Author: davecriswell

I haven’t written about it much here but I’m a huge Tour de France fan. I haven’t missed a stage yet, thanks to Tivo and yesterday was an awesome stage!

With all the doping controversy around this year’s tour, the exclusion of Team Astana, including two of the three podium finishers from last year, and the race format changes, I wasn’t sure if I would really get into this year’s tour. I was wrong.

I think the lack of time bonuses and the opening prologue has actually made it more exciting as up until yesterday, all the favorites, and surprise leaders were within a couple of minutes of eachother.

Today is a rest day for the tour so my son will be happy he can have the TV back for one night. We leave for Lake Placid this Friday and while I’m really looking forward to going, I’m a little bummed out I’m going to miss a couple of mountain stages on Saturday and Sunday.

Monday is sign up day for Ironman Lake Placid 2009! I get the chills thinking about it but the plan is to be there bright and early to sign up!

Last Saturday I completed my first half Ironman since 2006. The year I did Ironman Lake Placid I finished the year with Firm Man in Narragansett, RI. I’ll do a full race report another time. I’ve been enjoying some easy training days but it has been extremely humid out so I haven’t been very motivated to get on the computer and do any writing.

The humidity broke today and even though I’ve had a few rides and a swim, it hasn’t been very enjoyable with the level of humidity out there.

It is one week until I leave for Lake Placid to volunteer for the race and hopefully sign up for the 2009 race!

I’m also fully entrenched in the Tour de France. With all the doping controversy and Team Astana not being invited back, I didn’t think I would be all that interested this year. I was wrong. With all of the changes this year it is actually turning out to be interesting to watch.

I hope to post more often for the rest of this month.

I’ve read several articles that delivered a simlar message, this one conveyed better than others what I wholeheartedly agree with about the mind-body connection. It’s a really compelling story that is published on Ironman.com

I had my 20th HS reunion this past weekend, which is the reason that I haven’t posted anything for a while. Several good friends were in town and though the weather was not great, we all had a great weekend together.

Even with the busy weekend I was able to get some good trainings in. On Saturday I met up with a friend I’ve know for about 25 years for a ride. It was horribly muggy but we left early when it was cool and I got in about 78 miles. Afterwards, I did a short 10 minute run just to test the legs and I felt great! It gave me new found hope that the Patriot Half this weekend will be a decent race.

The reunion festivities began on Saturday night and because Amy and I are still in the area, we decided to host our friends for dinner prior to the actual reunion. It was go great to visit with everyone. The people we had over I’ve know for 20+ years and we’ve stayed relatively close given we are spread out all over the country. I think that connection is rare. It’s not very often I speak to people who are in close contact with friends for that long. It’s a special thing and sometimes I’m sure that I take it for granted, but it’s times like a 20-year reunion when you certainly realize how much you appreciate it.

The Saturday night part of the reunion was for ORHS alumni and signficant others. Wow! There were people who I haven’t seen since graduation day. Overall I enjoyed high school and it was nice to catch up and talk to everyone.

Sunday afternoon was the 2nd part of the reunion for families. It wasn’t as surreal as I thought it would be. Seeing classmates with kids on their hips and pushing strollers was actually pretty cool. I found myself thinking that I want to make sure I pass onto Connor that no matter how tough things feel like they are getting in high school with cliques, clothes, girlfriends and boyfriends, etc. that there is life after high school; as the perspective of a 20-year reunion will give you.

Up early this morning for a short run. I only did 4.5 miles but my legs felt like cement for the entire route and I felt like I was going slooooow. It ended up being an 8:45 mile, which for most people is probably slow anyway, but for me whose legs didn’t feel great I thought for sure I’d be over 9 minute miles.

A pleasant surprise.

Hopefully the legs will feel better for my ride tonight. 90 minutes is the plan.