Time is sure flying by now. Lots of things have happened in the last couple months. Most importantly, I met Kim H. I don't want to say too much, as I don't have her permission to talk about her, and she is very modest about herself, but I will say it has been awesome. My friends told me if I didn't slow down, no woman would be able to catch me, well Kim caught me, and now I'm working to keep up with her. 

    In mid October, I was in Tucson with Rick and Jill from Sierra Adventure Sports  for the Tucson Scavenger Dash . Kim came down after she was done with her 4,000 meter swim at Lake Pleasant, nearly breaking an hour with mitigating circumstances even. We had planned to ride to the top of Mt Lemmon on Sunday, but as luck had it, that was the inaugural running of the Mt. Lemmone Marathon, so we pushed it back to Monday morning. It was a warm mid to upper 80's in Tucson when we left on the 26+ mile climb. We both neglected arm warmers or wind breakers it was so warm. Luckily, Kim found a discarded, but nice, fleece jacket left behind from the previous days marathon. As we neared the top, it was becoming noticeably cooler. We stopped and had lunch at the lodge, seeking out little bits of sunshine as we ate to alleviate the goose bumps. It was a good thing we were hungry, as the food wasn't too good, and the service was worse. I logged more trips to the kitchen than our waiter did, but he did acknowledge that as were getting ready to leave. Lunch came to $28.62. Our combined cash came to $29. The good news, was we had enough to cover the bill. The bad news was, it looked like we were stiffing our absent minded waiter. We explained to him, but I was still looking over my shoulder for a spectacled product of the 60's out for payback. We flew down the mountain, in about a third of the time it took to climb it.


    Wednesday night, I signed up for a 10k trail run at Cave Creek Park on the Go John and Overton Trails. I hadn't been running much longer than this because of my calf injury, but I felt good about doing it as long as wore the neoprene support I had for it. I had not run (or hiked) here before, so I really didn't know what to expect as far as hills. There were hills....and 41 racers signed up. I sized up the other runners, and saw a few that looked like they were pretty strong runners. The guy without a shirt looked like the odds on favorite though. I figure anyone that an start a race shirtless can probably back it up, and he did, winning the 10k overall. I tried to stay close to him, but he would leave me behind on the flats and downhills. I think that extra 3 or 4 inches in height may have had something to do with it. I would pull back to him whenever we climbed, but in the end I couldn't hang on, finishing second overall though. My best ever individual finish, and awards were given out for first place in each division, with no age group splits. Oh well, was a great run, and I got to see Kim afterwards (she rode her bike there).

http://www.aravaiparunning.com/results/2010CCTResults10k.htm

    I've been working on my swim some. I am amazed at how easy Kim makes it look. I can tell she has me getting faster already, but I just don't see myself ever really being a strong swimmer. But that's ok, there are more important things in life.

    It feels like sumer is starting to appear in the rear view mirror and cooler fall weather is just around the bend. I have actually had a couple opportunities to drive with the windows down lately. 

    After the Barn Burner Mountain Bike Race  in Flagstaff was cancelled in June, I didn't think I need to really bike for anything until the Sept. 25th Gilmore Adventure Race  in Prescott. But, then I met Kim, who had also done this race last year. So, a couple weeks before the race, we decided to race as a 2 person team, alternating 26 mile laps for the 104 mile race. I frantically started packing in the bike rides, trying to get in better shape, as I knew she was a strong rider. We agreed to just go have fun, do our best, and enjoy the high country and race with no other expectations on ourselves. We picked Dana up from school on Friday afternoon and headed straight for Flagstaff with a pickup truck loaded high with bikes and camping gear. We looked like the Joads leaving Oklahoma. As we got closer, Vickie and Butch were checking in with us to see when we would arrive, as we were hoping to camp near them. We lucked out and got a good spot right by their trailer, and just off the little single track so Dana could ride around too. We were barely out of the truck and Butch and Vickie had us sitting down for some of Butch's awesome pasta. I love his spicy pasta sauce. We set up the EZ Up we borrowed from Rick (thanks Rick) and our 2 tents, then walked over to register and get our race bags and numbers. A new twist this year was larger belt buckles for teams that finished under the 8 hour mark. I didnt think we had a chance at this, so there was no pressure added by that. After getting the bikes ready, visiting around the fire a while with the Swiss American Bike folks, we headed to bed. Hmmm, definitely starting to feel like fall in Flagstaff. By 1 am it was feeling like the dead of winter. Summer sleeping bags and light blankets may not have been the right choice. I piled the blankets over Dana, trying to save a corner for myself, but it was a cold night curled up in the fetal position trying to stay warm. By 5:30 I was ready to get up and moving. Another not so brilliant move, leaving my bike bag outside the tent. It was quite chilled and frosty, which makes for a good beer, but not so much when putting on bike shorts. As I readied my gear for the first lap, Kim and Dana went to Butch and Vickies trailer and made coffee, hot cocoa, and oatmeal. That was much better than using the Coleman stove on the tailgate.

