Thinking and planning

So I have been thinking about what you said last week. The idea of racing triathlon like racing cross is appealing to me. Maybe I won't try and throw a half in there and just keep everything shorter, do more of them, and have a lot of fun.  So, honestly, what keeps me hesitant, is that in my mind shorter races means less training. I love the training. Probably even more than the racing. I love how IM training makes me feel. So, let's talk about this, but I want you to promise to kick my ass for these shorter races.

So what about two blocks. Instead of April to August, maybe I could find some early season races and then take a few weeks to sleep in, dawdle over morning coffee, and then jump back into a summer series of races. Now that being said, I am going to start looking at races.

I have also had a lot of thoughts about racing triathlon and racing in general. Last year even, I thought, okay, one more Ironman and then I am done. I was looking at racing triathlon as something that I was either all in, or all out and that I just had a couple of years to get good and that I could get good in a couple of years. I am starting to think differently about this. It seems like there is a lot of work to do and it takes a long time to get "good". I guess, some people can do an Ironman, and be very good, but there are those that have to work at it.  It seems the ones that are just good right off the bat, maybe aren't very mature about it? I don't know about this, for sure, but it seems that people who are long term racers are very mature. I like the idea of being a "triathlete" something that is part of my life that I don't give up on. 

So going back to the first paragraph. Why not try racing some other distances? Why not take this winter and maybe next winter, to really focus on swimming? I have years and years of racing and training and working at it to get better. 

Racing cross this year has been really interesting for my perspective above. The first race I did here in Bozeman felt awesome. I felt like I did really well and I loved it. Then I went to Helena, felt like crap, and got my ass handed to me. Then I go to Victor and Saturday I felt okay, but not great at all and this masher on a mt bike beat me. I didn't even care to chase here down. Then Sunday, I didn't even see that woman. I was so far ahead of her the whole race and even got compliments from Erik that I was looking really good. Even better than a few years ago when I was really training for cross. It is so amazing and interesting how some days are good and some days are bad and it doesn't matter what kind of training you put into that one day. Ironman Kona had a good example. Heather Wurtele rocked the year, and I don't think she even finished that race. 

So, this year for triathlon (or next year, if all of a sudden I get pregnant) let's do the above (first paragraph). Let's rock the triathlon scene. Over a bunch of races, I will get a good picture of my fitness, my ability, my weaknesses etc. It will be a really good platform to work off of to get better.

Now to a few of your questions:
In general. Bender was sick all weekend, and I stayed in the same house as him etc. I think I am coming down with something. Felt good Monday morning but started feeling that sore throat and ache in the afternoon. Am going home to rest. Don't want to catch this bug very bad.

G-fit. I want to figure out what I will be doing for PT before I start doing G-fit. I really want to get working on this. My lower right back hurts so bad at the end of a cyclocross race and I am sure it is all related.

Wednesday night race. Maybe race, maybe not. See how I feel on Wednesday? Can I have a back up plan?

Feel much better cyclocross racing on Sundays or after a day of riding. Can I do a hard cyclocross bike ride on Friday? Maybe go over the where we do Wed. night races and ride some hard laps. Then practice turning around trees for a while. Rolling Thunder brings more pressure than other races and I want to at least feel good.