SEVENTEEN WEEKS

And my first flat tire in quite a while.

That's because I've been doing a lot of riding on my trainer. Too cold and dark in the mornings- and in the afternoon it's just me and Cate.

This morning I woke up @ 4:15 and I laid there in bed until 4:45. I decided to put on my warm clothes and go for my first early morning ride in quite a while.

Coffee, peanut butter toast with honey, potty break, water bottle, lights and safety blinkers and I was ready to go.

I hit the road @ 5:30. It starts to get light around 6ish, so I wasn't riding in the dark for too long. But, it was chilly. I'm glad I dressed warm.

I saw Clay (I swim next to him during swim practice)drive by in his BIG YELLOW LIFTED TRUCK- a diesel truck- not the best thing to breathe in as I'm breathing a bit hard up the hill on Pecos.

I saw him @ swim today and he said- hey were you out riding this morning?- I said yep that was me- he said THAT'S SO COOL! I love to see dedicated people ESPECIALLY females out there early- plus you were all by your lonesome- so that's dedication. Clay has a nice way about him. Looks are deceiving because he has many tatoos- and long hair. You'd never know that he also has a big heart until you start talking to him.

He's an Ironman athlete in his late 30's. He'll be going to China to do an Ironman in mid-April.

So, anyway. That made me feel good. I guess you sort of forget that training for an event like this is hard work and not everyone can or will or want to do it.

And I guess it was a good thing I got a flat. It's been a while- so I forgot how to change it. It was my rear tire. So, this little exercise helped me to refresh my memory. I did need to call Bruce to get me. I wouldn't have been able to change it and make it home in time to get breakfast, lunches made and the kiddies off to school.

Thanks Hon!