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i hired a coach this week.  i should have warned you…i hope you were sitting down!  Matt Russ with The Sports Factory (http://www.thesportfactory.com/site/index.shtml) here in ATL, GA is dragging me kicking and screaming into the 21st century.  it hasn’t been so bad, but this past week, i had to run on a treadmill (i hadn’t in 2 – 3 years…maybe more), try to upload my powertap data (more fighting with software, macs and my power tap), and learn to work a Garmin.  apparently, my description – it was a ‘hard run’ and my HR max @ 172 – doesn’t help him have a real understanding of the workout.

it’s been good for me though.  it’ll be a good relationship, and i am relieved to ‘just do’ vs. my own scattered planning that i tend to do for myself.  this approach is much more purpose driven.

lots going on these days, and it is welcomed work, lots of swimming, some triathlon consulting, some speaking, etc.  i am thankful to be busy, happy healthy, and able to pay my bills!  keep it coming…  :)

this coming week, i have family stuff going on…my little sister turns 24.  momma is turning 50!  so this coming weekend, we’ll have some quality family time!  a handful or surprises and pictures to follow…

easy taper workouts creates a bit of free time and without cable, i have taken to reading.  i read 2 books last week.  i’ll start a new one today.  i wanted to catch up with the computer, in general, first though, emails and facebooking.  the trouble with catching up is the outpour of response to the emails sent out which then require an additional response and then i find myself behind…again.

it seems odd for race week to be here.  i feel so balanced.  i look forward to life leading into ironman and life coming out of ironman regardless of what the day holds.  i’ll hope for the best, climb my ass off on the hills of Placid, and come away smiling.  at times like these, i always remind myself that i haven’t just been working towards this the last couple months.  i started swimming year around at the age of 8, we started swimming doubles at 12, and i missed out on a handful of normal kid things because we had training.  i’ve spent 20 years training.  it all counts.  on race day, i get to pull from all life experiences.  i get to use whatever keeps me moving forward.  i am currently fueled by jelly belly.  i found they are the lesser of all evils.  they seem to kick most of the sugar cravings without the calories of chocolate and ice cream.  

alright pretty uneventful day here in the metto, so i’ll leave you in peace before i start to ramble about dinner plans and coaching masters.  these are exciting times we live in kids, exciting times