    The first lap started with a Lemans start. Approximately a 1/4 mile run (more of a jog) to the bikes, then a half mile loop around the camping area to the bike course. I don't like to get too hot when I ride (unless it's Phoenix summer and 115) so I had half finger gloves and just arm warmers with a short sleeve jersey. I think it was mile 9 when I started feeling my fingers. The trail was very dry and dusty. Riding into the sunrise, my sunglasses coated with dust and glare, mixed with splotchy shadows across the road made for a ride of faith that I wouldn't hit an unseen object early in the race. At mile 10, Pooh Bear passed me on a long straight away. I jumped on his wheel and followed him to the first climb. He was on a single speed and riding the 104 miles solo, so when he got off to walk some of the steep parts, he gave me an assist up the hill with a push from behind, but then it wasn't long before he went around me again. The first climb was followed by a rocky and fast downhill section. I think I was saved once or twice by the rider directly in front of me, as he slowed down a couple times in spots I may have hit too fast. I made note of them for my second lap. Somewhere along the ride, I hit a top speed of 33.6 mph. I also know I hit 3.8 mph though, too. I think that was the second climb of the route, a long 3-4 mile hill with a couple really steep spots. I was very glad to get over that hill, and ride the last couple miles back to the start/finish area and pass the race off to Kim. I was completely covered in dirt and dust and felt like I had a chest full of it too. Kim had an excellent and impressive lap, and we were riding close to Butch and Vickie all day. My second lap was a few minutes slower, but better than I had hoped for, and Kim had another great lap, but had the misfortune of flatting just out of the start on her last lap which cost her some time. We finished up in 8 hours and 42 minutes though, which I thought was very satisfying. After showers and our complimentary beer, we walked over to get our small belt buckles, for being under the 10 hour mark, but over the 8 hour limit. As we gave our number, the gal handed us the large buckles. I said we didn't qualify for that, and she said yes, we did. The time had been changed to 9 hours for the 2 person teams. What a bonus. Now we just need some big leather belts to wear...We came back home Saturday night, not wanting to spend another night shivering in a too light sleeping bag. We had a great weekend, and what an awesome race this is. Congrats and thanks again to Butch and Vickie for the hospitality of a warm meal and trailer, and to Rick for the EZ Up and Karen for the pictures. Great job to Kim and Dana also, making it such a fun weekend.



    

    I'm not going to go all the way back to my last entry...mainly because I can't remember back that far, so I will start around the end of July. I went up to Ferndale Washington for my High School reunion. We'll just say it's been at least 10 years.  I had a generous offer from my friends (and former 3rd grade teacher and former boss), Barbara and Johnny to stay at their house and use their vehicle. I saw friends I hadn't seen in...well, at least 10 years. I also was talked into running a 5k race with a few of them...ok, it didn't take much convincing. Saturday morning I admit I did have second thoughts though as I was running on little sleep. Even so, I finished in 22:05, 12th overall and 4th in my age group. Yeah, 4th. I would have been under the 22 minute mark if the volunteer at one turn had told me and the runner ahead of mt to turn instead of just watching us run by. The guy behind us told us we were going the wrong way, so we had to backtrack some. Had a great time though, it's always fun to race someplace new. Great job to Ron and Shawna W., and Scott L. also.

    So, yesterday I signed up for the Flagstaff Barn Burner that had been postponed back in June due to forest fires. It's now Sept. 11th. I am racing with Kim H. as a 2 person team, so we alternate four 26 mile laps. It will be fun, and good training for the Gilmore Adventure Race Sept. 25th.

    The last week or more has been hot and sticky, but I have been getting out on the bike. Both mountain biking and road riding. My running still needs to pick it up some though. Figuratively and literally.

Cheers to all.....

