"These are a few of my favorite things"

1) Eating Lobster
2) Visiting my family on the east coast
3) Finding people from my past
4) Running at sea level
5) Swimming at sea level

All of this happened in the last week. Life is good. Training for Ironman is another matter.

I had a most wonderful trip back east. My grandmother, as always, brings us all together. I did manage to get some training in (some - the operative word).

Here’s the low-down:
30 minute run in Plymouth Meeting, PA on a humid day. I ran through business parks and on sidewalks – 2 things I do not have in Granby.

80 minute run with my niece Savannah, 20, who just finished her first half-marathon. I’m trying to convince her to sign up for a triathlon. I think she'd be so good.

60 minute swim at the Portsmouth YMCA. Betsy, the front desk person, actually remembered me from swimming there 15 years ago. She said she remembered my smile; how nice is that. The swim was amazing. I felt like I could swim forever. I was never out of breath and it was a bit nostalgic. I used to swim every morning before taking the bus to classes at UNH. I don’t know why I never tried a triathlon back then.

50 minute run by the beach. The loop from my parent’s house, to Rt 1A in Rye. Running felt fast and efficient. I really thought I could run forever; but didn't want to try it. I was never out of breath and the short little hill coming inland from the ocean was nothing. I’m a rock star at sea-level.

Back at 8,000 feet is another story.

But I’m back on the plan. I hiked straight up SolVista with the dogs and down the maintenance road. Then a 45 minute run up and down hills on pavement. Out of Breath. A Lot.

It’s all good. Tomorrow I must bike and swim and figure out how I’m going to get in a 6 hour bike ride this week without a day off. Hmmm. The challenges of Ironman are far and wide.

Peace Out.