New Year, New Goals, New Age Group, First Blog.

Starting a blog is something I have been considering for a couple of years. I enjoy reading other triathlon related blogs and wanted a more flexible forum than Facebook posts to write about triathlon and other endurance training and racing. On my annual New Years run to Mill Hill and back I made the committment to start. I am not sure how often I will be inspired to write. 2011 was my best season racing triathlon by far. A lot of different factors contributed to this. I have chosen to focus on short course racing due to my limited time to train. I also want to be able to race and be competitive. I don't really have an interest in "participating" in the longer distance stuff. Perhaps in the future when life priorities change. I suspect this blog will journal my struggles to balance training with work and family life. I move up to the 45-49 age group this year. I am sure the competition will be just as fierce as I experienced last year. Several races I finished in the top 10 but ended up 2,3, or 4th in my age group. I plan to do more Olympic distance racing this year which will challenge the limited volume of my training. I hope to peak for the Cowichan Challenge in July and the Sooke Triathlon in August. Although it would be financially unrealistic to attend, it would be cool to qualify for age group worlds at Sooke. Only one slot per age group though. As I start this new year I am feeling motivated, reasonably fit and very grateful. Let's see where this blog will lead.