12 weeks to go...

I'll admit that it's been quite a while since my last update, but I can assure you there is good reason for that. Much has been going on since the last post:

1. I've been getting up pretty early to swim. I am really feeling good about how things are going with my swim. Without question, I've become more efficient AND faster. What a great combination! It is as though a light switch has been flipped, and it is quite different when you swim in the light! I went to another Zoom swim clinic a few weeks ago - I learned some more new drills and a few more ways to tweak my stroke. While I'm still not going to be breaking any speed records, the improved efficiency is sure to pay off.

2. I got the flu. If you were blessed enough to get the flu this year, you know what it was all about. I can't imagine that actually having a Cy-Ride bus run me over would have been any less pleasant than having the flu for 4 days. It really took a lot of out me for a couple weeks (including about 4 pounds), but I've been doing pretty well since then.

3. I got a very unexpected email today, and I'm not really sure how to solve the problem that the email presented. The half IM that I was to do on May 4th has been cancelled. Not only is it pretty tough to find another half IM anywhere close to Iowa that early in the season, it is even harder to find any half IM in the country that isn't full already. That kinda puts me in a spot. Perhaps I will put on my own *race* that day, right here in Ames. I can find a couple of hearty souls to swim, bike, and/or run with me. Plus, I'd even have a shot at a podium finish!

4. I did my first bike ride outside!! We had one freak day with 50-55 temps, no wind, and a bright, shiny sun in the sky. While it was great to get out and ride, I realized just how different the training is between riding the ol' trainer and cruising out on the open road. Of course, it snowed 4 inches yesterday, so I'm still stuck on the trainer for a couple more weeks. Yuck.

5. Although the Iowa weather and trainer rides suck, I am beside myself with happiness about my upcoming trip to Phoenix in a couple weeks. Five days of sun (hopefully) and lots of S/B/R! As a bonus, my good friend Signe (high school friend - I was in her wedding 8 years ago) lives in Phoenix and just (7 days ago) had her second little boy. I'll get to visit the whole family and her parents while I'm there. The main focus will be training, however, and that makes me very happy, too.

6. I am signed up for the USAT Level 1 Coaching Clinic in May. I've been wanting to get certified through USAT for some time, and I finally found a clinic held in Iowa! The timing isn't great in terms of my own training for CDA, but I couldn't pass this one by.

7. Team 12.4 has started for 2008. This is the 6th year I've done this program. I've got a (thankfully) smaller group this time, and 4 repeat participants and 10 newbies. Some are very experienced runners (a bunch of marathons) and some are pretty fresh to the whole thing (the 4-miler we do tomorrow will be a personal best). I just love the way this group always comes together each year!

I'm still insanely busy with work and work and more work, plus all the training. I got a little promotion in my position with the ALC, so that means I'll be working more in DM this summer - probably 3 days/week. Curt has been needing more help at the shop, so I'm putting in a bunch of hours down there. Thankfully, DMACC is very slow this time of year, and there's not much for me to do right now.


The next month will bring better weather (at least it better!), the trip to Arizona, and the Drake Half Marathon. Then the countdown is on!