Tomorrow will be my last race of the year. After that, I'll be able to join the ranks of millions of couch potatoes... at least for a month or two. Honestly, I'm looking forward to a break from the relentless schedule of swim/bike/run. But then again, I'll miss it too! There is something about the routine that is somewhat comforting even with the physical grind. But a change up in the schedule and more mornings of sleeping in will be a welcome change for all.
However, I have to say this year wasn't too bad so the comparison of training-season to off-season won't be as great. I haven't been taking myself too seriously this year because it was a rebuilding year; kinda like the Lakers after they lost Shaq. I knew I had to get back into base fitness to do such long distances and get a feel for race morning all over again. I'll be finishing this year with the same body composition I did three years ago when I was heading into the most successful year of my triathlon career. I'm hoping for an even more successful 09 than 06... but I'm getting ahead of myself. Tomorrow's race:
The San Francisco Triathlon, formerly known as Treasure Island was essentially the last race of the year. However, the 70.3 World Championships are now held on the same weekend and Ironman Arizona is no longer a race in April but a race done in late November. The SFTri is an Olympic distance race starting in the COLD waters of the San Francisco Bay in a protected cove off Treasure Island the island that connects the two spans of the Bay Bridge. It's primarily a Naval Base and will provide a technical, criterium type bike course and fairly flat run.
We'll see how it goes. This will be the second Olympic distance race for me this year. I've not been in the habit of hammering the bike like I used to which had provided me huge leads going into the run but I've had some of my best run speed ever this year in training and sometime in races; which is nice if I can combine the two next year... there I go again. Staying in 08 for now!
I'll have further reflections of this race after it's over and then projections for the coming year... as for today... I'll just get ready for tomorrow.
