I've moved

I decided to move here....

http://willjurkowski.wordpress.com/

Early Airport

Setting my alarm for 4:20 in the morning was not something I'd like to get into the habit of doing. But Dad and I got to the airport at 5:10 or so and I made it quickly through security. Westchester airport is a small, one terminal place where, while there are multiple gates, they all leave from the same room. On the first flight, from Westchester to DC, a woman told me that it was great to see a man knitting and asked if I knew that the best knitters in the world happen to be men...I didn't but listened eagerly as she told me his name (I do plan to look him up). A second woman, this time in the DC airport asked me what sport I did because I was carrying my brothers backpack from the 2008 Olympics, I said that I did track but that the bag was from rowing, earned by my brother. Needless to say that when I finally got home and Kate picked me up at the airport, I was ready to be done traveling. Even eating some donuts from Washtenaw only perked me up for a few hours before I took a nice afternoon nap. We made some pizzas that turned out most excellently, watched Salt via a thumb drive plugged in to the TV, tried on the USA gear I got for being my brothers Coach for Worlds and I'm not ready for bed. I'm scared and excited to go to my follow up with Dr. Miller tomorrow, it's been nine months since I had surgery and just want everything to be alright.

To New Zealand?

Since the plumbers left this morning after they replaced a number of pipes in the ceiling...apparently the water is hard and corrodes the pipe. Maybe that's why I'm so tough...oh wait. But anyway, we've spent the day trying to figure out when and how we're going to get to New Zealand, what flights we'll be on and how to make sure we're all on the same flight which I guess could be good or bad. I guess sitting next to my brother on a plane could work out well for him since I don't take up as much space and he takes up more, but that means he'd be taking up my space. In any case I'm sure it'll all get worked out so we can get there around the same time and then get back.

And for dinner my Grandmother and one of my Uncles came down for dinner, not an all out celebration but certainly nice to see them and toast what Ken and Julie have done and what they will be doing soon enough down in New Zealand. It's been a good day.

Rowing

It seems like the whole week I've been home it's just rained everyday, probably because it has. But even though it rained all day, the day was not without excitement. I woke up to finding out that both Ken and Julie had won this morning in Princeton NJ. For Ken this means that he is the USA M1X representative at World Championships in New Zealand. For Julie this meant that she had won one of the finals and the other girl had won the first one and that there would need to be a third final (best of three). But hours later I found out that the other girl had withdrawn (Julie is pretty intimidating) making Julie the winner. All of this also meant that they'd be up in NY today instead of tomorrow and I'd get to spend more time with them both. Ken called me shortly after I woke up and asked me if I would be his coach for Worlds, take care of everything for him so he could just focus on the rowing part. Of course. It means I'll be away from the training group...and unable to talk on the phone with Kate every night, but a trip to New Zealand with my brother isn't something I can pass up. He also told me that I got a gear package which is really exciting because now I have a rain jacket, and I didn't before...all about the little things.

Back to school

I consider myself able to do most things, not that I'm the best handyman in the world by any stretch, but certainly capable. And if nothing else, I can figure out a way to get to a solution. But being home, there are just a lot of things I can't do. I want to be able to do all the things my Mom needs, especially when she's not feeling well. But I can't do an ultrasound even if I did figure out how to use the machines in the training room well enough to set it up for myself. And when I found that the carpet in the basement was soaking wet with water dripping from the ceiling, but I'm no plumber. When he got to the house an hour or so later I helped him out a good bit and though I could probably have done what he did by cutting out panels of the ceiling (soaked drywall) which would need to be replaced anyway in order to find the leaking pipe and put a clamp on it. At some point I want to be able to take care of things that come up at home and I think I can but without a stable of tools I'll just have to wait and learn over time how to do more and more.

Before all of the excitement with water coming out of the ceiling but after a trip for an ultrasound I went in to my High School. I haven't been back in at least a year and maybe two. I hadn't seen Mr. Broderick or my track coach in a while and was in the area so I went in to say hello. Mr. Broderick helped me with plyos when I was in high school and when I left for college I would come back in and we'd play badminton together. I think I'm the only person who's ever beaten him. We haven't played in a while and probably won't because of my knee and his shoulder. Those were some of the most intense games I've ever played in probably any sport, his preciseness and my long reach and quickness was a pretty even match. It was always a lot of fun, giving each other a hard time but always knowing that we respected one another and were and are good friends at the end of the day. We caught up on what we've been doing recently but I came in towards the end of the day and he had some classes so I headed up to see Colm O'Callahan. I knocked on the door for a while before he heard me since the air conditioners in the classrooms are so loud. I hadn't seen him in longer than it'd been for Mr. Broderick and I. He told me what I'd been thinking about the new training group I joined towards the end of the summer in that it's an opportunity that you have to take. No matter what happens, as he said, I'll likely run some fast times and learn a lot in the process. It's great to have their support. I also saw Ms. Sireci who has actually worked with my Dad on her swimming, as well as Mr. Sassone the AD.

As a result of all of this happening during the day, my run didn't happen until six o'clock tonight. The weather is crazy with intense wind but I was content to run easy, sore from yesterday and not wanting to pound my legs on the pavement that is mostly what's around here. I found some dirt roads and had a nice day of it, having to resort to the light on my watch towards the end of the run just to see how long I'd been out. That was a good indication that it was about time to get back.

Ken and Julie are doing fantastically down in Princeton and I wish I were down there to watch but it just isn't going to work out with being here with Mom. Additionally, the weather is crazy both up here and down there, so even if we got down there to watch them, they might not even row. But they plan to come up and be here this weekend after they're done so I'll get to see them for sure. I had talked with Erin a few days ago and told her I'd be down there but now it's looking like I won't get to see her. It sounded like she might like to see a friendly face, but I'm sure she has made lots of friends down in that silly state of NJ.

Three down, three to go

I hadn't really been thinking about how much I like having someone to run with until I got home and realized there wasn't anyone around here that I knew of to join me. So I figure I've done three runs and I've got three more before I'm back in Ann Arbor and running with Brandon again, then soon after, I'll be running with Lee and Nick when they get back from India for Commonwealth Games. You can check out Brandons blog here http://brandonbethke.wordpress.com/ it's worth a read, plus he's one of my roommates and a great guy.

