What I Did On My Winter Vacation

Similiar to those essays you wrote when you were a kid about what you did while you were on summer vacation, triathletes should write about what they did in their "off season" or "down time" or whatever you call that period between the finish and restart of racing. 

1) I washed all the curtains in the house.  Don't even ask.  I have no idea what came over me.

2) We got both of our cars serviced and cleaned and all nice and spiffy.  And in doing so, the very kind mechanics at the VW dealership took the seat out of our Jetta and found my wedding band!  YEAH!  :)  Also, it's now safe to sit in our back seats because all dog hair has been removed (for at least a week...)

3) I've been reading a lot.  Well, a lot for me.  I finished Outliers and then I read The Art of Racing in the Rain and Gold.  I realized today I have nothing left to read in the house!  Might have to find where the library is in this town... (that we've lived in for 8 years :)

4) I've slept A LOT.  This might be my favorite thing about down time from training - time to sleep in, time to go to bed early, time to take naps.  Yes, please!

5) Family time.  The beauty of IMAZ is that it leads nicely right into Thanksgiving, which Oscar and I spent at my sister and brother-in-law's home in North Carolina.  My parents were also able to come.  It was awesome.

6) I thought about this past season, next season and I bugged the heck out of my coach with lots of emails and questions.  :)  Just kidding, he is very gracious and patient with me.

7) I put my bike back together and I even rode it once.  But that was it.  If there is one thing I need a break from during this time of year, it's my bike!

8) Speaking of bikes, I (by "I", I mean the guys at Big Bang Bikes :), re-habbed an old (but new to me!) road bike in preparation for the Coast Ride in January!  YES!  Some how I got talked into this ride that involves many miles and many, many feet of climbing down the California coast in January.  I'm pretty pumped for it, mostly to ride with some awesome friends and see the beautiful west coast via 2 wheels!

9) I worked on sponsor relationships and tried to figure out how to get Southwest to fly me free all year long.  No ideas on that one.  Let me know if you think of something.  :) 

10) O and I bought all our Christmas gifts and sent all our cards!  This has to be some kind of record (for us).  I didn't wrap anything yet.  Must save something for next week. 

11) I worked a few extra days at this place. 

12) I've taken Roxy on a few extra walks.  She liked it.  I know this because she told me so.  :)

13) I spent A LOT of time figuring out my responsibilities as an athlete who was selected for USADA's (United State Anti Doping Agency) registered testing pool.  I got notice that I've been added to the International Testing Pool which is the one where you have to file your whereabouts in ONE HOUR increments for 3 months at a time so that they can test you any where, any time.  Think about that for a second.  Can you tell me right now where you're going to be on February 9th at 4:30 pm?  That's essentially what we have to do.  And it's not a joke and it's something that is to be taken very seriously (obviously!).  But I'm definitely not complaining about it and I WANT to be a part of it because this is what it takes for clean sport right?  I very much want to do my part.  (but I will say, the online whereabouts filing form makes me go cross-eyed...ha!)  So it is time well spent and I have to say, I have a much better understanding of how this whole process works (after the tutorial) and now a very, very healthy fear of taking ANY supplement!

So that's what I've been up to!  And my down time isn't over quite yet!  I'm still looking forward to a trip to visit my college roommate next weekend, some Christmas parties and a movie or two with Oscar.  When that first schedule shows up in my inbox I'm certainly going to be well rested and rearing to go!  :)  Hope everyone else is enjoying their down time too!