Pumped!

I was just tipped off this morning by triathlete (and future client) Evan Barry that Rhode Island will play host to a new 70.3 race next year! I am beyond excited about this development! I hopped over to http://www.ironmanlive.com/, and sure enough, there it was: IronMan 70.3 Rhode Island, July 13th, 2008. $25,000 Pro Purse.

Under optimal circumstances, I prefer to hit a half iron/70.3 race every 5 weeks. My body doesn't seem to recover from races as fast as most, a fact that I attribute to the effort I must lay down during races in order to make up for my lack of natural ability. I'm beat to hell for about 7+ days after a half I.M.

I also prefer to utilize 5 week blocks as they allow me some time for R&R the week after a big race. Yes, I'm racing Pro in 2008, but I still have a full time job and need to make time for the simple pleasures in life like going to the beach, going for walks, staying up late and having fun, etc. All work and no play makes Janda a dull boy and it's not fair for Michelle either as she already has to deal with my training, racing and work related mood swings.

Lastly, the fact that the race goes down on July 13th means that I can focus 100% of my attention on the members of my crew that'll be racing up in Lake Placid on July 20th! Michelle and I will pack the car up mid week, head north, do a little sightseeing up in Montreal, and then swing back down to IronMan Lake Placid and support 4 of my athletes who'll be toeing the line and digging deep. It'll be a real thrill to watch them, and a bunch of my friends, from the sidelines. I hope to learn a little something from the Pro race as well and apply my observations to my own approach/tactics should I decide to cap my '08 season with IronMan Florida instead of 70.3 Worlds. I figure that I'll make the call on IMFL sometime mid season once I get a sense for how I'm doing on the professional 70.3 circuit.

So... without further ado, my updated '08 race calendar*:

• PowerMan Alabama (April 13th)
• Wildflower Long Course Triathlon (May 3rd)
• Eagleman 70.3 (June 8th)
• Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon - Olympic Distance (June 22nd)
• Rhode Island 70.3 (July 13th)
• Timberman 70.3 (August 17th)
• Muskoka 70.3 (September 14th)
• **Escape to Bermuda Triathlon - Olympic Distance (October 26th)
• IronMan Florida (November 1st) OR IronMan 70.3 World Championship (November 8th)

*Training/tune up events not listed

**If heading to Clearwater for IronMan 70.3 Worlds instead of IMFL.