Next Year

I can see now that it is easier to get good at olympic distance triathlons than at 1/2 or full iron triathlons. It's a lot easier to race when you don't have to travel out of town and there are at least a dozen olympic distance triathlons in or around portland and zero half or full iron races, which is a testament to how difficult it is to put these races together.

I'm thinking of doing about six olympic tris next year and will think about a longer race the following season. 

I have one more long bicycle ride next weekend, head almost to Maupin, Oregon, which is just past Mt. Hood, about 88 miles. Should be tough but comfortable to get there. It's not a race so I can relax a bit and worry less being in a hurry. I will then camp Friday and Saturday night and then either ride back or cheat and catch a ride with one of my friends back to town. 

Thinking about the off season, with shorter races for next year in the back of my mind, I will start really work on swimming, flexibility and strength. To spare the knees, I'll probably work on getting my three mile run closer to what I was doing in my 20s and then start "real" race training about three months before my first race, which I'm guessing will be in April or May.

I will keep in the back of my mind the possibility of doing a half or even full iron event in September '09, but that will depend largely on my race budget, which always takes a beating on out-of-town races.