The long and winding road called 2009...
Posted by John Tackett on Monday, December 28, 2009
Under: Ramblings
As the year comes to a close in less than 4 days, I decided to reflect back on the year and look at things, both good and bad. There have been a number of events in my life this year that will be carrying on into the next year (and most likely beyond.)
The first of which is the diagnosis, of what I already believed, that my mother suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. In the beginning of the year it seemed that it was getting worse, but medical science has come up with a number of drugs and treatments to help those in the early stages and they seem to be working. This past holiday season she was much more coherent and responsive. After seeing what it did to my grandfather, I am glad to see that there is some good news in the battle against this terrible affliction. But while that is good news, my father was diagnosed with type II diabetes this past summer. While he had had to make some lifestyle changes to combat the disease, he has been able to keep in under control without medications or insulin therapy. Because of this development, my annual fund-raising ride for the American Diabetes Association takes on a more powerful meaning in my life.
In regards to my health, I have been fortunate enough to stay relatively "bug" free this year. The H1N1 virus, or any other flu virus has not struck the household yet and hoping that it stays that way in 2010. I have been continuing with my running and will finish the year with over 1300 logged running miles, and my lifetime running mileage is just over 6200 miles. Just imagine, 6 years ago it was at 0.
I completed 2 marathons in 2010, the ING Georgia Marathon and the Chicamauga Marathon this past November. In fact at the Chicamauga marathon I set a PR of 3h 13m and 35s. It was good enough to qualify me for the 2010 and 2011 Boston Marathon as well as the 2010 ING NYC Marathon (Of which I hope to do in 2010.) I also completed my first IronMan sanctioned event, the IronMan 70.3 Augusta triathlon this past August. At that event I set a 70.3 PR for myself as well. Unfortunately I also relaized that my swimming skills require a lot of work and have decided to sit out 2010 in regards to tri's, maybe doing just one event in 2010. I am hoping to do a number of duathlons for training purposes.
I also did a number of bike rides, both organized as well as on my own, in 2009. Despite the economy and all I was able to raise over $700 for the American Diabetes Association and the annual Tour de Cure. I skipped the annual MS bike ride this year as it was 1 week after the Augusta triathlon and I needed to rest.Looking forward to the 2010 Tour de Cure as it has even more meaning now that my father has been diagnosed with diabetes. Also want to do the MS ride in 2010 and a couple of rides in the hills and mountains of north Georgia.
2009 also saw me changing jobs with AT&T. I went from being a technical analyst dealing with hardware to an data analyst with the wireless side of the the company. My old job was phased out in 2009 and I was fortunate enough to find the new position. I really enjoy it but it will pose a number of challenges in regards to my running, cycling and physical activities. Since it deals with the wireless side of the company, I have restriction placed in regards to when I can take time off as we are constantly rolling out new products and upgrades. May even have to miss Dragon*Con 2010.
Brenda and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary in February and are pre-planning our 30th anniversary with a trip to either Edinburgh Scotland or Berlin Germany. Now she has tossed in Disney-Paris as well. Humm wonder if I can get into the Berlin marathon?? We continued our volunteer service at the Georgia Aquarium where we will both finish the year with over 400 hours volunteered in 2009. We both also did a "Swim with the Gentle Giants" at the aquarium as well. We enjoyed it so much that 2010 may find us getting dive certified by end of summer.
Well, I need to cut it off for now. 2009 was a good year overall and I am already starting plans to make 2010 even better. But I always remember the words of John Lennon, "Life is what happens when you make plans." As long as I still have my family, my health, my job and a healthy outlook on life in general, I am sure it will be even better.
Excuse me while I kiss the sky...
The first of which is the diagnosis, of what I already believed, that my mother suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. In the beginning of the year it seemed that it was getting worse, but medical science has come up with a number of drugs and treatments to help those in the early stages and they seem to be working. This past holiday season she was much more coherent and responsive. After seeing what it did to my grandfather, I am glad to see that there is some good news in the battle against this terrible affliction. But while that is good news, my father was diagnosed with type II diabetes this past summer. While he had had to make some lifestyle changes to combat the disease, he has been able to keep in under control without medications or insulin therapy. Because of this development, my annual fund-raising ride for the American Diabetes Association takes on a more powerful meaning in my life.
In regards to my health, I have been fortunate enough to stay relatively "bug" free this year. The H1N1 virus, or any other flu virus has not struck the household yet and hoping that it stays that way in 2010. I have been continuing with my running and will finish the year with over 1300 logged running miles, and my lifetime running mileage is just over 6200 miles. Just imagine, 6 years ago it was at 0.
I completed 2 marathons in 2010, the ING Georgia Marathon and the Chicamauga Marathon this past November. In fact at the Chicamauga marathon I set a PR of 3h 13m and 35s. It was good enough to qualify me for the 2010 and 2011 Boston Marathon as well as the 2010 ING NYC Marathon (Of which I hope to do in 2010.) I also completed my first IronMan sanctioned event, the IronMan 70.3 Augusta triathlon this past August. At that event I set a 70.3 PR for myself as well. Unfortunately I also relaized that my swimming skills require a lot of work and have decided to sit out 2010 in regards to tri's, maybe doing just one event in 2010. I am hoping to do a number of duathlons for training purposes.
I also did a number of bike rides, both organized as well as on my own, in 2009. Despite the economy and all I was able to raise over $700 for the American Diabetes Association and the annual Tour de Cure. I skipped the annual MS bike ride this year as it was 1 week after the Augusta triathlon and I needed to rest.Looking forward to the 2010 Tour de Cure as it has even more meaning now that my father has been diagnosed with diabetes. Also want to do the MS ride in 2010 and a couple of rides in the hills and mountains of north Georgia.
2009 also saw me changing jobs with AT&T. I went from being a technical analyst dealing with hardware to an data analyst with the wireless side of the the company. My old job was phased out in 2009 and I was fortunate enough to find the new position. I really enjoy it but it will pose a number of challenges in regards to my running, cycling and physical activities. Since it deals with the wireless side of the company, I have restriction placed in regards to when I can take time off as we are constantly rolling out new products and upgrades. May even have to miss Dragon*Con 2010.
Brenda and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary in February and are pre-planning our 30th anniversary with a trip to either Edinburgh Scotland or Berlin Germany. Now she has tossed in Disney-Paris as well. Humm wonder if I can get into the Berlin marathon?? We continued our volunteer service at the Georgia Aquarium where we will both finish the year with over 400 hours volunteered in 2009. We both also did a "Swim with the Gentle Giants" at the aquarium as well. We enjoyed it so much that 2010 may find us getting dive certified by end of summer.
Well, I need to cut it off for now. 2009 was a good year overall and I am already starting plans to make 2010 even better. But I always remember the words of John Lennon, "Life is what happens when you make plans." As long as I still have my family, my health, my job and a healthy outlook on life in general, I am sure it will be even better.
Excuse me while I kiss the sky...
In : Ramblings