Determine that the thing can and shall be done and then we shall find the way.” – Abraham Lincoln

This year has been quite a year for me in my running and in my personal life. After accomplishing all the goals that I set for myself, I have to ask…what’s next?

Running has gotten me through some pretty tough times this year. I was grateful for having the goal of completing a 100-miler to keep my mind off of my divorce and keep me in a positive place when the opportunity to fall into a negative slump was hanging over my head. (PS – the Q&A’s for the 100-miler is almost finished…for real). I have met some incredible people and have a following of like-minded folks who support me through all of my adventures.

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

With respect to running, I’ve decided now that I can go the distance, I need to get faster. You have no idea how much it pains me to say that. Running fast to me is nothing but pain and agony…well more than the usual. And it terrifies me. Not the pain part, but the part of not getting fast enough. I would love to attempt a sub-24 hour 100-miler and maybe get into the Spartathalon Ultra Race, which is a 246km (153 miles) road race in Greece that you must complete in 36 hours. WHAT-WA??? Yeah. I found out about this on a Facebook Group page that I belong to and did some research. I hated everything about it and decided, awww hell…why not reach for it? The odds are against me, but how do I know if I don’t try? So I had a plan. If I didn’t get into Western States, then I would go back to Hallucination 100 and try to get the sub-24. That means trying to knock off 5 to 6 hours off of my time. It’s not impossible. It just takes a hell of a lot of work, discipline, and determination. Well, I didn’t get into Western States so now it’s time to train for speed and get that sub-24 hour 100-miler. Damn.

With regards to my personal life, I decided to head in the direction of motivational speaking and perhaps write a book. What? Doesn’t everybody want to write a book? Doesn’t everybody want to do a TED talk? But I have a fear of talking in front of large audiences, so I joined my local Toastmasters club to help me get comfortable with public speaking and get over my freaking stage fright. The last two times I was there, I umm’ed and so’d my way though what they call a “table talk.” It’s an impromptu 2-minute speech – THE LONGEST TWO MINUTES EVER – but, I didn’t die of a heart attack so I guess this isn’t going to kill me. I’m due to give my first speech next week and I’m scared shitless. But I can’t let fear hold me back.

I’m also thinking about moving out of Baltimore and start fresh. I was serious when I mentioned a while back that Italy was an option, but I’m also contemplating somewhere within a few hours drive fom my mom and my sister. I still don’t have this figured out yet, but I hope to have it figured out in the coming year.

“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.” – John Scully

I don’t know what 2016 is going to bring, but I do know that the possibilities are endless. I feel that I have the world at my fingertips because I want the world at my fingertips. Over the past few years, running has empowered me to grow beyond my wildest dreams. Who knew?