POST EVENT BLUES

Participating in three different athletic events within a time span of fourteen days may seem like a bit much for some.  More than likely it is for most runners or triathletes.  To me, it’s not!  And it wasn’t!!

In all honesty, I am now experiencing a mild case of post event depression.  Not having any event on the horizon other than the Goofy Challenge in January, and several events afterwards, has me feeling like I’m in limbo.  With the triathlon and duathlon season coming to an end, the only other option would be to sign up for another half marathon and use that event as a training run for the more prestigious Goofy Challenge.  Then again, perhaps I should just cool it with the events and concentrate on some good old fashioned run training and cross training. 

One week after running the Wine & Dine Half Marathon in Walt Disney World with my wife and Tina Clark, I participated in my very first duathlon in the town of Tradition.  Tradition is a fairly new township a stone’s throw west of Port St Lucie, FL. approximately 28 miles south of Vero Beach. 

The Multisport event offered a triathlon or a duathlon, both sprint-distances.  Not wanting to deal with another murky lake swim, I chose the latter and I’m glad I did.

After spending the night and evening with the Clark family in Vero Beach, Tina drove down to Tradition early Sunday morning with me to get a firsthand look at the two events and to offer me some sideline support.  Support I needed, support I got, and the end result was second place in the 65 to 69 year age group.  I was one happy runner/biker and Tina took the opportunity to witness her first triathlon and duathlon.  It was a learning event for both of us!

Five days later, I was again bunking down in the Clark home in Vero Beach.  Their openness and generosity is very much appreciated.  Needless to say, I love spending time with Chris, Tina and their three active boys.

The following morning, October the 16th, Tina and I were scheduled to run in the second annual Beachside Half Marathon, an event sponsored by the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition.  We both had participated in the first Beachside half marathon October of last year and we loved the new Vero Beach event.    

We both did quite well in this year’s half marathon.  Tina got a PR (personal record) for the half with a fast time of 1:59:08 and I came lumbering in with a suitable time of 2:42:47.  We both were well pleased with our performances.  Tina surprised even herself by setting her personal record and I ran my fastest half marathon since my knee operation in May of 2001.  T. Clark and R. Joslyn both had a good day!

For our post-race meal, the Lion’s Club of Vero Beach served hot flapjacks and ham in Riverside Park to all of the runners.  Hot coffee and orange juice was also available. 

Enormous thanks to all the volunteers and race people that made this year’s half marathon event possible.

Now that all of my scheduled 2010 events have been completed, let the training begin for the 2011 Walt Disney World Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge.  I’ll be facing my sixth Goofy Challenge in a row and Janet will be facing her fifth in a row.  We are, indeed, Goofy!

My beautiful wife and I are determined to enter January’s event in much better shape than the last five challenges.  No more near-death experience near the end, and hopefully no more nagging, debilitating injuries. 

We plan on cross training a great deal more this year than all the previous years.