2012...year of the W!!

So I’m finally getting around to a proper blog for 2012. Obviously if you haven’t figured it out already from the header, I have some pretty exciting news. I was 1 of the 50 picked for the Wattie Ink Elite Team!! When I applied I never thought I would get picked. My only results worth mentioning are at the sprint distance. However I was given the opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage of it. It’s been pretty exciting since finding out. Twitter and Facebook blew up with follows, RTs, and friend request as we all found each other and went nuts about how exciting this all is.

I had already planned to go big in 2012. This will be my third season so I feel I’m ready to capitalize on the lessons learned from the past two seasons at the Olympic and 70.3 distance. I’m also going to stick with my original plan to wait until 2013 to do a full Ironman.

This season I will be working with a running coach since that has been the weakness so far but should be my strength. I’m a decent open runner but have not been able to carry that over to triathlon. I had some great momentum leading into December but wound up with a stress fracture and missed three weeks. So we’ve been slowly adding my mileage back since I came back about 5 weeks ago. It wasn’t until this week that we even brought back speed work and hill work. All I had been doing previously was easy running. I know from what I experienced before the stress fracture and from results of some of the other guys being coached by Scott that I’m going to have a breakout season. I have set lofty goals for my triathlon running. I want to go under 40 minutes at the Olympic distance and I want to go under 1:25 at the 70.3 distance.

As far as swimming and biking go I am still self-coaching. Which means I pick up any tips I can along the way. This is where my new team has already begun to help. We have some pretty stout guys on the bike so I know I can learn from them. My swimming is going great as well. I changed my stroke mentally during my break from the pool and started working on it once I came back. I saw a detailed analysis of Andy Potts and liked what I saw so I went with it. I’ve only been back in the pool full time for three weeks and already I have had PRs for a few of my pool distances. I know that with my improved swim, improving cycling, and my run being coached that I should have some great times this season as long as I stay strong and healthy.

I have to thank Sean for giving me the chance to rep his Wattie brand (www.wattieink.com) as well as the amazing line up of sponsors that he has brought on board. I’m still in shock that this is all happening and I may not completely believe it until the team kit arrives in the mail. It really has been a new source of motivation. I came from team sports so this team mentality is really helping me. I haven’t thought once about skipping a workout, and everything I feel like slacking I think of the rest of the team out there hitting it hard. Also let’s face it, if you look good you feel good, and if you feel good you race good! We are going to stand out this season for sure. From day one the team has rallied around each other with encouragement, jokes, and insight. You would think we all knew each other already. Look for us on a podium near you.

Lastly and most importantly, Kayla and I are getting married in June and I could not be more excited. She is such a support and inspiration in my life. She has been to a few races already and is the first person to ever make me a sign. She keeps me grounded, keeps me happy, and absolutely completes me. When we met she was struggling to even run for 10 minutes. Now she has run a 13.1 a 10k a 4 miler, and this weekend her first 5k. It has been so fun to watch her develop. It inspires me to keep pushing when I feel like I can’t do something in my training and racing. I know she will always be there for me and always support me. I love you Kayla.

Well that’s about it. I’m going to make a better attempt at updating this season. Can’t wait to see this season start on April 1^st with the ADPI-Athlon at MTSU. Starting off the season by going for a W.

See it. Believe it. Do it.