2018 Highlights and 2019 Goals

I'm not sure how it happens, but each year seems to pass faster than the last and 2018 was no different. For those that followed along this year, you know that I faced many mental and physical challenges throughout 2018. In the end, I'm proud to say that I succeeded in ending the year on a positive note. Looking back, I think the biggest take away from 2018 for me, was learning how to find motivation even when the excitement of preparing for a big race isn't there. Below, I have listed my most memorable moments (both good and bad) of 2018...

• Weight Watchers - You can look back at previous posts to read more, but let's just say that Weight Watchers has been a live changer for me. Eating well has always been a struggle for me in my adult life and WW gives me the structure I need to do just that. 
• Back Injury - Again, you can look back at previous posts for more details, but injuring my back in late June almost forced me to throw in the towel on the rest of my season. Dealing with that injury was an emotional roller coaster that I hope to never have to live through again.
• Des Moines Corporate Games - I represented Dupont Pioneer (Corteva) at the Des Moines Corporate Games this year in triathlon (4th place finish), 5K road race, and 4K Cross Country Race (2nd Place finish). I had A LOT of fun along the way

Dupont Pioneer Cross Country Team

• Countless Races - By my count, I raced 12 times this year
• Drake Road Races 5K
• Pioneer Healthy Living 2 Mile Run
• Hickory Grove Sprint Triathlon
• Pigman Sprint Triathlon
• Quad Cities Sprint Triathlon
• DSM Corporate Games Sprint Triathlon
• DSM Corporate Games 5K
• DSM Corporate Games Cross Country 4K
• Bluff Creek Triathlon
• IMT Monument Mile
• Cyman Sprint Triathlon
• Jingle Bell Run 5K
• National Runners Month Challenge - I logged 103.12 miles running during the month of May landing me in the top 10 of all runners at Pioneer
• Heart of America Triathlon Series Championship - Again, this is well documented in other posts, but I actually managed to win my age group. Going into the last race in the series, I was in 3rd place and still rehabbing a back injury. I raced very well at Bluff Creek to earn the series win. This was also one of the 7 goals that I set for 2018

3rd Place Finish at Bluff Creek

• Cyman Triathlon and Party - I ended my season with the Cyman Sprint triathlon and more than a dozen friends and family came out the cheer me on. It ended up being my best race to date and the perfect way of ending my season

Strong run at the Cyman Triathlon

Very supportive coworkers came out to cheer me on

• Sub 8 minute mile - Another one of my goals for 2018, this was set at the IMT Monument Mile with a time of 7:51
• Almost meeting my swim pace goal - At the Des Moines Corporate Games Triathlon in July I nearly met my goal of 2:00/100 yards when I finished with an official pace of 2:01/100 yards. So close!
• Successful Off Season - I had an extended off season this year and managed to dial back my training significantly and allow my body time to rest and heal itself. If allowing myself a break isn't a big enough accomplishment, I also manged to maintain a high level of fitness and only gain 4 - 5 lbs over the course of 3 months (including the holidays!!!!). Over the past 2 years, I had gained about 30 lbs during my off season and had to start my base training pretty much from scratch. I'm only 1 week into my first training cycle of the year and have been running at a similar level to where I ended last season. 

With another successful year in the books, it is time to turn my focus towards making 2019 even more epic than 2018 was. In case you missed it, I posted my early racing schedule back in late October (2019 Race Schedule). Since that post, I have added a few additional races into my schedule:

• February 3 - Kickoff 5K (Leawood, KS) Ever since my Uncle Mike started racing last year, I have wanted to do a race with him and this will be my chance
• May 4 - Tri By Knight (Waverly, IA) I am doing this sprint triathlon with my friend, Justin. It will be his first ever triathlon!
• November 30 - Hungry Turkey Half Marathon (Des Moines, IA) This should be a great way to end my season next year

I have also set my goals for 2019 and they are simple but challenging for sure.

1. Complete my first full marathon
2. Set a PR for all distances/categories listed below (I have listed my current PR for each below)

• 5K - 28:00 (Cyman Sprint Triathlon Sept. 2018)
• 10K - 1:02:35 (Training Run Sept. 2016)
• Half Marathon - 2:16:18 (Drake Relays April 2017)
• Triathlon (Olympic) - 3:09:46 (Des Moines Triathlon Sept. 2016)
• Triathlon (70.3) - 7:47:06 (Legend Ad Adstra Sept. 2017)
• Triathlon Swim Pace Per 100 yards - 2:01/100 yards (DSM Corporate Games Triathlon July 2018)
• Triathlon Bike MPH Avg - 19.4 MPH (Cyman Sprint Triathlon Sept. 2018)

As of this morning I have officially completed the first week of my 2019 training program and am looking forward to the weeks ahead. I am only 3 weeks away from my first race of the year, which will kick off 4 straight weekends of racing to start my 2019 schedule. I hope you're ready to get after it, because I sure am!