TRIATHLONS
GULF COAST IM 70.3 5:45 VERY HOT DAY - EASY COURSE - WINDS - TRAINING DAY
IM CDA 140.6 12:32 VERY COLD DAY - TOUGH COURSE - HILLS - SUFFERED
MUSKOKA IM 70.3 5:35 IDEAL WEATHER - TOUGH COURSE - HILLS - RACED HARD
LONGHORN IM 70.3 5:19 HOT - HILLY - HORRIBLE ROADS - RACED HARD
FALL CREEK FALLS OLY 2:40 HOT - NO WETSUIT - TRAINING DAY
MCMNVILLE SPRINT 1:15 PLACED THIRD - NEEDED 1:10 TO PLACE FIRST
RUNNING RACES
MUSIC CITY 1/2 MARATHON 1:38 - GREAT WEATHER - DECENT RACE
FRANKLIN 10K 42:02 - 4TH PLACE 6:47 - LATE START CROWDED - RAN 5K WITH JT
FIRECRACKER 5K 19:13- 3RD PLACE OVERALL - 1ST PLACE AGE GROUP - 6:13 PACE
SUSAN G KOMAN 5K 19:22 - 1ST PLACE AGE GROUP - 6:15 PACE
Overall it was a respectable year. The focus was more on volume in 2009 than times/race results. Why? 2009 was about getting in as many races as I could without injury so I could gain experience. There simply is no substitute for experience. So the question is then - what did I learn in 2009?
1. Never enter a 140.6 IM completely 100% mentally prepared or you will suffer
2. Training is about focus, not volume and hours , but the quality of training
3. You are only as strong as your weakest link - an injury is caused by an imbalance - somewhere....
4. Listen to your body
5. Mental toughness can compensate for physical conditioning on race day
6. Physical conditioning cannot compensate for a weak mind
7. Be disciplined, have balance and most of all have fun!!
2010 should be a great year. I'm looking forward to training hard for IM Lanzarote which I must finish in under 11:39 for a PR. They say that your goal should be to simply finish a 140.6 IM event. That's simply bad MOJO and a defeatest attitude. So a PR in Lanzarote and a sub 5 hour Syracuse 70.3 is the goal for 2010.
Also, in 2010 I plan on working with Jack to advance him mentally and physically in the sport of triathlon. I've gotten him signed up for the Excel swim team. He's got great natural talent. At 11 years of age the trick is to teach the mental discipline and determination. He placed 3rd or higher in every event entered in 2009, without much training. He's got potential and I intend to develop it.
As the sun sets on 2009 it rises for 2010. Cheers!
