SPRING FEVER

Today is the start of spring break here in Socorro and we had a great start to it. Yesterday, we had our first track meet in Belen and our kids did really well. We were proud of many of them for the way they performed. I look forward to seeing them continue to work and improve this season and beyond. Being a teacher is sometimes (a lot of times) difficult; We deal with many issues that are simply not in our control. We do our best and for whatever reason, there are some things we cannot change. I know we make a difference in the classroom, but I feel I do more for the kids I coach and interact with in that atmosphere than I do for the ones that are just students. I really enjoyed talking with some of our kids last night and encouraging them as many of them were nervous. One eighth grade girl even ran so hard and gave everything she had that she just burst into tears upon finishing a very gutsy 800. She's normally a pretty shy girl in class, never one to be the loudest or neediest. But oh man, watching her run she made a very loud exclamation that she is much more than just a "girl". I never saw Lindsey run although we were at several of the same track meets, but I think she would have reminded me alot of her.

Today is also Good Fiday, a day that many people celebrate with a sacrafice or a pilgrimage. Lindsey and I knew we were going to run from the church in Socorro to the church in Polvadera, 12 miles away, for a while now as it has become an annual thing for us. But we were more than happy to have 2 of our runners join us for the jog. It made the sacrafice even more meaningful as one of the boys mothers is in Albuquerque today receiving chemotherapy. I know his mother as she is a teacher and Socorro is the type of place where you know everybody. He made a comment about how it sucked that she was spending the day with an IV in her arm and he knew she would be sick for the days that followed. I thought of her, I thought of Lindsey and I, and I thought of my Dad. I really miss him and wish I had more time with him as I have a lot to ask him and show him. Ah well, I enjoyed the conversation I had with the kids too as they are always full of questions. I am not sure whether I impressed them or freaked them out when I told them that I peed once while running (literally while running) in a triathlon because I didn't want to stop and get passed. Also, once when one boy was hurting, we could hear them talking to each other and listen to one encourage the other and even change the subject by asking if he would rather be eaten by a shark or a tiger. They are kids :)

The afternoon has been spent lying around watching basketball, a princess movie, napping, and ebay. The weather is 75 degrees and it's not windy. I couldn't ask for anything better. I hope all the people in my life are having a wonderful start to thier holiday too.

Steven

"Start where you're at, with what you have, improve, and never be satisfied."

What an awesome weekend we had. We left friday night to go to Phoenix for my 2nd Half Marathon. We stayed with Paul and hung out on saturday-Expo, Lunch, Runner's Den. Steven, Emma, and I woke up early for the race and it was a beautiful day and a really nice course. I had been sick all week and thought it was going much harder for me to breath, but I felt fine. I was going really good until about mile 8, when I bonked! I really felt a change in my legs at that point. Not sure what it was, but it was hard to get out of that rut- should have put in some more longer runs. I was hoping to break 2hours, but missed it by a minute! It was a really beautiful course with great weather. It was great to see Steven and Emma every few miles cheering me on. Thanks babe!

After the race we went Steven's cousin Fran and Tony's house for breakfast. It was nice to relax in their backyard visiting and enjoying the sun- it was in the 80's. Emma saw their pool and insisted she get in-ok, no problem except the water was only 65 degrees! But we did it and she loved it-the cold didn't even phase her much-I jumped in and it took my breath away.

We had a really nice, warm little trip to Phoenix-now we are ready for Spring Break!

-Lindsey :)

Standardized Testing puts too much time in my hands!

Now the official race count is up to 3!

Jay Benson - May 11

Deuce's Wild Xterra in Show Low, AZ - June 1

Milkman Triathlon in Dexter, NM - June 7

*OTHER RACES THAT ARE NOT YET OFFICIAL*

MVTC in Las Cruces, NM - April 6 (maybe)

Deuce's Wild Olympic Triathlon - May 31

Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 in Lubbock, TX - June 29

Chili Harvest in Socorro, NM - August

Elephant Man Triathlon in Elephant Butte, NM - September 28

Soma 1/2 IronMan in Tempe, AZ - October


Stay tuned for more on racing and training news. This weekend I will be an athletic supporter for Linz as she tackles her first 1/2 marathon in more than 5 years.

If you talk the talk then you have to walk the walk...

After more than a year of pretty much no triathlon, I am finding some passion for the training and racing again. Although my training has been nothing to brag about, I have been doing it. This last weekend I ran 12 miles on Saturday and rode 2:40 on Sunday. The run was cool because I used Lindsey's ipod nano with a nike plus attachment which measures speed, distance, and elapsed time, not to mention you get to listen to music and a voice updating you with your progress. On Sunday I drove to T or C and met my bro Mike for a long ride and lunch. That ride was probably one of the best rides I have done in a while. It was a challenging loop course near Elephant Butte with little traffic and the company of my big bro. We will definetly be meeting more often for that one. Here is a picture of the ride through the town of Cuchillo.

I have also signed up for my first triathlon of the season, the Jay Benson Memorial Triathlon in Albuquerque, NM. This is a very popular and competitive event that sells out on a regular basis so I thought I would jump on it early. The race will be held May 11. I'm looking at some other races too but this is the first that I have officially registered for. I haven't done the race for more than 6 years and I look forward to doing it again.

Thanks for checking in :)