Nothing terribly important to report on the training end... did 3 sessions of weights this week. I am looking forward to keeping this up through the spring and adjusting the program depending on what phase of running training I'm in. I feel like it is keeping my legs in shape and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing some upper body strength improvements in the pool.
Spent a few hours at Midwest Mountaineering yesterday - what a neat shop. But waay too much stuff I want! I am going to Argentina for 3 weeks in February to climb Aconcagua (I may have to be out of town every February from now on as an excuse never to attempt Arrowhead...). I am really looking forward to the trip. It's been 4 years since Kilimanjaro and in that time I've known my next mountain trip would be to South America but it wasn't until Igor told me during the summer that he was planning a trip that it started to become a reality. I was on the fence for quite a while given the cost/vacation deficit but it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I have a lot of gear already but needed new boots (my feet appear to have grown a half inch in the last 4 years...) and a backpack. So I showed up early at Midwest yesterday. Got the boots sorted pretty quickly and then walked around in them for about 2 hours while I tried a few different backpacks with multiple adjustments to get the right fit. The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Enjoyed watching the Hawaii IM coverage on NBC yesterday. Chrissy Wellington is something else. A flat on the bike - including minutes lost waiting for a CO2 cartridge - and she still started the run first. All with a smile!
I was busy baking cookies (hold the laughter) while watching it. Thought I would treat my neighbours. I delivered them this afternoon and haven't heard any emergency vehicles yet so that's a good sign. Needless to say I kept it simple with the recipie but was still not prepared... but a beer bottle makes for a good rolling pin.
What miserable weather today. A day for laying low. Which suited me just fine. After a pool run with Kami this morning I picked up some books in Barnes & Noble and chilled out for the afternoon. And started a new jigsaw. It's been too long!
I am being spoiled this weekend for evenings out. A fun holiday dinner with The Family last night. Good times. Great company and a desert platter straight from heaven. And tonight Mark and Brenda are cooking Shepard's Pie. Yum yum. I guess I should go shovel some snow first to work up an appetite...
Be careful on the roads tomorrow.
