Evaluating 2010 - or lack thereof.

This is going to be tough this year. There's so little to evaluate from an athletic/racing/training front. But there's so much that has happened outside of that arena that I still think this is necessary. If nothing else, I'd like for this to serve as a reminder to self about why I am who I am (good & bad) & how I can continue to get through the obstacles & setbacks, the tough spots & the easy. So...here's hoping this looks a lot different next year...





The day before the Sharkfest that wasn't

-What one word describes your 2010 season? Does it match what you said last December in anticipation of this year? Non-existant. This is as close as I can get to one word that sums it up. I had what looked to be a decent start to the season going. A good showing in Alabama & even though I struggled in the half-marathon in NOLA & the Pig (again, just in a different way), I still showed up at TH & did ok. It wasn't spectacular, but it was ok & I wasn't displeased with that. Thought I was setting up in a manner to put some time in on the running & figure out some things this year. Then started the Ohio debacle &

things fell apart from there. Writing this on December 17th, my last full, official workout was in May. That's disgusting to me. I've gone on a couple of bike rides, a couple (literally, couple) runs & swam a couple of times (including a 5k)...but nothing that represents living in a healthy manner or being active consistently. I'm so far from where I thought I'd be last December that it's damn near shame-inducing.



Race start of the Rock 'N Roll Mardi Gras
New Orleans Half-Marathon





-Did you race any new distance this year or try any new type of racing or sport? The only new thing I did this year is prove that I can sacrifice my personal life for my career. I set new records for myself in my lack of training, racing & general sports involvement. I was on the boat to do a swim from Alcatraz that got cancelled AT the island, that would have been new, but I've swam further so maybe it wouldn't have counted. I was supposed to swim a 10k but I pulled myself out of that delusion prior to registering. That would have been new as well. Neither would have been prepared for properly or executed to the best of my ability, of this I am sure.

Mudathlon. You'd make that face
too if you had mud
 in unmentionable places...



I did run the Mudathlon in Anderson, IN with C. THAT was fun. There aren't really any pictures & it wasn't anything that would be considered fast or inspiring. It was dirty (took 2 wks to get the mud out of my ears), it was slow (climbing over hay bales, military hurdles & through a river ain't exactly dashing) & it was gross (mud - EVERYwhere. I think I peed mud. And it was dry before we got hosed off. We simply threw away about half of our clothes...). But it was a helluva good time. We laughed, we splashed, we ran & jumped. We had fun....it's nothing to do for a time record or a win, but it's a helluva good time to be had getting nasty & doing dumb things. 



Day before Big Shoulders...
more like Big Waves & Big Cold.
But yes, that's a palm tree, in Chicago.



-What was your greatest thrill or joy this year from training or racing? I swam Big Shoulders in September, regardless of the fact that I was woefully unprepared. It was horrendously cold, the water was incredibly rough & the swim was 20:00 slower than last year. But I felt, in even the smallest way, that I was still myself even after all the crap I've been through this year. I fought through that swim, that cold & finished the race. It wasn't easy & many wouldn't have done it. Hell, many didn't that day.....There's an athlete down in there & she'll be back at some point. But she's buried under a really, really large pile of self-doubt, disappointment & emotional crap right now.

Post-Drumstick Dash. Soggy in Starbux w/B & T

On Thanksgiving, I ran the Drumstick Dash with T & Little B. We did the short option (2.3mi I think) in just gnarly weather, but it was his first time running in anything other than his neighborhood with his Mom. He had a blast & wouldn't stop thanking her for letting him run & said he couldn't wait to do it again. We didn't run fast, we took a couple of walk breaks, we played leap frog with the traffic cones, joked with the spectators, raced a car & stomped in a puddle. We had FUN. It was one of my most memorable runs & I hope the sheer joy of that stays with me for a long time. It's why we do what we do & I hope he does it for a long time also.



Post-Mullet Man.



-What was your biggest disappointment this year from training or racing? The complete & total lack thereof. I've allowed this to happen, let there be no doubt about that. I've long stated that if you allow yourself to be run over & worked without end, it will become expected. The problem with high expectations is that, once they're set by others you have no choice but to perform to the expectation or disappoint. I've **finally** reached the point where I'm accepting a bit of disappointment from others to live up to my own expectations. Or....to be more realistic...to start taking steps to start living up to my own expectations again...hell, to even be in the same vicinity as my expectations....



-What was your favorite race in 2010? Tri - Alabama...one of two I actually showed up for. I performed decently & had a good time. I had family & friends there & ran my butt off. Swim - Big Shoulders - I'm in there...it's buried & it's going to be painful...but I'm in there, somewhere. Run - Drumstick Dash. Witnessing the discovery that it can be fun...inspiring.