After months of discipline and traning for the Malibu Triathlon, I slacked off, only to find one day that I had suddenly gained a couple of pounds. It didn't take long for me to recognize that the race had provided a focus for me and that without it I could easily revert into a slow steady weight gain again. I soon redoubled my efforts and regained my race weight of 196, 35 lbs down from my peak.

Perhaps others can simply keep the weight off, but for me I realized that I needed another focus. I tried to sign up for the Venice - Marina del Rey 10k Race that I had run more than twenty years ago, only to realize that it had disappeared into the mists of seaside history.

Then it dawned on me. If I started training now, I could be ready for an even more demanding competition, the Los Angeles Triathlon's Olympic distance race, held annually in September, a short walk from my home. It's a 1.5 K swim, nearly a full mile, followed by a 40 K / 24 mile cycle, and a 10K run. It would take more work and dedication than prepping for my Malibu Trialthon, but my goals would be the same as my first try at a tri - simply to finish and not come in last. I would give it my best.