Early end to race season

My race season has come to an early end. With so many trips in the past few weeks and more coming up along with a busy time at work, my wife and I decided I shouldn't be doing the Bear Lake race. I agreed, but it is a serious bummer because that's the race I could use to gauge my improvements this year because it's the only Olympic distance I did last year.

Consider: leave late Friday Sept 11 to get to the lake 2 hours away (I have to work til 7pm). Up early to race and drive back tired. Pack for USMCR trip and leave early Sunday. Gone all week. Return late Thursday, and pack for a fishing trip. Depart Friday morning at 0500 for a long drive to trailhead (the short route in Yellowstone has a closed road, so I have to go a long way around). Fishing trip til the next Tuesday.

That is simply too much time away. And I've cancelled the fishing trip, too, which was ten times harder to cancel than the triathlon because it is three full days of September fishing in Slough Creek.....that trip with a guide goes for about $1,500 because it such an awesome opportunity. Even though I'm not out the cash because we do it on our own, it still sucks. And my fishing buddy is out a plane ticket, or at least the miles he used to get it, I think. This was certainly a difficult thing to ask him.

The last few weeks have been quite difficult with time away from work and family. I know I needed to cancel this race (and fishing trip!), but it was very difficult. The last trip to NoDak for family cost a lot, and the tab is still running as I have a car broken down that needs repair, I have a rental car that is running at $50/day, and I have to go back to Wyoming and get my car after it's fixed and turn in the rental car (that's a full day trip...12 hours probably).

As for triathlon, now I'll sit down and evaluate what I did this year for training and racing and see where I can improve. I still want to continue my training schedule as it was simply because I like to do the workouts. And, I have to stay in shape for the fall trail race series and ski season(!).

Such is life. The little guy Paul has me around his tiny little finger!