<p>Welcome, to the first in a two-part series of year-beginning posts. In years past, I’ve lumped my yearly review and look ahead into a single post. Not this time around. Why? I didn’t like the naming scheme I’d used in the past. Yeah, I’m that fickle.</p>
<p>We’ll start off with the goals I set for myself last year. I have yet to look at them, but I’m worried… very worried. The goals follow:</p>
<ul>
<li>Get running again – I would say this was a success. I can run double-digit miles with relative ease, I’m no longer in daily pain, and the only thing holding me back from really getting back to it is longer-than-average recovery times and a lack of motivation.</li>
<li>Run a sub-3:10 marathon. This was a poorly set goal. Totally unrealistic. Probably not even realistic for this year. Bad Michael.</li>
<li>Visit another country – Fail. I didn’t settle into my “new life” until September or so… And I wasn’t going to travel alone.</li>
<li>Bike 100 miles in a day – Fail. No good reason. I regularly rolled out of bed on random weekends and did 50-70. I scheduled a few “centuries” with friends, but they were non-committal and I didn’t want to attend one solo.</li>
<li>Bike 1000 miles – Done. 1458 and that’s basically all in seven months. A relatively low number, but far and away a personal best. 403 in August alone.</li>
<li>Get the Civic back to fully-streetable. Came close, but lost motivation/means. Threw a new suspension on and made a good effort of selling “track” parts. Still needs a few bits, but it’s at least palatable now.</li>
<li>SCUBA. Fail. Didn’t go anywhere suitable.</li>
<li>Go on an epic bike ride or car trip. Fail. I did buy a new car, which might help me attain this next year.</li>
<li>Work remotely for an extended period of time. Kinda sorta got this one. Work kiboshed this grand plan [of becoming a Digital Nomad], but I did spend a couple weeks working in NC and will likely make that a regular occurrence each year.</li>
<li>Begin learning Spanish. Fail. I’m spread too thin. Too little time.</li>
<li>Bench press 225. Fail. Visiting the gym once or twice a week will not make any gains.</li>
<li>Cook more. Success. I didn’t cook A LOT more, but becoming single caused me to make little meals for myself/eat out less a bit more often. The is also a poorly set goal.</li>
</ul>
<p>Now it’s time to list my most notable posts of the year… Here ya go:</p>
<ul>
<li>Jan. 26 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1264515666&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Made a new website</a> and proceeded to do nothing with it. I still feel with the right marketing and content, this could have made me some coin. Oh well.</li>
<li>Mar. 12 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1268412820&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Got an iPad</a>, which has changed the way I compute and play games at home and on the road. I love it.</li>
<li>Mar. 22 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1269266406&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>My family moved away</a>. </li>
<li>Apr. 14 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1271270101&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Was cheated out of some money</a>. This never went anywhere other than me trashing his image all over the Internet. He’s been blacklisted at all the major car forums.</li>
<li>Apr. 24 – Scott and Claire got married.</li>
<li>May 03 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1272892684&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Went to Boston</a>. Lovely place. Hope to visit/watch friends run/run myself often.</li>
<li>May 1-2 – Completed the <a href=”http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/fbbt/index.html”>Five Boro Bike Tour</a>. </li>
<li>May ?? – Moved in by myself.</li>
<li>Jun. 3-6 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1275931596&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Went to Vegas</a>. A relatively tame trip. Running out of friends getting married!</li>
<li>Jun. 09 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1276060888&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&page=11″>Wrote a bit about being single</a>. [Became single]</li>
<li>Jun. 25 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1277517582&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Bought a car and a new phone</a>. Love both.</li>
<li>Jun. 26-27 – Drove the <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Parkway”>Colonial Parkway</a> on the way back from Laura & Butter’s wedding.</li>
<li>Jul. 29 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1280411996&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Had a bicycle crash and visited NC</a>. Still have some good scars from the spill.</li>
<li>Aug. 14 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1281815403&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Fixed a lamp</a>. Then I decided I don’t like them.</li>
<li>Aug. 31 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1283283795&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Worked out a ridiculous amount</a> in August.</li>
<li>Sep. 10-12 – Spent a weekend in Outer Banks with Greg and Geordie.</li>
