Off season...what off season

A lot of reflection this weekend from the past season and to the future. Two reasons for this: 1) watching NBC's airing of the 2011 Ironman World Championship 2) the Sarasota Storm Tri Club's end of the year celebration.

Watching the Ironman is emotional for any triathlete. Watching so many people pulling every ounce of strength to complete their goals and becoming something bigger then themselves. So much motivation, so much inspiration...

At the club's celebration, I was awarded the 2011 Triathlete of the Year! Such an honor to be recognized by my peers.

I had a breakthrough year. I'm so blessed to be supported by the wife, Abby! She believes in me through ever thing. She is there during my victories, but more importantly she is there during my lows. All I could think about last night was how lucky I am.

Well I guess I should get back to the main topic of "off season." My usual year would go like this...run, run, run, run some more then dust off the bike around March or so then work into tri season until October and then go back and run. This year I'm deciding to forgo my first love of hitting the pavement and focus on becoming a better triathlete not a better runner. I decided to focus on becoming a better cyclist therefore bought a road bike and started lifting specific cycling muscles. Decided to become a better overall swimmer therefore working on I.M. work in pool...aka more pain from coach Agnese (oh...check out Steve and Agnese's website Triathlon Rocks). Two things to get from Triathlon Rocks: 1) "I pee on my bike" shirt 2) lat cords. Both will change your life.

I feel this will make me more competitive and faster in triathlons. Will this hurt my run? Only one way to find out, but from previous years; I have been able to peek on the run in 6-8 weeks. So anyways...focus on Eagleman 70.3 and Kona qualification.

No off season this weekend...Saturday was filled with 6 mile run with hills at tempo pace plus lifting and Sunday was the longest ride since 70.3 Worlds at 50 miles with 7x10 min power intervals and a coaching session with Agnese to focus on back and fly strokes. So much props for those butterfly swimmers.

Good luck to everyone in their training and reaching your goals.