Iron distance racing provides many life lessons. One of which is how to do more with less. How to squeeze in one more run, one more ride, one more mile, one more minute. Without careful consideration this can become the pursuit of a single direction, a single and consuming goal.
Last year, although I raced very little or almost not at all as far as number of races within a season, I was lucky enough to toe the line twice. In that, I still struggled with the fact that the process of those two events became more then I was comfortable with. There were other highlights within the calendar year, graduations, trips abroad, and some simpler times spent alone with Bootsie but for me, things outside of racing were a little bent by the process of getting to the next start line. As I saw it, to many things away from racing were controlled by the process of getting to race day. I began to lose sight of my "Castles" or some of my life pursuits as I chased large goals.
So how do I correct this? I will choose to chase smaller goals and to focus on the smaller things within the process. Now, that being said, Bootsie and I are signed up for Calgary 70.3, Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman Arizona. These will be the races we build our season around. Our large goals will lie in these races.
But…
Because of the enormity of Iron distance races and what I would like to think of as respect for the distance, the training it takes to get to the start line and for the other athletes who have done the same, I find I am not very engaging in and around Iron distance races. I find myself focused solely on the event itself. So lately I have been scouring the local race schedules. I have a strong desire to include in my race schedule smaller local events. Events where I can reconnect with my roots, with friends and with teammates. I have sorely missed hanging out with folks as we set up transition, the post race stories of the day and "refueling" stops on the way home. Races like The Snake River Triathlon, Founders Day Trail Blazer Tri and The Palouse River Duathlon are among the events I am pretty excited about participating in this year.
After IMAZ in November, I knew it was time to take a break from any kind of pursuit both physically and mentally. I wanted to let it come to me. I have been waiting to start any kind of regular training until that happens. I have been doing what sounds good and sometimes that means nothing at all. Truth be told, last weekend I actually built my tri bike which had remained in the bike box since traveling home from Arizona. I have however been riding my mountain bike from time to time.
So it's time to bring this season into focus and get back to smaller and better things.
