<p>Already that time again? This year seems to have flown. The year was a huge mix of ups and downs and 2012 looks like it’ll hold much of the same. The downs, as all of you know, are absolutely shit, but on the other hand, the highs have been some of the best of my life. It was really tough for me during the dropping of the ball last night to look fondly forward to this year, but you can’t live with dread or fear… Live each day as if it’s a normal one and the next one will be too. I digress…</p>
<p>A look back at <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1294339770&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=”>my goals</a>, which kind of get a free pass given the curve life was thrown from the start:</p>
<ul>
<li>Run 1000 miles. I was ahead of myself on this. I probably could have done it, but I’ve instead been running what’s comfortable and only now do I feel I’m at a point where I can run almost every day without reaggravating my injuries.</li>
<li>Bike 2000 miles. Ungh! Apparently, last month I broke the formula I use in my calculation spreadsheet and thought I had far too many miles left to achieve this (I knew it’d be a tough December to ride). Today, I corrected the error after adding my mileage for the month and came up 23 short. 1977 miles is nothing to scoff at, but… damnit.</li>
<li>Visit another country. Did it! Canada was visited as part of our cruise to Alaska. I know, Canada is a weak way to get this, but it was the west coast!</li>
<li>Bike 100 miles in a day. I didn’t do this. I have no good reason why… I just never did it. I did a number of rides over 60 miles and one over 80 on a whim, but never did the 100.</li>
<li>Run a marathon. Like running 1000 miles, this was getting ahead of myself.</li>
<li>Run a sub-19 5k. I lost focus on running training this year. I think it would have been possible, but I was too busy riding bikes and swimming and stuff.</li>
<li>Compete in a bike race. I did a number of them… Placed 3rd in a team endurance race, and had several other podiums in local mountain bike races. I didn’t do the road racing thing, but that was more of not registering for stuff in time / needing to keep a flexible schedule.</li>
<li>Get married (it was a joke). I think I did as well as I could. 3.5 months until the big day!</li>
<li>Acquire a 3rd regular client for my side business. Did it!</li>
<li>Read 12 books. Finished on December 28th.</li>
<li>Review 12 spots on Yelp. Did 31 and was part of the “Elite 11″ squad. That’ll do.</li>
<li>Get a certification. Became a Microsoft Partner via 2nd job, but that doesn’t really count.</li>
<li>Maintain 170lbs. Failure, despite burning the most calories I ever have over the year. I blame this on lifting a lot more weights.</li>
</ul>
<p>Lots of gray areas up there so I’d say I accomplished around 50%. That’s far and away my worst showing ever, but I still think I did alright. Next year? Fewer goals… I think… Maybe.</p>
<p>Notable posts and events (I was bad about blogging regular stuff) over the past year:</p>
<ul>
<li>January
<ul>
<li><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.486663799395.265022.772254395&type=3″>Spent New Year’s with friends in Chincoteague</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1296175708&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Visited San Antonio</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1297628565&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Mom diagnosed with brain cancer</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://babylamken.blogspot.com/2011/10/neuroblastoma-surgery-tumor-removal-and.html”>Emily (my niece) has cancerous tumor removed</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>April
<ul>
<li><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150166091204396.311405.772254395&type=3″>Watched Katie (my niece) for two days</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>May
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1304346601&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Ran in the Race for Hope 5k</a> (19:33).</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1306162209&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Tried Twitter</a> (again).</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.grouplogic.com/enterprise-file-sharing/ipad-file-system/”>Shipped an iPad app</a> (at work).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>June
<ul>
<li><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150204400239396.323686.772254395&type=3″>Annual canoe trip on Rappahanock</a>.</li>
<li>Gave professional sports photography a shot (no pun… and also gave up on it).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>July
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1310243405&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Made a training ride into a competition</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1310599251&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Sold the Civic</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>August
<ul>
<li>Took an <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150270706074396.342426.772254395&type=3″>Alaskan cruise</a> and spent <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150271878719396.342776.772254395&type=3″>a long weekend in Seattle</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>September
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1315497519&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Got engaged</a>.</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1316363496&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Completed my first triathlon</a> (17/42 in age group with tons of time to make up by not being stupid).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>October
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1318596915&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&page=5&page=3&loc=main”>Got philanthropic</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>December
<ul>
<li>Saw Band of Horses and Beirut at 9:30 Club in the same week.</li>
<li><a href=”http://ftcy.co/rrffiF “>Joined a website that makes fitness into a game</a>. Won the holiday challenge (Bootcamp… most miles run, push-ups, pull-ups, and crunches) in the “Board Gamer” group.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other notable items:</p>
<ul>
<li>Trip tally: NC x 6, Chincoteague, San Antonio, Denver, <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150270706074396.342426.772254395&type=3″>Alaska</a>, <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150271878719396.342776.772254395&type=3″>Seattle</a>, Victoria (Canada), NYC, Miami, NJ.</li>
<li>Ran 349 miles (up from 279), biked 1977 miles (from 1458), swam 8.5 miles (from 10).</li>
<li>Read 12 books (from 10) with 5785 pages (from 1645). <a href=”http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2748079-michael?read_at=2011″>Check ’em</a>.</li>
<li>Rated 159 Netflix items (only way I can easily calculate how much stuff I’ve seen over the year)… I track my Netflix stats by month and have some sweet graphs to show you if you’re interested.</li>
<li>Heather and I now share a 550sqft apartment. It’s awesome.</li>
</ul>
<p>Previous yearly reviews:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1294156665&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=”>2010</a></li>
<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>I’m looking forward to 2012 with lots of hope. I hope Mom can maintain her positive outlook and stay strong, I hope Emily’s follow-up test this week comes back negative, I hope Jade can stay out of the hospital and continue down the path of leading a normal life, and I hope it doesn’t rain on our wedding day.</p>
<p>If I learned anything from this past year, it’s to live without regret. Say what you need to say, do what you want to do, and don’t let anything or anyone get in your way.</p>
2011 – Year In Review
Comments
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I did 139 Yelp reviews last year… but I only biked ~500 and ran zero.
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Things that make you go “Hrrrmmmmm” [wink]
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I bought us umbrellas, so we’re covered. I’ve got puns to last a lifetime. Get excited!! 😉
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In the style of “Founder,” “Keeper.”
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Hmm? Yeah, like there’s really any mystery about why I’m Mario and you’re Luigi.
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