Goals for 2012

I explained earlier that I don’t really make “New Year’s resolutions” but just try to live life as best I can. But that doesn’t mean I don’t set goals for myself.

Here are some of the things I want to do in 2012–and how I hope to achieve them:

1. Qualify for (and run) the New York marathon. To do this, I need to either run a fast marathon (3:38) or a not-so-fast (1:44) half-marathon. By the end of January.

Due to my heavy workload in December, I opted for the half-marathon, and I’m going to run the Tukwila to Alki Half Marathon this Saturday. (Let me know if you’d like to join me ….)

For fun–and because of some confusion about the New York deadline–I’m also going to run the Surf City USA marathon in Huntington Beach, California, on February 5. My plan is to pace my running partner for the first 13.1 miles and then slow down and finish the final 13.1 on my own. We shall see how that works since the last time I ran more than 13 miles was back in late October.

But after I qualify this month, I will have plenty of time to build my mileage before the New York City Marathon, November 4.

2. Another thing I’d like to do in 2012 is to cater more parties and increase my personal chef clients.

These activities are very different, and I like to keep a balance between the two in my professional life. Catering a party gives me a chance to be part of a client’s special day or event, and gives me a chance to exercise my perfectionism as well as having a chance to be creative in food presentation. But it can be exhausting to do a party every night of the week.

On the other hand, working as a personal chef–preparing weekly meals for individual clients–allows me to really get to know my clients and their families. It’s fun to learn what they like and to watch their children’s tastes evolve from wanting only macaroni and cheese to appreciating raw oysters and cooking for themselves.

3. And maybe–just maybe–I will finally attempt a 70.3 Ironman. (Otherwise known as a half-Ironman, the event is a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike, and a 13.1-mile run.) That is if I can fit in the training, save for the $250 entry fee and work past the fear of the 1-mile swim (or shall I say, the fear of drowning).

That seems like a good start for the year. Please send fast thoughts my way between 9 and 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.