Ouch! I just finished my first week of training for the 2009 season; the off season is over. Now is the time to get ready for the rest of the year. I had a great off season evidently with Holiday parties, Ravens tailgates, and the football playoffs and super bowl. The official tally is 9 pounds; I gained 9 pounds from 11/23/08, the day of Ironman Arizona. Not bad for the off season! On a more positive note I didn't break any bones in 2008! Every year since 2002 I had some kind of fracture; last year a broken collar bone in late October really derailed my training and I had a terrible winter. I was the heaviest I have ever been starting my training last January. When I was at the IM Arizona pre-race dinner they asked how many people had lost weight for the event; I stayed standing for the 20+ group! 22 pounds! So that means I am already ahead of the game for this season which I am happy about.
This year also brings a lot of challenges for me in my "real life". I am losing the job I have had for 10 years, and starting in a new direction. I hope to be able to get in the kind of training I need in my new adventures, but only time will tell. The good thing is that I will have a training camp for the first time since 2003 which should get me off the trainer and jump-started for the season. No official plans yet, but I will enjoy any time I can have in the daylight.
So far the only race I am signed up for is IM Arizona on 11/22/09, but I have some races planned and will post my schedule ASAP. I will be racing the 2009 Masters of Motocross Series, The Michaux Endurance Series, and the Piranha Sports Tri series, and probably 2 XTERRA events. I am undecided on an IM 70.3 because of my job situation, but for now I will focus on these events which should keep my busy! I am definitely happy to have competition, because it seems like the only thing that ever stays constant in my life. No matter what else I am doing, I always get to feel at home racing. Its funny that the most unpredictable thing in my life has become what gives me stability. No matter how well I prepare, I will be happy when the gun goes off. Its the only time when 100% effort produces 100% reward; I hope everyone is looking forward to racing as much as I am. It will be an adventure I know that, and I'll do my best to keep you posted.