Today is my dad's birthday. He's in California, visiting my uncles and aunts, along with my brother and his wife, and tomorrow is his high school reunion. It's a small town, so I think the reunion may be for anyone that ever went to high school there. I have never been to a high school reunion. I graduated from Apollo HS, in Glendale, but I didnt really know anyone there, so never did go to one. I went for my freshman and half my sophomore year to a HS in Washington State where I grew up. That reunion is next month, and I am still on the fence about going or not. I should decide soon, though, or it will be too late.

So, I haven't written anything in a while, since Alcatraz let me go, I think. Two weeks after that race, I did the Tempe International Triathlon on a whim. I signed up Friday afternoon for a Sunday morning race. I did the Olympic distance, and had a decent finish even. If I could halfway swim, I'd be up there in my age group, but that 5 minutes extra I spend in the water really hurts my overall time. Maybe the end of this summer I will focus on that more. I have spent the last month or so, mainly bike riding. Last Saturday was supposed to be the Barn Burner mountain bike race in Flagstaff, but it was cancelled due to a forest fire in close proximity. Now I will need to start running as well as biking, as the next race for me is the Gilmore Adventure Race in Prescott this September.

I did go to San Francisco a couple weeks ago to help Rick put on the Scavenger Dash there. We had a great time, even with record high temperatures.

I have had a hard time staying motivated this summer. I am still told I am always training, but I feel like a complete slacker at times. I mean, really, a full day without working out and a night of sitting at home watching a movie or a game? Just doesn't feel right to me, but I've been doing it, sometimes a couple days in a row. Hopefully it won't last.

Todays funny:

0 to 200 in 6 seconds
Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was
really pissed.

She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the
driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE !!"

The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke
up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box
gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.

Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought
the box back in the house.

She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Bob has been missing since Friday.

    All of you that asked me how I felt going into this race, know I didn't feel like I had trained enough for it. A calf injury prevented me from running hills like I had planned, but my bike was still fairly good, and the good thing about not being a fast swimmer, is you don't really lose that. So, Friday morning comes, and I am at the airport, bike box and all my gear ready to go. I get to the check-in counter, the guy looks at my bike, and says $290. When I picked my jaw up again, I said "one way?". He confirmed this, in a very cool and unbending way. I said, " I don't think so" and walked away, my brain scrambled and scrambling for ideas. I don't like to disparage anyone, so I won't name the airline, but it rhymes with "felta" and starts with a "D".I knew there had to be places to rent bikes in San Francisco, but the day before a big race like this one? I didn't even know where to start. Then I remembered my high school friend, Scott, that I last saw was winter of 1977, had recently posted on Facebook that he had purchased a bike. He was planning to come see me at the race anyway, as he lived and worked in the area. A quick call, (thankfully, he answered), confirmed this, and he was thrilled to help me. Ok, now...what to do with my bike. I called Steve, who had just dropped me off, and he returned to the airport, picked me up, and we drove to a parking lot where I removed anything I might need from the bike box, and somehow jammed it all into my two bags I was taking. I had water bottles, wet suit, shoes, pedals...everything but the bike and my helmet. Scott, can I use your helmet too? Absolutely. My heart is starting to settle down now, maybe this will work after all. I get to SF, and it's blowing a steady 20-25 with gusts. I find my hotel, and awesome, it's only a half mile to the race site. Saturday morning I get all checked in and registered, body marked, and spend quite a bit of time looking out at Alcatraz. It really doesn't look that far...

    Scott shows up around noon, and first thing I want to do is drive the bike course. We jump in his Wrangler, and head out. First mile, very flat, but it quickly changes. A 120 degree turn and it's immediately a sharp climb. There wasn't much flat again until the final mile back into the TA. This is gonna hurt....but I was elated to still be here after the near disaster at the airport. My focus now, is have fun, enjoy the moment. I put my pedals on Scots bike, adjust the seat, check the tires and brakes, and call it good to go.I can't resist giving Scott a little ribbing about the three chignon rings on the front of his bike first, though. Off to eat, and Scott likes to eat. We hit Molinaris Deli, where you pick your own bread and they make your sandwich for you. Scott orders a couple italian rice balls also, with cheese and sauce inside. A little bigger than a tennis ball. It was so good, I ate the whole sandwich and the rice ball. This is gonna hurt.

