Monday, March 29, 2010

Ramblings from a Forgotten Athlete

Have you ever had to wait for something?



I've been waiting for something since Nov. I'm finally getting down to the deadline. It's one of those things that defines your direction once it's done.







With that one little itty bitty thing at the back of my mind, I've been thinking about the upcoming years from an athletic perspective.







Work has been so busy lately that when I get home or when I'm running....that's what I'm doing. I need to set work aside for a little while.







Have I completely lost you yet?







Besides work and this little itty bitty thing, there is also my family. Well, the boys are older now. In a couple of years, Jordan leaves for college. Next fall, Justin starts high school. Things...life....changes when your kids get older.







Where does this leave me?







It leaves me with potential training time.







Sigh.







This year, I'm not doing any tri's. Taking the year off. You can see my "racing" schedule on the right hand side if you're so inclined.






I've been giving serious thought to doing another (full) Ironman. Not this year, not next year...in fact, I don't have a clue when....



In the meantime, I've been giving serious thought to this in 2011.


There are a few things that need to fall into place for me to really commit to the race. First of all, I would like to continue seeing my run times improve. Second, I'd really like to get a new bike. I've put as many upgrades as I possibly can into the one I have. I love my bike. Sometimes you just find yourself at a point where you want to make the jump.


The positives of doing the race...I can ride the course every single weekend....if I so choose. The timing is perfect. August is hot, but the training is during the best months of the year (for me).


The strangest thing is that I miss the training.


I really really miss those long training sessions. They cannot be duplicated when there is no race.


And that's a GOOD thing. For awhile, I didn't think that I would ever ever ever want to do Ironman again. I didn't even want to think about it. Sure, encourage others, cheer everyone else on.


I've done my dance with the devil. Yes siree...I'm not going down that road again.


But time passes and things change and


I just miss it. that's all.


Things are different now. I would even say that things are better now.


So maybe next year, I'll venture out to IM Boulder and see how I feel. Then figure out where I want to go, what I want to do, and who I want to be.


Knowing what I know about training for Ironman and the time committments and sacrifices that need to be made....I want to do it again.

However, this adventure is only for the truly committed because although I say it here that I want to do it again....it could be another 5 or 6 years down the road.

Until that time.....