Surprising

I've had a week of surprises. First off, I've been getting very excited for an Ironman 70.3 next year and have started a training schedule that will take me to August of next year. I'm really dreading all the miles on the trainer and treadmill in the coming winter, but I really want to get back to doing triathlons again. There's something so amazing about going as hard as you can for as long as you can in a balled up sport. There's so much to train for and to be excited about, but it is also quite draining. Sitting inside on a winter evening pedaling a bike on the trainer is great to get the frustrations of work out, but is incredibly boring. It's the mental stamina that I've had the hardest time developing. My muscles are easy to train and my lungs are coming back already... but my mind is still having a hard time.

The big surprise, though, is that I have now changed my buying habits. What buying habits? Well, I used to spend money on climbing and camping gear... because I lived in my car and would climb a lot. Pretty easy to explain. But now that I am being civilized I am buying suits, collared shirts.... and... ties. Yes, I know what everyone is thinking and yes I did cry a little bit. Well, only a little bit. I just bought a few more shirts and ties and am looking at buying a couple more suits. At which point I start to wonder "what just happened?" I was a bum in every sense of the word and I am now trying to be a respectable part of a community. It's wild. How times change!

Anyways, things have been going well over here. I still haven't met many people, but that's how it goes. It'll be slow to get integrated into this community. I'm still trying to get in with the cycling club so hopefully I can finally find this mythical club.

Better get back to doing laundry so I have nice smelling clothes for work!

Olympic Coast

Timing

Sorry it's been so long but I haven't had much to post the last while. There hasn't been much to discuss until lately. I had been running around Washington trying to get a job and finally found one. I'm a Regional Labor Economist for the state of Washington. It's an awesome job and I'm pretty excited, but pretty nervous at the same time.

Well, I am now living in Wenatchee. A small town at the base of the Cascades. Pretty sweet location for various reasons: great biking, good hiking, great skiing, some good climbing, and best of all is the fresh fruit right from farms next to town. The only down side is there isn't a great beer store around. There are some good finds here and there, but nothing consistent.

I've also been spending the last two weeks in Olympia for work. I really liked it in the "rain forest". Plus it got me away from the 100 degree weather here... which was nice. And since I had two weekends over there I managed to get two weekends of backpacking and camping in

Olympic National Park hiking and camping on the beach. That was one for the bucket list. I've always wanted to hike and camp on the beach, and now I've finally got to do it. I don't really know how much more I really have on the bucket list, but there are some good ones left. Anyhow, back to the beach: it was amazing! Great weather... good friends... and a nice easy trip. I rarely go on easy hikes and I actually found this quite enjoyable. There's something about being on the beach knowing you're at the edge of the U.S.

Here are a few pics from Olympic National Park. I have more coming, so check back soon.