    Sunday morning, I'm up at 4:30. There's no coffee pot or microwave in my hotel, but did I mention? It's close to the race. So much for bringing my own coffee and oatmeal. But, here comes Scott to rescue me again. On the way to my hotel, he stops at IHOP and gets coffee and oatmeal, and delivers it to my room. After breakfast, he grabs my gear bag, and I head down the hill on the bike to set up my transition. He hands me my bag at the bottom and goes off to park. I find my spot, right by the Canadian flag, and get all set up.

I have 2 plastic drop bags with me still. One I will take on the boat with me, carrying my swim gear, and putting my morning clothes and shoes in it to get after the race, and the other goes to the swim exit. After exiting we have about a 3/4 mile run to TA, so shoes and socks are left there to put on after removing the wet suit. From here, it's a 3 or 4 mile bus ride to the ferry terminal, where we board the San Francisco Belle for the ride out to Alcatraz. We spend about an hour on the boat total, most of it at the dock, resisting the urge to do something...like put my wet suit on. Too early for that. Finally, as we approach the island, we all start changing into swim gear. As the start nears, the pros line up on the outside of the rail, preparing to dive en masse into the 55 degree water. Chris McCormack does the swim without goggles, amazing. We file down the stairs, where there are three open gates, jumping out like lemmings off a 5 to 6 foot drop, then quickly getting out of the way of the person behind you. Whoa, that's cold...and salty. For the first 5 minutes, my face and feet are cold then they go numb. There's just enough chop I can't swim and sight very well, but every time I lift my head up high to look, I get a mouthful of salt water. The tide is carrying us out towards the Golden Gate and the Pacific Ocean. We swim across like it's a river, knowing we will come out downstream, and not wanting to over shoot the sandy beach exit and end up on the rocks scrambling ashore. I use the sun as my guide to stay on course, and it works great. I make the 1.5 mile swim in 32:26. Wow, that current really helps. I get the wetsuit off, find my drop bag, and put socks and shoes on for the short run to the TA. I change into bike shoes and helmet, and off on the bike. 500 yards into the bike, my Garmin falls off my wrist when I reach for my water bottle. I pull to the side, make sure I'm out of traffic and head back to get it. Grrr, someone had picked it up for me, so I got it and returned to the race. How long did that take? Too long I know that. The hills are steep, but I feel good. The elation of making the swim are boosting my adrenaline even higher. I don't want to push too hard though, because I know the run is challenging too. Did I mention San Francisco has hills? Did I mention I used that little tiny chain ring on the front during the bike?

    Coming in off the bike, I still feel good. Hunter Kemper gets announced as the overall race winner. There goes my shot at winning this race now. Now the real test. The first mile is flat, then we hit the first set of stairs. I run about 75% of it, still trying not to burn out early. Up, down, up down, until it's down to the beach. Out Baker Beach, we run on the sand. I find a firmer line, where the ground hasn't been torn up by runners yet, and get a comfortable pace. Heading back up the beach, I am struck by the beauty. The beach in front, with the Golden Gate Bridge ahead, breakers rolling in, and trees and greenery hanging from the cliffs above the beach. Wow.


As we leave the beach, it's up the sand ladder. 400 steps of sand and wooden steps. I walk this, as everyone else is too, knowing there's still another uphill at the top. As soon as the steps fade, I start to run again. I still feel good. Must be the elevation and temperature drops helping me. I do feel like I ate too much, though. I have an Italian rice ball under my ribs on the right side, but luckily this race is short enough I don't need to eat anything on the run. I push hard for the final flat run into the finish, and come in at.......3:00:27. Better than I expected prior to the race, but I immediately think of the time it cost me to go back for my Garmin. More than 28 seconds, I know. 

    All in all, a great race, beautiful venue, and a support person that couldn't be beat made this a highlight race for me. Scott saved my weekend, and we picked up right where we left off 30+ years ago. Well....almost.

    More pictures can be seen on the website as well as a link to the results page.     www.azendurance.com
    
    Finally....THANK YOU ALL that halped me reach my goal at ST Jude Childrens Hospital. In fact, you blew it away with a total now of $1,135. You guys are AWESOME.



 

    Another 2 weeks has gone already since my last post? I think most of a week of that was consumed by tax preparation...yuck. Anyway, lets see, what's happened in the last 2 weeks. April 15th was the Splash and Dash at Tempe Town Lake. A 750 meter swim and a 4k run. My swim wasn't bad for me, around 14 minutes, but then I spent 2+ minutes in transition trying to get the wetsuit off. Even with body glide, it just stuck. That put my run around 16 minutes and some change, which I was happy with. The water was much warmer than the race prior, also. 

