September 25, 2007

So for the past few weeks I've been unmotivated. My triathlon season ended earlier than it ever has, so I can recuperate before my longest season ever next year.



But I've been working outside the scenes to make my experience a better one. First, I signed up for the Janus Charity Challenge, an Ironman affiliate, to help raise money for a charity of my choosing. I chose H.O.P.E., Helping Others through Pro Bono Efforts, which does exactly what the name suggests. Plus it is run through the University of Miami School of Law, which is an added bonus. Basically I set up a website and try to raise as much money as possible for the charity. It's a great cause!



Second, I've started on my training program. Everyone who has every called me crazy for doing triathlons is correct. There is an insane amount of training (up to 18 hours in certain weeks) that will go into my Ironman training.



I've also planned some races for next year. I'll start the season with an early marathon in March, called the Shamrock Marathon. It's in Virginia Beach and I'm training and running with Michelle. It'll be our first "goal" for after we're married (other than relaxing in Hawaii). After that, I'm planning the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler in D.C., the Columbia Triathlon in Columbia (where else?), the Mountaineer 1/2 Iron in Morgantown, WV, Riley's Rumble half marathon in Poolesville, MD, the big one at Ironman Wisconsin in Madison, WI, and ending the season with another marathon, but I haven't figured out which one yet.



Goals? I'm figuring those out too. I want to push myself, but within reason. I'd love to qualify for Hawaii, but I'll have to see how my training goes early on. I think qualifying for Boston is a reasonable goal for the late season marathon. But I'll have to think some things through before I start making definitive goals.