Paradoxical but true: I'll find lasting happiness only when I let go of the notion of permanence. - Casey and Vanceburg 

I find that to be so true, but it's still hard to practice.  I think it's comforting to know what is, and what to expect.  There is a comfort in sameness - even if it's a bad sameness.  I cannot really share details right now, but I took a farily bold step into something that could have been very unplesant, bad, and nasty a couple of weeks ago.  The plan was to change my life by going through the bad, hopefully into a better future.  It turns out that the bad nastyness did not, for the most part, materialize, and things are actually better immediately - although the badness is lurking.  Working to keep it from happening at all.  Wish me luck, and some day I'll be less criptic.

Some day I'll actually do the whole swim work out.  Running felt pretty good starting out, but after ~2.5 miles right ankle/foot started hurting again.  I walked several times, but tried to do the 'mile' repeats at a good pace, and managed a sub 10 minute pace still breathing in 3 out 3 - which is fairly easy.  Legs were a little tired.  I feel good about the 8 miles, but am concerned about the sore ankle.  I could feel the effects of weight lifting in my lats during the swim.  The shallow/warm pool was full, so I swam in the diving tank end of the big pool.  there are no lane markers for those three lanes and there were four of us in there, so there were tiny waves - good practice for OWS, especially when the guy next to me was trying to swim butterfly. :)  It felt like a pretty good workout, and I thought I was at an hour.  I've got to time things better - or get up earlier.

 I had no problem getting up at 4:20 this morning.  I was dreaming that I was in T2 of the Iron Man.  Weird dream though:  In the swim we were sholder to sholder, and there was something under the water in front of me, I pushed it up to the surface and it was a female competetor.  she was smiling but unconcous.  We were swimming through this hallway kind of place and there were tons of swimmers, but I was able to flag down a kayack, who got her out of the water.  The second leg of the IronMan was...., get this,   rollerskating.  and not just skating, but the roller derby kind with pushing and shoving and wrestling.  I was in T2, and my number (which was embroidered on my t-shirt) was read out wrong and they couldn't find my transition bag - then the alarm went off.  So, I was mentally ready to put on my running things and go run.  Like I said WEIRD!

I'm so excited.  I've go to go to Dallas on business on Thrusday, and I'm going to go to Richardson Bike Mart - and hopefully BUY A BIKE!  If not there, perhaps Plano Cycles.  --Again wish me luck!

Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story - Max Ehrmann

Decided to rest today.  Just kind of tired and my resting heart rate is way up - usually 48 today 64.  I had lots of hard riding yesterday, so I think I'll just not ride today.

Hill Climb yesterday was very good, and I think I finished around 45 minutes (7 miles).  It's a tough climb and challenging.  The ride down is fun though - especially when you get off the steeps and can let yourself go fast.  I did have to break though - the dad-gum cars in front of me were going slow - ARG!

Not much strength in the weights either.  Just resting .

I was real lucky to catch up to Tom and Steve and do the ride down to Balmoreah.  They are both better riders than me, and I think I learned a little, besides the fun of going much faster than I would have by myself.  Tom's dad saged us back up to Ft Davis for our cars. 

I was quite dissappointed that the pool at Balmoreah was closed (turbidity).  That was going to be one of my last wet suit swims before IMFL.

SAG - I spent most of the day sagging the 76 mile tour.  It was really kind of fun.  A beautiful day and an awesome route throuhg senic countryside.  ~ 4300 ft of climbing.  I so wished I was out on my bike.

I started the day with 10 new tubes and ended up with only three.  I did have to sag a couple of people in all the way to the start - both had physical issues and just could not continue.  I met "Colene from Kelline" who is a mulitple IM finisher - enjoyed visiting with her a bunch.  Sagged several folks up to the next rest stop, and lent tools once.  Finished about four and went out for a short ride.

It isn't for the moment you are stuck that you need courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security. - Anne Morrow Lindbergh 

It tickles my fancy when I find inspirational passages that apply equally well to my life, and to triathlon as well.  It actually happens quite often.  Perhaps the  life/sports metaphors work well because sport is life - or at least a good model of it.  There is actually a deep thought hiding in there somewhere. :) 

Rest day today. 

I may ride a little when I get down to Ft Davis - we'll see what time it is and who's there.  I've got a couple of potential riding buddies who are also going later in the day.  It's over 5 hours to drive, and I've got some chores to do here, then pack and go.

It's so beautiful here.  The sun is streaming through the pine trees and lighting up the needles - like the silver lining you can see in coluds.  The pine needles have silver lining, the golf course grass is lush and green with all the rain they've had up here in Ruidoso.  46 degrees and sunny - incredibly blue sky.  What more could you ask for?

I'm going to miss this place.  I don't see how I can hold on to it in the long run.  Plans have to change. I guess sometimes you've got to let go of the present, and the presumed future to move ahead and into the new (hopefully better) future.  I believe that the Lord will provide.  He always has, and I've had a wonderful life. 

Went to see Sweeny Todd last night.  Wow, dark, dark.  And wierd.  The cast was supurb and each actor also played mulitple instruments and sang as well.  Unbelievable.

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; 
The wise grows it under his feet. -   James Oppenheim

The workout called for either a 30 min bike, or a 30 min run depending on which description you read.  I was running a little late, and didn't want to get all dressed to go ride, so I opted for a short run. which I cut very short because my ankle and foolt was hurting.  I did make it to the pool but had to cut that short too, because of swim team practice.  (I guess I should have gotten up earlier, because I've been running late all day, but sleeping a whole 8 hours was awesome.  Still a bit tired. 

My son and I are going to the theater tonight.  looking forward to it.   I've got to bring some dress casual clothes up here.  Last time I went in my shorts, but not very comfortable with that.  Still and ironman in training under all the clothes.

Break through run today!  Felt awesome, running under the full moon, and it was 56 degrees outside.  At 40 minutes it felt like I had been running 10 min.  I was at the upper end of RPE 2 and running MUCH faster than I usually do at that effort level.  Wonderful, wonderful run.  At 2 hours I started to feel a little fatigued, but still finished fairly strong.  Gel at 1 hr, 1.5 hr, 2 hrs.  Swallow of 1/2 gatoraide every 5 min.  Forced myself to walk one minute out of every 5.  Strategy worked very well.  did some short strides at about 30 minutes just to stretch out a little and because I felt like it.

I really enjoyed being out there running today.  Was in communication with the Universe at times.  And the sky was just fabulously beautiful.  ( If I could write like Yanti I'd tell you about it)

 I'm off to Ruidoso today to visit my son, and do a little work there.  Then on Friday I head down to Ft Davis to help with the bike tour.  I'm driving sag on Saturday.  I hope to get a good ride in, but we'll see.  It looks like about a 5-6 hour drive from Ruidoso to Ft Davis, and I'm afraid I'll miss the guys who are riding on Friday.  I'll call them though and we'll see.  Lots of climbing down there.  I am scheduled to ride the hill climb on Sunday though.