It's sink or swim with the JCC triathlon Sunday.

May 1: Spin class with Margie
May 2: Off
May 3: Spin class with Margie
May 4: Off
May 5: Jogged 3.5 miles on the course of the JCC Triathlon.
May 6: Swam 10 laps in JCC pool, rode around Marblehead Neck three times.
May 7: Off
May 8: Spin class with Margie at the JCC. 40 minutes of climging
May 9: Swam at the JCC
May 10: Spin Class with Andrew.
May 11: Light jog on the beach and around Swampscott
You would think, with two months to train, I would've.
In the weeks leading up to the triathlon, I've cut back on everything and tried to stay active. I haven't rode much, but I have spun, just because of the time crunch and rain almost every day. My goal is to finish. I swim like a tug boat and run like Shrek. I have actually forgotten how to run, and I am constantly favoring my left leg, which has a rod in it from my hip to my knee after a compound fracture from a car accident in 2001. I'm convinced I can walk faster than I can jog. Tomorrow, I work at the bike store. I will probably take a slow ride in the morning just to get the feel of the bike. If you see me on the course, give me a shout.
PS: Stop by Marblehead Cycle on Saturday. It's owner Chris Finn's birthday. There might be cake.

A ride with some CCB friends

April 25, 17.7 miles around Swampscott and Marblehead, climbed Greenwood Ave., rode out to the Neck, climbed Beacon Street.
April 26, Rode 19 miles to Beverly. Flatted at Prides Crossing on old tires
April 27,Took the Allez out for a spin around Marblehead Neck
April 28, Jogged a couple of miles around Phillips Beach
April 29, Longest ride so far this year. Rode 35 miles up to Essex, via Route 22, came back on Route 127.
April 30, rode about 30 miles with Mark Lorenz, Jean Magazu and Dave Selsky of CCB fame

  You can either replace old tires before you get a flat, or ruin a good ride with a flat. My luck ran out last Wednesday when I headed out for a long ride and flatted at Prides Crossing in Beverly. I had just come the back way out to Route 127, hopped over the train tracks, and wondered about the toll the ride was taking on my old ProRace3 tires. I think the back one I bought in a bike shop in Jasper, Alberta, Cananada on MS GLOBAL 2011 last August. It replaced a tire I had ruined after skidding as we headed to the Saskatchewan Crossing. Your luck with old tires runs out eventually. Trying to save money, in this case $70, and stretching a tire's life meant a wasted ride fixing a flat and heading to Marblehead Cycle for a new set of rubber.
  The highlight of my enforced week off was a ride Monday with Mark, Dave and Jean around Middleton and North Andover. It turned into a 30 mile loop but they are such strong, good riders, and they set such a relaxed pace, I never felt like I was working. Mark is battling some health issues, so it was great to get out with him and just ride. He's such a strong rider. He's like a locomotive.
I spun on Tuesday, but I think I'm overtraining at this point. I am competing in the JCC triathlon next week, and I feel like if I rest I will never be able to finish. I know I won't swim fast, and the run will be torture, but at least there's the bike! I have to be careful not to over do it.