time flies

Its been a handfull of pretty days here by the Puget Sound. I think there's actually been more sun then rain in the last week, but with the time change we only have till about 430pm to enjoy it. I'm finally adjusting to being here and not wanting to sleep all of the time anymore, and I finally feel that motivation to train growing stronger. It seems like the more I workout the more I want to workout. The time off was nice, and working into it after the move has been helpful. This whole transition has been pretty smooth, but I guess thats the good thing about not being tied to down to a bunch of useless crap in one's life. I suppose it says something else about the nature of the change and that it was the right thing to do. Last week I got a little homesick for Austin. I miss my friends and family, and I miss all that the city has to offer. As big as it is here there just isn't a whole lot going on, or not much that I'm interested in. Yet, my life here is completely different, so looking for the same old things in some respects is pointless...i.e. no more single life. Not that I was into the bar scene or things like that, but living as a couple is much different than living as a single. Even still, being here makes me appreciate how much I enjoyed living in Austin. That being said, life is what you make of it no matter where you are. There is so much more here for me to see and do, and what I want to do now is prepare for next year.

One thing is for sure, I have much more at my disposal as far as having all of the things I need to improve, and I have an extra motivator to help me achieve my goals. I have an in-house Pilates/movement/flexibility/fix-all-of-my-imbalances specialist. She's already helped me a ton and I know she will keep adding to my program. I think the two of us together will be able to build me into a swimbikerun machine, or a much more high-performance machine. We've been working on my hips and IT bands, and I can already feel a major difference. I've always been an advocator of not just building your superficial muscles (pecks, quads, hammies, all of the big ones you see) and cardio, but keeping your stabilizing muscles and connective tissues (smaller muscles, tendons, etc.) healthy and strong as well. Thats one thing we as athletes probably overlook quite a bit. We do our work on the road and in the water, but few of us get it done in the gym, and an even smaller few of us get past that.
I've enjoyed that part of being here quite a bit. Its nice to have someone who will work with you on your endeavors. I can't say that I have had that in the past. Sure a few came to races and cheered here and there, but no one has been in it with me before. Not everyone has the capabilities and experience either, thank you Crystal.
As I think of the reasons for leaving Austin that I had prior to actually going, and all of the changes that came with it once I did it, I'm so excited to see that a lot of what I had hoped for came to fruition. Its a big work in progress, and very little of it has to do with triathlon. We continue to move forward with work (yes, I do have a job I just don't do it a whole bunch...yet) and where to go from here. Somewhere sunny and warm hopefully. Going back to Austin is always enticing, but going somewhere new and different is equally so. I don't care where we go at this point as long as I can swim, bike and run in the SUN, and get to some races without breaking the bank I'm happy.

Cheers,
ff