Things are falling apart...

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I have been fortunate. For over 5 years, I have had no significant illness or injury forcing me off training. But since about August this year, I have had a string of setbacks. First a wonky knee, then Covid, then a broken bone in my foot, then a cold and now my only road bike broke. It can be mended; it is just another obstacle. Like the foot, it can be run on cautiously, the cold and Covid are gone, I am fine.


Until now, I have seen a steady progression of my performance, despite getting older. But I have regressed quite a bit. Last year, I steadily ran below a 9-minute mile, the question was if I would go below 8.30 or not on a 5k. Now a 9-minute mile on my regular training runs are hard to do. 

It was inevitable, I am getting older and the recent training breaks have had a negative effect on my performance. I am not sure if I ever can get back to the form I had in 2023. It was more fun when I was getting better, but it had to come to en end, aging always wins. But I am also in an older age group now, so relatively to my peers, I am staying the same. That is what I am hoping.

I shall not complain too much, I have reached and gone beyond all my wildest expectations the last few years. And I have had a lot of fun, enjoyed every moment. I don't know if I will find it so fun to compete at a lower level. Right now, I am just going through the motions with my training, the real motivation is not there. I will have to think up some new and interesting goals, different from previous ones.

First goal is identified: Winter Triathlon in Breckenridge (Colorado) in February! A first for me, lots of challenges doing run, bike and ski (cross country). Hard to train skiing in Texas to start with. 

(photo by Susanne Jutzeler)

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