Longer

Rolling and sliding through the slow winter days, it doesn't always get into the teens, I don't always eat enough, and the system shuts down a bit. Brian gets shorted. After the short days are over work comes thick and fast. 5 weeks till the longer days. 

Markers

Working through the winter, two skis, two wheels and one board at a time. The puzzle comes together in it's own way, after each piece finds it's jigsaw sleeping spot. 3 a.m. today, maybe another night it will be different. The base grows and the confidence builds. It is '08, the right mix is in. Sleep comes when needed. Getting more acquainted with the system. Manuals still make sense at 3 a.m. The wrong food, too much of it and I get less.

OK

Blue sky made the work easy to come by. Now I have the weekend still in my legs and work is tougher. Looking at what was done is clear, what wasn't done is clearer. Afterall it is January and I'm ahead of last year, seeing if the March races bring the results I'd like. Rebuild is up next for the cross bike, orders and fresh parts, long time coming for that. My ears aren't hurting. The headphones must have been just right. Walking into the store to get lunch today I couldn't open the automatic door. More food is needed.

January

Big would say "Do work son." I did that part without much thinking. Beyond just wasn't possible today. The work was good, I was OK. That's all that matters in January.

Saturday

The network is too slow to post a map of where the work was today. No big deal, the work was good, I was OK. Pictures tomorrow, I didn't get a shot of the clown not wearing a shirt riding his bike, that made feel like a giant wimp, all bundled up to the weather. I hurt today, it was a hard ride, not too hard. Not too much or anything like that, the work was there, but it wasn't the easiest long day. Oh, the coke I got at around 100km in but everything to right.

Skate or die

Skating at lunch today fixed the holes, kind of like putty or drywall mud. Put things to right, fixed any doubts I had earlier in the week, slight hiccups easily fixed with thumbs and elbows. This is a picture of the snot I shot onto my ski, if I had any bio-feedback I would place it here. That might show that I did some work, instead I only have sore abs and a lot less phlegm to let me know that I did work son. It wasn't like I skied that long so this was the snack I earned. Institutional life suits me. One of the harder extended efforts was up this. Good thing and I only saw stars for a minute or so after cresting it. It reminds of mowing a big yard with a push mower, no real rest because if you do it only prolongs the finishing of it. After a bit of a warm up on the mellow grades I shot this picture, happy to start going into the darker spots in the woods. Higher efforts and more to show for it.

Evening

A good day, the knots are out and the fullness of goodness is with me. Wasabi peas and good beer. Damn that's nice. Better things to come, time well spent.

Lunch

Lunch. Snow and peanut butter. After I stop feeling like I'll throw up it will taste a bit better.

Outside

Work

Weak end

This is almost a week on from the crash, I feel better the three hours on the rollers this weekend added up to good work. I'm waiting for that flap to come off and open up the inside of my hand a bit more. Last week's crash wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. It cost a few days training but only soreness and fatigue, I got off light. This guy wasn't so lucky. The base phase is always a bit different year to year, not having the full-pro time and flexibility my victories come easier. I'm not feeling athletic yet, but I do feel like a bike racer a bit again. I hate getting started, tougher times ahead.