As you can see, Caitlin isn’t the only one that’s getting bigger.  Her daddy is pictured above a good 30 pounds (still) over race weight.  I’d post a better body shot, but I don’t have a wide angle lens quite that strong - sorry! :)  There is still nothing on the calendar so there is still little motivation to get on it.  I’m still thinking doing “something” in 2009, but haven’t decided what something will be.  St. Croix is still on the contenders list, along with New Orleans and California.  Whether I’ll return to IMWI or not in 2009, I have no idea.  I can’t fathom a Sprint distance right now let alone something that far. I suppose I should take one step at a time.

All for now…

In previous years, it was those hills in Verona that scared me enough to keep the fork down. I remember coming back from my honeymoon around 15 pounds over weight and needing to drop that in six weeks. I managed to get it off (with time to spare, surprisingly) because there was no way that I wanted to carry that extra 15 pounds around the back half of the bike course, let alone the marathon to follow (in hindsight, the weather being what it was in 2006, maybe an extra 15 pounds of insulation might not have been a bad thing :P).

But, I’m moving forward which I guess is the important thing. I’m looking at maybe some races in 2009? Perhaps the St. Croix 70.3? And possibly an Ironman later that fall? I don’t know. I can’t even fathom 140.2 miles right now. Heck, I can’t fathom a sprint tri at this point. But in a year… anything can happen.

So for now, I focus my little bundle of joy that’s been my life for the last few months. She sure is growing like a weed!

The weather here hasn’t been entirely cooperative. It’s mid-April and it’s 31 degrees and snowing here today?! That and I’m trying to manage the purchase of a new house, a move (to another suburb in MN, for those that don’t already know), and sale of my existing house. But my goal is to start May 1st. That gives me a couple weeks still to wrap things up and to mentally prepare for the suckage that is will to occur when I attempt to set in motion that which has been still for over a year and a half. I’m totally not looking forward to it, but something has to give. Preferably, not the waistband of my pants.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop a quick note saying we’re all still alive and kicking over here. And, of course, to share a picture of our little angel. :)

Hopefully I’ll have more to share a little later regarding the whole experience. Sorry this is getting to you all a few days late. We actually didn’t commit to a name until yesterday and I didn’t want to post or send out emails or anything until I could put a name with her face for you all.

More to come…

Seeing all these fit athletes around was slightly depressing. “I used to be one of those guys,” I thought to myself several times last night. That and the predicted weather forecast of 73 and dry?! Why after three years of 90+, 90+, and 55 with rain would this be the year I’d sit out? But alas, while I’ll definitely miss the race on Sunday, I still didn’t miss those long runs and long rides that I’d have otherwise been doing this summer. It takes a lot of work and dedication to be one of you folks.

So… I may or may not see you guys out on the course, but I wish you all the very best! Enjoy the race and soak in the experience that is Ironman. You folks all deserve it!

If it’s not clear already, my 2007 season is non-existent. Minimal training and zero races on the calendar for the year. I’m suffering from a bit of burnout, I think. The past three years was fun and I took myself places that I thought I’d never see. But looking down the road of 2007 earlier this Spring, the places I’d go seemed a bit too familiar and try as I might the motivation to get down that road just wasn’t there. The training for me would have been more going through the motions than it would have been enjoying the journey.

But the real nail in the coffin in deciding what to do with this season was the news that Carol and I are expecting our first baby this coming winter! We’re both excited and nervous at the same time. She’s a little over 1/2 way through the pregancy and doing really well - no real morning sickness or anything during her first trimester. Other than not being able to sleep on her stomach, it’s been going very smoothly for her!

So instead of opting for endless cycles of training and recovery, I’m opting for recovery, vacations, and more recovery. I’m sure come December, I’ll wonder where those nights of 8-10 hours of sleep and my free time have gone. But I’m looking forward to it! I have yet to meet a parent that says it’s not all worth it in the end.

There you have it. Now, (maybe) back to my deep hibernation. :)

PS. I’m still planning on being out to Madison for IMWI 2007! Hope to see you folks there!

So… I’m watching TV and The Karate Kid comes on. I remember what an awesome movie this was when I was younger. What the heck was I thinking? :P

Still, the end comes on and Daniel is all ready to kick ass and take names and this starts playing. How come they never play this at races? I think it’s all motivational and everything… in that totally 80s kind of way. :)

(Our friends’ baby after Dad ripped the strap off…)

Thanks for the feedback on my last post. I know it was a bit crummy, but ehh… it needed to get said. I’ve pretty much decided that I won’t be doing the 1/2 IM that I signed up for in a couple months. More than likely, I’ll try either converting my entry into the Olympic category, or finding some other folks doing the race to do a relay. Just doing that helped my attitude towards things a bit. I don’t feel as much pressure to make weight by June. I don’t feel as much pressure to get my running volume (while nursing sore Achilles) up to 1/2 IM levels. I don’t have to worry about posting an all time worst 1/2 IM time. Training can now resume at a slower pace and we can see later where this season takes us.

The temperatures have finally gotten up a bit and hopefully the rain stays away long enough this weekend to get a nice longer ride in on Sunday. Ironmomjenny is putting together a ride this weekend. I think it’s a secret goal of hers to try and get a Guiness World Record for longest paceline ever. For any of you locals, I think the plan is 2-4 hours @ 18-20 MPH on Sunday afternoon. I’ll probably be at the smaller end of both of those, myself. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!