Spoilt

Coming up to a massive weekend of racing this weekend. This is one of those weekends where you just have to sit back and be amazed at the sheer volume of races that are available at the moment. By my last count there are two 'big' Half Ironman races on in Australia, 70.3 Geelong and Challenge Melbourne. Plus another, 70.3 Dubai, not to far away either. Not to mention countless other races available in the various local series, the WA Olympic Distance State Champs for example, which are on Sunday. Loads of races and I think I have friends doing all of them.

This sort of pondering often forces you to wonder how all these races are sustainable, but I long ago stopped asking myself that. I would guess that sometimes these races don't make much money, but on the whole they must make enough to survive. After all the races that aren't sustainable quickly stop existing.

It is also easy to get cynical about the business side of big races. After all if each race makes a bit of money, then lots of races make the organisers more money. However, as long as the races are good and the athletes are happy I don't spend all that much time thinking about that either.

No, I have stopped wondering about the how and why and instead sit back and enjoy the fact that they do. More race means more choice as an athlete. More choice about courses, about locations, about organisers and experiences. In the end having more races to choose from means being able to choose the races that you really want to do, when you really want to do them. Being spoilt for choice is rarely a bad thing.

It really is a great time to be racing. Or at least watching others race.

Speaking of which, all these races means that this weekend is going to be a busy one full of tracking, often several races at once. Good luck to Tim Green, Ali Fitch and Katy Duffield over at Challenge Melbourne. Alise Selsmark at 70.3 Geelong and Renee Baker in 70.3 Dubai. A big part of me wishes I was out racing too, but if I can't be doing that, then sitting back and watching friends do it instead has to be the next best thing.