Tri season is over and I am assessing the damage......How did I train???? Was much of it effective??? Did I do enough??? Was it sports specific enough???? Did I enjoy racing?? Did I improve??? Questions, questions.... 
But first...some Kudos
THE FIRST ANNUAL "I CAN'T BELIEVE I WON A MEDAL AND AM SO HAPPY I STARTED ROWING AWARD"
That goes to my younger sister, Beth, who was trained for quite some time by The Bride and showed great strength improvement. The Bride used the chance to begin rowing as an incentive. Beth got into the sport and in a regatta, her 8 person team won a Bronze medal. Thats just fantastic Great job Beth....proud of ya!!!!
DIRTY COUPLE OF THE YEAR AWARD
To Matt and Jen Collister. Both are strong endurance athletes and fun people. Check out Matt's blog (CLICK HERE)and the video of his battered feet after finishing the Dances with Dirt. Matt just got under 6 hours in the 50 k distance.. Of course Jen (CLICK HERE) gathered most of the dirt from Hell, Michigan as she was running about 17 miles as her part of a relay...
Now, back to assessing the 08 season. I raced in 6 triathlons with the longest a Half Ironman. After an internal debate, the jury has spoken.
1. I have fallen in love all over again with the sprint distance, therefore I will adjust my training to try to find more speed. Do they sell that at Home Depot??? This year I won one race in my age group and finished 3rd in another but I know I can be a better racer in that regard.
2. I will sight only one Half Ironman Distance race in 09, most likely will be Morgantown.
3. I am very very very tempted to enter a 50 k trail race. I've written about my love of running the trails and think I would be suited for this. The winter Buckeye Trail 50 K would be a goal not toooo far off in the calendar that I could amp my training for. Ultra folks any suggestions??
4. I will be more specific in breaking down my swims. More sets, with recovery. This is my best discipline but I know I can improve.
But first...some Kudos
THE FIRST ANNUAL "I CAN'T BELIEVE I WON A MEDAL AND AM SO HAPPY I STARTED ROWING AWARD"
That goes to my younger sister, Beth, who was trained for quite some time by The Bride and showed great strength improvement. The Bride used the chance to begin rowing as an incentive. Beth got into the sport and in a regatta, her 8 person team won a Bronze medal. Thats just fantastic Great job Beth....proud of ya!!!!
DIRTY COUPLE OF THE YEAR AWARD
To Matt and Jen Collister. Both are strong endurance athletes and fun people. Check out Matt's blog (CLICK HERE)and the video of his battered feet after finishing the Dances with Dirt. Matt just got under 6 hours in the 50 k distance.. Of course Jen (CLICK HERE) gathered most of the dirt from Hell, Michigan as she was running about 17 miles as her part of a relay...
Now, back to assessing the 08 season. I raced in 6 triathlons with the longest a Half Ironman. After an internal debate, the jury has spoken.
1. I have fallen in love all over again with the sprint distance, therefore I will adjust my training to try to find more speed. Do they sell that at Home Depot??? This year I won one race in my age group and finished 3rd in another but I know I can be a better racer in that regard.
2. I will sight only one Half Ironman Distance race in 09, most likely will be Morgantown.
3. I am very very very tempted to enter a 50 k trail race. I've written about my love of running the trails and think I would be suited for this. The winter Buckeye Trail 50 K would be a goal not toooo far off in the calendar that I could amp my training for. Ultra folks any suggestions??
4. I will be more specific in breaking down my swims. More sets, with recovery. This is my best discipline but I know I can improve.
5. Within 2 years, I will return to racing an Ironman Distance Race. Its been 6 years. Gotta get one of those under my belt while I am in my mid 50's. HOWEVER, the dilemma these days is JUST getting into a race... See this article from The New York Times . Fees are not going down. Participation in Ironman races in 5 years has doubled. Our sport is one of high income folks and the trend is not reversing, thats for sure!!! You wonder why I always race at Fairport??? Its 20 bucks!!!
With fall approaching, I'll continue to get my long runs in...enjoy the leaves falling, the splashes of color. I will coax The Bride out for some bike rides and I will swim in Lake Erie deep into the fall.
With The Bride torturing her students in Pilates, she still would never encourage an accident like this to happen. Check out the YOUTUBE CLIP
I feel much of the success I have had this year is because I put it out there in the blogosphere. I am coming up on my blogga-versary and its been important to state goals..to be accountable and of course to enjoy the journey with you guys...Thanks a bunch.!!!
Life's a Blast!!
25 comments:
It's been a great year for you, JT - and for those of us fortunate enough to follow along.
My two cents about the ultra/tri thing: It's VERY hard to train for speed while simultaneously ramping up high mileage for an ultra. My recommendation is to have the ultra be the last item on your calendar for the year, and leave yourself enough time to shift your training into distance mode after the tris are finished.
