they matter to you, but they do matter to me, and much of why I write is for my own fun.

1) The best fiancée: The biggest and best thing that happened this year occurred on May 14th, 3 years and 1 month after our first “official date” Kate and I got engaged at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  I couldn’t ask for a better person to share my life with.  I’ll save the details, but let’s just say that I am very excited for a long life of bike rides, adventures and fun.

Bling

2) A new City: On February 16th I finished loading up our U-Haul in Somerville, MA amidst 4 foot tall snowbanks (they had melted from about 6-7 feet).  I ripped the parking ticket off the windshield of the van (thanks for the parting gift Somerville – I eventually got it taken away) and pointed south.  I knew I would move around in my life, but never thought I would be heading to Washington, D.C. I was greeted by nearly 80 degree temperatures and a warm breeze as we unloaded the van on the 18th.  I still can’t say that I feel completely at home, but it has been fun.  I’ve gotten to know the local shops/bars in the neighborhoods surrounding our apartment, gone on some really great bike rides, explored the history and culture that the city has to offer.  Hopefully in 2012 I can build on that, a core group of friends will certainly help – I’m trying!  Even if this southern migration lasts only a few years, it will have been worth it.

Leaving Pearson Ave. in Somerville for warmer climes

The U-Haul arrives in Maryland

3) A new Job: Unlike moving to a completely new city – I had explored switching jobs, including a last-minute decision to turn down an offer from another firm in spring 2010.  The new job has had ups and downs, certainly no more than any other job would though.  I do see incredible opportunities to develop my career, and that makes me excited.  I am also thankful that in the current economy I was able to land interviews with 5 firms, and offers from 3.  We didn’t end up in Baltimore (I work in Tysons, Kate near BWI), and the commutes aren’t spectacular – but again, I am very thankful that I landed where I did with minimal stress and worrying.

4) The old city and job: Fact: I miss my friends and life in Boston.  Fact: The internet is so good.  Thanks to our daily Gmail conversations, Facebook, a few visits, blogs, etc. I have been able to stay in touch with the people and the places I left behind.  Sure, the relationships change, and I don’t get to experience new stores, bike lanes, construction, etc. in person…. but consider if this had happened 20+ years back we’d be stuck writing letters, developing 35mm film and pricing long-distance plans to call back and forth.  People and places change, it is an undeniable reality – but it doesn’t mean they are lost forever.

5) Goals met: This year I set off some ambitious goals considering all of the life changes that would be happening.  But I met or exceeded many of them: Ride 1000 miles, ride at least 2 centuries, 200 miles ran, multiple running events (including a half marathon), get to know DC, get engaged, lose some weight.  All of those good things.  When I meet goals I feel great, and it allows me to re-set the bar and challenge myself further.  I’m glad that I’ve had many opportunities to work on these goals.