Pete Pulls a Palin - Abandons Triathlon

Yeah, I hear you.

Pretty sure I know what you're thinking. (I'm thinking it too.) Click this link to hear the non-4-letter word describing my quitting that you're too polite to say out loud.

And yet.

- While I won't be taking any random-scheduled tours on a bus,
   I will certainly be touring on my bicycle more.

- While I won't taunt the media about possibly running for the highest public office,
   it is possible I'll be running for higher weekly mileage.

- And when things don't go swimmingly for me, I won't wade into safer water;
   I'll instead keep my mouth shut, dive in, and do some laps.

Before you know it, I may be posting a new challenge that's caught my fancy.

Meantime, feel free to:
• Dump duties,
• Run from responsibilities,
• Abdicate appointments,
• And otherwise shirk the shackles of assignments, just as long as you haven't sworn an oath saying otherwise.

Bottom line? The June 12 half-ironman I signed up for didn't mandate any swearing, but it did require sweating that I wasn't able to live up to. This time.

Thanks for reading way down here.

2011 - This Year'll Be Different?

Each new year seems to dawn the same way: ripe with well-meaning intentions of This Year'll Be Different.

Yet, it too soon shatters into tiny shards of wouldas. Shouldas. And couldas.

Ever the optimist, I believe I've got a way through that.

Pain.

Yes, pain. It's an excellent teacher (so says my youngest brother, a wise, high school instructor who seems to know a bit too much about the subject for my comfort).

But wait, this isn't about comfort; it's about pain. The pain that could be inflicted on me during the half Ironman triathlon that I signed up for on June 12 in Columbia, Maryland. (I'd list the website, but the race is closed to new entries, lucky you.)

So I'm relying on the fear - the very real fear - of that pain, to keep me motivated in fulfilling my 2011 resolution. The resolution that, coincidentally, is "to complete a half Ironman triathlon."

If I'm not fit, the race'll be more painful. To be fit, I'll need to be patient (don't do too much at once). And persistent (do something each day). And - don't be afraid of a little perspiration.

I invite you to visit this blog whenever you get a chance and use the fear of my self-inflicted pain to keep yourself motivated in your 2011 resolution.

Thanks for reading all the way down here.