On Friday I am turning 30 years old. Just like that, it's the end of an era in the life of the Wongstar, and the beginning of a new one. But more on that later.
So 2011 in terms of triathlon turned out to be rather eventful despite being lacking in events, if you know what I mean. Let's have a quick overview:
April: Samui Triathlon in Thailand is cancelled due to severe flooding.
May: Ironman China has its swim cancelled allegedly due to some permit fiasco...then the entire thing is called off just DAYS before I'm supposed to fly there. Instead I get a last-minute entry into Ironman Texas.
June: I decide to split from teamTBB, get a job offer to return to my career as a CPO, and start working with Beck Preston as my new coach.
July: Ironman Korea was supposed to be my last race as a TBB'er and BAM! I swam a 1:02! then BAM! I smashed into a minivan on the bike course!
So I decided to skip Full Vineman.
August: still recovering...Ironman Louisville is out too.
September: I finish ChesapeakeMan on very little training and super sleep deprived going straight from a medical mission in El Salvador.
October: My health insurance kicks in so I finally get an MRI on the knee that got bashed up in Korea. I learn that I've been training on a torn quad muscle, partially torn knee ligament, and bone bruise on my femur. Beach2Battleship is a no-go then.
November: Decided to call it a season and focus on healing up. Ironman Cozumel is out.
Really not the triathlon season I was looking to have: two races cancelled, hit by a car in one, 4 races skipped because of the injury and one of them completed without knowing how injured I was...well...surely there is something in all this that I can be somewhat proud of or happy with???
Being annoyingly positive at times, I figured I should at least make a list of my favorite performances that I'm most proud of for 2011. Here goes nothing!
2011 Highlights
- Winning the 20km road race at the Penn Relays (back in April), and winning a gold watch just like the sprinters get!
- Swimming a 1:02 at Ironman Korea!
- Running a 3:56 marathon at ChesapeakeMan--even with walking a mile and having two long potty stops, not to mention being WAY undertrained AND unprepared and well, injured.
Honorable mention: my 5:17 bike split at Ironman Texas off very little outdoor training and 200+ hours of indoor riding on the trainer over winter. I was crying for the first hour too because I was so upset that I swam like crap.
What a mind trip. Just goes to show you...racing Ironman is not just about your physical health and preparation...there is the mental and emotional side too.
Anyway, good riddance to 2011. There were ups, there were downs (well mostly downs), and you will go down, hands-down, as my worst triathlon season in all my 12 years of triathlon.
We can only go up from here.
your year and my year were VERY similar. Scary. I am definitely glad this year is coming to a close and focusing all energy on recovery and good mental health.
ReplyDeleteMISS YOU!!! come back to CA soon!!!
Found your blog last week. I am sure you will have a fantastic 2012. Just FYI, 30s are awesome. People actually start treating you like an adult!
ReplyDeleteI really think you were having a major breakthru at IM Korea and feel you can get back to that level. If you still have the passion, don't give up on your dreams of triathlon superstardom.
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