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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I feel you wind....

Thank you, for making me not take todays ride for granted.

Thank you, for only blowing the sweat into one eye at a time when you were crossing me.

Thank you, for not letting me rest even on the down hills on the way out.

Thank you, for blowing harder just as I got to the top of that really long hill so I couldn't rest and recover.

Thank you, for making it hurt just a little extra so I can better learn how to embrace that pain during a race.

Thank you, for challenging me to put the effort in even when I wanted to take it easy.

Thank you, for shifting as I turned for home so I couldn't enjoy your push quite as much.

Thank you, for helping with the 35mph thrill ride on that big down hill.

But most of all...........

Thank you, for making me appreciate those days when you aren't there.

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2009, the times they are a changin...

It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating New Years. I was looking forward to my first season competing with a bit more purpose and being a part of a team. I am all ready blown away by the awesome people I have gotten to know on the RACING GREYHOUNDS. (and yes, the teams official spelling is all capitals). I am looking forward to some group training when the weather breaks. We have our team kits ordered, they're expected to arrive sometime in March. I already have my team helmet, socks and podium t-shirt. I've been told to swing by the bike shop and pick up my 2 team issue water bottles. I have approval from the team for my tentative racing schedule, and let me tell you we are having some fuuuuun this year. If you want to see what the team kits look like just click on the RACING GREYHOUNDS logo over on the left.

You might notice the new look to the site. I thought a freshening up was in order and I have a few more things I want to add in the future. Keep on coming by, you never know what new things I might be adding. I have also decided on no more logos unless I am either a) being paid for advertisement or b) sponsored in some way, shape or form by the company whose logo is there. I love the Evo Tri team and will continue to support them but I always felt guilty with all their sponsors links and I don't use or am not provided the oppourtunity to use any of them. From now on if you see it on my site, I either use it, endorse it or am paid to place it. If you have a product you'd like me to review or endorse drop me an email I'm sure we can work something out. If you want to sponsor me in some way PLEASE drop me an email, I would love to chat with you about my goals and aspirations.

As far as my off season training goes, I just started back into it in January. I just finished a 30 day 300+ mile bike focus. (mostly trainer workouts, but some mountain bike trail riding as well) I finishing up an easier/transition week getting ready to start a run focus month next. It's killing me, but so far I've avoided the pool since the first of the year. I'm trying to work on my weakness first this year.

Ok... Next week I'll announce my 2009 race calendar as it stands right now. Until later, keep training, it's the fitness gained in the off season that carries you in the heat of the race.

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Hey did anyone miss me???

Ok all, if anyone is left that is, rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. Well, ok, maybe there have been no rumors and maybe not many really care where I've been or missed my posting but hey, just a quick note to say.

I'M still ALIVE.

Stay tuned. I promise, this time there is more to come. All I'll say for now is this, once my Half Ironman was done my family and job both needed more attention than they had gotten for a while. Nothing serious but with out all of their support for my endless training this summer I needed to give some back.

Now it's time to get back to work and begin planning the 2009 season. In the short term you can expect a long over due review of Body Glide, a product I won't race without, and a look back at the highs, many lows and lessons learned from Steelhead.

So for now, enjoy the season;

Craig

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