Today though, Emily and I drove over to my Dads where I lifted for a while. I never realized that the ceiling in our basement is low, or well, eight and a half feet or so until I wanted to do some olympic lifts as per Bo's training schedule and was hitting the beams with the bar. So as with Monday when I had to do overhead walking lunges, today when I needed to do Power Snatch and Power Jerks, I brought the weight outside, though today it was not raining and lifted in the backyard. It was really nice to be out in the sun as opposed to in the basement of Dads house or the Nat weight room. Natural light does wonders. While I was lifting Emily ran down the road, a tough run to be sure. No matter where you go from the house, after three quarters of a mile you go down hill. She ran down to Route 37 and back, but when you turn around, it's straight uphill.

We headed to Lowes and BestBuy to pick up Water Softner salt and a TV for my Moms house. When we got back, I ran another loop around the reservoir which serves as drinking water for New York City. I wish there were a larger shoulder next to the road though so that I wouldn't have to deal with the camber of the road or the cars on the near side. But on the back side I run mostly in the middle of the road or just run on the right hand side to, sort of even things out. Thankfully I ran the loop more than two and a half minutes faster than I did on Monday, but it was much nicer out today and my cold has gone away for the most part. It's been a nice day, but I'll be glad when we're all back together.

Rainy Day

A scheduled visit to the doctors office for some hydration this morning in the rain got us up a little earlier than we both would have likely woken up naturally. And while I'm not a fan of the doctor, I'd rather take my Mom when we're supposed to go rather than when we all of a sudden have to. After the first hour I went outside, dropped my sweatshirt in the car and left the parking lot for a run. I didn't know of anything in the area and just headed down the street but found a park only minutes away. A loop of the fields there was only a few minutes and even though previous summers would have seen me running loops of fields at the local high school, I wasn't in the mood and explored the woods nearby where there was a frisbee golf course set up. But the paths were faint and with the rain and slippery leaves, I spent most of the hour out on the grass. It was a relaxing day, sore from lifting yesterday and still trying to get over this cold, only four more runs before I'm back in Ann Arbor and people to run with.

As a bonus to the day, Emily Witsil made an appearance this afternoon after (sadly) being stuck in massive traffic on the George Washington Bridge (something I've been through and not enjoyed in the least) but she persevered. We had a bit of an adventure in the back yard being quite childish but helping my Mom out in the process. That's probably as far as I should go. But we went to the store and picked up some supplies to make dinner, had to get to three stores before we could get everything. We made carrot noodles, chicken and cous cous which turned out really well and for the most part all went together. I need to remember how to make it so I can do so even when Emily isn't around, even though it'd be better if she were just around. It makes sense but I don't like that often the friends you make in college aren't going to be in the same place that you are afterward. Since I graduated and went seven hundred miles across the country, I guess that's how it goes. But when your two best friends end up hours away from you, it's just hard but makes it that much better when you get to spend time together.

Everything is Smaller

I woke up today not quite sure where I was. The room was unfamiliar and it was dark, but after a minute I realized I was home, in the same room I slept in throughout high school, a different bed but the same place. I had slept nearly twelve hours, a combination of the Nyquil and being tired but awoke to a steady rain coming down, making me prone to rolling over and sleeping more, knowing I wouldn't be enthusiastic about running in the cold rain when I'm trying to get over a cold.

When I finally did run, it seemed I picked the perfect window, only a few minutes of rain during the hour and a steady downpour fifteen minutes after I got back. All the hills, roads, rivers and lakes that I had grown accustomed to in high school and all seemed so big, now don't. I remember one hill in particular on the back of the reservoir on Mills road, it's more of a gradual incline for a quarter mile. When I would bike or run it in high school it seemed hard or at least long, but when I got there today it was as though I were Gulliver in Lilliput.

I guess when you move away, things get bigger in your mind, or you don't remember them exactly as they are. Additionally, running has changed for me in recent years and whereas I might have seen an eight mile run as long when I was in high school, I now see it as something done easily well under an hour. But as I get older, my perspective changes, as I get stronger, as I get faster, or even just am around fast more often, or around faster more often. Living with Brandon and Lee, and training with Nick certainly has that effect. Brandon telling me about ten mile tempo runs at Wisconsin ending in consecutive miles under five minutes sounded crazy at first listen, but now I'm getting accustomed to it, to the idea of it being something we could do.

I think perspectives changing is part of how life has to be and especially of how a runners life should be, well, any athlete. If your pond never changes size, then when you're the biggest thing in the pond, you'll be satisfied, but if your pond is ever expanding as you grow, you always have a new challenge.

Traveling home

Coming home is always an adventure, nothing too exciting on the plane except for almost missing it. I guess you're supposed to check in at least thirty minutes before a domestic flight and I got there about twenty five minutes before the flight and then had to make it through security. I started getting nervous when the flight was supposed to leave in fifteen or so minutes and I still wasn't through security, but they didn't mind my knitting needles and I made it through alright. But as soon as I had my things back, over the intercom they said that the door at the gate was going to be closing in two minutes yet I was still ten gates away. Running isn't a problem, but running with a backpack and a huge timbuk2 messenger bag is not so conducive to speed. I made it just in time.

It was great to see Dad when I got off the plane and out of the airport, we drove up to Mom's where we all had some birthday cake since yesterday was my Moms birthday. My uncle, cousin and her fiance were here too, it was great to catch up and help eat some of the cake that had been piling up. Even though I know what's going on with Mom and how her health is, no matter how much detail I get, it's still hard to come home and see her when I know that usually she's so strong and on top of things. When she's weak and the option of just working out a lot to get stronger isn't there, it's a really tough situation. A big part of me wants to just stay here instead of living and training out in Ann Arbor, and while I don't think it would be easy to handle, I know that I could. I don't know what the answer is.

Michigan Football

Today was an awesome day, a little long but definitely amazing. Started with a run with Brandon which turned out to be pretty fast but felt good on a crisp morning. I had a quick breakfast and headed down to the stadium. I was on my way to the tailgate for From the Heart but I had to make a pit stop on the way.

Smartly I thought ahead of time that I needed to bring my folder from lifting so that I'd have it with me next week at home so I'd know what I'm supposed to do. Stupidly, I forgot my planning on Friday when I was in the weight room and left without it. Luckily, Brent was in the weight room this morning (having what looked like an awesome session) so I was able to pick it up. Smartly I put it in Coach Eddies van when I got to the tailgate so I wouldn't have to carry it around with me all day at the game since he said that he would have the van at the end of the game when we were all leaving. Stupidly, when Torey and his parents were ready to leave, I left with them and took a ride back to my car forgetting that it was still in Coach Eddies van. Smartly I realized that it was in his van and met him at Northside Grill to pick it up tonight while my dinner was growing cold. But at least I have it. What a hassle over a little folder. But it sure is an important folder.

