Primary 2012 Goal - Ironman Austin 70.3

I have decided to crank this up again to gauge my progress.  It is more for my own sanity than for anyone else but any curious people out there are more than welcome to follow along.  This year I have added a coach who helps with my training.  His name is Jeff Bennett and the progress I have made over the past four months with him has been staggering.  Knowing what to do (training and nutrition) and how to do it is a big part of this process.  I set a goal this year to do a half ironman.  That will include a mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13 mile run.  I have almost decided that the goal will be Ironman Austin in late October.  In the mean time, there will be a few sprints and Olympic distance races along the way.  I just finished a Sprint at Benbrook lake and plan an Olympic distance in Waco on July 22 (Tri Waco).  It will be my first Olympic for the year and the first long open water swim.  Last year, I did the US Open Olympic at Lake Ray Hubbard.  I wasn't overly prepared for the swimming and was not comfortable at all with the distance.  Most every race I do this year will include open water swimming to gain some confidence back.  With Jeff's help, all three disciplines are much improved.  I have improved my bike average about 3 miles an hour to the 19-20 range and my runs are down to around 8 minute miles from 9-10 minute miles last year.  It will be an interesting ride.  Pulling the trigger to actually make the commitment and register for the half is looming over me.  Once that is done, there is no going back.  I will have to make that call in the next few weeks.  At the end of last year, I totaled up my distance for training.  In 2011, I covered 85,111 yards or 48.63 miles in the water, biked 2,366 miles and ran 361.54 miles.  I set a goal, before I met Jeff, to cover 144,000 yards or 82 miles in the water, 3,600 miles on the bike and 500 miles running.  I thought this was aggressive.  As of this entry, through June 28, I have swam 130,495, biked 1,494.72 miles and run 411.97.  I was obviously way off on what I needed to do.  Having a coach and a plan gives me two important training incentives.  First, I know he wants me to do well and I feel like I am letting someone else down if I don't follow the plan.  I know this is not the case but I want to do well for him and it's just how my mind works.  I realize not everyone works like this.  Second, I have a good plan and the gains in speed are coming quicker due to his knowledge of how to prepare your body.  I could have never got this far without his knowledge and help.  For anyone wanting to do something like this, I think finding someone to guide you along the way is of the utmost importance.  We will see how it goes from here