<li>Sep. 16 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1284662300&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Went to Tahoe</a>. Amazing place. I could vacation there regularly.</li>
<li>Sep. 22-26 – Visit family in NC.</li>
<li>Sep. ?? – Hit my goal weight after a few months of serious working out and eating well.</li>
<li>Oct. 28 – Went on a date with Heather.</li>
<li>Nov. 02 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1288707958&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Had a busy October</a>.</li>
<li>Dec. 01 – <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1291215021&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=11″>Ran a sub-20 5k</a>. No idea how I got into such shape, but I’m still really happy about it.</li>
<li>Dec. 19 – Hosted 1st Annual Grubmasfest and attended Nutcracker.</li>
<li>Dec. 23-26 – Spent Christmas in NC with family.</li>
<li>Dec. 30-31 – Spent the New Year in Chincoteague with friends.</li>
</ul>
<p>Other notable items:</p>
<ul>
<li>Trip tally: NC x 3, Outer Banks, Boston, NYC, Tahoe, Vegas, Tidewater.</li>
<li>Ran 279 miles (from 954), biked 1458 miles (from 670), swam 10 miles (from 3).</li>
<li>Replaced my old mountain bike.</li>
<li>Read <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307266303?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0307266303&adid=07K665HXAC6YS6M23PDR&”>Born to Run</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615158439?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0615158439&adid=0FFANEQ04VP9KNDZVDQQ&” target=”_blank”>Surprisingly Simple</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/1936594110?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1936594110&adid=05ZPQFVEH7TFTFNCMZXM&” target=”_blank”>The Time Machine</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600967167?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1600967167&adid=0RWCEJH4RFKM00KEAMDJ&” target=”_blank”>The Art of Money Getting</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932549439?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1932549439&adid=1PA7EHW6N5HJC6HWAF5T&” target=”_blank”>Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Running</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142000280?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0142000280&adid=0W313MDC44J2F0FR1XPG&” target=”_blank”>Getting Things Done</a>, <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061718947?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0061718947&adid=1AT8SZK1N4W9AFY8DJXP&” target=”_blank”>Medium Raw</a> (my first eBook), <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/1936594153?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1936594153&adid=1W2RMSMXFZ2HKF0DQ1Y0&” target=”_blank”>Siddhartha</a>, and <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061992704?tag=mikeylikesit-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0061992704&adid=110VAD5XR18692RVTHNM&” target=”_blank”>Sh*t My Dad Says</a>.</li>
<li>Bought a lot of new art including some original pieces.</li>
<li>Family still had a handful of surgeries, but everyone is in much better shape than they were at the start.</li>
<li>Emily spent the year with her Neuroblastoma. It is scheduled for removal on 01/05/11.</li>
<li>Jade is pretty much through treatment. Still a bald little head, but thinks are looking really good for her.</li>
<li>Closed the year very happily in a relationship with Heather, whom I’ve known since kindergarten.</li>
</ul>
<p>Previous yearly posts:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1262403237&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=8&page=11″>2009</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1230927982&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=”>2008</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1199409726&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=”>2007</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?&subaction=showfull&id=1167765887&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=”>2006</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, a good year. I’m happy with where I am professionally and personally. I didn’t reach all of my goals, but did much better than last year. I need to come up with a new system because I forget about most of them through the year; maybe set a few less and keep them posted on my door or something? Regardless, I’d say I accomplished more than most in what turned out to be a relatively life-changing and wild 2010.</p>
2010 – Year in Review
Comments
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+1 for bike 100 miles
I find it easier to keep a Life List and set a goal for marking x off, instead of setting specific goals. Life is complicated and plans change, I think keeping it open-ended but with a commitment is the best way. You do both a life and year, which would be too many lists for me.
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Most people don’t accomplish in a lifetime some of the things you accomplish in a year. Wishing you another great, fun-filled, successful year in 2011!
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