Decision is Made

I am not going to sign up for Oceanside 70.3.  And for the most part, I'm totally OK with that. I'm getting married in August.  Spending a premium now for a race I can enter next year at a fraction of the cost doesn't make cents.  I can't justify it.  Yes, I'll miss racing alongside Rusty and Bob and the rest of my Fortius teammates.  There's no doubt about that.  But, as Robyn pointed out in the comments from yesterday's post, I can do my own Half-Ironman that day and gain the same experience for free.

Free sounds mighty good right now.  And this thought process made me realize that it's not too soon to plan for the 2012 season.  As it currently stands, my goals are to get faster at the Olympic and Half distances anyway.  I think 2011 is my swan song for full-distance Ironman events as it takes too much time out of my life. I'll apply every year for Kona though.  That's one event I MUST do before I die.

I used to want to do St. George desperately -- to prove to the naysayers that I could handle the toughest of Ironman events.  But the truth is -- screw them.  An Ironman is an Ironman.  It's a helluva committment any way you look at it, no matter the elevation on the bike course or the weather that day.

Yes, I reserve the right to change my mind.  I'm fickle like that sometimes.  But for now, I think I'll take a longer, more strategic look to the future and set my sights on US Nationals for Olympic distance and maybe, just maybe one day, the same for the Half distance.  I know I can qualify already on the Olympic side.  So it's just a matter of doing it.

And now, deciding which races to make my mark.

Consider 2012 Oceanside 70.3 on the list.

Sometimes the best decisions we make are the ones where we don't do anything.  I think today was one of those days.  My training is working right now.  I'm getting stronger.  My swagger is coming back.  And my schedule is only going to get busier the next two months when Oceanside training would require a greater focus than what I might be able to offer.

Gotta be smart.  And I gotta remember that I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.  Which also means listening to my inner self at critical moments.

Time to trust the process and stay the course towards Wildflower and Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

125 days and counting.