It is that time of year when thoughts turn to planning races for next year.  I actually started the process of thinking about next year a few weeks back, and wrote a blog post about it here. Today, I am sharing what will be my first race of 2022.

My first race next year will be Ironman 70.3 Oceanside.  It will take place on Saturday, April 2nd.

It will be my second time racing at Oceanside.  I did the race in 2019 and even though I struggled, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  The ocean swim was really nice, once I got past the breaking waves.  The bike course is really tough and that is where I started to have some breathing issues.  Even so, it is a great bike course. The highlight for me however, is the run course.  Running alongside the beach and ocean, with huge crowds cheering you on, is amazing.

I am not only going back to see if I can produce a better result, but also because it is an iconic race in a beautiful location.  By the time April comes around, I will be ready for some warm weather and sunshine.

This race is also typically a good one for racing with top of the line professionals.  It is the race that kicks off the professional season in North America.  It is also a race that Mike Reilly, the “Voice of Ironman”, usually attends.

I pulled the trigger and signed up for Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, because it is a popular race and typically sells out quickly.  I have two other races on my mind, but I haven’t actually signed up for them yet.  I will probably do that really soon.