The week that was and is

So the snow left me in Raleigh all weekend. It ended up being ok. I really missed getting to play with my kids in the snow. We only get snow once a year at most, so when it's gone we won't see it again until next winter. This part of NC even gets less snow than Greenville SC does. but that's ok.

I loaned my bike trainer to a friend whose wife was rehabbing her knee. She's feeling better now, so he brought the trainer back with this as a thank you:



A huge cheesecake. Chocolate, with a chocolate chip cookie dough crust. wow. She is a stay at home mom that operates a dessert catering company on the side. When you combine cheesecake and snow, I was glad to get Roberta up on the trainer finally:



Yes, that's Jenny still in the background. She hasn't made her way back to SC yet. I did an hour on Roberta/trainer last night. It felt good to get used to the new saddle, and the handlebar and aerobar positions without having to think about anything besides just keep freaking pedalling.

I took this yesterday too:



This is what I wore to work. Yes I'm being converted to an NC State wolfpack fan. Heck, I live 5 blocks from campus now. Just being here (and 10 miles from Duke and UNC) will turn you into a college basketball fan. I'm getting caught hook line and sinker. Plus (and I know you can barely see this) it's my new favorite pair of jeans. The Banana Republic size 34's I picked up the other day. The new size is great, and they still fit even after the cheesecake.

This should also show you just how much I miss my favorite photographer. This little camera sucks, and you go from pictures of my cute kids playing joyfully to a slightly thinner me staring into a dirty mirror. and cheesecake. did I mention it was fantastic cheesecake?

Kelley and the girls are coming up here tomorrow, and I can't wait!! Kelley's getting ready for the Krispy Kreme challenge. I am so ready for this house to sell it's really getting old. It's been 4 months of living apart now. I don't like it, not one bit. It's gotten old. But it looks like the market is coming back, so hopefully it won't be much longer. Not only am I ready to get Kelley and the kids up here with me, I'm just plain ready to get them out of South Carolina. May I present this:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/123068/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-thank-you-south-carolina-andre-bauer

One of these days I'll figure out how to embed online videos in here. Jon Stewart, thank you.

January Totals:

Swim: 11,280 yrds = 6.4 miles, 9 swims
Bike: 92 miles, 5 rides
Run: 79.8 miles, 8 runs, 1 half marathon
TriPower: 9 workouts, 135 minutes (15 minutes each)
Yoga: 8 workouts, 240 minutes (30 min each)

That's 39 workouts total in a month with 31 days. I think I'm going to be ok. I know it's not exactly the entire 14 workouts a week in my plan. But I'm strategically choosing to skip some when I just don't feel like it. And 80 miles of running might be a new high for me. 9 swims? 9 swims???!!?!? Can you tell how much I'm loving the pool? That is awesome.

I skipped the swim on monday so I could leave work early. We thought the roads were going to freeze over so the company closed up early enough for everyone to get home before dark. Today I got in the Tri Power before work, and hit a hard 5 mile tempo run after work. I skipped the bike to have lunch with some bad influences from the office. Bratwurst and multiple beers at an Irish pub made for a fantastic afternoon. Of course, the post-work run was full of heartburn. But that's allright.

This weekend I'm going out snail hunting. Really I just want to break his will to live. Crush his soul in ways that would make Glaven proud. It's the "Duel in the Dunes", the Critz Tybee half marathon that I will use to pummel the Georgia Snail. You can still register if you want to come on down to Tybee Island GA. I explained my connection to Tybee in a post last year, but it's a place that is dear to my heart. The race route goes right past our house! I have been looking forward to running this half since I first got back into running in 2008. I'm also looking forward to finally getting to hang out some with Thomas, all trash talking aside. My brother(s) are coming down with me (Michael and/or Morgan - he's still on the fence). So we've got plenty of room.

Goal 1: Break 2 hours
Goal 2: Cross that finish line before the Snail
Goal 3: Enjoy the beach in February

I'm not going to sugar coat it.... the snail has been training hard. I think I've got a sub-2 hour half in my legs but I can't go all Ali on him and guarantee anything. I'm going to put in a 1 mile swim tomorrow at lunch, and another shortish run thursday over lunch before tapering. Saturday I should be fresh and ready to race. I'll have the little camera for plenty of pics, and Kelley will have the big camera for pics from the KK challenge. That should be a funny one.

So that's the week that was and is. I'll be putting plenty of stuff on facebook while i'm down there but might wait until I have the pics from kelley's run before writing the race report. And after I make it back to Raleigh on Sunday night we've been invited to a Super Bowl party with Calyx and Donna! I'm really excited about that. It's a 6 hour drive each way from raleigh to tybee, so who knows how I'll feel when I get back, but I really want to go. Have a great weekend!