Once I got to the tailgate, I met up with Torey and his parents, they were, to steal a phrase from my roommate Brandon "totally stoked" for the game. We made our way there, found our seats after a funny conversation with with an event staff member, where they tried to tell us that we could take the stairs to our seats which were clearly in the wheelchair section but after I asked three times how we could all get there, with increasing emphasis on the word 'all' he got the picture. We all had a good laugh about it. The seats were tight, great view of the game, especially for a first time viewing experience (it was Toreys first time at a game). I was cold but I guess I'm always cold, despite having three layers on. Torey wasn't, so it was all good.

After the game we went down to the tunnel in Crisler and Torey got all the players who came out that way to sign his football. Patrick Omameh (bff), Rich Rod and Tate to name a few. They took pictures with the dance team, the cheerleaders and all the players that came through. It was really great for everyone. On our way down the tunnel to the field in the Big House, we got to see Denard Robinson, he signed the football and took a picture with Torey. I could tell Torey was excited for that, I mean after all, Robinson is playing great, so with good reason. It was funny how Coach Frey had him held up in a side room there and we had to walk down the tunnel a little so that people outside didn't see him (and go crazy).

When we got down to the field we threw a football around, took pictures on the Block M in the center of the field and just hung out for a while. I tried to grab the upright so we could get a picture of me hanging on it, but I'm a baby and I couldn't jump that high, nor did I try really...I'm a baby. But by the time I got to my car, it was starting to sink in how tired I was and that we hadn't really made time for LUNCH in there. I'm a guy with a small engine and not a huge fuel tank, I need to get topped off early and often in order to keep going. Somehow I was alright through the whole game, but when I got home, I was hungry. I think that because we were having so much fun sitting at the game and talking the entire time, I didn't even think about it.

It was an awesome day, I'm sure Torey and I will hang out not just at football games. Tomorrow I'm leaving for NY and then down to NJ to watch Ken and Julie row and be awesome as per usual. Early flight out and back though, but I've decided to bring my knitting with me. A tough decision to be sure, but I think the right one. We'll see.

No Trespassing

Though Brandon and I aren't doing workouts right now, we drove over to the Skyline track with Lee, warmed up with him and then went out for some more while he was getting ready for the workout. When we got back, the school cop came running out of the building telling us that we weren't allowed to be on the track during school hours. We explained what we were doing, though he wasn't really interested in what we had to say, and simply replied that if we didn't leave, he'd charge us with trespassing. My favorite quote is surely "I don't care if you got approval from President Obama himself, you can't be on the track during school hours". Now let's be serious for a second, if Barack came out and said, "I know that's the rule, but these guys are with me" I'd have a hard time believing this guy wouldn't pee himself and then hold our water bottles for us.

The thing that wasn't so hot was that Lee was all nice and hot, ready for the workout, and then we had to drive to the UM track so he could get it in. I forgot to mention that the wind was incredible. But when we got there, I opted to get my lift out of the way while he was running so I wouldn't have to drive back later on. Despite rain and a stand up wind, Lee ran a pretty sweet workout, I'd say he's ready to run at Commonwealths in about ten days.

We had an awesome trip to Walmart, but not just Walmart, we went to a Walmart Supercenter. If you didn't know there was a difference, you should go check one out, it's significant. Needless to say, I got a vintage looking Ironman t-shirt for three dollars. Now only to wait for an occasion worthy of it. The only thing I can think of is my cousins wedding, but that's about two months away, not sure I can wait that long.

Tomorrows another football game. But instead of working up in the suites/club level, I get to actually sit and watch the game. Heading there with my friend Torey who I met up in Mott, shoot, a couple months ago now. It's going to be sweet. Unfortunately Lee is leaving tomorrow, so it'll be our last run early before the game. Goodbyes are always hard.

Jersey Shore

Somehow I got totally sucked in to Jersey Shore. Lee was watching it while I was eating and I caught part of an episode, I hate to admit it but that was enough to get me to watch most of the second season today. It's probably one of the worst shows I've seen, not only does nothing really happen but the people on the show and I have virtually nothing in common. I can't...though I guess I can believe there are people actually like that out there. In any case, we're anxiously awaiting the episode tonight but voted to wait until tomorrow so we can watch it On Demand and avoid the commercials. I guess there are worse things to be passing crazes around this house. It's not as though we don't work hard the rest of the time. Especially now that we have the power tower.

After we ran, we went over and talked with Ron. I think I'm more sensitive than I need to be about wanting to be one of the guys, I surely recognize that my resume looks nothing like the two guys I'm living with. And while I believe that mine will get significantly better once I start racing after having trained in this group, that doesn't change the current state. But at the same time, that matters little, and as Nick and Ron have said, we're all equal in this. So I brought my training logs over and handed them off to Ron. Not that I think it matters much, having been out for the past year after the accident, it's not as though my body knows a system so well that Ron needs to slowly add in some of his as he takes away what I've been doing. I'm somewhat of a clean slate. And while I want a plan tailored to me, the advantage of working with the other guys outweighs that in my mind for the most part. I know that I'll have probably more speed stuff to do, but also that there is the chance I'll move up to the 1500. It's all going to hinge upon what the training shows and what Ron thinks. No rush to decide anything right now, there's no need.

Slows BBQ

We watch a fair amount of Man v. Food on Hideaway Lane, it's a great show most of the time, except for the one where he tries to eat a seven course Italian meal, basically the menu. It's just not a good challenge, there's nothing special about it. Now, the sushi place in Utah, that was quality, you have to eat one piece of level 4, 5 and 6 before you can even attempt the challenge, a six piece roll of level 7. I don't really like spicy food, not a lot of it anyway, but this was a good challenge, there was some story and the guy made all the sauces in house, and you were basically crying before it was even over.

At any rate, there was a place in Detroit featured the other day called Slows BBQ and Ali suggested we go there, so last night the four of us headed out there with the thought to even catch a Tigers game (@7pm afterward). The door was hard to find since it just looked like part of the wall, and the neighborhood was, well, maybe not exactly where you'd want to raise a family, but there was another Volvo there, so we knew (hoped) we'd be alright. We basically ordered the menu, or at least enough of it to get a good taste of what they were doing there. Everyone got a sandwich which were very reasonably priced, and then we ordered a combo plate that had some of each of their three main meats. Everything was amazing. I did make the mistake of ordering my sandwich on a Kaiser roll instead of on their texas toast, but even that couldn't take away from the sandwich which I won't even try to describe. I think we plan to have it be a...well, monthly or so place to go.

We made it over to the Tigers game afterward and only missed the top of the first inning I think. But we sat out in the bleachers for pretty cheap and just relaxed, it was a great time. We toured the stadium, took a lap around, Lee studied the Coney Island menu, apparently some very reasonably priced items!

