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Dathan Ritzenhein, who raced competitively just once last season, will race twice next week as he charts a course towards making the U.S. Olympic team in 2016.

(AP file photo)

ROCKFORD, MI - Dathan Ritzenhein wasn't worried about his inactive 2014 season, but he is making sure to get an early start on the running year ahead.

The three-time Olympian plans two races within five days next week - a 10K at Campaccio Cross Country meet near Milan, Italy on Tuesday, Jan. 6, and then an elite division 4K at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country in Scotland on Jan. 10.

Ritzenhein has had about eight weeks of healthy training and, given the time of the year and limited outdoor races available, opted to go overseas for the two cross country events.

"I really haven't done anything too hard (in workouts), but I really just want to get out and race," the Rockford resident said. "And cross country is something I've always been good at, and it's something that comes pretty naturally to me, so I hope that makes up for a lack of fitness right now."

Ritzenhein, who turned 32 on Dec. 30, said the two races so close together will present a challenge, but he wanted a second event to make the trip worth it.

"The races just seem like a great idea and a great first start to the year and the timing was right," he said. "The second one is a fast turnaround and really more of a sprint, but I would have done a short, hard work out anyway. So, I figured, why not?"

The forecast in Milan calls for temperatures in the high 40s with dry conditions and sunny skies on Tuesday.

Ritzenhein, a three-time USA cross country champion (2005, 2008, 2010), has not raced since he placed 10th (49 minutes, 12 seconds) at the Crim 10 Mile in Flint on Aug. 23.

About a week afterward, he injured his ankle that scraped plans for a series of distance races and possibly a marathon to close the year. Instead, the Crim was his only race of 2014.

But Ritzenhein doesn't see the lack of racing last season as a drawback in his pursuit of making the Olympics a fourth time, and second as a marathoner. His last marathon was in Chicago in October, 2013 when he was fifth and the top American finisher (2:09:45).

"It's easy to fall into that trap, but I get into shape so fast that I think the most important step for me is to stay healthy," Ritzenhein said. "I'd rather undertrain a little bit as opposed to pushing the envelope.

"The year just turned over, and so I look at it that I have 13 months to prepare (for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials). If I put in 13 months of healthy training, I won't need to worry about any specific workout to hit it out of the park."

Ritzenhein has followed this path before. He endured an injury-plagued 2011 only to have a strong 2012 that included the Olympics in the 10,000 (he finished 13th) and a personal best in the marathon in 2:07:47 in Chicago.

"I just have to stick to my guns and know that I don't need to overdo it and make up for time lost," he said.

Ritzenhein expected his schedule for the spring to firm up in next few weeks. His year, he added, will include at least one marathon.

"I don't want to go from 2013 to 2016 without running one, but I really just have to be healthy for the trials," he said. "So it's kind of like counting backwards from there and doing what's best."

The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials will be held Feb. 13, 2016 in Los Angeles. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the Summer Olympics from Aug. 5-21, 2016.

Pete Wallner covers sports for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at pwallner@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.