2011: My Best Year Yet

The 2011 season of training and racing was less about training and racing and more about not training and not racing. It was an interesting year with exciting life challenges and changes. My weekly training for marathons, triathlons, or shorter distance road races evolved into a day by day, touch and go, period of my wife and I bringing our twin girls into this world. It was the longest, hardest, and most fulfilling endurance event that I will ever be a part of.

That brings me to my 2011 summary of training and racing. I did not compete in one single race in 2011. It was not because I did not want to race, but with every day, week, and month that passed, my interest in putting time into something that did not directly impact my wife and kids in a positive way began to slowly fade away. I did not just sit on the couch and wait for muscle atroffy to set in. Instead, I plotted, planned, set goals, and made a conscious effort to put as much into the support of my family as I would any other training plan.

In 2011, I didn't toe a starting line, cross a finish line, receive any Age Group medals, or even put a training or race plan together... and yet, it was the most fulfilling year of my life.

Goal accomplished.