A Triathlete Looks at 40

Ah, the off-season, where 2 words can describe my joy, "sleep in".  Finally a weekend where the alarm isn't going off before 6 am for either a race or to get out and train before it hits 90+ outside.  As I look back over my season, a few things stand out.

1. Racing the Masters division is awesome.  Lots of hardware/swag.
2. There are more kids under the age of 18 racing then ever before.
3. Some of those kids are really really fast!

I love a sport where you have the opportunity to continue to do well, even excel, and can have numerous goals along the way.  I love the fact that now this sport has spread to the youth who can continue to compete and enjoy the sport for many years to come, or perhaps branch off and excel in one aspect of the sport and then come back in later life (think Lance, only without the doping).

So in retrospect of the 2014 season, I met a few goals:
1. Remaining fit over 40 and continuing to enjoy my sport.
2. Finally got up to 90 minutes of running (thanks to injury this hasn't been possible the last 3 years).
3. Won the masters division at several races and managed a Top 3 OA at a couple local races.
4. Moved up from Category 4 to Category 3 in cycling.

There were also a few goals I didn't manage, some due to performance, others due to time constraints, that I hope to accomplish in 2015:
1. Complete (and hopefully PR) a 70.3 race, something I haven't done since 2011.
2. Top 3 Masters in a tri series (Just couldn't get in enough races).
3. Place Top 25 AG (qualify for Worlds) at Nationals (let's just say I didn't have my perfect race, somehow after 30+ years of swimming, I still haven't managed to find goggles that don't fog so I can actually see where I'm going! Worst - Swim - Ever).

For just a few more weeks I'll continue to enjoy my off-season, but even as some are just now finishing up their race seasons (mine has been over for a month) I can already feel the excitement and anticipation growing for next season.  For only the 2nd time in my 10 years of racing this sport I've decided to find a coach to help kick me in the butt this season (somehow when I write my plans I feel this complete freedom alter them significantly out of convenience, not exactly conducive to performance), so I'm confident that with the help of http://www.mpmultisport.com/ (thanks to a sweet discount deal from http://www.usmes.org/) 2015 will be better than ever!