So a consistent push this weekend has allowed me to outdo all of my training from the month of January. I have swam 5 more times than I did in January. Up to this point I have the same number of bike rides and runs but I have 4 more hours on the bike and 11 more miles logged in running than I did the entire month of January . I am still behind where I would like to be or where I would need to be in order to compete well in triathlons but things are getting better!

**UPDATE**
I got up early for an AM swim and I realized upon entering the time into my training log that I have officially doubled the total training time I had for all of January! And I'm still planning on riding my bike on the trainer tonight.

Valentines Day 5k

I'm 2 for 2 on the 5k series here in Socorro! This morning we had our second handicapped 5k and I was up and ready for it with Lindsey and Emma supporting. Just for your information a handicapped 5k is not a special olympics event. I was not playing the ringer this morning. It means that all runners are given a handicap of time compared to the fastest runners so the race starts slowest to fastest with intervals of whatever the difference is in time from you and the fastest runner. The goal is to have everyone finishing very close to one another, sort of the opposite of what happens at a regular 5k race. Anyway, the last race was 2 weeks ago and my finish time was 21:45, good enough for 11th out of 30 runners. Today I had less of a handicap but was able to run a 19:55, good enough for 4th overall. Now it's time to start enjoying the 3 day weekend!

"Triathlon is a winter sport that is played out in the summer"

Swimming in lakes and oceans, biking outdoors and running miles shirtless all make sense to do in the summer when it is nice and warm. The days are even longer so you can fit in 2 or even 3 workouts a day without being in the dark. But this is not when races are won or lost or improvements made. It is when races happen but it is what you do now during the winter that will set you up for a successful season. I'm approaching this season wih a renewed sense of excitement and desire to do well. I talk almost daily with my brother and we discuss what each other is doing and how training is going. He is getting ready to have another great season and we are both getting ready to attend Trifest in Tucson, AZ in March. It will be 3 days of training, seminars and expos. It is going to be a lot of fun to train and hang out with my brother for a long weekend. I think it will be the carrot hanging over my head for the next month and a jumpstart for the upcoming season.

It got sooo windy today! We have been lucky as of late and have had warm sunny days in the high 60's low 70's. I had heard that there was a storm coming through NM and it was supposed to start today but I never put too much faith in the weatherman. This morning I went out to get the paper from the driveway and it was beautiful. At 10:00 I left for a bike ride and that is precisely when the weather began to change. I rode 18 miles with the wind at my back in 50 minutes. By the time I got to the turnaround point the wind had really picked up and I had to put my head down and battle the entire way back, finishing the ride in 2 hours and 5 minutes. It was not the best conditions but I got the work done.

Emma is now 4 years old!

It's hard to believe but Emma is now 4 years old and we're not quite sure where time has gone. A lot has changed in the past 4 years, some for the better and some for the worse, but watching Emma grow up and become the little person that she is has been incredible. She is a very smart, talented, athletic, polite, funny, independent, sweet little girl. Happy birthday Em!

Basketball is OVER!  Finally.  We finished up the season over the weekend and I'm looking forward to getting some time to myself and my family as I have not been off from coaching since August.  The break will only last a month as track will be starting but so will longer days and warmer weather too.  

On the training side I have found this great dirt road that leads out to the middle of nowhere that has hills, hills, and more hills with beautiful NM desert scenery.  It is not singletrack or at all technical, just a dirt road that is tough.  For the last 2 weekends Mike and I have gotten out for 2 hour rides and I know that by keeping this ride as part of my training I will benefit from it.  It's nice to be out on the mountain bike because you go a little slower which is great in the colder weather and no cars to watch out for.  I need to remember and bring my camera with me the next time I go out there.  I even think it could be a great night ride if anyone is up for it.  

Also starting tomorrow, I am on an intramural basketball team here at the university.  The team is made up of people that I work with and it should be fun.  

Take care and have a great week.

Yesterday, Emma accompanied me to my third doctor's appointment. She insisted she come, because she knew that we would be able to hear the baby's heartbeart. She sat patiently and when she heard it she said "wow, that is loud, and very fast!" It was really special that she was there for the first she hears her brother/sister heartbeat. Later that night, we decided we would trick daddy and she told him about hearing the baby. He asked what it sounded like and she said, MEOW, MEOW...:) so, dad said oh man, we are having a kitty, I was a puppy!

Needless to say, Emma is very excited about being a sister. She says she wants it be a girl, but if it is a boy she will still be happy. She just " won't change poopy diapers".

After being pretty sick for the first trimester, I am finally feeling normal! I am showing much sooner and much more than with Emma, and Steven and Emma have been great. They enjoy talking to the baby. They say "Baby, I just want you to know that your sister/dad is coo-coo!" It's fun.