I think of goals as dreams. I also know that sometimes the procrastinator in me can affect those dreams if I get away from an ‘I know I can’ mentality and thinking my abilities will outweigh my doubts……but then sometimes it’s just unavoidable that a part of a dream disappears. That doesn’t mean I don’t continue being a goal junkie though

My goals this year were riding a few double centuries and my last one is this Saturday, the Solvang Autumn double. I enjoyed most of the training routes I found to do especially the Santa Ynez valley ones. The Santa Monica Mountains were like a weekend home to me. Training was actually just finding 80+ to 150+ routes with some harder climbs and then also going to visually interesting area’s like Josuha Tree national park, Big Sur/Carmel, the Oregon coast and the San Juan Islands to relax and do less strenuous rides. Although the training goal was building my endurance up it was also just a great series of weekend rides in some beautiful rural areas. Besides the strength/endurance I gained I think more importantly I found some great routes that I now know well enough to ride during a weekend whenever I feel the urge. I’ve been thinking about the Furance Creek 508 for next year. Even though I balanced work and training this year I have to really think through the training needs for the 508 though.