How to know when you're recovered from an Ironman

How about when you feel like standing in front of the stove for an afternoon preparing food, just for the joy?

For the first week or so after a big build, big race, or anything alike, all that seems to cross the mind is a resounding "Eat!"  Too tired to figure out how.  Too cranky to figure out what.  Too spent to be creative.

Eventually, as recovery occurs creativity returns.  Once again there is interest in the what and the how, and today, I feel like cooking.

***

The guitar sits on a stand across from the couch.  Couch, remote control, six feet, then guitar.  When the miles climb and the intensity explodes, so does the distance from couch to guitar.  It just seems so far away.  The remote is right there, and who knows what to play.

Sure enough, a few days roll by and the mind wonders, "How does that song go again?"  8, 7, 6, 5, 4 feet & I can reach the guitar.  Today I can play.

Rest well.

Seek Up

Live at Luther College is by far one of my favourite DMB albums.  My buddy Joel & I took the bus down to A & B sound during the summer of grade nine and picked it off the shelf.  We brought it back to the house, put it in the the player, & listened to it in the back yard playing hacky sac.

It has now become the go too album for the drive to and from any race.

Seek Up on the Drive Down

****

The feeling that came when I looked back & Matt said, "You're doing great buddy, we're all in."

The feeling that came when I heard my name, looked around the corner, and saw Muddy.

The feeling that came when I gave my homestay parents, Ken & Marie a hug goodbye.

These are the feelings I remember, the highlight reel that will continue to play.

****

Seek Up on the Drive Home

Thank you for the highlight reel.

Rest well.

7 to go . . .

. . . and finding the flow.

Today was a good day, and in the wise words of Muddy "We'll wake up and do it all over again tomorrow."

Sometimes I think, "Really? Again tomorrow?"

Wake up, Kicking Horse, eat, roll over to the ever adventurous Crystal P and hop in.

"Weird, I think I actually feel alright."

Back home, eat, sleep, eat some more, and onto the hog.

Somehow when things turn bright in Victoria, it turns on a light in the legs.  Early in the season you may catch an occasional flicker.  "Was that it?  Did you see that?  I think the lights came on."

As that giant fireball becomes an evermore present presence, it has a way of flicking the switch, and eventually, the switch stays ON.

25.6, 26.2, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 27.1.  Now we're cooking with firepower!

Loops of the Waddling Dog are a classic here in Victoria.  Harness the power of the engines who have ridden here before!

Hog stays home and the 'flats are out for fun.

6:13, 6:08, "There must be a headwind," 5:47, 5:27. "Yeah, there was definitely a headwind.  Easy now tiger, settle in." 5:54. . .

Rest well.