Here is my annual list of goals for the coming year.
1. Memorize campfire stories
Last summer I took my son camping for the first time. My brother, sister and their families joined as well. Sitting around the campfire at the end of the day, we couldn’t think of any fun stories to tell our kids in that great setting. Thus, my goal is to come up with some great go-to campfire stories for future camping trips.
2. 100 push-ups a day
I started doing 100 push-ups a day with a friend toward then end of 2025 and it was a surprisingly invigorating practice. We’re keeping it going in 2026.
3. Daily foot strength
Since I’m not running much or going after any big races this year, I’m using this down time to strengthen my feet and slowly get back to barefoot walking and running. I’ll follow the foot strengthening exercises in the book, “Older Yet Faster,” by Keith Bateman and Heidi Jones. I started doing these late in 2025 and feel like they’re worthwhile, especially for my problematic left foot.
4. Go into the wilderness alone
Finish backpacking the Colorado Trail. Hike Segments 25-28, approximately 74 miles, effectively from Silverton to the trail terminus in Durango.
5. Reading list
- Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand (re-read, in process)
- The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
- The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World, by David Deutsch
- The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes and Its Implications, by David Deutsch
- Mathematica: A Secret World of Intuition and Curiosity, by David Bessis
- Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, by Luke Burgis