Things I Have Learned This Season.

As the curtain closes on 2007, here are some things I have learned.

1. Triathlon is harder than it looks, y'all. :)

2. The question is not, "Will I come in last?" The question instead is, "Will I finish this race?"

3. Sometimes things come up that you could never plan for -- illnesses, mechanicals, etc. Sometimes they'll even throw you out of a race and ruin your day. So sulk for the afternoon. Feel sorry for yourself over a plate of nachos, even. And then, the next morning, get back out on the road.

4. Conversely, sometimes, many times, things happen -- good things -- that you never would've considered before the race. Sometimes, when you think your best time is 2:05, you'll come in at 1:57. Sometimes, when you think a swim will take you 15 minutes, you emerge from the pool at a hair over 6.

5. The people you meet in triathlon and road races are awesome. Simply awesome. Take the time to talk to them, to get to know them, to run whole marathons with them, and you'll have friends for life.

6. Never underestimate the power of good, sound training.

7. At the end of the day, racing is supposed to be fun. So don't sweat it. It'll all turn out.

:)