I don't train 10 hours per week (except once in a rare while). I go through periods of not feeling like or not having time to train. I have a full-time job and a family. I can't spend thousands of dollars on triathlon every year. I don't have washboard abs.
But I do love training. In fact, I think I only really compete to give me the justification to train when I can. And I'm fairly consistent with my conditioning, if not speed work or drills. I do spend a lot more on tri equipment than my co-workers think is sane.
I started in 2004 with a sprint tri in Maryland when I was living in DC. I had just bought my first tri bike -taking a chance I would love it- and got through intact and loving it. The end of the season came soon after, and we moved to New Orleans.
While I was interviewing for my next job, I trained like mad, and my next tri in June 2005: the Georgia Multi-Sports Rock 'N Rollman, a half-IM distance race on a hilly course. I absolutely flipped for training and loved competing in this. This was a USAT nationals qualifier and I was only a few minutes from actually being able to compete at a higher level. I couldn't believe it at all. Did a sprint later that summer in Destin, FL. Two days later, Hurricane Katrina hit our new home, and my season was over. I was able to pull off competing at the Rock 'N Rollman the following June, but with a lot less focus and a slower time. I still loved it.
Near the end of 2006, Extra Baby came along. My training fell to a far distant place on the priority list, but didn't disappear completely. I hardly believe it but 2007 came and went without any triathlon competition. I did a few organized running races but mostly just rode and ran on my own when I could.
Over the holidays this past winter, my brother, brother-in-law, and I committed to competing in the LifeTime Fitness Triathlon in July in my hometown of Minneapolis. And I committed to trying to kick their asses. I ran my first ultramarathon, the Ouachita Trail 50Km in the hills outside of Little Rock, AR. I was slow -just over 7 hours- but had fun the whole way and never felt like quitting. I've been hitting the road on bike and foot, and getting into the pool. It's been fun getting back to it. And here I am.
