If this is Hawaii, you can keep it!

So the e-mail from Coach started out nice, track was closed tonight. We were running at the Boardwalk, which is a run that I really like. Then the closer, in big bold letters, followed by lots of exclamation points...

Hawaii sand intervals!!!!!!

And those three words made all the difference. 4 miles, 10 sprints in deep sand (give or take) and I can tell that I'm gonna be walking like and arthritic ex-football player tomorrow. Race specific training, yes, since Lavaman ends with a mile of trail and deep sand running. Fun? Not so much. Hawaii's gonna rule.

That's my rant for the day. Scripps Poway Parkway ride on Saturday. Prayers for rain on Friday night? I think so.

On the subject of Saturday, I wanted to post this little bit of verbal scattershot that came to me on the plane yesterday. It's called Saturday Morning.

Standing. Arms folded
Sweating in the glacial sun.
Polarized. Wrapped.
Shielded tense tingling
The sound of waves.
Tremors.
The smell of pavement
of rubber and sweat.
Shivering, sweat becoming steam
Lenses fogged.
Breathing the daylight
Shaking away last night
Taut. Nervous.
Ready.
Not ready at all.
Ready....

A New Season Begins, Well, Began,,,

So it's week six of the TNT Lavaman '08 season. I've been meaning to say something about that, but haven't quite managed it. This is also the official debut of See Ryan Run, mark II.

For those of you playing along at home, this will be tri number 3 for me. Second Olympic. That's right, I didn't get enough at Pac Grove so I'm doing it again. The cool thing, this race is in Hawaii, on the same course as the Kona Ironman. Cool, huh? I'm also mentoring for this team, which means I get to try and help people along through the program and impart knowledge like I know what I'm doing. Scary huh?

I'm also registered for the Carlsbad Half Marathon and the Wildflower Olympic race. The former is in January, the latter after Lavaman. So we'll have lots to talk about.

Look for more info over the coming weeks, but for now I'm going to close with the e-mail I sent to the team tonight after the combo spin/swim workout:

What a Wednesday...

So the hot tub at Coggan was looking a little like the helicopter just landed outside the 4077th tonight. The number of leg cramps...

I know I'm sitting here, catching up on some Tivo and watching my calf...well, I think it may be trying to evolve. Maybe so it can run away and tell me to take up a sane hobby.

My point? Nice job Ginger and Robbie. And nice work team for hanging in there and pounding out the laps and miles. We're six weeks in and going strong.

See you at track tomorrow and be ready for some fourth event. You'll want to be in shape for that too, come Lavaman.

Keep it up, you're looking good everyone.

Spirit Mentor Ryan, out.