refocusing

over the past three years i have become addicted to multi-sport cross training and competition. it has gotten increasingly harder to train for swimming and cycling, but running has remained my constant.

when i began doing triathlons four years ago it was mostly because i swam for a season in high school and had been a mediocre cross country runner. i figured i already had two of three sports down, so why not compete? using a borrowed woman's road bike, i awkwardly tackled the challenge of the 'great ohioan triathlon.'

during the winter/ spring that followed i decided to start training seriously for sprint distance triathlons. i even stopped drinking alcohol for eight months - of course it payed off. it was easy to train though while still living in columbus due to the easy accessibility of pools, gyms, and endless country roads to ride. i had a very successful season running around eight sprint triathlons (with a 5th place overall finish, and almost always either winning or placing top three in my age group). cycling became my strength. i finished the season with an olympic distance.

the following year i trained, and completed, the little smokies half distance. this was not the smartest of moves as i had not trained hills, then ran the hardest rated half ironman in ohio. it was the only option that fit my timeline of moving back to nyc for the summer - just the way it had to be.

the next goal was to run a marathon. it was a pretty seamless transition going from half distance cross training to full on marathon training. i then completed the hampton's marathon.

my training was further hindered once i moved to brooklyn to attend pratt. the school's lap pool has been shut down indefinitely.... why? dunno. rumors of some accident resulting in a death - no life guards or something (yet they hire an excessive amount of students to work at print labs, but can't find even ONE life guard. sweet pratt. awesome job.). there was also (and still is) no where to continuously cycle. yes. the west side has a trail, but i suggest it for running NOT cycling. you will constantly be dodging rollerbladers, oblivious walkers, and children.... never mind the breaking for cross traffic.

i do have to say nyc does have some sick runs. brooklyn has prospect park, which even offers a decent hill. manhattan - the eastside, west side highway, and central park. if you get a chance, run any of the mentioned.

here in italy... cycling is as common as basketball in the states. only problem is that i don't have my road bike here. the running has been great though. beautiful countryside and tones of hills. finding water mid-run, or getting power gels (impossible), have both proved to be challenges. i have not seen a pool, public or private, since my arrival 2+ months ago.

when looking through some of my older triathlon photos though i came to the realization that i have been forced into slowly drifting from a sport, well two of the three, that i enjoy more then any others (and happen to be pretty good at). so once i conquer a couple more marathons, i believe it will be time to refocus to the days of my triathlon training - take down an ironman or two.