TRIals & TRIbulations: April 2014

So, I haven't posted in a while and I didn't come out with my January goals/resolutions for the year like I did the past two years. But, this year has been different. I'm closing in on the last few days of my final internship for physical therapy school. After my last day, I will have a week and a half before I sit for my boards exam, a 5.25 hour test that decides whether I can practice or not. Three days later I will be graduating with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I've also been interviewing for jobs, contemplating my offers and where I will begin my career, planning trips, and oh yeah, rehabbing another surgery!

I had hand surgery the day after Christmas in 2013. The procedure that was done in the operating room was the last resort that was discussed in the clinic and the recovery process had not been fully discussed. So, I was a little surprised when I was finally able to talk to the doctor and found out I would be in a brace for 8 weeks and not able to ride my bike for a full 10 weeks. This set me back a bit with all things cycling. However, this wasn't the first setback. The first was the burn-out and trudge through the burn-out at the end of the year in the 2013 season. I no longer had the drive and passion to get in the saddle like I did in the beginning of 2013. When you combine that with hand surgery limitations, working 45-50 hours a week (paying to work I should say), studying for boards exam, job hunting, and a few trips out of town, it's hard to get motivated to put in the required time on the bike to be at the level I would be satisfied with. I'm not going to half-ass it. I'm not going to ride just enough to show up to races and hang on. If I do it, I'm going to do it right and really commit to it.

So, that's what I've been doing recently and where my decisions have come from and the stance on racing my bike this year. I'm not giving it up completely, but I am definitely limited in what I will be able to do: because of the start to the year and some stuff going on in the summer, that's another post though.

I do still have some goals/expectations for the year, some I've even already accomplished.

1) Travel more, similar to last year, but I got to keep it going. Places I've never been. Things I've never seen. (Checking places off: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bristol, Asheville)
2) Complete the 'Chattanooga Things To Do' list before I move away (I've been working on it).
3) Graduate PT school and pass my boards exam.
4) Get my first 'real job' with a salary and benefits and all.
5) Watch 'Uncle Sam' take most of my money and understand the plight of the working man.
6) Obtain my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. (Done)
7) Move into an apartment by myself; oh the sweet serenity that awaits.
8) Be conversational in Spanish
9) Be a better Man

More to come.