The Long Run

Photo by Tom Robertson

The woods are staggeringly still. A light scratch of gravel beneath my feet and a rhythmic breath are all I can hear. A black dog whose fur flashes silver in the breaking sunlight, darts through the thick underbrush to my side. The tall pines frame a choppy stream of images in my periphery, like a silent scene from an antique film reel.

My body moves without thought; running requires no conscious control. Once set in motion, legs find rhythm, the mind relaxes and the trail guides the feet.

It takes time to enjoy running. But the more I run, the more addicted to the sensation I become. Running has begun to feel like flight and as free as a falcon, I will run.

Aux Champs Elysee

Europe has been a whirlwind. After watching the prologue and start of stage 1 of "Le Grand Tour" in Rotterdam. We chased the racers by train to Brussels to catch the finish, we made it with twenty minutes to spare. Unfortunately, a mess of crashes squashed any opportunity for a sprint finish but is was amazing to see the riders (and their entourage) arrive at the finish.

We are now in Paris, stay at my French sister's apartment. Its directly in the old part of Paris, very close to Notre Dame and the Louvre. Yesterday, she led us around Paris on foot. We saw everything in one day. Really, you name it, we saw it. As the sun set, we found ourselves beneath the Eiffle Tower with four bottles of wine, cheese and bread, chocolate and good sausages and ham. We ate and drank as the tower brilliantly glowed in the night sky. It was hard to believe, it still is. C'est un reve!

One more day in Paris, then we're off to the Alps for a mountain stage or two. I have run twice in nine days, I'm really good at recovering.

-Le Ice

Montana Clinic

Quick trip from Seattle to Missoula, MT, last weekend. Rolled into town about 2 am, put on a HRM clinic in the morning for some of the people in the later heats (pool swim- what did you expect for a triathlon in Montana in April?). Had 8 racers want to race with Polar for the ride/run parts. They had never tried a HRM, let alone raced with one, so it was a great experience to see all of the features and feedback during their race. I then raced a little later in the day, then hung out with family and great friends. On Sunday, ran for a couple hours, then mountain biked until it was time to get back in the car and drive back to Seattle. Got in at 2 am Monday morning, had two quizzed and class from 8:30 am to 6pm. Back to reality. I don't have a camera, so I have to wait until people email me pictures for me to post.