End-Game

It's been just about week since my last update... Sorry about that, but then again, it is the off-season. But as of this afternoon, I have one full week of training under my feet for this upcoming race season, and I have to say, it's been great to get back into it. The hours are low, and the workouts are relatively light, of course, but just to have the structure back again has been great. The week consisted of some great swim workouts, some time with the weights and on the bike, and of course, the essential trail running. Oh, and lots of stretching, as apparently the body has forgotten what it means to put in the hours twice a day.

While blogging here, I've been watching a recount of the IM World Championship on NBC, which I have to say was pretty good this year. Good choices in music, and good side-stories to tell from the age-group population. In the pro category, however, I was a little disappointed to see that my man Peter Reid could only muster a third place. I've been following his prep for Kona this year and I thought for sure that he'd have it in the bag. Next year Pete. Next year.

Speaking of next year, I've got the races on my mind. I eat, sleep and breathe the races. I'm not sure I've ever had this much focus, this early in the season on upcoming races. And I'm not entirely sure what it is. Part of something bigger, I suppose. But I know the results are going to be completely positive, and it's going to be a phenomenal, break-through year.

In the mean time, tomorrow I'll be entering my second of three preparetory weeks of training before I start the true Base workouts in late November. I'm targeting between 12 and 16 hours of training per week this year, with a growing focus on the run. For the bike, I've (finally!) hooked myself up with a new fluid trainer which has already proven supremely better than my 6 year old unit I trained on previously. All these years I've thought I've been gaining strength in the off-season on the trainer, when in fact, it was probably just the fluid losing it's viscosity over time!

Keep'em turning.