Shivering is not an exercise - Now's the time to plan your season

The wind is howling at over 40 mph, it snowed overnight and it’s damn cold yet again. Getting motivated to plan your racing season isn’t that easy. But it actually is a great time to start. If nothing else it will help you set goals and get you motivated to start your training.

I’m off to warm and sunny Tucson to kick off my outdoor cycling. The computrainer and spin classes are getting a bit boring. I already have in mind some key rides and races for this season.

Picking a triathlon can be scary and overwhelming. But you have to start somewhere. Many areas offer indoor tris where there’s a set time and they record how far you go in the swim, bike and run. When picking a tri here are some questions to ask yourself:

•          First determine what race distance(s) – Sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman or Full Ironman? Maybe even an ultra-distance race.
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•           Do you want a destination race or stay locally?
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•           Do you need moral support from family and friends? Then keep the race closer to home.
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•           If this is your first tri, maybe consider a woman’s only. The lack of testosterone in the air really makes for a much better first time experience.
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•           What type of bike do I own? Shorter tris are fine to use a mountain or hybrid. Longer distances you really will want a road or tri bike.
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•           How strong of a cyclist are you? Do you want a flat course or a more challenging hilly course?
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•           Do I have to drop off my bike in transition a day ahead of time? This can be a pain and time consuming.
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•           Open water swim or pool swim?
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•           Wet suit or swim suit?
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•           How much do I want to spend? As insurance rates go up, so do the prices of entry.

Consider including single sport races that will help you prepare for a tri and offers some variety to your season.

•         Time Trials
•          Road Races
•          Invitationals
•          Gran Fondos
•          Open Water Swim Races
•          Running races – 5k, 10k, ½ marathons, full marathons, ultra distance

Check out a few of these web sites:

o   TriFind.com

o   usatriathlon.org

o   openwaterswimming.com

o   Active.com

It’s never too early to start planning a race, trip or adventure. Get motivated, set goals and let’s get moving. And NO, shivering is not an exercise.

Enjoy the ride,

Sheri