The end of one season, and looking to the beginning of the next...

Good Morning Everyone!

     The first thing I did this morning was go to my blog, and noticed that the last post that I put up was on May 12th, 2010.  Wow, what happened to all those asiprations of going to back to the old days of blogging, reporting, and changing?  Life, I supppose, is the easiest and most accurate answer.  Between losing my job Memorial Day weekend and coming to where I am now in my career, beginning an accelerated graduate school program in accounting so I can take the CPA next year, girlfriend moving away and doing the long distance thing, triathlon definately took a back seat.  This was somewhat disheartening since I was committed to get back into the sport, give to the sport, do some charitable activites while I was at it, and tell my story just like I have always had.  It got so bad that I have now successfully completed a sprint, olympic, and now half iron distance event without any training.  I don't think I am going to try to catch up on any blog posts, except I may do the race reports for Chattanooga, Peachtree City, and Augusta, just so that I have them logged on my blog for my records. 

     However, there is always a new day, and a reason to begin anew.  The year is fast coming to and end, and one looks to the future to see what is in store for them.  I have a "golden ticket" for Ironman Florida next year via volunteering with my friend Mike this year.  This was also my first time really spectating at an event as well as volunteering as a wetsuit stripper.  For those of you who have been on this side of the fence (outside looking in), as well as triathletes that have sat on the sidelines for one reason or another, I have a complete new respect for this perspective.  I just plod along in my races, maybe have had a few GI issues and cramping, but no problems with my equipment, no injuries, no potential death.  I witnessed all of this and more while spectating the event this past Saturday. I saw the full range of emotions that occur during this race, and then thinking myself of when and where I was when those emotions overcame me while racing.

     I spent the weekend (when I got home) sleeping and reflecting on my triathlon career.  I mean, I am not making any money off of it, but it is the longest standing activity that I have undertaken (and plan to continue).  Longer than any job I have had, relationship I have been in, and has been about a 1/5th of my life.  It has been my drug, my therapy, my escape, my joy, my sorrow, in essence, the sport has in one way or another embodied me.  Few other people and things have affected me in this way, and I am thankful for all of them.  I mean taking the two weeks up to November 6th, I was actually sleeping in the evenings so that I could pull all nighters for grad school to complete 2 exams, 1 final exam, a paper, and a project, and then head straight to Panama City on 3 hours of sleep so that I could be at a mandatory meeting for volunteers. Yet.............. that damn stupid grin reared up and showed itself on my hotel room  balcony Friday night and followed me through the rest of the weekend.  All of you know this grin.  It's unexplainable, yet makes complete sense when it comes out from hiding.  This is why I am here, and this is why I love doing what I do.

     Looking forward to 2011 brings me lots of opportunities.  Graduating with a Master's Degree, hopefully having a job in accounting, taking the CPA exam, potentially living in a new city and state, and what I would like to accomplish as a triathlete.  For a change I have begun winter base training/maintenance, something I have never done before.  I am also rekindling some old tri-friendships that I have let go astray, as well as foster new ones.  I hope all of you have had a great 2010 (and season), and I hope that all of your dreams, aspirations and visions for 2011 come to light! 

Murtha...