To start, I’m also blogging about life in general and my other projects at leif.baradoy.com. I’m continuing to race and train, so I’ll use this blog to provide athletic updates, course and product reviews, and general banter about all other things athletic.
Lots has happened in the past few months. The near horizon doesn’t suggest anything except more development and opportunities. Currently, I’m working fulltime at a multinational electric company and trying to get a side-project idea moving forward.
I was also asked to join the board of the Victoria International Cycling Festival, which I eagerly accepted. Giving back to the Victoria athletic community by volunteering is a great way to support this city’s development as Canada’s premier triathlon and cycling city. I’m looking forward to working with the race organizers, local businesses, participants, and spectators to make 2012 a massive success for the VICF.
So, where does pro triathloning fit into life?
Right now, I’ve opted to demote it on the list of life priorities. I’ve decided to structure my life in a certain way. Training to genuinely compete at an international level doesn’t align with my present trajectory. My personal finances is a factor in my decision, especially given that I have never wanted to be a career triathlete (eg. bet my mortgage on racing pro, sponsorship, and coaching). That said, I look at this as a decision, rather than a situation that was forced upon me.
So, what is my plan? First, I go crazy unless I get a significant amount of daily exercise. I will continue race in a variety of West Coast races through 2011 and 2012. I’m going to keep my fitness base up (which I’m doing, presently, by biking and running to work, in addition to running daily with my dogs). Second, I’m going to stay involved in Victoria’s triathlon and sports community by volunteering at some of the events that I don’t race and helping local athletes secure and manage sponsorship, marketing, and finances, so that their pursuit of excellence is sustainable.
More, I’m telling myself that stepping back from +20hours/week intensive training is a choice I can revisit. I’m not saying no to triathlon, I’m just saying not now. I feel strongly that I did not come close to discovering my athletic potential. I would like to try to push myself to the limit, if there is one. Racing and standing out as as a pro in the Ironman or some distance/endurance event remains a goal for me.
I’m leaving a great deal of personal stuff out of this post, given how public this forum is. Suffice it to say that my simple and clear decision to focus on other things, like financial stability, was difficult. I have more in me to lay out on race courses and in training sessions… So, we’ll see what I can bring to the table as I live my life to the fullest.
Since I’ve started juggling work, work, and work, I am still finding lots of time to run and bike. Swimming, on the other hand, needs some attention. I just find is far more difficult to fit in. I commute to work almost daily by bike, so taking a long way to work and back gets me 1-1.5 hours/day of cycling. I run with the dogs a few times a week and sometimes even run in to work. Swimming is a destination workout rather than a multipurpose activity, so it is hard to make it happen.