I'd love to chat more via e-mail if you have more questions.
Great advice....Taking that advice into account, I could see a schedule where I do a Half Iron in Late June.....several sprints..and shoot for the Ultra distance in Sept...we'll see..thanks Donald, as always...
One of the nice things about living in the South is I can "just run" during the winter, and not suffer the cold too badly! You did have a great year. I'm looking forward to nothing but local next year. I think one half IM is right on target for me too. I just need to decide what I am going to sandwich in between :-)
Hopefully, we'll see supply in the Full IM catch up with demand over the next 5 years or so. I think rushing it could be bad for the sport and a bit dangerous as well.
Congrats on a great year, JT!!
what a year! so great to put it down in writing. congratulations on an awesome season (and blogging year!) which reminds me, my blogoverssary is either really soon or just passed. need to check that out!
That has been quite the year for you & no, THANK YOU for always sharing your wisdom...what goes around, comes around!
Best Wishes for the 2009 season, sounds as though we are on the same path, just different locations!!
You are absolutley correct about the Tri's, it is a rich mans sport, similar to showing horses, which I by the way retired from for just that very reason. As much as I'd like to get involved in the tri's a little more seriously...well, let's just say, kaching!!
BTW, Congrat's Beth & to your team, Awesome job!!!
Congrats on a fantastic tri season JT :)
If you're thinking about returning to the IM distance in the next two years... how about come to CDA in 2010... sound tempted????
What a season JT!! Very nice! I'm glad to have been able to read ;-)
Dang, I don't know how any affords to do tris. Those babies are expensive. I guess it's a good thing I have a good healthy fear of them in which it prevents me from participating LOL
Sounds like you've had a great season. Woooot!
Just discovered your blog - thanks for checking mine out! Also, Home Depot may sell speed, but if they're anything like the ones in Toronto good luck finding someone to help you find it in the store! ALso, congrats on the blog anniversary! I'll be back.
John it has been nice getting to know you this year. Ironman is very addictive and I would love to do Louisville again next year but funds are tight so I don't know if I will get in but a lot of people from the CTC are doing it in 09.
That video is hilarious. I am also a certified Pilates trainer although I have not finished the machine work yet and have not had much time to work on it this year.
Nice season JT! I look forward to reading about your training if you do another IM!
ENTER THE 50K! I have only done the summer and winter Buckeye 50K's, so I am biased, but I think they are just the best and it just feels more like a party with your local pals. Your best bet would be to plan on doing long group runs on the weekend on the trail.
Very nice tri season, Triguy!
Trail running is so nice...I'm starting to like it, too. Maybe, someday, I'll also like the sprint tri's. I think I'm dreading them less now, so that's a start.
DO IT! DO IT! Do the 50k trail race, come on! I totally am fascinated by that LONG LONG LONG running stuff but have never even ran more than 47 miles in a single week... you gotta do it post it so I can follow the adventure!
You have had a fun year, super! Thanks for sharing it!
I think Home Depot had SPEED on BOGO this week....I'll go check the ad.
IM entry is no joke. We have a local race director trying to get an ironman distance race here. Besides the entry fee....the travel expense....it's tough.
Looks like you hit you goals and got some AG bling in the process. Congrats.
Yeah, just do it, sign up for a
50k, go out there and have fun. Walk the hills and try to run the rest, and just enjoy the day..
Thanks for the shout out!
I'm thinking of going 50k as well, probably not till 2010, but I'm thinking Dances with Dirt in Gnawbone, Indiana. I hear Buckeye 50k is a good one too.
I also would like to return to Ironman in 2 years. What do you think about the Vineman race? Not an m-dot, but the course is beautiful (Matt did it 2 years ago) and well supported.
what a great post! i LOVE reading all your wonderful thoughts. keep up the hard work...and keep writing about it all! :)
-marn
You have had a great year!! Congrats!!
Hi JT,
An ultra is definitely something to be comfort with. There is no rush for IM. If you keep doing what you do...and build a wide strong base, then transiting to IM is not difficult.
Congrats on a great tri season, J.T. You are awesome! I say go for the Buckeye 50k, by the way!
"Do they sell that at Home Depot???"
Not directly, but indirectly...yes. If you slow everyone else down - then technically you bought speed. There are many items that could be purchased to accomplish that goal.
As for the 50K - now that you've tossed it out there, there ain't no going back now!
Now I am really ruined...I have to do what I put out there.....
ohhh darn!!! LOL
dream it....do it..
I didn't read the comments, but tip for entry to packed races - volunteer for the race, you get preferred entry for following race year and a great life experience...
Pilates is DANGEROUS!! That clip is crazy.
Sounds like you have some good plans whirling around. I'm sure you will get them done in 09
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