Spring has Arrived!

What amazing weather we have here in southeastern Michigan over the past week or 2!  After a few years of some of the longest, coldest and snowiest winters I can remember, we have gotten lucky with an early spring here, and I’ve been loving every minute of it!  In stark contrast to past years, I can’t remember the last time we had this many days above 70F in March.  It is awesome, and it could not have come at a better time.  This is usually the time of year where all those hours of indoor training start to wear on me.  Quite simply, it’s just too many trainer and treadmill hours.  Call it “the pain cave”, “training dungeon” or whatever else you want, there is nothing that compares to a ride or run in the great outdoors.  The fresh air, the animals and the scenery is what makes training fun.  Because, yes this is supposed ot be fun.  While I continue to stay on the trainer year round for mid-week rides, those outside rides on the weekends are essential for my sanity….and what else is there to say about running outside; it’s just awesome!

While this is a great mental break, the warm weather usually gives me a reminder (and a swift kick in the pants) to make sure everything is ready for the first race of the season.  Now is when I start to count down the weeks to my first race (really, it’s only 6 weeks away?), review where my training is at, and start to realize it’s time to take care of all those little things I haven’t thought about until now…primarily race logistics (are all the hotels really sold out?) and my swim, bike and run race equipment. 

My 2-cents of advice is that it seems everyone goes a similar thought process, so now is the time to order whatever supplies you need before they are sold out.  It seems that after this initial rush March-April, stocks are replenished in a month or 2, so if it’s something that you must have for your first race, and you have less than 2 months to go…now is the time get it, especially if it is a new or hard to get item.  If you wait, it might be too late.

With that said, enjoy the great weather, have fun and be safe out there!