Today I got in to see Bo before we ran. He just knows so much about what we're doing, I'm elated to be able to work with him, or rather, for him to work with me, it's my privilege. I know I'm getting stronger and my knee is starting to come back. After that week off following the triathlon, it was bothering me, getting swollen and just being obnoxious. I think partly because I wasn't lifting, and doing some of the PT exercises I was doing in coordination with lifting. But it hasn't been swelling and it feels alright, it'll get used to it, and I'll be up at seventy in six shortly. Then we'll start doing real work in November. After lifting we ran from the condo, I certainly felt the lifting I had just finished but I like days like that. Makes me feel like I'm doing something. Running mileage with Brandon is going to make a huge difference, he likes it faster and while I can't always be the one to push the pace on a distance run, I can keep up and I'll get used to it before long, then we'll be getting somewhere nice. Pile on some speed work and see what happens.

Adventure to Detroit

This morning Brandon and Allison and I ran out to the track to watch Lee and Nick workout, I wasn't quite sure how to get there through the trails but we made it out alright, without too much confusion. Maybe right at the end I wasn't sure where we were going, but Brandon had been out that way before and so the uncertainty was only temporary. Nick and Lee looked great in the workout, flying around the track. Some high school kids came by for practice but we were just finishing up when they got there and so it wasn't an issue. Funny to think they were out on the track and didn't know who it was that was sharing the space with them, that they were on the track with an Olympian and a two time NCAA national champion, both of whom are going to the Commonwealth games in a few weeks.

Last night on Man v. Food they were in Detroit at a place called Slows BBQ and Brandon and Allison suggested that we go check it out tonight. It might even work out that we can catch a Tigers game in the process which would be awesome. I've never been to one before but it should be a lot of fun. It's too bad OSU starts class tomorrow, otherwise Katie could have stayed up here another day and come with us.

We also had a serious group bonding session today after we got back from working out. Nick had bought a power tower for the house but it's been in the basement for a few weeks now, not yet assembled. But with everyone here, and the help of Allison to guide us through the process, we got it all put together, and then everyone here did one pull up. It's going to really help, rather, make it easy for us to do core in the house on a daily or near daily basis. Then we can all have six packs in time for summer. The timing will definitely be close but I think we've got a shot.

All Together

Today was a great run, the first time we've all been out on a run together, that is Brandon, Lee, Nick and myself. We even had the added bonus of Allison and Katie joining us, to really raise the average attractiveness of the group. We ran in some awesome trails that we really only grazed, Nick said there are a lot more in the park, a place we'll likely do a lot of mileage when Nick and Lee are back from India.

Afterward, we headed to the clinic and a USATF truck stopped by and wanted a picture with the group and administration in front of it. It really seemed to be a day that made the group feel official, all together on a run and then being, well, sort of recognized as a training group by USATF, even though only two of the four of us are actually from the US. I feel really impatient to actually earn the place I've found myself in and make it feel legitimate, if only to me. But I think/hope that will happen when I start racing or even just doing workouts with the guys. One thing is for certain, as I've said before, we're going to have a lot of fun, especially if Katie and Allison keep stopping by, otherwise it's just us guys sitting around.

Sunday Picnic

The great folks out at Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists put on a picnic today out at a local park. It was awesome to be out there hanging out, spending time with some really nice people. There was a border collie, I guess I've never seen one in person before but it was incredible to me that the dog would run and get the stick, walk back with it and drop it at your feet, at which point, if you said "get it" or "come on" it would pick it up and bring it closer or just put it in your hand if you waited for a second. I guess that's a simple enough thing to teach a dog, and doesn't necessarily mean the dog is intelligent, but I was amazed.

Other than the picnic and church at Huron Hills, a great place I think I'll return to and some Sunday donuts, (only three this week, maybe I'll start cutting back, it's certainly not the same now that it's not summer any longer) it was a pretty uneventful day. Dinner tonight courtesy of Sierra and Nick but all in all it was highly relaxing. Hopefully the swelling in my knee can continue going down and everything will be alright. I know things work since they did all summer, so I just ned to make sure the same thing happens now, since now is when things really matter. The summer was just supposed to be a test, and if I passed the test, things should work now, that's the confusing part.

But I am a runner.

Surfs Up

Though I know he's not really a "surfer" necessarily, between the three of us, Brandon certainly most closely fits the description. I was saying tonight at dinner that it will be interesting to see how each of us speaks after we've been together for a time, Lee with his English accent, Brandon being from California, and my being from New York even though no one really thinks I talk as such. To be fair, I'm not from the city and that's the most common place to have an accent from, I don't think the way I talk sounds too much different than do people from the mid-west, but I'm not nearly an unbiased judge.

It only took a few minutes to unload Brandons car when he and Alison got here tonight. Now it's up to him to sort it all out the way he wants, but once that's done, it'll be smooth sailing. It's great to have everyone in the house finally, and while surely a real routine won't develop until after Nick and Lee get back from India, we'll be able to start things up before then. I can show Brandon a lot of the local running places and put in some solid base mileage before we all start gearing up. We're going to have a lot of fun, and hopefully that translates into us all running very fast. I think it will.

Cross Country

Nick and Sierra picked up Lee and I this morning for the Spartan Invite at Michigan State, not a bad drive and with the four of us in the car, it passed quickly. We got to the meet and there are some really nice golf courses there, one on either side of the road, which, if they get to train on them, must be fantastic soft surface. I bet if you did perimeter loops you could run for a while and not get too bored, plus save your legs. We warmed up and got to see the Michigan Women compete, there were a number of faces I didn't recognize but I definitely recognized D and KP out front looking strong, along with lots of other UM runners.

Race numbers on and sweats off, I stood in the box with Lee and Nick, grabbed a water bottle and jogged off as they started. They both looked smooth and Nick was quickly at the front of the race with the leader. After the race we spent time at the Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists, Running Institute tent with some great people, Nick signed some pictures and gave them away to the kids. It was a lot of fun to be out at a race again. Aside from some traffic on the way back and a Subway stop, the trip was uneventful, with the exception that we did get to see some of Nicks legendary dance moves.

The clinic, and more importantly, the people I've met who are involved are fantastic, encouraging, and supportive not to mention just nice people. I'm so thankful to be able to be part of a group that has them involved and behind us. I can't wait until we're in a routine and know them all by name, seeing them on a regular basis.

