This week I have finalized my race schedule for the summer, settled into a exercise and work routine, and have set up the structure for success. I changed up my race schedule from what I initally thought i would do. Instead of a July full of Tri's I actually shifted my focus to a 4th of July Half Marathon and a Half Ironman Triathlon on the 24th. I think this will help me keep my volume high early in the race season, since it is so easy to get caught up in intensity training once race season hits. This will no doubt help me when Twin Cities Marathon roles around in October.
I was not planning on doing a Half-Iron distance this year but Chisago fit my schedule so well that I decided to do it as good way to judge my fitness. I hope it goes better than the only other Half I have done. From what I have read about the course, it sound like a pretty flat bike and run course. Nothing too strenuous on the legs which will be important to keep myself from overdoing it.
I found this quote on a friends blog and it got me thinking about all of the unhappiness/boarder line depression I have experienced over the past couple years.:
"The main cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment."
After reading this, It is obvious to me that the last year or two I have lived in the moment. Yes it was fun for a bit, and yes I thought it was what someone my age is supposed to do, but I can now see that all of the unhappiness I have experienced over the past years usually involves some irrational spur of the moment decisions. Decisions which at the time seemed inconsequential but have proven to really make a difference in my life. It is easy to look back on life and know what has been going wrong, but much more difficult to change it. My desires to become the best triathlete and athlete I can be is not worth trading in for a night out on the town with some people. I say people because even though most of them may be friends they are just a face when it comes down to explaining the meaning of a race. Only those who race, know what racing is. It doesn't need to be explained to them. I think I got sick of trying to explain myself. Rather than explain, I would just go out and try to have fun, to make an awkward moment feel better. I now know better, and will live by it from now on.
Enough Blah Blah for now. I hope at least someone reads/enjoys this.