The Surly.

This would be the third bike I bought from Rachael, and finally after weeks I finished my obsession with contact points. Bars, saddle, tires (and of course pedals) all have to change, that's just how I am.

I was super excited to find Dimension makes 38cm flat top shallow drops for cheap- the same as the FSA pro wing compacts at less than half the price. Wrapped in white cork to match the Deva (which I've mentioned before.) And the tires, well, they were somewhat by mistake but they're great for now...

I had hoped to replace the frame sometime, but it's becoming less and less of a priority. I'm not keen on the forward-facing dropouts and I think it's a smidge too big for me. But I'm not riding much these days (though that should change as the weather gets better) and there's always something else I want to spend the $ on. On a related note, I guess Richard Sachs is running several months behind on his waitlist.

Locked myself out of the house at 6:30am today, turning the 5 mi run into 3. Yarg. Thank goodness Ben's dad could escape from work to let me in, but it still sucked. Finally hid a key so it should never happen again.

More days, more ways.

Today is new bars and new bartape day for the Surly, which is on my project list for tonight. I'm quite excited. Going back to flat-tops, which I've come to love, and hoping that switching to an extreme short-n-shallow drop will negate the current need for a shorter stem. Vamos a ver. Plus, white bar tape to match the saddle. Photos to come.

I finally got work to approve vacation time. I wanted to take a vacation in February but was denied. Now, I'm approved for the end of May. Ben and I will be headed to somewhere in South or Central America. We had been thinking Guatemala, but I'm thinking more Venezuela. Or Quito, since my favorite band sings about it alot. We'll see. There's something that just makes me a happier person when I know there's a trip coming up. It's been a while, since last summer in Malaysia. My passport is getting dusty.

With warming weather and more energy, I'm getting closer to being back on running pace, but I think it's too late for this Sunday's Half. This morning I was again at 30 sec slower than pace, but that's 30 sec faster than the last few weeks. I wouldn't dare try to throw that down at the beginning of a hilly half after training so much slower, would I? Tough thing about this race is, the hills are all 2/3 to the end. Gotta save it.

I've done too much.

I always do this when I'm alone. I just keep busy busy busy until I collapse. Like 2 hours of trainer on Sat followed by brunch, stops at 3 stores, yoga, dishes... and then Sunday 10 mile run, ride up to West Town, brunch, Target, Whole Foods, frisbee with Molly, laundry, bike work. I'm sitting on the couch exhausted. I think I'm going to go to bed now.

The 10 went ok. With a total of 3 10's, an 11, and a 12, this is as ready as I'll get. I'm watching the weather for next Sun and hoping for the best. I don't expect to go fast, I just expect to finish.