Update & Sneakin Away

Finishing the semester was a big relief (so were the straight A's). I'm still busy, but I have been able to relax a little more and training hours added up quickly this week; it's nice to work out and not feel rushed or on a strict time schedule.

There's only one problem: No running. Nope, not once since the OC Duathlon. Yup, I definitely have an issue... that dang IT Band! Long story short, it comes down to mechanics. I know the ins & outs of correct form and can pick apart someone's run/bike mechanics pretty well, but I'm missing that third-party feedback letting me know if I personally am doing it all correctly even if I think I am.

Finishing the Du; you can see the look of "uh-oh" on my face (courtesy of opix)...

So, plan is to stay off running for a bit. It's been a week today. Sucks, because this was the last "big week" before Boise 70.3, but it is what it is. I'm not stressing. The good news is: where I lacked in running I made up in swimming, which is definitely something I need... I logged 16k in a five-day period--new record for me! Thankfully it's mostly LCM so less pushing off the wall, which hurts. Plenty of cycling, gym time, rowing and PT too.

Saturday morning I rode 65 miles. It was a very enjoyable, sunny and hot 3.5 hours out in OC. Crazy winds, interesting people and lots of thinking time. I couldn't help but laugh at one point because I think GU saves me from becoming a thief... I often get very tempted to steal strawberries from the fields because they smell sooo good, but instead I'll suck down one of these:

I've also included a little low-intensity hiking. Like I say about surfing, hiking is therapeutic for me. It's nice to get out in nature, away from technology and not feel like you have to hold a certain HR, yet you're still being active. It's just enjoyable and a good way to spend an afternoon with someone special.

Benoit & I, almost at the top of Saddleback Mountain (uh, jk, not quite haha)... Stopping to smell the flowers...

A little serenity (sorry, just a pose, I wasn't actually meditating)...I wore my new Zoot Active compression pants during the hike. In fact, I've been wearing them during a lot of workouts lately, and these things rock...

Anyways, speaking of "someone special," Benoit gave me flowers the other night. I accepted them graciously, but later told him I'm not much of a "flower girl." I'd personally rather have a bouquet of spare tubes, CO2 cartridges and body glide or something. Seriously. So, these were a first and a last:
Don't get me wrong... I like flowers. Just not when they're all cut up out of their natural element. Seeing them on during hike is good enough for me.

Next up: A little getaway to SLO to visit the sis. Just trying to make every moment count.