Big Decisions In May

I called the spring tri campaign off three weeks ago. Family, work and the summer MBA schedule was piling up. So I cut out my own racing goals and training, dropped a work commitment and am reshuffling the deck this year. That in in itself is stressful enough, but liberating as well.

I've been lucky to have the support and freedom to excel in the sprint, olympic, 70.3 and XTERRA circuit in 2006-07. Even luckier to fit in some killer 5k, 10k and 50k run performances as well.

This will pass and once my plate clears, I can enjoy training and racing again.

In other news - CyclingNews.com has a great prep article for the fall cross season. I'm considering hitting the weight circuit at the YMCA this summer to mix things up a bit. The downtown location has an interesting circuit set up that they purchased last year. I spent some time on it then and liked it... but not enough to continue.

Cyclocross training and promotion was the original intent of the blog - so far, I've digressed into training for tris, running and cooking. We'll see where the ride goes from here - maybe commuting ;)



More to come.

New 'Get The Fuck Outta The Road' Program Aims To Increase Pedestrian Safety

Gotta hand it to the Onion to tell Iowa bike riders what is important. Who has the real right to the road?

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE I LOST?

Got the free pass to ride the Tuesday Night Worlds last night for the first time in over two years.

Here is how it went wrong.

1. Rode a cross bike with 48x38 when everyone else was rocking either Specialized, Guru or Trek rockets.
2. No one to ride with once I was shelled.
   
3. Ride #5 for 2008.

Here is where it went right...

1. Realized I just don't like road riding.
2. TT training and road riding are polar opposites.
   
3. Recognized big packs still suck and people cannot ride in pacelines / echelons / or pace consistently.
4. Admitted I just don't care about the roadie scene.
5. Got home early for quality family time.
6. Know I want to do Taco next week before summer school starts!

This sort of conversation happens quite a bit - where you balance the alternatives and recognize where time and resources are best spent. My time is too valuable to waste for over three hours of travel and handlebar chewing. If I spend it wisely - I will be a much happier, and faster camper in what matters and that is 75-135 minutes of swimming, biking and running.

Great News After 23 Days of No Posts!

Since I finished my MBA MIS class this spring, family time has been a big investment. That is the thing I'm most proud of - besides surviving a weekend in Silver Dollar City, y'all.

I'd like to say that I'm more motivated than ever to ride, run, swim and race this summer, but it is seriously waning at this point. I still haven't signed up for Hy-Vee Triathlon or any of the local Copper Creek Triathlon.

Why?

1. Haven't run with any intensity since Friendly Sons 10K (39.12 PR).
2. MIS 534 had a final, final presentation, final paper and two papers due in the last week.
   
3. Swimsuits have been hanging in my office since March.
4. Work has been stacked.
   
5. Branson, MO is not built around fitness. It is a drive-by city. No bike or run allowed.
6. Malcolm still doesn't sleep.
   
7. Four bike rides, two flat tires.
8. Teaching 40 minutes a week of YMCA spin and pilates is good, right?
   
9. Grillin & drinkin' is protein and carbo-loading, right?
10. Desire just isn't there.

When the desire isn't there and life is stacking up on you - don't force the work. Spend the time on quality endeavors - family then everything else should fall in accordingly. Keep a mind to fitness, get a few sessions in when you can, eat right (most of the time), and enjoy life.

P.S. The Fujina still hasn't been re-cabled since I bought the parts over a month ago. Should have had Fry-guy do it. Ugh.