Aside from some swimming , I've not done much for training lately.  When I have gone running, things went well... then it got colder and I got wimpy.  I know that I ran just fine last winter and the winter before, but I just ignored that fact and wimped out whenever I thought about running these last few weeks.

Well I went out tonight for my longest run in a fair amount of time.  6 and a third miles in 52:31.  It wasn't a fast run by any means, but I think I need to just work on getting out there and putting in the miles.  Jeez, I wish I'd finished reading The Triathlete's Training Bible and put together an off-season training plan for this winter.  Oh well.  I think I am going to try to run about four times each week - three in the morning before work and once on the weekend.  That should give me a pretty good base to work with once I start training for my spring/summer races.

Speaking of races, I've put together a tentative race schedule for the upcoming season.  Sarah pointed out that the Minnesota Triathlon Series races have opened registration for next year (most of them at least).  My plan is to focus on five (or possibly six) of these races and hopefully contend for the age-group title for the series.  So the schedule is as follows:

Tri-U-Mah - U of M indoor triathlon.  30 minutes pool swim, 30 minute stationary bike ride, 30 minute treadmill run.  Winners determined by distance traveled.  February 8th.  This will be more of an off-season motivation for me rather than something to seriously compete in.

Chain of Lakes - Sprint, with indoor swim.  May 2.  I've done this race the last two years and despite the crappy weather loved it.  I'm hoping to contend in this one.
Buffalo Triathlon - Olympic.  June 7th.  This will be much earlier in the season for an Oly for me than for the past two years.  This will be my A race and will aslo be my first open water swim (cold water in early June) where I'll use my wetsuit.
North Mankato Triathlon - Sprint.  June 21st.  I've heard this is a nice little race and am looking forward to it.  I should be sufficiently recovered from Buffalo to do ok here.
Graniteman Triathlon - Sprint.  July 12th.  Bike is 15 miles for this race, and any longer bike legs can only benefit me.
Young Life Triathlon - Olympic.  August 15th.  This will be my B race.  There's enough time after Graniteman for me to recover, build, and taper for this race.  Though I may look for a small race just for fun in between them.
Lakes Country Triathlon - Sprint.  August 23rd.  This would be an end of season race just for fun, I think... and would give me a few more points in the series standings.

So that's the schedule for now, and I'm pretty excited about it.  It should be a good season I think.

Simple pleasure - I ain't tellin'!
Peace