Specular Reflection
Specular :of, relating to, or having the qualities of a mirror
Contents
Lest We Forget
I knew I had fallen off the blog horse. I lost sight of the goals I had for it. I got caught up in my science, in planning for the upcoming race season, and watching Netflix episodes.1 I sit here on the couch, mildly sick, still caught up in one of those three things.2 It is still not quite enough to keep me from looking back on what I had set out to do last year before I become lost again in the future. Let’s take a quick look back.
Goal Checklist
Referring back to one of my first posts, here were my goals:
1. Top 5 (sub 2:30:00) in the Collegiate race at Wildflower
Item one was a scratch due to the fact that California did not have enough rain that year to have the swim.3
2. Top 10 (sub 4:45:00) in the long course at Pacific Crest
Item two was a success on both fronts. I finished 7th overall with a time of 4:41:48, aided by one of my best swims ever.4
3. Top 3 (sub 2:05:00 and PR) in the Collegiate race at Best in the West
Item three was a scratch due to a scheduling conflict between that race date and the date of one of my best friend’s wedding in upstate New York.5
Season Reality
At first glance this may seem like a bit of a let down on the year, but I also had a great deal of success in my other”B” races and hit every other goal I had. Here is a quick recap of all the results:
- Blooms to Brews Half Marathon: 1st overall, 1:15:44
- Dunes Triathlon: 3rd overall, 2:27:33
- Blue Lake Triathlon: 3rd overall, 2:03:31
- Pacific Crest Triathlon: 7th overall, 4:41:48
- Cottage Grove Triathlon: 3rd overall, 2:02:12 (PR)
Pacific Crest aside, I finished on the podium in every race I competed in, which was my reach goal for the season as well. I also surprised myself a little with a PR in my last race of the season, putting me even closer to that two hour barrier. Since sub 2:05:00 was the target of my originally planned final race I felt pretty good about that accomplishment.
Personal Reflection
All things considered it was easily my best season to date. I had good form in all of my races but was also able to push my limits a couple times, not playing it as safe, to see where that could get me. I’m in the process of developing my goals for next season and am hoping I may be capable of even more with a more focused approach on the areas where I can improve. I’ve gained confidence in my ability to perform at the front of the pack and now I need to prepare for that reality with the right training.6