It's been 2 months since I became an Ironman and it still feels incredible. I still cannot get over how well that day went and the people I saw during the course of the day. So many familiar faces from my past seemed to have popped up out of nowhere along that race course. But, as I continue to come down from that high, I am faced with a new set of challenges. Mainly, what do I do now? Where do I find motivation? What new challenges await me in the coming year?
I have had to spend these past 2 months reflecting on these very questions. While I still need more time to fully answer each of these questions, I do have a fairly good idea of where I am heading. For one, planning for the upcoming wedding will keep me going as I get ready to start the rest of my life with my beautiful bride to be. For that reason, I will be taking next year off from Iron distance racing. It will be good for my body to take a year off from the rigors of that since I have spent the last 3 years competing and training in them. I know my clubbed foot will appreciate it. I also know a special someone who will be pleased to not have to plan her entire summer free time around a single race that I'm doing.
So what do I do now? Well, my plan is to get back into training in the coming week. I will focus mainly on core and strength work for the rest of this month and begin to add Cardio work in December. I will definitely continue to compete in triathlons but will max out with an olympic distance, nothing higher. Still working out which ones I would like to do so stay tuned on that. So that's all I have planned at least in the near future. As for farther down the road, I'm thinking of getting more experienced in triathlon, becoming a certified tri coach, and POSSIBLY doing a few more Half Ironmans and another Full Ironman. If there is another full in my future it will be only when I have become a father to children old enough to understand the magnitude of it. They would be the ultimate motivation.
Where do I find my motivation? I will focus on looking as fit as possible for the upcoming wedding. That in itself will be my motivator over this winter. Another big motivator for me is making sure I stave off any possible seasonal depression that might want to rear its ugly head. These will be my biggest motivators going forward in the next year with more surely to come.
What new challenges await me? It's hard to say. The biggest one will understanding that I am not training for an iron distance event, which means I will spend less time on aerobic workouts with long slogs on the pavement to shorter more aggressive workouts. That will be a new challenge that I hope will make me a more well rounded athlete and help me when I get back into the iron distance races. The other challenge is changing my diet to ensure I keep my weight down (I really really REALLY like sweets!).
As for goals, those will be for a different post. In the meantime, I plan on spending some more relaxing time and start getting back into the swing of things.....I really hate the getting back in shape sore body :*(
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