Mooooose...man 70.3

I have been trying to figure out what race I wanted to do for next year.  I wanted something late May/early June which would allow me to start training ASAP.  I felt like 2011 was a bust, a bit of a let-down with injuries that I need something to redeem myself.  I debated over whether I really wanted to do an Ironman.  Actually, I was reading this post from Run this Amazing Day when I had my little "a-ha" moment with myself - otherwise known as "shit or get off the pot".  I really got caught in the excitement of all my blogging/twitter friends doing a full Ironman and reading race reports.  I have known I wanted to do an ironman for a long time, but it requires a commitment that I could not give this year.  I want to work out my other issues and I think there was going to be more personal things going on that I didn't know if I would have the time to give for an Ironman.  I still have the time for a half and maybe a little more than what I did last year, but I didn't know about the long haul.  I can't do it half-ass, I didn't want to feel like I felt for Vineman during the run again.

So, I looked at the 70.3 options:

• Oceanside 70.3 - this would probably be unbelievably fun to do this with so many people but it is in March and I don't know if I can properly train during the snow, maybe another year.
• NOLA 70.3 in April (this is still under my radar...) - my brother lives here, reason to visit!
• Hawaii 70.3 in June (ummm...Hawaii, duh) but it is hot and I didn't know if Mike was really into it.

Then this race popped up on my radar...

Hopefully Dooner won't kill me for this (circa 1999)

 ummm not the game Moose, although I was good at it back in the day...

This...

Mooseman 70.3 which takes place in New Hampshire.  It made sense being that it is in the beginning of June so I could start base training now.  I already signed up for a half-marathon in March in DC so the timing worked perfectly.  There was some of my Team Triumph teammates and hopefully Yasi and Anabel racing this so it will be nice that I know others will be doing it.

I have also decided that I would raise money for ALS for the race.  It will make this...

all the more motivating.  My father-in-law is not only from New Hampshire but he also has ALS and every day he faces struggles that I can't even begin to imagine, but he faces us with a smile on his face.  I felt that this race embodies the disease and his struggle, it will be something that will hurt, that I am going to face obstacles and need to work my ass off to overcome them and mentally, I will need to have the perseverance to overcome the pain and get to the finish line.

I am currently looking into how to effectively do this.  I have contacted the Philadelphia chapter and couple others to find out how to go about raising money, so if you have any ideas please let me know.