Ready Set Go

The racing has begun, in one sense or another and at different levels for a few people.  After one of the most consistent off season training blocks I have had in a few years things are looking good.  I am still a ways away from feeling like I really am ready to race but unfortunately I can't control when they schedule the races.

Riding Palmer Park (Pikes Peak Behind)

February Road Ride With Kaili

One of the biggest things that helps in a nice solid training base is some nice weather and for the most part the weather has been great for a winter in Colorado.  We have had some very cold days but as the pictures show we also have had some great weather.

Swimming back to the boat

After a building my training nicely through January and February I headed to Tampa for a nice family visit and to run the Gasparilla 15k.  It is an incredible race that has more than 25,000 people between the 15k, 5k, half-marathon and 8k (or 5+3k as they call it because of that particular races sponsor).  The race went very well and it was a nice confidence boost for my training, the only bummer was how sore my calves were after the race after pounding they received from the concrete.  It was a gauge of my fitness, my placing didn't matter but my time was the critical factor and I walked away stiffly but happy.  Once the race was done is was great to just sit back and visit with my grandma, aunt and uncle.  Saturday after the race we motored around Hillsborough Bay and got to see Derek Jeter's 30,000 square foot home, a Carnival cruise liner heading out, the channel where the crew teams from may of the colleges come to train in the winter and where they paint their emblems on the seawalls.  Sunday was great as we got to head out on my Uncle's sailboat and live the easy life.  The wind was low as we headed out so we used the prop to get to a nice somewhat secluded spot where we laid anchor for lunch.  Before we feasted down I used the opportunity to go for a great open water swim in my 2XU V:1 wetsuit and get it broken back in.  Being landlocked in Colorado it was great to swim with no walls no lane lines and just go.  After lunch the wind kicked up enough that we did set sail and used the power or the wind to take us back home.  Once we got back we had some fun in the pool and hot tub.  I can't thank my Aunt Nancy and Uncle George enough for the great weekend, it was a nice break and release from everything.  It was great to see my grandma and great aunt Nikki and Betty as well.  Here is a link to a few photos from the trip to Tampa, I will add a few more once I can figure out how to get them off my new "smart" phone.

My 2011 race schedule is up so you can see where I am racing this year, there are a few possible changes but they mainly are with the Ironhorse weekend and deciding on exactly what races I will be doing in August.  If you live in any of the areas where I am racing it would be great to catch up so let me know if you are in the area!

Miami International Triathlon is the first tri of the year for me and I can't believe it is only just over a week away.  So look for a pre-race blog and race report coming soon.

And so 2011 begins

I am now in the swing of things, after a nice break official training has resumed and it is off to the races come early April at the latest most likely will be going at it mid March.  After the fun hut trip experience I headed down to Durango the following weekend for Christmas with the family.  It was a nice time to get to hang out and enjoy a few days with the family and not have to make sure that any particular thing was done.  By far the most relaxing Christmas in a while.
The following week was interesting,  slight cooking incident of nearly cutting the tip of my thumb off while I was cutting carrots for dinner.  You learn quickly that any limited use of you thumb really makes things harder to do, and the tips of your fingers like to bleed and are hard to stop bleeding.  I did get it under control but am still dealing with it.  I also managed to get my upper back to seize up after going for a short run.  This put a nice damper on things for the following few days and I am not sure how it happened but am still working out the last bits of tightness but nothing like it was!  I will say that hot tubs work wonders and that helped out a lot in loosening things up.
For New Years the plan was to head up to Breckenridge for a few days of skiing and time with friends however the back squashed one of those days.  In addition a nice arctic snow storm blew in Thursday evening adding some great snow for the mountains but turned the roads into an icy mess.  I delayed my trip up to the afternoon of the 31st and things had cleared nicely but the temps were frigged!  While up in Breck I don't think it ever got above 0 and with the wind it made it even worse.  It was an interesting and fun night with Raena, Chris, Jim and Brigette and ended up being a bit later than planned but smiles and laughter were the ending to the night.  The following morning though we did think about getting out on the mountain no one wanted to deal with the temperature of -5F and windchill of -25F.  Hot tubing, movies, Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl were the order of the day topped off with a great dinner at Empire Burger.  I headed home through Denver to have a nice brunch with my grandma on Sunday and as always was well filled up and got to help her out in making sure that her computer was running without issue.
The following day is when it all started, Lisa and James had put together a nice welcome back to training week and thankfully my body is responding pretty well and I can feel everything getting moving and stronger.  The only negative is that well it is winter in Colorado and it decided to come on January 1st.  We have had some nice very cold days and some snow so it is causing a few trainer days for the bike but I am heading out when I can.  Thanks to Will Kelsay and Brian Maslach for the pictures below.  I will have photos to share once I get my camera back.

Start of High Drive, may a interval is done in the summer here (Brian Maslach)

Midway point on High Drive, tough in the summer or winter. (Brian Maslach)

Flatirons in Boulder as see from Chateau Kelsay & Katz, pretty decent sight (Will Kelsay)