I qualified for nationals.
The timing was terrible.
My result at Nation's Triathlon placed me in the top group for my age and earned a spot in the 2015 USA Triathlon Olympic-Distance National Championships.
Nationals would be in Milwaukee.
It was also two weeks after the Ironman already on my calendar.
I could not imagine being competitive that soon after a full-distance race. The body does not care that both events look important in email.
I considered registering for the sprint just to experience the event. Another option was to travel with a friend and cheer, then return the following year ready to race it properly.
The qualification still mattered.
Nation's had not even included a swim that year because of the river conditions. I still rode and ran well enough against the age group to earn the invitation under the event's qualification rules.
At the start of the year, becoming a competitive age-group triathlete had been a goal on a list. Nation's showed that I had reached a real threshold. I could earn a place in the same event as top amateurs from around the country.
It also showed why an ambitious calendar needs priorities. Qualifying for a race does not make it the right race. Trying to peak for everything usually means peaking for nothing.
I had wanted proof that I belonged at that level. The email was proof. I did not need to wreck the larger plan to validate it again two weeks after an Ironman.
I forwarded the notice with the practical conclusion already attached.
Looks like I qualified. Probably cannot race it hard. Might go anyway.
Good problem.
Bad timing.