    Friday, I went to Lake Pleasant with my friend and long time fishing buddy Jon. We had a great day on the lake, boating 4 bass and losing almost as many. I had almost forgotten how much fun that can be.



    Last Saturday was the Usery Mountain Madness Adventure Race in Mesa. I raced with Chris and Josh, as a 3 person team. We had a quick 1/2 mile run to the bikes, then a 10 mile mountain bike, followed by an 8 1/2 mile run, and another 10 mile bike loop. It was a warm day, but what a beautiful venue. The desert is so pretty, especially when it's as green as it is now. 




    Only about 10 days until The Escape from Alcatraz. I am at 90% of my goal for St Jude. If you can help, please go to http://www.mystjudeheroes.org/AzEnduranc  and give even just a little if you can.

    Today's funny:

    Men are like fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with. 


    

    Saturday was the first Splash and Dash of the season, at Tempe Town Lake. It was 1,000 meter swim followed by a 3k (1.86 mile) run. Start time was 7:30, and Rick rode down with me to spectate. I didn't arrive any too early, and finding out when I got there that I was out of Bodyglide didn't facilitate putting on my wetsuit. I did get ready in time to be out in the water and ready when the horn sounded though. The water.....brown and murky like always, but I heard 59 degrees? Plenty cold enough to make my feet and hands ache waiting for the start, and to numb my face once the swim started. I warm up fairly quickly though, so it wasn't uncomfortable once I got moving. I came out of the water not as woozy and off balance as I have been in the past, but I did forget to look at my swim time. As I was removing the wetsuit, it hit me though. I got so dizzy I had to sit down, and there was a brief moment things went grey before my eyes. It didn't last long, but my transition was slower than I wanted...that happens to me a lot. Off on the run, I felt pretty good. I made up some time here, but in such a short race, being an average swimmer starts you out under the gun. My total time was 33:47, and I am sure I spent a few minutes in the TA trying to clear my head. After the race, I did a 45 mile bike ride, and Sunday, my longest run in a while of 8 miles through the Preserve trails. It was hot enough Sunday, I jumped into the 64 degree pool to cool off. Summer is right around the corner, I think.


    Alcatraz is 3 1/2 weeks away, and I am in somewhat of a scramble/panic mode now. My friend that had a place for me to stay is moving back to Phoenix before the end of the month. That was my bed and my wheels while I was in San Fran. The proverbial monkey wrench. Anyone have any connections or ideas? I am not sure what's going to happen exactly, but I know for sure it changes things. 

    Thanks to you guys, I am more than halfway to the goal for St. Jude Children's Hospital. If you donated already, thank you again, and if you haven't, and can give anything, please go to this site. 

http://www.mystjudeheroes.org/AzEnduranc

    

    After titling this post, I realize that in the past, I have referred to "toes up" as meaning in the ground, having left this world. Not the case this time though.

    Since my last post, I was just getting my run back into a routine, when my calf muscle injury from last fall resurfaced. I took 11 days off from running, and had the guys at Rehab Plus work on it and give me some exercises. I was able to still ride and swim. Well mostly swim, after getting cortisone injections for my shoulder, it went from painful to push or lift with it, to now being painful to swim....the complete wrong direction. So anyway, I was signed up for the second annual GORD off road duathlon in Prescott this last Saturday, so I tried to find a runner to make a relay team with me on the bike. I didn't try real hard, as I really wanted to do the entire race. My calf felt good, so my plan was to run easy, if it got tight, I would walk. I wanted to do the mountain bike though. I rode to Prescott with Rick and Karen, and when we got there, it was cold and windy. Good muscle pulling weather. I jogged a couple hundred yards before the race, and it all felt good. I'm just not in run condition, and throw a little altitude on top of it.....but, don't re injure it, that was my goal. The race took off and so did I. Not tearing it up, but trying to keep contact with somewhat the front of the pack. I did the first 1.5 mile run in 12:18. Not too bad.

   I changed my shoes, put my helmet on and hit the trail on the mountain bike. An 8.2 mile combination of single track trails and double track road. There were a couple granny gear, leg burning, chest pounding climbs, and some sharp switchback turns. About halfway in, my calves started to cramp. Not the injury, but definitely cramps, so I just pointed my toes up (see title) and kept churning. I had a bike split of 40:33, which I think included my run to bike TA time.

