New Plan & Feeling Better...

Wow, the heat has hit Austin and has hit hard! Welcome summer. Everyone has been saying the past week they've been feeling groggy, sluggish, times are a bit off, etc...but, it's OK! (I have to tell myself this too). The humidity and heat are a killer especially the first few weeks (as if I have 'that' much experience here!)...but let your body adapt, and don't be too hard on yourself. The pace on the run may have to give a little (especially the hard efforts) and you may be feeling sluggish but do the work, and then focus on recovery...getting out of the heat, ice-bathing if needed and hydrating and fueling well. That's my 2 cents on that. :)

Despite feeling like I was most definitely getting sick last week (immediately after Skeese Greets), I think that I have kept this 'at bay' thanks to a lot of sleep and a small decrease in training. The scratchy throat, congested cough and mild sinus pressure are subsiding so that is encouraging. I also have to be extremely careful with our adorable little cat, Shackleton:

as well he is a cat and he carries cat allergies. I figured out that he is probably adding to my stuffiness, because with the heat he is shedding more. Poor little allergy-furball. So, I am trying to keep him off the pillows, out of the bedroom and well just not kiss him as much. Which is tough.

So...moving on to the 'new plan'. I opted to do Eagleman 70.3 in 2 weeks! This is pretty exciting as it is an entirely new race for me. I was able to talk my parents into meeting me there, which works out well as my dad has a cousin in Annapolis, MD. We are all set and good to go, it could be a bit of a wake-up call as I have not ridden a 'ton' the past few months but I feel good about the strides I have made the past few weeks with cycling and overall fitness. I figure this will be a good 'see where I am at' kind of race. And the fact that it is flat will be nice, as I can really settle in on the new Scott Contessa and feel her out. The following race will be Buffalo Springs on June 29th, which is much hillier, so I'll definitely have my work cut out for me in Cambridge, MD in that I'll be spending lots of time in the aero position. I have yet to be truely comfortable (but, are any of us?) so hopefully I can stay down and low the majority of the ride...

In other news today was Capital of Texas Triathlon, just down the hill from us. I opted to sit this one out and spectate. Reasons...not quite sure you want me to get into that but if you ask me I will tell you. Sometimes things are just best left to rest...moreso because those involved are just not worth my time and energy. All in all I am kind of glad I was not 'tempted' to race because I put together a great string of 3 days of longer training (thanks to Mel for a great ride Saturday!) and the R&R has done me well. But to everyone out there, great job...it did not look easy and ya'll battled the heat and humidity like champs. Special congrats to Reem Khashou and Nick Bannon, both SE athletes...you guys both looked great out there! Also nice job to Andrea Fisher on her win, and Brandon Marsh and James Cotter taking 2 & 3 on the mens side. We had the results in the Source Endurance tent which was very cool! Everyone was able to print up their results and walk away with them.

So that is the weekend thus far...Derick is dozing on the bed (with Shackleton, how cute) as he was out there at the race from about 7:00-2:00. He deserves a nap. We'll head off to a little Memorial Day weekend BBQ in a bit...I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday weekend, try to take some down time! Speaking of which...I need to get to addressing wedding invites...

Thanks for reading!