The past... the present... and the future!
Hey all, about time I get out another update. I have fully healed from my physical wounds, aches and pains from my Xterra adventure. I still haven't wiped the smile off my face from the experience. In this post are a few of the pictures of me rocking my GREYHOUND team kit. I got to say that wearing that kit during a race sure makes you feel like you belong with the big boys, even if your speed says otherwise, haha
The picture on the bike I chose only because it shows the deepest point of the two stream crossings. (and yes I think that is a smile on my face, I felt like such a kid on that trail ride!)
The running picture is from the 
finish chute. I felt so strong finishing that run! My fitness is definitely coming along well this year.
Xterra Midwest Cup/Sport, aka Custers Last Stand Xterra, was an awesome experience. I am already planning on going back next year. I'd like to get a few of my fellow GREYHOUNDS to join me for the fun.
The present.....
Okay, the training took a bit of a week off last week as it was a recovery week and life got a bit in the way. I still managed some decent mileage on the bike and my body felt fresh by this weekend. Just as a recovery week should be!
This weekend was a weekend of being a supportive dad and team member. On Saturday I cheered my son on at a local 5k. It was a cross country style, tough!, course that I ran with him last year and swore I'd never do that one again, lol. Ryan went out and did me proud. His running is getting so strong now. There were over 400 runners in this race and he defined "tough day at the office". Ryan placed 8th overall but 7th in his agegroup. He was excited though because he finally beat one of his classmates who had his number all season long in track, and almost beat another. He ran a 22:27. Way to go Ryan! Next up on Sunday was a GREYHOUND team event at the Hawk Island Triathlon in Lansing MI. I was only a team sherpa for this event. I got to help man the team tent and cheer them on. I think, as a competitor, it is harder to be a spectator than it is to race. The GREYHOUNDS represented well with 11 team members racing and 3, womens agegroup 3rd place podium winners and 2 young male studs just outside the podium. An awesome morning with the team, getting to know more of my teammates better. I can't wait for Motor City when we have the team compound set up and I get to race.
Sunday night brought a ride I had been looking forward to with both excitement and fear. I have been trying to work out a time to ride with this guy (Greg) for almost a year. He is a very fast roadie who rides more than anyone I know. He is a great person on top of everything else. I finally was able to work out a time when both our schedules would work out for a ride. I told him I felt I had a decent 2 hour effort in me last night and just hoped I could hang. First let me just say he was a great riding partner. If he dropped me (and in the hills he did easily), he would wait for me to catch up. I felt good that I wasn't just a wheel sucker all night because our route allowed us to ride 2 abreast most of the time. On the flats and downhills, I felt like I did a decent job of hanging with him. I'm pretty sure that ride qualified as a recovery ride for Greg, but for me it was exactly what I needed. We rode 33 miles in just under 2 hours. I can't tell you how many times I looked down at my computer and we were over 20 miles an hour. Afterwards I was absolutely crushed physically! But, I know I had the biggest smile on my face and Greg seemed willing to take me along again. I now know the route and I plan on working on those darn hills so I can hang with him better the next time. Today I am sore from head to toe! I can't believe how many muscles are sore from that bike ride! IT'S AWESOME!! I know riding with him will only make me better.
Now for the future.
This week, it's back to full training. This weekend, Ryan and I are running in the Curwood 5k/10k races. This is a flat, fast course and I can't wait to see Ryan PR this one. I am running the 10k as a training run. I am setting a modest 54 minute goal for this race. Just working on pacing and consistency. My next triathlon is a week from Sunday at the Motor City Triathlon. My first ever Olympic distance race a year ago and a race I'm looking to for some redemption after all my cramping issues last year.
Everyone have a great week, keep training and never stop TRIing....
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