2010 Race Medals

So, I don't have any more races scheduled for the year, so I figured I'd review 2010.   What a year! 2009 was my first in triathlon and this year was one of some awesome accomplishments and one where I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot about racing.

This year I competed in:
  - 3 Sprint-distance Triathlons
  - 3 Olympic-distance Triathlons
  - 3 Half Marathons
  - 2 Bicycle Rally's
  - 1 Adventure Race
  - 1 Half Ironman

1.  Supporting first -time races is good for the community and for our sport.

2.  Adventure racing is a heck of a lot of fun.

3.  If you want to race fast, you have to race smart. (And that means slowing down for sharp left turns)

4.  After finishing my first 70.3, I realized that I had the drive, the will  and the sincere desire to tackle a full Ironman.

5. Bike rally's are not to be feared. Personally, I felt they would be filled with a bunch of peloton-riding hard core cyclists.  But, everyone is so friendly and they didn't even laugh at my aero bars (at least not in front of me) And, rest stops every 10 miles... with cookies??  Seriously?  Made me question being a triathlete.

6. If the race you're going to ride / run in has hills... it's best to train on hills.  Trust me on this.

7.  No matter how far you are out of your league you feel in any race, you still belong there.  There is room for the person who finished first, just as much as there is for the person who finished last.  Don't let anyone tell or make you feel otherwise.  No one can take the experience away from you.

8.  Always double check the race signs.

9.  Bloggers are a great source of inspiration, motivation and experience!

10.  I can't wait for the 2011 season!!

So, I've been down the last few days about my taking the wrong course at the White Rock Marathon.  I had trained for and was mentally prepared to go 26.2 and  with one simple mis-read of a sign, I was robbed of a marathon finish.  I felt that I wasted valuable training time, I didn't complete what I set out to achieve and well, just wanted to go back in time and fix it.

As most of you fellow triathletes know, we can easily obsess on just about everything race-related.  How to drop seconds off our transition times ... Will that aero helmet really improve my bike time? ...  How can I improve my nutrition plan? We want to be the best that we can be at a sport that seems to give back to us as much as we put into it.

But, seriously.  What do I have to complain about?  I realize that I should be so thankful for my health and that I was able to complete a half without any problems or injuries.   I will go on to run more marathons, triathlons and the like.  I should be thankful and not dwell on the mistake.  In the scheme of things, it's just not that big of a deal. 


I came across this movie trailer for a movie called "ATHLETE" - a documentary that profiles four individuals - a cancer survivor, a blind senior citizens and two twin sisters who compete in marathons and triathlons.  I haven't seen the movie, but the trailer already has me inspired. Enough of my pity party.