It's that time of year again...

It's usually around this time of year that I start to wrap up my triathlon/running season, reflect on the past season, plan the next season, and start getting really excited about weight training and the upcoming ski season.  Yesterday I spent most of the day at an information session for families of Marines being deployed.  Some of the info was useful and I realize they are trying to provide support for everyone but the frustrating part is that you will never get solid answers.  So basically my next year will be up in the air I won't know when travel plans will need to be made or what I should plan for.  For those of you who have seen some of my posts around planning, I am a  BIG PLANNER!!!  I love "to do" lists, yearly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, project lists, I could go on and on.....  So not having control over planning my next year shoots my anxiety levels through the roof!  So after this I went home and instead of running my planned 10 miles I sat on the couch the rest of the day and watched and ENTIRE season of a show I had never heard of.  It was based out of England and was about an recovering alcoholic Human Resource person and the staff at her company.  It would have been funny if I wasn't a little depressed!  Then when hubs got home I hadn't cooked, cleaned or exercised and I stuffed my face with pizza and ice cream!!!  I am not proud of this moment but I think I was entitled to that 1 day of self pity.

The good news is that I have recovered and am ready to make the best of this!  I started the day off right and am in a much better mood.  I mean I have one last year of freedom where I get to plan out a full year of whatever I want in preparation to settle down into a life of marriage and possibly starting a family.  So most people usually don't get the luxury of this kind of planning.  I'm going to see it as a positive.  He gets to visit countries he's never been to and learn new skills and I get to have a record ski season and hopefully do a second Ironman!  That's right I'm buying a season pass to a local ski area (which I've never done!) and plan on skiing every weekend this winter!  Then I'm volunteering for Ironman Arizona with my dad this November and with any luck we will be registered for IM AZ 2012!  Keep your fingers crossed!  Now I just have to decide after I get registered if I will also have a full local triathlon season or solely concentrate on that one.   As long as he returns home safe I'm happy!  I'm thankful that it is not a combat zone.  Things could be much worse and I am fully aware that other families have had a lot tougher situations to handle.  I will just keep reminding myself of how lucky I am to have the things I do have!

My tentative goal if I get to do another IM is 1) faster finish time 2) better finish photo where I'm not just tripping over the finish banner at my failed attempt to "skip" through the finish!

Lots of planning and waiting and seeing what's ahead for me but I'm looking at this as an exciting part of my life and a growing experience.  What are your plans for next season or for your off season?