Certainly not getting slower

This morning Lee and I had a good run through the trails, I was sore from lifting yesterday and probably still some from Monday. The weather was cool and it sprinkled on and off while we were out but never really enough to say so, mostly I got wet from running through all the leaves and growth sticking out into the trail, heavily laden with water from the night before. On the run we met a seemingly cool older guy running, he had some sweet purple shorts, t-shirt and hat on and directed me back toward the trail when I ran right past the opening near the north side of the river.

I've been pretty hooked on making ham, egg and cheese sandwiches after I run, with just a little bit of salt and pepper on top. The key, I've found (everyone else probably already knew this) is that you need good bread. So I buy some standard bread, pre-sliced whole wheat or whatever, and then a loaf of what I now call real bread, either from Zingermans (which you can buy at Buschs or Produce Station) or something similar. And using that for a sandwich just makes it so much better. It doesn't stay fresh as long, but that just means you eat more. Today when Nick said that we in the condo could switch nights of cooking so each of us would only have to cook one night out of three, Lee said that he didn't think he'd be able to cook enough food to feed me. I didn't think I ate quite that much, but then again I always compared myself to Peter and my brother. I saw Peter have breakfast of a few eggs and then eat an entire box of wheat thins in fifteen minutes or so without thinking about it.

I made a pretty big mistake this afternoon though, we planned to go to the track at three for strides and maybe a three hundred but after running in the morning and eating afterward I wasn't hungry right away and didn't eat lunch until one thirty or so. I also made too much smoothie for lunch and when I was two-thirds through it, thought I might as well finish it even though I was already full. It didn't bother me on the warm up which was pretty easy but when we were ripping off one-fifties I thought it might make a reappearance. I held it together, I certainly would have been embarrassed throwing up from just doing one-fifties. I didn't bring spikes with me though and felt the difference on the turns keeping up with Nick and Lee, but I think it made me stay more under control. There is still so much time left, I don't want to get carried away. Nick and Lee are getting ready for big races, I'm just starting a base training phase. But there is no doubt about it, training with them will only make me faster. It was fun to have guys from the Michigan team out on the track before practice yelling at us when we went past.

Tonight I'm going back to Mott, it seems like ages since I was there last though I know it was only two weeks. The last two weeks ChildLife decided not to participate and we just went to the Main hospital which as of this summer and currently, is just too close to home for me knowing my Mom is in a similar place in a different state. Seeing the kids is far enough removed for me that it doesn't upset me exceedingly. I think there is bound to be some level of being upset when you see little kids in the hospital but if we can make them smile or laugh, we've surely done something right.

Jr Returns!

Today when I lifted with Bo, it wasn't right at the time the track team was coming in so it wasn't incredibly busy. This was perfect because it gave me the opportunity to actually work with Bo and make sure I was doing things correctly. It's awesome that when you finally learn the techniques properly, you can engage the muscles you really need and coincidently the ones you need for running. It's funny that sometimes when he's telling me to fix or change something I'm doing, I'll do another rep and get the feedback that it's right and know how to replicate it but not necessarily know exactly what it was I did differently. But when it happens right, you can feel it where Bo says you should. It's great to work with someone who knows so much about it and while I want to understand as much as I can about what we're doing, also know that I can trust him to lead me where we want me to go.

Jr made a guest appearance today, we ran from the track and the four of us tooled around the golf course, the trails behind Pioneer and another set of fields beyond that. It was a great day for a run, sunny and warm but with a cool breeze. Jr and I worked on our tans but he had to get to class and couldn't join in on the ice tub. It's great to have him run with us, the only problem is that at least until Brandon gets here, Jr is so much more tan than the rest of us, it's a bit disheartening. Jr is so enthusiastic about what he's doing and excited to get in better shape. It'll be fun when we pace him for a time trial.

It was funny being around the track when the team is practicing but not really being part of the program any longer. We're all working on the same thing, trying to run as fast as possible, or jump or throw but the team has the structure of a conference, of travel and races coordinated for them with little to worry about, aside from the enormity of classes of course. And while there is no conference meet to prepare for, there is a structure that we have created within our group, and a pursuit of doing things well, some of us on a different level than others with Nick and Lee heading to the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks. And while sometimes it's disheartening to be so far behind, as I said to Ron the other day, "if you ask me to do something great, I'll find a way to get there, or give everything in the pursuit of it". Like Nick said to me, it's really about the journey and about the learning that takes place along the way.

Coffee Table

Jeremy was nice enough to stop off on his way home from work in Dexter and pick up a coffee table for us, as he put it when I asked if he thought it would do "you could probably get two or three people dancing on it" so I guess that's something. After running this morning out at the track and stopping by Washtenaw for chocolate milk on the way back, we iced at the track and when I saw his car, remembered that the coffee table was sitting in the back of his Jeep. We pulled up behind it and loaded it into the car along with the X-Box he wasn't using. It might give us something to do. It was awesome to watch the workout today, hard in that I want to be doing workouts but I know that I just raced a half-iron, took a week off and I'm only in my second week back. I need to put in a lot of base miles and make sure everything is working as it should so I can be ready when it's time to really work. Nick and Lee had an awesome workout and I did jump in to keep Nick company on one of the road loops as well as lead out the guys in the last 400 of the Michigan. It felt great to go fast but my glutes quickly reminded me when I stopped that I had lifted yesterday for the first time in two weeks and that they weren't happy about a 26 second 200 without any warning. I can't wait to put spikes on. But for now I'm content to be excited about what Lee and Nick will do at Commonwealths and know what went in to it all.

Lee and I went over to the clinic with Nick this afternoon and did some core upstairs while Nick was lifting, we wanted to get six packs and I think accomplished that goal in pretty short time and should satisfy our core needs for the next few weeks at least. Wouldn't want to overdo things. The house is coming together nicely though and with maybe another couch, a rug and some lights we'll be all set. Saying it that way makes it sound as though we're in need of a lot of thins, but really, we're doing great. Even though we'd already retrieved everything out of the back of the car, Jeremy stopped over tonight to see how the coffee table looks, I think he really just wanted to see the place. It was good to talk with him about what we're trying to do in the upcoming months. Hopefully if he runs with us once in a while it'll help out his running as I hope it will help everyones.

It's interesting that I unpacked most everything and put a lot away but there are still piles around that I haven't gone through yet, or even just things in my room that I've put away but haven't really sorted and I just don't want to yet, maybe after the rest of the house settles down I'll have the energy to do some things but I'm already happy with how things are. Organized enough haha.

