Return

It's not as often as a lot of other parts of the country, but it does happen. 

Clouds roll in and we have rain for a couple days. 

I think because we generally have so much sun here we perhaps forget a lot of things when it happens. 

Like how to drive, how to play, how to ride our bikes outside. 

Well I took full advantage of it today and while not really sleeping in, thanks to an upset pup at 5am with the thunderstorms, I did manage to squeeze a few extra winks on the couch with the said pup.

I got to spend a little more time with the family, unusual for a Saturday morning. 

I even got to enjoy a hot breakfast. 

I casually looked at the weather forecast and noted a possible opportunity to take care of that long ride outside. 

In the afternoon I made a hefty sammich and loaded up to meet my pal and enjoy what was supposed to be sunny skys. 

Well it took a while with a nice chill in the air, but finally about 1/3 through the ride a  glimmer through the winter sheen above, a crack in the oasis of grey sand that covered my view every which way.

There it was finally breaking through. 

Blinding and yet so inviting. 

Hello sun, welcome back, won't you stay a bit?

Rebound

This is just a quick update.
I haven't blogged in a long, long time.


It's almost been 2 years since tearing my achilles at the 2013 Houston Marathon.

The journey was sidelined, the pain was real.

Per usual I tried to ignore the injury, thinking it would just go away, never realizing the severity.
When I finally decided to check on it, well it was late in the game and not a happy place.
It wasn't a complete rupture, thanks in part to being frustrated with the pain on the bike which persuaded me to actually see the doctor. (Scott Rand is awesome!)

The rest of 2013 was a bit miserable for training and racing.
I ended the year with a April bike relay for the Texas 70.3 in Galveston with Paul Stephan and Sonia Dhodapkar , a sprint "Tru Tri Sports Houston Oaks Tri" and the Aqua Bike at Oilman 70.3 in November with Scott McMichael coaching me to a 4th place finish (sorry about the laxed transition) finally ending the year with a couple of fun runs.

2014 was more of the same still having issues with my achilles and developing knee issues. (balance perhaps) I tried to jump back in at the Kemah Olympic Triathlon in April and jumped off the boat!
(Love the ONURMARK races!)

Everything was pretty good until the run when I had my first real race time test on the feet again.
Not so happily my knee was shot and achilles screaming. I was really not in my top form and retaining some weight.

So I backed off of the run stuff.
I concentrated on my craft and shot more photography, mean while upping my training and trying to take a smarter approach.

I did a couple road races through the summer including Texas Time Trial Championships, I was not in race form, but it was great fun! (Thanks for the push Jeff Gill!)

Mid summer I finally made the push to drop the weight I had gained while injured.

I decided to try some new shoes and have been using Hoka One Clifton and Altra 3-Sum.
(Thanks to Stefanie Dilts Bernosky for the referral)

These have helped with some of my knee pains.
At the end of the season I jumped in to a couple of sprints and had a blast, with not terrible results on the run. Katy Tri and then Fairfield. October became my gauntlet as I prepared for Oilman 70.3

I even did something unusual for me, I signed up for the Snapping Tortuga Open Water swim.
(This was Jennifer Niesner's fault)

That was a great idea, get my practice, in a race environment, however I learned a valuable lesson that day.

In the morning I had decided it would be great to ride the Oilman course then head to the swim.
Fine idea, if I wasn't planning on pushing it, but I was with great company (Juan Rodriguez) and couldn't resist pushing the bike a bit too hard.

During the swim I cramped horribly.
Partly from the bike fatigue and partly from just not getting enough salt, liquids and food. Skipping lunch as I was in a rush to get to the swim in time for start.

I finished the swim, though it was miserable and perhaps the only time I have ever felt like I might die!

After that I had some decisions to make.
First would I attempt Oilman or switch to AB.
The decision was AB, I decided to play it smart because I had bigger fish to fry in my journey.
I enjoyed my swim and bike at Oilman 2014 got back to cheer on friends and teammates.

Ironman Texas 2015 was my goal.

I didn't want to over do what gains I had made on my run.
I am still recovering from the achilles, most days are good on that one.

However my knees have been bad for a while now and the next step of treatments is coming to hopefully aid in their full recovery.

I have dropped to 158 from 190 at mid summer and I am about 4 weeks in to my IMTX training and holding steady on my weight.

I am hoping this will help alleviate some of my issues.

I got great news before Christmas and I am thrilled to now be a Cobb Mobb team member!

#cobbmobb

https://www.facebook.com/cobbmobb

January is a few days a way and it is time to really buckle down.
Scott McMichael and Sonic Endurance have stepped up to attempt to reel me in and Charlotte French has invested in helping me with my swim!
I can't thank my friends and family enough for the inspiration, never ending support, tough talks, great ideas and letting loose with a happy hour now and then.

http://www.sonicendurance.com

For 2015 I only have two things I am signed up for right now.
One is a long training day prior to IMTX and of course the big daddy, my first full ironman race.


Here is to looking forward and marking the Next Chapter in my Journey till the End.