Last Day

It is already our last day in Tucson.  After a "late" night last night due to a visit by the drug testers, we're getting a late start to the morning.  Luckily we left the mexican restaurant (see karl's blog) just in time to get home as the drug testers were about to leave.  They had already waited the required 1 hour and were about to put me down for a missed test when we pulled into the driveway.  They were here for exactly one hour, which seemed more like 5 hours.  

Before the mexican restaurant, a group of about 8 of us did a hard time trial workout.  3 x 17-18 minute time trials, pretty much all out.  That's definitely the hardest thing I've done on the bike in months, other than the race a few days ago.  We'll see how the workout feels on my legs for today's hard run workout.  

After the run we'll do one more trip up Mt. Lemmon before taking off.

Another Long Day

The weather here in Tucson has turned...turned in to summer that is.  It is HOT outside.  The first two weeks we were here, we were riding in full pants and jackets, today I'd wear a tank top (if that was allowed in cycling).  

Today we had an early swim, followed by a 15k run with a 20 min. section of pace changing efforts.  By the time we got home, it was time to turn on Golf Channel to catch Tiger's tee off.  Watching Tiger was the perfect excuse for putting my feet up and preparing for the next workout.  Luckily, the final workout of the day was an easy 90 minute bike ride.  

We have 3 more days of hard training and then will be making the trip back easy.  We've come up with a recession friendly travel plan that might take some serious mental stamina.

Run-bike-run

I've signed up for a race this weekend in Scottsdale, there's an article about it on slowtwitch.com, so I hear.  The race is a duathlon...my first, unless you count the year the NYC tri was turned into one.  It seems like a tradition to do some kind of out of my element event the third week of February every year.  Last year Julie & I did the USA Cross Country Nationals where we were the biggest backs (by far) on the starting line.  The year before that I did an orienteering race with SJ.  It was something like 3 + hours or running in trails and I was sore for days after.  So, this year, I'm doing a duathlon and it seems like I'll be up against people who do this kind of thing regularly.  It should be a fun way to get in a hard workout.  And, most importantly I'll be able to visit with SJ's aunt Eileen who we'll be staying with on Saturday night.  She's down from Calgary for a few weeks.  

Time to do core exercises in front of the tv now--bill's college roommate is in 2nd in the pga event today.

Sunday

Check out laurelw.blogspot.com for some photos from our afternoon ride today.  After swimming for over an hour and running 11 miles, we went out for a little spin around our neighborhood.  After working really hard on the run - and thanks to bill's gps, i know how fast i was going - it was hard to make it through a 45 minute bike ride.  

We finished off the day with a dinner out -- Mexican.   Actually, my housemates are continuing the fun by hitting up the backyard hot tub.  I'm way too tired and don't feel like getting wet again today, so I'm taking a pass and am going to watch my new favorite show, Lie to Me, on line. 

Hey, at least I don't have my pajamas on yet!!

Just back from Mt. Lemmon.  Didn't go up the whole way -- way too cold and snowy.  Don't worry though, it is nice and sunny and warm in Tucson.  We've been putting in some serious training but also trying to keep it fun.  

Taking advantage of the shared computer for an early morning blog.  I got up super early (again), still on east coast time.  Another day of training starts up soon.  We're heading to the pool as soon as Bill returns from the coffee shop.  He went out when it was still in the 5's to see if he could track down a newspaper.  We're pretty far off the main tucson grid, at least a 12 minute drive to the nearest grocery store.  We've got a nice view of the mountains too.  

It is way past my bedtime, but I am staying up late to blog.  We had a great ride this afternoon...almost 4 hours.  It was a group of 7 - including 2 sets of twins.  There were some hard moments, like when we went up a 4 mile (not steep) hill.  We're now relaxing in our house after having an athlete's food dinner - including wine, which as I'm finding out might be an athlete food, in major moderation.  

Tomorrow we're heading back to the pool early and then running on the trails.  By the way, the pool is 84 degrees.  So nice!!!  Even though it will be in the 30's outside, we'll be nice and toasty in the almost hot tub like pool.  

We'll, I'm off to finish my detective novel (thanks Uncle Phil)!!  

Tucson

Training camp #2 has started.  Swam this morning and now we're getting ready for a long ride.  Staying in a nice house on the east end of town.  

Homecoming

Name that famous coach.  One essential clue missing.  
Yes, I actually went to a Mount Homecoming game!  The reason:  I was announced pre-game as a new Hall of Fame inductee.  I wore my dress of the season (again, last time for a public event, i promise!) and was the smallest inductee by far.  No surprise there.  After the ceremony, we got to watch the game from the front row.  So much better than watching from anywhere else--although the student section looked kinda fun.  There was the one token drunken shirt off stomach painted sunglasses wearing fan who was actually much more entertaining than the cheerleaders.  SJ wasn't too happy about the trip to MD, but in the end he had a great time.  

Long Time

Long time no blog.  Sorry!  I've been running around, as usual, and haven't had a moment.  Also, maybe I had writers blog. 

If you haven't realized, it has been super cold here.  Below ZERO up here in New Paltz.  It did get up to twenty something (or so) in the afternoon and with the sun, a tiny bit of the ice on the front stairs melted.  It has been an ongoing project to clear the stairs, but with the frequent snow, followed by freezing temps, the odds of finishing the project aren't very good.  And, the driveway, that'll be a mess until springtime.  It is walkable, but really is just one big sheet of ice. 

I've been swimming more and running outside less this week.  My face got burned after running in the really cold before leaving for Chula and still hasn't recovered.  So, I'm going to not run outside if it is below 20 from now on.  

The house is nice and toasty warm, the heated floors are great - especially in the bathrooms.  Tomorrow is another jam packed day.  Workouts + getting ready for some entertaining!!