April 25, 2005
--
I am back home
in Victoria, BC,
after two and a
half months
training in
Tucson. It feels
great to be back
in my little
house and on my
regular training
routes, but I
was sad to leave
Tucson. The
training and the
friends that I
made on this
past trip were
great.
The plan for my
stay in Tucson
was to get in a
lot of base
miles on the
bike and
maintain my
swimming and
running at
normal levels.
Well, that
mission was easy
to accomplish
with the great
southern Arizona
weather and the
numerous choices
of roads to
ride.
I
did my normal
hermit thing to
get my miles in.
I stayed on the
edge of town,
got up early and
went to bed
really early.
Toward the end
of my trip I was
coming out of my
hermit mode and
noticing that I
was spending
more time in the
Fourth Street
cafe in between
workouts. I
actually did a
couple of the
group rides
during my last
two weeks. The
group rides in
Tucson are
amazing. A lot
of the big names
racing in the
Tour of Georgia
cycling race
were in Tucson.
Go boys!
I
am only home for
10 days. Then I
begin my
extensive road
trip, which
starts at
Wildflower, then
heads to Dubai
and then
Baltimore for
the Columbia
Triathlon. I am
looking forward
to racing
Wildflower. Last
year I went into
the race with
very little base
miles and was
hoping for a
top-10
performance. I
placed fourth
and was pretty
psyched about
that. This year,
I am shooting
for a top-five
performance with
a pretty strong
field. Actually,
Wildflower
always draws a
strong field.
It’s an American
classic. A win
at Wildflower
means that you
have
accomplished
something in the
sport of
half-Ironman
racing. It’s a
hard race, and
you have to be a
tough competitor
to win.
After
Wildflower, I
fly back to
Victoria for
less than 12
hours, then I am
on a plane to
Dubai for a
Tri-Dubai Team
training camp. I
can’t wait to
check out this
city. I hear the
place is out of
this world. I
will be sending
updates from the
training camp.
So stay tuned.
After the Dubai
trip I am home
for a few days,
then I’m off to
my only
short-course
triathlon of the
summer: The
Columbia
Triathlon. Last
year I was
pushed by a
local pro there,
and I am sure
there will be a
few new fast
guys to push me
on race day.
Luckily, the
course is really
challenging,
which allows me
to do well --
compared to a
flat and fast
short course
where I have no
chance. I am not
a speed guy.
More soon.
See you at the
races.
