Looking Ahead at 2011

With only four months left in the year, it's time to start mentally planning and preparing for the events of 2011. By the end of 2010, I will have completed 19 races in a 12 month period. The goal I set for myself for this year was to complete at least one event per month for the entire year - and while I've achieved this goal so far (and even surpassed it numerous months), in 2011 I would like to focus on longer events.

I completed my first full marathon in October 2009, and then another in San Francisco in July 2010. I am currently signed up for the Memphis Marathon in December (solely by default, as I had planned on only the half, which ended up filling up before I got around to registering), which will give me a total of three in a 14 month period. Next year, I would like to complete at least two more full marathons, and also tackle the half-distance triathlon (1.2 mile swim/56 mile bike / 13.1 mile run), which I'm hoping to do in Cedar Point in September. To keep myself motivated and busy however, I also plan on doing the Shelbyville Tri Series again (a series of four sprints taking place monthly beginning in January), as well as some other smaller races throughout the year.

The Ironman Louisville just took place this past weekend, and my ultimate goal is to compete (and complete) one of those AMAZING races! If all goes well, and I don't completely fall out during the half next year, I plan on making that my goal for 2012. Not sure I will do it here in Louisville - it always takes place that last weekend in August, which historically is a very hot and humid time of year, so I'll be keeping my eye out for another location that may be more suitable to my total weinie-ness. Either way, I've learned to never say never and to just go with it and see what happens. After all, after completing my first half marathon in 2005, I swore I would not put my mind and body through that pain ever again. Five years later, I guess this addiction has made a liar out of me!