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I had a great run last night. It was a simple just run run - no intervals so complex I need to write it down on the back of my hand in Sharpie marker - and about 5 miles. The fun part is all the girls biked along with me. Christy pulled the youngest on the trail-a-bike while the oldest pedaled herself. After a couple miles Chris turned in and I asked the oldest if she wanted to keep going with me and she answered enthusiastically, “YES!". So we cruised my golf course 5K route at dusk together. She plowed ahead navigating through all the puddles, occasional mud and stopping at every water station while I tried to keep up. On the short loop sections she went one way, I went the other, and we raced. She won every time. So very cool to see her pedaling in front of me in her long SkirtSports running dress (although it did look a bit too much like an LBD to me, her dad ) with a big ‘ole mud streak up the back. Where is my iPhone camera when I need it?!
She herself is preparing for the local Kids Triathlon which takes place May 30. She will have to swim 100 yards, bike 3 and run .6 mile. More on that later.
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This morning I had a long hard swim (30″ straight on my own, then Master’s session) where after 90 minutes I got out, walked to my locker and just stared at the lock for what seemed like a long time not having any idea what I was suppose to do next to get at my stuff inside. I had to think it over in the shower. Have you ever had that happen to you? I either swam too much or didn’t eat enough, probably both. Flip me over, I’m done…

I took out my Cervelo P2 this weekend for its maiden voyage of the season. CeCé (somebody once told me “all bicycles need a proper name") spent a long winter chained down in the basement getting bright orange flecks of my Conti Hometrainer tire plastered to her (quite a mess on the floor, too . I got this tire new at VeloSwap in the fall and in all likelihood will completely blow through what little rubber remains on it the next time I am stricken to the basement. So, yes, it has been a long and productive winter of indoor spinning and I am ready to rack the Seven roadster (never did name it) and all its winter road grime and put in some long rides outside on the aerobars.

I ordered a bunch of new SRAM Red parts for it in January and am sure that someday soon they might actually arrive. Until then, Christy’s bike is brake lever-less and the Seven has the wrong (too short) cranks on it. A few changes to the bikes this year but none of them yet have a brain (power meter). Perhaps next year.
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This morning I booked the travel reservations for our June trip to New England for the Mooseman triathlon, relaxation and family & friend visits. It is still a long ways off, but I’m starting to get excited for the trip.

Already looking at next year when I will definitely NOT be entering another iron distance triathlon. Christy is wanting to family vacation at the Disney Marathon in January and the Clearwater 70.3 race looked interesting on NBC Saturday afternoon. Both would make for nice (less time commitment) goals in 2010. I have yet to do a real race in 2009, so thinking about ‘10 is odd for me, but part of the reservation game you need to play. That changes this Saturday: Haystack iTT in the morning, TTT in the afternoon. Probably bag the Horsetooth Half Marathon on Sunday and do this 5K on Sunday instead…

I have been swimming for a few years now and this year have finally gotten to the point where I really enjoy it. I am, however, ready to be done with the wall-tagging & black line chasing and eager to get in my wetsuit and outside in open water. I have a love / don’t-like-so-much relationship with running. I currently am in the latter phase: tired of the treadmill and no longer eager to bundle myself up and get outside in the early morning hours that I have available to me. I thought this was Spring?! Cycling is another story. Love it and have since I was 16. Cold outside? That’s what my closet full of cycling-techno-gear is for. Blowing snow and ice on the road, that’s different.

I have tried and failed already twice this year to have a dedicated bike “training camp". I had an opportunity in March with the local Blue Sky Road Cycling Team who put together a few solid days riding in Tucson, Arizona. I tried to make my participation that trip work for weeks, but finally had to bail since my work was going through a period of mild insanity.

Last week I had an opportunity to spend some time away with their mountain bike group. I had the time off and was looking forward to spending a few days reacquainting myself with my mountain bike and learning all about the great riding trails in Fruita all while being guided by those familiar with the area. I have been there once, but that was many years ago. Our Colorado Spring weather interfered on that one: another few days of cold and snow. Driving over the Continental Divide in the snow to go Camping? No thanks.

The first road race of the season here in Boulder County, the Koppenberg, scheduled for last weekend was also postponed due to weather. The threat of snow pushed it back from its reschedule date this past weekend to Memorial Day weekend. I have another event scheduled on that day (the Growler mtb race), so no Koppenberg for me this year . And I was really looking forward to it and making up for the damn flat tire I got last year.

In lieu of the cycling trips, I still wanted to take advantage of the time I had off from work to bike, bike and bike some more. Given the weather, the only way that was going to happen was to set up shop in the basement on my trainer. Over the 5 days I had off I worked my way though Chris Boardman’s Hour Record documentary (sample here), the James Bond flick Casino Royale (Daniel Craig IS the best Bond), a substantial part of my Spinervals DVD collection (13.0, 15.0, 17.0, 22.0, 25.0 and 29.0) and a few hours of tracking Tim D. at Ironman Australia. My legs are now good and tired.

Next up, the Haystack Time Trial. Looks like the schedule for the day will allow me to enter both the TT and the TTT. Double the pleasure…

“Cyclist” logo on t-shirts and other schwag-ish items: I found it here

Sign me up.