How'd I do?

I was checking out my first post of 2009 and thought I'd do a post-game debrief.

What I hoped for: Training: that it is as painful and difficult as it's supposed to be, and that I remain safe and injury free (and that I find the perfect new saddle and cleats without too much trial and error)
What I got: Hell yeah! It sure was pretty damn painful and difficult, and so very very rewarding. I didn't manage to remain injury free, although aside from the broken elbow, I only ever had a single minor and quickly corrected hamstring issue after a bike refit and even then only after the rides got over 100 miles. I did get a lovely new saddle (no more chafing!!!), but chose to stay with my current cleats.

What I hoped for: Races: that I finish next month's marathon, having run smart and strong.
What I got: I LOVED this race. Every single moment, all 26.2 miles. I didn't run fast, but the race went completely to plan and I think I did run it smart.

What I hoped for: Ironman: that I finish in under 17 hours; that I never despair; that I have fun.
What I got: 15:10:09, never despaired, unbelievable fun.

What I hoped for: Work: that I continue to feel as though I'm having a positive impact.
What I got: Oh boy oh boy oh boy. Nope. Didn't quite manage that. No, wait a minute. Let me modify that answer. Leaving my job makes me feel like I failed at doing my job. But I've had several conversations with former colleagues since I left and they've all told me that they remember me with fondness, miss me and that I taught them a lot - as did my situation. So I think that in many ways I can say I had a positive impact. They ain't forgetting me, that's for sure!

What I hoped for: Home: that Mark and I continue to enjoy the journey we're on; and that Mark gets to go on a bike tour.
What I got: I'm pleased to say that not only did Mark do a bike tour (Bike Virginia, solo, during which I miscalculated the railroad tracks), but even better, he got to cycle part of the C&O with his uncle Garth, visiting from New Zealand for my Ironman. And yes. overall, we enjoyed the journey we were on in 2009. So much so that Mark signed up for a repeat in 2010!

What I hoped for: Misc: I hope Anzac and Raglan and Tina and Dylan are still with us this time next year. And that I keep up my old friendships while nurturing new ones. That I don't put on too much weight after the IM. That I find something meaningful to occupy my time after IM, although it doesn't necessarily have to be life changing. I hope that I get our back door installed and kitchen finished finally. That we can redo our bathroom and finish our porch. Oh, and world peace.
What I got: Yes - 17 years old and going strong (the cats) and loving life (the dogs).

Old friends were mostly kept, though one newish friends was defriended rather spectacularly. And one of the greatest things to have happened to me in 2009 is the way several old and new friends became best friends and valued counsel and partners in crime. And all of it was due to the stresses of the year - whether long and physically and emotionally challenging bike rides, or picking up the pieces of Mary after physical or emotional crashes, or the need to find wise sounding boards to evaluate my career or some fun when not much seemed enjoyable in my life. So I can't really complain, can I?

I haven't put on too much weight, but what I do have has turned to flab. Sigh. I miss my Iron body. It'll come back though.

I found not much meaningful to occupy my time after the Ironman, although training a passel of girls for Girls on the Run was enormously rewarding as well as something of a sanity saver at times.

The back door has been ordered!!!!!! Wooohooooo!!!!!

No new bathroom. Just new cracks in the ceiling paint. Nor was the porch finished, despite all that unemployment time.

And somehow, I don't think world peace is going to arrive in the next three days.

In Summary
All in all, I don't I did too badly in fulfilling my New Year's wishes. Certainly an extraordinarily balanced year. Things could have gone better, that's for sure. And you'd better believe I'm going to be celebrating the end of 2009 in a deep and heartfelt way. Nor will I be making a similar list for 2010. I just can't predict what's ahead of me anymore. But I'm certainly looking forward to it being 2010 and no longer 2009!