Happy New Year everyone! I know it's kind of arbitrary, but everything has to have a starting point and the New Year is perfect for looking back to gain perspective and looking forward with hope and determination. 2012 is gonna bring some fun stuff, new goals for me and hopefully some new friends plus closer relationships with friends I already have, I can't wiat! Announcements & stuff to look forward to: New Year's Edition of Couch to 5K will start Monday 6:00 p.m. BB&T Bank Bldg parking lot (2401 20th Place South) - I'll explain the program first, then those who are ready will 'get 'a goin'! Run University is going to be a little more active on the 'fun scene' so we'll have a Run U Reunion and Fat Tuesday Run with door prizes and other fun stuff. Look for a new Half Marathon in Tuscaloosa late March benefitting Habitat for Humanity. The goal is for the 'half' to rais enough to fund at least one new house annually (the word is 'goal'). They are still helping tornado victims. The Mayor is on board (he just did his first marathon) as are Nick and Terry Saban (Nick's Kids works closely with 'Habitat'). The website should soon be up and running. There's also the Dixie 200 Relay Run from Atlanta to Birmingham that ought to be a blast and that's just the first 5 months of 2012!! Hopefully everyone has their 'running' goals in mind as well as personal and professional 'resolutions'. I think it's great to set lofty goals, but we can only reach those goals when we continually 'stair step' towards them. I can't tell you how many people contact me saying they want to run a marathon (it's on their 'bucket list') when they haven't done a 5K...stair steps. Or another way to to look at it is, TODAY! Sometimes you can do something one day at a time (or one half day) at a time that if you had to do for 6 months would be overwhelming. Resolving to run more, lose weight or eat healthier? Set the run schedule up one day at a time stair stepping to your goal; eat just one healthy meal at a time. Working out, set the workout days like appointments and be sure you go TODAY! If it's Monday don't worry about Tuesday, do Monday's 'sutff'...just do today. Get your run in, today. Just today, worry about tomorrow when it gets here - you can prepare for the future, but you can only take care of TODAY. So TODAY, do something positive for your health, your family, your job and most importantly for yourself. Don't make the excuse, "I don't have time." We ALL have the same 24 hours, MAKE time." You'll never 'find' time...Just TODAY, no excuses...none. Then one day at a time you'll find yourself inching closer, then stepping, then rapidly gaining on those goals and your resolutions will become habits! If you slip up or fall off your 'horse', take a mulligan! Deep breath, remember WHY you made these self promises then get back ON the horse, TODAY! Slipping up is not fatal, but quitting is. Just TODAY, start over, you can do tha one day at a time. It's going to be a great year, your best year yet and it starts....TODAY!