The New Year is Happening

The Ladies on Pee Wee's Trail in the Tuckahoe forest during our Christmas Eve/Eve trail run.

This is the first New Year of my life that I start as a triathlete. It does not seem any different than in other years except for one major aspect: the desire to do a full Ironman…someday. What the heck is that? Did I really just type that? I must be oxygen deprived!!! I guess it must start with a desire, and things “happen” from there. We’ll see. It’s on the table.

What’s been the coolest part of training for and doing races (swimming, running, and triathlons) is meeting people. I start this New Year with a swim team full of new friends and a running group full of new friends. That is what I would call a successful year, and in that regard 2008 was a STELLAR year!

It’s the dead of winter, the wind is blowing, its been 3 weeks since my bike has seen action, weekly running miles are down to about 10, and I’m feeling sluggish. This has got to be a resting period for my body; a nice slow inhale before spring training takes a hold. Etched into my core is the weakness I’ve acquired for nice days. And, particular I am…nice windless, warm days. The danger I see in myself is that if a perfect riding day comes along, I’ll drop “my mother” to go for a spin. That’s both good and bad. I’m hoping the year 2009 becomes a year of “balance”.

There’s been some good things since I wrote last, too many to elaborate upon, so I’ll try to summarize:
· December 20th – I swam my second swim meet at the Catonsville YMCA. Our team took 3rd overall and we now stand in 2nd place for the state of Maryland. I personally took two seconds and a third in my individual events. My 100 yard breaststroke time was 1:19.66 seconds and I finally got under 30 seconds in my 50 yrd freestyle.

· I started leading workouts in the pool on Tuesday morning for the Rise Up Runners, yes, “runners” in the pool. It’s been fun to share what I’ve learned over the past 8 months in Masters. We’ve had as many as 7 in the pool swimming intervals. These guys are great!

· On Tuesday, December 23rd, I received one of my best Christmas presents: my two daughters, two nieces, and Lori allowed me to take them to the Tuckahoe trails for a 5 mile run. They humored me as the 6 of us tromped in the 22 degree, still air through the forest. We enjoyed Clif shot gels at the fishing bridge, and Olivia climbed in “Mother Hollow” for a photo op. We did the 5ish mile loop in just over an hour. The ladies were hardly winded. We celebrated our run by drinking milkshakes and eating grilled cheeses at Hill's Drugstore.

The smallest of the Ladies trying out Mother Hollow's hiding place.

· Swim workouts with the Stingrays is one of my most sought after times. The workouts have been challenging and I’m seeing improvements in my strokes.

· I swam twice while in Maine at the Boothbay Region YMCA. I’m thankful for that Y and their warm hospitality despite the sub freezing temperatures of the outdoors.

· My first run of the New Year was to Dodge Point in Maine in 5 degrees with wind-chill hovering around minus 12 degrees. The footing was on trail covered with frozen post-holed snow. Interesting. Other than when I was buried under the bedclothes, that cold run was actually one of the warmest moments I spent in Maine. Brrrrrr!

My next competitive event a large swim meet in Annapolis. I may swim in a 500 yard freestyle event, but we’ll see. Love, swim, ride, and run ~