Remember me?

So much for new years resolutions, and so much for writing on the "interweb" with the thought than anyone actually reads these self-absorbed musings. Yes, it has been awhile since I last posted, and a lot has happened, some of it related to triathlon, but most of it entirely outside of the sport. I did begin my long-awaited sabbatical, and I had some interesting plans to both train like a mad man and do significant research into learning issues. First stop was to a conference at Landmark College, which was pretty cool, and then to the USAT coaches certification clinic in D.C., which was also very cool. If you check facebook, you'll know that I am now a level 1 coach, and I have helped run two very successful clinics this spring/summer- one for adults, and one for kids. But, the mos significant event was on April 17th when I found out that my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a long spring and summer of surgeries, tests, waiting, more surgeries, more tests, more waiting, but now, finally, we have some closure on the first phase of her battle, which is that she is cancer-free, her genes are not involved, and with only one minor surgery on the horizon, it looks like we may be moving out of the woods and into the light. Was there triathlon mixed in there? Yes, but to be honest, I don't remember much, and it wasn't particularly successful. Thats ok, since what needed to be successful, a healthy wife, was and is. So, thats it for now- but I have much more to share...

2010 USAT Nationals

Last night, I was reading on Slowtwitch about the various disgruntled USAT musings, and something stuck out, so I did some digging, and I realized that based on my race at the NJ State Triathlon last July (placed 5th out of 71 in my AG), I qualify for the 2010 USAT Age Group National Championships! Wuhwhat! Now, they are in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and I have zero interest in going there, and they are on September 25th, when I am working, so that makes it an even easier choice. Still, its pretty cool to be in the top 10% of my age.
On Friday, I will be getting online to try to snag a spot at the Baltimore USAT coached clinic to become a level 1 coach. Not sure how that is going to work out, but I am psyched to give it a try. Staying in Baltimore will be cool, too.
Looking forward to my sabbatical, even more so now as I am shooting to qualify for the 2011 USAT nationals, which will be in....Burlington, VT! In August! I can totally do that, and I will push myself to try and qualify. The new pool will be opening soon, and that will be very interesting to see how my shoulder is doing. My left hip is really sore from all of the running I am doing, but I am up to 25/29 runs, almost 1/3 of the way through the 100/100 challenge. I am thinking about shooting for the full monty, but we'll see how I hold up to injuries. Bought a pair of K-Swiss K'ona running shoes, and they are pretty sweet. I have been trying to adjust my stride to more midfoot/forefoot, and wearing more minimal shoes, like my Nike Frees, so we will see how that experiment works out. Finally, I am trying to cut down on the crap I ate over break so I can lose some unwanted lbs. Sort of a wake up call to stand on the inlaws scale and see how far it was tipping in the wrong direction. Thats it for now...

2010- a New Year!

I am ringing in the new year with a new push to post to my blog more regularly. Not sure how this is going to work, but I do want to change up my postings so that they are not always about triathlon. This one, though, will be. I am in the beginning phase of this years 100/100 challenge, currently running at 16 days out of 20, having missed 4 in a row when I was up in Maine taking care of my dad when he had mack surgery. Its been cold, adding a challenge to this year's deal. One other note before I sign off is that I will be on sabbatical, and one of the objectives for the time off is to get my USAT level 1 coaching certification. More on that as it gets closer, more next time. Just letting anyone who ever reads this thing know that I am still alive and kicking...even after my rotator cuff injury this fall...