This is my final bow

Well, after just over four years of training to be a competitive triathlete (and more than 30 races), it is time for a break. A string of injuries, big family and life events, and suddenly growing career responsibilities need to be my focus for a while. Daily swimming lunch breaks aren't working out lately...

In any case, I plan to continue running and mountain bike racing on a recreational level, and see where that goes. I am hoping for lots of endurance-type events in 2012, including chasing down a belt buckle or three. I don't exactly plan to sit around getting fat and lazy :)

A quick reflection on what triathlon has meant to me...

By pushing my body harder than I ever have before, I realized that the imaginary boundaries we put on our abilities are just that--imaginary. In less than two years, I went from struggling through my first aquathlon...
















To racing competitively for the U of A and placing in the top 125 collegiates nationally...of course, as an old graduate student, but whatever :)















And in the process, I lost 30 pounds, and really got into the best shape of my life. In high school, my best mile was 7:45. Yes, really. In tri, I started holding sub 7-minute pace off the bike :)



















Triathlon has been good to me! It has been a humbling experience to be sponsored by TriSports.com for three years. It truly is a great company that came from humble beginnings to the online retail force it is now. People that look down on TriSports as a "big, corporate company" have never spent personal time with Seton, Debbie, and the crew. I guarantee it. These guys are awesome, and have done and continue to do great things in what in reality has been a very short time. Thank you SO MUCH to TriSports for your support over the years, and I will continue to see you in the store and at the races for years to come!

work and play they're never okay

So, just a quick follow up to Xterra Snow Valley. I spent the next few days working in southern California. After the race, it was off to San Luis Obispo to work on growing tree seedlings. One day later, mission accomplished.




















Then, back to the Inland Empire. Spent Tuesday morning working on a proposal, and then went for a good ride in the afternoon. What could possibly go wrong when you ride in a new place by yourself with directions this good?





















Except that I missed the first turn. Oh well, ended up riding to the right place.














Then, back to the hotel to work on the proposal again. Bedtime, then up early for a site visit on the San Timoteo River. Hopefully good things to come!














Then, an afternoon drive to Tucson, and my trip is completed. Safely, successfully, and back to the family :)