Chiu On This: April 2011

I know how this works....I scratch your back and you scratch mine. Sadly, I haven't been able to do much scratching and the comments on my posts are waning. That's cool. I never started this blog to get tons of readers who leave comments (although I always welcome them and am grateful for them). It's one of the reasons I haven't done any giveaways and don't really have any sponsors, etc. I've had a couple of opportunities to race for a team (other than Team In Training), but I passed those up too. I do this because I love to write. As I've mentioned in the past, I don't consider myself a great writer, but I like to pretend that I am. So I go on doing all of this for my own benefit. If someone happens along and likes what I have to say or appreciates my style of saying it, even better.

However, that is not why I am posting today. I've had to make some tough decisions regarding my upcoming race season. Essentially, there is no race season. I've decided not do any races. Why? Money is the biggest factor. I've even decided to cancel my gym membership. After losing my contract gig that was my steady paycheck and my son getting into the school we had hoped (which means tuition), I just can't justify spending $250 on a race when my husband is shouldering most of the finances; it just doesn't sit right with me.

I am OK with this. I will still be training at a maintenance level and if I find myself in a position to do a race, I'll be in shape for it. (Not a 70.3, mind you, but at least and Oly or less). I do have one more swim race at the end of May that was already paid for and so will participate in that. I have mentioned in the past that I hate racing. I love training, but really hate racing. However, I have needed races to motivate me to train. At this stage of the game, I am so used to having training as a part of my life that i don't need that motivation any longer. I am happy with the quiet accomplishments that are not spelled out on the race course. Of course, the PRs and such are always welcome in my world, but it has been a long road getting to the point where gains are made quietly and winning is not about the numbers, but about the self satisfaction of putting in a hard effort that no one else gets to see, but me (and my coach, figuratively) and about maintaining a certain level of fitness that I have become accustomed to.

I am down, but I am not out.

Last weekend one of the women I ride with gave me props on my hill climbing capabilities; that I made it seem smooth and effortless while still getting to the top fast. That meant more to me than crossing the finish line with a PR. It's something I have been working on, so to know that the work is paying off is fulfilling.

Anyway, enough of this drivel....Here is a peak at what I've been working at..a small peak. I won't say what it is for, but hopefully it will do well.