SWBKRUN Mentor Group-"Off Season?" What is that?!! (Page 125)

The reason i am asking is this is my 1st year. I have an addictive personality abd when I committ , I committ.
Its June 23rd in Canada (i know insert joke here- i just mean its early in the season!!)..but I've done 4sprints, 1 10k and an Olympic already. When I look back at my goals from January-- they were to do a total of 5 tri's with maybe an Oly near the end of the year. So obviously I've done that now. I felt great after the Olympic as well.
The 70.3 series has an event in Calgary August 2nd and still has a few spots left. I don't know if I am getting sucked into the hype around it, as its the inaugural one here. But, I really want to enter it. My wife thinks I'm crazy and should wait until next year.  I'm pretty sure I can finish it, but strongly?? probably not. I'm really torn on it.
Back in January when I set my goals, I thought "WOW if I can do an Olympic by the end of the season I'll will be pumped."
hmmmmmmmm..

John,

What you just said makes perfect sense, but the Journey isn't over.  It is just starting.  You have come a long way, and come race day you will learn something new about yourself that you will FOREVER hold onto.  Like I have talked to you about (in email) when you are second guessing yourself 8 miles into the run.... Remeber those times you drove 1hr each way to do something, or the times you gave up one more beer (ok... Maybe not you) so you can wake up early the next day for your long run.  This is all part of the journey.  Remember this come race day.  YOU HAVE BUSTED your off and your ready for this.  Enjoy every second of it, and be happy, and proud of yourself that you are even able to attempt this!  Those last 500 yards will forever be engrained in your head!  It's like a drug.  You are going to want to find a way to duplicate that last 500 yards somewhere else down the road!  MARK MY WORDS!!!!

hey trev-  I know it's exciting to get caught up in the hype...but what if you amended your goals to say "Wow, if I can do 3 olympics by the end of the season and improve in each one, I'll be pumped!"  I don't know how I'll do at my race in 3 1/2 weeks but I have been putting in some seriously long run mileage (and bike mileage for that matter) for the past 16 weeks...and I am hoping that it will be enough to carry me through a good half mary at the end of it all.  August 2 is in just 5 1/2 weeks.  That's really soon!  If there was one maybe end of September, you would have time to build up your mileage and not risk injury.  Just my 2 cents.  I think you are a really talented triathlete, sub 3 on your first olympic!  Good luck on your decision...this was definitely not meant to bring you down (to earth)...  

Wow good thoughts you guys (Steve,John, Tracy,Suzy,Kim, and ETC) oh I mean Barry right
Interesting thoughts for sure. Its not that I'm not feel 'challenged' by an Oly or anything like that. I'm sure the next one I'll get my A$$ handed to me. I'm really leaning to what Suzy said and waiting until next year to do it. Lonestar???
It's true that I could probably go out there and complete a HIM, but it probably wouldn't be a lot of fun. More suffering than fun. But I'm the type of guy who wants to keep going further. I'm not a very patient guy. It's not the best trait to have sometimes. I do have to realize that I'm way ahead of where I thought I could be when I look back to December/January. I think I look at others now and think 'Frig I could do that'. I can't remember the last time I thought that of myself. I'm completely proud of my accomplishments so far in this journey. I've s/b/r over 1500km(1k miles) this year so far. That blows me away! Me, the former fatboy. A few years ago I used to play 1st base in softball 'cause it was easier than running around playing the outfield. I kept hurting my groin when I attempted to run the bases. I think sometimes I discount my accomplishments because it's so much easier to criticize yourself, than pat yourself on the back. I know that.
 I'm starting to think that maybe what I will do is run a half marathon instead. With running being my weakest disipline by far, killing a 1/2 marathon to end the year may be better for me....Stay tuned....

As ETC said earlier, this group has been invaluable for me as well. As much as I like to joke around and poke fun sometimes, and not really contribute alot of valuable posts, I truly love what this group has given me. It's my sounding board. It's my accountablility. There are some of us within this group that may never meet in our lifetimes, but I can't thank you all so much for just being 'here'. The information I have gotten from here has been a lifesaver. I am getting a bit sappy here I know, but you guys all know what we go through wanting this lifestyle. My wife get 'it' to a certain degree and as I'm new to the scene in my hometown, I don't really have any buddies in the sport yet.  But you all get 'it.'
 There are a few of us here that got into Tri's as we were sliding down a slippery slope with our health prior to this discovery and you understand where I'm coming from I bet. The weight was only going to come off when we were ready to do it for ourselves. But it's nice to be in a place where you communicate with others who have been the same place as you have. Steve- your an amazing mentor and dam$it I'm signing up again under you again when we need to start the group over, but from what I know of you, you've always been a healthy guy. Led a healthy life. You've given me great advice. But you've never been fat...like sick of yourself fat. Thanks to our group I can talk to others who can relate to me as well.
Wow deep thoughts tonight everyone. Blame John...He started it! Sorry for the long post, but feeling it tonight.
I debating whether i was going to hit send or not, but I don't want John calling me out for 'pulling a Chet'

Trevor,
I agree with waiting on the half.  Don't think of races as "once and done, move up."  No two races are the same - even if they are the same distances.  Every race has new lessons to be learned and new goals to achieve.  Gain experience from your first year of sprints and olympics.  Get familiar with your racing body.  Learn nutrition, transitions, race strategies, training schedules.  There are so many challenges out there.  Enjoy your new world. 

Wow! Lots of awesome insight from you all. I don't really have anything to add, but I do know about being goal driven. I think a half mary may be just the thing to keep you motivated without getting burnt out. I usually train for a road race in the Winter and do a couple days of swim/bike crosstraining along with it. It's just different enough from tri training to keep me from getting burnt out on never ending training. 

I can relate to coming back from being fat and out of shape, and realizing how much you're really capable of. Sometimes it's hard to curb the excitement and not try to do everything NOW.