What a beeyootiful weekend. Saturday was the first day I had to slowly strip off layers as the sun warmed up. I was volunteering at a swim meet doing check in so I had to be there at 7:00 AM. I started the morning in jeans and a long sleeved poalr fleece shirt and running shoes and within a couple of hours I was in a technical sleeveless shirt, shorts and flip flops. Glorious!

At noon I headed up Mt. Diablo to volunteer at an aid station for the Mt. Diablo 50 mile ultra marathon. By the time I got up there it was hot, hot, hot and those runners looked beat. One runner I was particularly interested in seeing was our very own Donald of Running and Rambling. He had already come through the station on the way out before I got there but I saw him on the way back at his mile 37, Here is photographic evidence and as you can see – he looks fresh as a daisy whereas I look totally beat. Go figure.

I don’t know how those runners do it because after 4 hours at the aid station I was beat! I had to get home and rest up for Sunday’s race – 4 miles of hilly hell. Last year I had more training but I was somewhat injured. This year with only 84 miles of training on the year I PR’d by a little less than a second minute. (have I ever mentioned that I have a tendency to under estimate and/or appreciate myself?). I went 40:41 compared to last year’s official time of 41:34. It’s still a PR which is the right way to start the racing season.

After the race I headed home to shower and then go visit my CASA kid (just call me Helpy Helperton). I stopped by Ironman Live to check some results. Far, far away in South Africa Coach Tammy nailed it with a time of 15 hours and a bit. Go Tammy! Back here in nasty hot Arizona IronBenny brought it home in 13:39 – GO BENNY! Our friend Commodore was not so fortunate. He got very severely dehydrated and is in the hospital with serious kidney problems. He’s a fighter and he always manages to bounce back but it couldn’t hurt for everyone who is good with prayer to put some out there and for everyone else to send some healing vibes his way. We love you Commodore – get better!

Tonight I finally got on my bike after almost 2 weeks and rode an hour and a half with a woman who is both younger and faster than me – it hurt but it was great! I also swam this morning at 5:30.

The lawn is still not mowed, the laundry awaits but it matters not because summer is definitely making it’s way to California and I’m feelin’ groovy.