I’ve taken a week or so off of writing. I did so not out of desire but necessity – I had two larger work projects and quite a few home projects that needed attending to, and in my quest to learn more to relax and unwind I had to let something go. Since I didn’t want that something to be my sanity (as I have difficulty holding on to it as it is!) I decided it had to be my blog.

I’m back! One project down, two clients yet to pay (what do I need to do, go up to their homes and beat down their doors?), a ladies night that involved karaoke and some hysterically funny ladies and a family night, where the adults hung out and chatted and the kids got to run around like rebels, eating ice cream and pushing chairs across the floor.

My training is going WELL this week. I put in almost 30 miles (by the time I do my 10-12 tomorrow morning). They were strong miles, too. No knee pain, felt like continuing. Great miles. Tomorrow is my long run and I hope to do 10-12 tomorrow, depending on how I feel when I wake up. What i have learned through this ’slight break’ is to listen to my body, not my head. My head says keep on going; my body sometimes really, really needs to stop. This past week I listened to my body. It needed a break, and now I feel better.

So I’m signing up to do my first triathlon! I’m excited. Jacksonville, Florida has a sprint series that I’m going to try out. This is the calendar for the year, and I’m thinking July 18 because my mom will be here already for a performance my daughter will be doing through summer camp.

I know I can do the run; it’s just three miles. THe bike is only 10 and I’m now doing 7 with no issues, around 5 minutes per mile and sometimes in the 4s. It’s the swim I have to prepare for, but I’m a strong swimmer (at least in a pool where there aren’t a million people swimming over me!) so I’ m hoping that it won’t be too tough for the first one.

The heat, though, will be a killer. Luckily the race begins early. I’m guessing the swim and bike will be okay heat wise, and the run is only three miles – less than 25 minutes – I can do it, right?

So, it’s going to be that one or one in August. I’d like to do a tri before the end of summer, since I want to do a November marathon. I’m looking forward to the cross training and the thinking of doing something that is not straight running for hours on end. I think the transitions will be nice and fun to look forward to.

Now, off to help paint the porch! Happy weekend runs, my friends!