Well, behind every cloud is a little sunshine. The cloud being my race this past weekend...the sunshine being the official 2008 USA Triathlon rankings. The latest issue of USA Triathlon Life was delivered to my door this week and contained the finalized multi-sport rankings for last year. In the sport of DUathlon (run-ride-run), I was ranked #1 in the men's 40-44 age group and had the 2nd highest overall score for all athletes - beaten only by 29-year-old John Bess. In the sport of TRIathlon (you know, the one with the water), I was ranked #37 in the men's 40-44. I didn't do as many longer-distance triathlons as I had planned last year and that is where I gain all my point advantages, but I am happy with both of these rankings nonetheless

You can find the rankings here. The only unfortunate thing is that with the 2nd highest score overall and the highest score for Masters - including a Long Course National Championship, I was bypassed as the 'Masters Duathlete of the Year'. Not sure what the criteria was, but the honor went to Casey Williams who was 2nd place behind me in the 40-44 age group. You can read his response to receiving the honor here.

Oddly enough, with my ups and downs already this year I have been fortunate enough to be "up" during both of my duathlon events and that is a good start for another good ranking in '09