Each year, I pick ONE WORD instead of a resolution to define my year. I have chosen my word for 2024. It picked me really - as it always does. You may have guessed from the last post that my word this year is HOLOMUA. It is the Hawaiian word for MOVE FORWARD. It is HOLOMUA. It was the theme of my race in Kona and I thought this would be a great chance to carry it into a new year.
Each year I choose a word - instead of resolution - to see my life through a new lens. I've been doing this for almost 20 years! I chose this word because I’m at a bit of crossroads right now and there are so many opportunities - so many new roads to explore. The main question on my mind is - what’s next? Kona was such a huge goal and there is nothing that will match the specialness of that moment. That goal took me almost ten years to achieve. It will be impossible to top. So how and what will drive me next?
I’ve been pretty good about not checking the box and moving on. I had to do that a bit with each race before Kona. At the end of each race, I was driven to start thinking and prepping for the next one. So, I’ve been careful to enjoy the memories of Hawaii. I’ve been mindful to find meaning behind what I learned - not only after this race but all the races that have come before it. I’ve found myself remembering take-aways from all the races I’ve done.
Which brings me to the thing I’d like to move forward with the most: writing a memoir.
I’ve mentioned this before: my journey to Kona was through the Legacy Program. I had to do 13 IRONMAN-branded 140.6-mile triathlons just to get an invite to the IRONMAN World Championships. In fact, the other choice for my one word was LEGACY. And that’s what I’d like to write about this year. I want to explore the legacy of endurance. I imagine that this space is going to be the rough draft of some sort of compilation of stories that tie my journey in the sport to the rest of my life. You can say you heard it here first.
Please stick around for more stories about races past and present! And, coming next week - an interview with another athlete about the legacy of endurance in her life.
