Weekend Inspiration

After just finishing my second Ironman of the year (yes, yes, race report coming soon), my weekend inspiration is a little different this week...
1) Confidence is always a good thing.

2) Mmmm, pie...

3) Mmmm, wine...  Sterling Vineyards is my favorite.

4) I won't be feeling a bit guilty about trading in the pool for the bathtub.

5) It's snowshoeing season!!!!!

Weekend Inspiration

Some favorite Kona Ironman finishes.

1) Back when no one knew who Chrissie Wellington was.  This was my first year watching the live feeds, and I was blown away by the girl with the crazy huge smile.

 2) Jon Blais crossing the line in 2005, the same year he was diagnosed with ALS.

3) Remember this?

4) Scott Rigsby was the first double amputee to complete an Ironman.

5) Craig Alexander, winning Kona for a third time this year, and setting a course record.

Taper

It's that time again.  Taper, also known as "get-as-much-shit-done-as-you-can-in-3-weeks" time.  After a long couple of peak training weeks, it's time to rest up for the big show.  I've gotten my usual taper illness out of the way (it came early this time and fell at the end of my peak week), and I'm starting to feel randy and restless and ready to get this thing done.  I think that means that I'm ready.

How strange to not have the days filled up with hours of swim/bike/run.  This past weekend I was incredibly productive - I did my workouts, enjoyed a handful of visits with friends, hit up no less than 10 stores during an afternoon errand extravaganza, cleaned house, decorated for Thanksgiving, finished organizing the house after the move, cooked, and even snuck in some extra sleep.  Oh, and I handmade our Christmas cards, labeled, and signed them.  My taper list is still a mile long (organize garage, winterize flower beds, tune up bike, oh, and pack !!!).  I have a little over a week before we leave for Tempe, and at this rate, I'll have burned through the list by Friday.  Good stuff, this taper.  It's like crack.  I wish I could bottle it up and sell it.

Some photos from the last few weeks.  Fall + running = love.  Fall + biking = suck it.

The view from my neighborhood during a morning run.

Beginning of a 5.5 hour trainer ride.  Sleepy, but happy.  That under-eye luggage is courtesy of peak Ironman training during the biggest work week of the year.



End of a 5.5 hour trainer ride.  Not so happy anymore.  Eye baggage still in tact.

Beautiful fall colors.

Jon, happy to be warming up, riding 5 hours in sub-40 degrees.

Macey, happy to be warming up, riding 5 hours in sub-40 degrees.

Weekend Inspirations

1. Remember, it's not [always] about how fast you are.

2. J Mac's story.

3. Check out these amazing open water swim locations around the world.

4. How many of you have the image of Julie Moss crawling to the finish line as your first Ironman memory?  The scene has been played over and over again from the Wide World of Sports broadcast of the 1982 Ironman World Championships in Kona.

5.  Spoken by Jon "Blazeman" Blais:

Live, more than your neighbors.

Unleash yourself upon the world and go places.

Go now.  Giggle.  No, laugh.

And bark at the moon like the wild dog that you are.

Understand that this is not a dress rehearsal.

This is it.  Your life.

Face your fears and live your dreams.

Take it all in.  Yes, every chance you get.

Come close.  And by all means, whatever you do, get it on film.

A Great Prophecy

Tempe Town Lake perhaps?