What's next

The last Ironman I did was in Idaho-Ironman Coeur d'Alene June, 2009. During the swim, I seriously had a near death experience. I made the poor decision of starting in the midst of a group of big guys. As usual, the swim start was a total cluster. A couple of big dudes swam over top of me and I was completely submerged under water. When I surfaced I was frantic and hyperventilating which made it difficult to continue to swim. There is more to that story but this bottom line is that I spent the rest of that day wondering what the hell I was doing. After all, I did not want to die doing a freakn triathlon. I love the sport but my family comes first and I seriously began to question what the hell I was doing. I think that I am still recovering from that day. I kinda lost my passion for the sport after that-call it burn out-whatever-I just wasn't having that much fun anymore. I was putting in alot of hours training and that was not something I was going to continue doing if I wasn't having fun. I decided I needed a new challenge and so I ran the Green Lakes 50K Endurance run in August and then the JFK 50 mile ultramarathon in November. I have basically been trying to figure out what is next ever since. I took six weeks off from biking and swimming. I ran alot and also lifted quite a bit. The thing I was enjoying the most about running was just putting on my sneakers and heading out the door with no plan. Maybe I'd run 5 miles, maybe 20, maybe flats or hills if I felt like it. Running has always been very meditative for me. I can just get in a zone and get lost in thought. Going for a long run feels like one big long prayer to me. I can get my thoughts organized and get things in perspective. It is my medicine. Swimming and biking had become work. I was 40 in November and I think I just don't wanna beat myself up right now. I don't wanna suffer. I'd much rather run easy for 4 hours than run hard for 1. That is just where I'm at. So...I was missing swimming and biking. I got back in the pool and back in the saddle. It felt great to just go long and easy. A little race in Virginia had been lingering in the back of my mind. It sounds crazy. Really, really, crazy. It is what I want to do. It is where my passion lies right now. The Virginia Triple Ironman. Yup. 7.2mile swim; 336m bike; 78.6m run. Must be done in less than 60 hours. That is what is next for me. This is what my season will look like:
May-Jersey Shore Marathon
June-Eagleman 70.3 triathlon
July-Ironman USA (Lake Placid)
August-100 mile ultramarathon
September-Syracuse 70.3
October-Virginia triple ironman