It's been a very long time since I updated my blog, so let me catch you up on a few things.  With my age group win and 11:45 finish at Beach 2 Battleship in 2009, I qualified for Long Course Nationals in 2010.  That gave me the chance to qualify for ITU Long Course Worlds in Las Vegas, NV November 5, 2011.  This is the chance of a lifetime for me.  I am officially a member of Team USA and I'll be representing our country at Worlds.  I also have Jason Jacobs, one of my premier athletes who will also be competing at Worlds.  We're both very excited for this opportunity.

In March Jason, myself, my husband Scott, Jillian Lavelle, Jeremiah Friday and Chris Cullen headed out to Las Vegas to preview the famed Silverman Course we would be competing on at Worlds.  The course lived up to its reputation of being tough and challenging.  Riding through the desert at Lake Meade National Park was by far the most challenging part of the course.  The wind alone was tough, but it's the long climbs that make it even tougher.  However, previewing the course gave Jason and I the information we needed to make sure we are ready for November.

This year will certainly have it's challenges.  My dad and I run a trucking company and rising fuel prices and new government regulations make the business more than challenging.  Get Fit Families is doing very well, but I still hope to grow the company, take on new clients and continue to help individuals and families get healthier through exercise and proper nutrition.  In addition to that, focusing on my family (Scott and Zachary) and training for Worlds will have each day full.  

I'm looking forward to starting my training.  In a week, I'll be getting my new bike the Giant Defy Advanced 1.  Yes, I went against the normal tri world and went with a Road Bike.  I've ridden the same Trek 5400 full carbonroad bike for 14 years.  I've been extremely competitive on it and I believe the courses I choose are perfect for a road bike and I'm looking forward to trying it out this year and riding a Giant.

Lastly, my biggest challenge I continue to face as an athlete is being able to manage my Lupus.  I'll continue to work with my doctor, Susan Manzi at the Lupus Center of Excellence in Pittsburgh, PA to make sure my Lupus stays under control as I face the toughest year of training I'll experience since being diagnosed with with disease.

My blog this year will discuss my training, my challenges as a wife, mom and business owner and most of all my challenge of being an athlete and having Lupus.  My goal is to update my blog weekly or biweekly  now that we're heading into race season. 
Thanks for reading and feel free to ask me any questions you may want me to answer on my site this year.

Joella