Spring

Spring has sprung in full force and I can't get enough of the bright colors of flowers coming to life. The roads and trails are alive and buzzing with activity. I'm so happy to be a part of that. I have big plans for what I want to do with the warm and sunny weather. (Even though it won't always be warm and sunny.) Since the last time I wrote, I have been training for My First Tri and planning some really exciting backpacking and biking adventures.

First 12 mile ride then 3 mile jog. (Pulling and pushing Manny too.)

I've been thinking of this time like "spring training" before we do Bloomsday in 6 days and the triathlon in less than 6 weeks to kick off the summer. We got a membership to Spokane Fitness Center mostly so we could use the weights and start training in the pool. I have liked adding heavier weights and different machines to the mix, but until last week I hadn't actually been able to get myself into a swim suit and into the pool. Having done that now, I'm feeling pretty confident about being able to finish the tri. However I wish I knew more people at a similar fitness level as me, who wanted to work together and push each other.

Wanna work out? Heh? Heh?

I got the chance to experience the narrow, fast tires and lightweight frame of a road bike compared to the bulky tires and heavy frame of my beach cruiser and concluded that new bikes were in order. But there was NO WAY we could afford brand new bikes, so I looked around and found out about the Spokane Bike Swap. I ended up volunteering, thinking I might get first dibs on the best deals. It didn't end up working out quite like that, but Josh and I did score a couple speedy road bikes that we are suuuuper excited about. As an added bonus I met a bunch of really rad people in the bike community and soaked up a ton of valuable bike information.

Hers

 &

His

This bike is changing my life. I'm spending most of my free moments learning about the components and how to maintain them, which is completely foreign territory to me. And because it's so easy and fun to ride, I ride farther and more often. This increased distance has lead to a change in how I think about distance, and given me a new perspective of the city. Different parts of town don't seem so far away from each other any more and don't seem unreasonable to travel to on my bike. The city is more connected, and I am more connected to the city.

Planning out the Mr's bike to work route.

Next, I had to get a tri suit. Like the swim, I had been putting this off for a while. Something about the extremely tight, body hugging, nature of a tri suit that leaves little to no room to hide your insecurities. Thankfully, the ladies at Fitness Fanatics are incredibly knowledgeable, and helped me find something I could be sorta comfortable in.

Like a glove!

As for our other adventure plans, I've been wanting to go backpacking since last summer. My plan/goal is to go on a couple short trips that are close to home, something like the Kettle Crest Trail to get started. Then hopefully go on a slightly longer, end of summer, celebration trip to the North Cascades. So, slowly we have been accumulating the necessary super lightweight gear and researching everything a beginner backpacker needs to know. (REI has been an incredible resource.)

Mummified! Hehehe. What? Not funny?

Then my excitement over my bike got me looking for more long bike trails. I had great experiences on the Hiawatha and the sections of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes that I rode last summer, and found out that they connect via the NorPac Trail. Sooo, all together they stretch from the Montana/Idaho border 100+ miles across the Idaho panhandle to near the Idaho/Washington border. I want to make a long weekend out of it, and camp along the way. Double bonus, the back packing gear should be perfect for this too. I can hardly contain myself about this adventure!

This is gonna be EPIC!!

That's all I have up my sleeve for now. I'm just gonna be here prepping and training, sometimes in the sunshine, and sometimes in the dark, cold, rain, wind or hail. It's all worth it for the experiences I'm having and the person I'm becoming. I couldn't be happier. :)