Since my return, I have been enjoying recovery time....and sadly, working on the FAT FACTOR.
Dessert at every meal will do that to a person. I don't discriminate; that includes breakfast.
The good news is the the jiggle factor was probably at a 10 on Monday. Now, it's down to a nice comfortable, soft place to fall: 7.
Slowly but surely, I have been coming out of my food/race coma and started writing down goals for next year.
For the past years, I have been learning how to race. Every time someone asked me about doing a certain race or distance, I'd respond with, "I'm not ready."
I know that was confusing for so many people, but I didn't know how else to say it. "Ready" wasn't a time or a placing or anything tangible. It was a feeling. I had to learn how to give what the race required.
(OFF TOPIC: Dave, it was "Hold on, Cupcake". To this day, probably, still the BEST race mantra EVER.)
I had to learn to trust myself. That doesn't mean that every race will be perfect. It doesn't mean every race will be a PR.
It means that at every race, I will bring my best effort and attitude. I learned that when I bring those things, my race is a success regardless of my finish time; regardless of where I place.
Now, I'm ready to take that attitude to longer distances.
Early Spring, I will be doing my favorite Oly race.
Then, I may just managed to convince a friend to do a 70.3 with me.
That's right folks. I'm voluntarily doing another 70.3. (I'll tell you which race, later. We're waiting for some things to fall into place.)
After that, I will be going back to Nationals and will once again be racing the Oly on Saturday and the Sprint on Sunday; because where's the fun in going all out without being ridiculously sore?
We'll see where my head and heart is in Sept/Oct. I tentatively have the NV races on my schedule.
What about Ironman, you ask? For the first time in 8 years, I can see myself doing one. I don't know when. It could be in 2 years. It could be 10, but at least that door is open now.
My goals haven't changed either. I still have those really stupid big goals lingering out on the horizon. This year, I learned something. I can work on multiple goals at once. Triathlon isn't black or white. It's too complex for that.
Reaching for your goals is a complex structure. This is the journey I have been waiting for. I am ready.