17 DAYS TO GO

17 Days to go until my first tri of the year and a few bumps in the road today. Because I had a 30 minute bike followed by a two hour run scheduled, and a busy day at work I decided it would not work to go at 4:00 am this morning so I decided to do my workout after school. Low and behold I suddenly have a basketball game that I have to officiate until 5:30 and the Mrs has to leave for an appointment at 7:00, leaving The Little Brawn needing some supervision. All this we could take in stride and arrange something, but then I get a call from the gym asking if I will cover a spin class on Thursday night (I already teach a spin class on Wednesday nights). Now again this would be fine, but after I agree I realize the Mrs. has planned to leave Thursday after school for the Red Sea for a night and this throws a monkey wrench in to everything. Two days ago it looked like I had one evening this week tied up, now I have three and have to cancel a trip to the beach.

After much stress and much discussion with the Mrs. we seem to have everything worked out. I will take the Little Brawn with in the stroller (not the ideal way to do a long run), both spinning classes will get covered and we will actually head to the beach early Friday morning for the day.

For me this seems to be a microcosm of my life. Schedule my week...doesn't look too bad at the start, then just start adding things in until it's booked solid and looks just like the week before. That's o.k., I promise I won't do it again next week...right! It does highlight for me the committment I have made and the committment it takes to be at the front of the middle of the pack triathlete approaching 40. I respect the sport enough to not put in a half-assed effort and coast through events undertrained and underprepared. While I do not have aspirations of winning, it's important to me to always be able to put forth my best effort. I owe it to myself, I owe it to my family, and I owe it to the students that I always tell they need to put their best effort in to whatever they choose to do.

1/2 Ironman in 17 days and I feel like I am much better prepared than the first 1/2 that I did, and I feel like I will be able to put forth a solid effort and enjoy doing it.

As I side bar, I have another victim to the obsession that is triathlon. My neighbor who moved in at the start of the year and reluctantly became my new running partner is joining me in Eilat in 17 days for the 1/2 Ironman. He is a strong swimmer, his running now looks solid and he is decent on the bike although possibly short some bike miles, but will do well I'm sure.

BACK AGAIN

It's like I left the country...actually I did leave the country, but I'v been back for a month. Despite the computer problems, internet problems, training time, insanity of my life, there is really no excuse for not getting back to this sooner. Truth be told, other things have been of greater importance, but I'm back and itching to fill you in on what is going on.

A three week trip home to the sun and snow of Saskatchewan was a much needed break from the hussle and bussle of Cairo. While I did not get a bike in or a swim, I managed to keep up the running miles. It was great to get out on the open prairie once again with nothing but peace and quiet and lots of animal tracks.

Since we've returned things have gradually gotten busier. We have been offered and accepted new teaching positions at another school in Cairo (that for another post). The Little Brawn has continued to grow and has cut two teeth along the way. And the training has been in full force. Since our return I have run in two races, 1) the Degla Dash in the desert (10km in 45'45"). This was the second part of a Brick workout. We biked 75kms to the start of the race, then did the 10km. 2) The Pyramids Run starting and ending at the small pyramid at Giza (8km 31'04"). Both respectable times for me and I felt good performances.

With our 1/2 Ironman (The Israman) in 17 days in Eilat, Isreal, the training has been fast and furious. Again, I will update you more on this as the days go by, but I wanted to break the ice and get another post in before I forgot how it was done!