Facing the fear

I start training next Monday and I have to admit there is good and bad circling my psyche right now. On one hand, I'm excited to start dedicating myself to a single purpose and regaining my fitness - I have been bummed about my inability to (comfortably) cinch the belt that one extra hole since early November. The down-side is just the initial hurt of teaching the body to remember what it's like to swim, run or bike really far 5 days a week.

I am also unsure how to feel about a life change I'm making for 2010 - I'm going to stop drinking. Don't get me wrong - I'm not a full-fledge alcoholic or anything but there were plenty of times last year during training when a long Saturday morning ride was bamboozled by a great poker night with the guys. Aside from the missed training days, it also just makes you more susceptible to getting sick. Given that I'm a magnet for any virus, bacteria or germ my kids bring home, I think it will be an overall positive change.

I am hoping that I am recovered enough by Monday to start going after it - I'm nursing a sinus infection at the moment but feeling better every day now. Here's to a great year of training and focus...

Training guide and race goals

I spent some time last night trying to put together a monthly training schedule for January and February. I honestly think that aside from actually doing and Ironman, the second hardest thing is actually planning your training.

If you're like me, family, work and life must be balanced with the total number of hours you hope you can spend training. I learned from last year as well, that a training plan should really be considered a training guide. Let's face it - life happens. Keeping everyone in the family happy is what it's all about.

I also went through the exercise of capturing my goals for each race - something that was key to my mental 'success' in 2009. This is what they look like:

1. Tempe: Under 3 hours
2. Bismarck: Improve Tempe time by 20%
3. Lake Stevens: Beat Mikel's (a friend) time of 5:46:56
4. Branson: Under 5:30:00
5. IM AZ: (1) Finish (2) Under 13:00:00

These feel very realistic and will help push me along throughout the year.

Starting off the year

I've been looking forward to starting off this 2010 training season. I've been practically dormant for the last 5-6 months nursing my feet back to health trying to rid myself of the plantar faciitis that has plagued me for 2 years. After a new pair of orthodics, stretching and no running I actually feel 98% healed (that 2% is pure mental)

I know that I'm starting from scratch this year but that's OK. I feel pretty good (minus the extra weight) knowing what it takes to get back in shape and do the mileage. Mentally I'm ready to begin this year of training.

The weather is a tad bit chilly here in Gilbert, AZ right now but it's the perfect time to start building my base cycling and running.

My tentative race schedule for 2010 includes:

• Tempe International Tri (Olympic distance)
• Bismarck Tri (Olympic distance)*
• Lake Stevens, WA 70.3 (August)
• Branson, MO 70.3 (September)
• Arizona Ironman (November)

* The Bismarck Tri is a race I will do with my dad. I will write about that later...