Well, my second book's not out yet (tentative publication date: Fall 2006), and that's one of the reasons you'll notice me sticking closer to my NorCal home this season. Last year was a fantastic adventure, but it left me (a) broke, (b) injured and (c) fatter than when I started the year. It was hard to keep my training and dietary discipline together when I was faced with jambalaya on the Florida Panhandle, all-you-can-eat culinary luxury in Vegas, and a meat pie eating contest in Lousiana. Hey, I'm weak.
So here's what's on tap for 2005, as of late January:
Wildflower International Distance race report
Uvas South Bay Triathlon
San Jose International Distance
Life Time Fitness Triathlon (Ooops, didn't get it together)
The Core Run-Swim-Run etc.
Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon
Calistoga-Santa Cruz Relay
And maybe I'll be defending my Team Clydesdale Weight Class World Championship title, if I can ever find out when it's going to be...
Wildflower International Distance, May 2005, San Antonio Lake, California
Wildflower is a four-day festival of triathlon, the second largest triathlon event in the world, held out in the very middle of nowhere. Thousands of triathletes, sponsors, vendors, reporters, volunteers, and spectators are all converging on a county park with one entrance gate in rural Monterey County. As you sit in the line in the bright May sunshine, cyclists zoom up and down the road, warming up for the weekend's races. If you do the long course, you may pass the topless water station at Mile 9 of the run. I'm not up to that, so I'm doing the international distance, which should be enough after my winter of illness, sloth, and overeating.
May 17, 2005: Hey, I slogged through it. Least you can do is read the race report!
Uvas South Bay Triathlon, May Somethingth 2005 (I haven't totally gotten my act together yet, can you tell?), Morgan Hill, California
A small local race run by one of my favorite event companies, J & A Productions (www.japroductions.com). The hills are green, the water is calm, the bike course is fun.
July 4, 2005:It only took me a couple hours to do the race, but it took me several weeks to post the race report. Sorry 'bout that.
San Jose International Triathlon, June 26, 2005, Lake Almaden, San Jose, California
This is the biggest triathlon within 50 miles of my house (I think), and it's fun to have a mere 20-minute drive to the start. Another great J & A Productions race, although sometimes the water in Lake Almaden is a little funky and infested with goose poop. We've had a wet winter though, so hopefully that bodes well for the water quality in June.
July 4, 2005:The race report is now available for your perusal.
Life Time Fitness Triathlon, July 7, 2005, Minneapolis, Minnesota
A certifed Big Event. Huge prize money for the pros, but not for me, of course. Still, this should be a chance to see all my buddies from Team Kathleen, who are gathering here from all over the country.
But alas, plans changed, so I'm not going to make it this year to Minnesota for a race. :-(
It's all Northern California for me this year.
The Core Run-Swim-Run and then some, Santa Cruz, California
A certifiable Nutty Event. Run down beach, jump in frigid ocean and swim like crazy, repeat three times. Or more. Fight the surf, swell, cold, fog, rising tide and killer jellyfish. What could be a better start to your Friday morning? Read the race report and find out!
Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon, October 2(?) 2005, Santa Cruz, California
Gorgeous race, beautiful course, great weather, usually, excellent T-shirt. Perhaps my favorite triathlon in California, if not the U.S.
November 30: So it's taken me a little while to post this report...my bad. Take it up with my boss.
Calistoga-Santa Cruz Relay, October 2005, 199 miles from Calistoga to Santa Cruz, California
A crazy party on wheels, with some running and sleep deprivation thrown in. I hope to rejoin Team "Just Watering Your Flowers, Ma'am" in this weekend fundraiser, wine-tasting party, and serial workout.
Not a triathlon, but a multi-sport event of some kind. Running, wine-tasting, and making bad jokes are the sports that Team JWYFM specializes in, and not necessarily in that oorder.
November 30: Sorry, this report's not done yet. Definitely blame this one on my boss. (back to top)
January 1, 2006: Happy New Year! And as part of the resolution to get caught up on stuff, here's my Relay Race Report. First up in 2006 - the LA Marathon - if I can get back on my training schedule after almost 3 weeks of virus/bronchitis fun. (back to top)