So… tonight was the first time in a long time that I’ve done anything “tri” related. My LBS (LTS?) was hosting it’s annual “VIP Sale” and it looks like I’ve once again managed to do enough damage there that they invite me back to spend even more! After all, you’ve got to spend money to save money, right? … or something like that.

Anyway, I got there just a few minutes before they were ready to open and there was already a line at the door and around the corner of the entrance. In line were a ton of people from the tri club, including the likes of Trimama and the Soapinator, Ironmom Jenny, the man who brought you TriMapper, and a whole bunch of others (who I didn’t put here only because I don’t have nifty links to include for you – sorry!). It was a little surreal seeing everyone there. It made me feel a little guilty, actually. These are people that I saw pretty regularly this past summer and who after IMWI, I haven’t seen since.

It’s something built into my system, I suppose. Every fall, I feel the need to take a little break and recover from IM and the long season of training that preceded it. But soon after that, it starts getting colder out and I lose any kind of desire to do anything active. The idea of there being snow on the ground and having the sun go down earlier and earlier just gets me more and more depressed as the days go by. I hate being outside when it’s cold and I absolutely despise winter. And really the only thing that seems to keep me happy is junk food. That’s quite the killer combination – not working out a lick and eating everything in sight. I was actually matching kwokette’s weight gain during her last trimester of her pregnancy until she had her baby!

All of this probably has you wondering, “Why in the world do you live in Minnesota of all places then?!” I’ve been asking myself that question a whole lot this winter. More than in previous winters in the past. I really do enjoy my job and my best friend is here. But even those two things, as great as they are, has me wondering if it’s really worth it? Is it really enough?

Anyway, I just felt like I should say something. Some explanation of, “Where has Chris been?” And to address the questions that have come in if everything is alright. Some of you that have been reading for a while already know to expect that I’ll be gone pretty much from October and to reemerge sometime around April or May. But for those that don’t already know… well, now you do.

So… sorry to my merry band of tri clubbers, bloggers, and blog lurkers that I’ve abandoned this winter. It is the middle of February so we’re right in the middle of this thing and there’s no where to go but up. Much like long rides and long runs go – getting to the 1/2 way mark is the hard part. It’s mostly gravy after that. :)

I hope you’ll take this prodigal son back in a few months!

(P.S. No major purchases this year (yet). Off the top of my head, I got some full fingered gloves, knee warmers, toe booties, a new chain, some handlebar tape, and a big TYR backpack.)