Update

This is a long overdue entry.

I’ve always enjoyed using the natural break in numerical year to reflect upon my prior year’s success and failures. While the past year in training was, at best, lackluster – and the weight gain was surely a failure, nevertheless, my increased financial health (and license to practice law) should ultimately result in a more healthy life.

Unfortunately, I graduated law school with an enormous amount of debt. The debt has been mentally crippling, because I was left with a difficult choice: Leave the public agency I love to serve and maintain my then “lifestyle” – or, give up the lifestyle I enjoyed in order to practice in the public sector. [It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I do what TV shows dramatize.] So, I downgraded my lifestyle. I moved into a pretty gnarly loft with lots of interesting people, parked my car on the street and take the bus to work (1.1 miles from where I live).

Hopefully it will all pay off with an official government job in about two months. If it doesn’t, there will be more looming financial issues. The short term debts with which I’ve struggled are now coming into focus. I’ve also developed some facility with – and, earned some extra income from – some anti-competitive (read: false advertising) laws. Essentially, one our laws provides a bounty of $1,000 per false advertisement.

This debt has crept into my exercise/triathlon regimen. Particularly, last year I cancelled all of my triathlons so I could reduce debt. It was a hard yet necessary choice. I hope I can allow myself a few races this year – or, alternatively, simply pay off my “bad” debt so that I can participate without any guilt.

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In the meanwhile, I spent many hours rowing this year. I never knew I would love it so much. In fact, I now have 2 million meters in the rower in less than 2 years (about 22 months). It’s such an easy, convenient and quick workout: I can get up at about 8a, row for 30-45 minutes, shower and be to work at about 930a or so. And, whether it is light or dark outside is irrelevant: It can all be done while listening to the radio. Although, I do admit to being wistful of the time when I would watch TiVO while rowing away.

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It is unclear whether and to what extent I will participate in triathlons this year. Indeed, some of it turns on whether one of my larger cases will settle in the next week or two -- or head to trial (a 2-5 year process typically). If it settles, then I suspect I will be out of debt, and I’ll be free to participate in triathlons.

If it doesn’t settle, I’ll be reluctant to spend money (read, borrow money at high rates of interest) to participate. I may do it anyway – but I want to at least be intellectually honest with myself about the cost of doing these races.

Indeed, in a perfect world, I’d likely do 1-2 xterra races, a half-ironman and 3-6 sprints/international distance races. But given my lack of base training at this late point (and potential lack of funds) it seems like a bit of a pipe dream. I suppose what I need to do is sit down and decide and low medium and high track – that is, what I’ll do if I settle early and pay off debt; what if I pay off half of “bad” debt now; versus, what if I have no early term settlements and must simply slowly but surely pay off debt via regular salary.

Beyond the triathlon endeavor, I would also love to do a few running races 5ks/10ks as well.

In the end, I do recognize the importance of exercise, generally, in my life. As well, I also recognize the great motivator organized races are for me – and they are just downright fun as well!