One of the doctors I visited suspected that I had a virus and I think she is probably correct. Exactly six weeks after the days when I was too sick to be at work, I am feeling pretty froggy again. Last night I had a very strong bike ride, which makes me feel more confident that I am going to recover completely.

Some decisions I made during my down time will still remain, though. I have decided not to do triathlons (I suppose I could do the occasional sprint race for fun) because I don't like swimming, I don't have time for swimming, I dislike getting up at the crack of dawn to swim before work, and I don't have time (full time job, grad school, homeowner, freelancer, and very sweet girlfriend) to train for three sports.

If I forget about racing altogether, then I start to think about what I would do to enjoy my hobbies. My choice of activity would be based on what I want to do at that moment rather than what I should be doing to get faster. If I want to run, then I will run. If I want to ride my bike, then I will ride. If I am tired, then I will rest. I bolded that statement just to beat it into my thick, stubborn head.

I think I will participate in some duathlons, some running races and some cycling races as I feel like it. I'm interested in doing some more cycling races because they do not seem as stressful to me. Something about being with other people, especially on a team, adds a social element to the competition and takes my mind off of pushing myself beyond my limits. It's a bit more of a struggle for me to participate in team sports; I have excelled at being a solitary athlete in competition (particularly tennis singles). It's worth a try to see how it pans out.

Most importantly, though, I want to have fun.