Inaugural Run

Today was the first real run of the group. We (Lee, Nick and I) went out to Hamburg and then drove out to a park and ran two loops and then stopped at DQ on the way back to the clinic. The clinic is just amazing, we stretched beforehand and the same afterward. It was funny that the three of us walking around there drew some attention walking through the clinic, I guess that's not what they're used to seeing. But having a group of people behind us and wanting us to all perform well, supporting us makes things really nice. Once we're more well established and have a routine of being out there on a regular basis, and know everyone on a first name basis, things will only be better. It's all just surreal.

Sunday Donuts

Finally back in Ann Arbor on a Sunday to get donuts from Washtenaw Dairy. I even woke up in time to see Nick, Lee and Frank start their run and request some donuts so I brought back a box, even though I've eaten a lot of donuts before, I've never brought home a box. I even put down the usual half dozen with significant ease compared to other times.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, we picked up some things for the condo and I spent most of the day relaxing. Maybe there will be something more exciting to report tomorrow.

Dances with Dirt

Dances with Dirt is just a ridiculous adventure. I had no idea what to really expect going in since I'd never done it before, only the promise from Shawn who was assigning legs that mine would be mostly trail (for my knees' sake) instead of having to wade through mud or pass a river. Dressed in red tights, a t-shirt with a red lightning bolt on it, a red bandana and a huge red cape to fulfill my team assigned super hero role of "Flash" (we also had Cat Woman, and two Captain Underpants) I took off on the first leg, a long 4.75 miles.

I went out fairly quick but as there are more than three hundred teams there were a lot of runners ahead of me. I had heard that it was important since we would be on a single track trail before long. Regardless, after about seven minutes people started falling away and despite keeping the same pace, I moved through to the top twenty or so. Our placing really didn't matter though, we were all there to have fun and I was just thinking it would be a nice way to get in my first fifteen mile day in a while, even if it was split into three runs.

My second leg was longer and I didn't get lost as I had on my first (I mistakenly followed the guy in front of me who took a wrong turn, only about 100 yards total, but still meant I had to pass a lot of people again, hard on single track) though I did drop my sunglasses and realize it a minute later. Luckily the guy behind me had picked them up and had them on his head so I only lost a minute (what a nice guy, really how everyone should be). After my second leg of 6.something I had to wait until the last leg of the day, probably four or five hours at least so I started eating some of the awesome sandwiches Nobuko brought. A number of the middle legs seemed pretty rough, people were coming out muddy up to their chests among other things. It was great to sit around and take note of all the costumes people had put together and see some people we knew including Tom and Babs (one of my professors).

The last leg was just over four miles but it had started raining and was down to sixty degrees. Even though I knew we were out for fun, I still wanted to run fast and couldn't help but feel it was a race, maybe not quite the same but certainly similar feelings to when I last stepped on the track. I guess I'm competitive... But with the rain and the trails, I took a lot of care on the downhills since they were flowing like little rivers, turning the run into a long series of sprint-jogs, sprinting the flats and hills and then carefully maneuvering down the other sides. I passed a fair number of people and then after the final downhill, put everything I had out. I was annoyed after the triathlon, not knowing exactly where the finish was and feeling that if I had I could have run faster, not only that I should have run the last five miles faster but that I should have sprinted harder at the finish despite being alone. The result was that I sprinted as hard as I could, as hard as I could at the end of fifteen miles and it felt amazing. I can't wait to have the same feeling on the track in spikes. But I can be patient.

Our team was fantastic. Jason drove for a bit in the morning, Allen ran hard and was good company in the car between legs, Nobuko kept us in line and certainly had the best costume out of all of us, running hard in fishnets, Shawn had on black CK briefs over spandex and took the hardest legs (thanks) and then Adam ran all of his in a row which meant the rest of us had time to sit around and refuel. It was a great day. But now I'm exhausted and ready for Donut Sunday. I've missed the last two and I'm anxious to get back at it.

New Arrival

Wednesday night I picked up Lee from the airport, the house is starting to become more lively. Will was here for a while but it's feels different now that someone is here who is going to be living here for the foreseeable future. And once Brandon gets here, we'll really have a house together. Already it's nice to get up and go running through the trails or around town and know that we're doing it together, there's a camaraderie to it that is enlivening.

On Thursday morning we just ran Tuesday trails starting from the house since it gave me the opportunity to show Lee the most of Ann Arbor that I could on one run that I actually knew. We detoured through the Diag and Law Quad then down to the track and back up Division the regular way. It was interesting to show him the track, he said he had heard about them but never actually seen one in person. I then opted not to show him the indoor track, since it might have been too much for one experience. We'll take things slow and go in stages.

Afterward we headed out to Hamburg and showed him around the clinic, talked with Ron, Earl and Pete about how things are going to be and then did some errands to get things Lee needed for the house. Today we ran through the Arb so he'd have an idea of where he'd be running tomorrow with Nick for the workout. At first glance, the 1k hill is certainly a bit intimidating. But he'll be fine, no doubt. We did see a wild turkey in the fields that I think are part of Fuller Park. It was on the other side of the fence but made Lee pretty nervous, thinking it might hop over the six foot fence and come after us. I think it was more afraid of us than we were of it, but who knows, those things can be pretty vicious I've heard. It was still there on the way back, but I kept us safe with my Turkey calls. My dad always said he thought I was a turkey, guess that's fitting.

My knee has been sore this week, I haven't even been doing very much but it's certainly not feeling like it was two weeks ago before or even during the race. Maybe the week off did something weird to it, but I'm icing and keeping a close eye on it. It's mostly stiff more than actually hurting, and a bit swollen which is irritating. Hopefully it will go away in the next few days, but in any case I might try to get back in to see Dr. Miller and maybe see if he wants to take some pictures just to ensure everything is as it should be in there.

Starting up

Yesterday I ran an easy five around Upper Arlington Columbus, I felt pretty light on my feet but certainly felt as though I hadn't worked out in a week, not out of shape, just out of practice. It seems strange to say that you could be out of practice for running, but I think when I don't run for any period, it gives me the opportunity to learn how to do it again and therefore grow more comfortable. Additionally I feel as though I'm starting fresh and can make any changes in my form that I'd been thinking about more easily.

Today I ran seven on some up and down gorgeous paths in a city/state park. My knee was really strong after the summer training and I didn't feel it at all during the triathlon but it's a little sore from the continuous up and down. The first time I did hills once I had started running again, going down the hills bothered it but a week or so later, it was fine and when we next did hills, the going down wasn't an issue. I imagine that's how it is and so after taking a week off, my knee hasn't been used to the pounding but soon will be again. It feels good.

