Where’s Waldo?

Yikes- someone’s been a bad little blogger lately.  I have been a busy bee with work, training, and most recently, triathlon coaching.   I absolutely love the athletes I am working with and feel very lucky. They’re all very highly motivated and talented.  I have a couple of them that are going to make me look damn good if my suspicions are accurate!

It’s also really cool to be on both sides of the fence now (athlete and coach).  At the very least, I finally understand what I have been putting my coach through for the past 4 years!     I also have to say that I am in the best place to continually learn from an elite level coach. That’s a big benefit of working with The Sport Factory. We work together and are continually challenged by and consult with Matt on training issues.  It’s a great set up and I’m really lucky to be where I am.

Work is work and I’m lucky to have it, but the “other” job is going really well, too:  training.   I finally convinced Matt to let me race Powerman Alabama this year. I raced it in both 2006 and 2007 as an amateur, and in 2008 as a pro.  All great races for me, but it is probably one of the toughest races ever. I haven’t done a duathlon since 2008 because I was injured training for Worlds that year, BUT I have not forgotten how tough they are. There is a reason why many triathletes don’t want to race duathlons! And to make sure it’s extra fun, Team Magic extended the distances this year to 10K run / 60K bike / 10K run . . . you know, to make sure we all get our money’s worth.  Um, thanks.

So, PMA will be the first race of the year and it’s coming right up.  Matt has been kicking my butt lately and the du bricks are coming back into style.  The pro field is going to be super competitive this year, and Team Magic put together a cool little line-up to get us all fired up.  But since the age group race is the following day, I’m wondering if there will be anyone out there to cheer us on?!  Did you guys notice someone by the name of Joerie Vansteelant on that list?  Pretty cool, huh?!  If the rest of us chumps on the start list don’t get you motivated to come out and cheer us on, certainly Joerie will.

February was a great month, not just because of the showering of chocolates, roses, and birthday gifts (!), but  mainly because of a quick weekend trip with my sisters and mom all together.  I only wish there were more weekends like this.  And of course there’s that cute little doggy of mine. God forbid her feet ever touch the ground. I love these photos, because it’s like a Where’s Waldo game . . . she’s popping her cute little head out of every picture.

 

And because The ATL was getting dumped on with a winter blizzard at the time, I had a hard time concentrating and focusing on my “ice bath,” but I tried.

And even though it pissed my mom off a little, of COURSE I had to train.  I know, I know–  scenery sucked, but I was not one to mope and complain.  I had work to do.