A painful day. My first withdrawal.

Today I will be withdrawing from my 2.80.20 Cairns. I'm not injured, I'm probably fit enough, I've got the essential gear and I could get the time off so what gives? Basically, while I could just about squeeze everything in that's exactly what it would be, a squeeze. My gravel was reduced go getting there as late as possible, leaving virtually as soon as the race finished, going alone with the family staying behind and with none of the little upgrades( some Aero wheels, bar end Shifters etc) I'd promised myself.

So I could do it I just don't want to start my ironmonger experience that way. So rather than half search it I have withdrawn.

But this is a tactical redeployment, not a retreat from ironman distances. Stay tuned for news on my replacement event.

Locking in my (half) ironman plans

A couple of weeks ago I set my triathlon goals for 2012.  Some of this was locked in (the Sparke Helmore Olypmic Distance) but the big one, the 2:80:20 for Challenge Cairns was in the wind.  Well I decided to take the plunge, register and commit the cash for the entry.  So $270 spent and I feel pretty committed now.

This is almost a year earlier than the good books and writers I respect say I should be attempting something like a half ironman but I'm feeling strong, lean and I have a solid (and very importantly, achieveable) plan so I really do believe I'm going to be ok.

This blog will be part of the discipline I will need to achieve this safely.