Group Ski at the top of the famous VO2Max trail at Minocqua Winter Park

We are back in town. Up north, we had just a few moments for internet, almost no phone, no TV and no structure. Instead, I xc skied with my kids for 2-3 hours every day, then we played board games and gathered with our skier friends - a wonderful crowd of funny, musical, intelligent and like-minded people that we see just once a year up north. It was snowy, cold and beautiful. We saw bald eagles, otter slides and the tracks of a big pack of wolves that inhabit the area. I've attached a picture of a group of us on top of "Squirrel Hill" - a rewarding vista after 2km of climbing and before 3km of crazy descending. The skier with his poles in the air was diagnosed with stage 3/4 lung cancer (a non-smoker) a year ago.  Here, we are all celebrating life and the beauty of the winter woods.

The images of the winter woods and the cherished times with my family have now "filled me up." I am ready to go again - ready to coach, teach, write, train and parent.

Think about what "fills you up." When you are "full" of good things, the craziness of life just bounces right off of you. As we start this new year, make sure that you do what fills you up - family, friends, work, nature, books, music, etc. Don't skip those things for your training - it all must be in balance or your training won't be successful either.

But, at the same time, it is time to think again about your goals for 2013 and begin to pursue them in earnest. Without goals and the feeling of progress, I don't think any of us are happy. The holidays are over. The new year is wide open before us. What can we accomplish this month or this winter? How strong do you want to be when spring arrives? Visualize yourself at your "A" race this year. How do you want to feel on that day? Let this picture "fill you up" with purpose.
Remember that what we do as athletes is a privilege. Getting up in the dark to swim, bike, run or get strong is a privilege not an obligation. We have a choice with every workout: whether we feel lucky to be training for a goal or whether we feel the dread of the workout and the race. It is a choice. No matter what shape you are in (or in my case - how your knees feel), you can make the choice to feel lucky and get out there and train wisely.

Remember, we are the lucky ones.

I am lucky to be a part of your 2013 goals. Let's go grab those goals this year and have no regrets when it is all done!

Chris (who will be privileged to go swim after dinner tonight!)