As the 2003 season is winding down I want to look ahead to 2004. In order to design an appropriate training program I need to select "key" races that I will taper towards 2 or 3 times over the season. Therein lies the problem...
What is there to accomplish within the sport of triathlons? I'm not new to the sport, but I am in a fog about where I can go outside of my state's triathlon series events. I could choose an IM qualifier event--Goal = IM Word Championships. I could compete in ITU events--Goal = 2008 Olympics. I could stay home and simply do better than this year.
It's not that I do not feel challenged; there's always room for improvement. Why do YOU compete? What is the goal...near or distant future? Are there other "recognitions" to be had other than the Olympices and IM Hawaii? Another way to look at it is, I could spend the next 5 years becomming the best I can be, but I feel that if I never compete on an international "stage" I would be the only one who ever knows that I've doen my best. Perhaps I'm just more vain that the average person.
At any rate, what do you think? WHY do you TRI?
What is there to accomplish within the sport of triathlons? I'm not new to the sport, but I am in a fog about where I can go outside of my state's triathlon series events. I could choose an IM qualifier event--Goal = IM Word Championships. I could compete in ITU events--Goal = 2008 Olympics. I could stay home and simply do better than this year.
It's not that I do not feel challenged; there's always room for improvement. Why do YOU compete? What is the goal...near or distant future? Are there other "recognitions" to be had other than the Olympices and IM Hawaii? Another way to look at it is, I could spend the next 5 years becomming the best I can be, but I feel that if I never compete on an international "stage" I would be the only one who ever knows that I've doen my best. Perhaps I'm just more vain that the average person.
At any rate, what do you think? WHY do you TRI?