In 2017, I'm moving up in distance.
I'm excited, but I'm also nervous. We all have that one race.
The one that got away.
It can leave us with the feeling of needing to go back. For me, it's not about proving anything to anyone. It's not even about proving anything to myself.
It's about wanting to do what I didn't do before. I really hope you get what I'm saying because I'm not really explaining it well.
I guess it's that I feel like I left something there, and I want to go back and do what I didn't do before.
It's something that I am fully capable of doing but didn't do last time.
I decided to go back to the race to do what I know I can do.
I'm nervous because, of all my goals, this race is the biggest goal I have. It's time for me to meet it straight on.
My goal isn't about a podium. It isn't about TeamUSA. It's a very personal goal.
When I told Liz, she said, "You know what's going to be required. This is going to be really painful".
I know it is. I don't care. I told her, "I want to do this for me. I have been waiting for this for a long time".
If you know me, I don't rush anything. I don't do anything before I'm ready to face it head on.
When I finished my 2016 season, I knew the time was right. Each year, I learn a bit more about myself, and I've learned that I can push harder.
I guess, I see 2017 as the real test. Did I really learn as much as I think?
You see. The goal for 2017 (even though YOU might see it is as small and insignificant) will be the biggest confidence boost that I've ever had. That's the best part of triathlon: setting these crazy goals and reaching them. No matter what you do in life, THAT is the greatest feeling. A year from now, I hope to look back and say, "Wow. I did it. I actually did it".
This mystery goal: I see it as an important step to my other goals. I see it as the mental challenge.
Will I be able to hold on when I need to? Will I be able to do the effort that I need to?
There is so much wrapped up in this one little goal.
Now that I've rambled on senselessly for 15 minutes, how do we accomplish this giant mystery goal?
Liz and I are still working through the details of my actual race schedule, but we are full on in off season training. (Hey! No more reboots).
What do you do right in the middle of a run focus? A BIKE TEST, of course. The bike test is the week after Thanksgiving. We have a few running races planned. We're also continuing with the weird sh*t. She sent me the newest strength training routine, which looks awesome.
Then, we go right into training for my A race in April.
I might have forgotten to mention this. Mr. Tea, JMan, Googs & Googs' GF (JEN-NAH) all plan on going to the race to cheer me on.