Back to training

After seven days of no training, I ran an easy five miles this afternoon. The weather was nice and despite knowing that we probably weren't going terribly fast, it was good to start things up again. It's strange how after a week of not doing anything, training and the routine that accompanies it seems not as enticing as it was. Never wanting to miss a workout turns into the opposite and taking another day of recovery sounds much better. But after the first few sessions are over with, the routine is what you want again and you can't imagine it being any other way. At least that's how it is for me, fair to say I wouldn't imagine that the way things are for me is necessarily how they are for other people. Sport and training are such personal things, both with regard to what is most productive for each individual and for the attitude associated with those things. That's part of what makes a successful coach good, being able to adapt to the differences between individuals while maintaining the same core principles of training. It'll surely get easier before it gets harder.

Recovering

Today was the first day I've woken up and not felt as though I did a hard workout the day before. I still feel like I did a workout yesterday but that it wasn't a really hard one. But that's why I'm taking a week off after the race to make sure that everything is rested and recovered before I start in on the next set of training. There is plenty of time before racing starts either in the winter or in the spring.

Lee is showing up the 8th and I then I think Brandon is coming out on the 20th or so depending on how long the drive takes. Nick will be back from Italy shortly after Lee gets here and by the time Brandon gets here we should have things pretty well sorted out in the house and maybe even have an idea of how the schedule is going to go for the fall in terms of where we're meeting, when, and who will be there.

Today is the time trial for the cross country team. Junior is running and just moved his things out of here to go get settled in the dorm. I hope he runs well.

Recovery

Its interesting how after the race I felt alright after the initial period of wavering around trying to figure out whether I'd manage walking or not. But then it starts to set in and as the night wore on I was more and more sore. Its a few days later now and I still haven't managed a good night of sleep. Last night I woke up at four in the morning and then again at seven just not comfortable. My legs don't hurt as much as they did yesterday but I'm in no rush to get back to working out, not yet anyway. Once I'm all rested its going to be the start of a pretty long and hard training period. It'll be easier than what I have been doing this summer total volume wise but the intensity will make up for it.

Today Comcast is coming to install internet and tv in the condo, we still don't have a tv but we'll get one soon enough. Internet will be nice so I won't have to keep borrowing juniors blackberry and trying to work my thumbs on the tiny keyboard.

Breakwater

This weekend was pretty much perfect. Friday we left for Bellaire MI and stayed the night at a friends house (Mike Fitzsimmons) who we swam biked and then ran with on Saturday morning before heading out to Petoskey around noon time. We stopped at a pretty awesome farm market and had sandwiches for lunch along with some fresh raspberries. Got in to Petoskey and drove the bike course with Jeremy, I sat in back while he and Kate discussed the whats' and hows' of the bike which was good to listen to while I sat back and lounged. It was certainly hilly, more than I expected. Additionally, it was as though they picked out all the hardest roads, not in terms of finding the most number of hills, but because they found roads where you'd go down a hill and have to turn at the bottom, requiring you to use your brakes, but then right after the turn there would be an uphill, so you wouldn't get to use all the speed you had just built up on the downhill. Later we all went out to dinner (Me, Kate, Jeremy, Ingrid, Mariah and Jeremys' parents) by which time I was absolutely starving and probably moody. We did some last minute shopping which included water, gatorade, some muscle milk which does not taste like chocolate milk or feel good in your stomach for breakfast before a Half-Iron triathlon, fake pearl earrings and some baby food for Mariah which was awkward to ask for since neither Katie nor I have kids... But we got to bed eventually at the hotel which was right up the hill from the start of the race.

We woke up at 5:30 and I started eating, two peanut butter sandwiches, two bananas, a muscle milk and maybe something else, it was early, I'm not sure now. We got down to the transition area and set up our things after getting body marked. The girl with the marker actually had a little trouble and had to line herself up with my arm and then hold it still to make sure she didn't miss...I guess my arms aren't wide at all when you look at them from the back...who knew? We made sure we all knew which way to go on the swim and before I knew it, the horn sounded and we were off.

The swim went well, I only got kicked in the face once and had to readjust my goggles. The sun was in our eyes on one side of the two lap course but it was manageable. I stayed comfortable and tried to not throw up in my mouth any more than absolutely necessary which turned out to be twice. But I'd rather eat a lot right before and then not be starving when I get on the bike. I jumped out of the water and stopped to take off my wetsuit before going into transition. I put on some socks, stuffed food in my pockets, put on my helmet and sunglasses and wheeled my bike out.

We had to run across the street and up three flights of stairs before we could get on the bike. I put my shoes on when I got there and found Jeremy right next to me. It was nice but also worried me, I know we're pretty even on the bike but have different styles of when and how we put in the effort so I didn't want to be going back and forth and killing myself the whole time and not be able to run. But it was also very comforting to have him there, someone I knew and someone who frankly makes me feel safe, I mean, who wouldn't feel safe around him? Unless he didn't like you but even then...After about ten miles he went away from me and I could only see him once in a while. There was no one around and I had to keep focused otherwise I felt as though I were just out for a ride in the country. But it was a race. At the turn around town I saw that he and I were actually in second and third whereas I thought we were out front. For a second I picked it up but then calmed down and kept doing what I had been, relaxed up the hills, steady rhythm. About ten miles from the end I clocked the distance to the leader since there was a three mile add on out and back and he had about six minutes on me. Without getting complacent I figured that unless he was a runner, I'd probably have a shot at him. About six miles from the end there was a huge climb of almost two miles. My average speed for the first 50 was 20.9 and after the climb...only 20.4. But I got through it and was back in town before long.

I hopped off the bike and jogged down the ramps to get back to transition, tore off my uniform top, put on shoes and a bandana, had a sip of water and was off. I needed to relieve myself but there were no port-a-potteys around...I found a tree about 100 yards from transition and used that instead. I hadn't seen Kate on the bike and was wondering what had happened to her but saw her as I was getting off the bike, she ran her bike down and changed in transition too before heading out on the run just behind me, passing me when I stopped for my tree-stop. I always seem to run fast right off the bike without trying to, so I tried to relax and take it slow. I wanted to build into the run rather than hammer and then die but when I hit the first mile in 5:55 even with the tree-stop I tried to slow down more, two miles in 12:00 and three in 18:10 despite my efforts to back off. My heartrate was low though, only about 171. I caught up to Jeremy around 2 miles and he egged me on to get after the leader who I caught around mile 4. At the turn around I started getting nervous knowing that on the way back in my first and only other triathlon, I had fallen apart towards the end. I wanted to finish strong so I took it easy and stopped to get water and gatorade at the rest stops. It was getting hot with the sun right over head and I didn't want to cramp. I was ahead of Kate at this point but she caught up to me around mile 7 or 8 though I don't really remember the specifics of it all. She pulled ahead and it was awesome knowing she was right nearby, especially because I was alone without anyone in front of me and she gave me someone to focus on, someone going faster to try to stay with. It was so perfect that I was sure it was against the rules. I wasn't sure exactly where the finish was but started to pick it up after the eleven mile mark, sprinting the last 200 yards.

