hell week(s)

The last few weeks, when put in perspective, haven't been hell exactly...but have been challenging for sure. Be it work, travel, training...

From a career vantage point, uncertainty has hit home, with a corporate restructuring stirring the pot, unsuspected lay-offs...a charge to do more, do better. I am thankful to have a job. At this point, I'll just keep my mouth closed (difficult) and my eye on the ball (not so difficult) so to speak and see where that gets me.

I think I have been traveling at least once a week for the last 6...and I have at least 3 more weeks on the radar. Tends to wear you out a bit, especially when training for IM. I know...its a choice...I am aware. The good thing is that in just about every place I travel I have a route, a loop, a pool...a bike* (more on that later). Heck or high water, for the most part I get my training in...be it late night on the trainer, wee morning hours in the pool, on the road...

More or less, very superficially, that brings me up to blogspeed. Minus a few details and a hollow pit in the gut feeling which I am happy to share.

That gets us to yesterday's workout which was indeed, hell. As I sit and type in my stretchy pants and compression socks I still feel the heavy, dull ache of 17 miles on the dreadmill at a negative incline in preparation for the Olde Town Marathon in Fort Collins two weeks from today. BSG and I had planned to run the canyon, but Ma Nature felt otherwise...it was pain for a higher purpose...and today the sun shines.

In reading that back, the sun will continue to shine...thru the challenges. God was that inspirational or what?

* Somewhere between Texas Hill Country and the rolling hills of IMMOO I had a few pleasing rides last week in Rogers, AR with a colleague and friend, his wife, another colleague and friend, and a few people I didn't know...Colleague and friend 1 is a bit of a bike whore, for which I am thankful, as he was able to build me some wheels (based on Boulder Center for Sports Medicine bike fit specs) from one of his 15 or so selections, neatly hung in the garage. We've concluded cycling is the new golf cronies...