Moving On and Other Gems

February is over and so is the week of rest that I just indulged myself with. I'm happy that March is here. March, for me, and probably many other athletes, marks the pending birth of a new beginning. Spring and spring training.

Yesterday was my last non-training day for the week but I could not resist taking BB2out for a spin. Since I purchased her this winter I haven't had many opportunities, or any actually, to take her out. We went for an easy 10 miles. I needed to keep it easy since I am still not 100% over this cold. It felt so great to be on the bike. The temp was in the upper 40s once I got out there with all of my new gear. I felt a little overdressed but did not care.

I'm going to jump right into Half Iron training this week. I feel really good right now. I have recovered both physically and mentally. I will not be replacing my February marathon with another to redeem myself. There are virtually no local marathons in March that I could take on anyways. The last time I tried to redeem myself was from the Chicago heat marathon (2007) of which I did not succeed. As a matter of fact I only exasperated my glute problem.

Although Hyannis was disappointing (don't worry I'm over it) I always look for the lesson in every bad or goood race. What I have learned from Hyannis is that, yes, some things are beyond our control BUT. Isn't there always a but? I will endeavor, in the future, to stay home when there is someone who is sick that is around me and I have less than a week before a big race. I know this might not be possible to do all the time but I think I could have avoided getting sick had I stayed home that Thursday. I knew there was a possibility of getting sick due to working near someone who was indeed sick. That's all. I will take this more seriously next time and not assume that just because I have been sick-free all winter that I am immune.

Other little gems:

I am ITCHING to run a race in April or May. I don't feel as though I raced at all.

I have a 2.5 hour bike ride this Saturday that will most likely be done on the trainer unless we avoid the rain storm headed our way

I am reading the "The Brothers Bulger" by Howie Carr. It's fascinating to learn just how corrupt Massachusetts was. I also found it really fascinating that I had lived, for 6 months, litterally doors down from a mafia headquarters on Prince St. in the North End of Boston.

I named my bike BB2. She is aptly named after the my first Blue Bomber. Here's a photo of BB1. This is exactly how she looked. I only paid $2000 back in 1990. I got about 8 years out of her.

Here are a few pictures from the Hyannis Hell event. Actually, I had fun catching up with my sister and mother. I seldom get to do that. I find that we are a very low key group when we are together. Separate? my god, you wouldn't know we were the same people. I found that kind of interesting.

The above photo was take at about mile 5.

This photo was taken just after I stopped at mile 13. I made my mother take the photo. It is hystorical after all. I look pasty but I'm happy with how my clothes look.

This is a photo of the Hyots that I took myself while waiting for my sis to finish.


Here we are pre-race and Pasta party.