racing

I read somewhere that it's pretty common for endurance athletes to love training, but not enjoy racing all that much. What's the story on that? Is there some type of strength and pleasure found in solitary pain or is that we know there is always another gear we can find if we are pushed to it in a race?

Leanna said the other day that she could've ran harder at the end of the Tri to Make a Difference - what's that like? To finish a race and know you didn't leave it all on the course? To not sprint in at the finish? To not cross the line with your quads seized up, your hamstrings ripping out of the skin in the back of your thighs, your lungs on fire and your stomach somewhere between your esophagus and the road to your immediate left?

I live for the moment when the decision is made to go for it - to push for victory in spite of all that good go wrong - cramps, vomiting, syncope, heart conditions, death, or worst of all, defeat. I want to experience this feeling more often in order to keep my training on edge and my motivation on high.

Next year's plan looks like this -

Oct 20 - Palo Duro Canyon 20k
Nov 22 - LSRC Turkey Trot
Dec 9 - WhiteRock Marathon/Half-Marathon
Jan - local race
Feb - local race/tt half ironman
Mar - local race/hammerfest
Apr 13 - Playtri Half Ironman
May - Buffman & Squeaky International Distance Tri
Jun 29 - Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3

This is the thought so far, but I may have some changes as I think through this for another day or two.