As week two of my 36 week training plan comes to an end, I think maybe it’s time for me to come down off my high horse.

I do most of my training by myself, not because I want to, it is just how it works out. It is amazing, when in a vacuum, how easy it is to talk yourself up onto that horse.

This, more than anything else, is why, for me, it is important to have events throughout the year to bring me back to earth. Watch out for that first step; it’s a doozy!

I got to swim at the U of M Aquatic Center this weekend. What an absolutely wonderful place to swim! The pool is very fast (well, for at least some people it is).

It was the USMS MN (US Masters Swimming, MN) Icebreaker SCY (Short Course Yards) swim meet, which was very well attended this year. I swam six events; 50-yard Fly, Back, Breast, and Free, 100 IM, and the 1000 Free. Let’s just say that I could come up with a few (not so good) excuses for why this was not my best effort. Like, my focus has not been in the pool, that I was swimming tired (no taper), I had three back to back to back events…and so on. But I think it’s time to pull on my big boy pants and be humbled a little. Maybe I’m not quite at the top of my game just yet and maybe a good dose of reality is just what I need at this point.

I’ve just about finalized my 2009 race season. Good thing, I think I’ll a need a few more reality checks over the next 34-weeks. In my next post I will layout the 2009 season (the road to Madison).

Coming Soon…I will be rolling out a new website. My goal is to have the site up and operational by the end of February. The site will attempt to bring together all components of this journey to Ironman. My goal with the site is to provide interesting and motivating content in the areas of swimming, cycling, running, and nutrition. The site will also strive to keep its visitors informed about C.H.I.N., the beneficiary to this Ironman journey and additional ways that you can join in and participate. Stay tuned for more information.