The 09 Season

With the first race 12 days away, I am excited to begin this years campaign. As I reflect on years past, this one is like the 04 and 06 season. Slow to start, motivation issues, but the excitement of starting the season still there. I am just happy that my body continues to allow me to prepare for the starting line.

Simply Stu Worldwide Triathlon

With over 1000 entries worldwide, the Chop family will be participating in this remarkable event. It will be a blast as Bri, Tommy and Me balze a trail indoors being participants. Stu has a missiojn of spreading the benefits of triathlon and a triathlon lifestyle around the world and we are happy to be part of his vision.

Here we Go Steelers Here we Go and Coach Dave

As a lifelong Steeler fan, I am excited about this weekend. A team who sticks to the plan and through thick and thin stays the course. In my lifetime, I have only know of 3 Steeler Head Coaches, while many teams have had as many in the past 5 years. The take home lesson is that consistency and keeping one's goals in focus provides a pathway for success. Ironman racing is similar. It is easy to be persuaded to do the in-thing as far as training. A New wage training regime, using the newest techno gadget all are not substitutes for putting in the time and effort of training. I realised in training for Wisconsin, there was no substitute. It was my body that propelled me over the course. My result was the product of my training and focus on getting to the starting line. What I realized too was that these are also the lessons of Coach Dave!

Cold Ride preparing for the Fawn Grove...

It was cold this weekend! As I have become more active, my desire to get off the trainer and get outside to workout has gone through the roof. Computrainer is great, but doesn't compare to getting out and riding! I planned an hour and 20 minute ride on one of my favorite routes only to fin the forecast changed and rather than being 46 and sunny, it was 30 and snowing. This was not going to deter my riding outside and I got dressed and started out.

As I was riding I began thinking about the 09 season. I am starting the outdoor season in April riding the Fawn Grove Roubaix! A short 27 mile Cat 5 bike race with 7 stretches of packed dirt roads simulating the "cobbles" of Paris-Roubiax. I recall my friend Howard talking about his riding the cobbles of Belgium and thinking this is the closest this will come to a true Euro road race as April weather, dirt, and racing. I am hoping to just survive this race and what a way to begin my bike racing career. I am entering this with only one goal, finish this race and learn. I am entering a few more road races and criteriums, with the goal of competing in the Tour of Lancaster County in August (2 day 3 race Stage race). Learning how to bike race will present its challenges, but it has reinvigorated my training and "forces" me out on a cold snowy Saturday ride.

To the ride, despite being slow and low on the power output, I was just happy to be riding and riding with a renew sense of purpose. I look forward to seeing how this and the Carl Dolan Circuit race will hep me prepare for Columbia Tri and Rhode Island 70.3. Only time and training will tell.

New Year- New Directions

It has been quite some time since my last post and I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle 2009! In retrospect, I really needed time away from the blog, racing and even training. I understood the physical impact of Ironman Wisconsin, but came to realize the mental and emotional toll the race took on me. Last year I spent my year focusing on one day. Day in and Day out, the prize was getting to the start line in Madison. After a sub par 2007 Ironman experience, I primed myself to not repeat the mistakes I made in Lake Placid. When all was said and done, I deemed the 2008 Ironman finish a major success. Then it hit me, I was spent emotionally and mentally drained from the balance act maintained during the preparation. After many start and stops in getting more consistent with workouts, I decided to take a break and clear my mind of triathlon. I would keep up with the Triabetes posts, yet didn't post. I distanced myself for a while and took the necessary break from the intensity I typically put into many aspects of my life. I just was for a while, and it was uncomfortable at time, yet freeing. I heard a quote the other day that rings true, is real freedom is the need to not control everything. And, that's what I did and I am truly back in the bike saddle again! My pledge for racing in 2009 is to make triathlon racing fun again, not a means to an end. Enjoy the races I have entered and not be pressured about whether or not I am hitting my targets. For instance, I am racing Columbia in May and not focusing on hammering the swim and bike sections and hanging on in the run for a finish, I will actually approach the triathlon with a tri mindset. Pretty cool for a control freak like me. I look forward to posting more of my thoughts throughout the season with some regularity, yet continuing to remember my goal of having more fun this season. I am hopeful this goal will be met.

Back Again

It has been almost a month ! A serious bout with site infections and generaly laziness, back on the bike for some work and hitting vasa for some swim practice. Generally, coming back from an extended lay-off is tough and rewardign at the same time. After yesterdays sustained power workouts, it was great to hop on a ride. If all goes well, I will be hitting the road and running again, whcih will be beneficial since Denise and I will be running the Baltimore Marathon next October!

New Goals

It is October and the wave of returning to reality has finally set in. After dealing with some of life's curve balls, it marks the time to move forward. What is next? I resigned to myself, my family, friends and supporters that racing Ironman is not happening in '09. Last year it was the mind having issues wrapping itself around Ironman, this year it is the mind and body. I hope to return to Ironman racing in the upcoming years, but I feel relieved not having this in next seasons race schedule. So what will '09 bring? I want to represent Triabetes once again during the '09 saeason as I can't think of a better cause and better group of people I want to be associated with!

I lost a step in my run so it is time to get it back this year and hope to get some of it back. Denise has set a goal to run the Baltimore Marathon next October, and I will run it with her. I envision her finishing the race hand in hand with her- with me finishing the Maryland Double. Additionally, I am hoping to run the Frederick Marathon in May as part of the first leg of the Maryland Double. In Triathlon, I set 2 races in my sites a being the "focus", Rhode Island 70.3 and Delaware DiamondMan Half Iron (I owe this race course one from 2004!), along with a few shorter triathlons along the way.