Jon's Jibber-jabber

It seems that the mid-Atlantic can't catch a break.  Some up and down temperatures this week allowed for a little outside running, finally. It was still cold on some of the runs with temps hovering just below 40.  But this weekend came with downpour rains that turned to surprise snow on Sunday for much of the area.   I am hoping that this week the weather begins the turn around.  The worst part is the middle ground when it isn't cold enough to snow significantly for skiing but it isn't warm enough to run/bike comfortably.   I managed to get through all but one workout but did have to cut the bike short on the trainer.  I am still not comfortable enough on the trainer to go over 40 miles. This week also sprung a few surprise work trips on me for the near future.  I suddenly have to manage a week-long trip to Madison, WI, a three day trip to St. Petersburg, FL and then a return to Madison for two more days in May.   I do like my work and would n...

As promised, here is my Monday post.  Monday is my typical rest day but since I was at a wedding this weekend, I moved my long run to today.  One of my good friends got married in the southern part of Maryland, just far enough away that we had to stay overnight at a hotel.  Needless to say it was a great weekend on the southern Bay.  This winter the pattern seems to be hot-cold-hot-cold.  The weekend fell on the hot cycle so today was back to the cold.  Today's high was a balmy 37 degrees.  By contrast, it hit 72 on Saturday afternoon. Thinking more about training, cold weather is usually the time that most athletes take a break.  Many hibernate inside and try to get miles in on the trainer and treadmill, or hit the gym packed with winter resolutioners.  I hear many stories about how the training just doesn't work or how people have fallen off the wagon during the winter.  Like I said last post, I happen to keep myself busy by skiing. ...

So it has been a while since I last posted.  Winter is a shift in focus for me and has been for over 10 years.  I'm a professional patroller as part of the National Ski Patrol and, as such, I work weekends at a resort in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  I do a tremendous amount of tele skiing while working but that is for another post.  To get to the resort  it's a four hour drive from my home.  Luckily, I have a house in the area so I just take the weekend and stay near the resort.   That being said, my swim/bike/run training usually takes a huge hit.  This winter, with its cold and snow, was certainly no exception.   My one rule for the winter : don't get hurt. Our local tri club has competed (reasonably well) in the USAT Winter Club Challenge and this year I  signed up.   This program spans Dec - Feb and each month concentrates on a different aspect (swim, bike or run).  Clubs register their teams and compete in thei...