THE FRONT ROW with Derek Garcia Jan. 7, 2011

In the months leading up to the ninth running of Ironman Coeur d'Alene on June 26, 2011, Derek Garcia will be writing a monthly column keeping the community updated on his journey as well as what the hundreds of athletes from the Inland Northwest are doing in preparation for the race.

What things come to mind when you think about the month of January?

New Year's resolutions, catching up on quick books, gym memberships, skiing, snow-covered streets, shedding pounds, and the occasional fantasy of a tropical getaway come to mind when I hear the mention of January.

Since getting involved in triathlons there is one big thing that overshadows all of these thoughts. It is the first of many dates that brings about panic in the mind of even the most emotionally balanced triathlete.

How valid is this panic? I guess it depends on the individual.

I HAVE found that there are three or four major panic dates on the calendar for the local Ironman athlete. Jan. 1, March 1 and May 1 seem to be the most common.

January may be the first time that an athlete looks around and realizes that they better start doing something if they don't want $600 to go to waste. March is when the real countdown begins and I see athletes silently counting on one hand the months remaining before race day. In May things really heat up as athletes realize it is really only a matter of weeks and there is no hiding if they have not done the work.

So, lets get back to January. The question I have to ask myself is, how will 2011 be different? I've never been a huge New Year's resolution guy. Do you even remember 2010 resolutions? Most can't.

I am however, a big proponent of evaluating the past and deciding what I need to do to become better, faster, healthier, a better parent, etc.

I just don't need January and our society to tell me to do so. I believe if someone wants to make changes in their life a DAILY resolution has to be made every morning.

ASK ANYONE who has quit smoking, or lost a massive amount of weight how he or she has had success and they will have one thing in common - consistent, unrelenting commitment to the goal. They may have a bad day occasionally, but each morning there was a goal in mind.

There is no magic pill or silver bullet that does the work for you. So what then does it come down to for the aspiring Ironman finisher or those making resolutions for this new decade? A why! Or many why's, for that matter. "I want to stop smoking because I want to live to see my grandkids".

Whatever it is there has to be a big why attached to the goal. Everyone I know wants to "get in shape for summer," but it is unlikely to happen without something deep inside the person that denies the urge to roll over when that alarm clock goes off at 5am for the morning spin class.

SO HERE is my proposal. Evaluate 2010, look at 2011 and decide on goals and most importantly the deep, honest reasons for those goals. Make a list, verbalize it to someone you trust and remind yourself each and every day. Make them hard to reach, but not unattainable.

Have your trusted person keep you accountable and make the daily commitment to make 2011 the year that resolutions become a daily process rather than fantasies that vanish by Valentine's Day.

I think those signed up for Ironman see the parallel. A good rule of thumb is to start a 20/30/50 percentage split for swim/bike/run, moving to around 10-12 hours a week depending on prior experience. Next month I will outline this in more detail. For January get structured, make a plan, and get to it. The next panic date will be here before you know it, and by that point it might actually be the only thing left to do.

Derek Garcia is a multisport coach at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, owns his own personal coaching business, Derek Garcia Multisports, and will also be on the start line at this year's Ironman event. Contact Derek at dg@derekgarcia.com.