JOURNEYS OF A TRIATHLETE FATHER OF FIVE

It is 24 August 2009. I am gearing up for my last triathlon of the season—the Finger Lakes Triathlon on 20 September 2009. I am struggling to want to run the last few weeks. I have been doing some short 4 and 5 mile runs, with nothing longer than a 10k. This is far different than the three half marathons I ran in the months before The Musselman 70.3 in Geneva. I just have not felt that motivated to run lately. Plus, we have had a unusually cool summer in western NY and my body has been so use to going out for runs in cooler weather with far less humidity than we are currently experiencing. It has gotten much warmer, with humidity around 90% every morning. Running has been a real struggle. I have wanted to get in the pool and work on my swimming and ride my bike. However, this morning I decided that when I hit obstacles in my training, I just need to find ways to mix it up a little bit. So, this week I am going to try and get some lengthy trail runs in—6 to 8 milers. I think this is exactly the kind of thing my psyche needs to rebound from my running slump.

I ran an uncomfortably hot 48.38 and 51:50 10k last week. I will rebound soon!