I was surprised at how emotional I was after I finished. I had been training for this race all summer and wanting to use it as a test of my knee, wanting to know that my knee worked the way it used to before I had surgery. Crossing the line and having my body do exactly what I asked of it even though what I was asking was a tall order had me feeling elated. I welled up but was dehydrated and didn't end up leaking out any tears. The race certainly gave me the confidence I'd like to have going in to a year that I hope will be my fastest on the track. I don't have any misconceptions about the race though, any number of people could have shown up and run circles around me, so I have to be happy about how I did and I am. 4:47:24. The only other triathlon I've done was when I was 21 after not running my junior year, that was a pancake flat bike and I was 4:47:46, though the time certainly was not allocated in the same way.

Now it's time to rest and relax for a week and then get back into training which this time will be more focused on the running and less focused on anything else.

Northern Michigan

Left the condo today a little after 2pm, Kate and I made our way up to Bellaire MI where we're staying for the night before going the rest of the way to Petoskey where we'll stay on Saturday night, before the race on Sunday. We went for a brief swim in Torch lake, it's incredibly clear and though cool when you first get in, not too bad after a few minutes. The house actually has internet which is exciting after not having it for so long, but frankly I don't mind not having it, it makes me find other things to do. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss watching 24 though and I was on a roll moving through the seasons when I lost internet...and the ability to get more of it.

I'd kept hearing all summer about how hilly it is up in Petoskey and northern MI but now that I'm here I can understand why. It's not like NY where there are rolling hills and then some big ones, it seems as though when there is a hill here, it's straight up or straight down, depending on where you come across it. It'll certainly make the race interesting, but as I've been saying when I continually hear about the hills, hills are just roads that go up, and then you get to go down the other side. It's time for a good nights sleep and then a relaxing day tomorrow before an early morning on Sunday and hopefully being done for a week by noon. Start time is 7:20am.

I'm a little sore and tired from yesterday but its pretty md and makes me feel good especially after looking up how far I ran yesterday after the ride, if I can get near that pace for the half marathon at the end of the race it'll be a good day. I just need to make sure I eat enough so I don't fall apart at the end.

The house is starting to come together, we'll get internet and probably tv soon and since they came and got the hot water hooked up we can actually take showers, well I guess I'm the only one who really doesn't do well with the icy showers. I need the heat especially after an ice tub. But after I workout hard it makes me get cold. I'm excited for the race but I'm probably more excited for after the race when I can start running mileage and getting ready for the season. This race will act as a mini peak training wise which should be better than one long push for the whole season.

Lifting this morning was great, Bo is really helping me out. All that's left for today is to go for a run in my flats on pavement to make sure they feel good and then ride a bit with Jeremy tonight before I back off hard for the race.

Good Training Day

Today was one if those days you need to have before a race. I ran for a while this morning, swam, biked home and then did another run down the dirt road by the house at what I thought was a pretty good clip but I'll have to check.it online before I know what it's worth. But it felt fast and relaxed. I still need those laces for my shoes that are elastic so it doesn't take me forever in transition. We still need to get internet for the condo and then I can stop bothering Jr. for his blackberry and then I can actually type instead of fumbling with this tiny keyboard.

Donut Sunday

Today was the last donut sunday for two weeks since next week I'll be up in Petoskey for breakwater. I splurged and bought seven donuts but only managed to get through five before I had to call it quits. I felt bad for giving up but I finished the other two tonight. We don't have any internet yet so I'm using Jr's blackberry and will now call it a night so he can talk to Shelia.

Moving In

Thursday 8-19-10

Though my lease didn't end until Friday at noon, everything was out of the apartment and the keys were turned in by five on Thursday night since Friday morning was going to be busy with running and lifting. It took a lot longer than I thought it would to get everything out, but it always does, moving is just a hassle. Jason did me the favor of switching cars with him so I could use the Honda Pilot which has lots of space in it and a bike rack on the back which was a bonus. Will Jr. was a big help, he tackled packing the entire kitchen, something I was dreading horribly. Not only are there lots of pots and pans but you just accumulate food over the year, things for baking or cooking that aren't just in the fridge. But we got it all done and even had a run in the middle of the day with Nick and Frank Tinney who's in town for a bit. Our legs were tired from the constant trips up and down the stairs with boxes but we kept up and listened to the talk about non-profits and Zap Fitness.

Friday 8-20-10

Friday morning we ran, I hung out of the workout, Breakwater is a week away and I want to just get rested. Will Jr. and I cooled down while Nick started running back towards the track so Ron could pick him up for his training with Earl, headed back to the house and then down to the track for lifting (me) and biking (jr.). Jeremy showed up afterward and had the new TeamLaces gear from Cliff Keen for our race, the blue looks even better than I thought it would. Jason picked us up and we traded cars back which felt nice to have mine back. Today, like yesterday, there were always people around the house and so I didn't get nearly as much done organizing as I thought I would, so it looked like a disaster area downstairs.

Saturday 8-21-10

I got up and met up with Jay out on the road en route to meeting Jeremy out in Dexter for our ride. It started raining as the ride went on and we picked up Blair on the way back when the rain picked up but we got in a few hard intervals. If Jeremy and I end up near each other on the bike course it would be rough since we'd just be going back and forth for miles, and our riding styles are so different that it's not as though we'd be staying in the same places the whole time.

It's funny to me that when I was coming back from surgery and starting to run again, all I wanted to do was this Half-Iron so I could prove to myself that I was still the athlete I thought I could be or hoped to be, or maybe just dreamed of being. But after doing workouts with Ron, Nick and Will Jr. for almost two months now, I'm in better shape running than I have probably ever been and the whole reason I wanted to do the triathlon is pretty much moot. I'm already confident my body works the way I want it to and will do the things I ask of it. The training has just grown hard with the increased running volume and the intensity, coupled with biking, swimming and lifting. Bo pointed out on Wednesday that he thought my butt was getting bigger, a good sign to be sure, trying to be a little more like Stann. Too bad it looks like he's probably not coming back. Hopefully this will be a good outlet for chronicling the next few months and years. I've been wanting to put it down in writing but waited until things were more firmly set up before I started. Tomorrow if I have time I'll talk some about everything that's happening and some of what I hope happens.