Well, that was fun! Now what?

It is that time of year again.  The season is officially over.  The afterglow of my year of hard work is already waning; I get sick to my stomach when the term "race day nutrition" is used; the finisher medals are on their way to becoming either Christmas Tree ornaments or toys in the kids' "dress up bag;" the Halloween candy binge is almost over.  Almost.

I achieved almost all of my goals I set 1 year ago:

1. Finish Ironman Florida in < 12:30.  (Check!  Finished in 11:40.)

2. Finish Half-Ironman in < 5:50.  (Check Twice!  Finished in 5:04 and 5:22.)

3. Finish Olympic Triathlon in < 2:45.  (Check!  Finished in 2:26.)

4. Finish 10K at the end of Olympic Triathlon in < :45.  (Almost -- :45:20 was my best.)

Other personal bests include:

1. Best 1 mi swim in pool (:30:02)

2. Best 2 mi swim in pool (1:02:00)

3. Best 10K run (39:53)

As I begin my offseason every year, I try to put together a race schedule for the following year that will be challenging and one that will match my work/travel/family schedule.  Some years I have branched out into new races; other years I have simply tried to beat previous PRs on the same tracks.  To my running & triathlete friends:  I'm open for suggestions.  New races, new venues, new challenges will be given top priority.

At least one of my favorite races -- Rumpus in Bumpass International -- will not be back this year, or possibly ever.  Because it was usually my first race of the season, my season will necessarily start a few weeks later.  I suppose I am okay with that, because it means fewer runs and rides in the bitter cold.  But it is also very hard to swim on cold mornings, bike on a trainer for hours on end, and run either on a treadmill or in the wind for 5 or 6 months without an opportunity to compete.  The athletic season seems long and complicated until winter hits -- and then you realize just how short and brilliant that summer season was.  My body is looking forward to a less intense November/December, but my addiction to the buzz of competition will certainly give me the "shakes" all winter long.