Decision Time

At some point in the middle of the night, this post will be delivered to my mom's e-mail inbox. When she awakens tomorrow, she'll probably fix herself a cup of coffee, sit down on the sofa with her laptop, and open her email.

At this point, she's wondering, "Uh-oh. Why is Jen writing about me? I don't get it."

And when she finds out why I'm writing this, she'll probably spit out her coffee, open her eyes wide, and shriek, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?!"

So, what is the point? What could be so surprising or alarming or exciting?

It's this: I think I want to race Ironman Chattanooga next year.

I know, Mom. I know I know I know.

The inaugural Ironman Chattanooga is scheduled for late September 2014. I strongly want to do this race, for several reasons:

• It's a relatively short drive away.
• The course looks awesome.
• There won't be a heat index of 100 degrees like we had in Texas.

However, a good-sized part of me does not want to do another full in 2014. My plan (before they announced the location) was to volunteer at the new southeast US Ironman in 2014, let them work out the kinks that inevitably accompany a first-year race, then race it in 2015.

So why the change? Why don't I want to wait until 2015?

There is a large contingent from this area signing up to race it in 2014. There will be many opportunities to train with a group, lots of moral support and camaraderie, and one hell of a party in Chattanooga. I did my training for IMTX alone (I'm grateful that my friend Ray joined me for the second half of many long rides), and although that enabled me to stick to my own workouts and paces and heartrate zones, it was tough. I want to know what it would be like to experience Ironman training and racing with friends, and this might be my only opportunity. Not to mention, if I don't sign up this year, it's going to be a loooooong year of being jealous of everyone else's workouts and fellowship. I will greatly miss out. I might have to suspend my Facebook account for the year just so I don't have to see what a great time everyone is having training for Ironman Chattanooga.

So, why not go for it? What is keeping me from jumping in head-first for 2014?

Well....

First of all, I don't think that level of training is good for me. I could see doing it every once in a while, but certainly not every year. It could be argued that major endurance events damage you physically, the ramifications of which won't be seen until 20 years down the road (yes, there are studies, and yes, I can email you the links if you want to read them). Of course, you could also argue that athletes who have completed multiple Ironman races are healthier than 99% of the population. But we're talking about a sample size of one: Me. And for me, constant long-distance training is not good.

Secondly, I currently have no desire to strike out on 4- to 8-hour workouts or to spend Friday evenings prepping my fuel for Saturday long rides or to fork out a small fortune on regular massage and PT. I am LOVING my short workouts for Oly training. I LOVE that I have time to spend with Jeff and Sophie and the energy to do yard work and the money to fix some things around the house. I LOVE that when my workouts are less than three hours, the extra body fat comes off and the muscles get bigger and I feel strong and healthy. I LOVE that I'm getting a little speed back (very little and very slowly, but I will do the work and I will be patient and the results will come). I am not ready to jump back into Ironman training; but, training technically wouldn't begin until early April, and who knows? I might be ready by then.

Thirdly, I really enjoyed the duathlon I did last month. Really, really, really enjoyed it. I want to do more of those. And not as one-offs, but as goal races. I can see myself having a whole 2014 season of duathlons. Thinking about it excites me. It's a new goal with new information to learn and new workouts to try and new people to meet. And I wanna go fast.

Furthermore, Ironman training and racing is expensive. That's money we could be spending on other things, like Sophie's piano lessons, Jeff's tri bike, Jeff's new car, and the coach I want to hire. Also, I wouldn't hate it if I got race wheels.

Jeff gave me the go-ahead to do it before I even finished the sentence, "They announced that the new Ironman will be in Chattanooga!" Sophie told me she doesn't care, as long as she gets to come to Tennessee with us for the race. I have a feeling my mom will say, "PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT DO ANOTHER IRONMAN!"

I could go on, I'm sure, in support of both sides of the coin. I've been mulling this over, changing my mind back and forth and back again, since they announced the race a couple of weeks ago.

And now decision time is here.

For undisclosed reasons, I have to make my decision by tomorrow.

I am certain I will make the right choice, because no matter what I decide, I will make the best of it. I'm also certain that I will have regrets with either choice, because there is sacrifice either way.

So, I will sleep on it. I must say, writing this has helped a lot, and I think I know which way I'm leaning. But I will give it a good sleep and go with my gut and everything will be alright.

And if it's not, I reserve the right to bitch about it constantly for the next year.