Race Season Set...Almost

So I think the 2011 Race season is locked... It's mixed with some new challenges, some why the hell not races and my staple ones.  Hope to see some of you out there...

• Miami Half Marathon (Jan).  Done in the books.  Not a PR, but a great weekend. Next time, training would be good
• New Orleans 70.3 (April).  Why I am doing a half-iron early in the season is beyond me...Someone suckered me into this one...Let's consider this one a LOOONG training day instead of a race
• Ragnar Relay (May).  Like Reach the Beach, but 6 hours closer to home.  Ends in Westchester.  How bad can it be
• Columbia Tri (May).  I missed this one last year due to the broken wrist.  After all the good (and hell) things I heard about this one, I need to try it...
• Rev3  - Olympic (June).  A tri in an amusement park?  Why the hell not!
• Philly Tri - maybe a relay for CAF (June).  Still a maybe, but I could get suckered into this one. 
• Vineman 70.3 (July).  While this is my "A" race for the season, I am still on the wait list.  I was  assured I would get in from race organizers, but if it doesn't happen, heard Rhode Island 70.3 is a decent race which doesn't sell out.
• CAF's San Diego Triathlon Challenge  (October).  Simply put, always going to do this one. 
• NYC Marathon (Nov).  I want revenge...Mile 22 broke me in 2009...It won't happen this time around.
• Las Vegas Half Marathon (Dec).  Maybe I'll hit black jacks right after the finish line. 

New Orleans 70.3 Remind me why again?

yes I am one of the stupid ones who signed up for an early season race...Not really sure why I did again, but alas, I have about 60 days before the kick off of the 2011 season.

So far, the training has been on the bike (trainer) at home (2 hours last weekend) and running. Also bought my flight down there today ($400 RT), so there is no turning back now...

Hawaii then Miami. not a bad way to start January

If there was ever a month to miss being in NYC it was this past January.  December was hell enough with the storm at the end of the Month, so I was very glad to get the hell out of dodge.  No better place to escape the cold and the snow than Hawaii.

Thanks to the Korff gang (Victoria, Linsey, Allie, Beau and John), I went to took a much needed break to the North Shore of Hawaii.  This was one of the first times I traveled with my bike just to have it with me to train (I actually bought a travel case just to have it for Hawaii and my races this coming year).  Leaving JFK on a Saturday morning I finally arrived in HNL a mere 20 hours later (time zone and 4-hour lay-over in LAX included).  Upgraded rental car to a Mustang Convertible -- Vic and Micha met me to take my bike (they spent a week in Kona before).  Off to Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore...time to chill.

Hawaii is indeed like paradise.  While overcast a few days, it was nothing but relaxing, some training, laughs and good times with friends.

The combo of being five hours behind NY and not having my laptop really got me to unplug.  It was a blast riding my bike (the hours on the bike trainer in the way back of my mind), going on long training runs (for Miami) and just lounging on the beach chair watching the waves was incredible.  The 9-days I was away did wonders for my mind and my tan lines.

Yea and the sunsets did not suck.
As I lugged my bike 6,000+ miles (and two time zones), I made sure to get in the saddle as often as I could.  While we have all heard stories of the Hawaii winds (segments on the IM Championship TV broadcasts are devoted to it), I had never actually experienced it, until one day when I decided to see what they were all about.  After going against the winds for ~ 15 miles in ~ an hour and getting pushed and shoved and almost blown off my bike, I had a whole new found respect for the winds (it was especially nice going with this wind on the way back in 40 mins).

As sad I as I was to leave Hawaii, it was time to go back to work...at least for a few days.

I was back a mere four days (literally arrived back in NYC on Tuesday morning) before flying out to Miami (Friday morning) for a half-marathon with friends.  I have done the Miami half for the past three years (this was my first half marathon in 2009) and it's always a blast.  Throw in a group of 13 and it wasn't just a race, it was a weekend away with friends.

No need to go into great detail, but I defintely learned you cannot screw with the distance.  The lack of training, not sticking to my no-drinking a week prior rules, and not watching my diet contributed to a not to great race in my book...But I had a BLAST. 

Back to reality....