Registered for the SF Triathlon at Treasure Island

Ok, that does it. I'm officially registered to end my racing season on November 8 by doing an Olympic distance tri (1.5km/40km/10km) on Treasure Island. (See the race details here)

Hard to believe it's just over six weeks away. My first half-marathon is just 10 days away, so then I'll have to turn my training focus back to swimming (and biking) and get a wet suit for the race.

I'm nervous about the swim, yet confident I can finish race. It's just a matter of how long it'll take me to do so.

Anyone else going to be there?

finish season with an olympic distance tri?

I'm feeling good about my training for the Rock n Roll San Jose Half Marathon next month, but I have to admit the run-run-run training schedule is rather monotonous compared to the multi-disciplinary approach to triathlons. On top of that, I can sense a certain degree of complacency already (overconfidence?) about my being able to finish the distance, so I'm finding my motivation is lagging these days.

I feel like I need a bigger challenge that's closer in than next year's Vineman Ironman 70.3, so I'm seriously considering signing up for the San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island which takes place on November 8.

It's an olympic distance tri (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10k run), so it would be my longest race ever, unless I completely blow up on the half marathon.

I've done all the sport distances in isolation many times, so it'd be a matter of stringing it all together in one long event. Yes, I'd be racing to finish, not to place.

And it seems a more fitting end to this first season of fitness to end with a triathlon instead of a half marathon.

I think I've just talked myself into it... now to double-check I've got the training time before plunking down the $150 reg fee. Will post later to let you know I've done it.

Looking ahead to my 2009 events

I can't believe I'm already looking ahead to 2009's competition calendar, but just today I was approached by several folks asking if I'm interested in doing a variety of extreme activities in the new calendar year.

The offers ranged from the Mayors Marathon to the 199 Relay to climbing Mount Shasta or repeating Mt Whitney.

With so much to choose from, I've got to prioritize.

And top of my list is the Vineman Ironman 70.3 which takes place July 19, 2009 (my 12th wedding anniversary, btw, luv ya hun).

Registration opens on November 1, and they'll only take the first 2000 entrants.

I'm so ready to plunk my money down.

And then build the rest of my schedule around preparing for it.

I'm so excited already!

It's all about the running now

At the beginning of 2008, I set a resolution to run 40 miles in the first four weeks of the year. It took some work, but I met the goal. My longest run back then was 4 miles, and even getting to that distance was a challenge.

Now, in just the last half month since my last triathlon, I've run over 40 miles as part of my training for the Rock n Roll San Jose Half Marathon coming up October 5, with my longest, a 9.3 mile run, coming last Sunday as I participated in the Nike+ Human Race 10K.

Over the next month, my training schedule has me putting running four times a week: 5 mile easy runs on Tuesday and Thursday, a pace run on Saturdays and a long run Sundays. This Sunday I'll be doing a 10-mile run and then add a mile to my long runs each week until I top out at half marathon distance the week before the race.

My biggest pleasure? The fact I actually enjoy my long runs and can go for 9+ miles at a sub-8:45 pace without stopping. Folks who know better say that I shouldn't be worried about finishing the half marathon... if I can do the 9-milers, I can complete the race. Now I'm focused on finishing the race in under two hours.

It still astounds me that a year ago I was struggling to be able to make it on a three-mile loop around the neighborhood without walking for stretches at a time. What a difference a year makes!