It's time to start blogging again...sadly, I fell off the blogging wagon in December, but it's a new year and that's always a fresh start! Luckily, training has NOT suffered over the past few months and I'm stoked to start Ironman training on Monday. Woohoo!!! I'm really excited and can't wait to share this journey with all of you!

First milestone is an LT test next Saturday - local 5K race. I've got a few other fun things planned over the next few months including a beach training weekend with my coach in February in Panama City and some riding in the North Georgia Mountains. And then the Rev3 Half Iron in Knoxville in May! I didn't do a half last year and I'm itching to get back out there and see how my fitness has improved. This will be a training race for CdA, and I'm sure the hills won't disappoint. Speaking of CdA - they posted the schedule online and the race is going to start at 6AM and cutoff is 11PM. That will be different! Still 17 hour cutoff, but sun doesn't set until almost 9PM, so I'll get to run while it's light out!

Coach had me start thinking about goals for training and racing for CdA. It was fun to think about it and write a few down to focus on. These are the ones that I feel comfortable sharing (there are a few more secret goals ;)) i.e. I'm not sharing my time goals yet ;)

Training:
- Strengthen weak areas (core and strength training)
- Improve swim with Masters
- Get in some cold water swims
- Improve bike pacing on hillier rides
- Have a plan for nutrition - what I'm going to try at various points as training gets longer. Work on understanding how to remedy typical issues in races - i.e. feeling bloated, sloshy stomach, throwing up, not hungry, knowing when I need salt, etc.
- Lots of bricks
- Good nutrition, not just during workouts

Racing:
- Run as much of the marathon as possible. Come up with a plan for this, maybe even walk/run intervals so that I can have even splits start to finish. i.e. I'd rather have steady 12-13 minute miles the whole race doing run/walk intervals than start out fast and end up walking 16 minute miles at the end.
- Pick some race mantras (i.e. up and over)
- Smile and have fun

The last one is a goal for the whole year, really. I know that training won't always be a bowl of cherries, but I want to try my best to keep a smile on my face and have faith in my abilities. I've gotten this far and I look forward to continued improvement. It's that brand spankin, shiny new year feeling and I hope it lasts into January at least ;)

I still owe a bunch of posts, including the following stuff I mentioned in my last post -

- A review of The Essential Triathlon Swimming DVD by Kevin Koskella, the Tri Swim Coach!
- Joining Masters Swimming (can you tell I want to make sure I am comfortable in the water)?
- Nutrition Thoughts
- Strength Training

I look forward to catching up with all of YOU as well!