Writing Checks

English: Sample sheet of checks with stubs.

It's almost become a tradition at this point. I suppose that January is the time that people start thinking about improving their fitness. Resolutions, and gym memberships, and realizing that tire around your waist isn't a set of left over water wings are all part of it I suppose. For me it is the time when people start asking me, "So are you going to try that Leadville thing again?" The answer is of course yes, and it is a good reminder that I'd better start busting my hump in earnest if I'm going to make any progress towards this goal. It really is only a short time away already, and it would be easy to think about all the reasons that any work is futile. However I'm stubborn enough and bull-headed enough to try again anyways.

All that being said I really would like to establish some different traditions. More like, how many ultras are you going to finish this year, and how fast are you trying to run it this time around? Instead of, are you going to try and finish it.? Baby steps. First things first. I realize.

It's time to invest. Banking miles now with the idea of reaping dividends in August. That is my financial plan. It's painful at times to cough up the extra change and spend time and sweat paying the cost now, but I think, I hope, I dream that the final payday will be worth it. It seems a long ways off, but I'm going to think strategically. Keep an eye on those p/e ratios (hill training), diversify the portfolio (strength training and cross training), reinvest the dividends (speed work), and max out the 401k (high mileage weeks). All this of course has to fit in the budget (sound nutrition and losing the piano). The formula is simple. Time to write some checks.