  Jumping off the bike, I changed my shoes again, not as fast this time and headed out for the final 2.1 mile run. Not only were my calves trying to cramp, the toes on my left foot were too. As runners came up behind me, I tried to up the pace, but I knew if I cramped on the run, I would be walking, so I went as fast as I could staying just under the cramp threshold. I lost 5 or 6 places on the final run, but was happy to finish about 15th out of 124 with an overall time of 1:11:14. Not bad for not being in run shape. It was great to see so many friends out there too, I had a great time. Thanks to Dave and Tracy for putting on this race, and also to Karen for the muscle gel and pictures, and Rick for the transportation and laughs.

    Saturday I did the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Challenge 22 mile mountain bike race near Alma School and Pinnacle Peak. Rick, got entries for himself, myself and Chris Branson, so how can a guy pass that up? I am still trying to determine how an out and back with two loops can be 80% uphill, but I am convinced it was. I seemed to be always climbing, and when I was going downhill it was like skiing moguls. You had to keep the speed down so as not to get planted on the side of the next mogul. At mile 12, after what felt like all uphill, I was thinking, ok, over halfway, should be mostly downhill now. It was about this time I came to the arrow that said "lap 2".  Aghhhh, all that again? I approached this race a little too lightly, also. The sausage and egg biscuit I ate at 6:45 am was now doing moguls in my stomach. It was touch and go there for a while if it was going to stay down, but it did. A fun hard race, finishing just under the 2 hour wire. Marshall Trimble spoke at the starting line, which was really cool. I was disappointed he wasn't still there at the finish, I would have loved to talk with him. Dana was there waiting for me tough, and that was way cool, too.

    I put in 2,500 meters at the pool yesterday, gearing up for Alcatraz. Then after work, jumped on the road bike and rode 25 miles, hitting quite a few hills on the way. I climbed one very short but steep hill, Desert Jewel Blvd, and was disappointed in how hard it was for me. I felt really out of shape, just about coming out of my shoes I was pulling so hard on the upstroke. It wasn't until I started back down I realized I was in the big chain ring, no wonder.

    I saw my doc today about a few lingering issues. First, my eyes are still itchy and puffy, since Sept. now. He gave me a prescription for drops and a cream, believing it to be an allergy of some sort. I just want it gone, riding Saturday with watery eyes over that uneven ground is a recipe for disaster. But we know not for me....Second, my shoulder is still really sore from the last bike crash in Oct. He gave me a couple cortisone shots today, so I am hoping that will fix me up in short order. It's been really painful to press or do push ups.

    Now, I posted the link last time to the St Jude Childrens Hospital. You can help out with as little as $10, and it's tax deductible. This isn't going to me, but to a great cause to support children dealing with cancer. Please help in any way you can. The site again is

http://www.mystjudeheroes.org/AzEnduranc

Thanks for staying in tune with me. 

Why men want a bigger boat
    

    Wow, it's been over 2 weeks since I blogged on here. Did anyone miss it? In the last couple weeks, I have actually been getting back on track with training. Swimming twice a week again, and even seeing some improvement. I've been very happy to get more mountain biking in too. I am very blessed to be so near the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. A mile and a quarter and I am on the trails, so I have been doing some more exploring out there. Three times in the last week. I am regular again at Tuesday night SMHS track workouts, and the last 3 Tuesdays I have been running bleachers. Weight and strength training at Jr's has been great still, and I am riding my road bike to and from again. This is shaping up to be a great spring it looks like. I was very lucky to snag an entry into the McDowell Sonoran Challenge 22 mile mountain bike race tomorrow morning, thank you Rick Eastman, and I'm excited about that. Kind of amazing actually to think this is my first ever mountain bike only race. 

    March 20th is the GORD off road Duathlon in Prescott, which I was able to witness last year as a spectator, and now looks like I can actually participate this year. April 17th has an adventure race on the calendar at Usery Mountain Park. And...drum roll....May 2nd, the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon on San Francisco, Ca. I finally committed, and am really looking forward to suffering in that venue, ha ha. I have decided that as much as I felt emotionally about the Ironman, I think that I want things to be more than just me when I race. I had so many people give to me, I couldn't have done it without them, most of them are on my website, but not all. Now I want to try to help others. And I need your help to do that too. I have signed up with St Judes Childrens Hospital, and want to help raise money for them though my racing. If you can help in any way, I would be very grateful. You can donate directly to them at www.mystjudeheroes.org/AzEnduranc . Thank you your consideration in this.