09 Race Schedule and thoughts

Ok for those of you who care. Here is my tentative race schedule for 2009. I am upping the ante this year and racing more than ever. The new additions are primarily earlier and later than I raced last year. This schedule should provide a nice build to the Half Ironman in August and a sweet wind up to the year doing something new to me.

So without further adieu, drum roll please.........

• May 17 - Fort Custer Xterra tri - sprint distance
  
• June 14 - Motorcity Tri Olympic distance
• July 12 - Interlochen Tri - Olympic distance
• Aug 1 - Steelhead 70.3
  
• Aug 23 - Bluewater Tri - Port Huron (undecided dist)
• Sep 6 - Michigan Tri Championship (this one is a maybe)
  
• Nov Iceman Mountain bike race- HOPEFULLY I can get registered.

Here is the quick why and wherefore breakdown on each race.

Fort Custer, May is an iffy time of the year in Michigan but I say what the heck, let's give it a go. I've been wanting to try an Xterra and this might be a fun kick off to the season.

Motorcity, Belle Isle Detroit - It's that big triathlon feel on a closed, screaming fast course. It was my first ever Olympic distance last year and I intend to blow away last years 3+ hour time on this one.

Interlochen, An annual trek to beautiful northern Michigan. It was my first ever tri and continues to be my favorite venue. A full weekend of friends, family and racing. It is also the perfect race just before Steelhead to really hammer it before the half IM taper begins.

Steelhead 70.3, Last year I was a bit overwhelmed with this race. I also didn't feel like it really counted because it turned into a 70.3 duathlon after the swim was canceled. Let's hope this year we get to do the swim. This is my A+++ race for the year.

Bluewater, This originally was the fun year end race for me... somehow what used to be my end of season has turned into mid season! Isn't fitness AWESOME? I traditionally run the sprint distance on this one just to have some fun and go fast. It's only a few weeks after Steelhead so depending on how I feel, I could go either distance.

Michigan Triathlon Championship, This race is a team race and I am leaning towards doing it just to have one more chance to hang with the tri-mates this year. We'll see how I feel by then, I might just turn this one into hanging with the tri-mates and not racing.

Iceman, This is a 27 mile mountain bike race from Kalkaska to Traverse City Michigan through National Forest and 2 track roads. It has a capped registration and it sells out every year. I tried to register last Friday night but the registration site crashed and no-one was able to register. Monday night is the next registration attempt. If all goes well this will be a wild weekend with the GREYHOUNDS.

So, in a nutshell that's my current crazy schedule. I'll get a side bar with the schedule up shortly so everyone can track my progress.

Until next time, keep training and ask yourself this question every day. "What am I doing today to prepare for my races this summer?" That is my latest mantra to keep motivated.

Craig

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2009, the times they are a changin...

It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating New Years. I was looking forward to my first season competing with a bit more purpose and being a part of a team. I am all ready blown away by the awesome people I have gotten to know on the RACING GREYHOUNDS. (and yes, the teams official spelling is all capitals). I am looking forward to some group training when the weather breaks. We have our team kits ordered, they're expected to arrive sometime in March. I already have my team helmet, socks and podium t-shirt. I've been told to swing by the bike shop and pick up my 2 team issue water bottles. I have approval from the team for my tentative racing schedule, and let me tell you we are having some fuuuuun this year. If you want to see what the team kits look like just click on the RACING GREYHOUNDS logo over on the left.

You might notice the new look to the site. I thought a freshening up was in order and I have a few more things I want to add in the future. Keep on coming by, you never know what new things I might be adding. I have also decided on no more logos unless I am either a) being paid for advertisement or b) sponsored in some way, shape or form by the company whose logo is there. I love the Evo Tri team and will continue to support them but I always felt guilty with all their sponsors links and I don't use or am not provided the oppourtunity to use any of them. From now on if you see it on my site, I either use it, endorse it or am paid to place it. If you have a product you'd like me to review or endorse drop me an email I'm sure we can work something out. If you want to sponsor me in some way PLEASE drop me an email, I would love to chat with you about my goals and aspirations.

As far as my off season training goes, I just started back into it in January. I just finished a 30 day 300+ mile bike focus. (mostly trainer workouts, but some mountain bike trail riding as well) I finishing up an easier/transition week getting ready to start a run focus month next. It's killing me, but so far I've avoided the pool since the first of the year. I'm trying to work on my weakness first this year.

Ok... Next week I'll announce my 2009 race calendar as it stands right now. Until later, keep training, it's the fitness gained in the off season that carries you in the heat of the race.

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