Think of all the beauty left all around you and be happy. - Anne Frank

Interesting to note that on each of the days following my evening walk my foot did not hurt at all all day long.  It's a little tweeky today, but overall much better than in the past months.  Still stretching tons.  Have my timer set to go off every 30 minutes to remind me to get up from the computer and stretch a bit.

Man, oh man, I feel better today.  Antibiotics are really a wonder drug.  That said, I still pretty much cannot sit on my bottom in any normal manner.  Still have a huge painful lump right under the sit bone.  That doesn't bode well for the 24 hours in the Canyon.  not only for the race, but it's a 4.5 hour drive up there.  We'll see what happens with the rest of today an in the morning.  We talked about the race last night with several of the folks going, and I really want to go, it's just that at this point I cannot see myself driving for the four hours to get there.

This week is apparently a recovery week.  30 min run today.  And that's it.  little ride yesterday, which I didn't do, but did do a little run with the new triathletes for a brick.  We had 20 new triathletes out for the bike ride last night!  That's an awesome group.  Before each workout, I give them a little advise about the workout.  It was 105 at ride off time last night. Talked about paying attention to your body and the effect of heat on your workout.  I hope that what I'm giving them is useful, interesting, and not too long.  They sure seem to be enjoying each other and the workouts.  We always visit for a while after.  -- I've got to do better at learning and remembering all their names.

Took a 1/2 hr nap yesterday after lunch.  Slept for an extra hour this morning.  Trying to get well.  I sure do feel good physically today. (except for that one square inch under my sit bone)

today I am mourning love lost.  It's so easy to slip into the deep well of sadness.

Life is made of non linear events.  Fight normalcy-bias. - Mike Stoneman - Randoneur Magazine.

What might happen is not what usually happens.  If you're going for a real long ride - or race - imagine what might happen, and go prepared for that.  I always ask first time IM competitors, what is your plan B?  Do you have a plan C?

Went to the doc today - got shot and pills.   Saddle sore is right on my sit bone - cannot ride tonight.   Can I ride in the 24 hour race this Saturday?  We'll see how fast I heal .

Tri group ride and brick run tonight.  I'll run with them.

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. - John Heywood

Watched a bit of American Ninga on TV last night.  It was on while I fixed dinner and ate.  I don't recommend watching this program while you eat.  Too much muscle tensing to make for good digestion.  Interesting program though.  When I was doing gymnastics in college this might have been possible for me to do.  It sure looks like fun.  Intense explosive strength is required.  The guy who did best is a rock climber.  Big strength to weight ratio.

Enjoyed a mid day run / swim break.  I love doing that.  out of my chair, change, run, swim, run, shower in just about an hour.  Then back to work with no nap. 

Have a Dr. appt tomorrow morning.  need to get some drugs for the sore under my sit bone.  It's gotten a hard lump under it and that means it won't go away without antibiotics.  Hope I can get it fixed before Saturday's 24 hour ride.  I could hardly sit in the saddle on the way home last night.  

Ordered a new saddle yesterday too.  Perhaps the old one is worn enough to be contributing to the problems. 

No person has ever been honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. - Calvin Coolidge

Yahoo!  I just heard from the young man who picked up my wetsuit.  We're arraigning for me to pick it up in Lubbock.  I happen to be driving through there on my way to the 24 hour race on Friday.

Registered for BSLT this morning.  Dropped a chunk of change on that.  Real glad I don't have to buy a wetsuit on top of the race entry fee. Legs are pretty tired.  3x hills yesterday, plus the bleachers on Friday.  Longest run of the season yesterday, plus the longest ride of the season on Saturday. 

New tri group swim tonight.  I don't think I'll actually swim that much, but it will be an active recovery.

Woke up early, and got to work pretty much on time this morning.  Feel good about that.  pretty much into the project I need to finish this week.  It's not cooperating very well.

Spent an hour immediately after the run pulling big weeds and working in the garden.  Good post run stretching /bending / pulling.  perhaps better than formal stretching.  After an hour in the hot sun I was done.

Four run bottles of IM perform mixed at 1/3 recommended potency + a gel every 1/2 hour.  Seemed to work better than last week's long run.  Think I need to mix the perform a bit stronger.  It does not taste the same as I remember, but perhaps I've remembered the dosage incorrectly.  It has less flavor and tastes much saltier.

Ice bath.  then breakfast. -- now I'm off to the office for a while.

warning: TMI   Battling a rash from yesterday's bike ride.  It seems to be healing faster than the times I've had it before.  Trying vitamin A orally.  Applied alcahol then antibiotic ointment immediately after ride.  little bumps came to heads very quickly, and I've lanced them.  That seems to help them heal faster.  Still kind of red and rashy looking.  Researched 'rash after bike ride.'  Lots of things to try.  -- got to figure this thing out.  Put antibiotic ointment on under chamois butter before ride yesterday.  - today vaseline before run - and comando.

Confirmed that the plan I've got loaded is one week too early.  Taper should start next week.

Next weekend is th 24 hours in the canyon race.  Looking forward to it with some anxiety.  my original goal was 200 miles.  That seems kind of optimistic given yesterday's 100 mile ride.  Working on a strategy.  Perhaps 50 miles then rest. Repeat.  Also it's less likely to be windy.  will be hotter.  Ride all night.  should probably be able to draft behind some of my normal riding buddies.  a bunch are going.

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.  J.K. Rowling
 

I don't like aphids.

I don't like weeds. 

The weeds in my garden have gotten really tall.  But today I noticed the flower heads are all covered with aphids.  I don't know who to root for.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. - Eleanore Roosevelt

Plan tonight:  ride the mtn bike over to stadium and run with the new tri group.

This week's plan is incredibly short on distance.  I need to check to see that I've got it ending at the 1/2 IM.  It seems too early to be tapering this much.  I plan to ride long tomorrow anyway.  And next weekend is the 24 hours in the Canyon.  My target distance for the race is 200 miles.  Last year at this time it would have definitely been doable.  I've not even done 100 in training yet.