Happy New Year! I trust that everyone had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I had a chance to bring in the New Year spending the weekend with my 15-month-old grandson, rolling around on the floor. Good thing I’m in shape, because the little tank never stopped moving around. I’m sure many of you know the feeling. The beauty of being a grandparent is the kids get to go back to their mommy and daddy. I know, shame on me, but he’ll be back.

You know what comes each January? New Year’s Resolutions. What goal will you make that you don’t keep?

How about you let this be the year that you follow through with your fitness objectives.

What can be stated to motivate you into action? I don’t believe there is any technology to date that will motivate you into the shape you have defined. There are devices which can assist you, but you need to make the first step. The numerous devices on the market are for those who enjoy tracking performance and getting to the next level.

There is no device into which you can input your available time, family situation, work hours, and if you are a stay at home parent. So, you have to find a way to enter the data into a program.

One line I use when I speaking with students is, “How bad do you want something?” If you want something bad enough, then you will find a way to obtain it and make justifications.

This is supposed to be a fitness column, and with it comes “mental fitness,” because that’s what will get you to move. This means doing something when you have made up a reason not to. A friend calls up and wants to walk for a couple of miles and you find a reason not to.

Why?

Get four 3×5 cards, sit down in a quiet place, and think about you and fitness. On the first card, write down what it is that you want to achieve by the end of the year. It can be to walk or jog a couple of miles a few times per week.  Once you have the goal written, let this be the closing: “No excuses. I have to commit to myself.” Take the other three cards and write the same thing. Place the cards where you will see them, at home, at work, or in the car. Get your exercise buddy to do the same thing so you can push each other.

There are many training programs out there, but all will start with you taking the first step. You don’t have to go at it alone. There is a national organization called Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and you may locate one in your area. The fees are more than reasonable, and there are a variety of programs which can help you to stay on track.

I know that each of you can achieve what you set out to do, and I refuse to let you get away without doing anything. I will be that broken record. One more line for the students: “It is easier for someone to pull you along when they know that you are pushing yourself from the inside.”

I recall years ago when I first got hooked on running, when my goal was to get under 40 minutes in a 10K race. I was doing all I could—was even in a group and training—and I was the last to finish runs. But, I stayed with it. I was right at the door and only seconds away, and it took one dear friend Kathy (who was much faster) to enter a race, and we ran together. That was the encouragement I needed, and when we crossed that line, it was 39 minutes and 50 seconds. I have a picture of us running together, and when I look at it, I get chills. It was something I wanted bad enough, and I went after it.

Do you have any excuses?

I am going for 100 marathons, and to date, I’m at 95. Number 100 will be at the 39th Marine Corps Marathon (October 2014), which will be my 31st time running that event. It has been a long journey, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be on the roads with you in the cold, rain, and snow.

Run Happy!

Safe and prosperous 2014 to all.