Lara and I got back from Australia about two weeks ago.  It was our honeymoon, but was more like a high-speed exploration of all of eastern Australia.  I don’t really have time to go into detail about the three week adventure, but know we spent significant time in Sydney, Tazmania, Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), the Red Center (Ayers Rock/Alice Springs), and Melbourne.  With regards to triathlon I enjoyed some scenic and exploratory runs, we swam in some of the neatest pools on the planet, and even competed at a biathlon in Sydney (4k run, 300m swim).  We were on the go most of the trip, but once in the Red Center we finally turned our pool time into drinks, reading, and lounging.  Lara and I are not very good at relaxing, so this was a pretty neat achievement for a couple that thinks a relaxing afternoon is snowshoing for three hours with their dog.  We did not take our bikes to enjoy the beautiful spring/summer weather, but we never saw where we would have ridden anyways.  I am certain we did not see the best roads, but not sure they exist in some places.  Roads were generally narrower than Europe and no shoulders.  However, this was a honeymoon/vacation, not a training trip.

This is a fantastic time of year in Colorado.  There is plenty of stuff to do beyond the regular swim, bike, run.   Lately, snowshoeing for three hours at a time in the mountains, parties, and walking the dog have been sneaking in to the open time slots.  Currently we are puppy-sitting Bogart’s little sister.  She is a year younger, one fourth his size currently, and that bitch won’t backdown (note the proper use of the term ‘bitch’).  They are at the moment at my feet asleep, FINALLY!

I kinda feel like joining them as I just finished up my longest swim since Kona.  It was a fun set, and also a lot more pleasant than my poor showing in the bay.  With this I am now looking forward to getting back on a plan.  I know there is lots to distract over the next week, but I can easily jump into a rhythm now.  Getting sick post Kona and the vacation to Australia were a welcome 6 weeks of virtually no training and just some smart easy sessions to keep the body well and mind sane.  Over the years I know that this is what has given me my longevity in endurance sports.  Stepping back and doing different things.

Boulder is full of super-charged, over-achieving, OCDing, endurance athletes.  Strangely, the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day has it’s own tone.  Some call it appropriately the drinking season.  Some years, us athletes are very ready for the annual long run on New Year’s to celebrate the end of the debauchery.  Most triathletes know how to have fun in the middle of the season, but it is quite amazing to see how much can be had for weeks on end without a race in site.  I am glad I missed part of it.

I will be sure to get more up on the blog in the coming weeks, perhaps even an insight to the Navy team as we begin the great up to April 17th.  My thoughts lie with them and then the Rev3 series as the new year approaches.  In case I don’t get a chance to say it in person or over the phone, especially to my Virginia Beach peeps (sorry not gonna make it home this year),  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, party smart, and have fun.

later,

billy