After a two-year hiatus of writing about my athletic life, here is the update. 2013 I focused on less training and racing for fun. I decided to slow down until I had confirmation from doctors and tests that it was ok to continue a hard 6 times a week hard-core training and once a month intense racing. I only raced two triathlons but did a lot of fun running and swimming races for a cause as well as tried the newly hip spartan races and worked more on developing upper strength and core by starting full throttle on kitesurfing skills. The running races became more group runs than competitions because they were for a cause and that felt even better. I have joined the One run for boston runners community and that has been a huge blessing, the athletes are all inspirational and now I have lifelong friends from it as a result. I stopped the triathlon coach and spinning classes but exchanged then for kitesurfing and more dancing. I increased the upper body weight to 10lb kettle bells and it gave quite nice results. The Scape the cape triathlon was the smoothest bike ride I have ever had, it was lovely hard work paid off. The pumpkin aquabike in maine was a lovely getaway destination race, the lake was so pleasant to swim in. I had a great time and the post race meal was delicious. The bike course was enjoyable but a bit of a rolling hills which got me pretty tired in the end. I wanted to run after, so I think I will stick with olympics and aquabikes here and there. The 3mile swim in Vermont was a delight, so relaxing and enjoyable and perhaps I even encountered with the memphre lake serpent 😉 Spartan races are not for me, I hated the scratches and skin injuries from it and the bacteria in the eyes from the mud, I did not enjoy it and ended up doing many burpees. I learned in the fun races like the splash of color that they are meant to be run in group and even though I had fun I will not race one like that unless i have a team.
This year I am scheduled to have my regular one tri a month starting in June alternating between olympics and sprints. The beginning of the year has been filled with lots of long distance running races and kitesurfing activities. The Lousiana 1/2 marathon was amazing, I have never felt so strong running, I guess consistency pays off after a while. I can now do a 1/2 marathon anytime I want and 1 hour 10k running is the minimum training a week. I have left the bike aside for a bit but I am hoping with the summer my biking legs will become stronger again. I am now a full-blown kitesurfer, I can ride and enjoy the water and air. I also tried circus air acrobatics in a trapeze and lyra and I fell in love with it, I might look more into this type of gymnastics in the future. I am also back to Ben Greenfield podcasts listening for nutrition and tri training. It’s a diversification athletic life now. The summer will bring more swimming for me in lakes which I am looking forward. I participated in an aquathlon in Venezuela in the spring and that was lovely and pretty enjoyable, it always reminds me of how natural is for me to swim and how much I want to do long distance swimming races. I shall report on that soon. This should be a fun tri stressless season!