To Half or not to Half?

  It is getting toward the end of the year and it is time for some retrospection and also for some goal setting for the next season of triathlon. 

 In 2010 I did eight races in eight months.  I did an Olympic length triathlon.  And for the first time ever I came in first....ok only in the swim let, but I was still excited to have that 1 by my name in the results.

Best Race - The Trigirl Sprint in August. 

I came in the top 1/3.  

Worst Race - TriWaco in July

My bike was the rack that got knocked over and my brake was rubbing against the bike tire the entire time.  My legs felt like rubber.  It was a 3.4M run instead of just 3 like I though and I was not prepared.  Oddly this was the race I finished first in the swim, but that is because it was a mixed (male/female) start and I felt if I didn't get out of there I was going to be killed by some crazy guy.

The most motivational race was the Olympic distance.  I am still thrilled that I managed it and even managed to run the whole way.

All of this retrospection got me thinking about what I wanted to do this season.  I started thinking about my goals and flirting with the idea of a Half Ironman.  I felt if I was already training for a half marathon at the end of January I would be halfway there.  I asked The Coach about it and of course said he would support me if that was what I wanted to do.  That was nice, but I was looking for more than that.  I needed him to balance the pros and cons with me.  He did finally.  We concluded that if I felt like I wanted to do a HALF I needed to do it at the beginning of the summer and not the end.  That way I wouldn't have to be all obsessive during vacation time.  Also it would help in that I could some days leave the kids at the sitters while I got my workout in instead of trying to arrange child care during the summer when I don't have a sitter.
And maybe more importantly.....it wouldn't be Africa hot here yet.

I think my ultimate decision though is this:  I don't want to.
I enjoy training for races.  I think if I moved up to this length I would no longer enjoy it. 

I don't want to train for a HALF and run one just to say I did.  

I still want to do triathlons.  I would like to do more.  I would like to do another Olympic length or two.  

I would like to consistently finish in the top third or fourth of the field.  I would like to NEVER run over a ten minute mile again.  (Do you hear me Santa?)

I explained to coach this was the more expensive option.  He said that we would work it out.  (Isn't he awesome?)  Although I am not ready to state a goal at this moment for the number of triathlons I will do this year I am glad to made a decision on the half so I don't have to think about it any more.

Thoughts?
What do you have planned for 2011?  Tell me - even if it is not running related.